THE SCOREBOARD
INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL
| BEECH GROVE | 79 | INDIANAPOLIS RITTER | 53 | |
| DANVILLE | 75 | NORTHVIEW | 67 | |
| FORT WAYNE DWENGER | 51 | EAST NOBLE | 46 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN | 83 | INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON | 69 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE | 78 | INDIANAPOLIS HERRON | 25 |
GIRLS BASKETBALL REGIONAL PAIRINGS
CLASS 4A
LAPORTE
VALPARAISO [23-2] VS. SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON [26-0]
LAKE CENTRAL [21-5] VS. NORTHRIDGE [22-5]
MARION
HOMESTEAD [19-5] VS. FISHERS [23-2]
FORT WAYNE SNIDER [20-4] VS. HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) [16-9]
DECATUR CENTRAL
LAWRENCE NORTH [17-9] VS. BROWNSBURG [16-9]
BEN DAVIS [17-9] VS. MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) [19-6]
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE
CENTER GROVE [21-4] VS. FRANKLIN [18-5]
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE [23-3] VS. EVANSVILLE CENTRAL [15-11]
CLASS 3A
JIMTOWN
MISHAWAKA MARIAN [22-5] VS. TIPPECANOE VALLEY [21-3]
FAIRFIELD [24-2] VS. HIGHLAND [17-6]
BELLMONT
HAMILTON HEIGHTS [19-5] VS. NORWELL [21-3]
TWIN LAKES [26-0] VS. GARRETT [14-11]
GREENCASTLE
INDIAN CREEK [25-1] VS. PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD [22-5]
CASCADE [22-2] VS. INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD [11-13]
CHARLESTOWN
CORYDON CENTRAL [24-2] VS. RUSHVILLE [14-13]
GIBSON SOUTHERN [20-4] VS. PRINCETON [16-10]
CLASS 2A
WINAMAC
CENTRAL NOBLE [24-2] VS. SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) [23-3]
ANDREAN [24-3] VS. NORTH MIAMI [19-5]
LAPEL
EASTBROOK [19-5] VS. LAPEL [19-7]
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC [19-6] VS. FORT WAYNE LUERS [11-13]
SOUTHMONT
EASTERN HANCOCK [22-3] VS. UNIVERSITY [20-4]
GREENCASTLE [22-4] VS. UNION COUNTY [16-9]
CRAWFORD COUNTY
SOUTH RIPLEY [16-9] VS. NORTH KNOX [26-1]
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL [19-7] VS. FOREST PARK [22-3]
CLASS 1A
CASTON
TRI-COUNTY [14-11] VS. BETHANY CHRISTIAN [21-3]
WASHINGTON TWP. [19-6] VS. ARGOS [13-12]
WES-DEL
TRI-CENTRAL [11-13] VS. ROSSVILLE [15-10]
TRI [24-1] VS. SOUTHWOOD [19-5]
SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE)
JAC-CEN-DEL [15-11] VS. BETHESDA CHRISTIAN [12-13]
EMINENCE [17-6] VS. BLOOMFIELD [13-14]
WEST WASHINGTON
SPRINGS VALLEY [17-7] VS. TRINITY LUTHERAN [21-6]
LANESVILLE [24-2] VS. WOOD MEMORIAL [14-10]
INDIANA WRESTLING SEMI-STATE
1. EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL (JOHN C. BARATTO ATHLETIC CENTER) | 8 AM CT
FEEDER REGIONALS: CROWN POINT, HOBART, LOGANSPORT, PENN.
2. NEW HAVEN (ALLEN COUNTY WAR MEMORIAL COLISEUM) | 8 AM ET
FEEDER REGIONALS: CARROLL (FORT WAYNE), GOSHEN, JAY COUNTY, PERU.
3. NEW CASTLE (NEW CASTLE FIELDHOUSE) | 8 AM ET
FEEDER REGIONALS: FRANKFORT, PENDLETON HEIGHTS, PERRY MERIDIAN, RICHMOND.
4. EVANSVILLE F.J. REITZ (FORD CENTER) | 8 AM CT
FEEDER REGIONALS: BLOOMINGTON SOUTH, CASTLE, JEFFERSONVILLE, MOORESVILLE.
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
#2 HOUSTON 80 TULSA 42
#3 ALABAMA 97 FLORIDA 69
VANDERBILT 66 #6 TENNESSEE 65
WEST VIRGINIA 76 #11 IOWA STATE 71
#14 BAYLOR 82 OKLAHOMA 72
#20 PROVIDENCE 74 GEORGETOWN 62
#23 CREIGHTON 75 SETON HALL 62
#25 SAN DIEGO STATE 63 UTAH STATE 61
GEORGIA TECH 70 NOTRE DAME 68
INDIANA STATE 84 VALPARAISO 62
WRIGHT STATE 103 IUPUI 71
EVANSVILLE 71 NORTHERN IOWA 59
MICHIGAN 93 NEBRASKA 72
WISCONSIN 79 PENN STATE 74 OT
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/CBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230208
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
MARQUETTE 59#4 UCONN 52
#13 OHIO STATE 93 MINNESOTA 63
#15 VILLANOVA 82 GEORGETOWN 53
#20 TEXAS 80 TEXAS TECH 71
DEPAUL 87 BUTLER 62
BALL STATE 68 EASTERN MICHIGAN 50
MICHIGAN STATE 88 WISCONSIN 63
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/WCBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230208
NBA SCOREBOARD
MIAMI 116 INDIANA 111
CLEVELAND 113 DETROIT 85
WASHINGTON 118 CHARLOTTE 104
BOSTON 106 PHILADELPHIA 99
TORONTO 112 SAN ANTONIO 98
SACRAMENTO 130 HOUSTON 128
MINNESOTA 143 UTAH 118
DALLAS 110 LA CLIPPERS 104
PORTLAND 125 GOLDEN STATE 122
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NBA/SCOREBOARD.ASP
NHL SCOREBOARD
NY RANGERS 4 VANCOUVER 3
DALLAS 4 MINNESOTA 1
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NHL/SCOREBOARD.ASP
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES
NBA NEWS
AP SOURCE: LAKERS TRADING WESTBROOK TO UTAH IN 3-TEAM SWAP
LOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Russell Westbrook to Utah and reacquiring guard D’Angelo Russell from Minnesota in a three-team, eight-player deal, a person with knowledge of the trade told The Associated Press on Wednesday night.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams hadn’t announced the major deal made ahead of the NBA’s trade deadline Thursday.
Los Angeles is also getting guard Malik Beasley and forward Jarred Vanderbilt from the Jazz, bolstering its core around LeBron James in a bid to jump-start its sputtering season. The Lakers fell to 25-30 on Tuesday while James set the NBA’s career scoring record, and they sit in 13th place in the 15-team Western Conference.
The Lakers are sending Juan Toscano-Anderson, Damian Jones and their first-round pick in 2027 to Utah with Westbrook.
ESPN and The Athletic first reported the trade. Those outlets also said Minnesota is getting Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker from Utah, along with three second-round picks.
Minnesota won 143-118 at Utah on Wednesday night, and all five players involved in the trade weren’t in uniform. Most players and coaches couldn’t speak directly about a trade that hadn’t been announced, but Minnesota coach Chris Finch acknowledged the challenge of playing short-handed amid roster upheaval.
“We just talked briefly about things before taking the floor,” Finch said. “It’s unfortunate timing. You don’t ever get to pick your timing. But maybe in some ways it was good that we could just play a game and not have to overthink things.”
Westbrook’s tenure with his hometown team lasted just 130 tumultuous games. The 2017 NBA MVP never thrived with James and injury-plagued Anthony Davis for any significant stretch of time, struggling to mold his possession-heavy game into a more complementary role.
A move to the bench last fall led to minor improvements over a dismal 2021-22 season, but Westbrook still appeared profoundly uncomfortable with the Lakers, who are in danger of missing the playoffs for the second straight year. Westbrook averaged 17.4 points, 7.2 assists, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 turnovers per game during his time in Los Angeles, where fans grumbled regularly about his poor shooting and turnovers.
The 34-year-old Westbrook is making about $47 million in the final year of his contract. Several months after the Lakers infuriated a large portion of their worldwide fan base by not trading Westbrook in the summer, they swapped him for Russell, who played his first two NBA seasons with the Lakers after they chose him with the second overall pick in the 2015 draft.
Russell was a rookie during Kobe Bryant’s final season, and the point guard was the most consistently entertaining part of two poor Lakers teams before Magic Johnson traded him to Brooklyn in 2017. Russell is now being traded for the fourth time in his eight NBA seasons.
Russell is averaging 17.9 points, 6.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds while hitting a career-best 46.5% of his shots with Minnesota in the final year of a contract paying him more than $31 million this season. His style on both ends of the court also could complement James and Davis better than Westbrook, although the Lakers will have little time to figure it out.
The Timberwolves courted Russell hard when he was on the market in July 2019, when Brooklyn ultimately landed on a sign-and-trade deal that sent Kevin Durant to the Nets and shipped Russell to Golden State. The Wolves eventually acquired Russell at the deadline in Feb. 2020 and teamed him with his draft-class pal, Karl-Anthony Towns.
The Russell-Towns pairing never really took off, in part because of injuries for each player that often kept them from being on the court at the same time. The Wolves drafted Anthony Edwards with the first overall pick in 2020, integrating another high-impact offensive player into the lineup whose value is minimized without frequent touches.
The Wolves made the playoffs in 2022, but only recently have Russell and Edwards truly clicked after coach Chris Finch made Edwards the primary ball-handler and moved Russell into an off-ball position to better maximize his shooting ability.
Russell is shooting a career-best 39.1% from 3-point range, having made five or more shots from deep in six of his last 17 games.
Conley is more of a pure distribute-first point guard than Russell, who has never been a tenacious perimeter defender, either. The 35-year-old Conley is averaging 10.7 points and 7.7 assists in his fourth season with Utah.
Utah’s Jordan Clarkson said it was “super-hard to say goodbye” to Conley after four years together.
“That guy was like Yoda, honestly,” Clarkson said. “He had so many stories, and he had such an enlightenment about him. You just listened to him. … He can communicate with anyone.”
Conley will reunite with big man Rudy Gobert, whose transition to Minnesota has been slow. Conley and Gobert meshed well with the Jazz, and their collective experience in the playoffs ought to also help a Wolves team that has been remarkably inconsistent this season while trying to keep up in the crowded race.
There’ll be an even bigger Minnesota reunion on the Lakers, with Vanderbilt and Beasley going to LA where Patrick Beverley already plays – although Beverley is showing up in numerous trade rumors himself in the final hours before the deadline. All four of those players helped the Timberwolves get the No. 7 seed for the playoffs last season before Vanderbilt, Beasley and Beverley were traded to the Jazz in the Gobert deal.
Beasley is a strong outside shooter, averaging 13.4 points while hitting 35.9% of his 3-pointers for the Jazz. The 6-foot-9 Vanderbilt has averaged 8.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, excelling on defense and on the boards while starting 41 of his 52 games.
The Lakers began their roster overhaul last month by trading Kendrick Nunn to Washington for Rui Hachimura, who is fitting in well so far as a wing option. Los Angeles also took a swing at acquiring Kyrie Irving, but Brooklyn sent the controversial guard to Dallas.
Toscano-Anderson and Jones played almost no role after joining the Lakers in the offseason.
AP SOURCE: TRAIL BLAZERS TRADE HART TO KNICKS FOR REDDISH
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) The Portland Trail Blazers have traded forward Josh Hart to the New York Knicks in exchange for Cam Reddish and a protected first-round draft pick, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Wednesday night.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams hadn’t publicly announced the deal ahead of the NBA’s trade deadline Thursday. ESPN first reported the trade.
Hart was set to start for the Blazers on Wednesday night against the Golden State Warriors, but he suddenly left the floor during warmups. Gary Payton II replaced Hart in the starting lineup.
Hart, who is in the midst of his seventh NBA season, was averaging 9.5 points and 8.2 rebounds in 51 games with Portland.
Reddish, selected by Atlanta in the 2019 NBA draft, averaged 8.4 points in 20 games with the Knicks this season.
ALLEN, MOBLEY POWER CAVALIERS TO 113-85 WIN OVER PISTONS
CLEVELAND (AP) Jarrett Allen scored 20 points, Evan Mobley added 19 and the Cleveland Cavaliers won their fourth straight game, 113-85 over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night despite resting their starting backcourt.
All-Star starter Donovan Mitchell (groin) and Darius Garland (thumb) got the night off to heal some nagging injuries and the Cavs barely missed their top guards, who average a combined 48.8 points.
With Allen and Mobley doing inside damage and combining for 21 points, Cleveland built an 18-point lead after one quarter.
The Pistons hung around and got within two in the third before the Cavs opened the fourth by outscoring Detroit 26-4 over the first seven minutes to put it away.
“Jarrett did a great job of setting the tone,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “There was a bunch of extra-effort plays that he made where he was just outworking the guy in front of him. He was able to get offensive rebounds, his teammates were finding him in the paint.
“And the same thing with Evan. They had opportunities to attack and were extremely aggressive.”
Allen added 14 rebounds as the Cavs outrebounded the Pistons 48-32 and held them to their lowest point total this season.
“These type of games are butt-kicking contests because they play physical offense,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “It was a great game for us to feel, to taste, to go up against a hard-nosed, physical playoff team.”
Bojan Bogdanovic scored 15 and rookie Jalen Duren 14 for Detroit. The Pistons have dropped nine of 11 and have the worst record (14-42) in the Eastern Conference.
Cavaliers swingman Caris LeVert, who has been mentioned in rumors leading into Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, struggled for much of the game. He finished with 15 points – 10 in the fourth – on 5-of-16 shooting.
“He knows we need him,” Bickerstaff said, “and he knows how to get to his spots and what he’s capable of, so it’s not one of those things where he’s having a bad night and you just sit him down.”
The Cavs are unlikely to make a significant move, but LeVert’s expiring $18 million contract does make him attractive for a team looking to clear salary space in the offseason.
Cleveland hasn’t lost since a tough three-point defeat at home against Miami.
“I feel like everyone is just clicking right now,” Mobley said. “Everyone is in attack mode.”
THE GREAT DEBATE
Now that he’s the NBA’s career scoring leader, LeBron James has checked a box on his resume that can’t be equaled.
And while there will continue to be discussion over whether James or Michael Jordan is the greatest player in league history, Bickerstaff believes one argument has been settled.
“I no longer think there is a debate over who had the greatest NBA career,” Bickerstaff said, referring to James, who spent 11 seasons with Cleveland.
For Bickerstaff, James’ best attribute is his well-roundedness – as a player and person.
“The way he has gone about his business,” he said. “He’s a pros pro. He’s about his teammates. He made everybody he plays with better. You can be a great player and be selfless. “He’s a hell of a role model for younger players.”
TIP-INS
Pistons: Surprisingly, Detroit came in leading the league in free throws attempted (27) and made (20.8). … The Pistons went 17 of 18 from the line. … Rookie Jaden Ivey has scored in double figures in 17 straight games.
Cavaliers: LeVert and Raul Neto started in place of Mitchell and Garland. Neto had 14 points eight assists and four steals. … Recorded their league-leading 25th win by double digits. … Ricky Rubio played 16 minutes as the Cavs continue to monitor him following knee surgery. … F Kevin Love was active, but didn’t play for the fifth straight game. “We’re just trying to give this rotation and opportunity and see what we got with it,” Bickerstaff said.
UP NEXT
Pistons: Host San Antonio on Friday.
Cavaliers: At New Orleans on Friday.
CELTICS LOSE JAYLEN BROWN, HOLD ON TO BEAT SIXERS 106-99
BOSTON (AP) The NBA-leading Boston Celtics scrounged enough out of their bench to keep the Philadelphia 76ers at bay in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
With three of the Celtics’ regular starters out – and Jaylen Brown soon to join them – Malcolm Brogdon and Derrick White scored 19 points apiece to lead Boston to a 106-99 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.
Brown, who missed the previous game with a non-COVID illness, left the game after colliding with Jayson Tatum under the basket when they were both going for an offensive rebound.
Brown appeared to take Tatum’s elbow in the left side of his head. He went to the floor and was slow to get up; when he did, he went straight to the locker room, rubbing his left eye and temple.
The team announced at the start of the third quarter that he had a facial contusion and would not return. After the game, coach Joe Mazzulla said he had no more information, but Brogdon said Brown appeared to be in pain when he left.
“I called him but he didn’t answer,” Mazzulla said. “But I’ll get that ASAP. I hope he’s OK.”
Tatum had 12 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for Boston, which won for the fourth time in five games to add to the NBA’s best record (39-16). The 76ers (34-19) are second in the Atlantic Division and third in the Eastern Conference, having lost both matchups with the Celtics this season.
“Boston has beaten us twice, and Boston won the East last year. Boston is the best team in the East. I said that before,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers said. “It’s our job to prove that wrong. But we have a lot of time to do that.”
Joel Embiid scored 28 points and James Harden added 26 points and 11 assists for the Sixers, who lost their second game in a row. They had won nine of their previous 11.
Marcus Smart, Robert Williams III and Al Horford all missed the game with injuries. Blake Griffin got the start and hit five 3-pointers for a season-high 15 points, and Grant Williams scored 15 points and added eight rebounds.
In all, the Boston bench outscored Philadelphia’s 31-21, with three other usual second-stringers contributing 49 points from the starting lineup. The Celtics made 19 of 35 from 3-point range.
“I could have made some of those 3s,” Rivers told reporters. “Well, maybe not me. I was a poor shooter. But someone in this room could have made those 3s.”
CATCHING UP
The Celtics led 98-87 midway through the fourth quarter before Matisse Thybulle and Harden hit back-to-back 3-pointers to key an 8-0 run. But Boston scored on an inbounds pass from White to Luke Kornet with 0.5 seconds to make it 100-95 with about three minutes left.
“I really didn’t think we played with the right spirit the entire game,” Rivers said. “They scored with .5 on the clock. I just thought our defensive discipline was poor. And when you play that way you don’t deserve to win.”
White then hit a 3-pointer the next time down. It was a six-point game with under two minutes when Embiid put up a fadeaway from the foul line that missed everything and went out of bounds. It was first ruled Celtics ball, the referees overruled themselves and awarded it to the Sixers, then the Celtics challenged; the replay showed Grant Williams got a piece of Embiid’s hand, not the ball.
Boston didn’t capitalize on that possession but, after Embiid missed a 3, Tatum drove for a floater that made it 105-97 with 37 seconds left.
TIP-INS
The Celtics were without Al Horford (swollen right knee), Robert Williams III (sprained left ankle) and Marcus Smart (sprained right ankle). The No. 9 Duke women’s basketball team attended the game, a night before they are scheduled to play Boston College. Duke coach Kara Lawson spent 2020 as a Celtics assistant. . Griffin’s season-highs had been three 3-pointers made and 13 points. … Embiid picked up a technical foul in the second quarter.
UP NEXT
76ers: Host the Knicks on Friday.
Celtics: Host Charlotte on Friday.
SIAKAM SCORES 37, RAPTORS HAND SPURS 10TH STRAIGHT LOSS
TORONTO (AP) Pascal Siakam had 37 points and 10 rebounds, Fred VanVleet scored 16 points and the Toronto Raptors beat San Antonio 112-98 on Wednesday night, handing the struggling Spurs their 10th consecutive loss.
Chris Boucher had 18 points and 11 rebounds off the bench in Toronto’s third straight win.
Gary Trent Jr. scored 15 points, and Scottie Barnes and Precious Achiuwa each scored 10 for the Raptors, who have won the past five meetings with the Spurs.
Siakam led Toronto with seven assists and shot 15 for 21, connecting on his first eight attempts. He went 3 for 3 from 3-point range and shot 4 of 5 at the foul line.
“He just looked assertive and aggressive from the jump,” VanVleet said. “That’s what we need from him. He was great for us tonight. He carried us.”
Boucher led Toronto with three blocked shots and also had three steals.
“He was really a force out there,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said.
Keldon Johnson scored 22 points, Josh Richardson had 14 and Doug McDermott 13 for San Antonio, which has not won since Jan. 17 against Brooklyn. Former Raptor Jakob Poeltl scored 12 points and Keita Bates-Diop had 10.
It’s the second time this season the Spurs have lost at least 10 straight. They had a season-worst 11-game slump between Nov. 14 and Dec. 4.
San Antonio made 16 turnovers, leading to 22 points for Toronto. The Spurs made 18 turnovers in Monday’s loss at Chicago.
“When you turn it over against Toronto, it’s like a bucket at the other end with their speed and their athleticism,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “They got too many points off our turnovers, but that’s how they play. That’s one of their strengths.”
Poeltl, who was close friends with Siakam when they both played in Toronto, said his old pal did a good job of picking his spots against the Spurs.
“He made tough shots tonight,” Poeltl said. “I felt like at times we played really good defense on him, he just made better shots. Hats off to him.”
Siakam shot 7 for 7 and scored 18 points in the first quarter, his season high for any quarter, as Toronto led 34-24 after one.
San Antonio rallied in the second, but the Raptors held a 57-54 lead at the half.
Siakam scored nine points in the third, and VanVleet and Trent each had six, as Toronto took an 88-75 edge to the fourth.
TIP-INS
Spurs: F Jeremy Sochan (sore lower back) and G Tre Jones (sore left foot) each sat for the third consecutive game. … San Antonio is 5-20 on the road.
Raptors: Siakam had seven rebounds in the first quarter. … Barnes had nine rebounds. … F O.G. Anunoby (sprained left wrist) missed his sixth straight game. … Toronto played at home for the first time since a Jan. 22 win over the Knicks. The Raptors went 4-3 on a season-high seven-game road trip in between.
