******THE SCOREBOARD******
INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SCORES
| CENTRAL NOBLE | 64 | BLUFFTON | 33 | |
| GRIFFITH | 52 | HOBART | 44 | |
| LAWRENCE CENTRAL | 72 | PARK TUDOR | 67 | |
| MOORESVILLE | 67 | CHRISTEL HOUSE MANUAL | 62 | |
| MADISON COUNTY TOURNAMENT | ||||
| ELWOOD | 46 | ANDERSON PREP ACADEMY | 44 | CON |
| PENDLETON HEIGHTS | 63 | ALEXANDRIA | 39 | CON |
| LAPEL | 49 | FRANKTON | 30 | SF |
| ANDERSON | 72 | LIBERTY CHRISTIAN | 60 | SF |
| RANDOLPH COUNTY TOURNAMENT | ||||
| RANDOLPH SOUTHERN | 78 | UNION (MODOC) | 17 | R1 |
| RIPLEY COUNTY TOURNAMENT | ||||
| SOUTH RIPLEY | 58 | MILAN | 34 | R1 |
| BATESVILLE | 64 | JAC-CEN-DEL | 42 | R1 |
| WHITE RIVER VALLEY TOURNAMENT | ||||
| BARR-REEVE | 48 | WHITE RIVER VALLEY | 25 | R1 |
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SCORES
| ANGOLA | 45 | EAST NOBLE | 30 | |
| BELLMONT | 58 | SOUTH ADAMS | 25 | |
| CHESTERTON | 63 | GARY WEST | 10 | |
| CLINTON CENTRAL | 56 | FRANKFORT | 26 | |
| EMINENCE | 56 | VICTORY COLLEGE PREP | 15 | |
| EVANSVILLE MATER DEI | 75 | EVANSVILLE HARRISON | 28 | |
| EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL | 67 | EVANSVILLE CENTRAL | 44 | |
| EVANSVILLE NORTH | 60 | EVANSVILLE BOSSE | 6 | |
| FORT WAYNE NORTHROP | 66 | NORTHRIDGE | 27 | |
| FORT WAYNE WAYNE | 71 | WHITKO | 52 | |
| GUERIN CATHOLIC | 29 | PARK TUDOR | 23 | |
| HAMMOND CENTRAL | 71 | HAMMOND SCIENCE & TECH | 28 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI | 41 | FRANKLIN CENTRAL | 34 | |
| MANCHESTER | 66 | CHURUBUSCO | 59 | |
| MARQUETTE CATHOLIC | 51 | CALUMET | 7 | |
| MUNSTER | 71 | SOUTH BEND RILEY | 21 | |
| NORTHWESTERN | 63 | EASTERN (GREENTOWN) | 17 | |
| PERU | 60 | TRI-CENTRAL | 43 | |
| ROCHESTER | 37 | PLYMOUTH | 33 | |
| SOUTHWOOD | 54 | MARION | 44 | |
| SPEEDWAY | 44 | EDINBURGH | 18 | |
| TERRE HAUTE NORTH | 49 | SOUTH VERMILLION | 19 | |
| TIPTON | 48 | MADISON-GRANT | 28 | |
| TRITON | 47 | OREGON-DAVIS | 31 | |
| UNION COUNTY | 37 | CONNERSVILLE | 19 | |
| VINCENNES LINCOLN | 61 | PRINCETON | 44 | |
| WESTFIELD | 41 | INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD | 13 | |
| WHITELAND | 61 | BEECH GROVE | 20 | |
| ZIONSVILLE | 68 | HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) | 37 | |
| RANDOLPH COUNTY TOURNAMENT | ||||
| UNION CITY | 50 | UNION (MODOC) | 29 | R1 |
| RIVERTOWN TOURNAMENT | ||||
| SWITZERLAND COUNTY | 40 | SOUTH DEARBORN | 37 | R1 |
| LAWRENCEBURG | 78 | RISING SUN | 45 | R1 |
| WHITE RIVER VALLEY TOURNAMENT | ||||
| BARR-REEVE | 51 | WHITE RIVER VALLEY | 49 | R1 |
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING SCORES: HTTPS://INDIANAMAT.COM/INDEX.PHP?/DUALRESULTS.HTML/
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING TEAM RANKINGS:
TOP 25 MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
PROVIDENCE 73 #4 UCONN 61
GEORGIA TECH 76 #12 MIAMI FLORIDA 70
#13 ARKANSAS 74 #20 MISSOURI 68
NORTH CAROLINA STATE 84 #16 DUKE 60
#17 TCU 88 #19 BAYLOR 87
GEORGIA 76 #22 AUBURN 64
#23 CHARLESTOWN 92 NORTH CAROLINA A&T 79
#25 IOWA STATE 63 OKLAHOMA 60
ELSEWHERE:
BUTLER 78 DEPAUL 70
NORTHERN IOWA 69 VALPARAISO 67
INDIANA STATE 76 ILLINOIS STATE 67
MISSOURI STATE 85 EVANSVILLE 62
MICHIGAN 79 PENN STATE 69
NORTHWESTERN 73 ILLINOIS 60
VILLANOVA 73 GEORGETOWN 57
DAYTON 76 ST. JOSEPH’S 56
DUQUESNE 79 VCU 70
CENTRAL FLORIDA 64 E. CAROLINA 61
TEXAS A&M 66 FLORIDA 63
TEMPLE 68 S. FLORIDA 64
RICHMOND 73 GEORGE WASHINGTON 63
TULANE 93 TULSA 77
MASSACHUSETTS 90 ST. LOUIS 81
BELMONT 77 ILLINOIS CHICAGO 71
MURRAY STATE 67 BRADLEY 58
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 53 DRAKE 49
NORTH CAROLINA 88 WAKE FOREST 79
CLEMSON 68 VIRGINIA TECH 65
NEVADA 80 COLORADO STATE 69
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/CBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230104
TOP 25 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
#11 IOWA STATE 70 WEST VIRGINIA 50
#21 KANSAS 77 TEXAS TECH 59
SETON HALL 72 #24 ST. JOHN’S 51
PROVIDENCE 79 #25 CREIGHTON 75
ELSEWHERE:
IUPUI 79 PURDUE FORT WAYNE 71
BALL STATE 81 BOWLING GREEN 73
CENTRAL MICHIGAN 79 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 62
AKRON 73 OHIO 64
EASTERN MICHIGAN 68 MIAMI OHIO 67
KENT STATE 64 BUFFALO 63
TOLEDO 71 WESTERN MICHIGAN 53
RICHMOND 68 LOYOLA CHICAGO 49
VILLANOVA 71 GEORGETOWN 64
KANSAS STATE 86 OKLAHOMA STATE 72
TULSA 70 WICHITA STATE 63
TEXAS 81 TCU 69
MARQUETTE 72 DEPAUL 63
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/WCBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230104
COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL SCHEDULE
SUNDAY, JAN. 8
FCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (FRISCO, TEXAS) | 2 P.M. | ABC
MONDAY, JAN. 9
CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA) | ESPN
NFL WEEK 17
SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 2023
KANSAS CITY AT LAS VEGAS ESPN/ABC 4:30
TENNESSEE AT JACKSONVILLE ESPN/ABC 8:15
SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2023
TAMPA BAY AT ATLANTA FOX 1:00
NEW ENGLAND AT BUFFALO CBS 1:00
MINNESOTA AT CHICAGO FOX 1:00
HOUSTON AT INDIANAPOLIS CBS 1:00
NEW YORK JETS AT MIAMI FOX 1:00
CAROLINA AT NEW ORLEANS FOX 1:00
CLEVELAND AT PITTSBURGH CBS 1:00
BALTIMORE AT CINCINNATI CBS 1:00 OR 4:25
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT DENVER CBS 4:25
NEW YORK GIANTS AT PHILADELPHIA CBS 4:25
ARIZONA AT SAN FRANCISCO FOX 4:25
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT SEATTLE FOX 4:25
DALLAS AT WASHINGTON FOX 4:25
DETROIT AT GREEN BAY NBC 8:20
NBA
PHILADELPHIA 129 INDIANA 126 OT
CLEVELAND 90 PHOENIX 88
ORLANDO 126 OKLAHOMA CITY 115
MEMPHIS 131 CHARLOTTE 107
NEW YORK 117 SAN ANTONIO 114
MILWAUKEE 104 TORONTO 101 OT
NEW ORLEANS 119 HOUSTON 108
CHICAGO 121 BROOKLYN 112
MINNESOTA 113 PORTLAND 106
DETROIT 122 GOLDEN STATE 119
LA LAKERS 112 MIAMI 109
ATLANTA 120 SACRAMENTO 117
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NBA/SCOREBOARD.ASP
NHL
NEW JERSEY 5 DETROIT 1
MINNESOTA 5 TAMPA BAY 1
ANAHEIM 2 DALLAS 0
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NHL/SCOREBOARD.ASP
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES
*******NFL NEWS********
NFL RALLIES TO SUPPORT HAMLIN AS HIS CONDITION IMPROVES
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) As a sedated Damar Hamlin lay before him in a Cincinnati hospital bed surrounded by machinery feeding him oxygen and fluids, Indianapolis Colts safety Rodney Thomas provided a few words of encouragement to his friend.
“I just told him, I got him. That’s all,” Thomas said Wednesday. “Just saying the same thing: I got his back and you’re going to get through it.”
It didn’t matter to Thomas whether the Buffalo Bills safety could hear him. More important to Thomas, who made the two-hour drive from Indianapolis to Cincinnati, was being by the side of Hamlin – his former high school teammate in Pittsburgh – and the player’s family.
“It just calmed me down and made that trip home a lot easier,” Thomas said. “I could just go home and I could just know that he’s going to be straight. I’ve got him. The world’s got him.”
Two days after the 24-year-old Hamlin’s heart stopped and he needed to be resuscitated on the field during a game at the Bengals, an immense outpouring of support continued.
After fans held vigils in Cincinnati and at the Bills home in Orchard Park, New York, on Tuesday, it was time for the NFL community – those who know Hamlin and those who had never heard of him before Monday – to express its support with most teams returning to practice.
Though he’s still under sedation, Hamlin’s recovery from cardiac arrest continues moving in “a positive direction,” the player’s marketing representative, Jordon Rooney, told The Associated Press by phone.
“We all remain optimistic,” Rooney said, adding that Hamlin’s family asked him not to go into further detail.
The Bills said Hamlin was still in critical condition but displayed signs of improvement. They said he was expected to remain in intensive care.
Rooney said Hamlin’s family was buoyed by the words and acts of kindness the second-year player has received since being transported by ambulance to University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
“They are elated right now,” Rooney said. “Damar is still their first concern. But for them, they always look at how they can turn a somewhat troubling situation into a good one. The bounce back from this, for him and his family is going to be incredible.”
The family is quickly discovering how much of an impression Hamlin has made.
New York Giants coach and former Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll wore a cap with Hamlin’s No. 3 on it.
Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips had dinner delivered to the hospital for Hamlin’s family and medical staff.
“Damar was close to my locker and when I spent my time in Buffalo and helped out with my foundation because of his giving nature,” said Phillips, who spent his first four seasons with Buffalo before signing with Minnesota. “But I was a bit surprised at how many people who have zero ties and zero connections to him or to Buffalo, and how much they’re impacted because we are a brotherhood.”
In Denver, rookie cornerback Damarri Mathis was too uncomfortable addressing the Broncos about Hamlin, his former University of Pittsburgh teammate. Interim coach Jerry Rosburg spoke up for him.
“To Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills, Damarri Mathis, your teammate, our teammate, told us all about you,” Rosburg said. “He told us of your high character and your friendliness. And he told us of your incredible ability to lead people to a loving commitment to others, community service and raising other people up. That’s a remarkable thing. So, today, Damar, we honor you.”
The Bills, meantime, were still dealing with the shock of seeing their teammate collapse on the field after making a tackle, his heart not beating.
After returning home early Tuesday once the game was suspended, the Bills held meetings and a walkthrough practice without any media availability on Wednesday. They are expected to resume practice on Thursday ahead of their home game against the New England Patriots on Sunday.
NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent said his discussions with Bills coach Sean McDermott have focused solely on mental health and how McDermott and the team are dealing with what happened.
“It is tough. And coach is still battling,” Vincent said, his voice cracking.
The Patriots also pushed back their media availability to Thursday, and noted the NFL approved giving both teams an extra day “due to these unique circumstances.”
What remains unclear is whether the NFL will reschedule the Bills’ game against the Bengals, which has major implications in determining the top spot in the AFC. The playoffs are set to open on Jan. 14.
The Chiefs (13-3) have a half-game lead over Buffalo (12-3), with the Bills owning the tiebreaker after beating Kansas City this season. The Bengals (11-4) are currently the third seed and have also defeated the Chiefs.
Hamlin was hurt in the first quarter when he was struck squarely in the chest while making what appeared to be routine tackle of Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. Hamlin briefly got up and adjusted his facemask before collapsing backward.
Hamlin was selected by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2021 draft out of Pitt. He spent his rookie season limited to special teams roles, and took over the starting safety job in Week 3 in place of veteran Micah Hyde, who remains sidelined by a neck injury.
Fans, team owners and players – including Tom Brady and Russell Wilson – have made donations to Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation, which had raised more than $6.6 million by late Wednesday afternoon.
“Damar would want to use this to help other people. He would hate for all his attention to just be on him and there not be a positive outcome,” Rooney told reporters at the hospital. “So, I mean, that’s Damar. I mean, his entire life is spent towards providing and serving other people. That’s just who he is.”
NOTES: The Bills signed S Jared Mayden off the New York Jets’ practice squad, and released CB Xavier Rhodes. … The Bills – out of respect to Hamlin – did not list him on their injury report.
NFL BALANCES EMOTIONS, TIGHT SCHEDULE AFTER HAMLIN SHOCK
The NFL pushed ahead Tuesday with a difficult balancing act, navigating players’ emotions after Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin’s shocking cardiac arrest with a tight playoff schedule and emphasizing Hamlin’s health was its main focus.
The league informed the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals that their game, suspended Monday night, would not be resumed this week while the Week 18 schedule remained unchanged, for now.
No decision regarding the possible resumption of the pivotal Bills-Bengals game has been made. The game was suspended in the first quarter when Hamlin suffered the cardiac arrest after making a tackle.
The 24-year-old Hamlin remained in critical condition a day after the Bills said his heart stopped following the seemingly routine play. Hamlin tackled Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, who led with his shoulder, then briefly got up before collapsing.
Medical staff restored his heartbeat during frantic moments on the field before he was loaded into an ambulance. Players from both teams were crying and praying during an emotional scene in front of a national television audience.
“Damar experienced cardiac arrest and was promptly resuscitated by on-site club physicians and independent medical personnel, all of whom are highly trained in implementing the plans for medical emergencies,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a letter sent to all teams, and obtained by The Associated Press. “Damar was stabilized and transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, a Level One trauma center, where he remains in the ICU.”
Hamlin’s uncle, Dorrian Glenn, told CNN and other outlets that Hamlin had to have his heart re-started twice — once on the field, and again after he arrived at the hospital. He said there were some encouraging signs for his nephew on Tuesday, such as doctors lowering the level of oxygen Hamlin needs from 100% to 50%.
Goodell informed the clubs that Dr. Nyaka NiiLampti had sent each team’s clinician and head of player engagement information about mental health and support resources available to players and staff.
“Additional resources including on-site services can be available for any club that wishes this assistance,” Goodell said.
Goodell told teams they would be promptly advised of any changes to this weekend’s schedule.
Several teams canceled media availabilities, including the New England Patriots. They are scheduled to face the Bills on Sunday.
The Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars practiced ahead of their game to determine the AFC South champion on Saturday night.
“Oh, I don’t have no hesitation,” Titans two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons said about playing. “But me personally, it’s one of them things when you get shook up.”
Simmons said his 15-year-old cousin, Jason “JJ” Hatcher, died Dec. 18 from a heart issue during a football practice. The teen, who was a sophomore at Hebron High School in Carrollton, Texas, is the son of former 10-year NFL veteran defensive end Jason Hatcher, who spent the last eight seasons of his career with the Dallas Cowboys.
Simmons received a call informing him of his cousin’s death before the Titans played a late afternoon game in Los Angeles, a 17-14 loss to the Chargers.
“We just can’t take this game for granted because you never know,” Simmons said. “Sometimes we just get sidetracked. … But the real reason why we play this game and sometimes we forget that, … we’re playing for each other. We’re playing for our family. And most of all, just playing for ourselves because it’s all we’ve been knowing all our whole life.”
“And I’m sure that young man, it’s all he knew his whole life,” Simmons said of Hamlin. “You just never know when your last night may be. So there’s just one thing you just can’t take for granted. And I’m praying for him and his family.”
Titans coach Mike Vrabel and Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said they hadn’t had any discussions with the league about postponing this week’s games.
Aaron Rodgers, the reigning two-time NFL MVP, said he was “shook up.”
“Your football mortality just comes right face to face. One of your brothers in the fraternity of the NFL is fighting for his life right now,” the Green Bay Packers’ quarterback said on his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on YouTube and SiriusXM.
“I’ve been part of a few games where they’ve carted guys off and we’ve had players with neck injuries. It shakes you to the core. That’s injuries where they’re awake and alert, and many of them give thumbs up or what not, and it still shakes you. It’s like 10-, sometimes 15-minute delays on the field and, ‘All right, go back out and play,’ even though your buddy might not ever play again and we’re hoping he can walk. It’s a weird feeling.”
“In this situation, this is unprecedented, definitely in my time. … I’ve never seen something where a player had to be given CPR on the field and supposedly didn’t have a pulse.” Rodgers said. “I thought, ‘There’s no way. They’re going to go back in the locker room and then come out and play. What? That can’t happen.’”
The NFL disputed a television report that both teams were told to resume play after a five-minute warmup. “It never crossed our mind to talk about warming up to resume play,” league executive Troy Vincent said.
The Kansas City Chiefs practiced Tuesday for their Saturday afternoon game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chiefs (13-3) are battling with the Bills (12-3) and Bengals (11-4) for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Thus, the outcome of the Bills-Bengals game has major playoff implications. The Bills entered the game in the top spot while the Bengals had a chance to clinch the AFC North with a victory and also were in the mix for the No. 1 seed along with Kansas City.
The Bengals led 7-3 in the first quarter when the game was stopped. The NFL is scheduled to begin playoffs on Jan. 14. The No. 1 seed in each conference gets a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
It’s uncertain how the league will handle seedings if the Bills-Bengals game isn’t concluded. The NFL could push the start of the playoffs back one week and eliminate the extra week in between the conference championship games and Super Bowl. The Pro Bowl Games are scheduled for Feb.
3 NFL TEAMS LOOK FOR RARE TRIP FROM 2-6 START TO PLAYOFFS
Falling into a 2-6 hole near the midpoint of a season is usually a recipe to look to the future for NFL teams, with only two teams ever climbing out of that hole to reach the postseason.
Headed into Week 18 of this season, three teams that lost six of their first eight games remain in the playoff hunt.
Jacksonville can clinch the AFC South with a victory over Tennessee or it could sneak in as a wild-card team with a loss and lots of help.
Detroit and Pittsburgh have more complicated paths, with the Lions needing a win and a Seattle loss to clinch the seventh seed in the NFC and the Steelers needing a win plus losses by Miami and New England to clinch the final wild-card spot in the AFC.
The addition of an extra playoff team in 2020 and a 17th game in 2021 made climbing out of a hole a bit easier than in the past, but it still is rather remarkable.
Before this season, 186 teams in the Super Bowl era started a season 2-6, with only Cincinnati in 1970 and Washington in 2020 making it to the postseason.
The Jaguars have gone on quite a roller-coaster ride, having lost five straight from Weeks 4-8 and then winning the last four games. A victory Saturday night against Tennessee would make Jacksonville the fifth team to get to the playoffs in a season with a both a winning and losing streak of at least five games. The last team to do it was Kansas City in 2015.
The Titans can also join that group win a win, having won five straight early in the season and then losing the last six games.
The only teams to make the playoffs in a season with a six-game losing streak are the 2020 Bears, the 2014 Panthers and the 1970 Bengals.
PLAYOFF NEWCOMERS
The Giants clinched their first playoff berth since 2016, assuring this will be the 33rd straight season with at least four new playoff teams.
New York joins Baltimore, the Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota as teams that made the postseason a year after missing it. The last time there were fewer than four new playoff teams in a season was in 1989 when only three teams did it.
There’s still a chance for three more teams to join the list, with Jacksonville having a shot at the AFC South or wild-card spots, Miami in contention for an AFC wild-card spot and Detroit and Seattle in the running for the seventh seed in the NFC.
SACK PARTY
The Philadelphia Eagles are closing in on the NFL’s single-season sacks record.
The Eagles have recorded 68 sacks so far this season for the fourth-best total ever and can pass the record of 72 set by the 1984 Bears with five more in Week 18.
Philadelphia has had at least six sacks in the past five games for the longest streak by any team in the Super Bowl era.
The Eagles have spread out the sacks, with Haason Reddick leading the way with 16, followed by 11 each for Josh Sweat, Javon Hargrave and Brandon Graham. This is the first time since individual sacks became an official stat in 1982 that a team had four players reach double figures in the same season.
STREAKING
A few impressive streaks got extended in Week 17.
Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans had 207 yards receiving to top the 1,000-yard mark for the ninth straight season. Evans is the first player to do that in his first nine seasons and joined Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (11 straight) and Tim Brown (9 straight) as the only players to do it at any point in their careers.
Kansas City’s Jerick McKinnon had a TD catch for the fifth straight game, becoming the first running back to do that since the merger.
New Orleans defensive end Cameron Jordan had three sacks to give him 8 1/2 on the season, marking the 11th straight year he has had at least seven.
The only players to do that since sacks became an official stat in 1982 are Reggie White (14 straight), Chris Doleman (13), John Randle (12), Derrick Thomas (11) and Robert Mathis (11).
Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin also kept alive his bid of never having a losing season, owning an 8-8 record headed into Week 18. If the Steelers don’t lose Sunday to Cleveland, Tomlin will start his career with 16 straight seasons without a losing record.
The only other coaches with a streak that long are Tom Landry (21 seasons), Bill Belichick (19) and George Halas (16).
DEFENSIVE SCORES
Kyle Dugger had another pick-6 for New England’s high-scoring defense.
Dugger’s 39-yard return against Miami gave the Patriots a defensive touchdown for the fourth straight game. The last team to do that in a single season was the 2002 Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dugger has three TDs on the season, with a pick-6 in Week 15 against the Raiders and a fumble return TD in Week 5 against Detroit.
That’s tied for the most defensive touchdowns in a season since Janoris Jenkins had four in 2012.
BEARS’ FIELDS TO MISS FINALE, ENDING SHOT AT QB RUSHING MARK
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Justin Fields won’t get a chance to break the single-season rushing record for an NFL quarterback.
Fields will miss the season finale against the Minnesota Vikings because of a strained hip and Nathan Peterman will start in his place, coach Matt Eberflus said Wednesday.
Fields finishes his second season with 1,143 yards rushing, 63 shy of the record of 1,206 set by Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson in 2019 during his MVP season.
Fields said after Sunday’s blowout loss at Detroit his hip was sore. Eberflus said it was bothering him Monday. An MRI confirmed the strain and the team’s medical staff ruled him out for the game against NFC North champion Minnesota on Sunday.
Eberflus said it is “not a long-term injury” and Fields would have been sidelined even if Chicago had a playoff game this week. The Bears (3-13), on a franchise-record nine-game losing streak, have a shot at the No. 1 pick in the draft. The only team with a worse record is Houston (2-13-1).
Eberflus insisted holding out Fields was a medical decision and not an attempt to boost the Bears’ shot at the No. 1 pick.
“I would just go back to our normal operating procedure,” he said. “So what is it? It’s the medical staff, so he didn’t clear that hurdle. So if he’d have cleared that hurdle, then we’d have to go to the next one, which is the coaches. Is he functioning the way he can function to protect himself, right? Then it’s the player. Does he feel good about doing that. So he didn’t clear the first one. So, that’s just where it is.”
MIAMI SIGNS MIKE GLENNON TO PRACTICE SQUAD AMID QB INJURIES
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) The Miami Dolphins signed veteran quarterback Mike Glennon to their practice squad Wednesday amid injuries to Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater.
Tagovailoa has been out since suffering a concussion in a Week 16 loss to Green Bay. Bridgewater, who started in last week’s loss to New England, injured his finger and couldn’t finish the game.
Coach Mike McDaniel has not named a starter for Sunday’s pivotal regular-season finale, in which the Dolphins could make the playoffs with a win over the New York Jets. Miami would also need New England to lose to Buffalo.