TRADING PLACES?
With the NBA trade deadline set for 3 p.m. ET Thursday, VanVleet said he expects the Raptors (26-30) to be fielding calls from contending teams.
“We’ve got a lot of good players on a team that’s not winning,” Vanleet said. “That’s pretty much it. We haven’t played up to our standard this year, so we put ourselves in this position. Now we’ve got to deal with it. We understand there’s going to be probably every team in the league calling. We’ve got a lot of guys that a lot of teams would want, and we’re not in a great situation.”
UNHAPPY NEW YEAR
After going 2-13 in January, the Spurs have started 0-4 in February.
UP NEXT
Spurs: Visit Detroit on Friday night.
Raptors: Host Utah on Friday night.
FOX’S LATE FTS GIVES KINGS 130-128 WIN OVER ROCKETS
HOUSTON (AP) De’Aaron Fox had 31 points, including three free throws with less than a second left, to lift the Sacramento Kings to a 130-128 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.
Fox missed a 3-pointer with .3 seconds left. But Eric Gordon fouled him to set up the game-winning free throws.
“I don’t want to belittle it because he was he was amazing, but at the end of the day that’s what he gets paid to do,” coach Mike Brown said. “He’s an All-Star. He’s one of our best players and he’s got to be able to make plays for us when we need him to, especially on the road and that’s what he did.”
Fox, who added 11 assists, made consecutive baskets to get the Kings within 1 with 42.2 seconds to go.
Jalen Green missed a shot on the other end before the Kings missed three straight shots but grabbed the rebound each time. Keegan Murray got the last rebound but Kenyon Martin Jr. battled with him, and a jump ball was called. Houston got the ball on the jump ball with 2.4 seconds to go.
Gordon was fouled after that, but Malik Monk stole the inbound pass from Alperen Sengun to give the Kings the ball with 1.2 seconds left. They called a timeout to set up the final sequence.
“We just have to be able to gut it out on the road,” Fox said. “Some times it’s going to be ugly. This was an ugly game for us. We know we have to be better defensively.”
Green had 41 points and Sengun finished with 18 points, a career-high 11 assists and nine rebounds as the Rockets dropped their fourth straight.
Rockets coach Stephen Silas was disappointed that his team let this one get away after his team played much better than it did in a loss to the Kings on Monday night.
“We played with much more conviction, physicality, ball pressure, all those things,” he said. “We should have won that game.”
Domantas Sabonis added 22 points with nine rebounds for the Kings and Monk added 17 points.
Green made an off-balance 3 as he was fouled and crashed to the court with just more than two minutes left to put Houston up 124-123. Harrison Barnes was called for a foul on the play, but the Kings challenged the call, and it was overturned.
Green, the second overall pick in the 2021 draft, then scored four points to extend the lead to 128-123 with less than 90 seconds left.
Sabonis made a layup to get the Kings within four with about seven minutes left in the third. But he picked up his fifth foul seconds later and headed to the bench for the rest of the quarter.
The Kings scored five points, with a 3 from Monk, to take a four-point lead late in third. However, Houston ended the quarter with a 4-2 spurt to cut the lead to 99-97 entering the fourth.
Houston used a 6-1 run to take a 112-107 lead with eight minutes to go. The Kings then scored the next seven points, with a 3-point play by Harrison Barnes and four points from Fox, to go on top 114-112 a minute later.
Jae’Sean Tate hit a layup for the Rockets to tie it with less than five minutes to go. But a 7-2 run by the Kings, highlighted by a 3 from Murray, gave them a 121-116 lead with 3 1/2 minutes left.
A 5-0 spurt by the Rockets tied it after that before a layup by Sabonis put the Kings on top 123-121.
TIP-INS
Kings: Barnes had 16 points. … Sacramento made 10 of 30 3-pointers. … The Kings were outrebounded 44-31.
Rockets: Kevin Porter Jr. missed his 14th consecutive game with a left big toe injury. . Martin had 15 points. … Tate added 16 off the bench.
GOING HOME
The Kings head home Wednesday night after going 4-3 on a season-high seven-game road trip.
UP NEXT
Kings: Host Dallas for consecutive games Friday and Saturday night.
Rockets: Open a five-game road trip Friday night in Miami.
T’WOLVES TOP JAZZ IN MATCHUP OF TEAMS TRADING WITH LAKERS
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Anthony Edwards scored 31 points and Jaylen Nowell added a career-high 30 to lead Minnesota to a 143-118 win over Utah on Wednesday night amid word the Timberwolves, Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers were part of an eight-player swap hours ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
“It was crazy, the last six hours,” Edwards said. “But, I mean, we’re here to play basketball at the end of the day. We can’t really feed into that – we have nothing to do with that. (My teammates) did a great job of staying locked in and they kept me locked in.”
Playing loose, the Timberwolves set a season high with 79 points in the first half and led 107-80 midway through the third quarter, helped by 64% shooting from the field and 61% from 3-point range.
While not speaking directly about a trade that hadn’t been announced, Minnesota coach Chris Finch detailed the difficulty if playing while the roster was in flux.
“We just talked briefly about things before taking the floor. These things, it’s unfortunate timing, you don’t ever get to pick your timing. Maybe in some ways, it was good that we could just play a game and not have to overthink things. But guys were ready,” Finch said.
Luka Garza scored a career-high 25 points and the Timberwolves made 23 3-pointers at a 54% shooting clip, tying their highest output of the season.
“It was definitely strange,” Garza said of the deal happening just before the game. “But I don’t want to ever look back in my time in NBA and be like, I didn’t make the most of what was my childhood dream.”
The three-team trade was confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday night by a person with knowledge of the deal, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams hadn’t announced the major deal made ahead of Thursday afternoon’s trade deadline.
In the deal, the Timberwolves sent D’Angelo Russell to the Lakers, where he played his first two NBA seasons from 2015-17. Utah shipped Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Mike Conley to Minnesota and dealt Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley to the Lakers. The Jazz received Russell Westbrook, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones from the Lakers, as well as a first-round draft pick in 2027.
The Jazz were short-handed in the game without four players who have logged significant minutes this season, as the teams were just shells of their former selves.
The Timberwolves were also missing a host of regulars as Rudy Gobert (groin), Kyle Anderson (back) and Austin Rivers (suspension) were held out, and Karl-Anthony Towns is still sidelined with a right calf strain.
Lauri Markkanen scored 21 points and Collin Sexton had 20 in Utah’s worst home loss of the season. Their worst road loss of the season was a 26-point defeat to Milwaukee on Dec. 17.
“Credit to Minnesota, they made a lot of shots and we missed a lot of make-able shots,” Utah coach Will Hardy said of his team making just 31 of 65 shots in the paint. “They made 23 3s at 54% and that was too hard for us to overcome.”
This Jazz have assembled a formidable collection of draft capital, including key pieces from Minnesota in last summer’s Gobert deal.
Utah has 15 unprotected or lightly protected first-round picks to use through 2029, along with a talented under-25 group of Markkanen, Walker Kessler, Sexton and Ochai Agbaji and more than $60 million under the salary cap if they buy out Westbrook, as expected.
Conley was Utah’s only true point guard – and one of the last holdovers from the Donovan Mitchell and Gobert era. Now, Sexton will have the opportunity to prove he can be an effective starting playmaker on a winning team.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves will see if they can thrive with a veteran, pass-first point guard like Conley, who is averaging a career high 7.7 assists this season.
Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson said they have something special coming their way in Conley.
“He’s a leader, great point guard and a guy that makes everybody’s life easier on the court,” Clarkson said. “That guy was like Yoda, honestly. He had so many stories and he had such an enlightenment about him. You just listened to him. . He can communicate with anyone.”
TIP-INS
Timberwolves: After two overtime games, Minnesota has won two games by more than 25 points and lost one by 34. . The Timberwolves had 27 fast-break points to just two for the Jazz. . Luke Garza made a career-best four 3-pointers.
Jazz: In the first quarter, Rudy Gay passed Jason Kidd for 88th on the NBA all-time points scored list with 17,530. . Udoka Azubuike matched his season-high of four points with two rim-rattling dunks.
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: At Memphis on Friday.
Jazz: At Toronto on Friday.
IRVING SCORES 24 IN DALLAS DEBUT, LEADS MAVS OVER CLIPPERS
LOS ANGELES (AP) Kyrie Irving came out charging in his Dallas debut, keying a big run to open the game and sparking his new teammates in front of a cheering Luka Doncic on the bench.
Irving scored 24 points and the Mavericks never trailed in beating the Los Angeles Clippers 110-104 on Wednesday night.
“It felt good to get this debut out of the way,” Irving said. “It’s just been a long 96 hours, barely any sleep sometimes. It’s the first time I ever got traded in the middle of the season, so it was new for me, but I’m excited that I’m here.”
With Doncic still sidelined by injury, Irving meshed well with his young teammates just three days after the eight-time All-Star was traded from the Brooklyn Nets. He was part of a 13-0 spurt early in the game, scoring eight points on a jumper and back-to-back 3-pointers.
“The most important thing that we stressed as a team was just don’t force the ball to me. We just want to play natural basketball,” Irving said. “You don’t always have to come to me. You can play off me, I can play off the ball, I can cut.”
Irving had four rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes of what amounted to a dress rehearsal before Doncic returns to give the Mavs a powerhouse backcourt. Irving was greeted with cheers and a boy holding a sign welcoming him to the team when he was introduced as part of the starting lineup.
“I’m sure when number 77 gets back it’ll be even more enjoyable to see and play out there,” Irving said.
Early in the fourth, Irving fouled Paul George. A Clippers fan yelled to him, “I love you, but that was a flagrant.” Irving laughed and shook his head no.
Former Clipper Reggie Bullock scored 15 of his 18 points in the first quarter against his old team. All five Dallas starters reached double figures.
Norman Powell scored 24 points and Terance Mann added 21 for the Clippers, whose two-game winning streak ended. George added 20 points. Kawhi Leonard, who had two points in the first half, finished with 18.
Coming off a 4-2 road trip, the Clippers trailed by 19 in the first quarter.
“Ky just had that bounce and that mentality that I’m going to show what I can do and make my presence felt right away,” George said. “You felt it the second they got into their first possession, just his motor.”
The Mavs scored 41 points in the opening quarter while shooting 60% from the floor. They outscored the Clippers 21-9 to start the game, propelled by Irving’s offense.
“He makes things look easy,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “The comfort level he feels with us, you could see it in the game. He is at peace with his basketball game.”
The Clippers made a run at the lead in the third. Leonard ignited a 20-10 spurt by scoring 11 in a row to pull them to 79-78. Josh Green’s basket kept the Mavs ahead 81-78 going into the fourth.
The Mavs quickly stretched their lead to 10 points in the fourth. The Clippers got within five four times but the Mavs held them off.
The Clippers cut their deficit to 60-52 at halftime after outscoring Dallas 27-19 in the second period.
Leonard had two points and George had 10 in the first half when they combined to shoot 5 of 14.
TIP-INS
Mavericks: Doncic missed his third straight game because of a right heel contusion. He joined the team in Los Angeles and it’s under discussion whether he will play Friday or Saturday when the Mavs are at Sacramento for a back-to-back. … They made 17 3-pointers, including six by Bullock.
Clippers: John Wall (abdominal soreness) remains out. … Former team co-owner Shelly Sterling, who sold the franchise to Steve Ballmer after her then-husband Donald Sterling was banned by the NBA, sat courtside next to Jalen Rose.
KEEPING MINUTES DOWN
Leonard and George played fewer minutes by design and coach Tyronn Lue plans to keep it that way until after the All-Star break.
“Making sure they feel good, making sure they are healthy,” Lue said. “That’s kind of what went into the decision.”
UP NEXT
Mavericks: Visit the Sacramento Kings on Friday in the fourth of five road games.
Clippers: Host the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.
LILLARD HAS TRIPLE-DOUBLE, BLAZERS BEAT WARRIORS 125-122
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Damian Lillard had 33 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers rallied past the Golden State Warriors 125-122 on Wednesday night.
It was just the second triple-double of Lillard’s career, and first this season.
“I didn’t shoot the ball very well. But I think I approached the game with the same mentality, just to be aggressive, be in attack mode,” Lillard said. “Just tried to put pressure on the defense and when they react to just make the right play.”
Jordan Poole scored 38 for the Warriors, who played without injured guard Stephen Curry. Klay Thompson added 31 points on his 33rd birthday, including seven 3-pointers.
The game was tied at 95 going into the final quarter and it was back and forth the rest of the way. After Poole’s 3-pointer got Golden State within 108-107, Andrew Wiggins scored to put the Warriors in front.
Trendon Watford’s layup for the Blazers evened the game again at 114 with 4:56 left before Jerami Grant’s three-point play gave Portland back the lead. Grant added another layup with 1:54 left to make it 119-114 while the Warriors struggled from the field.
Lillard added a pair of free throws and Golden State couldn’t catch up. Grant finished with 22 points.
Portland made 31 of 32 foul shots, while the Warriors were 9 for 10 at the line.
“When it’s 31-9 from the foul line, that’s a lot to overcome. You’ve got to make a ton of 3s, which we did, and you’ve got to win the turnover battle, which we did,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “That’s why it’s close. But to get over the hump you’ve got to make every shot it seems like. So we got out-boarded and they beat us up at the foul line and I thought that was the difference in the game.”
The Warriors were minus Curry for the second consecutive game because of a left leg injury he sustained late in the third quarter of a victory over Dallas on Saturday. Thompson stepped up in Curry’s absence with 42 points and a season-high 12 3-pointers in Golden State’s 141-114 win over Oklahoma City on Monday night.
Blazers forward Josh Hart was in the starting lineup but suddenly left the floor during warmups and was replaced by Gary Payton II as reports surfaced that Hart was traded to the New York Knicks for Cam Reddish and a protected first-round draft pick.
“That was kind of weird. We were warming up and he just shook my hand and walked off the court,” Lillard said.
The Blazers had dropped two straight, including a 127-108 loss to Milwaukee on Monday night.
Portland led by 11 in the first half but the Warriors were up 67-63 at the break after Poole made a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Golden State went on to lead most of the third quarter before Nassir Little’s 3 gave the Blazers a 93-91 lead late.
TIP-INS
Warriors: Golden State is 9-8 without Curry, who was previously sidelined from Dec. 16 to Jan. 7 with a shoulder injury. … Thompson grew up in Lake Oswego outside Portland and his dad, Mychal, played for the Blazers.
Trail Blazers: It was the second game of a five-game homestand. … Shortly after he was traded, Hart posted two hearts – one orange, one blue, for the Knicks’ colors – on Twitter.
GP2’s IMPACT
Payton made a defensive difference off the bench last season for the Warriors when they won the NBA championship. Now he’s with the Blazers, lending those same skills.
“We know what he’s capable of at both ends,” Kerr said. “Defensively he’s one of the best in the league and then offensively, he’s a great finisher and he can step out and make the 3 as well. So he’s an excellent player who helped us win a title last year. So we will always be thankful for Gary.”
UP NEXT
Warriors: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.
Trail Blazers: Host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
VANDY STUNS NO. 6 TENNESSEE ON LAWRENCE’S BUZZER-BEATING 3
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Vanderbilt Commodores and coach Jerry Stackhouse finally experienced the thrill of a big upset inside the Southeastern Conference’s oldest gym.
The Commodores had struggled for so long with crowds dwindling that the old Memorial Gym magic seemed gone.
Not Wednesday night.
Tyrin Lawrence knocked down a 3-pointer from the right corner at the buzzer as the Commodores snapped an 11-game skid against their in-state rival by upsetting sixth-ranked Tennessee 66-65 Wednesday night.
Stackhouse called Lawrence’s shot the biggest of his tenure and maybe his favorite spanning both his own playing career in the NBA and now coaching career.
“We finally experienced it, the Memorial Magic we were looking for,” Stackhouse said. “Unbelievable game, unbelievable effort. Guys never quit. Didn’t look great there for a minute, but we just kept battling.”
Students rushed the court and joined the Commodores in celebrating easily the program’s biggest win in nearly 11 years. Then the Commodores (12-12, 5-6) celebrated by running along the courtside slapping high-fives.
Tennessee (19-5, 8-2) had every chance to finish off the win after Olivier Nkamhoua’s 15-foot jumper with 50 seconds left put the Vols up 65-63 lead. Liam Robbins missed a turnaround jumper with 27 seconds for Vanderbilt, and Zakai Zeigler grabbed the rebound.
Vols freshman Julian Phillips had a chance to dunk in the final seconds but kept dribbling to force another Vanderbilt foul.
“I am not sure what was going through his head there,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. “I don’t think he will ever make that mistake again.”
Vanderbilt had to foul five times to finally send Santiago Vescovi to the line with 8 seconds left.
He missed the first shot, and Lawrence grabbed the rebound. Stackhouse took a timeout with 4 seconds to go to set up the final play, and Ezra Manjon drove to the basket before passing out to Lawrence in the corner for the winning bucket.
“It felt great,” said Lawrence, who Stackhouse benched for an ugly loss to No. 4 Alabama last week. “It’s the stuff we dream about as kids just in the back yard counting down `3, 2, 1.’ Glad I was able to hit the game winner.”
Lawrence finished with a team-high 19 points. Robbins added 14 and nine rebounds, and Jordan Wright had 12.
Vescovi and Tyreke Key each had 14 to lead Tennessee. Olivier Nkamhoua and Julian Phillips added 10 apiece.
Tennessee led 34-32 at halftime setting up a thrilling finish in a game that featured 15 lead changes and nine ties.
BIG PICTURE
Tennessee was shooting well over 55% before hitting the kind of scoring drought that usually plagues the Vols in their losses. The Vols went 4:27 without a bucket as Vandy scored six straight to stay close. The nation’s best 3-point defense, which had been holding opponents to 21.9% shooting outside the arc, also gave up a season-high 10 3s with Lawrence’s game-winner the last.
Vanderbilt improved to 100-259 all-time against Top 25 opponents, and the Commodores improved to 2-3 this season. They now are 4-16 against ranked opponents under Stackhouse. … Lawrence’s game-winning shot was Vandy’s first made bucket since the 3:44 mark.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
The road is turning into a challenging issue for the Volunteers with a second straight loss away from home, and this won’t help them stay in the Top 10.
DID IT COUNT?
Stackhouse tapped a play used by Dwane Casey when the Vandy coach worked with him in the NBA in Toronto. Stackhouse added some wrinkles with Manjon driving toward the basket where the Vols collapsed on him before whipping the pass down the baseline to Lawrence.
While everyone celebrated the shot, Stackhouse asked the scorekeeper if it counted. They didn’t know.
“Then (official) Tony Greene came over and he said it was good. `We’re gonna look at it, but it was good.’ I can’t contain myself. I hugged Tony Greene,” Stackhouse said with a big smile.
UP NEXT
Tennessee hosts Missouri on Saturday night.
Vanderbilt visits Florida.
MILLER SCORES 24, NO. 3 ALABAMA RACES PAST FLORIDA 97-69
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) With freshman star Brandon Miller leading the way, Alabama is now off to its best Southeastern Conference start in nearly seven decades.
Miller scored 24 points and made 4 of 8 3-pointers to lead No. 3 Alabama to a 97-69 victory over Florida on Wednesday night for the program’s best SEC start since the 1955-56 team went 14-0 in league games.
The Crimson Tide (21-3, 11-0) raced to a 29-point halftime lead against the Gators (13-11, 6-5), who had knocked off then-No. 2 Tennessee a week earlier.
Alabama also matched the 1975-76 team for the program’s best record through 24 games.
“It’s great. They’ve had a lot of really good teams here,” Tide coach Nate Oats said. “I don’t even know who was in the SEC back in 55-56, but it’s a good league now.
“We’re just trying to play good basketball. I think we played pretty well tonight. It’s nice to make some history around here.”
Miller added nine rebounds and three assists for the Tide. Mark Sears made 4 of 6 3s and scored 19 for Alabama, which buried 15 shots from long range. Jahvon Quinerly had 11 points and five assists.
Colin Castleton led Florida with 29 points and 10 rebounds. He accounted for 13 of his team’s 23 in the first half and made 11 of 14 free throws. Riley Kugel added 15 points and Will Richard scored 11.
It was a rough way to end a four-game stretch that included three Top 5 opponents and a visit to Kentucky’s Rupp Arena.
“A really challenging time for us,” Florida coach Todd Golden said. “A lot of fatigue both physically and mentally. We thought after beating Tennessee last week and then having a close emotional loss on Saturday (against Kentucky) that this was going to be a challenging game for us.
“And we just didn’t play well enough. I thought Alabama looked fresh. Obviously they respect us in the way they approached the game and they played a really good game.”
Alabama built a 52-23 halftime lead on a combination of scorching 3-point shooting, and the Gators’ own shooting woes. The Tide made 9 of 17 3s by halftime while Florida missed its five attempts.
Alabama started the rout with a 23-4 run that included Quinerly’s eight points and the team’s four 3s.
Miller hit 3 of 4 3s in the first half, including a pair in the final three minutes.
It was a hot start for a team coming off a more lackluster 79-69 win over LSU.
“We weren’t happy with our game at LSU,” Oats said. “I think guys understood we’ve got to play better. It wasn’t who we were. Two out of our last three games, we haven’t played hard enough, long enough.”
The Gators got as close as 17 in the second half but Miller answered with eight points in less than two minutes: a 3-pointer, a one-handed dunk and a basket and subsequent foul shot.
“Coach called a time out and we just regrouped as a team and got our energy back right together,” Sears said.
CLOWNEY FACE
Alabama’s Noah Clowney left the court in the middle of the second half and didn’t return. Oats said it was a facial injury, not a concussion and Clowney shouldn’t miss a game.
BIG PICTURE
Florida: Has faced four different top 5 teams for the first time in program history, going 2-2. Castleton tied Al Horford (2004-07) for third place in career blocks at Florida with his 188th and 189th.
Alabama: Made 15 of 34 3-pointers (44%) against a defense that came in allowing opponents to hit only 29%. Has won its first 11 SEC games for only the second time.
UP NEXT
Florida faces Vanderbilt on Saturday.
Alabama visits in-state rival Auburn on Saturday.
NFL NEWS
CHIEFS’ MAHOMES SAYS ANKLE WILL BE READY FOR SUPER BOWL
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) Patrick Mahomes says he’s “definitely in a better spot” when it comes to his ailing right ankle than he was for the AFC championship game, and the All-Pro quarterback doesn’t expect to be limited by it when he leads the Kansas City Chiefs against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.
Mahomes said before Wednesday’s practice at Arizona State’s facility that he continues to get treatment on the ankle, which he hurt in the divisional round against Jacksonville, and that it will probably continue up until Sunday’s kickoff.
“You won’t know exactly how it is until you get to game day,” he said. “I mean, I definitely move around better than I was moving last week or two weeks ago. So it’s just trying to continue to get the treatment and the rehab and get it as close to 100% and then rely on some adrenaline to let me do a little bit extra when I’m on the field.”
Mahomes hurt the ankle when a Jaguars pass rusher landed on it late in the first quarter. X-rays taken during the game came back negative, and he returned in the second half to lead Kansas City to the 27-20 victory.
Mahomes spent the next week getting treatment on the ankle, and he credited trainers Rick Burkholder and Julie Frymyer with getting him in shape to play for the AFC title. And while he was clearly hobbled by the high ankle sprain, and several times limped away from hits, Mahomes was available against Cincinnati when the Chiefs needed him at the end.
It was Mahomes who sprinted on his sore ankle in the closing seconds, then took a big late hit along the sideline, getting Kansas City within range of Harrison Butker’s 45-yard field goal that punched its ticket back to the Super Bowl.
“He’s been doing really well with his ankle,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. “We had a fast practice a couple days ago and he moved well. He can really do just about everything – at least everything in the game plan we asked him to do.”
Still, concern about Mahomes’ ankle persists. When Missouri Chief Justice Paul Wilson delivered his annual State of the Judiciary speech Wednesday to the Missouri Legislature, he added a twist to the typical closing line.
“May God bless each of you, may God continue to bless the great state of Missouri and, of course, may God bless Patrick Mahomes’ right ankle,” Wilson said to resounding applause from state lawmakers.
Back in Arizona, the Chiefs had everyone available as they ramped up with a more intense practice Wednesday.
That included JuJu Smith-Schuster, who missed practice last week with swelling in his knee, and fellow wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who likewise skipped all the workouts in Kansas City with a sprained ankle. It also included cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who cleared the concussion protocol this week and returned to practice.
All three of those players, along with linebacker Willie Gay Jr., were hurt in the AFC championship game. Gay came away with a relatively minor shoulder injury and practiced last week along with this week.
The Chiefs also are keeping a close eye on running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who was activated off injured reserve when wide receiver Mecole Hardman went on IR with a pelvis injury this week. The 2020 first-round pick has been out since November with a high ankle sprain, but there’s a chance Edwards-Helaire could be active for the Super Bowl.
If active, he would give the Chiefs a change-of-pace back behind Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon.
RIVERA: HOWELL GOES INTO SPRING AS COMMANDERS’ STARTING QB
PHOENIX (AP) Sam Howell is going into offseason workouts as the Washington Commanders ‘ starting quarterback, coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday.
The second-year pro will still have competition along the way, but Rivera’s declaration appears to take the organization out of the running for high-profile veterans such as Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr or even Jimmy Garoppolo, who was an option last year before the trade for Carson Wentz.
That went poorly, so Howell takes the lead in the aftermath of the failed Wentz experiment.
“Sam Howell is going to start out as QB1,” Rivera said on the AP Pro Football Podcast. “The key to that, though, is he’s going to have to earn it to keep, that’s for darn sure.”
Washington drafted Howell in the fifth round last year out of North Carolina. Before a rough final college season, he was projected to be a top-10 pick – if not first overall.
Howell made his NFL debut in the regular-season finale after the Commanders were eliminated from playoff contention. He threw and ran for a touchdown in beating the playoff-bound Dallas Cowboys.
“That game to me really epitomized what we potentially can be as a football team and what we should be,” Rivera said after being the recipient of the USAA Salute to Service Award.
Howell was the eighth quarterback to start a game in three seasons since Rivera took over in Washington with control over football operations.
If he earns the job to start the season, Howell would be the team’s seventh different Week 1 starting QB in as many years, following Wentz (2022), Ryan Fitzpatrick (’21), Dwayne Haskins (’20), Case Keenum (’19), Alex Smith (’18) and Kirk Cousins (’17). Wentz, who threw three interceptions in the loss to Cleveland that contributed to the Commanders being eliminated, is expected to be released before the start of the new league year in March.
Rivera and the Commanders are still looking for an offensive coordinator after firing Scott Turner, who has since joined the Las Vegas Raiders.
They’ve so far interviewed six candidates: San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach/running backs coach Anthony Lynn, former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, current Washington quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese, Atlanta Falcons QBs coach Charles London, Miami Dolphins associate head coach/RBs coach Eric Studesville and Los Angeles Rams assistant head coach/tight ends coach Thomas Brown. London has since been hired as the Tennessee Titans’ QBs coach and pass game coordinator.
Washington would need to wait until after the Super Bowl to speak with Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
AP SOURCE: 49ERS QB PURDY TO UNDERGO SURGERY FEB. 22
(AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will undergo surgery on his injured elbow later this month and should be fully recovered by training camp.
A person familiar with the decision said Purdy will undergo the surgery on Feb. 22 to repair the torn ligament in his right elbow. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team didn’t announce the decision.
NFL Network first reported the decision on surgery that will be performed by Dr. Keith Meister, the team physician for the Texas Rangers.
Purdy tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on the first drive of a 31-7 loss in the NFC title game to Philadelphia on Jan. 29.
Purdy got several opinions from doctors on whether to avoid surgery and try to rehabilitate the elbow, have an “internal brace” procedure to repair the elbow or undergo reconstructive Tommy John surgery.
He opted for the internal brace, which should allow him to begin a throwing program in three months and be fully cleared to practice sometime in August if everything goes as planned.
Purdy went from the last pick of the draft to starter in the conference title game in an impressive rookie season for the 49ers. He won his first seven starts after stepping in for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 13 before the loss to Philadelphia in the conference title game.
Purdy threw for 1,374 yards with 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions in the regular season and his 108 passer rating in the regular season and playoffs was highest ever for a rookie with at least 200 passes.
Purdy will miss the offseason program, giving 2021 first-round pick Trey Lance time to work with the first-team offense. Lance began this past season as the starter before breaking his ankle in Week 2. He is expected to be cleared to practice before the start of the offseason program.
HAMLIN APPEARS DURING SUPER BOWL EVENT TO RECEIVE AWARD
PHOENIX (AP) Damar Hamlin made a brief appearance in Phoenix during Super Bowl week to receive the NFLPA’s Alan Page Community Award.
The Buffalo Bills safety received the award at the Phoenix Convention Center on Wednesday, a little over a month after he went into cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated on the field in Cincinnati.
“One of my favorite quotes: it’s a blessing to be a blessing,” Hamlin said, reading from a brief statement with his parents on stage with him. “With that being said, I plan to never take this position for granted and always have an urgent approach to making a difference in the community where I come from and also communities across the world.”
Hamlin was one of five finalists for the Alan Page Award, which annually recognizes one player who goes above and beyond to perform community service in his team city and/or hometown. His foundation received $100,000 with the award.
“He is not only an individual who has overcome a tremendous amount, he’s not only a person who reminds us just how dangerous this game is, but also the spirit, the love, the joy, the fraternity of people who play this game,” NFLPA executive director Demaurice Smith said.
Hamlin’s toy drive fundraiser received unexpected GoFundMe donations in the days and weeks after he collapsed. Chasing M’s has since raised more than $9 million.
“Giving back to my community has always been a part of who I am,” Hamlin said. “I’m thankful for my father, who’s right here behind me, growing up watching him doing community days in our community. I always was waiting on my time when it came.”
Hamlin collapsed on the field after a collision with a Cincinnati Bengals player and had to be resuscitated before being taken away by ambulance. He spent nearly a week in a Cincinnati hospital before being flown to Buffalo, where he spent a couple of days in the hospital before being released on Jan. 11.
Hamlin started visiting the Bills’ facility shortly after that and attended Buffalo’s divisional game against Cincinnati, receiving a rousing ovation when he was shown on the video board.
He still faces a long recovery. Hamlin’s marketing representative Jordon Rooney said on Jan. 20 that the 24-year-old was still requiring oxygen and regular heart monitoring to ensure there are no setbacks.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
NORVELL GETS RAISE, 3-YEAR EXTENSION FROM FLORIDA STATE
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Florida State football coach Mike Norvell, whose team ended last season with a six-game winning streak, was rewarded with a three-year contract extension that will pay him an average of $8.05 million annually through 2029.
The school released the contract Wednesday. It will pay Norvell $5.6 million in 2023, $7.6 million in 2024, $7.8 million in 2025, $8.1 million in 2026, $8.3 million in 2027, $8.6 million in 2028 and $8.8 million in 2029. He also gets a $250,000 retention bonus if he’s still employed every Dec. 31.
Norvell earned $4.5 million last year and would have made $7.25 million in the final year of his previous deal.
This is the second extension for Norvell, who was hired after the 2019 season. The Seminoles added a year to his contract following the 2021 season. FSU finished 10-3 last season and ranked No. 11 in the final AP college football poll.
The Seminoles beat Florida State and Miami – and scored at least 45 points against both in-state rivals in the same season for the first time. FSU also was the only team to lead its conference in both total offense and total defense. Along with Southeastern Conference heavyweights Alabama and Georgia, FSU was one of three teams to rank in the top 15 in yards per play on both sides of the ball.
“Coach Norvell has re-established a culture that the entire Seminole Family can appreciate,” athletic director Michael Alford said in a statement. “We are proud of the way Coach Norvell, his staff and his team represent Florida State University on and off the field.”
The Seminoles likely will be a trendy pick in the Atlantic Coast Conference next fall, with quarterback Jordan Travis, standout defensive end Jared Verse, leading rusher Trey Benson and leading receiver Johnny Wilson all returning for another season in Tallahassee.
“I’m grateful for the trust our administration continues to place in me to lead the Florida State football program,” Norvell said. “President Richard McCullough, the Board of Trustees and Michael Alford have been important pieces in our success, and the alignment we have makes me excited for the future of this program.
“I appreciate their support and vision to continue our climb toward the top of college football. I’m also thankful for the people who brought me and my family here three years ago, along with the players and staff whose commitment has helped us build this foundation. The future is bright here in Tallahassee.”
NHL NEWS
KREIDER, CHYTIL LEAD RANGERS TO 4-3 WIN OVER CANUCKS
NEW YORK (AP) Chris Kreider and Filip Chytil got New York off to a strong start in the first period and the Rangers held on to beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 on Wednesday night for their third straight win.
Alexis Lafreniere and Mika Zibanejad also scored for the Rangers, who have won four straight and 11 of the last 14 at home. K’Andre Miller had three assists and Jacob Trouba added two, and Igor Shesterkin had 22 saves.
“We’re at our best when we keep things simple,? said Miller, who recorded the first three-point game of his career with assists on the first three goals. “The puck found me tonight and the guys made some great plays.”
Conor Garland, Vasily Podkolzin and Elias Pettersson had goals for the Canucks. Quinn Hughes had two assists and Spencer Martin finished with 17 saves.
New York is 18-4-3 since Dec. 5 while spiraling Vancouver is 4-12-1 since Dec. 27.
Kreider opened the scoring with his 21st goal at 6:53 of the opening period, converting a pass from Vincent Trocheck past Martin. It was Kreider’s 21st of the season and 250th of his career – tying him with Mark Messier for seventh place on the franchise’s all-time list.
Chytil made it 2-0 at 8:31 with his career-best 19th and his seventh during a five-game scoring streak. He has 11 goals and four assists in his last 13 games.
“I love scoring goals, it’s a great feeling,” Chytil said. “And it’s a great feeling that I’m helping the team get points. We’re playing good hockey right now. We have to keep doing the things we are doing.”
Garland pulled the Canucks within one with 2:24 left in the first, beating Shesterkin with a high shot for his 10th.
Lafreniere, who scored the overtime winner against Calgary on Monday, put the Rangers ahead 3-1 at 6:23 of the second. It was his eighth goal, giving him three goals and three assists in his last six games.
“We’re finding ways to win,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. “Tonight was a see-saw battle. There was nothing easy tonight.”
Podkolzin made it 3-2 with his first of the season with 3:54 left in the middle period.
Zibanejad gave the Rangers a two-goal cushion with 3:55 left in the third with his team-leading 25th goal but Pettersson made it 4-3 just 11 seconds later with his 22nd. Hughes got his team-high 42nd assist on the last score.
The Canucks lost 5-4 in overtime to the Devils in Newark on Monday and will complete their New York-area visit against the Islanders on Thursday. Vancouver is 2-2-1 under Rick Tocchet, who replaced Bruce Boudreau as the team’s coach on Jan. 22.
“Some guys just weren’t ready to play tonight,” Tocchet said. “We had a chance at the end to get in there. Tonight it showed that if we don’t value certain plays we’re not going to win.”
NOTES: The Rangers are 16-5-3 against Western Conference opponents and 7-2-2 against Pacific Division teams. … Anthony Beauvillier, acquired as part of the trade that sent Bo Horvat to the Islanders on Jan. 30, had his first assist for Vancouver on Pettersson’s goal. … The teams meet again Feb. 15 in Vancouver. … Buffalo is the only team the Rangers have yet to face this season.
UP NEXT
Canucks: At the New York Islanders on Thursday night.
Rangers: Host Seattle on Friday night.
BENN BREAKS SCORELESS TIE EARLY IN 2ND, STARS TOP WILD 4-1
DALLAS (AP) Captain Jamie Benn broke a scoreless tie 23 seconds into the second period of his 1,001st career game, and the Dallas Stars beat the Minnesota Wild 4-1 on Wednesday night.
Benn’s 20th goal on a perfect feed from 19-year-old rookie Wyatt Johnston started a three-goal second for the Western Conference-leading Stars.
Radek Faksa’s one-timer on a precision 2-on-1 pass from Tyler Seguin came five minutes later, and Jani Hakanpaa tipped in a shot from Roope Hintz midway through the period.
“We wanted to play faster all year,” Dallas coach Pete DeBoer said. “Typically that allows you in the second periods with the long change if you can play fast to catch teams, and I think we did that tonight.”
Joel Eriksson Ek scored on a power play to get Minnesota within 3-1 late in the second, and the Wild had Ryan Hartman’s goal just 30 seconds later called off for goalie interference against Jordan Greenway. Minnesota has lost five consecutive road games in regulation.
“We get a positive situation, score a goal at the end of the second period, (Greenway is) going to the net, trying to do all the right things, takes a route and the goalie just happens to be there,” Wild coach Dean Evason said. “It’s the right call, but we need a break like that to go our way.”
Hintz added an empty-netter for his 22nd of the season with 2:11 remaining, and Jake Oettinger made 38 saves for Dallas. Jason Robertson had two assists.
“Timely saves, and at the same time, I thought we defended well in front of him,” DeBoer said. “He was Jake. You just get used to that. You’ve got to make a real good, too perfect shot to beat him because he’s always in position.”
The Stars’ second consecutive victory stopped a four-game run of games going to extra time, which Dallas finished with a 1-0-3 record in a quartet of games decided by 3-2 scores. Three overtime losses started the strange stretch, followed by a shootout victory in Benn’s 1,000th game.
They were all part of Dallas’ season-high eight-game homestand. The Stars, who last played on the road Jan. 19, have two games left on the homestand.
“It’s a nice feeling when you don’t have to go to OT or a shootout for sure,” Hakanpaa said. “I think the boys in here had enough of that.”
Faska had a chance for a second goal when Greenway was called for hooking on a breakaway with six minutes remaining, but Filip Gustavsson easily stopped the penalty shot. Gustavsson had 33 saves.
After a scoreless first period in which Minnesota had several strong scoring chances early, Johnston waited with the puck at the blue line as Benn skated in. Johnston hit Benn in stride, and the 33-year-old faked Gustavsson on the goalie’s left side and beat him on the right.
“I think adjusting to the pace of the game is a big thing,” Johnston said after a 10th assist to go with 13 goals that were tied for second among rookies to start the night. “Just kind of learning with that what kind of space and time you’ll have in situations. And kind of finding where space is open on the ice.”
Faksa had the simple task of redirecting the puck into an open net on the pass from Seguin, as did Minnesota’s Eriksson Ek on a feed from All-Star Kirill Kaprizov after Miro Heiskanen was called for cross-checking Kaprizov.
UP NEXT
Wild: Host Vegas on Thursday to finish a back-to-back and start their second seven-game homestand of the season.
Stars: At Tampa Bay on Saturday for the second of two meetings. The Lightning won 5-4 in overtime at home in November.
TOP INDIANA RELEASES
PACERS BASKETBALL
GAME REWIND: PACERS 111, HEAT 116
Like the previous three meetings this season, the latest matchup between the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat came down to the wire.
Unfortunately for the Pacers (25-31), the Blue & Gold came out on the wrong end of a 116-111 loss to the Heat (30-25) at Miami-Dade Arena on Wednesday.
It was a tale of two halves for the Pacers, as they shot 60 percent in the first half and scored 63 points but shot just 36.8 percent in the final 24 minutes for 48 points.
The Pacers were able to make it a one-possession game in the final 10 seconds, but Heat center Bam Adebayo sealed the game by making all four of his free throws.
With the loss, the teams finished the season series knotted 2-2. Between all four games, the difference was 16 points combined.
Adebayo had a dominant outing, finishing with 38 points to go along with nine rebounds. Five players scored in double figures for the Heat, with Jimmy Butler (25 points) coming in after Adebayo.
Buddy Hield led the Pacers with 29 points on six made 3-pointers while Myles Turner recorded 21 points and 10 rebounds and Tyrese Haliburton had 11 points and 10 assists.
Indiana has now lost 10 straight road games while Miami hasn’t lost at home in seven straight games.
The Pacers dug themselves out of a 16-point hole in the first quarter and led the Heat 63-60 at halftime.
Pacers reserve point guard T.J. McConnell scored 16 points for the visitors in the first half on 7-for-9 shooting as the Blue & Gold’s second unit outscored the Heat’s 24-6 in the opening 24 minutes.
In a high-scoring first quarter, the Heat shot 68.4 percent from the field and the Pacers made 60 percent of their shots.
The Pacers drained their first three 3-point attempts of the game, as Turner, Aaron Nesmith and Hield all hit shots from deep, but the teams stayed tied at nine points three minutes into the game.
Miami responded with a 14-0 scoring spree – on nine points by Gabe Vincent as well as a trey from Tyler Herro and dunk by Adebayo – as the Heat led 23-9 with 6:52 left in the first quarter.
While McConnell scored nine points for the Pacers in the period, the Heat maintained the edge at 39-30 by the end of the first frame.
The Pacers outscored the Heat 33-21 in the second quarter, with rookie Andrew Nembhard providing 10 of those points.
McConnell continued his hot play, scoring five points as part of a 9-2 Pacers run to make it a one-possession game with 8:45 left in the half.
The teams stayed within five points until a 7-0 Pacers run, spurred by an and-one from Chris Duarte, put the Blue & Gold up 56-51 with 3:18 on the clock.
In the final 2:31 before intermission, the teams tied the score three times before the Pacers closed it out with four unanswered points to hold onto the three-point lead going into the locker room.
Out of the break, the Pacers stayed ahead until the Heat scored eight points in 90 seconds – on two and-ones from Butler – to tie the game at 75 with 5:19 left in the third quarter.
After the teams traded the lead four times, five straight points by Herro in the final two minutes gave Miami an 87-83 advantage going into the final frame.
Miami did much of its damage from the free throw line in the third quarter, making 12 of 13 attempts.
“We had a really good finish to the half and so they came out with a lot more force to begin the second half,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. “I think we made three difficult shots to start off the third quarter, and it was just a quarter where our shot quality wasn’t great. And again, they got to the free throw line and were able to score at the free throw line and set their defense, so those were the major factors.”
Two buckets by Adebayo and one from Herro extended the Heat’s lead to 95-83 with 10 minutes left in the game.
Out of a timeout, Hield made a trio of free throws and had a dunk to narrow the margin to 97-90 with 8:11 left to prompt a Heat timeout.
Hield then hit another triple and Turner scored five straight points to cut it to 99-98 with 6:15 remaining.
The Heat used a 7-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Vincent, and were able to hang on from there despite a Haliburton 3-pointer making it 112-109 with 10.5 seconds left.
Miami won the rebounding margin 48-31 and outscored Indiana 52-42 in the paint. The Pacers made 20 of 28 free throws attempts while the Heat shot 36-for-39.
The Pacers will host the Phoenix Suns on Friday before traveling to the Washington Wizards on Saturday.
Inside the Numbers
In all, the Pacers bench outscored the Miami second unit 33-9.
The Pacers were outscored 20-13 in second-chance points.
Adebayo made all 14 of his free throw attempts for the Heat.
Hield has now made five or more 3-pointers 23 times this season.
Pacers rookie Bennedict Mathurin played a career-low 13 minutes.