After starting the season 8-3, Miami has lost its past five games.
McDaniel said Bridgewater’s availability is uncertain, which is what led the team to sign Glennon. Bridgewater will participate in ball-handling drills this week, but can’t throw a football yet. Tagovailoa will not practice Wednesday.
Rookie Skylar Thompson entered last week’s game after Bridgewater’s injury and completed 12 of 21 passes for 104 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
“Skylar does his best – like most quarterbacks, but especially young in your career and in Year 1 of the system – he does best with practice reps,” McDaniel said. “And I think we saw a taste of that against Minnesota until he got injured. I think he has an athletic component to his game that sneaks up on people because he does most of his work in the pocket.”
Glennon most recently played for the Giants in 2021, starting four games. He has made 31 starts in 41 appearances with stints in Tampa Bay, Chicago, Arizona, Oakland and Jacksonville.
“He’s a quarterback through and through,” McDaniel said, “has been through multiple systems, understands what it takes for him to be able to speak the language in a fast amount of time, and I think he plays the position aggressively with toughness that I really respect.”
COMMANDERS TO START ROOKIE SAM HOWELL AT QB VS. COWBOYS
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) Sam Howell is expected to start at quarterback for the Washington Commanders in their season finale against the Dallas Cowboys, with the rookie set to make his NFL debut.
Coach Ron Rivera confirmed Wednesday he opted to go with Howell after initially considering giving Taylor Heinicke the nod and changing his mind after talking to players and members of his staff. Washington was eliminated from playoff contention after Carson Wentz threw three interceptions in a loss to Cleveland and Green Bay beat Minnesota last week.
Going back to Wentz was not something Rivera considered, he said, adding that Heinicke will be Howell’s primary backup. Howell is starting so he can get his first taste of football in the pros.
“It really came down to finding out about the young man,” Rivera said.
Washington selected Howell in the fifth round of the draft, 144th overall, last year. The former University of North Carolina star, who was once considered a potential top-10 pick, has been practicing all season behind Wentz and Heinicke and spent a few games in uniform as the Commanders’ backup.
While quarterbacking a team out of contention, Howell is set to face an opponent with plenty to play for. The Cowboys can win the NFC East with a win and a loss by the Philadelphia Eagles against the New York Giants.
“We want to win the game,” Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said. “You can’t go into the game and think you’re going to shift gears, I just think for the principle alone. We’re going to do everything we can to win this game.”
NFL PREVIEW: THE STARTING 11
The National Football League began playing postseason games in 1933. Since then, the list of seasons in which multiple teams have made the postseason after falling at least four games below .500 is extremely short.
Zero.
This week, four teams that were at least four games under .500 at some point in 2022 have the opportunity to earn playoff berths. Never in the 89 seasons from 1933-2021 has the league seen so many teams bounce back in the same year.
- The DETROIT LIONS (8-8) were 1-6 following a Week 8 loss. The team is aiming to become only the second ever and the first in 52 years, since the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals (1-6), to make the playoffs after winning no more than one of their first seven games.
- Their opponents this week on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), the GREEN BAY PACKERS (8-8), were 4-8 following a Week 12 loss. Only the 2008 San Diego Chargers (4-8) and the 2014 Carolina Panthers (3-8-1) have gone to the playoffs after winning no more than four of their first 12 games.
- The JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (8-8) were 2-6, 3-7 and 4-8 on respective occasions this year. Only the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals (2-6) and the 2020 Washington Football Team (2-6) have earned postseason berths after winning no more than two of their first eight games.
- The PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8-8) were 2-6 and 3-7 at different points in 2022. Only the 2014 Carolina Panthers (3-6-1) and the 2020 Washington Football Team (3-7) have qualified for the playoffs after winning no more than three of their first 10 games.
That’s just one storyline in a fascinating Week 18. It’s the 13th consecutive year that the NFL scheduled all 16 games in the season’s final week between division foes, enhancing the possibility for last-minute playoff implications.
The Starting 11 entering Week 18…
1. COMPLEMENTARY FOOTBALL: Guiding the Packers on storybook turnarounds in December and January is nothing new to AARON RODGERS. For the third time in his career, he has an opportunity to lead Green Bay to the playoffs after a remarkable comeback. No quarterback in NFL history has led a club to the playoffs during three different seasons in which his team had a below-.500 record at least 10 games into the year. But with a GREEN BAY (8-8) win against DETROIT (8-8) on Sunday Night Football at Lambeau Field (8:20 PM ET, NBC), Rodgers would be the first to do it. This season, Green Bay was 4-8 prior to its current four-game winning streak and needs one more victory to reach the playoffs. In 2016, Green Bay was 4-6 before the Packers won six straight and entered the postseason at 10-6. And in 2013, Green Bay was 5-6-1 before winning three of its final four to qualify for the playoffs at 8-7-1.
- The quarterback’s teammates complemented him well in last week’s win. While running back AARON JONES had 111 rushing yards on just 14 attempts, cornerback KEISEAN NIXON returned a kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown and safety DARNELL SAVAGE returned an interception 75 yards for another touchdown. The Packers became the first team with a 100-yard kickoff-return touchdown and a 75-yard interception-return touchdown in the same game since Minnesota in Week 11 of the 2016 season.
- DETROIT is also trending up, having won seven of its last nine. Former Green Bay running back JAMAAL WILLIAMS leads the NFL with 15 rushing touchdowns, the most by a Lions player since Pro Football Hall of Famer BARRY SANDERS (16) in 1991.
- On defense, the Lions’ future is blindingly bright. In last week’s win, rookie defensive lineman AIDAN HUTCHINSON had a half sack, interception and fumble recovery, rookie linebacker JAMES HOUSTON had three sacks and a forced fumble, and rookie defensive lineman JOSH PASCHAL had two sacks. Hutchinson, who has 7.5 sacks this season, and Houston (eight sacks) are the NFL’s first pair of rookie teammates each with at least seven sacks since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. Hutchinson is the first rookie since 1982 with at least seven sacks (7.5) and three interceptions (three). Houston is the first player with eight sacks in his first six career games since 1982. And Houston and Paschal became the fourth pair of rookie teammates since 1982 to each have multiple sacks in the same game.
- DETROIT is also trending up, having won seven of its last nine. Former Green Bay running back JAMAAL WILLIAMS leads the NFL with 15 rushing touchdowns, the most by a Lions player since Pro Football Hall of Famer BARRY SANDERS (16) in 1991.
2. NUMBER OF THE WEEK – 19: The number of teams remaining in contention for the Super Bowl, the most entering the final week of a season since there were 20 in 2006. Only three playoff berths remain, two in the AFC and one in the NFC.
3. IMPROVEMENT IS EN VOGUE: Five teams have an opportunity to improve their records by at least five games compared to last year. In 16 of 19 seasons from 2003-21, at least three teams have improved their win totals by five-or-more games. And should Detroit, Jacksonville and the New York Giants win this week, three teams would have six-game improvements. That hasn’t happened since there were four in 2018. It’s a healthy trend the NFL can continue this week.
- The DETROIT LIONS (8-8) need a win at Green Bay on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC) to improve by six games over 2021, when they were 3-13-1.
- The JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (8-8) with a win vs. Tennessee (7-9) on Saturday (8:15 PM ET, ESPN/ABC) would have six more victories than in 2021 (3-14).
- The MINNESOTA VIKINGS (12-4) with a win at Chicago (3-13) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX) would have five more victories than in 2021 (8-9).
- The NEW YORK GIANTS (9-6-1) with a win at Philadelphia (13-3) on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, CBS) would have six more victories than in 2021 (4-13).
- And the PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (13-3) are one victory away from improving their record by five games over 2021 (9-8).
4. SPOTLIGHT – INDIVIDUAL MATCHUP: Browns guard JOEL BITONIO and Steelers defensive tackle CAMERON HEYWARD havecombined for 10 Pro Bowl selections (five each). They’ll square off across the line of scrimmage on Sunday when PITTSBURGH (8-8) aims to keep its postseason hopes alive against CLEVELAND (7-9) at Acrisure Stadium (1:00 PM ET, CBS). …Pittsburgh quarterback KENNY PICKETT is the first rookie ever with a game-winning touchdown pass in the final minute of consecutive games.
5. SPOTLIGHT – TEAM MATCHUP: In the Jets’ Week 5 win over the Dolphins at MetLife Stadium, cornerbacks SAUCE GARDNER and D.J. REED – both key offseason additions – were pivotal in holding TYREEK HILL and JAYLEN WADDLE out of the end zone and limiting the wide-receiver duo to a combined 70 receiving yards, their lowest combined total of the season. On Sunday, the DOLPHINS (8-8) host the JETS (7-9) in a rematch at Hard Rock Stadium (1:00 PM ET, FOX) and Miami needs a win to stay alive in the race for one of the AFC’s final playoff berths. Last week, Gardner had a career-high four passes defensed and enters Sunday leading the league with 20 on the season. Meanwhile in 2022, Hill ranks second in the NFL with career bests in catches (117) and receiving yards (1,687), both Miami single-season franchise records. Plus, Hill and Waddle have combined for 2,999 receiving yards this season and need 176 to establish the most by a pair of teammates in NFL history.
6. STREAK SPEAK: TENNESSEE (7-9) and JACKSONVILLE (8-8) face off Saturday night (8:15 PM ET, ESPN/ABC) in a winner-take-all showdown for the AFC South division crown and one of the conference’s final two playoff slots.
- With a victory, Jacksonville would complete a “worst-to-first” turnaround after finishing fourth in the AFC South last season. In 17 of the past 19 seasons (2003-21), at least one team has finished in first place in its division the season after finishing last or tied for last.
- With a win, the Jaguars would improve their winning streak to five games, the franchise’s longest in a single regular season since 2005. Jacksonville would also notch its first season sweep of the Titans since that ’05 campaign.
- A Tennessee win would give the Titans their third consecutive AFC South title. Should that happen, the tiebreaker would come down to Tennessee’s better record in the division.
7. DID YOU KNOW?: Since the NFL began determining No. 1-seeded playoff teams in 1975, no team has ever earned a conference’s No. 1 seed after having a losing record through its first seven games. The SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (12-4), who were 3-4 after a Week 7 loss, could become the first. San Francisco needs a win against ARIZONA (4-12) on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX) coupled with a Philadelphia loss, to earn the NFC’s lone bye and homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs…With a victory Sunday, the 49ers’ BROCK PURDY would become only the third rookie quarterback ever to win each of his first five career starts, joining BEN ROETHLISBERGER (won first 13 starts in 2004) and MIKE KRUCZEK (first six in 1968).
8. UNDER-THE-RADAR STORYLINE: Since 1990 – a streak of 33 consecutive seasons – at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs in every season that were not in the postseason the year before. Four teams – BALTIMORE, the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS, MINNESOTA and the NEW YORK GIANTS – have already clinched playoff berths after missing the postseason last year while DETROIT, JACKSONVILLE, MIAMI and SEATTLE have a chance to join them this week.
9. TREND TIME: No question, the 2022 season will go down as the Year of Close Games and Comebacks. The league can make even more history in those two departments this week.
- Entering Week 18, 69 games have been decided by three points or less. The single-season league record is 73 in 2018.
- Entering Week 18, 133 games have been decided by seven points or less. The single-season league record is 135 in 2016.
- Entering Week 18, 11 games have been won or tied by teams that trailed by 16-or-more points. The single-season league record is 12 in 2011.
- In 2022, 19 games have been won or tied by teams that trailed by 14-or-more points, matching the single-season league record (19 in 2013).
- Already this season, the NFL has broken its single-season records in seven related categories: Games decided by six-or-fewer points (114), games decided by eight-or-fewer points (148), games within a one-possession margin in the fourth quarter (192), games won or tied by teams that trailed by 10-or-more points (51), games won/tied by teams that trailed in the fourth quarter (81), games with the winning score coming in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime (62) and games with the winning score coming in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime (71).
- Entering Week 18, 133 games have been decided by seven points or less. The single-season league record is 135 in 2016.
10. THIS WEEK IN NFL HISTORY: Jan. 4, 2003 (20 years ago) – On a snow-covered Lambeau Field, 22-year-old MICHAEL VICK and the Falcons shock Green Bay, 23-7, in an NFC Wild Card game. Atlanta head coach DAN REEVES avenges his Ice Bowl loss on the same field 35 years prior, handing the Packers – 13-0 in Wisconsin since the NFL began its playoff system in 1933 – the first home postseason loss in franchise history. Vick defeats future Pro Football Hall of Famer BRETT FAVRE, who had been 35-0 at home in cold-weather games.
11. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Raiders running back JOSH JACOBS enters the season finale leading the league with 1,608 rushing yards. After LAS VEGAS (6-10) hosts KANSAS CITY (13-3) on Saturday (4:30 PM ET, ESPN/ABC), Jacobs could finish the weekend as just the second in franchise history to win a prestigious NFL rushing title and join Pro Football Hall of Famer MARCUS ALLEN (1,759 in 1985). … What’s more, both NICK CHUBB (1,448) and DERRICK HENRY (1,429) are nearing 1,500 rushing yards this season. The last time the NFL had at least three players rush for 1,500 yards was 2012.
WEEK 18 NFL SCHEDULE
(All times Eastern)
| SATURDAY, JANUARY 7 | KANSAS CITY AT LAS VEGAS | ESPN/ABC | 4:30 |
| TENNESSEE AT JACKSONVILLE | ESPN/ABC | 8:15 | |
| SUNDAY, JANUARY 8 | TAMPA BAY AT ATLANTA | FOX | 1:00 |
| NEW ENGLAND AT BUFFALO | CBS | 1:00 | |
| MINNESOTA AT CHICAGO | FOX | 1:00 | |
| HOUSTON AT INDIANAPOLIS | CBS | 1:00 | |
| NEW YORK JETS AT MIAMI | FOX | 1:00 | |
| CAROLINA AT NEW ORLEANS | FOX | 1:00 | |
| CLEVELAND AT PITTSBURGH | CBS | 1:00 | |
| BALTIMORE AT CINCINNATI | CBS | 1:00 OR 4:25 | |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT DENVER | CBS | 4:25 | |
| NEW YORK GIANTS AT PHILADELPHIA | CBS | 4:25 | |
| ARIZONA AT SAN FRANCISCO | FOX | 4:25 | |
| LOS ANGELES RAMS AT SEATTLE | FOX | 4:25 | |
| DALLAS AT WASHINGTON | FOX | 4:25 | |
| DETROIT AT GREEN BAY | NBC | 8:20 |
THOMAS, REVIS, FREENEY PICKED AS HALL OF FAME FINALISTS
(AP) — Joe Thomas, Darrelle Revis and Dwight Freeney are finalists in their first year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2023.
The 15 modern-day players who will be considered later this month by the selection committee include returning finalists DeMarcus Ware, Patrick Willis, Zach Thomas and Andre Johnson.
Six other returning finalists were announced Wednesday with Jared Allen, Willie Anderson, Ronde Barber, Devin Hester, Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne getting back to this stage.
Defensive backs Albert Lewis and Darren Woodson made it to this stage for the first time with Lewis having reached the semifinal stage in 2013 and Woodson getting there six times.
A maximum of five modern-day players can be elected for enshrinement in August to the Canton, Ohio, hall. The inductees will be announced on Feb. 9 at NFL Honors, the prime-time TV program during which The Associated Press reveals its individual award winners for the 2022 season.
The committee will also consider former Chargers and Cardinals coach Don Coryell in the coaching category and three senior candidates: Super Bowl V MVP Chuck Howley and All-Pro defenders Joe Klecko and Ken Riley.
Joe Thomas was one of the top tackles in the league over a durable 11-year career that saw him selected first-team All-Pro six times and second team two other times. He had a streak of 10,363 consecutive plays while playing for the Browns his entire career.
Revis, who also came out in the 2007 draft, moved around much more, spending time with the Jets, Tampa Bay, New England and Kansas City.
His best stretch came in New York where he was a first-team All-Pro from 2009-11 and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2009 when he repeatedly shut down top receivers by sending them to “Revis Island.”
Revis spent one year in New England, helping the Patriots win the Super Bowl in the 2014 season.
Freeney spent most of his 16-year career in Indianapolis, where his speed off the edge and dominant spin move led to 125 1/2 career sacks. He anchored a defense that complemented a high-powered offense led by Peyton Manning and helped the Colts win the Super Bowl following the 2006 season.
Ware, a four-time All-Pro, led the Cowboys in sacks for eight seasons, led the NFL in sacks twice, and won a Super Bowl with Denver following the 2015 season. He finished with 138 1/2 sacks and made the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s.
Johnson twice made the All-Pro team during a strong time for wide receivers. He led the league in receptions and yards receiving twice. He finished his career with 1,062 receptions for 14,185 yards and 70 receiving touchdowns.
Two of his contemporaries, Holt and Wayne, also are in the finals. Holt was selected to NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s and won a Super Bowl with the 1999 Rams. Wayne retired as NFL’s second all-time leading receiver in the postseason with 93 catches and won a Super Bowl with the Colts.
Zach Thomas and Willis were among the top linebackers of their time with each earning All-Pro honors five times.
Hester is the rare finalist who made his mark mostly on special teams. He opened the 2007 Super Bowl for Chicago with a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, the only time in Super Bowl history that has occurred. An All-Pro three times, Hester was a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2010s and one of two return specialists on the NFL 100 All-Time Team.
Anderson was considered one of the elite right tackles in the game for 13 pro seasons with Cincinnati and Baltimore, making three All-Pro squads.
Allen was a four-time All-Pro who led the NFL in sacks twice (2007, 2011) while playing for the Chiefs, Vikings, Bears and Panthers.
Barber was one of the league’s stingiest cover cornerbacks during his 16 seasons in Tampa, where he also played some safety. A key to the Tampa-2 defensive scheme, Barber was a three-time All-Pro and a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s. He led the NFL with 10 interceptions in 2001 and won a Super Bowl the next season.
Woodson was a three-time All-Pro safety who helped Dallas win three Super Bowl titles in the 1990s.
Lewis was a star cornerback for 16 seasons with Kansas City and the Raiders with two All-Pro nods and 42 career interceptions.
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REPORT: TEXAS A&M FINALIZING DEAL TO HIRE PETRINO AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Texas A&M is finalizing a deal to make Bobby Petrino its next offensive coordinator, sources told ESPN’s Chris Low.
Petrino will depart UNLV less than a month after he was hired by the Rebels to be their offensive coordinator. He spent the last three seasons as Missouri State’s head coach.
ALABAMA KICKER WILL REICHARD CHANGES MIND, WILL RETURN
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama kicker Will Reichard is sticking around after all.
Reichard announced Tuesday he will return for a fifth season after initially planning to enter the NFL draft and accepting an invite to the Senior Bowl.
“After much prayer and guidance, I realized that I wasn’t ready to step away from Alabama football and the college experience,” Reichard posted on Instagram. “I have decided to take advantage of my final year of eligibility and tee it up with my Crimson Tide teammates once more time in 2023.”
Reichard is Alabama’s career points leader. He has a fifth season of eligibility because of the NCAA’s COVID-19 waiver.
The Tide had already signed one of the nation’s top kicking prospects, Conor Talty, in December.
HARBAUGH AMID REPORTED NFL INTEREST: ‘I THINK I WILL BE COACHING MICHIGAN’
Jim Harbaugh doesn’t plan to ditch Michigan amid recent rumors linking him to NFL head coaching vacancies.
“Although no one knows the future, I think I will be coaching Michigan next year,” Harbaugh told Queen City News’ Will Kunkel and Connor Lomis.
Reports in December suggested multiple NFL teams were doing background work on Harbaugh. Since then, the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos have reportedly reached out to the Michigan sideline boss about their open head coaching positions.
The Panthers have been under the command of interim coach Steve Wilks since firing Matt Rhule after a 1-4 start. Meanwhile, the Broncos fired first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett on Dec. 26.
Denver’s ownership group apparently plans to be aggressive in its pursuit of a new head coach, with former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton among the other top targets.
Harbaugh interviewed with the Minnesota Vikings last offseason before returning to Michigan and vowing that he was done entertaining NFL offers.
The Michigan boss led the Wolverines to the CFP for a second consecutive season in 2022. However, they were defeated 51-45 by TCU.
GEORGIA’S BENNETT APPLAUDS TCU’S DUGGAN AS ‘A-PLUS DUDE’
Georgia’s Stetson Bennett and TCU’s Max Duggan share similar stories as quarterbacks who needed to disprove doubters before finding starring roles for next Monday’s national championship game.
It’s no surprise Bennett says he immediately liked Duggan when the two spent time together at the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York last month.
“Max is an awesome dude,” Bennett said Tuesday.
“Whenever we were there, it was more like we were a bunch of dudes and we were all hanging out. … But he’s an A-plus dude. He works hard. All those things. But I think he’s the heart and soul of that team. … And there’s something to be said for both his story and my story and the fact that we’re here in the end.”
Duggan was the runner-up to USC quarterback Caleb Williams in the Heisman voting. Bennett finished fourth, behind Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud.
While Duggan lost his starting job at the start of the season, Bennett was a walk-on in 2017 before leaving Georgia and returning to land the starting job. Bennett led Georgia to its first national championship since 1980 last season.
HOBBLED MILLER
While TCU leading rusher Kendre Miller is feeling better, coach Sonny Dykes said Tuesday that the junior running back is still questionable for the title game.
Miller hurt his right knee in the first half of the 51-45 win over Michigan on Saturday. He got treatment at halftime, but had just one carry after the break before leaving the game for good.
“We’re hopeful to get Kendre back. As the week progresses, we’ll know a little bit more every single day,” Dykes said. “Right now, I would say he’s be questionable, and then we’ll kind of make a determination as we get through the week.”
Miller has 1,399 yards and 17 touchdowns rushing, the most yards in a season by a TCU running back since LaDainian Tomlinson led the nation with 2,158 yards in 2000.
He had eight carries for 57 yards against Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl, but didn’t score a rushing touchdown for the first time this season. It ended his streak of 14 consecutive games with a rushing TD, one short of Tomlinson’s school-record streak.
GOOD LUCK, FROGS
Among the people who called Dykes after TCU’s win in the Fiesta Bowl was Marshawn Lynch.
The former NFL running back played collegiately at California, a decade before Dykes was the coach of the Bears from 2013-16.
“That was cool to get to talk about to Marshawn. Marshawn and I got to be pretty close when I was in Cal. Love Marshawn, he’s got a great heart,” Dykes said. “It was great to catch up. I invited him to the (championship) game, but he told me he was going to Italy instead. Can’t blame him.”
Duggan said he has heard from several former TCU players, including quarterbacks Andy Dalton and Trevone Boykin.
“Andy’s been staying in contact with me. I think that’s kind of a huge thing,” Duggan said of Dalton, the current New Orleans Saints quarterback who led TCU to its 13-0 season in 2010 that ended with a Rose Bowl victory and No. 2 national ranking.
USC ALL-AMERICA DL TULI TUIPULOTU DECLARES FOR NFL DRAFT
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California All-America defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu will enter the NFL draft.
Tuipulotu, who led the FBS with 13 1/2 sacks as a junior, announced his decision on social media Tuesday.
The 6-foot-4, 290 pound edge rusher had two tackles and one sack in the eighth-ranked Trojans’ 46-45 loss to Tulane in the Cotton Bowl on Monday. He finished his college career with 21 sacks and 32 tackles for loss in 32 games.
The younger brother of USC and Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu, Tuli impressed as a freshman during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season by getting two sacks and 2 1/2 tackles for loss in six games.
His last season was his best, with Tuipulotu finishing second nationally in tackles for loss with 22. The defensive equivalent to Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams, Tuipulotu’s disruptive play helped a flawed defense lacking talent and depth — USC allowed 29.2 points per game and 6.5 yards per play — produce timely negative plays and takeaways.
Tuipulotu received the Morris Trophy as the best defensive lineman in the Pac-12, an award voted on by players. He was also a finalist for the Bednarik and Nagurski Awards presented to the top defender in college football and the Lombardi Award for the top offensive or defensive lineman.
Led by Williams and Tuipulotu, USC finished 11-3 and played in the Pac-12 title game and a New Year’s Six bowl in coach Lincoln Riley’s first season. The Trojans were 4-8 in 2021 when Clay Helton was fired as coach after two games.
MIAMI UNVEILS PLAN FOR $100M FOOTBALL OPERATIONS CENTER
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Miami on Wednesday unveiled its plan to build a $100 million football operations center, plus a bridge that will connect the new building to its current practice facility.