McConnell finished with 18 points in the game. He has scored in double figures 11 times over the last 15 games.
You Can Quote Me On That
“The game got away from us in the first quarter because we allowed them to make a bunch of threes, and then we did a much better job down the stretch in the second, third and fourth of limiting the threes and making them (take) more difficult shots. But you know, in the end, the free throw line got us. They went there a bunch of times and only missed one on the night.” – Carlisle
“Coach’s decision. Other guys were going good.” – Carlisle on Mathurin’s season-low in minutes
“They’re just paying the guy ultimate respect by putting their best defender (Butler) on him (Haliburton). And you know, when that happens, we’ve got to strike more balance. And we really did some very good things to do that. I mean, Buddy had a night, Myles had 21, (Nembhard) had 10 and T.J. had a big night off the bench and it just ultimately wasn’t enough.” – Carlisle on how the team reacted to a lot of defensive pressure being put on Haliburton
“Our second unit did a really good job starting that second quarter the right way and getting us back in the game. They made some energy plays.” – Haliburton on the bench
“They’re a good defensive team. They have a lot of different guys who can do different things defensively. We turned it over and missed shots. I don’t want to take anything away from what they did tonight, but I think it was more on us and our shot selection, our offensive ball movement and turning the ball over. Kudos to them, they did a hell of a job.” — Haliburton on the loss
“We just have to stick together and keep playing our game and keep moving the ball and playing for each other. Just how we play – that’s our game. When we get in that situation and go iso, it doesn’t work for us. We just need to stick to the plan and keep working together – Chris Duarte on putting the loss behind them
Stat of the Night
The Heat, which are the third-best free throw shooting team in the NBA, made 36 of 39 free throw attempts in the game while the Pacers made 20 of 28.
Noteworthy
Making six 3-pointers in the game, Hield (214) has passed Paul George (210, 2015-2016) for the second-most threes made in a season in Pacers history. Reggie Miller (229, 1996-1997) holds the franchise record.
Turner recorded a fourth straight double-double, which matches the longest streak of his career. Turner has 17 double-doubles, which also matches the most he has achieved in a season (2018-2019).
Haliburton recorded his 25th double-double of the season.
Former Indiana Pacer Victor Oladipo didn’t play in the game for the Heat due to an ankle injury.
Tickets
The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns on Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:00 PM ET.
INDIANA WOMENS BB
TOP 5 MATCHUP ON DECK WHEN NO. 2/3 INDIANA MEETS NO. 5/6 IOWA ON THURSDAY
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – For the first time in three decades, two top 5 Big Ten foes will battle it out when No. 2/3 Indiana meets No. 5/6 Iowa on Thursday night. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
ABOUT THE HAWKEYES
Iowa is on an eight-game win streak which includes wins against ranked opponents then No. 2 Ohio State, No. 8 Maryland, and then No. 14 Michigan. Junior guard Caitlin Clark leads her team with 27.9 points per game while two others average double figures in fifth year Monika Czinano (18.3 ppg.) and senior McKenna Warnock (11.4 ppg.).
SERIES HISTORY
Iowa leads 52-21
LAST MEETING
3/6/22 – L, 74-67 (Indianapolis)
NOTES
Not only will Thursday’s game be a battle between the league’s two top teams, but will be the first regular season matchup versus Top 5 Big Ten foes since 1993. During that 1992-93 season, three games featured two top 5 teams with the last occurring on March 7, 1993 when No. 4 Ohio State defeated No. 2 Iowa, 72-60.
The two teams met three times last season, including twice in the regular season and in the Big Ten Tournament championship. Iowa took all three games in the series last year and hold a slight edge in the last 10 games played between the two, winning six of the last 10. A year prior in 2020-21, Indiana swept both meetings between the two schools.
Indiana picked up its eighth-straight win in the rivalry series with Purdue, in a 69-46 victory inside Mackey Arena on Sunday. The Hoosiers were led by 15 points each from senior forward Mackenzie Holmes and junior guard Sydney Parrish. It was able to pull away in the third quarter, holding Purdue to just two points, the fewest points allowed by any teams since NCAA women’s basketball moved to the quarter format in 2015-16.
Indiana picked up its sixth ranked win of the season against No. 2/5 Ohio State on Jan. 26. It’s the most ranked wins in a single season in school history, besting the previous record of five set last season. It also has four wins over the Top 10 this season, the most by any team in NCAA Division I.
The Hoosiers are led by senior forward Mackenzie Holmes who averages 22.0 points, 7.7 rebounds per game and shoots 69.6 percent from the field.
UP NEXT
Indiana travels to No. 13/12 Ohio State on Monday, February 13 in an 8:30 p.m. ET tip.
PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL
#1 PURDUE HOSTS HAWKEYES IN THURSDAY SHOWDOWN
GAMEDAY INFO
Thursday, February 9, 2023
[1] Purdue (22-2, 11-2) vs. [RV] Iowa (15-8, 7-5)
West Lafayette, Indiana | Mackey Arena (14,876)
TELEVISION: ESPN2 | RADIO: Purdue Sports Network
ANNOUNCERS: Rece Davis, Seth Greenberg
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• The nation’s two-best offenses face off on Thursday night in Mackey Arena as Iowa visits for the only meeting between the two schools. It marks the lone home game in a four-game stretch as the Boilermakers will hit the road following this game for contests at Northwestern (Sunday) and Maryland (next Thursday). Purdue will then end the regular-season with three home games in its final four contests.
• The two teams own by far-and-away the most Quad-1 wins in the Big Ten. Purdue is 9-2 in quad-1 games, while Iowa is 7-5. No other Big Ten team has more than four quad-1 victories. The teams are also among the hottest in the league, as Purdue has won nine of its last 10 games, while Iowa has won seven of its last nine contests.
• A win Thursday would give Matt Painter his 250th win at Mackey Arena. He currently owns a 249-43 (.853) record in the facility.
• A win on Thursday would give Purdue 12 league wins for the eighth time in the last nine seasons. Kansas and Purdue are the only schools in America to have won at least 12 league games in at least seven of the last eight seasons (Kansas has done it all eight previous years).
• Purdue is ranked No. 1 nationally in offensive efficiency, while Iowa is second, via KenPom.com. Iowa marks the sixth offense ranked in the top 18 that Purdue will have faced this year (Iowa – 2nd; Marquette – 4th; Gonzaga – 7th; Ohio State – 15th; West Virginia – 16th; Indiana – 18th).
• Purdue ranks fourth nationally in fewest fouls per game (13.4) and is first nationally in opponent free throw rate via KenPom (17.1). Creighton is second nationally in free throw rate. Those teams are 1 and 2 nationally in forcing opponents to take long 2-point jumpers. Iowa ranks third nationally in opponent free throw rate (20.9) and is 28th in fouls per game at 14.5.
• Purdue has MADE 360 free throws this season, while opponents have SHOT just 239. Purdue has made 186 more free throws (360 to 174) than its foes this season, the highest discrepancy in the nation (Purdue +186, North Carolina +165, Iowa +160, Portland +140).
• In Purdue’s two losses this season, the Boilermakers shot just 29-of-45 (.644) from the free throw line with 29 turnovers (14.5 per game). In its 22 wins, Purdue is shooting 76.1 percent from the free throw line and averaging just 10.6 turnovers per game.
• Purdue can claim America’s best resume, boasting a 9-2 quad-1 record with five of the wins against teams ranked in the NCAA Net’s top 30 (Gonzaga, Marquette, West Virginia, Maryland, Duke). Purdue is the only team to have played at least nine quad-1 games with two or fewer losses.
• 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 two or fewer losses (Purdue, Houston, Florida Atlantic). Just three power-conference teams have three or fewer losses (Purdue, Alabama, Arizona) and only three more have four or fewer losses (Tennessee, UCLA, Virginia). Purdue is tied for the nation’s lead with 22 victories.
• Purdue has trailed for more than 20 minutes of game time (Marquette, Rutgers, Ohio State, Indiana) just four times this season. In 10 of Purdue’s last 14 losses, the margin of defeat has been five or fewer points, including eight by one possession. Two more losses came by nine points in overtime, another by nine points in regulation and a final loss by 24 points to Michigan.
• Purdue is in search of its fourth No. 1 seed in school history, previously earning the No. 1 seed in 1988, 1994 and 1996. In addition, Zach Edey is the leader to earn consensus National Player of the Year accolades. The last time Purdue earned a No. 1 seed, it was led by its last consensus National Player of the Year recipient, Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson. Since 2000, eight players have earned consensus National Player of the Year accolades and led their team to a No. 1 seed, including four times in the last eight years (Williamson, Brunson, Mason, Kaminsky).
• Zach Edey surpassed both 500 points and 300 rebounds in his 23rd game of the season. He and Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin in 2008-09 (508 pts, 324 rebs) are the only players since 2000 to have had 500 points and 300 rebounds in the first 23 games of the season.
• Edey was named the Big Ten Player of the Week (shared with Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis) for the sixth time this season. It marks the second most for a player in Big Ten history (Evan Turner – 7). With four more weeks to go, the record is in sight.
PURDUE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
BOILERS HEAD OUT TO RUTGERS ON THURSDAY
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Following three straight games against ranked opponents, the Purdue women’s basketball team will hit the road to face Rutgers on Thursday night. The 7 p.m. tip will be streamed on B1G+.
Tim Newton will be on the call for the Purdue Radio Network on 95.3 BOB FM.
GAME INFORMATION
Purdue (15-7, 6-6) vs. Rutgers (10-14, 4-8)
Thursday, Feb. 9
Time: 7 PM
TV: B1G+
Radio: 95.3 BOB FM
Live Stats: Purduestats.com
LAST TIME OUT
In front of a sold-out Mackey Arena, the Boilermakers came up short against No. 4 Indiana, 69-46. The Boilermakers trailed by five at the break, before the Hoosiers pulled away in the second half. Lasha Petree paced Purdue with 13 points, and Abbey Ellis joined her in double figures with 10.
NOTES
• Purdue trails the all-time series with Rutgers 7-8.
• Purdue is coming off three straight games against ranked opponents, which included wins over No. 22 Illinois and No. 2 Ohio State.
• Abbey Ellis has finished in double figures in five of her last six games, averaging 16.7 points per game during the stretch. Ellis has moved up to second on the team in scoring with 11.8 points per game and sits second in the Big ten with an 88.9% clip at the line.
• With wins at Northwestern, No. 22 Illinois and No. 2 Ohio State, the Boilermakers are riding a three-game road winning streak for the first time since 2017-18. Purdue has held opponents to 57 points per game, 37.8% shooting and 23.3% from distance in those games.
• Fifth-year Lasha Petree will make her only trip to Rutgers after playing for the Scarlet Knights during the 2021-22 season. Graduating last spring with a degree in marketing, Petree averaged 8.3 points per game with 26 starts last season.
• With 173 boards and 147 helpers, Jeanae Terry joined Caitlin Clark as the only players from the Big Ten to lead their teams in rebounds and assists. Terry sits 10th in the nation in assists per game at 6.7 and ninth in total dimes.
• Ellis started the week ranked 19th in free throw percentage at 88.9%, which sits second in the Big Ten.
• Following 13 points against No. 4 Indiana, Lasha Petree needs 41 points to join the 2,000-point club for her career.
•Cassidy Hardin sits ninth in program history with 134 games played, six short of Danielle Campbell’s (2006-09) record of 140.
BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
BUTLERUWBB TAKES AN 87-62 LOSS AT DEPAUL
CHICAGO – DePaul led Butler from start to finish on Wednesday night to collect their 13th win of the season. Darrione Rogers and Aneesah Morrow combined for 46 points and Keke Rimmer joined them in double figures by adding 15. The 87-62 setback moves Butler to 7-17 on the season.
How It Happened
Rogers hit two 3-pointers for DePaul over the opening two minutes of the game to give the Blue Demons an early advantage. BU trailed DePaul by six at the first media timeout, but the Bulldogs would get hot from behind the arc to knot the score at 17-17.
Five different players were responsible for the first five 3-pointers of the game for BU. DePaul led 21-17 after the first 10 minutes and a 13-2 scoring run in the second quarter would give them a 14-point edge at halftime (44-30).
DePaul shot 54 percent in the first half and won the points in the paint battle 24-10 to keep their lead. The Blue Demons also outrebounded Butler 22-12.
Third quarter action was back and forth over the opening five minutes, but DePaul took care of business over the final five to win that stretch 18-10 and take a 22-point lead into the fourth (62-40). The final 10 minutes featured 47 points between the two teams. Each side shot over 50 percent from the field and the Bulldogs would add five more 3-pointers to take their game total to 13.
Stat of the Game
Butler and DePaul made 21 3-pointers on Wednesday night. BU shot 37 percent from long range (13-35) and DePaul finished the night at 53 percent (8-15).
Inside the Box Score
– Rachel McLimore led Butler with 18 points, four assists and two rebounds
– Tenley Dowell came off the bench to provide BU with 11 points and three boards
– Jessica Carrothers had 13 points and two steals
– McLimore led the team with four made 3-pointers
– Carrothers and Dowell each had three makes from behind the arc
– Butler dished out 16 assists on 24 made field goals
– DePaul outscored BU 46-20 in the paint
– Darrione Rogers only missed one shot vs. Butler to net 23 points
– Aneesah Morrow had a double-double with 23 points and 14 rebounds
– Keke Rimmer posted 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting for DePaul
– Kendall Holmes went 3-for-4 from distance to score 11 points
Up Next
Butler will face Providence at 1 PM on Saturday, Feb. 11. The Friars will host the action inside Alumni Hall. Fans can watch the game on FloSports.com.
PURDUE SOFTBALL
BOILERMAKERS TO OPEN SEASON AT JOANNE GRAF CLASSIC
JOANNE GRAF CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Friday, February 10
vs. Longwood | 9 a.m. ET
vs. Lipscomb | 11:15 a.m. ET
Saturday, February 11
vs. Lipscomb | 10 a.m. ET
at No. 5 Florida State | 4:45 p.m. ET | ACCNx | Tickets
Sunday, February 12
vs. Longwood | 9 a.m. ET
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue softball squad is set to open the season in Tallahassee, Florida at the JoAnne Graf Classic, hosted by Florida State on Friday.
The team, led by head coach Boo De Oliveira in her seventh season, will take on Longwood, Lipscomb and host No. 5-ranked Florida State over a total of five games to open the 2023 campaign.
Due to impending weather, game times and opponents have shifted for Friday’s schedule and is reflected above. Purdue will now be playing Longwood first at 9 a.m. ET, followed by Lipscomb at 11:15 a.m. ET.
SCHEDULE NOTES
• Purdue will spend the first 30 games and eight straight weekends on the road to open the season.
• The Boilermakers are slated to play a total of 12 games this season against opponents ranked or receiving votes on the USA Today/NFCA preseason poll. Of the 12 games, nine will be true road games, while one will be a neutral site.
• During non-conference play, Purdue will play in four states: Florida, North Carolina, California and Ole Miss.
• Purdue will attend the tournaments of Florida State, UCF, Cal State Fullerton and Ole Miss, each of which played in the NCAA College World Series Regionals.
• Overall, Purdue will play two NCAA Super Regional teams in UCF and Ole Miss.
THE BOILERMAKER ROSTER AT A GLANCE
• Class Breakdown: 28 total student-athletes made up of 11 freshmen, seven sophomores, three juniors, five seniors and two fifth-years.
• Purdue’s roster includes 16 total newcomers, made up of 11 freshmen and five transfers.
• Freshmen Include: Sage Scarmardo, Summer Scarmardo, Khloe Banks, Alivia Meeks, Rita Nuss, Julianna Verni, Emma Bailey, Jordyn Ramos, Bella Bacon, Caitlyn Boteler and Olivia Cainey.
• Transfers include: sophomore Madi Elish (previous: Arizona), junior Hailey Hayes (previous: Boise State), senior Becca Edwards (previous: Green Bay), redshirt senior Kate Claypool (previous: Iowa), and fifth-year Anna Lonchar (previous: UMBC).
• There are two fifth-year players on the team: Alex Echazarreta and Anna Lonchar.
• Purdue has siblings on the team in identical twins Sage and Summer Scarmardo.
A LOOK AT LIPSCOMB
• Lipscomb is coming off a 20-32 overall record in 2022.
• Top returners include Amy Vetula, who was a 2022 ASUN Second Team honoree.
• Vetula led the team’s highest batting average last season (.372)
• #2 Maci Cunconan earn the highest team slugging percentage (.571)
• Seeing the most time in the circle last season and posting a team-leading 11 victories, Kate Peters ended the season a 3.79 ERA
• #2 Maci Cunconan landed a spot on the 2022 All-Academic Team
A LOOK AT LONGWOOD
• Longwood earned a share of the Big South regular season title last season and made it to the conference championship game before ending 2022 with a 34-24 overall record.
• The team returns 11 players from a 2022 roster that posted the team’s best batting average since 2013 (.282).
• A key returner is #6 Jaden Pone, who obtained the team’s highest batting average last season (.416).
• Leading the pitching staff last season with a 2.81 ERA and returning for her sophomore campaign is #13 Er’ron Burton.
• #6 Jaden Pone earned the Big South Freshmen of the Year title, Big South First Team, Freshmen Team, and VaSID All-State recognition.
A LOOK AT NO. 5 FLORIDA STATE
• Behind a 54-7 overall record and a Regional Final appearance in 2022, Florida State was picked by ACC coaches to win the league for the 10th consecutive season.
• The Noles had a conference-high five student-athletes selected to the preseason All-ACC Team: Devyn Flaherty (infield), Mack Leonard (infield), Kathryn Sandercock (pitcher), Kaley Mudge (outfield) and Kalei Harding (utility). Mudge, Leonard and Sandercock were first team honorees a season ago, while Harding was a second team honoree.
• Leonard returns as the team’s leader at the plate with a .377 batting average.
• Leading the Noles in the circle is Sandercock, who finished the 2022 season with 30 wins and only three losses with a 1.44 ERA.
• Returning to the squad this season are all-ACC first team selections Kaley Mudge, Mack Leonard, and Sandercock.
A LOOK-BACK AT THE 2022 SEASON
• Purdue went 24-31 (7-15 Big Ten) last season.
• The team posted 12 triples last season, third-most in the Big Ten.
• Purdue graduated seven seniors, including Rachel Becker, who not only led the Big Ten in batting average (.429), but became the second All-American in program history after earning third team at-large honors at the shortstop position and CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team recognition.
• As a team, the Boilermakers posted a .254 batting average.
• Over its last six games of the regular season, Purdue went 4-1.
• Defensively, the team produced a .971 fielding %, the second-highest mark in program history, only behind 2021’s record-setting .972 %.
• The Boilermakers picked up their first win over a ranked opponent since 2016 and their third since 2009. with the 1-0 shutout at #22 USF last Thursday, March 17. The win also marked the first top-25 victory for head coach Boo De Oliveira.
• The Boilermakers also registered record book-worthy stats with 34 home runs, good for fourth-most in program history and most since 2011. Meanwhile, the team tied the program-record with 18 sac flies.
THE RETURNERS
• The Boilermakers return a large chunk of their starting lineup, including pitcher Alex Echazarreta, second baseman Jade Moy, third baseman Olivia McFadden, outfielder Kyndall Bailey, catcher Ryen Ross and outfielder Kiersen George.
• Of the returners, Moy and McFadden are the only two to play and start in every single game. Meanwhile, Dillon follows closely with 54 total starts and appearances and Bailey appearing in 50 with 33 starts.
THE FRESHMAN CLASS
• The 11-member freshman class is one of the strongest in the nation, having been ranked the No. 5 Recruit Class by Extra Innings Softball on signing day.
• Among the standout class is Las Vegas native Jordyn Ramos, who not only was named by MaxPreps as the Best Player in the State of Nevada in 2022, but was also selected by the NCAA as a top-55 freshman to watch this season.
ALEX ECHAZARRETA: RETURNING FOR YEAR FIVE
• Alex Echazarreta announced her return following the end of 2022 campaign.
• The fifth-year played her best softball as a senior, earning second team all-region honors.
• As the team’s No. 1 pitcher, Echazarreta posted 10 wins in the circle behind a 10-8 record and a 3.60 ERA.
• She led the Boilermakers to a complete-game shutout at No. 22 USF last season, allowing just two hits in the program’s first top-25 victory since 2009.
• Offensively, Echazarreta led the team a season ago with seven home runs and a .578 slugging %.
• The Reston, Virginia product totaled 20 runs, 43 hits and a team-leading 31 RBI behind a .336 batting avgerage.
JADE MOY: READY FOR MORE
• In Jade Moy’s first full season with the Boilermakers (opted out of the 2021 season due to COVID-19), the Boilermaker added her name to the Purdue season annals with her four sac flies, becoming just the seventh Boilermaker in program history to post as many in a single season.
• Moy saw the most at-bats on the team in 2022, culminating in a .242 batting average, 23 runs, 40 hits and 19 RBI.
IUPUI MEN’S BB
JAGUARS BULLIED BY RAIDERS ON THE ROAD IN WEDNESDAY NIGHT LOSS
DAYTON, Ohio – Host Wright State shot a blistering 58 percent from the floor and bullied their way to a 54-30 margin in points in the paint as the Jaguars fell to the Raiders on Wednesday night (Feb. 8) inside the Nutter Center, 103-71.
Sophomore Jlynn Counter led IUPUI (4-22, 1-14 HL) with 22 points and eight rebounds and freshman Vincent Brady II added 15 points and three assists in the loss. AJ Braun scored a career-high 22 points for the Raiders off the bench and fellow reserve Amari Davis pumped in 15.
The Raiders scored 58 bench points while IUPUI got 22 points from its reserves.
“(Wright State) is a really good offensive team. We knew that coming in and they showed it tonight. They can beat you down low with their bigs, they shoot the three really well and they have guys who can create. They’re really efficient and we didn’t do a good enough job of getting stops,” head coach Matt Crenshaw said. “They’re a veteran basketball team and Coach Nagy has them playing really well.
IUPUI grabbed a quick 4-2 lead but got stuck on four points as Wright State (15-11, 8-7 HL) scored 12 straight points to seize a 14-4 advantage. Brady converted a three-point play on a drive, but the Raiders scored seven straight to build a commanding 14-point lead. The hosts led by as many as 25 in the opening half and had a 56-33 lead at the break after shooting 66 percent from the floor.
The Jaguars never threatened in the second half as defensive stops were at a premium. Wright State missed just 26 of 62 field goal attempts and collected 12 offensive boards, converting them into 18 second chance points.
Counter finished 8-of-13 from the floor, including a pair of threes, as IUPUI shot a collective 44.6 percent from the field and 6-of-22 (27.3 percent) from deep. The Jags left 11 points on the free throw line, hitting 15-of-26 (57.7 percent) in the loss.
Freshmen DJ Jackson and Armon Jarrard scored eight points each and Amhad Jarrard closed with six. John Egbuta chipped in five.
IUPUI will return to action on Sunday (Feb. 12) when the Jaguars face Northern Kentucky at 1:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
IUPUI WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TO CELEBRATE FAVORITE PROFESSORS DURING THURSDAY’S GAME
INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI women’s basketball team returns to Indy for back-to-back Horizon League matchups in the Jungle. The Jags will host Purdue Fort Wayne as they celebrate Favorite Professor Night on Thursday, Feb. 9 with tipoff scheduled for 7:00 PM. Then IUPUI will face the Horizon League leaders, Cleveland State on Saturday for a 2:00 PM tip.
Fouls proved costly as the IUPUI women’s basketball team fell to Northern Kentucky on the road on Monday, 79-69. Destiny Perkins led the Jaguar offense with 23 points. With the 23 points, Perkins now sits just six points away from joining the 1,000 point club at 994 total career points. She would join senior Rachel Kent as Kent hit her 1,000 point mark earlier this season and now has a total of 1,202 career points.
IUPUI has found success beyond the arc holding the league’s second best percentage from long range with a 35.3 percent, averaging 8.7 threes per game. Rachel Kent and Perkins pace the way with Kent adding 47 threes made and Perkins with 52. Kent holds a 39.5 percent (47-for-119) from behind the arc while Perkins follows with a 36.9 percent (52-for-141).
Three Jags rank in the top ten in scoring in the Horizon League with Turner coming in at fourth (14.5), Perkins just barely behind her in fifth (14.5) and Kent holding the eighth spot (12.7).
IUPUI currently sits in fourth in the Horizon League standings as they look to improve their #HLWBB record with the matchups against Purdue Fort Wayne and Cleveland State.
The Mastodons enter Thursday’s game with a 10-14 overall record and 7-7 in conference play. IUPUI defeated Purdue Fort Wayne on January 4 by eight points, 79-71. The Jags will host Cleveland State on Saturday. The Vikings sit atop the Horizon League standings with a conference record of 12-2 and overall record of 22-3. IUPUI fell to Cleveland State on January 8, 92-59.
Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
IUPUI will also recognize their favorite professors on Thursday night. Annually, IUPUI invites professors across campus to a men’s and women’s basketball home game for “Favorite Professor Recognition”. Jags student athletes are invited to nominate a professor who made an impact on their academics from the fall semester and these individuals are invited to come out to cheer on IUPUI.
Last fall was another outstanding semester for IUPUI athletes in the classroom. Great work in the classroom is accomplished in part with great teaching so IUPUI Athletics is pleased to say thank you to the following individuals who were selected by our students as “Favorite Professors.”
BALL STATE WBB
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL DOMINATES PLAY AT EASTERN MICHIGAN FOR 20TH WIN OF THE SEASON
YPSILANTI, Mich. – For the sixth time in head coach Brady Sallee’s 11 years with the Cardinals, he has led Ball State to another 20-win season.
The Cardinals dominated play against the Eagles tonight and were able to take home the 68-50 road victory in midweek Mid-American Conference action. Ball State improved to 20-4 on the season and 10-1 in conference play, which is the best league start for BSU since the 2001-02 season. With the loss, EMU fell to 12-10 and 4-7 in the MAC.
Much of tonight’s success came from the Cardinals’ resiliency which has been one of their strong suits all season long. BSU caused EMU to commit 23 turnovers, which the Cardinals turned into 16 points off those miscues. Ball State also dominated in the paint scoring 30 points.
The Cardinals outpaced the Eagles 14-5 in the first quarter of play by syncing on all aspects of the court which caused problems for Eastern Michigan. Ball State’s defense was also near perfect holding Eastern Michigan to only a field goal up until the last minute of the opening 10 minutes of action.
Ball State carried that same momentum into the second period, quickly building a 16-7 advantage over EMU at the 7:23 mark. But Eastern Michigan wasn’t going to go away easily as the Eagles came back with a vengeance putting together a 10-2 run to make it a one-point ball game (18-17) with 3:02 remaining in the first half.
Sophomore Madelyn Bischoff changed the momentum back in favor of the Cardinals with a fast break layup. Redshirt senior Anna Clephane continued the scoring trend with a layup and then graduate senior Thelma Dis Agustsdottir added a 3-pointer with 1:48 on the clock to help give Ball State the nine-point (28-19) edge over Eastern Michigan at intermission.
After the break, the Cardinals would push their cushion to 17-points (47-30) which was capped off by a layup and two free throws from Clephane. Agustsdottir also had a strong third quarter, scoring 10 points while going 4-of-6 from the field.
Eastern Michigan never recovered from Ball Sate’s hot shooting hand throughout the contest. The Cardinals also held the Eagles to 32 percent (17-52) from the floor.
The dynamic duo of Agustsdottir and Clephane led Ball State in scoring with 25 and 23 points, respectively. Agustsdottir also pulled down seven rebounds and tied her personal record behind the arc with seven 3-pointers. Clephane led BSU defensively, with a career best 10 rebounds.
The Ball State women’s basketball team continues Mid-American Conference action on the road when it travels to Akron Saturday in James A. Rhodes Arena at 2 pm ET for its second match-up with the Zips. The Cardinals won the first meeting against Akron 89-66 in Worthen Arena, Jan. 25.
NOTRE DAME MEN’S BASKETBALL
IRISH FALL AT THE BUZZER, 70-68, AT GEORGIA TECH
ATLANTA – Heading into tonight, Glenn & Stacey Murphy Notre Dame Head Coach Mike Brey had waged battle with Georgia Tech 20 times over the years with 18 of those games being decided by single digits (12 were by five points or less). Tonight, in battle No. 21, it was no different.
Tied at 68-all with under 40 seconds left, the Fighting Irish (10-14, 2-11) had an opportunity to go ahead but couldn’t convert. Down on the other end, Georgia Tech (9-15, 2-12) converted a tip-in with a second left to escape with the 70-68 victory.
The game featured 11 lead changes and 13 ties as each half was decided by one point. The Irish had their opportunities with under two minutes left but missed all four field goals in that remaining time.
Fresh off from injury and into the starting lineup, freshman Ven-Allen Lubin shined with a season high 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the floor, plus seven rebounds. Lubin, could have gone off for more but was limited to 22 minutes of game action due to being in foul trouble.
Nate Lazewski led the team in scoring with 16 points and has scored at least 16 in each of the last three games. Also scoring in double figures: Dane Goodwin with 14 points, Cormac Ryan with 13 points and Marcus Hammond with 10 points aka all five starters. Goodwin continued to attack the glass as well with a co-team-high seven rebounds.
How It Happened
Lubin in his first collegiate start was effective early – going 3-for-3 from the field for six points plus one block in the first 10 minutes. Unfortunately for the Irish, he picked up three fouls in the same time frame as well and sat the rest of the half on the bench.
The half was a typical back-and-forth Georgia Tech/Notre Dame battle, featuring seven lead changes and five ties. The Yellow Jackets led for nearly 13 minutes in the half but never had a lead greater than seven.
From 8:31 to 5:19, the Irish connected on five straight from the field (from four different scorers) to claim the lead at 27-24. Georgia Tech answered immediately with back-to-back threes to go back up 27-30 at the 3:28 media.
Later, down 29-36 after a Georgia Tech 6-0 run, it was time for the Notre Dame response: back-to-back threes from Hammond and Laszewski.
Fast forward again and Laszewski delivers in the paint right before the buzzer to make it a one-point deficit at the half, 37-38. Laszewski led at the midway point with nine points, followed by eight from Hammond and seven from Goodwin.
Lubin, back in the lineup to start the second half, picked up right where he left off, scoring seven of the team’s first 11 points, tying the game at 48-all at 13:15. Lubin was 6-for-6 from the field for 13 points when he picked up foul No. 4 at 11:39.
With 9:45 remaining, Hammond kicked off what would be an Irish 10-0 scoring run with contributions from Ryan, Laszewski and Goodwin as well, pushing ND up six at 60-54.
However, Goodwin’s three at 7:59 would be ND’s last field goal until 2:44. With the Irish only scoring occasionally from the free-throw line, Georgia Tech rallied and eventually reclaimed the lead at 64-65 with 3:33 left. The Yellow Jackets took the lead after being fouled on a three-point shot and on the next possession down they added to the lead on an and-one.
Laszewski ended the field goal drought at 2:44 and was later followed by two free throws from Ryan, tying the game at 68-all with under two minutes remaining. Fast forward to 41 seconds left and the game is still tied coming out of an Irish timeout and Notre Dame’s ball.
Laszewksi had a good look just inside the free-throw line but just missed. Georgia Tech then had a chance for the win coming out of a timeout with 5.3 seconds on the clock. GT’s Sturdivant drove to the basket and missed a fadeaway jumper but Terry was right there for the putback with a second left for the buzzer-beating win.
Up Next
Three home games remain on the dock for the Irish and they’ll check another one off the list on Saturday in yet another matinee inside Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame will host Virginia Tech on Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. ET on RSN.
NOTRE DAME WBB
NOTRE DAME HOSTS PITTSBURGH FOR FIRST OF TWO 2023 MEETINGS
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Outside of Louisville, Pittsburgh (8-15, 1-11) is the only ACC team No. 10 Notre Dame (18-4, 9-3) has yet to face this season. They’ll get them twice in the next 10 days, with a first matchup coming Thursday at Purcell Pavilion.
The Panthers, who are led by fifth-year head coach Lance White, have struggled mightily since the start of conference play. Pittsburgh earned its first ACC win on Sunday, a home victory over Virginia. They have won just one game away from home all season.
The group is struggling to click on both sides of the ball. Pittsburgh ranks 13th in the ACC in scoring offense (63.3 ppg) and 14th in scoring defense (67.0 ppg). The Panthers are the only team in the league with a negative scoring margin (-3.7).
Forward Amber Brown is pacing the group with 10.1 points per game, and she has nine double-doubles this season. Liatu King, a 6-0 junior forward averaging 10.0 points per game, has 36 blocks on the year. That mark ranks fifth in the ACC.
White’s bench players have been huge contributors this season. The non-starters had 37 points against the Cavaliers and have posted seven performances this year of 30+ points. That is a program record.
“They always play hard,” said Niele Ivey, Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach. “They have a lot of different rotations and different line ups for which we have to prepare.”
Turning to Notre Dame, Ivey is 3-0 against Pittsburgh with a most recent win coming Jan. 23, 2022 by a score of 77-63. She will look to get her team back on track after a home loss to Duke last weekend, 57-52. It was Notre Dame’s second-lowest offensive output this year, and there were several holes in the Irish defense.
Rebounding has been Notre Dame’s lifeblood recently. The Irish have a rebounding margin of +11.5, up 6.8 from last season. The Irish are 14-2 when they win the rebounding battle and just 4-2 when they are out-rebounded. Four players — Olivia Miles (7.1), Lauren Ebo (7.0), Maddy Westbeld (6.5) and Sonia Citron (6.1) — are averaging at least 6 boards a game. No other ACC team has four or more, and Boston College is the only team with three women in that category.
Pitt-Notre Dame tips off at 6 p.m. ET on the ACC Network. The Irish lead the all-time series 32-4 and have never lost to the former Big East rivals at home.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Outside of Louisville, Pittsburgh (8-15, 1-11) is the only ACC team No. 10 Notre Dame (18-4, 9-3) has yet to face this season. They’ll get them twice in the next 10 days, with a first matchup coming Thursday at Purcell Pavilion.
The Panthers, who are led by fifth-year head coach Lance White, have struggled mightily since the start of conference play. Pittsburgh earned its first ACC win on Sunday, a home victory over Virginia. They have won just one game away from home all season.
The group is struggling to click on both sides of the ball. Pittsburgh ranks 13th in the ACC in scoring offense (63.3 ppg) and 14th in scoring defense (67.0 ppg). The Panthers are the only team in the league with an overall negative scoring margin (-3.7).
Forward Amber Brown is pacing the group with 10.1 points per game, and she has nine double-doubles this season. Liatu King, a 6-0 junior forward averaging 10.0 points per game, has 36 blocks on the year. That mark ranks fifth in the ACC.
White’s bench players have been huge contributors this season. The non-starters had 37 points against the Cavaliers and have posted seven performances this year of 30+ points. That is a program record.
“They always play hard,” said Niele Ivey, Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach. “They have a lot of different rotations and different line ups for which we have to prepare.”
Brown is the only player who has started every game for the Panthers this year.
Turning to Notre Dame, Ivey is 3-0 against Pittsburgh with a most recent win coming Jan. 23, 2022 by a score of 77-63. She will look to get her team back on track after a home loss to Duke last weekend, 57-52. It was Notre Dame’s second-lowest offensive output this year, and there were several holes in the Irish defense.
Rebounding has been Notre Dame’s lifeblood recently. The Irish have a rebounding margin of +11.5, up 6.8 from last season. They are 14-2 when they win the rebounding battle and just 4-2 when they are out-rebounded. Four players — Olivia Miles (7.1), Lauren Ebo (7.0), Maddy Westbeld (6.5) and Sonia Citron (6.1) — are averaging at least 6 boards a game. No other ACC team has four or more, and Boston College is the only team with three women in that category.
Pitt-Notre Dame tips off at 6 p.m. ET on the ACC Network. The Irish lead the all-time series 32-4 and have never lost to the former Big East rivals at home.
NOTRE DAME HOCKEY
FINAL HOME SERIES SET
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The final regular season home series for the University of Notre Dame hockey program gets underway Feb. 10-11 when they host Ohio State for a pair of tilts. The team will recognize dedicated its fans as part of Fan Appreciation night when the puck drops Friday at 7:30 p.m. Following Saturday night’s 6 p.m. contest, the Irish will honor the 10 senior and graduate members of the team in a post-game ceremony on ice. Fans are encouraged to stay in the stands following the final horn as the senior class takes one final lap inside Compton Family Ice Arena.
QUICK HITS
Notre Dame is coming off a weekend sweep at Michigan State. The Irish were unable to break former ND netminder Dylan St. Cyr in the Spartan net Friday night in the 3-0 loss before dropping a 3-2 battle Saturday evening in East Lansing.
Chayse Primeau led the Irish with two points on the weekend to tie Ryder Rolston with 20 points this season. The graduate student has seven points in his last six games, including four goals.
In their most recent home series, the Irish topped the Badgers 3-1, scoring all three goals on the powerplay to improve to a .188 conversion rate on the season. Over the two-game stretch, Notre Dame tallied five powerplay goals while allowing just two on the penalty kill.
With the win Saturday at home against the Badgers, the Irish picked up their first conference sweep of the season and rounded out January with a 5-3-1 record.
The Irish tallied five goals against the Badgers in game one of the weekend series, with five individual goal scorers in Chayse Primeau, Hunter Strand, Jesse Lansdell, Jack Adams and Justin Janicke.
Prior to that, Notre Dame split the season series at Penn State, picking up a night one victory, 2-1, which saw senior netminder Ryan Bischel post a career-high 52 saves. The team then fell Saturday, 3-2 to finish 2-2 against the Nittany Lions this season.
In two games in State College, Pa., Bischel registered 94 saves in goal for a .958 save percentage over the two-game stretch.
With 928 total saves this season, Bischel currently ranks first nationally in the category while his .927 save percentage is fifth-best.
NOTRE DAME vs. OHIO STATE
In 96 meetings between the two programs, Notre Dame sits one win above the Buckeyes, 43-42-11.
In their first meeting of the season, Fin Williams scored his first collegiate goal. The freshman forward now has two points in 15 games played for the Irish.
In their previous meeting this season, the Irish and Buckeyes split, with ND taking game two of the series 1-0. Chase Blackmun led the team on the weekend with a pair of assists while the three goals were scored by different individuals in Trevor Janicke, F. Williams and Jack Adams.
Adams’ first goal of the year came at OSU and was the eventual game-winner Saturday night. All four of his goals this season are game-winning marks and leads the team in the category.
Solag Bakich net his first career goal against the Buckeyes, lighting the lamp for the first time on November 8, 2019. Ryder Rolston also scored his first collegiate point against the Buckeyes, registering an assist on December 12, 2020.
THANK YOU SENIORS
Following Saturday night’s tilt with the Buckeyes, the Irish will honor 10 veteran members of the team in its annual Senior Night.
The honorees include six graduate students, as well as four members of the senior class.
Jack Adams has spent two seasons in an Irish sweater, collecting 25 points in 63 games played. As a second-year graduate student, Adams boasts four goals – all of which are game-winning tallys – as well as five assists. In his collegiate career Adams has appeared in 134 games between Union, Providence and Notre Dame (24-36-60).
Solag Bakich joined the Irish in 2019-20 and has since skated in 101 career games at Notre Dame. In his collegiate career, Bakich boasts 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points. The senior forward skated in his 100th career game last Friday at Michigan State.
Having started all 30 games for the Irish this season, Ryan Bischel has appeared in 62 games in his four years with the Irish. The senior netminder currently leads the nation in saves with 928 and was recently named to the Mich Richter Award Watch List as well as being a Hobey Baker Memorial Award nominee.
Chase Blackmun joined the Irish prior to the 2021-22 season and has since appeared in 67 career games in an Irish sweater. The graduate defenseman has four goals with the Irish as well as 23 assists. In 152 career games at the NCAA Division I level, Blackmun boasts 20 goals and 49 assists for 69 points.
In one season with the Irish, Ben Brinkman has left his mark on the defensive corp. The graduate student has appeared in 28 games for the Blue and Gold this season and has two goals and an assist. The Minnesota native ranks fifth among active players in career games played with 168.
An alternate captain for the team this season, Trevor Janicke has appeared in all 30 games in 2022-23, ranking second on the team with 18 points. In his collegiate career, Janicke has appeared in 136 games for the Irish and boasts 65 points off 35 goals and 30 assists. Janicke was named to the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Watch List at the end of January.
Fellow senior, Jesse Lansdell has 130 career games played for the Blue and Gold, with 50 career points. This season the Surrey, British Columbia native has five goals and eight assists in 29 games played.
In five years at ND, current Irish captain Nick Leivermann has appeared in 140 games, registering 74 points off 22 goals and 52 assists. This season the Minnesota native boasts five goals, one shy of his career-best, and 11 assists. At the end of January Leivermann was named to the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Watch List.
Chayse Primeau joined the Irish prior to 2022-23 and has appeared in all 30 games this season. He currently leads the team with 20 points off eight goals and 12 assists. In his collegiate career between ND and Omaha, Primeau has skated in 147 career games and boasts 92 points (37-55-92).
An Indiana native, Jackson Pierson spent his graduate season with the Irish, appearing in all 30 games played thus far. With the Irish, he tallied a goal and eight assists for nine points, bringing his career total to 97 (32-65-97). He has dressed in 145 collegiate games in his career, having spent the first four years at New Hampshire.
INDIANA STATE MBB
SYCAMORES CONTINUE TO LIGHT IT UP BEYOND THE ARC EN ROUTE TO FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The threes were falling inside Hulman Center once again Wednesday night as the Sycamores defeated Valparaiso 84-62 for their fourth straight win. Eight different Sycamores hit a three for the second game in a row while Indiana State was just two triples shy of tying the program record set in the last game with 17 tonight.
Indiana State (17-9, 10-5 MVC) allowed Valpo (10-16, 4-11 MVC) the first bucket of the night, but after taking the lead with a Julian Larry triple a minute and a half later, the Sycamores would not allow the Beacons another lead in the game.
After leading by just one point at 11-10 with 15:50 to go in the opening frame, the Sycamores went on an 8-0 run and never looked back. They went 3-of-3 from three in a span of less than a minute and later pushed the lead to 10 points at 25-15 with a Zach Hobbs triple at 10:40.
By halftime, all nine Sycamores who had seen action were on the scoresheet. Eight of those nine attempted at least one 3-pointer while seven of them made at least one 3-pointer. As a team, the Sycamores had 11 3-pointers and 13 assists on 17 buckets in the first half and held a 46-39 lead at the break.
The Indiana State lead hit a game-high 25 points midway through the second frame after back-to-back triples from Cooper Neese and Larry followed by a layup from Trenton Gibson that made it 73-48 with 7:02 to go. Jayson Kent joined in as the eighth Sycamore with a 3-pointer at 4:55 and he added his second trey to close the scoring for Indiana State with 2:21 remaining.
Inside the Numbers
Eight different Sycamores connected on a 3-pointer for the second straight game and third time this season to combine for 17 triples, two shy of the program record set last game against Murray State. ISU is averaging 15 3-pointers per game on this four-game win streak.