The Hurricanes did not release a budget, but the $100 million figure was what the university listed in planning documents filed with the city of Coral Gables late last year. Construction is expected to begin later this year, with a completion target date of mid-2025.
Plans include “dedicated spaces for training, recovery, nutrition and relaxation as well as support spaces for academic services, recruiting and professional development,” the university said. The project also includes a six-story garage, with a 350-seat dining facility for Hurricanes athletes on the first floor.
“The University of Miami wants to enroll the very best students in all walks of life and investing in facilities is critical to recruit and retain the very best,” athletic director Dan Radakovich said. “Facilities serve as a tangible, transformative representation of our overall investment and commitment to success, and this new football operations center speaks to the promise of Miami building championship programs.”
Radakovich oversaw the upgrade of several athletic facilities during his time at Clemson, including a new football complex that has helped the Tigers become one of the nation’s perennial powerhouses. A similar move has been his top priority since taking over at Miami in December 2021.
“The Football Operations Center is a state-of-the-art facility that will house both the administrative and player development functions of the UM Football team,” university vice president Jessica Brumley wrote in the application packet sent to the city of Coral Gables. “The building will support student athletes and the University’s goal of recruiting the best talent in the nation.”
BADGERS ANNOUNCE LONGO, TRESSEL HAVE JOINED FICKELL’S STAFF
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — After spending the last two seasons as defensive coordinator on Luke Fickell’s Cincinnati staff, Mike Tressel is following him to Wisconsin.
Wisconsin announced on Tuesday the hiring of Tressel as defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach and Phil Longo as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. Longo, who had been North Carolina’s offensive coordinator the last four seasons, had said last month he was joining Wisconsin’s staff in the same role.
“I’m extremely excited for our players and our program to add Phil and Mike,” Fickell said Tuesday in a statement released by the university. “I’ve built a relationship with Phil over the past six years and am happy to finally be able to work side-by-side with him. He’s a very innovative and well-rounded football coach. He’s a tremendous person and family man and truly cares about his players.
“I’ve known Mike for 20 years and he is a great coach and person. He has incredible experience, including a terrific background in the Big Ten. Over the last two years coaching together I was impressed with his ability to adapt both as a coach on the field and to the culture of a program. We are very fortunate to have both Phil and Mike on staff.”
In Tressel’s first year as Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator, the Bearcats reached the College Football Playoff and ranked fifth nationally in scoring defense. Cincinnati allowed 4.5 yards per play, the fourth-lowest average of any Football Bowl Subdivision team.
This season, Cincinnati ranks 20th in scoring defense. The Bearcats gave up 4.61 yards per play, the sixth-lowest average of any FBS team.
Tressel worked on Michigan State’s staff from 2007-20 and was defensive coordinator 2018 and 2019.
“I’m beyond excited to join the Wisconsin football family and look forward to carrying on the tradition of elite defenses here in Madison,” Tressel said in a statement. “This is a program I’ve always admired and it’s great to be back in the Big Ten. I’m most excited to be able to work with the tremendous young men here. They have already demonstrated to me great work ethic, intelligence and ability.”
Wisconsin named Fickell coach on Nov. 27, the day after the Badgers closed a 6-6 regular season with a 23-16 loss to Minnesota. Fickell was on the Wisconsin sideline with interim head coach Jim Leonhard, who won’t be part of the Badgers’ 2023 staff, for a 24-17 Guaranteed Rate Bowl victory over Oklahoma State on Dec. 27.
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HOPKINS SCORES 27 TO HELP PROVIDENCE BEAT NO. 4 UCONN 73-61
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) When his team lost back-to-back games in late November, Providence coach Ed Cooley anticipated a strong response by a roster topped with multiple veterans.
Two months later, his expectations have been exceeded.
Bryce Hopkins scored 27 points and Providence dominated the second half and knocked off fourth-ranked UConn 73-61 on Wednesday night for its eighth straight victory.
Noah Locke finished with 17 points. Ed Croswell added 13 points and 13 rebounds to help the Friars (13-3, 5-0) earn their second victory over a ranked team this season and remain unbeaten in the Big East.
“I thought our men stepped up to the challenge,” Cooley said of the Friars’ first home win over a top 5 team since beating Villanova on Feb. 14, 2018.
Hopkins led the attack throughout, drawing fouls and connecting on 13 of 15 attempts at the free-throw line. He said his teammates did a good job of finding him in space.
“They gave me the ball in my spots, and I just had to take advantage of that,” he said.
It marked Providence’s first win over the Huskies at the downtown Amica Mutual Pavilion since Feb. 20, 2012, when the Friars won 72-70. They played on campus during the pandemic.
Jordan Hawkins led the Huskies (14-2, 3-2) with 15 points, and Donovan Clingan added 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The Huskies have lost two in a row after opening the season with 14 straight victories and winning their first three conference games. UConn was held under 70 points for only the second time this season. The Huskies entered averaging 82 points per game. They shot just 36% (23 of 63) in the second half.
“Just really embarrassed by the way we handled ourselves in the second half,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “They were just a lot tougher than we were.”
The Friars added to a three-point halftime lead thanks to going 8 of 18 from the 3-point line and outscoring the Huskies 29-10 at the free-throw line.
“We were fortunate that we made some shots. We made some timely shots,” Cooley said.
Croswell finished a fast break with a two-handed slam to put the Friars in front 51-43 as part of a 13-8 run that put the Friars in front 56-46 with just over nine minutes to play.
UConn cut it to 60-55, and a few possessions later Hopkins was whistled for his fourth foul with 4:54 left. But he stayed aggressive, getting fouled after a Huskies turnover and dropping in a pair of free throws to help Providence pushed the lead back up to 64-55 with 3:33 showing on the clock.
Providence won a mad scramble after three misses on its next possession, with Locke dropping in a deep 3 from the wing.
“I have a lot of confidence in myself,” Locke said. “When I’m in those type of situations I want those shots and I want to take them.”
Providence led for just 2:26 in the first half but used a late surge to take a 33-30 edge into the break.
Providence was able to generate offense without starter Jared Bynum, who went to the locker room with a midsection injury and sat out the rest of the game. Alyn Breed took his place in the lineup to begin the second half.
BIG PICTURE
UConn: This is not the start to conference play the Huskies were looking for after winning their first three. They lost 83-73 at No. 22 Xavier over the weekend.
Providence: The Friars continue to find a way to stay in ball games, this time negating a big height disadvantage by hitting outside shots and getting to the line. That will help them stay in almost every game as they try to defend their regular-season Big East title.
UP NEXT
UConn returns home to host Creighton on Saturday.
Providence hosts St. John’s on Saturday.
LATE 12-0 SPURT LIFTS TECH PAST NO. 12 MIAMI, 76-70
THE FLATS – Lance Terry, Deebo Coleman and Miles Kelly combined for 58 points to power Georgia Tech men’s basketball past No. 12-ranked Miami, 76-70, on Wednesday night at McCamish Pavilion.
The Yellow Jackets (8-6, 1-3 ACC) raced out to a 12-point lead in the first half and weathered a strong second-half punch from the Hurricanes (14-2, 4-1 ACC), who sustained their first loss in conference play and ended a nine-game winning streak. The win snapped a six-game skid for Tech against top-25 teams dating back to its 2021 ACC Championship game victory over No. 15 Florida State.
Miami was able to push out to a 70-64 lead with just under five minutes left, but Tech stayed pesky and caught fire at the right moment, going on a 12-0 run over the final 4:50 to seal the victory.
Offensively, Tech was led by Terry, who finished with 24 points, two shy of his career high, and hit 4-of-5 from downtown while taking six rebounds. Kelly scored 20 points, going a perfect 7-of-7 from the free-throw line, while Coleman and contributed 14 points.
Also finishing in double figures was Jalon Moore, who scored 10 to go along with six rebounds. Owning the boards was Rodney Howard, who hauled in eight on the night.
Tech went 17-for-19 from the free throw line, hitting 6-of-8 during its closing run.
Leading 12th-ranked Miami was Jordan Miller and Norchad Omier, who both finished with 17 points.
Georgia Tech heads back out on the road for a two-game road swing, beginning at Florida State on Saturday, Jan. 7. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast live on the ACC’s Regional Sports Networks.
SMITH, JOINER HELP NC STATE ROLL PAST NO. 16 DUKE 84-60
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) North Carolina State coach Kevin Keatts knew the Wolfpack’s chances against No. 16 Duke would start with the play of his dynamic backcourt of Terquavion Smith and Jarkel Joiner.
“You guys can’t be average,” Keatts said he told them recently.
Smith and Joiner responded with the type of confident, fast and aggressive play that only reinforced their coach’s point – and simply overwhelmed the Blue Devils.
Smith scored 24 points and N.C. State jumped all over Duke from the opening tip, rolling to an 84-60 win on Wednesday night in the long-running series between Atlantic Coast Conference neighbors.
Joiner added 21 points, nine assists and six rebounds for the Wolfpack (12-4, 2-3 ACC), who scored the game’s first 15 points and led by 22 by halftime in a shocking romp.
“I thought it was probably the most complete game that we have played the entire year,” Keatts said, “especially on the defensive end.”
While the Wolfpack pounced, the Blue Devils (11-4, 2-2) watched early shots roll off the rim or be swatted away. They compounded their problems by piling up turnovers in a game that quickly got away.
First-year coach Jon Scheyer tried plenty: swapping lineups, burning two early timeouts, using some zone defensive looks. Nothing worked other than a modest push to within a dozen late in the first half.
“It was hard to point to one thing, right?” Scheyer said. “It was basically everything.”
N.C. State shot 47% and made 10 3-pointers, nine coming from Smith and Joiner. More impressively, the Wolfpack scored 30 points off turnovers while repeatedly pushing the tempo.
One highlight came when Joiner hit a corner 3-pointer just before the halftime horn with Duke’s Jeremy Roach defending on his hip. Joiner gave a yell toward the courtside fans, then giddily backed away to join his teammates heading to the locker room with a 44-22 lead.
And early in the second, Joiner and Smith got loose together in transition. First Joiner hit Smith for a right-wing 3-pointer on the break, then did it again – only this time falling to the court while delivering the pass.
No matter. Joiner still raised both arms while laying on his back near the baseline as though signaling the shot was good as it swished through the net. By that point, the Wolfpack led 54-28 with 17:05 left and never let Duke closer than 22 again.
“It’s about being consistent,” Joiner said. “Me and T have got to show that every single night.”
Freshman Kyle Filipowski scored 14 points to lead Duke, which shot 40% and just 5 of 15 from 3-point range. Duke also committed a season-high 21 turnovers, many fueling the Wolfpack’s 25 fast-break points.
BIG PICTURE
Duke: It was a jarring result for the Blue Devils in Scheyer’s debut season as the successor to retired Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski. The team with 11 new players and the nation’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class never looked comfortable, confident or capable of consistently creating quality looks as the deficit ballooned. It amounted to a second rough showing on the road, the other coming in a loss at Wake Forest days before Christmas.
“They came out and did what they were supposed to do and imposed their will at home,” said captain Jeremy Roach, who had four points on 0 for 8 shooting. “We came out soft, timid, weren’t attacking the rim, weren’t getting open.”
N.C. State: This one can ease some of the frustration amid ACC losses to now-No. 12 Miami, Pittsburgh and Clemson. Beyond the Smith-Joiner backcourt, big man DJ Burns Jr. had 18 points – and the home crowd chanting his name – to provide interior balance. More impressively, the Wolfpack did it without starter and rebounding leader Jack Clark, who is out indefinitely after suffering a core muscle injury at Clemson.
ROUGH ROAD IN RALEIGH
Duke has lost six of nine games at N.C. State dating to 2010, five of which were by double-digits. PNC Arena was also the site of Duke’s first-round upset loss in the NCAA Tournament to 14-seed Mercer in 2014.
UP NEXT
Duke: Plays a second straight road game, traveling to Boston College on Saturday.
N.C. State: Visits Virginia Tech on Saturday.
MILES LEADS TCU COMEBACK AT NO. 19 BAYLOR
WACO, Texas – Led by a career-high 33 points by Mike Miles Jr., No. 17 TCU came back from a 17-point deficit to win at No. 19 Baylor, 88-87, Wednesday at the Ferell Center.
It was the most points by a TCU player in three seasons, since Desmond Bane’s 34 at Texas in 2019. Miles, who earlier in the day was one of 25 named to the midseason watch list for Wooden Award, was 12-of-21 from the field.
TCU (13-1, 3-0) trailed 48-31 with three minutes to play in the half before the Frogs cut it to 49-39 at halftime. Miles made a statement by scoring the first 13 points of the second half and 21 total for the period.
TCU took its first lead since the 14:55 mark of the first half on a layup by Damion Baugh to make it 76-74 with 4:23 to play.
Baylor (10-4, 0-2) led 87-83 with 48 seconds left after a pair of free throws from Keyonte George, who finished with 27 points. Miles came down to hit his third 3-pointer of the game to cut it to one point. After a miss by the Bears’ Jalen Bridges, Chuck O’Bannon hit a long jumper in the corner to give TCU the lead by one point with 4.0 seconds remaining. The ensuing shot attempt by George was blocked at the rim by Xavier Cork and TCU extended its winning streak to 11 games.
The Horned Frogs will next host No. 25 Iowa State (11-2, 2-0) on Saturday at 1 p.m. on ESPNU.
Team Notes
TCU improved to 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2020.
TCU has 13 wins through 14 games for the third time in program history and the second time under Jamie Dixon. The Frogs were 13-1 in the 2017-18 season.
The Horned Frogs snapped a three-game losing streak to Baylor. It was TCU’s first win over the Bears in Waco since 2018.
TCU and Baylor faced off as ranked teams for the first time ever.
Dixon improved to 5-7 vs Baylor
TCU trailed 49-39 at the half and improved to 3-0 on the season when trailing at halftime.
TCU won its 11th-straight game, its most since winning 12 straight to open the 2017-18 season. TCU’s 10-game streak was the fourth longest active streak entering the game.
After shooting 69 percent (9-13) from three in the first half, TCU held Baylor to 18 percent (2-11) in the second half.
The nation’s leader in fastbreak points, TCU had 23 to Baylor’s two.
TCU tied a season low with seven turnovers and had just two in the second half.
TCU trailed by as many as 17 points. It was the second-straight game that the Frogs have come back to win after being down by double digits. TCU trailed Texas Tech by 13 on Saturday. In the season-opener, TCU was down 20 to UAPB before winning 73-72.
Of the 31 wins over AP Top 25 teams in its history, 15 have come in the seven seasons under Dixon.
TCU shot 82.9 percent (19-23) from the free throw line. It was the Horned Frogs’ fourth time eclipsing the 80 percent mark this season.
TCU led for 2 minutes and 27 seconds.
Individual Notes
Mike Miles Jr. scored a career high 33 points, 21 in the second half, including the first 13 TCU points of the second period. It was the seventh time this season he led the Frogs in scoring and the fifth time he scored 20 or more points.
Miles’ 33 points were the most points by a TCU player since Desmond Bane scored 34 points at Texas on March 9, 2019. The last TCU player to reach 30 points was RJ Nembhard who finished with 31 against Iowa State on Jan. 4, 2019.
Miles scored in double-figures for the 16th-straight game, dating back to last season.
Miles tied a career-high with 12 made field goals on 21 attempts.
Emanuel Miller scored 13 points. It was his eighth-straight game scoring in double figures.
Eddie Lampkin grabbed a team-best nine rebounds. It was the eighth time in 12 games this season that he led TCU in rebounds.
Lampkin scored 15 points tonight it was his second game this season scoring 10 or more points and was one shy of his season high.
Damion Baugh led TCU in assists for the fifth time this season with seven.
Baugh tied a career high with nine free throws on 10 attempts.
Chuck O’Bannon hit the game-winning shot with 4.0 seconds remaining. He finished with six points.
GEORGETOWN AD ACKNOWLEDGES ‘FRUSTRATING TIME’ UNDER EWING
WASHINGTON (AP) Georgetown coach Patrick Ewing’s loss-filled stint at his alma mater was called a “challenging and frustrating time” by athletic director Lee Reed, who added Wednesday that “no one is more committed” to turning things around than the former star center.
Hours before the Hoyas set a Big East record by accumulating their 25th consecutive regular-season conference loss, 73-57 against visiting Villanova, Reed responded to a request for an interview from The Associated Press by issuing a statement that was emailed by a spokesperson.
“We recognize this is a challenging and frustrating time for the men’s basketball team and our fans,” said Reed, who also put out a comment about Ewing before a game about 10 months ago, although that one said the school was “committed” to sticking with him. “Coach Ewing understands that it is imperative to get the program back on track and no one is more committed than he is to making that happen.”
The defeat Wednesday night left Georgetown with a 5-11 overall record, 0-5 in conference play. Its previous outing was an 80-51 loss to Big East opponent Butler.
After the loss to Villanova, which Georgetown President Jack DeGioia attended, Ewing was asked whether he was concerned about his future.
“I’m here to talk about the game. My future is my future,” Ewing replied. “I’ll be the head coach at Georgetown until the president or the board decides for me to move on. … You know, a friend of mine sent me a quote today: `It’s not how many times you get knocked down; it’s how many times you get up.’ We got knocked down, so all we’re going to do is keep on getting up.”
Georgetown went 0-19 in the conference last season while going 6-25 overall, including a 21-game losing streak. The Hoyas also lost their final regular-season Big East game in 2020-21, before going on a surprising four-game run at Madison Square Garden in New York to claim the conference tournament title.
That allowed the team to make its lone NCAA Tournament appearance during Ewing’s tenure; that season ended with a first-round loss to Colorado.
Ewing, who as a player helped Georgetown and coach John Thompson Jr. win the 1984 national championship and make two other appearances in NCAA finals, is in his sixth season since replacing Thompson’s son, John Thompson III, as the school’s coach.
Georgetown is 73-95 under Ewing (a .435 winning percentage), including 26-68 (.277) in the Big East.
This is Ewing’s first head coaching job at any level – he worked as an assistant in the NBA after his Hall of Fame playing career ended – and his roster has seen repeated turnover because of students transferring away from Georgetown.
Late last season, in March 2022, Reed put out a statement hours before a game against Seton Hall, acknowledging the “disappointment of a difficult season,” and saying: “In this ever evolving landscape of college athletics we are committed to Coach Ewing, and we are working with him to evaluate every aspect of the men’s basketball program and to make the necessary changes for him to put us back on the path to success for next year.”
Before the start of this season, Ewing overhauled his staff by replacing all three assistants and brought in several transfer players, including leading scorer Primo Spears, who came over from Duquesne.
“I’m a very prideful person and Georgetown is a very prideful university,” Ewing said at his postgame news conference Wednesday, “and we don’t want to be associated with a losing streak, but it is what it is.”
*********NBA NEWS********
DURANT SCORES 44, BUT BULLS SNAP NETS’ 12-GAME WIN STREAK
CHICAGO (AP) DeMar DeRozan and Patrick Williams each scored 22 points, and the Chicago Bulls stopped Brooklyn’s 12-game win streak with a 121-112 victory over Kevin Durant and the Nets on Wednesday night.
Durant scored 44 points, but Chicago had six players score in double figures. Nikola Vucevic had 21 points and 13 rebounds, and Ayo Dosunmo finished with 17 points. The Bulls had dropped two in a row.
“They came to play,” Brooklyn coach Jacque Vaughn said. “They were pretty desperate to get a win, and we needed that same desperation.”
Durant rested at the beginning of the fourth quarter and Chicago put together an 8-0 run. Dosunmu stole a pass at midcourt and went in for the jam for a 106-95 lead with 6:46 left.
“Ayo brought it defensively,” Bulls guard Zach LaVine said. “Bring the energy, getting steals, getting blocks.”
Williams and DeRozan each hit two foul shots in the final minute to help close it out.
Durant scored a season-high 28 points in the first half, but Brooklyn trailed 69-59 at the break. He went 15 for 22 from the field for the game, finishing one point shy of his season high against Orlando on Nov. 28.
The Bulls, playing without reserve Javonte Green, lost another key guard when Alex Caruso sprained his right ankle with 3:11 left in the first quarter. Caruso missed three games earlier this season due to a concussion and shoulder sprain.
LaVine scored 13 points for Chicago, and Coby White finished with 10.
“Their top two guys (DeRozan and LaVine) were 12 for 31 for 35 points,” Durant said. “We can live with that. But Pat Williams made some shots and easy rolls to the rim. Ayo is playing great this year and put pressure on the rim.”
Kyrie Irving scored 25 points for Brooklyn, and Seth Curry had 22. Irving went 1 for 8 from 3-point range.
“We could not get over the hump, and a big part of it was that we were playing catchup,” Vaughn said. “A 40-point first quarter (by Chicago) set the tone. A little uncharacteristic by our group.”
Nets forward Yuta Watanabe, who entered the game leading the league with a 52.1 3-point percentage, played only six minutes because of foul trouble and scored one point.
TIP-INS
Nets: Vaughn shared a text message he received from a friend following his selection as the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for December. ‘”What’s so special about a turtle sitting on top of a fence post? He didn’t get there on his own.’ So I’m very smart to know that award is the performance of the team, the coaching staff, at the end of the day it was the players,” Vaughn said.
Bulls: Coach Billy Donovan stressed that LaVine has been an option on several last-second plays that have went to DeRozan. “I totally trust Zach, and I have no problem with Zach with the ball in his hands and no problem with Zach shooting the ball at the end of games,” Donovan said. “But I think everyone would agree with what DeMar has done at the end of games has been very powerful.” … Green (right knee soreness) was placed in a treatment program to determine the extent of his injury with hopes of him returning soon, Donovan said.
UP NEXT
Nets: Visit Pelicans on Friday.
Bulls: Visit Sixers on Friday.
EVAN MOBLEY HITS LATE JUMPER, CAVALIERS BEAT SUNS 90-88
CLEVELAND (AP) Evan Mobley couldn’t remember the last time he made a winning shot. He’ll never forget his first one in the NBA.
“Hopefully,” he said, “more to come.”
Mobley’s 14-foot jumper with four seconds left – off an assist from Donovan Mitchell – helped the Cleveland Cavaliers rally for a 90-88 victory Wednesday night over the slumping Phoenix Suns, who lost their fourth straight.
Mitchell finished with just 20 points two nights after scoring 71 – the seventh player in league history to score at least seven. But on Cleveland’s final possession, he drove and fed Mobley, who calmly knocked down his mid-range shot in his return after missing two games with a sore ankle.
Mobley was just 1 of 8 from the floor before knocking down the biggest shot of his young career.
“What people aren’t going to talk about is him relocating,” Mitchell said of his 21-year-old teammate. “He got into my vision and he was right there in that moment, naturally. That’s what makes him special.”
The Suns had a chance to tie it, but Mikal Bridges missed a jumper in the final second. Mitchell snared the rebound and fired the ball to the other end in celebration as the NBA’s top defensive team got one last stop.
Caris LeVert scored 21 points to lead the Cavs, who spent most of the night chasing the Suns.
Mitchell was just 6 of 20 from the field (3 of 12 on 3s) after his historic performance, but he made a critical 3-pointer with 40 seconds left to tie it 88-all.
“I really didn’t have my legs tonight,” he said. “I was trying to will myself just to be solid.”
Chris Paul scored 25 points and Deandre Ayton added 15 points and 18 rebounds for Phoenix, which went just 1-5 on a trip and dropped to 4-12 since Dec. 5. The Suns have struggled without injured All-NBA guard Devin Booker, out with a groin strain.
“It’s been that kind of trip,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “That was a hard way to lose a game. The guys are hurting after a game like that we should have won.”
Cleveland was without All-Star guard Darius Garland, who missed his third straight game with a sprained right thumb.
Before the game, Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff acknowledged the possibility of an “emotional hangover” for his players following Mitchell’s memorable night.
That was certainly the case in the first half as the Cavs came out flat and missed their first 15 3-point attempts while scoring a season-low 33 points before halftime.
SUNNY DISPOSITION
Despite the Suns’ recent slide, which has only worsened without Booker, Williams has been pleased with his team’s togetherness. Practices have stayed spirited and he’s seeing a team determined to fix things.
“We’re just waiting for the breakthrough,” he said. “No splintering. We keep plugging away and that has been our mentality from the jump. That’s what I keep telling the guys, ‘keep pushing.”
SCORING BINGE
While Mitchell’s 71-point outburst is the highest in the league this season, 40- and 50-point games have become a regular occurrence.
Bickerstaff believes the scoring spike is a combination of factors, including defensive rules that allow offensive freedom and a generation of elite players who began working on their individual skills at a young age.
“The league is in a wonderful place as far as talent,” he said. “It literally seems like every night you’re seeing somebody do something spectacular.”