The Sycamores dished out 22 assists on 30 buckets, led by Julian Larry with seven. ISU is averaging 21 assists per game on this four-game win streak.
Ten of the 12 Sycamores who saw the floor tonight made it on the scoresheet, led by Courvoisier McCauley with 16 points. Robbie Avila, Cooper Neese, and Trenton Gibson each joined McCauley in double-figures.
Indiana State’s bench, which ranks second in the Valley in scoring, put up 30 points tonight led by 10 points from Trenton Gibson. Xavier Bledson, Zach Hobbs, and Jayson Kent each added a pair of threes each for six points apiece off the bench.
The Sycamores outrebounded Valpo 38-28 and improved to 13-1 when outrebounding their opponent this season. ISU allowed the Beacons just three offensive boards.
ISU committed just seven turnovers in the game while forcing 10 from Valpo. The Sycamores scored 11 points on turnovers while the Beacons scored just three.
News & Notes
Tonight’s win makes back-to-back 20+-point wins, and the Sycamores improve to 8-0 in games decided by 20 or more points.
The Sycamores improve to 14-0 when dishing out 15 or more assists in a game.
Indiana State is now 9-1 when six or more players hit a 3-pointer and 10-1 when making 10 or more 3-pointers as a team.
With 17 triples tonight, the Sycamores are just 20 triples away from tying the single season record of 270 3-pointers for the second season in a row.
Cooper Neese has hit three 3-pointers in his last three games to bring his career total to 206. He is 10 3-pointers away from moving into sole possession of fourth place on ISU’s all-time list of career 3-point leaders.
Tonight’s win makes ISU’s second Valley season sweep of the year.
The Sycamores now have 17 overall wins for just the second time in nine seasons and 10 home wins for the second time in seven seasons.
ISU also now has 10 valley wins for the third time in eight seasons including three of the last four, and six Valley home wins for the third time in seven seasons including three of the last four.
The Sycamores were two 3-pointers shy of tying the single game program record, but they set a program record for 3-pointer attempts in a single game with 40.
Up Next
Indiana State heads to Cedar Falls this weekend looking for a season sweep against the Panthers of Northern Iowa. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE VOLLEYBALL
SERVICE LINE PROVES FRIENDLY AS MASTODONS BEAT MARYVILLE
ST. LOUIS – Purdue Fort Wayne men’s volleyball won its eighth-straight match on Wednesday night (Feb. 8), taking down Maryville 25-17, 25-19, 25-17.
The Mastodons had a season-high 10 aces, led in large part to its go-to offensive options, Jon Diedrich and Bryce Walker. Diedrich tied his career-high with four aces and Walker had five.
The Mastodons went on a 4-0 run to go up 7-3 early in set one. Mark Frazier had two of his nine kills in that run. After Maryville evened up the set, Walker went on a 3-0 run himself. He had a kill then three aces in a row to put the ‘Dons up 15-11. Sergio Carrillo and Carlos Mercado both had aces from that point, including the set point.
Maryville led 9-8 in set two before the Mastodons rattled off 7-of-8. Jon Diedrich had a pair of aces in this stretch. This put the ‘Dons up for good.
The ‘Dons emptied the bench in set three, with Mercado and Zach Solomon starting their first sets of 2023, and adding Axel Melendez Watts, Davey Singer and Hunter Clasen in the rotation. Walker had back-to-back aces to put the ‘Dons up 10-5 in the final set, giving the ‘Dons enough of a lead to nurse the rest of the way. The ‘Dons hit .444 in the final frame.
Purdue Fort Wayne hit .353 as a team (36-12-68). This is the sixth time this season that the Mastodons have hit over .300. Walker finished with seven kills on 10 attempts, five blocks, five aces and three digs. Diedrich had a match-high 10 kills.
Maryville’s Caden Klingbiel had a team-high nine kills with a .300 hitting percentage.
Purdue Fort Wayne improves to 9-1 while Maryville falls to 2-7. The Mastodons open MIVA play on Friday (Feb. 10) at Lindenwood. First serve is set for 8 p.m.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE WBB
PURDUE FORT WAYNE VISITS IUPUI FOR #HLWBB GAME ON THURSDAY
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball team will head to Indianapolis to face the IUPUI Jaguars on Thursday (Feb. 9) at The Jungle.
Game Day Information
Who: IUPUI Jaguars
When: Thursday, February 9 | 7 PM
Where: Indianapolis, Ind. | The Jungle
Know Your Foe
IUPUI is 13-10 and 9-5 in the Horizon League this year. The Jaguars have lost two of their last three, picking up a win at Wright State between losses at Green Bay and Northern Kentucky. Destiny Perkins, Jazmyn Turner and Rachel Kent are all averaging between 12 and 15 points per game for IUPUI. Turner and Kent have both been Horizon League Players of the Week this season.
The Series
IUPUI leads the all-time series against Purdue Fort Wayne 24-12. The Jaguars have won the last 10 on-court meetings, with Purdue Fort Wayne’s last win coming in the 2013-14 season.
Amellia Sellers… Shayla Bromenschenkel?
In league play, Amellia Bromenschenkel and Shayla Sellers have been incredibly similar in their statistical contributions. Here’s how the two compare:
Statistic Sellers Bromenschenkel
PPG 11.1 11.2
FG% 43.1 41.4
3FG% 33.3 32.0
FT% 73.5 65.6
RPG 4.7 4.9
APG 2.1 1.7
BPG 0.7 0.4
SPG 2.3 2.1
MPG 31.2 33.4
Defense (Clap, Clap) Defense
Purdue Fort Wayne has held its opponents to 64 points or fewer in 12 games this season. They are 9-3 in such games.
She’s Back!
After four games of four points or less, Amellia Bromenschenkel has averaged 14.8 points per game in the last seven games, with double-figures in each.
The Best Choice For Defensive Player of the Year
In Horizon League play, Shayla Sellers leads the league with 2.3 steals per game and is 13th in the league with 0.7 blocks per game. She is the only player in the league that is in the top 13 in both categories.
Checking In On The Standings
Through 14 Horizon League games played, the Mastodons are tied for sixth in the league standings. If the current standings were to hold, the Mastodons would host a first round tournament game on February 28.
Thieves!
Purdue Fort Wayne is leading the Horizon League and 56th in the country with 9.5 steals per game. The ‘Dons also force the 51st-most turnovers in the country at 18.88 per game, a league-best.
Especially Those Two!
In league play, Shayla Sellers and Amellia Bromenschenkel are first and third in the Horizon League with 2.3 and 2.1 steals per game, respectively.
Sellers Swiper
Shayla Sellers ranks in the top-150 in the country with 43 steals this season.
Block Party
Purdue Fort Wayne is second in the Horizon League and just outside the top-100 nationally with 3.4 blocks per game.
Linbo Limbo
Jazzlyn Linbo is second in the Horizon League with 32 blocks this season.
Chasing 1,000
There are three Mastodons that are nearing the 1,000-point mark in their careers: Sylare Starks (836), Shayla Sellers (806), Riley Ott (746).
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne fell to Robert Morris 71-63 on Saturday (Feb. 4) despite 16 points from Ryin Ott. The Mastodons celebrated their 16th-annual Pink Out celebration prior to the game and presented a check of $5,430 to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer Research.
Coming Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will return to the Gates Sports Center for a game on Monday (Feb. 13) against Cleveland State, which received votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE SOFTBALL
MASTODON SOFTBALL OPENS 2023 WITH TOP-15 VIRGINIA TECH AND UNCW EVENT
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne softball opens the 2023 season at the UNCW Home Weekend #1, highlighted by the season opener against No. 13/11 Virginia Tech. The schedule has changed from its original schedule due to forecasted rain in the Wilmington area.
UNCW Home Weekend #1 Information
Host: UNCW
When: Friday, Feb. 10 – Sunday, Feb. 12
Where: Wilmington, N.C.
Watch: None
Tournament Schedule
Thursday, Feb. 9
Noon – Purdue Fort Wayne vs. East Carolina
2:30 PM – Purdue Fort Wayne at UNCW
Friday, Feb. 10
9 AM – Purdue Fort Wayne at UNCW
2 PM – Purdue Fort Wayne vs. East Carolina
Saturday, Feb. 11
10 AM – Purdue Fort Wayne vs. #13/11 Virginia Tech
Series History
Virginia Tech: First Meeting
UNCW: First Meeting
East Carolina: East Carolina leads 1-0. Last meeting: 3/13/2016, L, 5-1
Know Your Foes
• Virginia Tech was 46-10 a year ago and won the ACC regular season title. The Hokies earned a berth to the NCAA Super Regional before dropping 2-of-3 to Women’s College World Series participant Florida. VT returns their top four sluggers from a year ago: Emma Ritter, Meredith Slaw, Morgan Overaitis and Bre Peck. All of had a batting average over .300 and slugged over .550. Second-best pitcher from a year ago, Emma Lemly, also returns for 2023. She won 16 games last year.
• UNCW was 32-15 last season and won the Colonial Athletic championship after knocking off No. 1 Delaware in the tournament semifinal. The Seahawks fell to No. 10 Clemson 9-0 and Louisiana 3-1 in the NCAA Regional. UNCW returns its top two batters from 2022 in Janel Gamache and Morgan Britt. Gamache batted .347 and slugged .661. with a team-high seven home runs last season. The Seahawks return their entire pitching staff that finished with a 1.85 team ERA last year.
• East Carolina went 20-36 in 2022, but 2-16 in the American Athletic Conference. The Pirates’ season was highlighted by a pair of wins over Power Five programs Georgetown and Michigan State.The Pirates have two of their top three hitters back from last year: Bailee Wilson and Sydney Yoder. Their best pitcher, Madisyn Davis, is back for her junior season after a 7-5 season a year ago.
Fresh Faces
The Purdue Fort Wayne softball team welcomes eight freshmen to the 2022-2023 roster, including Bailey Manos, Brooke Lickey, Ella Carriere, Alanah Jones, Tori Countryman, Grace Hollopeter, Kennedy Peckinpaugh and Ryleigh Carraway. This includes five Indiana natives.
Back in Black
Junior Brooke Wintlend was named to the All-Horizon League Second Team in 2022. In the 2022 season, Wintlend started in 37-of-41 games in her first year with the Mastodons. Wintlend led the ‘Dons with a .515 slugging percentage, while also batting .255. She had a slugging percentage of .615 in league play, which was the seventh-best in the league.
Up Next
Purdue Fort Wayne will head south to take part in the Bob Heck Classic hosted by Georgia State on Feb. 17-19 in Atlanta.
EVANSVILLE MBB
ACES DEFEAT PANTHERS TO EARN FIRST MVC VICTORY
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Leading from start to finish, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team put together its best performance of the season, defeating Northern Iowa by a final score of 71-59 on Wednesday at the Ford Center.
After jumping out to an 11-4 lead, the Purple Aces held a 43-26 advantage at halftime before taking the 12-point win. Four UE players finished in double figures led by Yacine Toumi, who had 15 points while adding a team-best nine rebounds. Kenny Strawbridge Jr. picked up 14 points while Gage Bobe and Preston Phillips added 12 and 10, respectively.
“I thought we did a good job coming out and being locked in on our defensive game plan. We caught them off guard and kept them on their heels and won with our defense,” UE head coach David Ragland exclaimed following the victory. “We put together a complete game and got the job done. Over the last few games, we have been building towards this and I feel so good for the guys in the locker room and to see the smiles on their face.”
Tytan Anderson and Landon Wolf paced the Panthers with 14 points apiece. Anderson recorded a game-high 12 caroms.
Evansville drained five of its first six shots to take an 11-4 lead just over three minutes in. The Panthers countered with four in a row as the Aces missed their next three attempts, but it was Yacine Toumi connecting on a triple to end the run.
Up by a 17-13 score, Marvin Coleman II connected from downtown to open a 7-0 stretch that pushed the lead into double figures at 24-13 at the 9:07 mark. Preston Phillips turned a steal into a field goal two minutes later to make it a 16-point game and with exactly one minute remaining in the half, Kenny Strawbridge Jr. turned another turnover into a make to take a game-high 19-point lead (43-24).
UE wrapped up the half with a 43-26 lead – its largest halftime lead of the season. The Aces shot 60% from the field and 50% from outside. Just as impressive was the defensive, who turned 11 UNI turnovers into 16 points while holding the Panthers to just two points off turnovers in the period. Toumi scored 13 in the period.
Northern Iowa took over on the defensive end to open the second half, forcing 11 missed shots as they cut the lead to just seven at 43-36. Chris Moncrief ended the stretch with a dunk to get his squad back on track. Fortunately for the Aces, the deficit would not get below nine for the remainder of the evening.
Holding a 47-38 advantage as the second half reached its midway point, Phillips hit a basket to push the lead back into double figures. His field goal began a 6-0 run that went back up to 15 with a Strawbridge triple. His outside shot made it a 55-40 game. Over the final minutes, the Panthers closed to within nine points but it was Evansville taking the win, 71-59.
For the first time this season, UE shot 50% from the field. The Aces finished right at the mark with 28 of their 56 attempts finding the bottom of the net. UNI shot 39.3% for the game. Coleman led the Aces with seven assists while grabbing eight boards. Phillips had a notable performance as he went 4-for-4 from the field while picking up three steals, three rebounds and two assists. On Sunday, the Aces are right back at the Ford Center for a 1 p.m. game against Missouri State.
EVANSVILLE WOMEN’S SOCCER
WOMEN’S SOCCER ADDS TWO TO RECRUITING CLASS
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville women’s soccer coach Chris Pfau added two new members to his incoming 2023 recruiting class on Wednesday, as he announced the signing of two-time U.S. National Team Camp goalkeeper participant Elke Travis (Henderson, Nev./Faith Lutheran) and Georgia ECNL standout Ashlyn Koutsos (Cumming, Ga./West Forsyth) to National Letters of Intent.
“I am excited to have both Elke and Ashlyn join our soccer team this fall,” said Pfau. “Both come from great soccer clubs that compete at the highest level in the ECNL. They are both well-coached and very driven to improve our program, be great students and represent UE. Both will make a great impact on our program and UE right from the start.”
Travis currently plays goalkeeper for the Heat FC ECNL 04/05 squad which was a 2019 Final Four participant. She was recently named the Max Preps Player of the Year for Faith Lutheran High School in Henderson, Nevada, after helping lead the Crusaders to the Nevada Class 5A state championship in the fall. Travis ranked among the ECNL’s top 20 goalkeepers during the summer of 2021, according to the college soccer scouting and analytics program InStat.
“Elke has had a ton of experience and success at the club and high school levels,” said Pfau. “She has a tremendous presence in goal, can make the huge save when she needs to, but what is great about her is that she understands the game so well and makes the game easy. A lot of that comes from playing for a great club team in the Heat ECNL program in Las Vegas.”
Koutsos has been a mainstay in the midfield at the ECNL level for the United Futbol Academy (UFA) 04/05 ECNL program out of Georgia. Koutsos has been a three-year starter for UFA, and has helped the program rank second in the ECNL Southeast Conference, and eighth overall nationally in the ECNL. Koutsos is also a former two-time Region III ODP team member during her soccer career.
“Ashlyn comes from a great club program – UFA ECNL out of Georgia – and she has been able to both play against and compete with some of the best players in the U.S. while playing for UFA,” said Pfau. “Ashlyn is a center mid that is very technical, smart and crafty. She can play anywhere on the field and sees the game very well, and she can not only generate assists, but she also has the ability to score goals.”
Travis and Koutsos join a recruiting class which includes Indiana all-state selections Ella Hamner (Evansville, Ind./Memorial), Taylor Johnson (Evansville, Ind./Reitz) and Emily Karr (Mooresville, Ind./Center Grove) and high-powered Utah attacking player Brooklyn Robinson (West Haven, Utah/Fremont), who all signed with UE during the fall signing period.
SOUTHERN INDIANA SB
USI SOFTBALL’S 2023 DEBUT PUSHED BACK DUE TO EXPECTED RAIN
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball will not be making the trip to North Carolina this weekend due to uncertain weather forecasts in the Elon, North Carolina area where rain is expected throughout the weekend.
The Screaming Eagles will now turn their attention to next weekend’s Evansville Softball Classic hosted by the University of Evansville to make their 2023 season debut.
USI is entering its first season as an Ohio Valley Conference member. The Screaming Eagles were selected to finish 5th in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll, as the University of Tennessee at Martin was projected for a first-place finish.
USI is coming off a 49-13 record last season, including a 26-2 mark in conference play, and winning the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles. During the 2022 season, the Screaming Eagles had a stretch of 18 straight wins between March 7 and April 10 last year, tying a program record for consecutive wins.
In the last season before USI made the transition to NCAA Division I, the Screaming Eagles capped off their Division II status with a run to the 2022 NCAA II Softball Championships after winning the Midwest Super Regional. USI was in search of its second D-II National Title after winning the 2018 National Championship.
Southern Indiana will start conference play March 11-12 at Morehead State before hosting its home-opening series from USI Softball Field March 18-19 against Lindenwood University.
VALPO MBB
VALPO FALLS AT INDIANA STATE
The Valparaiso University men’s basketball team shot 60 percent in the first half, but cooled off in the second stanza of a game where Indiana State knocked down 17 3-pointers on their way to an 84-62 win over the Beacons at the Hulman Center in Terre Haute. Valpo was led in scoring by 22 points from Ben Krikke (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada / Jasper Place).
How It Happened
The Beacons took the early lead when Nick Edwards (Atlanta, Ga. / Grayson [Glenville State]) beat the shot clock with a 3 on the game’s opening possession, and later Maximus Nelson (Appleton, Wis. / Appleton North) hit a big triple to cut the Indiana State lead to one at 11-10 with 15:50 on the clock.
After the Nelson 3, Indiana State scored the game’s next eight points to open up a 19-10 lead. The lead reached double figures by the midway mark of the first half at 25-15, and the largest lead of the first half came with 7:30 on the clock when Indiana State stretched the lead to 12 with a 3 that made it 31-19.
Valpo made a push late in the first half including a 3 by Nelson at the 1:31 mark of the half to make it 44-37. The gap shrunk to five on a basket by Edwards a moment later, and the halftime deficit was seven after Indiana State scored the final bucket of the half.
Valpo struggled to hit shots early in the second half, and by the 11:13 mark the lead was 19 at 65-46.
The Beacons were held below 30 percent shooting in the second half and missed 10 of their 12 3-point tries after making five of nine before the break. The hosts pulled away by outscoring the Brown & Gold 38-23 in the second stanza.
Inside the Game
Krikke posted 22 points on 10-of-17 shooting. He thrived in the first half with 16 points on 7-of-9 from the field. He has scored 19 points or more in each of his last five games, has scored in double figures in 14 straight outings and has 10 or more in all 15 conference games.
Senior Kobe King (La Crosse, Wis. / La Crosse Central [Wisconsin]) scored in double figures for the 26th consecutive game, registering 11 points.
Nelson pulled down a team-high nine rebounds to go along with eight points. The rookie’s performance on the glass shattered his previous career high of seven set on Jan. 28 vs. Evansville.
After shattering a Missouri Valley Conference league-only record for made 3s in a game with 19 on Saturday vs. Murray State, the Sycamores followed with 17 made 3s on 40 attempts on Wednesday.
Up Next
Valpo (10-16, 4-11 MVC) will host Illinois State on Saturday at 6 p.m. There will be a free Valpo mini-cooler giveaway for the first 200 students. To purchase tickets, visit valpoathletics.com/tickets.
VALPO WBB
VALPO RETURNS HOME, HOSTS HEART HEALTH AWARENESS GAME FRIDAY VERSUS DRAKE
Valparaiso (4-17, 2-10 MVC)
Game #22 – Feb. 10, 2023 – 6 p.m.
Drake (13-7, 8-4 MVC)
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) – Valparaiso, Ind.
Next Up in Valpo Basketball: The Valpo women’s basketball team returns home to the ARC this weekend to host the Valley’s Iowa schools, starting with a Friday night matchup against Drake. Friday’s game will be the program’s Heart Health Awareness Game.
Previously: Valpo was within nine points of host Southern Illinois in MVC action Saturday afternoon in Carbondale, Ill., but the Salukis pulled away over the final 10 minutes for a 77-47 victory. Leah Earnest paced the Beacons with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Ali Saunders scored 10 points.
Following Valpo Basketball: Streaming Video: ESPN3
Radio: WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso)
Streaming Audio: TuneIn app
Links for live coverage: Available via ValpoAthletics.com
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 52-85. 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: Drake leads the all-time series over Valpo by a 14-2 margin, but the Beacons earned both of their wins in the series with a sweep last season. The Bulldogs took the first meeting this year in Des Moines, 84-51, as Valpo shot just 29.8% from the field and committed 25 turnovers. Olivia Brown led the Beacons in that matchup with 16 points.
@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.
…at SIU
– Leah Earnest scored eight first-quarter points as Valpo was within 13-10 at the first quarter, but the Salukis extended their lead to 33-23 at halftime.
– SIU led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter before the Beacons battled back to within 48-39 with 10 minutes to play.
– SIU opened the fourth quarter on an 11-1 run to put the game away, as the Salukis limited Valpo to just one field goal in the final period.
– Earnest paced Valpo on Saturday with 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
– Ali Saunders scored 10 points off the bench, including a career-best seven made free throws, and handed out a trio of assists.
– Katie Beyer had the second-highest scoring game of her Valpo career, going 3-of-4 from the field and 2-of-2 from the foul line for eight points.
– Valpo shot just 31% from the field — its second-worst mark in MVC play to date — and was held to a season-low three made 3-pointers. The Beacons were 18-of-23 from the foul line for their second-highest number of made free throws this season.
– The Beacons committed 27 turnovers — just one off their season worst — and forced just 11 SIU miscues. The Salukis held a 32-2 advantage in points off turnovers and a 44-20 edge in points in the paint.
…versus UIC
– UIC led 21-11 at the end of the first quarter and extended its lead to as many as 14 points in the second quarter before Valpo rallied to within 29-22 at halftime.
– The Flames held a 40-32 lead with 10 minutes to play.
– A 3-point play from Emma Tecca and a layup by Maya Dunson in the opening three minutes of the final period brought the Beacons within one possession at 40-37 with just over seven minutes to play, as close as they had been since the first quarter.
– UIC pushed back out to a seven-point edge, but Valpo came back with an 8-2 spurt on a Dunson triple, a layup from Leah Earnest and another 3-pointer from Olivia Brown to close to within one at 48-47 with 3:40 remaining.
– The Beacons had a shot to take the lead on their next possession, but were unable to convert, and UIC’s Tiana Jackson — who had made just three 3-pointers all season — hit from deep to bump the Flames’ edge to 51-47 with 2:20 to go. Valpo never had the opportunity to tie or take the lead again.
– Valpo shot 47.5% from the field on Wednesday while holding the Flames to 39.1% shooting. The Beacons were 8-of-19 from the 3-point line as well, matching their season best percentage-wise (42.1%) from deep.
– Valpo was hit with 27 fouls, its highest mark since the start of Valley play. UIC got nine more chances at the charity stripe, going 13-of-19 from the foul line versus Valpo’s 7-of-10 mark.
– The Beacons committed 22 turnovers in the loss while forcing just 13 UIC miscues. UIC ended the night with a 17-6 advantage in points off turnovers.
– Brown was the lone Valpo player to score in double figures, posting 16 points. The senior went 4-of-7 from the 3-point line and is now hitting at a 51.6% clip from downtown in MVC action.
…looking ahead
– The Beacons host UNI on Sunday afternoon to close out a stretch of five out of six games at the ARC.
– Valpo then plays its next four in a row on the road, starting with the swing downstate to visit Indiana State and Evansville next weekend.
U OF I SWIMMING
HOUNDS NOTCH FOUR EVENT TITLES AS GLVC SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS CONTINUE
EVANSVILE, Ind.—The first full day of the 2023 GLVC Swimming & Diving Championships is in the books, and the UIndy Greyhounds find themselves squarely in the hunt for both the men’s and women’s crowns. The Hounds finished the day with four event titles to sit atop the women’s standings and third in the men’s.
The annual conference meet, which is being held at Deaconess Aquatic Center in Evansville, Ind., continues Thursday morning with prelims starting at 11 a.m. ET. The event started Tuesday evening and will continue through Saturday.
WEDNESDAY
Diego Mas claimed the 50-free crown, out-sprinting the league’s fastest swimmers with a lightning-quick time of 19.60 to edge McKendree-speedster Gregg Lichinsky by just .03 seconds. The mark matches his own school record – one he set back at the House of Champions meet in November – while also giving the Greyhounds their first gold in the high-profile event since 2014.
Johanna Buys made it back-to-back conference titles in the women’s 50 free, touching a 22.71. Right behind was teammate Leticia Vaselli, whose season-best 23.15 was good for runner-up.
UIndy also went 1-2 in the 1000 free, highlighted by sophomore Cedric Buessing’s continued success on the league’s biggest stage. The reigning GLVC Men’s Swimmer of the Year earned his second straight gold in the event with a school-record and NCAA-A-cut time of 9:01.69. Teammate Christian Hedeen secured silver with a 9:11.87, improving both his personal best and B-cut times.
Though the gold went to McKendree, the Greyhounds scored big points in the women’s 1000. UIndy claimed second through fifth place, including a silver-medal swim from Emilia Colti-Dumitrescu and a bronze from Karolina Dubcakova, to amass a whopping 106 team points.
Kaitlyn McCoy repeated as the women’s 200 IM champ. The 2021 national runner-up in the event, McCoy outpaced a trio of Drury Panthers with a winning time of 2:00.01.
Meanwhile on the boards, the Hounds started the diving events by nabbing two more medals. Mikaela Starr and Alexis Lumaj earned gold and silver, respectively, on the 1-meter. It marked the second career GLVC title for Starr, who also won gold two years ago on the 3-meter board.
The Greyhounds’ capped the night with a pair of podium finishes in the always-exciting 200 medley relay. Julia Magierowska, Celina Schmidt, Mika Heideyer and Vaselli combined for a gold-medal time of 1:41.52, out-touching Drury by nine-tenths of a second. In the final race of the evening, Jeron Thompson, Liki Prema, Serge Ahadzhanian and Mas claimed silver with a 1:26.00, falling just .13 seconds shy of McKendree’s winning time.
OTHER NOTABLES
4th- Brynhildur Traustadottir, 1000 free
5th- Joao Silva, 50 free
5th- Jamie Glover, 1000 free
5th- Celina Schmidt, 200 IM
7th- Stanislaw Chalat, 1000 free
7th- Andrea Gomez, 200 IM
TUESDAY
The meet kicked off Tuesday evening with the men’s and women’s finals of the 800 freestyle relay, with both events netting a medal for the Hounds. The women’s quartet of Heideyer, Vaselli, McCoy and Brynhildur Traustadottir claimed the silver, while the men’s team of Buessing, Ahadzhanian, Hedeen and Silva took bronze.
MARIAN WBB
MARIAN’S WIN STREAK SNAPPED BY SPRING ARBOR ON THE ROAD
Spring Arbor, Mich. – The Marian women’s basketball team erased a 12-point deficit Wednesday night, but were unable to complete the comeback as they dropped their second Crossroads League game of the season with an 81-77 loss against Spring Arbor. The loss puts Marian at 23-3 overall and 14-2 in Crossroads League play.
The two teams traded points through the first seven minutes of action before Spring Arbor got ahead seven after a 6-0 run. Aliyah Evans answered for Marian with back-to-back buckets to cut the deficit to three at 15-12. The Cougars however had the last say of the quarter as they knocked down a free throw with 17 ticks left on the clock to take the 16-12 lead after the first quarter.
The second quarter saw a lot of back-and-forth action, but it was a jumper by Sara Majorosova knocking down the jumper to spark an 8-0 run that ended with a shot from Allison Bosse to give Marian their first lead of the game at 20-18. Grace Shoobridge responded with four straight points to put Spring Arbor back up before Evans found Collier for the jumper to tie things up at 22-22. A triple by the Cougars at the 5:36 mark started an 11-2 run to give the host the nine-point advantage. Jayla Wehner ended the run with a basket of her own, but another jumper and a pair of free throws put Spring Arbor back up 11. Bosse had the last say of the quarter as she canned the triple with 36 seconds to go, sending Marian to the locker room trailing 37-29 at the break.
Spring Arbor continued their offensive efforts in the third quarter by gaining the 12-point lead with 5:27 left to play. Marian put together a 10-2 run behind the efforts of Kinnidy Garrard, Evans, and Bosse to get their team within four. Spring Arbor answered with two freebies before Collier canned the three-pointer, fueling a 10-4 run to end quarter three deadlocked at 57-57.
The final quarter of play was tightly contested, but it was a three by Majorosova giving Marian the three-point lead to start. The Cougars regained the lead after a jumper and two free throws before Majorosova connected with Evans in the lane to take back the 62-61 lead. A jumper by Spring Arbor at the 5:48 mark gave them the two-point lead that they would end up holding the remainder of the game. The Knights never gave up as Collier swished in the three-pointer with 14 seconds left to cut the deficit to 79-77. However, the hosts stepped up to knock down their foul shots to go on to win 81-77.
Collier had a game-high 21 points to go along with five rebounds, while Evans and Garrard each added 16 points. Evans had a team-high five assists and Garrard pulled down a team-best six rebounds. Bosse and Abbey McNally scored eight and seven, respectively.
Marian will return to action on Saturday when they travel to Indiana Wesleyan for a chance at a share of the conference championship.
MARIAN MBB
STRONG DEFENSE AND BENCH PRODUCTION FUELS MARIAN WIN OVER SPRING ARBOR
INDIANAPOLIS – 20 first half bench points and strong stretches of defense aided the Marian men’s basketball team Wednesday night, as they completed a season sweep over Spring Arbor with a 68-51 victory. The win snaps the two-game losting streak for Marian, and improves the Knights to 19-7 overall this season.
Hayden Langkabel scored the first points of the game, but Spring Arbor held the upper-hand in the opening minutes as they paced their way in front with a 9-3 run. Marian stopped their drought of three minutes and used a 11-0 run to reclaim the lead, getting instant offense from Nolan Foster. Bench production continued to come as Brody Whitaker buried a three-pointer, and later sunk two at the foul line to cap the run. The spurt helped push the Knights in front as the clock ticked to the 10-minute mark, leading 14-11.
Luke Heady continued the scoring streak for the bench, scoring seven points in a 9-2 run to vaulted the lead to nine points. Heady’s final score in the run forced a Spring Arbor timeout, which did little to aid their scoring drought. A layup from Christian Harvey would provide Marian’s first double figure lead, while the defense shutout the Cougars for nearly four minutes, stopping their opponents offense until an Eli White three broke the silence. Marian’s defense would continue to make life miserable on the Cougars as the half concluded, with Langkabel knocking in a pair of scores to lead his team to a 33-19 advantage at the break.
Spring Arbor answered their 14-point halftime deficit with a 6-2 run in the opening two minutes, forcing a quick timeout by the Knights to regroup. Josh Bryan canned an open three to get his team on track, with Foster scoring a pair of layups to control a 15-point edge. Marian would hold a double-digit lead for the remainder of the half after Bryan dialed it back in, with the lead soaring to as many as 21, with a dunk from Langkabel and post scoring by Whitaker aiding the lead.
Marian would get challenged late by the Cougars as they sunk a pair of three-pointers to make it a five possession game in the closing minutes, but using the inside game of Jackson Ames, the Knights were able withstand the push and complete the 68-51 victory.
The Knights finished the sweep with a plus-17 advantage on the glass, out-rebounding Spring Abor 44-27. Marian had 17 offensive rebounds in the win, with five belonging to Ames who finished with 11 points and nine rebounds. Langkabel led all players with 19 points, and the bench unit combined to score 33 points, with Whitaker, Foster, and Maximus Gizzi each scoring eight.
Marian will aim to avenge an early season loss to No. 13 Indiana Wesleyan when they make the trip to Marion on Saturday. Tip from Luckey Arena is set for 3:00 p.m.
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 | 39 | 16 | .709 | — | 21-7 | 18-9 | 8-1 | 23-11 | 6-4 | 2 W | ||
| 2 MILWAUKEE | 37 | 17 | .685 | 1.5 | 23-5 | 14-12 | 7-4 | 21-13 | 9-1 | 8 W | ||
| 3 PHILADELPHIA | 34 | 19 | .642 | 4.0 | 20-8 | 14-11 | 5-5 | 19-13 | 7-3 | 2 L | ||
| 4 CLEVELAND | 35 | 22 | .614 | 5.0 | 23-6 | 12-16 | 10-3 | 21-10 | 7-3 | 4 W | ||
| 5 BROOKLYN | 32 | 22 | .593 | 6.5 | 16-10 | 16-12 | 6-5 | 22-11 | 5-5 | 2 L | ||
| 6 MIAMI | 30 | 25 | .545 | 9.0 | 18-9 | 12-16 | 6-3 | 14-16 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| 7 NEW YORK | 30 | 26 | .536 | 9.5 | 14-15 | 16-11 | 4-7 | 21-15 | 5-5 | 2 W | ||
| 8 ATLANTA | 27 | 28 | .491 | 12.0 | 13-11 | 14-17 | 5-4 | 17-17 | 4-6 | 2 L | ||
| 9 CHICAGO | 26 | 28 | .481 | 12.5 | 16-11 | 10-17 | 5-4 | 20-15 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| 10 TORONTO | 26 | 30 | .464 | 13.5 | 16-12 | 10-18 | 4-9 | 15-19 | 6-4 | 3 W | ||
| 11 WASHINGTON | 25 | 29 | .463 | 13.5 | 13-12 | 12-17 | 6-3 | 14-17 | 7-3 | 1 W | ||
| 12 INDIANA | 25 | 31 | .446 | 14.5 | 17-12 | 8-19 | 3-5 | 17-16 | 2-8 | 2 L | ||
| 13 ORLANDO | 22 | 33 | .400 | 17.0 | 13-14 | 9-19 | 3-7 | 11-23 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| 14 CHARLOTTE | 15 | 41 | .268 | 24.5 | 7-17 | 8-24 | 5-8 | 8-28 | 3-7 | 5 L | ||
| 15 DETROIT | 14 | 42 | .250 | 25.5 | 7-21 | 7-21 | 0-9 | 6-25 | 2-8 | 3 L | ||
| WESTERN CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | CONF GB | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF | LAST 10 | STREAK | |||
| 1 DENVER | 38 | 17 | .691 | — | 26-4 | 12-13 | 10-5 | 28-11 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| 2 MEMPHIS | 33 | 21 | .611 | 4.5 | 22-5 | 11-16 | 6-2 | 15-16 | 2-8 | 1 W | ||
| 3 SACRAMENTO | 31 | 23 | .574 | 6.5 | 16-11 | 15-12 | 5-5 | 19-11 | 5-5 | 2 W | ||
| 4 DALLAS | 30 | 26 | .536 | 8.5 | 19-9 | 11-17 | 7-2 | 22-13 | 6-4 | 2 W | ||
| 5 PHOENIX | 30 | 26 | .536 | 8.5 | 19-9 | 11-17 | 8-0 | 20-14 | 8-2 | 3 W | ||
| 6 LA CLIPPERS | 31 | 27 | .534 | 8.5 | 14-12 | 17-15 | 4-4 | 17-16 | 7-3 | 1 L | ||
| 7 NEW ORLEANS | 29 | 27 | .518 | 9.5 | 20-9 | 9-18 | 7-4 | 18-14 | 3-7 | 3 W | ||
| 8 MINNESOTA | 30 | 28 | .517 | 9.5 | 20-12 | 10-16 | 8-7 | 21-18 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| 9 GOLDEN STATE | 28 | 27 | .509 | 10.0 | 21-6 | 7-21 | 4-4 | 17-12 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| 10 PORTLAND | 27 | 28 | .491 | 11.0 | 15-12 | 12-16 | 5-7 | 19-15 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| 11 UTAH | 27 | 29 | .482 | 11.5 | 18-12 | 9-17 | 4-6 | 19-17 | 5-5 | 3 L | ||
| 12 OKLAHOMA CITY | 26 | 28 | .481 | 11.5 | 16-11 | 10-17 | 4-6 | 13-16 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 13 LA LAKERS | 25 | 30 | .455 | 13.0 | 13-13 | 12-17 | 1-9 | 12-19 | 5-5 | 2 L | ||
| 14 SAN ANTONIO | 14 | 41 | .255 | 24.0 | 9-21 | 5-20 | 2-7 | 5-30 | 0-10 | 10 L | ||
| 15 HOUSTON | 13 | 42 | .236 | 25.0 | 8-20 | 5-22 | 1-8 | 7-30 | 3-7 | 4 L |
NHL STANDINGS
| EASTERN CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | ROW | GF | GA | HOME | ROAD | L10 | ||
| 1 BOSTON BRUINS | 51 | 39 | 7 | 5 | 83 | 37 | 192 | 111 | 22-1-3 | 17-6-2 | 7-2-1 | |
| 2 CAROLINA HURRICANES | 51 | 34 | 9 | 8 | 76 | 31 | 173 | 136 | 17-5-2 | 17-4-6 | 9-0-1 | |
| 3 NEW JERSEY DEVILS | 50 | 33 | 13 | 4 | 70 | 32 | 176 | 135 | 14-10-2 | 19-3-2 | 8-1-1 | |
| 4 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS | 52 | 31 | 13 | 8 | 70 | 31 | 175 | 141 | 20-5-4 | 11-8-4 | 5-4-1 | |
| 5 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING | 50 | 32 | 16 | 2 | 66 | 31 | 179 | 152 | 20-4-2 | 12-12-0 | 6-3-1 | |
| 6 NEW YORK RANGERS | 51 | 29 | 14 | 8 | 66 | 27 | 166 | 136 | 15-9-4 | 14-5-4 | 7-2-1 | |
| 7 WASHINGTON CAPITALS | 53 | 27 | 20 | 6 | 60 | 26 | 166 | 152 | 14-8-3 | 13-12-3 | 4-6-0 | |
| 8 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS | 50 | 25 | 16 | 9 | 59 | 24 | 163 | 154 | 15-6-4 | 10-10-5 | 4-3-3 | |
| 9 NEW YORK ISLANDERS | 54 | 27 | 22 | 5 | 59 | 27 | 154 | 145 | 16-9-2 | 11-13-3 | 4-4-2 | |
| 10 BUFFALO SABRES | 50 | 26 | 20 | 4 | 56 | 25 | 186 | 170 | 11-13-2 | 15-7-2 | 6-2-2 | |
| 11 FLORIDA PANTHERS | 53 | 25 | 22 | 6 | 56 | 24 | 185 | 184 | 14-7-3 | 11-15-3 | 6-2-2 | |
| 12 OTTAWA SENATORS | 50 | 24 | 23 | 3 | 51 | 23 | 151 | 159 | 14-11-1 | 10-12-2 | 6-4-0 | |
| 13 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS | 52 | 21 | 22 | 9 | 51 | 21 | 143 | 164 | 10-13-2 | 11-9-7 | 4-4-2 | |
| 14 DETROIT RED WINGS | 49 | 21 | 20 | 8 | 50 | 20 | 147 | 165 | 12-11-3 | 9-9-5 | 4-5-1 | |
| 15 MONTREAL CANADIENS | 51 | 20 | 27 | 4 | 44 | 16 | 134 | 189 | 11-14-1 | 9-13-3 | 4-5-1 | |
| 16 COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS | 51 | 15 | 32 | 4 | 34 | 14 | 131 | 198 | 11-15-2 | 4-17-2 | 3-5-2 | |
| WESTERN CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | ROW | GF | GA | HOME | ROAD | L10 | ||
| 1 DALLAS STARS | 53 | 30 | 13 | 10 | 70 | 28 | 180 | 136 | 15-5-6 | 15-8-4 | 5-2-3 | |
| 2 VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS | 52 | 30 | 18 | 4 | 64 | 27 | 165 | 149 | 14-13-0 | 16-5-4 | 3-5-2 | |
| 3 WINNIPEG JETS | 52 | 32 | 19 | 1 | 65 | 32 | 166 | 137 | 18-8-0 | 14-11-1 | 5-5-0 | |
| 4 SEATTLE KRAKEN | 50 | 29 | 16 | 5 | 63 | 29 | 177 | 155 | 13-10-3 | 16-6-2 | 5-4-1 | |
| 5 LOS ANGELES KINGS | 53 | 28 | 18 | 7 | 63 | 24 | 173 | 183 | 14-9-2 | 14-9-5 | 5-4-1 | |
| 6 COLORADO AVALANCHE | 49 | 27 | 18 | 4 | 58 | 23 | 152 | 135 | 13-9-3 | 14-9-1 | 7-2-1 | |
| 7 EDMONTON OILERS | 51 | 29 | 18 | 4 | 62 | 29 | 192 | 164 | 13-11-3 | 16-7-1 | 8-1-1 | |
| 8 MINNESOTA WILD | 50 | 27 | 19 | 4 | 58 | 23 | 154 | 145 | 15-8-1 | 12-11-3 | 5-5-0 | |
| 9 CALGARY FLAMES | 51 | 24 | 17 | 10 | 58 | 23 | 161 | 157 | 14-9-2 | 10-8-8 | 5-3-2 | |
| 10 NASHVILLE PREDATORS | 49 | 24 | 19 | 6 | 54 | 22 | 138 | 146 | 14-8-3 | 10-11-3 | 5-5-0 | |
| 11 ST. LOUIS BLUES | 51 | 23 | 25 | 3 | 49 | 20 | 156 | 185 | 10-12-2 | 13-13-1 | 3-7-0 | |
| 12 VANCOUVER CANUCKS | 51 | 20 | 27 | 4 | 44 | 17 | 172 | 202 | 10-13-1 | 10-14-3 | 3-6-1 | |
| 13 SAN JOSE SHARKS | 52 | 16 | 25 | 11 | 43 | 15 | 161 | 199 | 5-12-7 | 11-13-4 | 3-4-3 | |
| 14 ARIZONA COYOTES | 51 | 17 | 28 | 6 | 40 | 15 | 134 | 179 | 11-8-2 | 6-20-4 | 4-5-1 | |
| 15 ANAHEIM DUCKS | 52 | 17 | 29 | 6 | 40 | 14 | 130 | 210 | 9-13-1 | 8-16-5 | 5-3-2 | |
| 16 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS | 49 | 15 | 29 | 5 | 35 | 15 | 120 | 179 | 9-16-3 | 6-13-2 | 5-4-1 |
FOOTBALL HISTORY
FEBRUARY 9, 1960 – AFL & NFL AGREED VERBALLY TO A NO TAMPERING PACT. ACCORDING TO THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME’S WEBSITE THE VERBAL PACT BETWEEN THE THEN RIVAL PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE’S PERTAINED TO PLAYER CONTRACTS. IT MIGHT JUST BE THE FIRST THING THAT THESE TWO ORGANIZATIONS DID AGREE UPON IN THE EARLY 1960’S PER THE NFLPA.