TIP-INS
Suns: Booker has missed five straight games since reinjuring the groin Dec. 25 at Denver. … G Cameron Payne didn’t play in the second half due to right foot discomfort. … Bridges played in his 348th consecutive game, the league’s current longest Ironman streak. He has never missed a game as a pro or at Villanova.
Cavaliers: Mitchell added 11 assists Monday, meaning he accounted for 99 points – the second most in league history behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 104 in 1962. … Reserve G Raul Neto gave the Cavs a lift with a season-high 14 points. … Garland took part in the team’s morning shootaround, wearing a protective wrap on his thumb. It’s possible he’ll return later this week.
UP NEXT
Suns: Host Miami on Friday night.
Cavaliers: Open a five-game trip Friday night at Denver.
PAOLO BANCHERO, MAGIC TURN BACK THUNDER 126-115
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Paolo Banchero had 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and the Orlando Magic beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 126-115 on Wednesday night.
Orlando, playing without four suspended players, broke a three-game losing streak.
Gary Harris and Terrence Ross each scored 18 points for the Magic. Wendell Carter Jr. added 13 points and 13 rebounds in his first start since Nov. 18.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, back in the lineup after missing Tuesday’s 150-117 win at Boston due to a non-COVID-19 illness, scored 33 points for the Thunder.
In setting their franchise scoring record Tuesday night, the Thunder scored 70 points in the paint. The Magic held them to 30.
“That’s our calling card as a team,” Banchero said. “If we’re playing good defense, we’re usually playing good offense. Tonight keeping them out of the paint was the biggest thing we had to do. They hit some 3s, but at the end of the day they kill teams in the paint. That was our main focus and we did a good job.”
Banchero scored the first five points in a 10-0 run that lifted Orlando’s lead into double figures midway through the second quarter. Caleb Houston hit a couple of 3-pointers late in the period and scored on a putback with two seconds left, leaving the Magic with a 70-53 halftime lead.
“There was definitely a conscious effort on their part to attack and protect the paint. They did in the first half and they built a 17-point cushion,” Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said. “We tried to fight back into the game in the second half but it was a hard deficit to overcome, a small margin for error.”
Three free throws by Harris stretched the lead to 80-58 with 8:11 left in the third.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Joe scored the final nine points of the third to get the Thunder back within seven at 95-88. But the rally fizzled from there.
“Consistency is something we’ve got to get better at,” said Josh Giddey, who scored 16 for the Thunder. “Last night we beat one of the better teams in the league comfortably, and then we come in here and lose by 15.”
TIP-INS
Thunder: C Jaylin Williams left with a left ankle sprain early in the second half. … After shooting 59.5% on Tuesday night, the Thunder shot 40.9% against Orlando. … Gilgeous-Alexander went 17 for 18 at the free-throw line.
Magic: G Franz Wagner, G Kevon Harris and F Admiral Schofield were sidelined by one-game suspensions, and C Mo Wagner sat out the second game of his two-game suspension for their involvement in an altercation in a game at Detroit on Dec. 29. … F Bol Bol missed his first game of the season after entering the NBA’s health and safety protocol. … The Magic had a 49-32 rebounding edge.
PASSING IT ON
Magic coach Jamal Mosley appreciated Banchero’s seven assists.
“The great part about him is his ability to trust his teammates to find the open man, to want to make the right play,” Mosley said. “Anytime he’s out there he’s looking to make and create for his team, and make winning plays.”
UP NEXT
Thunder: Play at home against Washington on Friday night.
Magic: Play at home against Memphis on Thursday night.
MORANT, GRIZZLIES OVERPOWER HORNETS FOR 4TH STRAIGHT WIN
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Ja Morant had 23 points and eight assists playing in front of relatives and friends, Desmond Bane added 19 points and 10 rebounds and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Charlotte Hornets 131-107 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight win.
Dillon Brooks scored 18 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Grizzlies. Steven Adams had 15 rebounds for Memphis, which improved to 9-10 on the road.
LaMelo Ball had 23 points and 12 assists and Terry Rozier added 21 points for the Hornets, who’ve lost 14 of 17 games.
The Hornets were outmatched from the start.
Morant is a South Carolina native whose family lives about 90 minutes from Charlotte – and plenty of them make the trek to Spectrum Center to watch him play.
“I had a lot of people come here and support me, as you could hear when I run out of the tunnel or if I score,” Morant said. “It’s definitely love here. I’m happy every time I get to come back and it’s even better when you win.”
Morant didn’t play in the fourth quarter after the Grizzlies stretched their lead to 37.
The Grizzlies jumped out to a 40-26 lead in the first quarter behind their All-Star point guard, who set the tone with 12 points and four assists.
Memphis didn’t let up after Morant took a seat on the bench to start the second quarter, opening with a 20-9 run and eventually pushing the lead to 29 at the half.
“We always preach about throwing that first punch and we have to have that mindset, whether we’re home and away, and we have to keep punching until the opposing team is knocked out,” Morant said.
Morant had no problem slicing his way through Charlotte’s defense. And when he missed, it seemed either Adams or Jackson was there to grab the offensive rebound for a put-back.
The Grizzlies dominated the Hornets on the glass 59-44 and outscored them 64-52 in the paint.
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said the team’s offense is continuing to evolve, and Morant is evolving with it.
“I mean he’s always progressing,” Jenkins said. “The sky’s the limit for the kid. He wants to be coached, he wants to be pushed, just seeing him from year one. Just seeing his work that he’s putting on his 3-point shot, seeing him come out tonight firing early, taking more time at the free-throw line, working at that, knowing that he’s a force, he’s going to get foul calls. His playmaking, and getting on the same page as his teammates.”
The frustration was evident for the Hornets with Ball, Dennis Smith Jr. and Jalen McDaniels picking up technical fouls.
The Hornets struggled to find offense outside of Ball and Rozier with Gordon Hayward (hamstring) and Kelly Oubre (hand) out with injuries. Coach Steve Clifford said it’s been difficult battling so many injuries to key players this season, but he’s trying to stay positive.
“On the flip side, if we get these guys back things can change,” Clifford said. “It’s just hard. Every time we start to play better …”
TIP-INS
Grizzlies: Attempted 28 free throws in the first half, 20 more than the Hornets. … Played without Brandon Clarke (hip) and Ziaire Williams (knee).
Hornets: Cody Martin returned after missing 37 games with a left knee injury. Martin was injured in the team’s season opener and hadn’t played since. Martin had four points on dunks, but had two shots blocked. He said he felt out of rhythm because he hasn’t been able to play any 5-on-5 with his teammates in practice. “This was my first run and obviously I’m not excited about it,” Martin said. “But I am excited to get back out there.”
UP NEXT
Grizzlies: At Orlando on Thursday night.
Hornets: Open a four-game trip at Milwaukee on Friday night.
EDWARDS SCORES 32, HELPS WOLVES CLOSE OUT BLAZERS 113-106
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Anthony Edwards scored 13 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Portland Trail Blazers 113-106 on Wednesday night.
Luka Garza added 14 points off the bench for Minnesota, which saw another halftime lead slip away in the third quarter but held on for its second straight win after a six-game skid.
“I thought defensively we were great pretty much all night long,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “We gave them a lot of different looks and to close out the game, a lot of winning plays really.”
Jerami Grant scored 20 of his 26 points in the first half for Portland, which trailed by as much as 13 in the opening half while Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons combined for three points.
Lillard finished with 27 points and Simons had 16 for the Trail Blazers, who had 18 turnovers that led to 22 points for the Timberwolves.
“I was never really happy from the start of the game,” Portland coach Chauncey Billups said. “Our mindset from the very start wasn’t right. It just wasn’t right. That’s our inconsistency. Sometimes, we come out with the right type of mindset, set the tone, be the aggressor on both sides of the floor. When we don’t, you come back and you want to counterpunch, you put yourself in a tough spot.”
Minnesota has had no trouble getting ahead, such as in Monday’s win against Western Conference-leading Denver. Holding those leads has been the issue, like when the Timberwolves led NBA-worst Detroit by 18 in an eventual loss Saturday.
With Lillard and Simons finding their way, the Trail Blazers erased a seven-point halftime deficit early in the third quarter.
“I think we’re just really inconsistent right now,” Lillard said. “Not only from game to game but from quarter to quarter. We’re just not able to sustain that level of focus, that level of urgency, the energy.”
Jusuf Nurkic gave the Trail Blazers a 92-91 lead with 9:33 remaining in the fourth.
Veteran teammates have implored the young Edwards to take control of games at certain points and he did so again. He scored six points as the Wolves went on an 11-3 run to pull back in front for good, and the offense ran through Edwards late in the fourth.
“I’m always ready for the fourth,” Edwards said. “When the fourth come, I’m like, `Man, it’s showtime now.’ So, I’m getting kind of used to it now.”
LEANING ON LUKA
Garza provided the early boost, scoring 11 points in the first quarter. When the seldom-used, second-year player replaced Gobert, Minnesota went on a 14-1 run for a 25-12 lead. Garza had nine points during the run, capping it with a wide-open 3-pointer.
“His offense was carrying us there for a little bit and we were feeding him,” Finch said. “He’s a very gifted offensive player, but defensively he was outstanding.”
PRINCELY RETURN
Minnesota’s Taurean Prince returned after missing 20 games with a right shoulder subluxation. His impact was limited due to foul trouble, but he finished with 11 points in 21 minutes. The seven-year veteran also provided energy and defense off the bench.
“I feel like I bring a presence that’s infectious,” Prince said. “So, I guess that’s something that plays to a benefit when I’m able to play.”
TIP-INS
Trail Blazers: Grant missed time in the second half with a left quad contusion but finished the game. … Gary Payton II, who made his season debut on Monday, was held out with a right ankle sprain. Payton had recovered from offseason core muscle surgery. Justise Winslow missed his fifth straight game with a left ankle sprain. … Nurkic and fellow center Drew Eubanks each fouled out.
Timberwolves: D’Angelo Russell returned after missing Monday’s game due to an illness. … Naz Reid missed his second straight game with back spasms and Bryn Forbes was out with right shoulder soreness. … Minnesota entered the day being outscored by a league-high 122 points in the third quarter.
UP NEXT
Trail Blazers: At Indiana on Friday.
Timberwolves: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
BEY BEATS BUZZER WITH 3, PISTONS BEAT WARRIORS 122-119
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The final play had been drawn for Bojan Bogdanovic, then Saddiq Bey suddenly found the ball in his hands with no time to think, so he just let it fly.
Bey hit a 3-pointer falling backward as time expired after Golden State’s Klay Thompson tied it on a 3 with 2.3 seconds left, sending the Detroit Pistons past the Warriors 122-119 on Wednesday night.
“It was tough, I don’t even remember I kind of blacked out a little bit,” Bey said. “I had one second so I didn’t have that much time to think, so I had to shoot it so I’m just grateful it went in.”
Detroit ended the injury-plagued defending champions’ season-best winning streak at five. Reigning NBA Finals MVP Stephen Curry missed his 10th straight game with a partially dislocated left shoulder and is set to be re-examined Saturday at the two-week mark from his last evaluation.
“I just told the guys how proud I am of them for holding down the fort these last couple weeks,” coach Steve Kerr said.
Bey made another key 3 late and wound up with 17 points, Bogdanovic hit his first five 3-pointers and one with 3:42 left on the way to 29 points to lead six Pistons in double figures.
“Saddiq popped back to get open and had the presence of mind to get it off quick enough,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said.
Thompson secured a defensive rebound with 27 seconds left but Jordan Poole turned the ball over before the Warriors could attempt a shot. Thompson scored on a layup with 40 seconds left to pull Golden State to 117-116 then delivered again – and the Warriors appeared headed to overtime for a second straight game after holding off Atlanta 143-141 in double-OT on Monday night.
“It never feels good,” Thompson said. “I thought we fought very hard tonight.”
Extra basketball might have been welcome with an atypical severe winter rain and windstorm hitting the Bay Area to greet fans afterward.
Thompson missed his first six 3-point tries then hit two big ones down the stretch on the way to 30 points, but the Warriors couldn’t make the key defensive plays late on the perimeter against Detroit’s shooters. Thompson made a go-ahead dunk with 7:33 to play and finally hit his first 3-pointer with 5:15 remaining coming off his season-best 54-point performance against the Hawks.
Draymond Green was ejected with 1:24 to play for his second technical of the game.
Poole added 24 points in his seventh straight 20-point game to go with six assists and five rebounds as the Warriors dropped to 17-3 at home as their six-game winning streak at Chase Center ended.
Jalen Duren added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons, coming off a 135-106 loss at Portland on Monday night.
Undermanned Golden State again demonstrated its amazing depth – Ty Jerome scored 18 points off the bench and Anthony Lamb added 17.
Lamb credited Bey for getting through the Warriors’ switching defense: “He had just enough time to get it off, a turnaround shot, a great shot by him.”
Killian Hayes hit a key 3-pointer with 6:21 left and contributed 13 assists and nine points while returning to Detroit’s starting lineup following a three-game suspension for his actions scuffling against Orlando last week.
TIP-INS
Pistons: F Marvin Bagley III missed the game after breaking a bone in his right hand. … F Isaiah Livers went through some drills Wednesday with the training staff as he rehabs a right shoulder sprain. “He’s coming along well,” Casey said. … The Pistons improved to 6-17 on the road. … Detroit had lost the last two on the Warriors’ home floor and 10 of 12 before prevailing.
Warriors: Durable Kevon Looney, whose tip-in at the buzzer sealed the double-OT victory against Atlanta, played his 150th consecutive regular-season game, second-longest active streak behind Suns forward Mikal Bridges. It’s 172 in a row for Looney including playoffs. … Donte DiVincenzo’s streak of at least one steal ended at 13 games.
UP NEXT
Pistons: Wrap up a five-game trip at San Antonio on Friday night.
Warriors: Host Magic on Saturday night having lost two straight meetings but with wins vs. Orlando in the last nine at home.
HUNTER, COLLINS STAR AS HAWKS BEAT KINGS 120-117
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) De’Andre Hunter and John Collins each scored 22 points and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Sacramento Kings 120-117 on Wednesday night to end a four-game slide.
“Feels great,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan said. “That’s what we have been talking about. We have to close out games and make plays down the stretch.”
Collins also grabbed 12 rebounds as Atlanta bounced back after losing 143-141 in double overtime at Golden State on Monday night. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray each scored 21 points.
“It’s been a long week, dropping four games,” Murray said. “This is the NBA. It’s a long season. You get to redeem yourself. .we are going in the right direction.
The Hawks trailed 117-113 with 1:16 left. But Young converted a layup and a foul shot, and Murray made two free throws and a layup as part of a game-ending 7-0 run for Atlanta.
“We couldn’t get the necessary stops down the stretch,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “They basically just went at what they thought was the mismatch and got layups.”
Sacramento had the ball in the final seconds, but De’Aaron Fox had a floater blocked by Onyeka Okongwu and Domantas Sabonis also missed a jumper.
The Hawks had dropped five of six.
Fox led Sacramento with 25 points. Kevin Huerter made four 3-pointers on his way to 24 points, and Harrison Barnes scored 22. Sabonis had 20 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists.
“We fouled too much late,” Huerter said. “I think just a lot of mental mistakes at the end of the game there. We got a lead and just didn’t lock in.”
The Kings were 25 of 25 at the free-throw line before Sabonis missed a pair in the final minute.
TIP-INS
Hawks: C Clint Capela was ruled out before the game with a right calf strain. … Young and coach Nate McMillan both received technical fouls with 2:54 left in the second quarter.
Kings: Sabonis recorded his 15th consecutive double-double, tying DeMarcus Cousins for the longest double-double streak in franchise history. His 28 double-doubles leads the NBA this season.
UP NEXT
Hawks: At Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Kings: Host Lakers on Saturday night.
*********NHL NEWS*********
VANECEK MAKES 32 SAVES AS DEVILS ROLL PAST RED WINGS 5-1
DETROIT (AP) Vitek Vanecek made 32 saves and blanked Detroit for 58 minutes as the New Jersey Devils downed the Red Wings 5-1 on Wednesday night.
Dougie Hamilton, Nico Hischier, Alexander Holtz and Jack Hughes each had a goal and an assist. Michael McLeod also scored for New Jersey.
The Devils, who are 14-2-1 on the road, won the season series 2-1.
“V’s been outstanding all year,” said Miles Wood, who had two assists. “His game has been so consistent throughout the year. Real unfortunate we let up that goal at the end there because we all knew how bad he wanted that shutout. But he’s been outstanding all year and he’s the backbone of this team.”
Devils coach Lindy Ruff felt the defense was solid, despite Detroit’s shot total.
“He made the saves he needed to make,” Ruff said. “I didn’t think we gave up real high quality. I think we kept most of the stuff to the perimeter but again, he looked comfortable making the saves he needed to make.”
Lucas Raymond scored on a late power play to prevent a shutout. Red Wings goalie Villo Husso stopped 21 shots.
“I thought we had a chance to win the game the way we played 5-on-5, but the wheels fell off in the third,” Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said.
Red Wings forward Robby Fabbri made his season debut. He tore the ACL in his right knee in March.
“I liked Fab’s game,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “He created some offense with his line, he set up Sunny (Oskar Sundqvist) all alone in the slot and our goal came off a turnover he created. We haven’t done much of that this year.”
Just five seconds after Detroit’s Ben Chiarot was sent to the penalty box for tripping, Hamilton broke a scoreless deadlock midway through the second period on a slap shot. Hughes and Hischier were credited with assists.
The second New Jersey goal later in the period was nearly a carbon copy. With Jake Walman in the penalty box for tripping, Hamilton took a shot from the point that Hischier redirected past Husso.
New Jersey ranked 24th on the power play entering the game.
“Our power play stepped up big,” Wood said. “I feel like it’s been a power-play game as of late, in terms of how many times we’ve been on the power play and PK, so it was nice to see that we scored two times there.”
The Devils made it 3-0 two minutes into the third. Husso stopped Wood’s shot on a 2-on-1, but the Detroit goaltender couldn’t recover in time when Holtz pounced on the rebound and passed the puck to McLeod.
Two seconds after the Red Wings killed off another tripping penalty, Holtz flicked a shot from the slot over Husso’s shoulder.
McLeod, playing in his 200th game, and Holtz skated on the fourth line.
“It’s great to chip in and other guys to chip in like that,” McLeod said. “We’re getting it all the time from our top guys and obviously, we want to help them out.”
NOTES: The Red Wings assigned LW Jakub Vrana to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League after he cleared waivers. Vrana played three games for the Griffins on a conditioning loan prior to being waived. He has spent most of the season in the player assistance program, set up by the NHL and NHL Players’ Association. … Hamilton has 24 points in 32 career games against Detroit. … New Jersey is 19-0-1 when leading after two periods.
UP NEXT
Devils: Host the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.
Red Wings: Host the Florida Panthers on Friday.
KAPRIZOV NETS PAIR, WILD STAY HOT IN 5-1 WIN OVER LIGHTNING
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Kirill Kaprizov scored twice and the Minnesota Wild beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-1 on Wednesday night for their ninth victory in 11 games.
Joel Eriksson Ek, Calen Addison and Sam Steel also scored for Minnesota. Filip Gustavsson made 34 saves and improved to 8-1 in his last nine starts, but left the game late in the third period.
Minnesota coach Dean Evason said he didn’t know if Gustavsson exited due to illness or injury, only that the goalie left the ice and vomited violently.
“Obviously, they’re evaluating him,” Evason said.
The Wild have beaten Tampa Bay 10 times in a row at home since Nov. 28, 2011.
Brayden Point scored for the Lightning, who lost for the first time in five games and just the fourth time in 15.
Brian Elliott made 28 saves for Tampa Bay, one night after stopping 25 shots in a 4-1 win at Chicago. Andrei Vasilevskiy sat out with an illness.
This stretch is probably the most confident Minnesota has looked all season.
“We go into games with the expectation of playing our style, which is hard to play against,” forward Matt Boldy said. “I think if you ask the teams that come here that we play against, it’s pretty blatant how we play. It’s hard. It’s skilled. When we’re putting pucks into the net along with it, it’s hard to play with us.”
Kaprizov and Addison scored 2:18 apart in the second period for a 3-0 lead.
Kaprizov redirected a shot from Boldy into the Tampa Bay net during a power play. Then, with Boldy screening Elliott, a rising slap shot from Addison found the back of the net.
His team-best 21st goal also increased Kaprizov’s home point streak to 14 games, tying the franchise record set by Marian Gaborik during the 2007-08 season. Kaprizov added an empty-net goal.
Addison had two assists to become the first rookie defenseman in Wild history with multiple three-point games. His other one was Oct. 17.
“We had a good start to the second period, lot of zone time, lot of good looks, but that power play and they score two minutes later,” Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman said. “It’s tough climbing back down 3-0.”
Point converted a pass from Brandon Hagel for his 12th goal in 13 games to get the Lightning within 3-1, but Steel redirected Jared Spurgeon’s slap shot for a 4-1 lead after two periods.
“Couple of their goals they got some breaks. Obviously that first one, and the fourth one was a tap. Stuff went their way tonight,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper.
Point’s 16 goals since Nov. 25 trail only Alex Ovechkin (18), Connor McDavid (17) and Tage Thompson (17) during that span.
Eriksson Ek got the lone goal of an evenly played first period, when his centering attempt deflected off the skate of Nick Perbix and trickled across the line.
“All lines are rolling. We have four lines that are contributing and six D, two goalies, and everybody who’s in the lineup is always bringing something. So, yeah, it’s a good thing to have going right now,” Spurgeon said.
POWER PLAY RARITY
The power-play goal by Kaprizov marked the second straight game the Lightning have yielded one after allowing just one in 27 chances over their previous 11 games.
Minnesota’s Mats Zuccarello also nearly scored with the man advantage, but his shot hit the post and crossbar.
UP NEXT
Lightning: Finish a three-game road trip Friday at Winnipeg.
Wild: Play at Buffalo on Saturday.
GIBSON STOPS 35 SHOTS, DUCKS BLANK STARS 2-0
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) John Gibson stopped 35 shots for his 24th career shutout, Mason McTavish had a goal and an assist, and the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Dallas Stars 2-0 on Wednesday night.
It was Gibson’s first shutout since Nov. 2, 2021, against New Jersey, and his second in 14 career games against the Stars.
“We played a good team game. Everybody was blocking shots, getting the puck out and getting it deep. We stuck to our game plan,” said Gibson, who tied Guy Hebert for second in franchise history with 173 wins.
It was the 12th time this season Gibson made at least 35 saves, five more than any other NHL goaltender. He is third in the league with 827 saves.
The shutout appeared to be in peril after Troy Terry was called for tripping with 1:55 remaining, but the Ducks were able to kill off the power play with five blocked shots and two saves by Gibson.
“It’s great for Gibby. He has seen a lot of rubber this year and it was great for our team that we can get it locked down at the end,” Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins said. “I don’t know how many blocked shots we had, but it seemed like we were diving in front of everything that we could in the third period.”
Adam Henrique also scored for the Ducks, who scored both their goals in the first period.
Scott Wedgewood made 25 saves for the Central Division-leading Stars, who have dropped two straight after a four-game winning streak. They are 1-2 in the second game of back-to-backs.
“You get in a hole like that, and when the goalie at the other end is hot like he was tonight, that’s a bad formula for us. I think that came back to bite us,” Dallas coach Peter DeBoer said. “When you’ve got a goalie that’s hot like that, you’ve got to get in his eyes, you’ve got to make it tough on him, you’ve got to take pucks to the crease. We should’ve done a better job of that.”
Henrique scored his 12th goal of the season and third in the past four games when his shot from just outside the left faceoff circle deflected off the stick of Dallas defenseman Jani Hakanpaa and past Wedgewood’s glove at 3:11 of the first.
McTavish extended the lead eight minutes later on a one-timer while the Ducks were on a power play. The 19-year-old center took a cross-ice pass from Trevor Zegras and buried it. McTavish has 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists), which is tied for second among NHL rookies.
“It was a nice pass from Zegras,” McTavish said. “We had some good looks on the power play, we were in the zone for a while there, so it was nice to see that one go.”
RARE PENALTY
Zegras learned an important rule late in the second period, when he was called for an illegal stick penalty.
Zegras earned the two-minute minor after he took the stick of Dallas forward Joel Kiviranta and tried to play with it after Zegras broke his own.
“I honestly thought I was the smartest guy on the ice, if we’re gonna be completely honest,” Zegras said. “Everyone knew it was a penalty but me, I guess.”
OUCH!
Roope Hintz took a puck off the right leg during the second period but was able to return.
UP NEXT
Stars: Return home to host the Florida Panthers on Sunday.
Ducks: Host the San Jose Sharks on Friday.
*********MLB NEWS*********
AP SOURCE: RED SOX, DEVERS AGREE TO 11-YEAR, $331M DEAL
BOSTON (AP) Rafael Devers has agreed to an 11-year contract worth $331 million to stay with the Boston Red Sox, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the deal.
Locking up Devers, a two-time All-Star third baseman, was an important move for the Red Sox and their uneasy fans after All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts, slugger J.D. Martinez and pitcher Nathan Eovaldi departed in free agency.
The 26-year-old Devers reached the new deal a day after he and the team agreed to a one-year, $17.5 million contract to avoid arbitration in his final season under club control.
Devers’ 11-year deal is the longest commitment this offseason by the Red Sox and Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom, supplanting the five-year, $90 million contract signed by Japanese star Masataka Yoshida.
Devers was the AL’s starting All-Star third baseman each of the past two years. In 141 games last season, he batted .295 with 42 doubles, 27 home runs and 88 RBIs.
The Red Sox are trying to bounce back from a 2022 season in which they finished 78-84, last in the ultra-competitive AL East. A year earlier, they won 92 games and reached the ALCS.
*********MEN’S SOCCER NEWS********
HUDSON INTERIM US MEN’S SOCCER COACH DURING BERHALTER PROBE
NEW YORK (AP) Anthony Hudson will coach the United States men’s soccer team rather than Gregg Berhalter ahead of the first two matches of the cycle leading to the 2026 World Cup.
The U.S. Soccer Federation announced Tuesday it was investigating Berhalter for a 1991 domestic violence incident involving the woman who became his wife.
Hudson will lead the team ahead of exhibitions against Serbia on Jan. 25 at Los Angeles and Colombia three days later at Carson, California, USSF sporting director Earnie Stewart said Wednesday.
Hudson, 41, was hired as coach of the U.S. under-20 team in January 2020, and a year later became an assistant coach to Berhalter.
The USSF said its assessment of the 2018-22 cycle and the investigation of Berhalter are ongoing. The federation said Tuesday it learned of the allegation against Berhalter on Dec. 11 and hired the law firm Alston & Bird to investigate.
“Through this process, U.S. Soccer has learned about potential inappropriate behavior towards multiple members of our staff by individuals outside of our organization,” the USSF said.
Berhalter said Tuesday a person contacted the USSF “saying that they had information about me that would `take me down.” He also said in his statement that his 1991 behavior “shameful” and that he was “looking forward to continuing my conversations with U.S. Soccer about the future.”
Hudson’s staff will include U.S. assistant coach B.J. Callaghan and current U.S. under-20 coach Mikey Varas. Luchi Gonzalez, the other American assistant coach, agreed last summer to become coach of MLS’s San Jose Earthquakes following the World Cup.
Hudson also has coached fifth-tier Newport in England in 2011, Bahrain’s national team in 2013 and 2014, New Zealand’s national team from 2014-17 and Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids from 2017-19.
*******TOP INDIANA RELEASES********
COLTS NEWS: JIM IRSAY, COLTS DONATE $25,003 TO DAMAR HAMLIN’S CHASING M’S FOUNDATION GOFUNDME
Colts Owner and CEO Jim Irsay and the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday donated $25,003 to Damar Hamlin’s GoFundMe supporting his Chasing M’s Foundation.
The three in the donation is for Hamlin’s number.
Hamlin, the 24-year-old Bills safety, suffered a cardiac arrest during Buffalo’s Monday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin remains in critical condition in the ICU at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
The fundraiser resurfaced on Monday night and has raised over $6.5 million, as people from around the globe not only learned of Hamlin’s condition, but of his story and the kind of person he is. Colts rookie safety Rodney Thomas II is extremely close with Hamlin – they were high school teammates and talk to each other every day.
And Thomas, who this week visited Hamlin and his family at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, said he can’t wait for Hamlin’s reaction to the outpouring of support on his behalf.
“You see what’s going on, everybody’s behind him,” Thomas said. “And when he walks out of there and he sees the support he has, it’s going to be a real special day.”
COLTS PLACE CB KENNY MOORE ON INJURED RESERVE, SIGN DE RASHOD BERRY FROM JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS’ PRACTICE SQUAD
Indianapolis – The Indianapolis Colts today signed defensive end Rashod Berry off of the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad and placed cornerback Kenny Moore II on the Injured Reserve list.
Berry, 6-4, 255 pounds, has played in eight career games in his time with the Jaguars (2022), Detroit Lions (2021) and New England Patriots (2020). He has compiled four tackles (three solo). Berry was originally signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2020.
Moore II, 5-9, 190 pounds, has played in 87 career games (74 starts) in six seasons (2017-22) with Indianapolis and has compiled 415 tackles (339 solo), 23.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, 49 passes defensed, 14 interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and eight special teams stops. In 2021, he was named to his first career Pro Bowl. Moore II was originally claimed by the Colts off waivers from the Patriots on September 3, 2017.
COLTS GREATS DWIGHT FREENEY, REGGIE WAYNE SELECTED AS FINALISTS FOR PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023
For the fourth consecutive year, Reggie Wayne is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame – and he’ll be considered for a gold jacket alongside former teammate Dwight Freeney.
Wayne and Freeney are among the 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Modern Era Class of 2023, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced Wednesday night. The 49-person Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee will meet in the coming weeks to determine the 2023 Modern Era inductees, with the process whittling the group of 15 finalists down to 10 and then five. Once those final five finalists are chosen, the selection committee will vote yes or no on each player, with 80 percent of the vote needed to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Modern Era Class of 2023 will be unveiled during the NFL Honors award show at 9 p.m. ET on Feb. 9.
While this is Wayne’s fourth year as a finalist, it’s Freeney’s first – and it comes in his first year of eligibility.
Wide receiver Andre Johnson, who played for the Colts in 2015, was also selected as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
Freeney and Wayne will look to join five other Hall of Famers from their era of Colts football: General manager Bill Polian (inducted 2015), head coach Tony Dungy (inducted 2016), wide receiver Marvin Harrison (inducted 2016), running back Edgerrin James (inducted 2020) and quarterback Peyton Manning (inducted 2021).
Freeney, who starred for the Colts from 2002-2012, finished his career with 125 1/2 sacks, 26th all-time, and was a three-time first-team AP All-Pro (2004, 2005, 2009) and seven-time Pro Bowler (2003-2005, 2008-2011. Using his signature spin move, Freeney was a nightmare for opposing offensive linemen and quarterbacks.
He had double-digit sacks in seven seasons and forced four or more fumbles in eight seasons; he led the NFL with nine forced fumbles and 20 tackles for a loss as a rookie and led the NFL with 16 sacks in 2004. And Freeney’s 11 postseason sacks are tied for ninth all-time.
Freeney, too, was named to prestigious NFL All-Decade team for the 2000s.
Wayne, over his 14-year career, established himself among the most prolific wide receivers in NFL history. His 1,070 receptions and 14,345 receiving yards both rank 10th all-time; he’s one of only 10 players to have at least 1,000 receptions and 14,000 receiving yards in a career.
But for as productive as Wayne was in the regular season, he was dominant in the postseason. Wayne is one of five players in NFL history to have more than 1,200 receiving yards and at least nine touchdowns in the playoffs, and his 93 postseason receptions rank fifth all-time.
Against the Denver Broncos in the wild card round of the 2004 NFL Playoffs, Wayne amassed 221 receiving yards, fourth-most for a single game in postseason history. And Wayne’s 53-yard touchdown in Super Bowl XLI sparked the Colts’ 29-17 win over the Chicago Bears, which brought a Lombardi Trophy to Indianapolis.
Wayne was previously chosen as a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist in 2020-2022.
And in February, we’ll find out if the selection committee will honor Freeney and Wayne’s Hall of Fame-worthy careers with a gold jacket and permanent place in Canton.
INDIANA PACERS BASKETBALL: GAME REWIND: PACERS 126, 76ERS 129 (OT)
Two of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference entered Wells Fargo Center, but only one could continue streaking – and it took all 48 minutes and more to determine which one.
Unfortunately for the Indiana Pacers, it was their four-game winning stretch that came to an end, as they fell to the Philadelphia 76ers — winners of 11 straight home games — 129-126 in overtime on Wednesday.
The Pacers (21-18) overcame a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter, and led 120-116 with 57 seconds left, but two baskets by the 76ers (22-15) in the final 37 seconds tied the game at 120 to force overtime.
Indiana had a chance to take the lead in overtime, down 127-126 with 10 seconds left, but former NBA MVP James Harden came up with a key block before Tobias Harris hit a pair of free throws with four seconds left to put Philadelphia up by three. At the buzzer, a game-tying heave by Buddy Hield missed.
The win was the third straight for the 76ers and their 11th overall in their last 13 games. Despite the loss, the Pacers have won six of their last eight games.
“We never should’ve been in overtime, we know that,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “There were a couple of errors that we made that we will learn from. It’s a tough loss, but I’m really proud of the effort and the way guys hung in because it was not going particularly well, particularly defensively. Everyone just kept playing, giving ourselves a chance.”
Fourteen players – seven on each team – scored in double figures.
Harden led all scorers with 26 points to go along with eight assists and six rebounds while Tobias Harris, Montrezl Harrell and De’Anthony Melton each finished with 19 points.
Hield topped the Pacers with 24 points – on six made 3-pointers – followed by rookie Bennedict Mathurin (19) and Jalen Smith (17). Point guard Tyrese Haliburton achieved a double-double with 16 points and 12 assists for the Blue & Gold.
The 76ers achieved the victory despite missing one of the best players in the league.
76ers center Joel Embiid – who ranks second in the NBA in scoring by averaging 33.5 points per game – was a late scratch against the Pacers due to left foot soreness. Embiid scored 42 points in 36 minutes against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday.
The lead changed just once in the opening quarter, with the visitors maintaining the edge.
In the first quarter, rookie Andrew Nembhard and Smith each scored seven points as the Pacers took an early 28-27 lead. The teams were tied at 21 before Smith scored the final seven points for the Blue & Gold.
A 7-1 scoring streak by the 76ers, on a 3-pointer by Georges Niang and and-one from Harden, put the 76ers up 39-33 with 8:48 left in the first half.
The Pacers used a 10-2 run, behind a 3-pointer by Aaron Nesmith, two buckets by Myles Turner and an and-one from Nembhard, to tie the game at 56 with 2:06 before Harden was fouled from beyond the arc and made three all attempts with 26 seconds left.
With three seconds remaining, a Tobias Harris dunk put the 76ers back up by five points going into halftime.
In the third quarter, the 76ers shot the ball well making 12 of 21 attempts, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range.
A 10-5 run then extended the 76ers lead to double digits, at 76-66, with 8:44 left in the third quarter.
Despite a nine-point quarter by Hield, the Pacers weren’t able to get closer than six points before the start of the fourth quarter. In the final 90 seconds of the third quarter, the 76ers scored three unanswered buckets to go up 97-84.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Pacers used a 17-6 run to take the lead at 120-116 with 57.7 seconds left.
The Pacers were able chip away at the deficit at the free throw line, with Mathurin making four straight, before a basket by Nembhard and a 3-pointer from Hield cut it to 112-108 with 4:40 left in the game.
After the Pacers went up four, a dunk by Tyrese Maxey and a putback basket by Harris with 6.7 seconds left tied the game to force the extra minutes.
In the extra period, the 76ers used a 3-pointer by Melton and bucket by Harrell to go up 127-124 with 1:34 on the clock. The 76ers then got a key stop and sank two free throws to hold on for the win.
The Pacers were 2 of 7 shooting while the 76ers made 3 of 11 shots in extra minutes.
Overall, the Pacers made 45 of 95 field goal attempts, including 13-for-36 from 3-point range, while making 23 of 26 free throws. The 76ers shot 48-for-98 in the game and 13-for-36 from three and made 19 of 22 from the charity stripe.
Both teams scored 62 points in the paint and the 76ers won the rebounding margin 46-45. The Pacers outscored the 76ers 32-18 in fast break points.
The Pacers return home Friday to take on Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers before hosting the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. Indiana will host Philadelphia twice in March to conclude the season series.
“We’ve been good in clutch games as of late. We weren’t able to pull this one out (and) it’s frustrating because you feel like you leave this one on the table,” Haliburton said. ”But we play again in a couple days against Portland. (We) just need to be ready.”
Inside the Numbers
The Pacers set a single-game season high in fast break points with 32. The previous high was 29 versus Atlanta on Dec. 27.
Indiana’s bench outscored Philadelphia’s reserves 49-48.
Haliburton has 20 double-doubles this season and continues to lead the league in assists, averaging 10.2 per game.
Hield has made five or more 3-pointers 15 times this season. He leads the NBA with 152 3-pointers made.
Hield has led the team in scoring 10 times this season.
Mathurin has attempted at least 10 free throws in three straight games, and nine times overall this season.
The Pacers are now 9-2 when leading after the first quarter.
Indiana is 1-3 when seven or more players score in double figures.
The Pacers held Harden to 10 points in the second half and overtime after he scored 16 in the first half.
You Can Quote Me On That
“We got enough stops and Benn got going for us in the fourth. We got stops and played in transition and that got us back in the game.” – Haliburton on the late comeback
“We just need to get stronger from this. Growth in life and in the NBA seldom happens without some real adversity, and some real trauma, and so we’ve got to learn from some of the things that happened and build on some of the good things we did, especially down the stretch.” – Carlisle on the loss
“I thought Myles played a great game. He doesn’t have super gaudy numbers, but his defense, his blocked shots, his presence at the rim, his rolls all night created problems. He was terrific.” – Carlisle on Turner’s performance against the 76ers
“We need to do a better job of closing. It’s on us – everybody. It’s not Ty, Drew or Benn, it’s on everybody.” – Hield on not closing out the game in the fourth quarter
Stat of the Night
Hield now has seven straight games with four or more 3-pointers made. That matches the longest streak of his career, and only four players have ever had a streak longer than seven games. The longest streak is 13, which is held by Stephen Curry and Harden.
Noteworthy
Philadelphia has won four straight against Indiana.
Indiana is now 0-1 in overtime games this season.
Up Next
The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, Jan. 6 at 7:00 PM ET.
INDY CLAIMS OVERTIME WIN IN IOWA
INDIANAPOLIS– The Fuel headed to Iowa for the first time this season after beating them both times the Heartlanders visited Indy. Despite giving up the first goal quickly in the first period, the Fuel won the first of four games in a row against Iowa, 3-2 less than two minutes into overtime after the Heartlanders tied it up late in regulation.
Tyler Busch got the Heartlanders on the board just two minutes into the game after the Fuel’s newest member Carson Rose drew a slashing penalty on former Fuel forward Griff Jeszka. Indy answered back quickly with a goal by Bryan Lemos less than two minutes later. Alex Wideman gave Indy the lead less than two minutes after that by redirecting a Matt Watson slap shot in.
That is how the score remained until the end of the first period where the Fuel led the Heartlanders in shots 16-4.
Iowa was able to get a few more chances in the second period but both teams seemed to settle down defensively and there were no scores or penalties in the second frame. Iowa was, however, able to catch up in shots. By the end of the second period, Indy was outshooting the Heartlanders 20-19.
The third period began as an extension of the second period with no goals and just two penalties in the first seventeen minutes. With 2:33 to go in the third period, it appeared Iowa scored. The horn sounded and the light lit up but the referees called it no goal. It was then reviewed and overturned meaning it was in fact a game-tying goal for Jake Durflinger of Iowa.
Time ticked down on the third period and for the third time this season, the Fuel headed to overtime. This time against the Heartlanders. It took less than two minutes and just one shot by Indy to score and win the game 3-2 in overtime. Andrew Perrott scored his second goal of the season in a crucial spot to get the first win in this week’s series with the Heartlanders.
These two teams match up again on Friday night in Iowa where Indy will look to remain in first place in the division and continue their win streak against Iowa.
INDY FUEL PIT STOP: WEEK 11
INDY FUEL WEEK 11 RESULTS: 2-0-0-0,
INDY FUEL OVERALL RECORD: 20-8-1-0 Overall (1st Central)
GAME 28 – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30 VS CINCINNATI – 9-6 W
The Fuel hosted the Cincinnati Cyclones for Scooby-Doo Night in front of a sold out crowd of 6,551 fans, the most in the Fuel’s history. Cincinnati got off to a quick start but it was ultimately the Fuel who took the game 9-6, matching their franchise high in goals scored in one game among setting or tying quite a few other records.
GAME 29 – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31 AT FORT WAYNE – 4-3 W
The Fuel played their last game of the calendar year in Fort Wayne, defeating them 4-3 in a close back-and-forth match to go ahead in the season series after the two Indiana teams had split their games prior to this match.
ROSTER MOVES
- Forward Kale Howarth was reassigned to Indy on 12/29
- Goaltender Cam Gray signed to Indy on 12/30
- Forward Chad Yetman was recalled to Belleville (AHL) on 1/3
- Forward Karl El-Mir was picked up on waivers by Indy on 1/3
- Forward Carson Rose signed with Indy on 1/3
OIL DROPS
- Chad Yetman has a six-game goal streak which is the longest current goal streak in the ECHL.
- Yetman is also on an 11-game point streak which is quickly approaching the Fuel’s franchise record.
- Spencer Watson leads the team in shots with 89 on the season which is over 10% of the total shots by the Fuel.
- Cameron Hillis is currently on a six-game assist streak which is tied for longest in the league with two other players.
- Alex Wideman is one of three players who have played in every game for the Fuel so far this season, and currently leads the team in points with 33 in 29 games.
- Wideman also leads the team in assists with 22 and power play assists with 8.
TEAM NOTES
- The Fuel’s power play has improved significantly to a 21.6% success rate which ranks eleventh in the league.
- Indy’s penalty kill is ranked sixteenth in the league, but they do lead the league in shorthanded goals still with nine.
- The second period is typically where the Fuel shoot the most but also when they allow the most shots. They have 324 shots for and 321 shots against in the second period.
- Indy is second in the league in goals for with 114. The only team they trail is Idaho who has 128 goals for in the same amount of games.
- The Fuel are currently on a five-game road win streak which is tied for second longest in the league.
- With 6,551 fans in attendance last week when the Fuel played Cincinnati, the fans reached a Fuel franchise record in attendance.
INDY FUEL WEEK 12 SCHEDULE
- GAME 31 – FRIDAY, JANUARY 6 AT IOWA – 8:05 P.M. ET
- GAME 32 – SATURDAY, JANUARY 7 AT IOWA – 8:05 P.M. ET
INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL: GAME NOTES – GAME 14 AT IOWA
Opening Tip
• Indiana University continues its 123rd season of competition in men’s basketball and returns to conference play on the road against Iowa at 9 p.m. ET on Jan. 5 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game will be broadcast on FS1.
• The Hawkeyes, led by 13th-year head coach Fran McCaffery, enter the game with an 8-6 record and an 0-3 mark in B1G play. Iowa has lost three-straight games.
Game Information
Jan. 5, 2023 • 9 p.m. ET
Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500) • Iowa City, Iowa
TV: FS1 (Jason Benetti, Bill Raftery)
Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)
Series History: Indiana leads, 106-80
Last Meeting: IOWA 80, IU 77 on March 12, 2022 in Indianapolis
Series History
• Indiana leads the all-time series against Iowa by a tally of 106-80. The Hoosiers hold a 6-4 advantage over the Hawkeyes in the last 10 meetings dating back to the 2017 Big Ten Tournament.
• Iowa swept the two-game series last season, including an 80-77 victory in the 2022 Big Ten Tournament semifinal game on March 12. Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis tallied a 31-point, 10-rebound double-double in the loss.
Last Time Out
• Indiana toppled Kennesaw State in the final non-conference game of the regular season by a score of 69-55 on Dec. 23 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
• Sophomore guard Tamar Bates paced the Hoosiers with 19 points off the bench, while freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino scored a season-best 18 points to go along with seven assists.
• IU finished the non-conference schedule with a 9-2 record.
Off to the Races
• Sixth-year senior forward Race Thompson has scored 12.3 points and grabbed 9.5 rebounds per contest over Indiana’s last four games. He has shot 50.0% (20-of-40) from the field and 45.5% (5-of-11) from 3-point range during that stretch.
• In the three games Indiana has played without senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, Thompson has averaged 14.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks. The Plymouth, Minn., native has knocked down 18-of-28 (64.3%) from the floor in the three games.
Sharing the Rock
• Indiana ranks as the top Big Ten Conference team in assists, averaging 17.3 helpers per game. IU has been over 15 assists as a team in nine games this season. Four times the Hoosiers have topped 20 assists.
• Fifth-year senior guard Xavier Johnson (fourth) and freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino (sixth) both rank inside the top-10 in the B1G in assists per game.
• Indiana is 32nd in the NCAA with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.39.
Galloway in the Starting Rotation
• Junior guard Trey Galloway has started 15 games in his collegiate career. In those contests, the Hoosiers hold a record of 7-8, including a mark of 3-2 this season.
• Galloway averages 5.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists as a starter.
Scoop, There it is
• Sophomore guard Tamar Bates, nicknamed “Scoop”, is the first Hoosier off the bench and leads all second-unit players in minutes played this season (286), points per game (9.2), and total assists (20).
• Bates recorded career bests in points (22), made field goals (8), and assists (4) in the win over Jackson State on Nov. 25.
• The IMG Academy product scored 32 points off the bench on 6-of-11 (54.5%) shooting from the 3-point line against Nebraska (Dec. 7) and Arizona (Dec. 10).
• Bates became a father to his daughter, Leilani, on March 20, 2022, two days after his freshman season concluded.
Other Notables
• Senior Trayce Jackson-Davis blocked a career-high nine shots at Kansas on Dec. 17. The game marked his sixth with at least five blocks.
• His nine blocks were the second most by a Hoosier in a single game in program history, trailing only Steve Downing (10) against Michigan on Feb. 23, 1971.
• Jackson-Davis is one of 16 Big Ten players to have at least nine blocks in a game in the last 25 seasons. Nate Reuvers (Nov. 8, 2019) of Wisconsin was the last B1G player to have at least nine blocks in a game.
• Sixth-year senior forward Race Thompson had 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting with 11 rebounds and tied a career-high four blocks against Elon on Dec. 20.
• Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino had 17 points along with seven assists, two rebounds, and two steals against Elon.
• Freshman guard CJ Gunn scored a career-high 11 points, on 5-of-10 shooting as well as three rebounds, three assists, and two steals versus Elon.
• Sophomore center Logan Duncomb tallied 10 points, five rebounds, and two assists. His 10 points were a career-high against the Phoenix.
• Sophomore guard Tamar Bates led Indiana in scoring against Kennesaw State on Dec. 23 with 19 points.
• Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino had a career-high 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting against the Owls on Dec. 23.
• Hood-Schifino has scored in double figures in his last four games and has reached that mark in six of his last seven.
• Sixth-year senior forward Race Thompson ripped down 14 rebounds to tie his career-high (Feb. 12, 2022 at Michigan State) in the win over KSU on Dec. 23.
• Indiana charted seven-straight games from Nov. 18-Dec. 7 with at least five blocks. IU currently averages 5.9 blocks per game.
• Fifth-year senior forward Miller Kopp converted three-straight double-figure scoring outputs for this first time in his Indiana career with 21 points at Rutgers on Dec. 3, 13 points against Nebraska on Dec. 7, and 14 points against Arizona on Dec. 10.
• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis has swatted at least two shots in 28 of his last 45 games played.
• The Hoosier bench has outscored opponents 362-166.
• Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino improved his scoring output from 8.7 points per game in the month of November to 15.3 in December. He also improved his shooting numbers from 37.5% (24-of-64) in November to 48.4% (15-of-31) in December. Sophomore guard Tamar Bates also saw an uptick both his scoring from November to December, going from 7.7 points per game to 11.0.
• The Hoosiers have been ranked in each of the first 10 (including preseason) Associated Press Top-25 Polls, the longest streak to open a season for IU since the 2016-17 season.
JACKSON-DAVIS NAMED TO JOHN R. WOODEN MIDSEASON TOP 25 WATCH LIST
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis was among a group of 25 student-athletes selected to the John R. Wooden Award® presented by Wendy’s® Midseason Top 25 Watch List today on ESPN2.
Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the 2022-23 season thus far, the list comprises of 25 student-athletes who are front-runners for the sport’s most prestigious honor.
Jackson-Davis paces the Hoosiers with 16.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game this season. He is shooting 63.4% (64-of-101) from the floor. He is one of two players nationally to average at least 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game on at least 60.0% shooting from the floor.