FEBRUARY 9, 1960 – EDDIE ERDELATZ APPOINTED AS FIRST HEAD COACH OF RAIDERS. EDDIE STAYED ON THE SIDELINE FOR TWO SEASONS IN OAKLAND BUT THEY PARTED WAYS IN LATE 1961 AFTER HIS TEAMS RECORDED A DISMAL 8-20 RECORD IN THE AFL PER THE RAIDERS.COM.
FEBRUARY 9, 1996 – THE BALTIMORE RAVENS FRANCHISE IS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED BY THE LEAGUE OFFICE. THE RAVENS WERE THE FRANCHISE THAT FORMERLY CALLED CLEVELAND HOME. ON FEBRUARY 8, 1996 ART MODELL THE OWNER OF THE FRANCHISE LEARNED THAT THE BROWNS’ NICKNAME BELONGED TO THE CITY OF CLEVELAND AND WOULD NOT LEAVE WITH HIS FRANCHISE.
FEBRUARY 9, 2002 – ALOHA STADIUM, HONOLULU – AT THE NFL PRO BOWL FOR THE 2001 SEASON THE AFC STREAKED PAST THE NFC, 38-30. OAKLAND RAIDERS QUARTERBACK RICH GANNON WON THE MVP OF THE GAME.
FEBRUARY 9, 2006 – LEGENDARY PLAY-BY-PLAY MAN AL MICHAELS JOINS NBC’S “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” BROADCAST WITH JOHN MADDEN. AL HAD FORMERLY WORKED WITH ABC SPORTS FOR THE BETTER PART OF 3 DECADES. MICHAELS HAD A BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE IN COVERING NFL GAMES PRIOR TO THIS MOVE AS HE HAD BEEN A MAINSTAY FOR ALMOST 20 SEASONS AS PART OF ABC’S MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL. AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING IN 2021, MICHAELS HAD JUST COMPLETED HIS 15TH SEASON AS THE VOICE OF SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL.
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 9
FEBRUARY 9, 1950 – SAN ANGELO, TEXAS – THE AWESOME OFFENSIVE TACKLE FROM THE ANGELO STATE RAMS ROD CASON WAS BORN.THE FOOTBALL FOUNDATION SAYS ROD WAS A THREE TIME NAIA ALL AMERICAN SELECTION AND ASSISTED THE RAMS TO THREE WINNING SEASONS AND, IN 1971, A BERTH IN THE NAIA SEMIFINAL PLAYOFFS. ROD CASON WAS HONORED WITH INDUCTION INTO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME IN 2002 AFTER THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION TALLIED THEIR VOTES. HE MADE IT INTO THE NFL AND PLAYED FOR THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS.
FEBRUARY 9, 1952 – MESA, ARIZONA – THE LEGENDARY QUARTERBACK FROM ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY DANNY WHITE CELEBRATED THE DAY OF HIS BIRTH. WHITE GUIDED THE SUN DEVILS TO AN OUTSTANDING RECORD OF 32-4 DURING HIS TIME AT THE HELM OF THE ASU OFFENSE AND HELPED HIS TEAM WITH THREE STRAIGHT FIESTA BOWLS IN THE EARLY 1970S. THE NFF TELLS OF HOW WHITE LED THE NATION IN PASS EFFICIENCY AND WAS NAMED ALL-AMERICA IN 1973. DANNY HELD ARIZONA STATE RECORDS FOR THE MOST YARDS GAINED BY PASSING IN A CAREER, 6717 AND MOST TOUCHDOWN PASSES, 64. AT PROBABLY HIS PINNACLE COLLEGIATE GAME AGAINST NEW MEXICO IN 1971 HE THREW SIX TOUCHDOWN PASSES! THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION SELECTED DANNY WHITE FOR ENTRANCE INTO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME IN 1998. WHEN DANNY LEFT COLLEGE HE JOINED THE MEMPHIS SOUTHMEN SOMETIMES REMEMBERED AS THE THE GRIZZLIES OF THE WORLD FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WHEN THE WFL FOLDED TWO YEARS LATER DANNY WAS PICKED UP BY THE DALLAS COWBOYS OF THE NFL AND WAS A LONG TIME QUARTERBACK AND PUNTER FOR THE FRANCHISE.
FEBRUARY 9, 1957 – DAN ROSS THE FORMER TIGHT END FROM NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY IN BOSTON WAS BORN. DAN ROSS RECEIVED THE GREAT HONOR OF BEING SELECTED FOR INCLUSION INTO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME IN 2004.
SPORTS NUMBERS
29 – 2 – 7 – 24
FEBRUARY 9, 1916 – BASEBALL’S NATIONAL LEAGUE VOTED AND SUBSEQUENTLY SHOT DOWN A PROPOSAL BY THE NEW YORK GIANTS, BOSTON BRAVES, & CHICAGO CUBS TO INCREASE CLUB PLAYER ROSTERS MAXIMUM FROM 21 TO 22. THE SMALL MARKET CINCINNATI REDS IN FACT WANTED TO REDUCE THE ROSTERS LIMIT THEM TO NO MORE THAN 20 PLAYERS PER TEAM. REMEMBER ACCORDING TO HISTORIAN LARRY LESTER IN A RECENT INTERVIEW ON THE SPORTS JERSEY DISPATCH PODCAST, NEGRO LEAGUE TEAMS ONLY HELD 16-18 PLAYERS PER TEAM. TO PLACE THIS ALL INTO PERSPECTIVE, CURRENT MLB SQUADS MAY HAVE UP TO 26 PLAYERS ON THEIR EVERYDAY ACTIVE ROSTERS.
FEBRUARY 9, 1951 – THE ST LOUIS BROWNS SIGNED 45 YEAR OLD, VETERAN FREE AGENT PITCHER NUMBER 29, SATCHEL PAIGE, TO A CONTRACT. PRIOR TO THIS PAIGE HAD PITCHED TWO SEASONS IN THE AMERCAN LEAGUE WITH THE CLEVELAND INDIANS AFTER SPENDING ALMOST 16 YEARS IN THE NEGRO LEAGUES WITH VARIOUS TEAMS BEFORE JACKIE ROBINSON’S FAMOUS BROOKLYN DODGERS SIGNING BROKE THE COLOR BARRIER IN MLB.
SPEAKING OF MR PAIGE, HE ALSO MADE HISTORY ON THIS DAY IN 1971 WHEN HE BCAME THE FIRST PLAYER FROM THE NEGRO LEAGUES TO BE SELECTED TO ENTER INTO THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME.
FEBRUARY 9, 1980 – RICK BARRY, NUMBER 2 AND 4 OF THE HOUSTON ROCKETS, BECAME FIRST PLAYER IN NBA HISTORY TO SINK EIGHT 3-POINT SHOTS IN A SINGLE GAME. IT WAS THE FINAL SEASON FOR THE FUTURE HALL OF FAME PLAYER. BARRY, A 12-TIME ALL-STAR PLAYED A TOTAL OF 14 SEASONS BETWEEN THE ABA AND NBA. HE WORE NUMBER 24 FOR THE MAJORITY OF HIS CAREER ON TEAMS HE PLAYED ON PRIOR TO THE 1979-80 SEASON.
FEBRUARY 9, 1989 – KEVIN JOHNSON, NUMBER 7 OF THE PHOENIX SUNS SAW AN END TO A REMARKABLE STREAK ON THIS DAY. JOHNSON TIED NBA FREE THROW RECORD STREAK OF 57 IN A ROW BEFORE MISSING A COUPLE IN THIS GAME AGAINST THE CLIPPER. STILL THE ALL-STAR LED ALL SCORING WITH 34 POINTS ON THE EVENING AND THE SUNS WON 120-113.
FEBRUARY 9, 1998 – AT THE 6TH ANNUAL ESPN ESPY AWARDS ONE OF THE WINNERS WAS NUMBER 24 OF THE SEATTLE MARINERS, KEN GRIFFEY JR. DURING THE 1997 MLB SEASON, GRIFFEY LED ALL PLAYERS WITH 56 HOMERUNS AND 125 RUNS SCORED WHILE BATTING .304 ON THE SEASON.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1946 WHILE COACHING A HARDY HIGH SCHOOL (AK) BASKETBALL TEAM, PIRATES HURLER PREACHER ROE SUFFERS A FRACTURED SKULL DUE TO HITTING THE FLOOR DURING AN ALTERCATION WITH A REFEREE. THE 29-YEAR-OLD SOUTHPAW, WHO WILL REPORT A MONTH LATE TO SPRING TRAINING SUFFERING FROM HEADACHES AND DIZZY SPELLS, WILL POST A 3-8 RECORD, COMPILING A 5.14 ERA BEFORE CALLING QUITS FOR THE SEASON IN AUGUST.
1971 SATCHEL PAIGE BECOMES THE FIRST NEGRO LEAGUE STAR SELECTED TO THE HALL OF FAME. THE RIGHT-HANDER, THE OLDEST PLAYER IN THE MAJORS TO MAKE HIS BIG LEAGUE DEBUT, BECAME A LEGEND DURING HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER, WHICH LASTED FROM THE 1920S UNTIL 1965, PLAYING IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT NEGRO LEAGUES AND WITH THE INDIANS, BROWNS, AND A’S.
1976 THE HALL OF FAME SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE NEGRO LEAGUES SELECTS OSCAR CHARLESTON, CONSIDERED BY BASEBALL HISTORIAN BILL JAMES TO BE THE FOURTH-BEST BALLPLAYER OF ALL TIME. THE OUTFIELDER MADE THE SPORTING NEWS LIST OF THE 100 GREATEST BASEBALL PLAYERS AND WAS NOMINATED AS A FINALIST FOR THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ALL-CENTURY TEAM IN 1999.
1980 THE ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME OF KENT STATE UNIVERSITY POSTHUMOUSLY INDUCTS THURMAN MUNSON, THE YANKEE ALL-STAR BACKSTOP WHO DIED IN A PLANE CRASH LAST AUGUST. HAL SCHOONOVER, THE GOLDEN FLASHES BASEBALL PROGRAM COACH, CONVERTED THE YOUNG COLLEGE OUTFIELDER INTO A CATCHER.
1981 AT THE AGE OF THIRTY-SEVEN, JOE MORGAN INKS A ONE-YEAR DEAL WITH THE GIANTS. THE FUTURE HALL OF FAMER WILL PLAY AN ADDITIONAL SEASON IN SAN FRANCISCO, WINNING THE SILVER SLUGGER AWARD FOR BEING THE BEST OFFENSIVE SECOND BASEMAN IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE.
1984 THE DODGERS WAIVE TWO-TIME ALL-STAR DUSTY BAKER AFTER HE VETOES A TRADE TO OAKLAND. THE 35-YEAR-OLD OUTFIELDER WILL SIGN AS A FREE AGENT, HITTING .294 IN 100 GAMES, WITH THE GIANTS, BEFORE ENDING HIS CAREER WITH THE A’S, THE TEAM HE HAD REFUSED TO PLAY FOR WHEN DEALT LAST SEASON.
1988 PLAYING FOR HIS THIRD CONSECUTIVE AMERICAN LEAGUE PENNANT WINNER (1986-RED SOX AND 1987-TWINS), DON BAYLOR SIGNS A ONE-YEAR DEAL WITH THE A’S. THE 39-YEAR-OLD DESIGNATED HITTER WILL APPEAR IN 92 GAMES, HITTING .220 FOR THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPS BEFORE RETIRING AT THE END OF THE SEASON, FINISHING HIS 19-YEAR CAREER WITH 2,135 HITS, 338 HOME RUNS, 1,276 RBIS, AND BEING HIT BY A PITCH A RECORD 267 TIMES.
2001 AFTER 13 MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS, DEREK JETER AND THE YANKEES FINALIZE A $189 MILLION,TEN-YEAR CONTRACT. THE DEAL MAKES THE ALL-STAR SHORTSTOP SECOND ONLY TO ALEX RODRIGUEZ ($252 MILLION/10 YEARS) AS THE HIGHEST-PAID PLAYER IN THE SPORT’S HISTORY.
2005 THE CUBS TRADE RELIEVER KYLE FARNSWORTH (4-5, 4.73) AND A PLAYER TO BE NAMED TO THE TIGERS IN EXCHANGE FOR PITCHER ROBERTO NOVOA (1-1, 5.09) AND MINOR LEAGUERS SCOTT MOORE AND BO FLOWERS. LAST SEASON, FARNSWORTH’S INCONSISTENCY AS A RELIEVER MADE HIM VERY UNPOPULAR WITH THE WRIGLEY FIELD FANS.
2006 A JURY, DELIBERATING FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN FOUR HOURS, RULES THE ANGELS DID NOT BREACH A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF ANAHEIM WHEN THE BALL CLUB CHANGED ITS NAME. THIRTEEN MONTHS AGO, THE TEAM KNOWN AS THE ANAHEIM ANGELS BECAME THE LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM, PROMPTING THE CITY WHERE IT PLAYS TO FILE A LAWSUIT, CLAIMING THE NAME CHANGE AMOUNTED TO AT LEAST $100 MILLION IN LOST REVENUE.
2007 BEFORE PERFORMING IN A BENEFIT CONCERT IN CONNECTICUT, BERNIE WILLIAMS SHARES WITH REPORTERS THAT HE PLANS TO DECLINE THE YANKEES’ INVITATION TO ATTEND SPRING TRAINING ON A MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT. THE GUITAR-PLAYING OUTFIELDER ADDED HE HAS BEEN WORKING OUT BUT IS DOUBTFUL ABOUT PLAYING FOR THE BRONX BOMBERS THIS SEASON.
2008 AFTER AUDITIONING FOR ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE TEAMS IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES LAST MONTH AND CONSIDERING OFFERS FROM FOUR CLUBS, KEITH FOULKE COMES OUT OF RETIREMENT, SIGNING A $700,000, ONE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE A’S. THE 35-YEAR-OLD RELIEVER, BEST KNOWN FOR THROWING THE LAST PITCH IN THE 2004 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE VICTORIOUS RED SOX, RETIRED BEFORE THE 2007 SEASON AFTER SIGNING A DEAL WITH THE INDIANS.
2009 ALEX RODRIGUEZ, TWO DAYS AFTER THE STORY BREAKS ON SI.COM, ADMITS TO AND THEN APOLOGIZES FOR HIS USE OF PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS WHEN HE PLAYED SHORTSTOP FOR THE RANGERS FROM 2001 TO 2003. IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW CONDUCTED ON ESPN, THE YANKEES SUPERSTAR ACKNOWLEDGES USING PEDS, HOPING TO FULFILL THE EXPECTATIONS AFTER SIGNING A RECORD TEN-YEAR, $252 MILLION CONTRACT WITH TEXAS.
2010 THE TWINS SELECT GREG GAGNE AS THE TWENTY-SECOND MEMBER OF THE TEAM’S HALL OF FAME. DURING HIS TEN-YEAR TENURE WITH THE TEAM, WHICH INCLUDED THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS OF 1987 AND 1991, THE LIGHT-HITTING SHORTSTOP KNOWN FOR HIS DEFENSIVE PROWESS ONCE HIT TWO INSIDE-THE-PARK HOME RUNS IN THE SAME GAME IN 1986.
2012 NELSON CRUZ AND THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPION RANGERS AGREE ON A $16 MILLION, TWO-YEAR DEAL TO KEEP THE ALCS MVP IN TEXAS. THE AGREEMENT AVOIDS A SCHEDULED ARBITRATION PLANNED TO TAKE PLACE NEXT WEEK.
2021 THE CARDINALS HAVE AGREED TO A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH YADIER MOLINA, WHO SURPASSES BOB GIBSON’S 17 SEASONS WITH THE CLUB AND SECOND ONLY TO STAN MUSIAL’S 22 YEARS OF PLAYING FOR THE REDBIRDS. THE 38-YEAR-OLD NINE-TIME ALL-STAR BACKSTOP SINCE HIS DEBUT IN 2004 HAS PLAYED EVERY GAME OF HIS CAREER WITH ST. LOUIS, MAKING THE TOTAL OF 2,025 CONTESTS THE MOST OF ANY CATCHER FOR JUST ONE TEAM.
TV THURSDAY
| NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES – MEN’S | TIME ET | TV |
| WAGNER AT ST. FRANCIS BROOKLYN | 2:00PM | NEC |
| SACRED HEART AT SAINT FRANCIS U | 5:00PM | ESPNU |
| IOWA AT PURDUE | 7:00PM | ESPN2 |
| GARDNER-WEBB AT RADFORD | 7:00PM | ESPNU |
| STONEHILL AT MERRIMACK | 7:00PM | NEC |
| FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON AT LIU | 7:00PM | NEC |
| KANSAS CITY AT WESTERN ILLINOIS | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| LOUISIANA TECH AT FIU | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| RICE AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| BELLARMINE AT LIBERTY | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| EASTERN KENTUCKY AT QUEENS | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| STETSON AT JACKSONVILLE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| FGCU AT NORTH FLORIDA | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| JAMES MADISON AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MARSHALL AT COASTAL CAROLINA | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| OLD DOMINION AT GEORGIA STATE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| APP STATE AT ULM | 7:30PM | ESPN+ |
| UTA AT UTRGV | 7:30PM | ESPN+ |
| MOREHEAD STATE AT LITTLE ROCK | 7:30PM | ESPN+ |
| NORTHWESTERN AT OHIO STATE | 8:00PM | FS1 |
| MIDDLE TENNESSEE AT WKU | 8:00PM | CBSSN |
| DENVER AT NORTH DAKOTA | 8:00PM | – |
| OMAHA AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE | 8:00PM | – |
| NEW ORLEANS AT NICHOLLS | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SIUE AT LINDENWOOD | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| OAKLAND AT GREEN BAY | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| DETROIT MERCY AT MILWAUKEE | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UAB AT NORTH TEXAS | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| PORTLAND STATE AT NORTHERN COLORADO | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SACRAMENTO STATE AT NORTHERN ARIZONA | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ARKANSAS STATE AT TEXAS STATE | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ORAL ROBERTS AT ST. THOMAS | 8:00PM | – |
| SOUTH ALABAMA AT TROY | 8:15PM | ESPN+ |
| LOUISIANA AT SOUTHERN MISS | 8:30PM | ESPN+ |
| KENNESAW STATE AT JACKSONVILLE STATE | 8:30PM | ESPN+ |
| LIPSCOMB AT CENTRAL ARKANSAS | 8:30PM | ESPN+ |
| UT MARTIN AT EASTERN ILLINOIS | 8:30PM | ESPN+ |
| LAMAR AT UIW | 8:30PM | ESPN+ |
| HOUSTON CHRISTIAN AT A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI | 8:30PM | ESPN+ |
| SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA AT MCNEESE | 8:30PM | ESPN+ |
| AUSTIN PEAY AT NORTH ALABAMA | 8:45PM | ESPN+ |
| SAN FRANCISCO AT GONZAGA | 9:00PM | ESPN2 |
| SOUTHERN INDIANA AT TENNESSEE TECH | 9:00PM | ESPNU |
| UCLA AT OREGON STATE | 9:00PM | PAC12N |
| PACIFIC AT PORTLAND | 9:00PM | – |
| NM STATE AT GRAND CANYON | 9:00PM | – |
| TARLETON AT SOUTHERN UTAH | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AT TENNESSEE STATE | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NORTHWESTERN STATE AT A&M-COMMERCE | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| CHARLOTTE AT UTEP | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MONTANA STATE AT WEBER STATE | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MONTANA AT IDAHO STATE | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UC DAVIS AT UC RIVERSIDE | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ARIZONA STATE AT STANFORD | 10:00PM | FS1 |
| BYU AT PEPPERDINE | 10:00PM | CBSSN |
| SAINT MARY’S AT LOYOLA MARYMOUNT | 10:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| SAN DIEGO AT SANTA CLARA | 10:00PM | WCCN |
| CAL POLY AT UC IRVINE | 10:00PM | ESPN+ |
| CSUN AT CSU BAKERSFIELD | 10:00PM | ESPN+ |
| USC AT OREGON | 11:00PM | ESPN2 |
| UC SANTA BARBARA AT LONG BEACH STATE | 11:00PM | ESPNU |
| ARIZONA AT CALIFORNIA | 11:00PM | PAC12N |
| UC SAN DIEGO AT HAWAI’I | 11:59PM | SPECTRUM |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| CHAMPIONS: TROPHY HASSAN II | 8:00AM | GOLF |
| PGA: PHOENIX OPEN | 3:00PM | GOLF |
| NBA REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| DENVER AT ORLANDO | 7:00PM | ALT BALLY SPORTS |
| PHOENIX AT ATLANTA | 7:30PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| CHICAGO AT BROOKLYN | 7:30PM | TNT |
| MILWAUKEE AT LA LAKERS | 10:00PM | TNT |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| COLORADO AT TAMPA BAY | 7:00PM | ESPN |
| EDMONTON AT PHILADELPHIA | 7:00PM | SPORTSNET NBCS-PHI |
| SAN JOSE AT FLORIDA | 7:00PM | NBCS-CA BALLY SPORTS |
| SEATTLE AT NEW JERSEY | 7:00PM | ROOT SPORTS MSG |
| CALGARY AT DETROIT | 7:00PM | SPORTSNET BALLY SPORTS |
| VANCOUVER AT NY ISLANDERS | 7:30PM | SPORTSNET MAGSN |
| VEGAS AT MINNESOTA | 8:00PM | ATTSN-RM BALLY SPORTS |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| COUPE DE FRANCE: LORIENT VS LENS | 3:00PM | FS2 |
| COPA LIBERTADORES: BOSTON RIVER VS ZAMORA | 7:00PM | BEIN SPORTS |
| LIGA MX: QUERÉTARO VS LEÓN | 8:05PM | TUDN |
| LIGA MX: ATLAS VS MONTERREY | 10:05PM | TUDN |