The Center Grove product ranks eighth all-time at IU in scoring (1,752), sixth in rebounds (879), and third in blocked shots (205). Jackson-Davis is the only active player in the country to tally at least 1,700 career points, 800 career rebounds, and 200 career blocks. In the last 25 seasons, only five players have achieved those numbers on a higher career scoring average.
He was named a third-team All-American as a sophomore, has earned all-district honors each of the last two seasons, and has been a third-team, first-team and second-team All-Big Ten choice in his first three campaigns with the Hoosiers.
Jackson-Davis is tied for 10th in the NCAA with 36 career double-doubles. He posted Indiana’s third ever triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in an 81-65 victory over Nebraska on Dec. 7, 2022. He has blocked at least two shots in 28 of his last 45 games played.
JOHN R. WOODEN AWARD MIDSEASON TOP 25
Armando Bacot, North Carolina
Marcus Carr, Texas
Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy
Kendric Davis, Memphis
Gradey Dick, Kansas
Hunter Dickinson, Michigan
Zach Edey, Purdue
Kyle Filipowski, Duke
Keyonte George, Baylor
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
Jaime Jaquez Jr., UCLA
Caleb Love, North Carolina
Mike Miles Jr., TCU
Brandon Miller, Alabama
Kris Murray, Iowa
Adama Sanogo, Connecticut
Marcus Sasser, Houston
Terquavion Smith, N.C. State
Drew Timme, Gonzaga
Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
Azuolas Tubelis, Arizona
Jordan Walker, UAB
Jalen Wilson, Kansas
Isaiah Wong, Miami (Fla.)
INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: HOLMES ON WOODEN AWARD MIDSEASON TOP 25 WATCH LIST
LOS ANGELES – Senior forward Mackenzie Holmes is one of 25 players named to the John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy’s midseason Top 25 Watch List, announced on Wednesday.
Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the 2022-23 season thus far, the list comprises of 25 student-athletes who are front-runners for the sport’s most prestigious honor.
Holmes currently leads Indiana with 20.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 68.2 percent from the floor and 1.8 blocks per game this season. She is second in the nation in field goal percentage this season and is second in the Big Ten and 15th in the country in points per game. The Gorham, Maine native has recorded a team-high five double-doubles in her senior campaign, while scoring in double figures in all 14. She set a new career-high with 32 points at Michigan State and has scored 20-points or more eight times and has led the team in scoring in 11 of 14 contests. Holmes also ranked 12th in the nation in total points (293) and 25th in total blocks (25).
Her performances have garnered her two Big Ten Player of the Week honors this season along with a slew of preseason accolades including preseason All-Big Ten, Wooden Award preseason top 50, Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy women’s watch list and Lisa Leslie Award preseason watch list for nation’s top center.
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2023 John R. Wooden Award Women’s Player of the Year presented by Wendy’s. Players not chosen to the preseason or midseason list are still eligible for the Wooden Award™ National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games. The Wooden Award All-American Team™ will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2023 John. R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy’s following the NCAA Tournament in April.
Indiana returns to the court on Sunday, Jan. 8 at Northwestern.
INDIANA WRESTLING: TO OPEN BIG TEN SCHEDULE WITH TWO RANKED OPPONENTS
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––––– Indiana Wrestling will face its toughest tests of the year this weekend when it opens the Big Ten schedule with a doubleheader of No. 7 Ohio State and No. 22 Maryland.
The Ohio State dual will be at home for Indiana, with the match on Friday Jan. 6, starting at 7 p.m. in Wilkinson Hall. The Maryland match will be on the road, as the Hoosiers take on the Terrapins on Monday, Jan. 9 at 6:30 p.m. in College Park.
JUMPING INTO THE BIG TEN:
-The non-conference tournament season has wrapped up and it’s now time for Big Ten duals.
-Currently, there are 11 Big Ten programs who are ranked in the top 25.
-Indiana will open the Big Ten schedule with a home match vs. No. 7 Ohio State on Friday and a road dual at No. 22 Maryland on Monday.
-The rest of Indiana’s regular season includes six other Big Ten matches and a road dual at Chattanooga prior to the postseason.
OHIO STATE AND MARYLAND PREVIEW:
-There are no easy matches in the Big Ten and Indiana will have two tough ones to start with Ohio State and Maryland.
-No. 7-ranked Ohio State enters the dual with a 6-1 record. The Buckeyes have wins over North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Columbia and others. This will be their first competition since Dec. 20, when they beat Lehigh in the Collegiate Duals in New Orleans.
-Of the team’s probables, seven wrestlers are ranked, highlighted by No. 4 Sammy Sasso and No. 5 Kaleb Romero who were both All-Americans at the 2022 NCAA Championships.
-Assuming there are no lineup changes, there could be six different matchups between IU and Ohio State that feature ranked wrestlers facing one another.
-Like Indiana, Maryland is experiencing its best season in years. Coach Alex Clemsen has the team off to a 5-0 start and most recently earned an 8th place finish at the Southern Scuffle.
-Their No. 22 ranking is the team’s first national ranking since 2013.
-Maryland’s best win came on Nov. 18 when they knocked out No. 16 Pitt on the road, 18-16.
-Maryland has five grapplers ranked in the most recent polls.
-The dual vs. Indiana will be the Terrapins’ first Big Ten match of the year.
GILCHER ON THE RISE:
-Indiana junior Derek Gilcher vaulted into the rankings for the first time in his collegiate career this week at No. 17 on Flo and No. 20 on InterMat.
-The standout at 157 lbs. has been reaching new heights over the last few weeks, earning third place finishes at the Tournament of Champions in Reno, Nev. and at Midlands this past week.
-At Midlands, Gilcher went 7-1 between the two days of competition. He won his first three matches before losing to Wisconsin’s Garrett Model.
-After that Gilcher won four straight matches in Wrestlebacks to earn his third place title.
-The junior has an 18-5 record on the season.
RECAPPING MIDLANDS:
-It was a solid weekend for Indiana at the 58th Annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships where the team took 15th place, scoring 34 points.
-The Hoosiers had two wrestlers place in Derek Gilcher and Jacob Moran. Gilcher finished third and Moran got eighth.
-Nick Willham and Graham Rooks also picked up three victories in the tournament but fell slightly short of placing.
LINEUP STRENGTH:
-The Indiana lineup has showcased its improved strength from last year.
-In the 40 bouts from duals this year, Indiana’s grapplers have a combined 26-14 record in those matches.
-Jacob Moran, Henry Porter, Cayden Rooks, Graham Rooks and DJ Washington are all 4-0 in duals thus far.
RANKINGS UPDATE:
-Indiana continues to have a strong presence in the national rankings with six Hoosiers currently in the polls.
-Henry Porter (133), Cayden Rooks (141), Graham Rooks (149), Derek Gilcher (157), DJ Washington (174) and Jacob Bullock (285) are all ranked.
-Gilcher and Washington own the highest spots of Indiana’s grapplers, with Gilcher at No. 17 and Washington at No. 18 for their respective weight classes.
-Indiana is still the first team out in the NWCA’s weekly ranking, effectively making it the No. 26-ranked team in the country.
STARTING STRONG:
-IU Wrestling is off to its best start to a season in the Angel Escobedo era.
-The 4-0 Hoosiers match the team’s best start since the 2015-16 season, as well.
-The four dual match victories already surpass last year’s win total of three.
INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER: WELCOMES 2023 SPRING ADDITIONS
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana women’s soccer welcomes seven new additions this Spring, head coach Erwin van Bennekom announced. The Hoosiers will add five freshmen and two transfers in Dani Jacobson and Lauren Costello to the spring roster.
We are very excited to welcome and start integrating this talented group of student athletes to our returning team,” van Bennekom said. They will bring quality, athleticism, and depth to all of our lines.
Dani Jacobson | Goalkeeper | Parker, Colo. | Colorado Rush GA | North Texas
Jacobson, a transfer from North Texas, was named the starting goalkeeper as a freshman and earned Goalkeeper of the week for C-USA during the first week of season. She made the C-USA All-Freshman team for fall 2022 season. The Parker, Colorado native played over 1700 minutes and saw action in 19 of 20 games. Jacobson graduated from Legend High School and played club soccer for the Colorado Rush.
Lauren Costello | Defender | Mechanicsburg, Penn. | Keystone FC | La Salle
Costello, a transfer from La Salle, was selected to the A-10 All-Freshman Team. She started in all but one game last season and recorded two goals and two assists as a center back. In her collegiate career, Costello has netted two goals and four assists and totaled over 3,000 minutes on the pitch. The Mechanicsburg, Penn., native contributed to eight shutouts in her career. In high school, Costello was a two-time team captain for Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School and helped lead her team to the Mid Penn All-Conference final the last two seasons and was named Mid Penn All-Area as a senior. Costello was also named to the Pennlive Girls and Cumberlink All-Star Soccer Teams as a senior. She tallied 16 goals and 14 assists over a four-year career earning All-Sentinel Honorable Mention as a junior and helped her team to a PIAA District III AAA Champions in 2020 and were the Mid Penn Conference Keystone Division Champions from 2017-19.
Krista Murphy | Defender | Dedham, Mass. | South Shore Select
Murphy was a member of the South Shore Select soccer club team. She helped lead the team to the Girls Academy Northeast Conference Title in 2021. The Dedham, Massachusetts native was also a three-time NPL National Champion and a US National Futsal Regional Champion.
Mary Kate Sullivan | Forward | Cromwell, Conn. | Oakwood Soccer Club
Sullivan played for the Oakwood Soccer Club where she was a Team Captain in her final two years. She helped lead her team to three Northeast Conference Championships. Sullivan was also a National Semi-Finalist in 2021 and Champion League Finalists and National Champions in the 2022 season.
Emma Payton | Goalkeeper | Austin, Texas | Sting Austin ECNL
Payton was a member of the Westlake High School team. She was named Second Team All-District. The Austin, Texas native made five playoff shutouts in a row and was a a semi-state 6A finalist in 2022.
Elle Britt | Midfielder | Cincinnati, Ohio | Cincinnati United Premier Girls Academy
Britt played club soccer for the Cincinnati United Premier Girls Academy. She was selected to the Girls Academy Mid-America National Talent ID and was a semi-finalist in the Girls Academy National Showcase in 2021. Britt has a variety of national playing experience. She was a member of the US National Futsal Team and was a finalist in 2019. The Cincinnati, Ohio native was also selected to the US Soccer Federation National Training Center. Parents Kent and Kelly Britt were Indiana athletes. Her father was a member of the football team from 1990-1993, and her mom, Kelly, played soccer for the Hoosiers from 1990-1992.
Ellie Johannes | Forward | Glendale, Ariz. | Utah Royals FC ECNL
Johannes played for Northwest Christian High School where she ranked first in goals and points in 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons combining for 107 goals, and 250 points and 36 assists in her career. She is a two-time back-to-back State Champion in 2021 and 2022. The Glendale, Arizona native was named the USA Today Arizona High School Player of the Year, USA Today All-American, 2022 Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year Finalist. Johannes was a member of the U20 Salvadoran National Team and scored four times including a hat trick against Nicaragua.
INDIANA ATHLETICS: INDIANA NIL COLLECTIVES EXCEED $1 MILLION FUNDRAISING
Bloomington, Ind. – Hoosiers For Good and Hoosiers Connect jointly announced today that they easily exceeded the previously announced goal of raising $1 million in donations, sponsorships, and memberships between Nov. 14-Dec. 31, 2022. By reaching that goal, the two NIL Collectives have secured an additional $1 million matching contribution from an anonymous donor.
The $2 million-plus generated from this fundraising push for the two Indiana NIL collectives will be utilized to pair charities and businesses with IU student-athletes through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements.
“From our conversations with the leadership teams at Hoosiers For Good and Hoosiers Connect, it was clear from the moment of the announcement of the $1 million match pledge that Hoosier supporters were going to step forward and maximize this tremendous opportunity,” said IU Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Dolson. “This news is monumental for some critically important charities that are focused on improving the lives of Hoosiers all around our state. It’s also a difference-maker for our civic-minded student-athletes who will be able to maximize their NIL opportunities.
“I appreciate the outpouring of support from Hoosier Nation to maximize this $1 million matching pledge, and I also sincerely thank the anonymous donor for stepping forward with this generous matching offer.”
Hoosiers For Good is a 501(c)(3) that’s mission is to raise awareness for charitable causes throughout Indiana, by partnering local charities with community-minded IU student athletes who choose to use their platform and influence to amplify the philanthropic work that helps Indiana communities thrive. The student-athletes are not only able to use their time and talent for good, but it also provides them the mentorship and experience to become lifelong community-minded leaders. Donors, meanwhile, know that they are supporting those student-athletes as well as the charity.
Hoosiers Connect, meanwhile, offers two ways to get involved in NIL. First, it provides an avenue for businesses to amplify their commercial brands through NIL sponsorships with IU student-athletes. Secondly, it offers an opportunity for individuals to sign up for monthly NIL memberships that include special perks, including experiences with IU student-athletes.
PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL: #1 PURDUE TRAVELS TO #24 OHIO STATE TO BEGIN TWO-GAME ROAD TRIP
GAMEDAY INFO
Thursday, January 5, 2023
[1] Purdue (13-1, 2-1) vs. [24] Ohio State (10-3, 2-0)
Columbus, Ohio | Value City Arena (18,809)
TELEVISION: FS1 | RADIO: Purdue Sports Network
ANNOUNCERS: Gus Johnson, Jim Jackson
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• Purdue looks to bounce back from its first loss of the season when it travels to Columbus, Ohio, for its toughest road test of the year to face the No. 24-ranked Buckeyes. The Boilermakers will stay on the road, then head to Philadelphia and the historic Palestra to face Penn State on Sunday. Purdue’s next two opponents rank No. 12 and 44 respectively in KenPom.
• Purdue enters the contest with a 13-1 record and a win over Ohio State will match Purdue’s best 15-game start in school history.
• Two of the nation’s five-best offenses will go at it on Thursday. The Buckeyes are No. 2 in KenPom’s offensive efficiency rankings, while the Boilermakers rank No. 5 in offensive efficiency.
• Four of the Big Ten’s eight top-freshmen scorers (Sensabaugh, Thornton, Loyer, Smith) will be on the court Thursday. The two teams are the only Big Ten teams with two players each in the top eight in freshmen scoring.
• Since the 2016-17 season, Purdue owns the Big Ten’s best record (83-35) by five-and-a-half games over Michigan State (78-41).
• With the loss to Rutgers, eight of Purdue’s last 12 losses have come by three points or less. One more was by five points and two more came in overtime. Only one of the 12 losses was by more than nine points.
• Against nationally-ranked teams this year, Purdue is averaging 79.5 points and shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from 3-point range. The Boilermakers also own a 2.00 assist-to-turnover ratio (38 / 19), and are outrebounding its foes by 13.0 rebounds per game.
• Purdue hasn’t shot over 31 percent from 3-point range in its last five games, shooting a combined 28-of-121 (.231) from deep in that span.
• Purdue has won three of its last four road games against nationally-ranked teams (wins over Illinois, Ohio State, Michigan State; loss to Wis.).
• For the second straight year, Purdue has been voted No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll. A year ago, Purdue was voted No. 1 on Dec. 6, for the first time in school history. Purdue becomes the first Big Ten program since Indiana (1974-75, 1975-76) to be ranked No. 1 in consecutive seasons.
• Purdue can claim America’s best resume, owning four top-50 KenPom wins, all of them against teams ranked in the top 25. Three of the wins (Marquette) have come away from Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers own four quad-1 victories, second in the nation.
• Appearing at No. 1 in this week’s AP Top 25 poll, Purdue has been ranked in the top 5 in consecutive years for the first time since the 1986-87 and 1987-88 seasons. The Boilermakers have spent 18 of the past 28 AP polls ranked in the top 5. Only Gonzaga (22) has spent more time in the top 5 than Purdue since the start of last season. Purdue’s 25 appearances in the top 10 during that span are second behind Kansas (28).
• One year after ranking second in the country in rebound margin, Purdue leads the country in rebound margin (+12.0) this season. The Boilermakers are outscoring their opponents 193 to 90 in second-chance points (13.8 to 6.4 points per game).
• Purdue has MADE 248 free throws this season, while opponents have SHOT just 150. Purdue has made 139 more free throws (248 to 109) than its foes this season, the highest discrepancy in the nation (Purdue +139, North Carolina +127, Denver +112, New Mexico +109, Arizona +109).
• Purdue has held 26 straight opponents to 75 or fewer points, the third-longest streak in the country (North Texas 46, Houston 29).
• Zach Edey ranks No. 1 in the KenPom POY ratings by a significant margin and has been the game MVP in 12 of the 13 Purdue games that he has played in (missed New Orleans game with the flu). Edey has scored 10 or more points in 30 straight games with six straight double-doubles.
• Perhaps our favorite Zach Edey stat: Through his 13 games this year, he has more blocked shots (28) than personal fouls (24). He has also played 30 minutes nine times this season after not doing it once in his first two seasons. Edey is averaging just 2.4 fouls / 40 minutes.
• Purdue’s freshman class is averaging 28.4 points per game, accounting for 37.2 percent of the Boilermakers’ scoring.
• Matt Painter needs three overall victories to become the fifth coach in Big Ten history with 400 victories while at a conference school (Bob Knight, Tom Izzo, Gene Keady, Lou Henson). He needs four victories to become the seventh coach with 200 Big Ten Conference victories.
EDEY SELECTED TO WOODEN AWARD MIDSEASON TOP 25 LIST
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue’s junior center Zach Edey has been named one of 25 players selected to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 list, announced today by the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
The Wooden Award All American Team will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2023 John R. Wooden Award, the sport’s most-prestigious honor, will be presented by Wendy’s following the NCAA Tournament in April.
Edey, who hails from Toronto, Ontario, is a considered the front-runner for the award after an outstanding start to his junior campaign. Edey is averaging 21.7 points, 13.4 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.1 assists per game while shooting over 63 percent from the field and almost 75 percent from the free throw line. He ranks in the top 16 nationally in double-doubles (2nd, 11), rebounds per game (2nd, 13.4), points per game (9th, 21.7) and field goal percentage (16th, .632), while sitting inside the top 25 in blocked shots (24th, 2.2). At his current pace, he would become the only player in the NCAA online database (since 2009) to rank in the top 25 in all four categories.
He has scored in double-figures in 30 straight games, the nation’s-longest streak, while posting double-doubles in six straight games. He owns a nation’s-best seven games of 20 points and 10 rebounds and his 31-point, 22-rebound performance against Minnesota was Purdue’s first game of those marks in over 50 years.
At his current pace, based on a 35-game season, he would become the first player nationally in the last 30 years to have 750 points, 450 rebounds and 75 blocked shots in the same season. In fact, the only players to have at least 700 points, 400 rebounds and 50 blocked shots are Arizona’s Deandre Ayton (2017-18; 704-405-66), Kansas State’s Michael Beasley (2007-08; 866-408-54), Utah’s Andrew Bogut (2004-05; 715-427-65) and Kansas’ Drew Gooden (2001-02; 734-423-53). Edey is on pace for 759 points, 468 rebounds and 75 blocked shots.
He has already been named Big Ten Player of the Week three times, all coming in consecutive weeks — the most-consecutive accolades for a Big Ten player since the 2018-19 season, and was the NCAA.com National Player of the Week after leading Purdue to a Phil Knight Legacy title which included wins over West Virginia, Gonzaga and Duke.
For his career, he has scored 1,059 points with 583 rebounds and 104 blocked shots, needing 17 rebounds to become the fifth player in school history to reach 1,000 points, 600 rebounds and 100 blocks. Edey will likely do so in the second-fewest amount of games in Purdue history, behind 1980 All-American and the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, Joe Barry Carroll.
Edey and his teammates face two big games on the road this week, traveling to Ohio State on Thursday before facing Penn State in The Palestra in Philadelphia on Sunday.
PURDUE WRESTLING: WRESTLING SET FOR HAMMER DOWN CANCER DUAL
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue wrestling team hosts its annual “Hammer Down Cancer” dual Sunday, as it is set to square off with Iowa at 2 p.m. ET in Holloway Gymnasium. The Boilermakers will wear special edition singlets, which will be auctioned off with all proceeds going to support the Tyler Trent Cancer Research Endowment.
The Boilermakers last held their “Hammer Down Cancer” event in 2021 in a dual against Illinois, raising $4,000 toward campus cancer research. This year’s uniforms were donated once again by our friends at Rudis, a wrestling apparel company based out of Ohio.
The auctions for Sunday’s singlets will be held online, with bids starting at $60 for 14 total singlets. Bids online will be accepted through the end of Sunday’s dual meet, and singlets will be distributed to winners after being thoroughly cleaned. Fans who would like donate without biding can also do so on the auction website.
BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL: ERIC HUNTER JR.’S CAREER NIGHT LEADS BUTLER TO 78-70 WIN OVER DEPAUL
Butler used a strong performance at the free throw line to post a 78-70 win over visiting DePaul Wednesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 10-6 on the season and 2-3 in BIG EAST play. DePaul falls to 7-9 (1-4 BIG EAST).
KEY STAT: Butler made 23 of their 30 attempts from the free throw line with 26 of those attempts coming in the second half.
MR. 1,000: Eric Hunter Jr. went over 1,000 career points Wednesday night behind a career-best 23 points. Hunter entered the contest five points shy of the mark. He went 8-for-13 from the field, including three three-pointers. Seventeen of the points came in the second half.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
Jayden Taylor came off the bench to score 16 points, one game after netting a career-high 24 points Sunday at Georgetown.
Butler shot 45 percent from the field and went 7-for-15 from three-point range.
Simas Lukosius (12) and Manny Bates (11) also reached double figures.
Umoja Gibson led DePaul with 16 points, while Yor Anei and Da’Sean Nelson each scored 14.
HOW IT TRANSPIRED:
Butler closed the first half on a 12-3 run to take a 34-25 halftime advantage.
The Bulldogs’ lead grew to a high of 13 at 66-53 with 5:29 remaining in the game.
The next nine points came from DePaul’s Philmon Gebrewhit to trim the lead to four (66-52) two minutes later.
Butler closed the game by going 8-for-10 from the free throw line to take the win.
OF NOTE:
This was the first time that Hunter led the Bulldogs in scoring.
Butler owns a 17-2 advantage in the series with DePaul since joining the BIG EAST prior to the 2013-14 season.
Butler is 9-1 against DePaul at Hinkle Fieldhouse since joining the BIG EAST, including nine consecutive wins.
Butler has won six straight in the series with DePaul.
Butler is 10-0 this season when leading at halftime.
Butler is 10-0 this season when scoring 70 or more points.
Butler is 7-0 when out-rebounding its opponent, as the Bulldogs did 34-28 Wednesday night.
Butler is now 7-2 at Hinkle Fieldhouse this season.
The Bulldogs committed only eight turnovers in the game, the eighth time this season with 10 or fewer.
Chuck Harris moved into 21st place in Butler history in career three-pointers with his 119th career make.
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs travel East for a two-game road trip, which includes a Saturday night tip at Seton Hall and a Tuesday night contest at St. John’s. Both games will air nationally on FS1. Butler returns to Hinkle Fieldhouse for a Jan. 13 tip with Villanova. A limited number of tickets remain for that match-up.
IUPUI WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: WOMEN’S BASKETBALL EXTENDS WIN STREAK WITH VICTORY OVER PFW, 79-71
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – After trailing for most of the first half and third quarter, the IUPUI women’s basketball team comes back to defeat the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons on Wednesday night, 79-71. With the victory, the Jaguars extend their win streak to four.
IUPUI started off slow falling behind big 19-7 in the first quarter then again in the second quarter by nine points 40-31. The Jags came out after the half and outscored the Mastodons 23-14 in the third quarter to take the lead, 56-54. Purdue Fort Wayne tied it up in the fourth quarter, but the Jags outscored the Mastodons once again 23-17 to earn the win, 79-71.
Four Jaguars scored in double figures in the win with Destiny Perkins leading the way with 18 points and four assists. Rachel Kent added 15 points and a team high nine rebounds with four assists. Both Ali Berg and Jazmyn Turner chipped in 14 points with Turner adding seven rebounds and Berg bringing down six boards.
The Jaguar offense totaled 25-for-53 for a 47.2 percent from the floor and 9-for-24 (37.5 percent) from the three-point line. IUPUI capitalized by outrebounding the Mastodons 37 to 25.
With the win, IUPUI extends their streak to four and improve their record to 8-6 overall and 4-1 in Horizon League play. They will next travel to Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday, January 8 to face the top ranked team in the conference, Cleveland State. The Jaguars and Vikings tip off at 2:00 PM on ESPN+
NOTRE DAME HOCKEY: IRISH BACK TO B1G PLAY AT WISCONSIN
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Irish hockey team kicks off its 2023 road slate with a pair of tilts at Wisconsin Jan. 6-7. Friday night’s puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Wisconsin/BTN+ before a 6:30 p.m. ET start on the Big Ten Network Saturday night.
The Irish most recently split with Alaska, their final non-conference games of the regular season, which saw Ryan Bischel record his nation-leading fourth shutout of the season.
QUICK HITS
Notre Dame is coming off a weekend split with Alaska to start the New Year. After dropping their final game of 2022, 3-2, the Irish bounced back Sunday with a 2-0 victory over the visiting Nanooks.
Ryan Bischel picked up his fourth shutout of the season in Sunday night’s victory, stopping all 25 shots faced en route to the split. He is the only NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey DI netminder to record a shutout in 2023.
Four individuals scored in the weekend series, including Hunter Strand, Chayse Primeau, Drew Bavaro and Trevor Janicke.
The Irish closed out the first half of their season with an 8-8-2 record following a split with No. 5 Penn State at home to enter the holiday break.
In game two of that series, Bischel stopped a career-high 47 saves as the Irish picked up a 5-3 win, and amassed 81 saves over the two game weekend.
With 617 total saves this season, Bischel currently ranks third nationally in the category.
NOTRE DAME vs. WISCONSIN
After seven meetings in 2021-22, the Irish and Badgers are quickly approaching the century mark, having met 87 times in program history. Notre Dame boasts 30 wins over Wisconsin in the all-time series, including a 5-2-0 record last season. All-time, the Badgers own the series record 48-30-9 and are 23-13-3 when the Irish come to town.
In 2021-22, the two teams met twice in the regular season, with the Irish skating away with three victories in four games played. The two teams met again in the Big Ten quarterfinals with the Badgers taking game one at Compton Family Ice Arena before the Irish bounced back to claim the next two and advance to the conference semifinals.
Two individuals boasted six points for the Irish in last season’s meetings with the Badgers as Trevor Janicke (4-2-6) and Ryder Rolston (1-5-6) combined to help lead their team to the series win last year.
Now a senior, alternate captain Trevor Janicke played a huge factor in the Irish advancing in the postseason tournament as he recorded two late goals in the final two games to secure the wins. On night two of the best-of-three series, the Maple Grove, Minnesota, native broke the 2-2 tie with just 20 seconds remaining to force a decisive game three. It was there that he scored an empty net goal in the final minute of regulation to secure the 4-2 decision and keep Notre Dame’s season and NCAA Tournament hopes alive.
Fellow senior Jesse Lansdell set up the eventual game-winning goal in that decisive contest, finding Jake Pivonka less than two minutes into the second period to give the Irish the 3-1 lead, a goal that would prove to be the game-winner later on.
In his rookie year, Lansdell net his first career goal against the Badgers (Nov. 16, 2019). Ryan Bischel also boasts a career first against Wisconsin as the goaltender tallied his first assist at home against the Badgers (Jan. 24, 2020).
TEAM LEADERS
With two goals against Penn State, Ryder Rolston’s six goals and eight assists leads the Irish with 14 points. He also boasts the most goals on the team while Nick Leivermann sits just behind with five (most among defensemen)
Four individuals boast a team-high eight assists in Nick Leivermann, Trevor Janicke, Chayse Primeau and Ryder Rolston.
With game-winning goals against Northern Michigan and Boston College, Jesse Lansdell leads the Irish with two. Jack Adams, who scored the eventual game-winner on night two with the Nittany Lions also boasts two on the season with his other coming in a 1-0 win at Ohio State.
Three individuals boast multiple powerplay tallies, with Primeau, T. Janicke and Rolston all having a pair.
Ryan Bischel recorded 47 saves on the weekend against Alaska, bringing his 2022-23 season total to 617 which ranks third nationally. With his fourth blanking of the season Sunday night against the Nanooks, the senior leads the nation in shutouts in 2022-23 and is the only NCAA DI netminder with a shutout in 2023.
Always willing to jump in front of a shot, Jake Boltmann’s 39 blocks leads the team and is 11th nationally.
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: MILES MAKES WOODEN AWARD MIDSEASON TOP 25 WATCH LIST
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Los Angeles Athletic Club released the annual John R. Wooden Award® presented by Wendy’s® Midseason Top 25 Watch List on Wednesday evening, one which includes Notre Dame sophomore point guard Olivia Miles. Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the 2022-23 season thus far, the list comprises student-athletes who are front-runners for the sport’s most prestigious honor.
Miles leads Notre Dame in four of the five major statistical categories this season: points (15.2), rebounds (8.0), assists (7.5) and steals (2.5). She is the only player in the country averaging at least 15 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists every time she takes the floor. Her field goal success rate sits just over 50 percent (.507), and she sinks free throws at a 79.4-percent mark.
The dynamic ball carrier’s name peppers the conference and national rankings as well. Miles leads the ACC with 7.5 assists per game, just over the conference-leading 7.4 she posted as a freshman last year. She is tied for third in the category nationally. Miles is also 14th in the nation in defensive rebounds per game (7.8) and is one of 15 Division I players to have recorded a triple-double during the 2022-2023 season.
On that topic, the New Jersey native posted her third career triple-double on Dec. 10 against Merrimack, passing Skylar Diggins and Jackie Young for most career triple-doubles in Notre Dame history, men or women.
In total, the midseason list includes six players from the Big Ten and five from the ACC. In addition to Miles, UNC guard Deja Kelly, Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith, Florida State guard Ta’Niya Latson and Virginia Tech forward Elizabeth Kitley made the cut from the conference. Four of the five women, including Miles, have already been named the ACC Player of the Week at least once this year.
Players not chosen to the preseason or midseason list are still eligible for the Wooden Award™ National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Voters will rank 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament. The Wooden Award All America Team™ will be announced the week of the Elite Eight. The winner of the 2023 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy’s following the NCAA Tournament in April.
BALL STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: WOMEN’S BASKETBALL OPENS MAC PLAY WITH GRITTY WIN OVER BGSU
MUNCIE, Ind. – Redshirt senior Anna Clephane led the Cardinals with 22 points to help propel Ball State past Bowling Green in its Mid-American Conference opener Wednesday night in Worthen Arena. The Cardinals earned an 81-73 victory over the Falcons using gritty defense and an all-around team effort offensively, which included 31 points from BSU’s bench.
It came to no surprise that the Cardinals (11-3, 1-0 MAC) league opener against Bowling Green (11-2, 0-1 MAC) tonight would come down to the wire. BSU and BGSU had just come off successful non-conference seasons and were similar statistically heading into this evening’s contest.
Both teams chopped at each other’s heels at the start of the game. Bowling Green had the upper hand for the majority of the first quarter and the Cardinals controlled the second frame of action.
Ball State used a well-balanced offense in the second 10 minutes of play, outscoring Bowling Green, 24-14. The end of the first half was highlighted by a 3-pointer at the buzzer from senior Sydney Shafer, as she completed the out of bounds play as time expired to give Ball State the 49-38 edge over Bowling Green at intermission.
After the break, Clephane opened the third frame with a driving layup to give Ball State a comfortable 13-point (41-28) edge over Bowling Green. The Falcons answered quickly with a 14-4 run that would bring them within three (45-42) of the Cardinals at the 5:32 mark.
Another basket from Clephane put Ball State back into cruise control and Ball State would go back up by 12 (58-46) with just 1:42 left in the third quarter. BGSU remained within reach, but BSU managed to take a seven-point (59-52) advantage as the third period expired.
Ball State’s largest lead of the game (68-54) came after a layup and free throws from sophomore Ally Becki with 6:52 remaining.
Bowling Green continued to fight back to make it a four-point competition (74-70) with 2:19 left to play.
The final stanza came down to defense, smart plays, along with key baskets, and that’s exactly how the Cardinals ended the contest which eventually earned BSU the victory over BGSU tonight.
For the game, Clephane led all players with 22 points while teammate sophomore Alex Richard chipped in 14 points. Becki registered her fourth double-double of the season after a 13-point, 11-rebound performance.
The Ball State women’s basketball team continues Mid-American Conference action Saturday at Western Michigan. The game is slated for a 2 p.m. ET start in University Arena.
INDIANA STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL: SYCAMORES WIN SECOND STRAIGHT VALLEY ROAD GAME TO STAY PERFECT IN LEAGUE PLAY
NORMAL, Ill. – Indiana State was without its leading scorer Wednesday night, but that did not matter as the Sycamores defeated Illinois State, 76-67, for their fifth straight Valley win and second straight Valley win on the road. The Sycamores remain perfect in Valley play so far this season at 5-0.
After finding out Courvoisier McCauley was unavailable due to illness right before tip-off, several Sycamores stepped up in his absence as Julian Larry and Cameron Henry were part of four Sycamores in double figures with 18 points each.
The Sycamores (12-4, 5-0 MVC) did not trail the Redbirds (6-10, 1-4 MVC) at any point in the game, though it got close at the end. Indiana State led by as many as 21 points in the first half, but Illinois State cut its deficit to just five points with 35 seconds to go in the second half. Indiana State got a couple crucial stops and took advantage of a pair of late trips to the line, hitting four free throws in the last half minute of the game to help secure the win.
Henry opened the scoring in the game before Larry drilled an early triple to spark an 11-0 run for the Sycamores, and Indiana State led 13-2 by the end of that run at 15:23 in the first half. Henry reached double figures shortly after with back-to-back steals that each turned into layups, and the Sycamore lead reached 22-7 with 12:34 to go in the opening frame.
Jayson Kent pushed Indiana State’s lead to 18 points with a layup at 6:20 that made it 36-18, and he later nailed his second triple of the night to reach double figures and give the Sycamores their largest lead of the night at 21 points as Indiana State held a 43-22 advantage with 3:33 to go in the first half. The Sycamores led 47-29 going into the halftime break.
The Sycamores and Redbirds exchanged a few baskets to open the second half, and Illinois State hit two straight to trim Indiana State’s lead to just 14 at 13:50. Trenton Gibson drilled a three ball to get the lead back to 18 at 59-41 with 11:46 to go, and Robbie Avila beat the shot clock with a triple to get into double digits at 8:03.
Indiana State led by 14 on a pair of Cooper Neese free throws at 5:28, but after that, Illinois state went on an 8-0 run spanning nearly four minutes to chip away and cut its deficit to six points at 1:15. Neese hit another pair of free throws, but the Redbirds countered that with two free throws of their own and once again trailed by six with 55 seconds to go. After that, the Sycamores committed a turnover and Illinois State missed a jumper off that possession before the ball went out of bounds. It was called Illinois State ball and the play would go to review, but the ball would stay with the Redbirds coming out of the review. Illinois State then drew a shooting foul and missed the first free throw before making the second one to trail by just five points at 72-67 with 35 seconds to go.
Gibson took a trip to the line and hit both free throws to get the lead back to seven, and Masen Miller would then check in and force a crucial stop for the Sycamores by knocking a defensive rebound into Neese’s possession with 13 seconds left. Larry closed things out with a pair of free throws in the last 11 seconds.
Inside the Numbers
The Sycamores outshot the Redbirds 60.0 percent to 42.4 percent in the game, and it was the first time Indiana State has shot 60 percent or better in a game since Nov. 28, 2018 at San Jose State when the team shot 64.2 percent.
The Sycamores shot 67.7 in the first half while holding the Redbirds to 34.4 percent in the frame.
Indiana State made six threes on the night, marking the 15th out of 16 times the Sycamores have hit six or more in a game this season.
The Sycamores outrebounded the Redbirds 34-23 in the game.
Indiana State allowed 19 points off 16 turnovers.
News & Notes
The Sycamores are 5-0 in Valley play for the first time since 2014-15. The last three times they started 5-0, the Sycamores lost their sixth game. The last time Indiana State started off 6-0 was 1978-79.
At 12-4, the Sycamores have already surpassed last season’s total of overall and Valley wins.
The Sycamores have only trailed by a total of 5:11 in Valley play this season and have not trailed in a Valley game since the 6:58 mark of the second half at Southern Illinois Dec. 7. Indiana State has not trailed by more than five points against a Valley team this season. They trailed by a season-high five points at 3:57 in the second half against Drake.
The last time Indiana State won back-to-back Valley road games was Jan. 16 and Jan. 17, 2022 when the Sycamores defeated the Redbirds on back-to-back nights in Normal.
Julian Larry shot a perfect 100 percent for the second time in three games, going 7-of-7 from the field for 18 points in his third straight double-figure scoring game. It’s the first time the junior guard has posted double figures three games in a row.
Cameron Henry’s 18 points mark the first time he has scored in doubles since the Duquesne game. He shot 9-of-11 and had three steals and two blocks.
Robbie Avila posted 14 points and six rebounds for his first double-digit scoring game since Southern Illinois.
Jayson Kent rounded out the Sycamores in double figures with 12 points in his second double-figure scoring outing in three games.
Cooper Neese pulled down a career-high nine rebounds, and he had already surpassed his season-high with six boards in the first half alone. He was 4-of-4 at the charity stripe to remain perfect at the line in Valley play.
Up Next
Indiana State returns home for a pair of back-to-back games at the Hulman Center beginning with UIC Saturday, Jan. 7. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET against the Flames.
INDIANA STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: SYCAMORES BEGIN THREE-GAME ROAD SWING AT UIC
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State opens a three-game road trip Thursday night when it heads north to take on UIC at 8 p.m. The game will be carried on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
Last Time Out
Del’Janae Williams led Indiana State with 16 points Saturday afternoon, but a strong fourth quarter sent visiting Southern Illinois past the Sycamores, 60-58, inside Hulman Center.
Bella Finnegan scored 12 points in her second career start, while Chelsea Cain and Anna McKendree added eight points apiece. Mya Glanton and Adrian Folks had a game-high 11 rebounds each.
Indiana State used a strong second quarter to take a lead into halftime and continued that momentum into the second half. The Sycamores built a double-digit lead early in the second half and led by as many as 16 late in the third quarter. Southern Illinois clawed its way back at the end of the third and outscored the Sycamores 19-6 in the fourth to come from behind and win.
Crashing the Glass
Indiana State was plus-15 in rebound margin (49-34) in its last game against Southern Illinois, its largest rebound margin of the season and best rebound margin in a game since Feb. 12, 2022 at Evansville (50-32, plus-18).
Mya Glanton and Adrian Folks both had 11 rebounds, marking the first time the Sycamores had teammates with double-digit rebounds in the same game since Feb. 12, 2022 at Evansville (Tonysha Curry 13, Arianna Smith 11).
Welcome to The Valley
After scoring in double-figures just twice during non-conference play, freshman Bella Finnegan hit double-figures in each of Indiana State’s first two MVC games.
Finnegan scored a career-high 14 points against Missouri State, leading the Sycamores in scoring in that game, and followed that with 12 against Southern Illinois. She also added a career-best five rebounds against Missouri State and a career-high three assists against Southern Illinois. Finnegan has three double-figure scoring games in Indiana State’s last four games.
Road Trippin’
Indiana State is seeking its first road win of the season. The Sycamores fell to Purdue (77-54) and Western Michigan (77-67) in their only non-conference road games of the season. This weekend’s road swing is also the first time that the Sycamores will play back-to-back road games this season.
Last season, Indiana State won six games on the road. That total was the most for the Sycamores since the 2018-19 season.
3-Point Shutdown
Indiana State has limited its opponents’ success from distance over the last five games. The Sycamores’ last five opponents have all shot 30 percent or worse from 3-point range, with those five opponents going a collective 20-for-109 from distance (18.3 percent).
Included in that span are consecutive games with opponents shooting below 15 percent from distance. Purdue Fort Wayne was 4-for-31 from behind the arc (12.9 percent) and Detroit Mercy was 1-for-14 from deep (7.1 percent).
Newcomer Making Noise
Indiana State forward Chelsea Cain has scored at least eight points in each of the last eight games and has grabbed at least six rebounds in each of the last five games. Cain is averaging 11.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game over the last five games, including season-highs of 17 points and nine rebounds against Purdue Fort Wayne.
UIC at a Glance
UIC enters Thursday’s game at 8-5 overall and 0-2 in MVC play after losses to Belmont and Murray State in the opening weekend of conference play. The Flames have lost their last four games, as they closed non-conference with defeats to Northwestern and SEMO.
Josie Filer leads UIC in scoring and rebounding at 12.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Jaida McCloud (11.1) and Ky Dempsey-Toney (10.2) are also averaging double-figure scoring for the Flames. UIC ranks second in the conference in scoring defense at 58.4 points allowed per game.
Ashleen Bracey is in her first season as the head coach at UIC following six seasons as an assistant at Missouri. Bracey is no stranger to the MVC, as she played at Illinois State.
Series History Against UIC
Indiana State has a 13-3 lead in the all-time series and has won each of the last three meetings. The Sycamores are 6-1 in their last seven games against UIC.
Last Game Against UIC (Dec. 14, 2021)
Caitlin Anderson scored a season-high 16 points off the bench and Tonysha Curry posted her first career double-double to lead Indiana State past UIC, 76-50, inside Hulman Center.
Curry finished with career highs of 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Sycamores, while Mya Glanton also finished in double-figures with 10. Indiana State led by as many as 35 points in the game and made its presence felt inside, scoring 50 of its 76 points in the paint.
ISU went on a 15-2 run midway through the first quarter and never looked back. The Sycamores limited UIC to 10 points or less in each of the first three quarters on the defensive end, while shooting more than 50 percent from the field on the offensive side. All nine players who saw the floor for the Sycamores scored at least two points and grabbed at least one rebound.
Up Next
Indiana State’s three-game road trip continues Saturday afternoon when it takes on Valparaiso at 2 p.m.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S BASKETBALL: ‘DONS WELCOME THE PHOENIX TO FORT WAYNE
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne starts the heart of the Horizon League schedule with Green Bay on Thursday (Jan. 5) at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.
Game Day Information
Who: Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (10-5, 2-2 Horizon League) vs. Green Bay Phoenix (2-13, 1-3 Horizon League)
When: Thursday, January 5 | 7 p.m. ET
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Radio: 1380 AM The Fan | Listen
Talent: Brett Rump
Game Notes (PDF): Purdue Fort Wayne | Green Bay
Series Record: Mastodons lead 3-2
KNOW YOUR FOE:
// Green Bay has wins over IUPUI and Kansas City.
‘DONS AND ENDS:
// Ra Kpedi grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds at Robert Morris (Dec. 29) with a career-best nine offensive rebounds. Kpedi is the first Mastodon with 15 rebounds since John Konchar had 15 vs. North Dakota State (March 2, 2019). He is the first Mastodon to record nine offensive rebounds in a game since Kevin Harden had nine against UTPA (now UTRGV) on Nov. 16, 2012.
// The ‘Dons are giving up 64.7 points per game, second best in the Horizon League. Should the Mastodons finish the season at this average, it would be the best during the Division I era (2001-present) in program history. The current record is the 66.0 points the ‘Dons gave up in 2012-13.
// The ‘Dons are 9-1 this season when scoring 70 or more points in a game. Their only loss was 75-70 at Robert Morris (Dec. 29).
// Per sports-reference.com, Ra Kpedi leads the Horizon League in offensive rebounding percentage at 15.9 percent. He is tied for a league best 54 offensive boards.
// Jarred Godfrey owns 1,832 career points. He needs 10 points to take over second in program history. Frank Gaines is second with 1,841 points from 2008-13.
// Jarred Godfrey owns 566 rebounds, sixth in program history. When he reaches 603 rebounds he’ll enter the top five in program history. He is already in the top five in points, assists, steals, field goals and 3-pointers.
// Bobby Planutis is shooting 45.0 percent from three this season and has made exactly 45 3-pointers.
// The Mastodons have four of the top 10 spots in the league in made 3-pointers. Bobby Planutis (3rd, 45), Quinton Morton-Robertson (8th, 29), Deonte Billups (9th, 28) and Jarred Godfrey (10th, 27).
// The ‘Dons are one of only two teams in the league (Youngstown State) with double-digit wins.
// Jarred Godfrey is shooting 92.9 percent (52-of-56) from the free throw line, fifth in the nation. Only once in program history has a player made 50 or more free throws in a season and finished at 90 percent or better. That was Ben Botts in 2009-09, making 65-of-71 (91.5 percent).
// Ra Kpedi has won the opening tip in 13-of-15 games this season. He also won the tip in overtime against Oakland (Dec. 3).
// The ‘Dons are 7th in the nation in 3-pointers per game (10.5).
// Jarred Godfrey (1,832), Damian Chong Qui (1,423), Anthony Roberts (1,421), and Bobby Planutis (1,055) have each scored 1,000 career NCAA points. Deonte Billups (898) could enter that group this season.
// The ‘Dons have 10 games of double-digit offensive rebounds this season.
// Jarred Godfrey has failed to reach double-digits only once this season (nine points vs. Bluffton).
// Jarred Godfrey is one of two current student-athletes in NCAA Division I men’s basketball with 1,800 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists. Taevion Kinsey (Marshall) is the other.
// Jon Coffman owns a 149-119 career record. The Mastodons’ victory over Bluffton (Nov. 27) set a new program record for coaching wins for Coffman. He passed Andy Piazza who went 142-108 with the ‘Dons from 1987 to 1996.
// Jarred Godfrey saw his streak of consecutive made free throws come to an end in the second half at SEMO (Dec. 7). His streak, which started at the end of last season, was halted at 49. It was the longest streak in the Horizon League since Antoine Davis made 57 in a row at the end of the 2020-21 season and the start of the 2021-22 season.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: SELLERS SCORES 23, BUT IUPUI PULLS AWAY LATE
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Shayla Sellers scored 23 points for the Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball team, but the Mastodons fell to the IUPUI Jaguars 79-71 on Wednesday night (Jan. 4) in the Gates Sports Center.
Sellers had one of her best games as a Mastodon, notched 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range, six rebounds, four steals, three blocks and an assist.
The Mastodons came out on fire, jumping out to a 17-5 lead in the first quarter. This was made possible by a 15-0 run that saw Sellers score five, Ryin Ott three, Audra Emmerson three, Sylare Starks two and Jazzlyn Linbo two. The ‘Dons held the Jaguars to 0-of-4 from the floor and 0-of-3 from beyond the 3-point line while forcing five turnovers in this 3:41 stretch.
IUPUI chipped away at the Mastodons’ lead for the next 22 minutes, taking its first lead (43-52) at the 2:13 mark in the third quarter. The Mastodons had a 61-58 lead with 8:25 to go after Starks hit a 3-pointer, but IUPUI’s 8-0 run over a 2:41 stretch was the difference. Before free throws ensued, it was a two-possession game.
Destinee Marshall and Linbo joined Sellers in double-figures, scoring 12 and 11, respectively. Abbigail Stephens continued to see her role expand, scoring six points and grabbing three boards in 11 minutes of action.
The ‘Dons forced the Jaguars in 17 turnovers, off which they scored 14 points. The Mastodon bench out-scored the IUPUI bench 20-10. The ‘Dons led for 26:32. Purdue Fort Wayne blocked IUPUI seven times, which was the most that the Jaguars have been blocked this season.
Purdue Fort Wayne falls to 5-10 and 2-3 in the Horizon League. IUPUI improves to 8-6, 4-1. The ‘Dons will hit the road for another Horizon League game on Friday (Jan. 6) at Cleveland State.
EVANSVILLE MEN’S BASKETBALL: COLEMAN HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST BEARS
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Marvin Coleman II set his career mark with 22 points in Wednesday’s game that saw the University of Evansville men’s basketball team fall to Missouri State by a final of 85-62 inside Great Southern Bank Arena.
Coleman was 9-of-15 from the floor while connecting on 3 of his 4 outside attempts. He also led the squad with 8 rebounds. Kenny Strawbridge Jr. wrapped up the night with 18 points. A solid effort from the line saw him hit 7 of his 9 tries. Four Bears registered double figures with Chance Moore scoring a team-best 19. Donovan Clay added 17 while Jonathan Mogbo and Dalen Ridgnal scored 14 apiece. Mogbo picked up a double-double, adding a game-high 10 rebounds.
“Missouri State is an excellent defensive team and we knew that would be a challenge heading into the game,” Evansville head coach David Ragland exclaimed. “That is how they get going with their defense leading to offense. They controlled the pace from the start.”
Marvin Coleman II tied the game at 2-2 before the Bears would score five in a row to go up 7-2. Gage Bobe knocked down a triple to cut the lead to a pair while MSU countered with five in a row as they took a 12-5 edge. Coleman made it a 2-for-2 start from outside as his basket cut Bears lead to 12-8.
As the first half approached its midway point, the Bears pushed their advantage to double figures. An 8-0 run expanded their edge to 22-10 at the 11:48 mark before a Gabe Spinelli free throw ended the run. Missouri State held the double figure lead over the remainder of the period as they stretched it to a 39-23 game with 64 ticks on the clock. They settled for a 40-25 halftime lead with Jonathan Mogbo posting 11 points, 6 boards and 4 steals in the half. Coleman paced UE with 10 points.
Things continued to go the Bears way in the second half. With 9:23 remaining in the game their lead would reach a game-high of 26 points (66-40) before UE closed slightly in the final minutes to make it an 85-62 final.
Both teams shot well with the Bears shooting 49.2% and the Purple Aces checking in at 48.9%. The advantage for MSU was higher in the rebounding tally with the final coming in at 41-24.
Another weekend home game is on tap when the Aces welcome Illinois State to the Ford Center. Tip on Saturday is set for 1 p.m.
SOUTHERN INDIANA SWIMMING AND DIVING: USI SWIM & DIVE RETURNS TO ACTION
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving returns to the water on Friday as they travel to compete against Cleveland State University. This is the first meet for the Screaming Eagles since they competed at the A3 Performance Invitational on November 12 and is their first dual meet since October 22 when they took on Quincy University.
USI will compete early on Friday with the women beginning at 10 am (CST) and the men beginning at 11 am (CST)
USI Men
USI Men’s Swimming & Diving had an incredible outing at the A3 Performance Invitational back in November. Even with finishing sixth out of the six teams, the Eagles were able to set new school records in 18 different events, including two new events. The Eagles also set 50 new bests at the invitational, including 31 season bests and 19 personal bests. Freshman Nihar Vitthanala (Flower Mound, Texas) led USI with three personal bests. Vitthanala earned bests in the 50 and 100-Yard Freestyles as well as the 100-Yard Butterfly. The Eagles had four other swimmers finish with two personal bests. Freshmen Colten Agdeppa (Redding, California), Jude Bragdon (Fishers, Indiana), Chris Brown (Mattawan, Michigan), and Jack Hannon (Lowell, Indiana) all led USI with three season bests each.
At the A3 Performance Invitational, freshman Lane Pollock (Boonville, Indiana) finished fourth in the 1-meter diving and third in 3-meter diving. Pollock set his season bests early in the season with a score of 264.75 against Valparaiso University in the 1-meter and a score of 240.15 against Quincy in the 3-meter.
The Eagles have had 10 different swimmers set season and school bests this season. Freshman Carson Faley (Dixon, Illinois) leads USI with three bests in the 200-Yard Butterfly and the 200 and 500-Yard Freestyles. Freshmen Caleb Davis (Spring, Texas) and Gabriel Groves (New Carlisle, Indiana) both have two bests. Davis leads the team in the 100 and 200-Yard Breaststrokes while Groves leads in the 100-Yard Backstroke and 100-Yard Freestyle. Sophomore Payton Buse (Lynnville, Indiana) and freshmen Creed Loy (Knoxville, Tennessee) and Grant VanWanzeele (Plainfield, Indiana) lead the team in the final three freestyle events. Buse leading the 50-Yard, Loy in the 1000-Yard, and VanWanzeele in the 1650-Yard. Freshmen Caleb Beaven (Newburgh, Indiana) and Colin Lee (Lakeland, Tennessee) lead the team in the 200 and 400-Yard IM, respectively. Freshmen Liam Murray (Indianapolis, Indiana) and Gregory Benson (Plainfield, Illinois) round out the pack for the Eagles as Murray leads the team in the 200-Yard Backstroke and Benson leads in the 100-Yard Butterfly.
USI Women
USI Women’s Swimming & Diving joined the men in having an incredible outing at the A3 Performance Invitational. The Eagles finished in fifth out of six teams but set an incredible 43 bests at the invitational, including 27 season bests and 16 personal bests. Freshman Mattilynn Smith (Morgantown, Kentucky) led the way for the Eagles in personal bests, finishing with three after the weekend was over. Smith earned new bests in the 200, 500, and 1650-Yard Freestyles. USI had three other swimmers record two personal bests on the weekend as well. Freshmen Hannah Gardner (Bowling Green, Kentucky), Makana Goss (Noblesville, Indiana), Heidi Rhodenbaugh (Lebanon, Ohio), and Erica Williamson (Knoxville, Tennessee) all led USI with three season bests.
Freshman Autumn Turley (Hobart, Indiana) finished eighth in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives. Turley set her season bests early in the season, both coming against Valparaiso. She scored a 173.40 in the 1-meter and a 155.92 in the 3-meter.
The Eagles have six different swimmers that lead the team in season and school bests this season. Smith leads the way for USI, leading in four categories. She leads the team in the 200, 500, 1000, and 1650-Yard Freestyles. Freshman Kate Hilgarth (Indianapolis, Indiana) follows Smith with three team bests in the 100 and 200-Yard Backstrokes as well as the 50-Yard Freestyle. Freshmen Sarah-Catherine Dawson (Prospect, Kentucky) and Hannah Gardner (Bowling Green, Kentucky) as well as sophomore Adele Schnautz (Evansville, Indiana) all have two team bests. Dawson leads the team in the 100 and 200-Yard Butterflys, Gardner leads in the 100 and 200-Yard Breastrokes, and Schnautz leads the team in the 200 and 400-Yard IM, respectively. Freshman Emily McIntosh (Huntertown, Indiana) rounds out the leaders in the 100-Yard Freestyle.
Cleveland State Vikings
The Cleveland State Men are 1-2 this season in dual meets. They opened the 2022-23 season with a win against St. Bonaventure University, but the Vikings have fallen in their two previous dual meets to both Kenyon College and Youngstown State University. Cleveland State then finished in fourth out of four teams at the A10 Invitational, finishing behind Oakland University, George Mason University, and St. Bonaventure. The Vikings earned a second-place finish at the Magnus Cup Invitational, finishing just behind Xavier University, in their final event of the fall.
The Cleveland State Women are 0-4 this season in dual meets. Unlike the men, they fell to St. Bonaventure to open their season. The Vikings have also fallen to Kenyon, the University of Toledo, and to Youngstown State. They would also finish fifth out of five teams at the A10 Invitational, behind Oakland, Duquesne University, George Mason, and St. Bonaventure. The Vikings would struggle again at the Magnus Cup, finishing 10th out of 11 teams.
SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL: EAGLES BACK IN ACTION VERSUS MOREHEAD, SIUE
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball returns to action in the Ohio Valley Conference with a visit to Morehead State University Thursday and by hosting Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Saturday. Tipoff Thursday at Morehead is slated for 6 p.m. (CST), while Saturday’s home game with SIUE is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start.
USI (8-7, 1-1 OVC) is coming off a 1-1 start in conference play after posting an 86-81 win over Southeast Missouri State University and a road loss at Eastern Illinois University, 91-80. The win over SEMO takes USI’s 2022-23 home record to a perfect 7-0.
The Eagles, who have won five of their last seven games, have four players averaging in double-digits and are led by senior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) with 13.5 points per game. He is followed by graduate forward Trevor Lakes (Lebanon, Indiana) and sophomore guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana) with 13.0 points and 11.6 points per outing, respectively.
Senior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) rounds out the double-digit scorers with 11.5 points per outing and is posting a team-best 11.1 rebounds per game.
Morehead is 8-7, 1-1 OVC, after splitting its start of OVC play. The Morehead Eagles started conference action with an 83-75 victory over Tennessee State University before falling 64-57 to the University of Tennessee Martin.
Senior guard Mark Freeman leads Morehead with 13.2 points per game, while graduate forward Alex Gross follows with 11.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per contest.
Thursday’s matchup between USI and Morehead will be the first ever meeting between the two programs.
The SIUE Cougars are 10-5 overall and 1-1 in the OVC after splitting its start in OVC play. SIUE won at Tennessee Tech University, 64-51, before falling at SEMO, 82-73.
SIUE is led in 2022-23 by sophomore guard Ray’Sean Taylor, who is posting 14.3 points per game, and sophomore forward DeeJuan Pruitt with 11.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per outing.
In the series, SIUE won the last meeting between the two programs when both were members of the GLVC, but USI has won three of the last four. USI has split the last 10 meetings with SIUE but is 15-5 against the Cougars in the last 20 games. The Eagles have the longest winning streak in the series, winning 13-straight games between the 1997-98 and the 2003-04 seasons.
The game will be streaming on ESPN+ in addition to being heard on ESPN 97.7FM (http://listentotheref.com) and 95.7FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com).
Change to the USI Basketball Schedule
USI has had a change to the tipoff time of the January 12 home game with the University of Arkansas Little Rock at Screaming Eagles Arena. Tipoff has been moved to 8 p.m. due to the game airing live on ESPNU.
SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: EAGLES VISIT MOREHEAD STATE THURSDAY, HOST SIUE SATURDAY
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball continues its Ohio Valley Conference schedule Thursday for a 4 p.m. CT contest at Morehead State University. The matchup precedes a home battle Saturday against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville at 5 p.m.
Both matchups can be seen live with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on 95.7 FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com).
The Screaming Eagles (7-6, 1-1) split the first two games of the OVC season last week, winning 68-54 at home against Southeast Missouri State University last Thursday before falling 69-58 at Eastern Illinois University last Saturday. USI has won four of the last six games.
Senior forward Hannah Haithcock (Washington Courthouse, Ohio) led USI in the opening week of OVC competition, averaging 20 points and eight rebounds per game in the two games last week. Haithcock tallied 15 points and seven boards in a win against Southeast Missouri before posting a career-best 25 points with nine rebounds on Saturday at Eastern Illinois. She also made frequent trips to the foul line in each game, making nine free throws in each contest.
Haithcock’s previous career high was 24 points, which she set on December 21 against Brescia University (Ky.). Her 25-point performance at Eastern Illinois helped her join USI’s 1,000-point club. The senior became the 20th player to reach 1,000 career points.
Sophomore guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana) also had a solid week to start OVC play. In the two games against Southeast Missouri and Eastern Illinois, Shafford combined for 28 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists, while shooting 10-18 from the field and 6-9 from beyond the arc. Shafford has been the best, most efficient three-point shooter in the nation, connecting from three at 59.6 percent.
On Saturday at Eastern Illinois, senior forward Tara Robbe (Wildwood, Missouri) had a solid game. Robbe grabbed a season-high seven rebounds and matched a season-high with nine points. The senior has scored nine points on four occasions this season, all coming on the road. Robbe also notched nine points in USI’s games at Butler University, Wright State University, and the University of Cincinnati. Robbe is averaging nearly three more points and two more rebounds per game away from home.
Overall, this season, Southern Indiana is led by Haithcock at 15.4 points per game. Right behind her are junior forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana) and Shafford with 13.6 and 13.1 points per contest, respectively. Shafford tops the squad with seven rebounds per outing.
In recent weeks, the Screaming Eagles have surged ahead to the top of the OVC in rebounding and blocks. USI has consistently been among the best in the conference in assists and three-point shooting, but the recent work on the glass and blocking shots have stood out. Southern Indiana is first in the OVC with 38.5 rebounds per game, averaging over four more rebounds a contest than opponents. The Screaming Eagles have outrebounded their opponent in all seven wins this season. USI has also outshot its opponent in all seven wins. Defensively, USI is averaging four blocks per game for first in the OVC.
Morehead State is 5-8 overall and 1-1 in OVC play. Last time out, Morehead State dropped a 63-48 contest at the University of Tennessee at Martin. After a slow start, the Eagles outscored the Skyhawks 16-7 to take a 26-25 halftime lead, but UT Martin responded out of halftime and never looked back.
Senior guard Veronica Charles leads Morehead State this season at 12 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while totaling 39 steals. Charles was named OVC Newcomer of the Week for the third time this season earlier this week.
Thursday’s matchup between USI and Morehead State will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
SIU Edwardsville is off to a tough start this season at 2-11 overall, but the Cougars split their opening slate of OVC games last week. SIUE is coming off a 76-61 win at Southeast Missouri on Saturday. SIUE outshot SEMO in each category, hitting over 48 percent overall, over 53 percent from three, and over 81 percent at the line. The Cougars were led by senior forward Ajulu Thatha with her second consecutive double-double, posting 20 points and 14 rebounds. On Tuesday, averaging a double-double in the first two OVC games, Thatha was named the OVC’s Player of the Week.
Sophomore guard Sofie Lowis actively leads SIUE at 10.6 points per contest with Thatha right behind her at 10.1 points per outing.
USI and SIUE have a long history, dating back to the NCAA Division II and Great Lakes Valley Conference days for both schools. The series dates to the 1981-82 season with the most recent matchup taking place in the 2007-08 season. USI leads the all-time series 26-24, but SIUE has won four straight games in the series. USI’s last win was a 76-68 overtime win on the road in the 2005-06 season.
Following Saturday’s home game against SIUE, USI will continue the home stretch next Thursday against the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and next Saturday against UT Martin. Both games are 5 p.m. tip-off times.
VALPO MEN’S BASKETBALL: UNI BEATS BUZZER TO EDGE VALPO
The Valparaiso University men’s basketball team overcame an early 10-point deficit to take a five-point lead late in the first half, but visiting UNI eventually pulled out a 69-67 victory on a buzzer-beating putback as time expired on Wednesday night at the Athletics-Recreation Center. Ben Krikke (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada / Jasper Place) paced Valpo with 20 points, leading four Beacons in double figures.
How It Happened
UNI started the game with a big burst as the Panthers scored the game’s first 10 points, capping the run with a 3-pointer by Bowen Born with less than three minutes elapsed. A triple by Quinton Green (Columbus, Ohio / Homeschool [Cedarville]) eventually put the Beacons on the board.
Valpo trailed 22-10 with 12:45 left in the first half, and the lead was still nine with 10:50 on the first-half timer. That’s when Valpo compiled a 9-0 run to level the score at 24.
Green gave Valpo its first lead of the game by draining a 3 with 4:08 to go in the half to make it 31-28. The Beacons built the lead to five after a steal by Ibra Bayu (Flevoland, The Netherlands) and fastbreak layup by Ben Krikke (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada / Jasper Place), but UNI scored the next seven points to go back in front.
Freshman Maximus Nelson (Appleton, Wis. / Appleton North) hit a game-tying 3 with 55 ticks left in the opening stanza, but Born responded by swishing a triple of his own to give the Panthers the lead into the locker room.
Valpo closed to within one after a Krikke basket with 17:10 to go in the second half to make it 48-47, but the Panthers rattled off the next eight points to build the lead back to nine at 56-47.
The game of runs continued as a 3-point play by Green and a fastbreak triple by Kobe King (La Crosse, Wis. / La Crosse Central) on a Connor Barrett (Chicago, Ill. / Loyola Academy) assist helped Valpo get within three at 58-55. Valpo finished off the eight-point spurt with another basket to get within one, but couldn’t get over the hump to take the lead.
The UNI lead swung between three and five for several minutes. Four straight made free throws by King allowed the Beacons to get all the way back to even at 67-67 with 12 seconds on the clock.
UNI won on a buzzer-beating putback as time expired.
Inside the Game
Krikke tallied 20 points, boosting his career total to 1,263, climbing into 19th in program history in career scoring. He moved past Darryl Ashby (1,247) on Wednesday.
Krikke has been in double figures 14 times in 16 games this season. Wednesday marked his seventh 20-point output of the year.
Krikke dished out a team-high six assists, shattering his previous career high of five set on Jan. 26, 2021 vs. Bradley.
King scored 12 of his 14 points after halftime, finishing in double figures for the 16th straight contest. He is up to 977 career points.
Nelson finished with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, bettering his previous career high of seven points.
Green was the fourth Beacon in double figures with 16 points. He swiped four steals, establishing a season high and tying a career best set on Nov. 16, 2018 vs. Campellsville Somerset while playing at Cedarville.
Sophomore Darius DeAveiro (Kanata, Ottawa, Canada / Orangeville Prep) saw his first action since Dec. 10 after missing five games with a knee injury. He boasted a plus-minus of +13 in his return to the court and handed out four assists.
The Beacons moved the ball well, delivering 18 assists on 25 made baskets. Nick Edwards (Atlanta, Ga. / Grayson [Glenville State]) accounted for five assists, his fifth straight game with five or more helpers.
Bayu played solid defense throughout the game and rejected three shots in just 16 minutes.
Valpo shot 55.6 percent in the first half but was held to 34.5 percent after halftime.
UNI had four players in double figures including double-doubles from Michael Duax (15 points, 12 rebounds) and Tytan Anderson (16 points, 12 rebounds).
Postgame Comments
Click here for postgame press conference.
Up Next
Valpo (6-10, 0-5 MVC) will have a nationally-televised contest on Saturday afternoon at Bradley. The game tips at 2 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
U OF I MEN’S LACROSSE: MEN’S LAX PREMIERES AT #8 IN USA LACROSSE MAGAZINE PRESEASON POLL
BALTIMORE, Md. – Fresh off its third straight NCAA tournament appearance, the UIndy men’s lacrosse program was selected at No. 8 in the USA Lacrosse Magazine preseason poll, announced on Tuesday. Defending national champion Tampa tops the rankings, while Mercy and Wingate round out the top three.
The Greyhounds were also the preseason No. 8 program in last season’s edition.
UIndy has 12 scheduled contests for the 2023 spring, including five home games. The Greyhounds’ season opener is Feb. 4 when they host Lake Erie from Key Stadium.
Complete rankings can be found here.
MARIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: MARIAN WINS DUAL AGAINST RV GRACE 67-65
INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 6 Marian women’s basketball team held off the late comeback to defeat Grace 67-65 on Wednesday night inside the PE Center. The win moves the Knights to 6-0 in Crossroads League play and 15-1 overall.
A little over the first minute of half of play was scoreless until Allison Bosse got Marian going with the team’s first four points, sparking an 8-2 run. Grace scored at the 6:10 mark. The Knights answered with an 7-0 run started with a Bosse three-pointer to give Marian the 15-4 lead with 4:21 left to play in the first quarter. The Lancers responded with two freebies before the Knights closed out the first quarter ahead 25-7 after an Ella Collier layup to beat the horn.
Grace came out on the attack in the second quarter as they outscored Marian 23-20. It was Bosse scoring the first points of the quarter before fouls by the Knights sent Grace to the line, knocking down four free throws. A layup from Abbey McNally and jumper from Collier got the Marian lead back up to 16 at 32-16, but the Lancers answered with a Peyton Murphy three-pointer. The two teams went back and forth the remainder of the second quarter with Marian taking in the 45-30 advantage into the break.
Grace scored the opening basket after halftime before the two teams traded points through the first three minutes of action. A layup by Collier and back-to-back baskets from McNally shifted the momentum to the Marian side. Kiersten Findley scored in the paint to spark a 7-0 spurt for the Lancers while Marian found themselves in a scoring drought for a little over three minutes. Grace managed to outscore Marian 21-14 in the quarter, cutting the deficit to eight points going into the final period of play.
The Lancers continued their comeback in the fourth quarter, opening up with a layup from Kaylee Patton. Collier came back to the other end with a layup of her own, but it was Grace clawing their way back with a 7-0 spurt to tie things up at 65-65 with a 1:18 left to go in the game. With seconds remaining, Collier found her way to the free throw line with 15.8 seconds left to go, knocking down both to take the two-point lead. Grace called the timeout to try and set up a last second play, but a missed layup by the guests allowed Marian to hold on to win 67-65.
The Knights were led by Collier’s 22 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. McNally had 17 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for the double-double. Bosse added 14 points and Evans scored 10 to go along with eight rebounds. Sara Majorosova led the team in assists, dishing out four.
Marian will be back at home on Saturday to take on Goshen at 1 p.m.
MARIAN MEN’S BASKETBALL: MARIAN STUMBLES IN ROAD LOSS AT NO. 4 GRACE
Winona Lake, Ind. – The Marian men’s basketball were unable to ride the momentum of their two-game winning streak into 2023, as the Knights dropped their first game of the calendar year at No. 4 Grace by a score of 70-59. Marian slides to 13-3 overall on the season and 3-3 in Crossroads League play after the loss.
Marian started strong as they battled against the fourth-ranked Lancers, showing their strength as Christian Harvey and Taeshon Cherry combined on a 9-5 spree in the first four minutes. After the media timeout Grace took control of the momentum, with Jakob Gibbs helping lead the charge to take a 15-11 lead. The Lancers stayed in the lead as the clock rolled under 12 minutes to go in the first half, with the second of two Ian Scott jumpers making it a 19-13 score.
Brody Whitaker and Luke Heady helped take charge in a rally effort, pulling back within three points to answer the home team’s charge. Grace would vault their lead to six with 5:15 remaining as Gibbs answered a Luke Gohmann score, as the Knights continued to get contributions from Cherry and Heady. A 6-0 personal run from Gohmann allowed Marian to capture a 30-28 lead with 2:37 remaining, however a quick answer from Cade Gibbs kept the Lancers in front. A make from Jakob Gibbs in the waning seconds would allow Grace to carry a 36-35 lead at the break.
As they did in the first half, Harvey and Cherry came out of the locker room strong scoring the first four points for Marian to assert a 39-38 lead in the opening minute of the period. After trading baskets, Grace took over on the offensive end, going on a 7-0 run with three players contributing to the lead. Despite a timeout called by the Knights to slow down the Lancers, Grace continued to attack and added to their 47-41 lead on their first possession after the stoppage.
Grace ate away the clock working long possessions, holding Marian at bay as the Knights offense endured nearly a six-minute drought, allowing the Lancers to carry their lead to double-figures. Grace would lead by as many as 16 points before the Knights were able to gain any traction, as makes from Heady and Cherry weren’t enough to collapse the double-digit deficit. Unable to break back within a three-possession game, Marian fell short in the final eight minutes and ended the game with a 70-59 loss.
The Knights committed just eight turnovers, but were stiff shooting the ball as they shot 18 percent from deep in the loss and 33 percent from the field. Marian’s leading scorer was Cherry with 19, as he grabbed five rebounds. Harvey and Heady each finished with 10 points, while Gohmann scored eight to go with six rebounds.
Marian will aim to rebound into the win column and snap their three-game league play losing skid as they host Goshen College at 3 p.m. as part of Marian basketball’s youth basketball day.
MARIAN WOMEN’S LAX: MARIAN LACROSSE ANNOUNCES 2023 SCHEDULE
INDIANAPOLIS – The Marian women’s lacrosse team has released their 2023 schedule, announced by head coach Allie Storke-Sneed. The Knights will open up their season on February 21 at Anderson and will play their first home contest on February 24 vs. Georgetown College.
Marian will hit the road for their first contest of the year at Anderson on Tuesday, February 21 at 6 p.m. The Knights will have their first home match on February 24 as they host Georgetown College before Thomas Moore comes to Indianapolis on March 1.
The Marian lacrosse team will travel to Missouri Baptist on March 7 before a two-game home stint against Saint Ambrose on March 10 and Midland on March 12. The Knights will be busy traveling with their next four games on the road, beginning with a 6 p.m. match on March 15 at Wittenberg to close out non-conference play. Marian kicks off WHAC conference play on March 18 at Madonna, followed by Concordia on March 22, and Siena Heights on March 25.
After four games on the road, Marian will return home for three home games, starting with Aquinas on March 29 before opening up the month of April up with a 1 p.m. battle with Indiana Tech. Lourdes will then make their way to St. Vincent Field on April 5. Marian hits the road on April 8, traveling to Rochester, followed by another game on the road at Bethel. The Knights will wrap up the regular season with a home contest on April 15 as they host t Lawrence Tech at 3 p.m.
The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament begins on April 18 and concludes on April 22 with sites to be determined. The NAIA Women’s Lacrosse Championship will be in Southfield, Michigan from May 3-6.
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
*******NFL STANDINGS*******
| American Football Conference | ||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | |
| xy-Kansas City Chiefs | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 0.0 | 465 | 356 | 7 – 1 – 0 | 6 – 2 – 0 | 8 – 3 – 0 | 5 – 0 – 0 | 4 W |
| xy-Buffalo Bills | 12 | 3 | 0 | .800 | 0.0 | 420 | 263 | 6 – 1 – 0 | 6 – 2 – 0 | 8 – 2 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 6 W |
| x-Cincinnati Bengals | 11 | 4 | 0 | .733 | 0.0 | 391 | 306 | 5 – 1 – 0 | 6 – 3 – 0 | 7 – 3 – 0 | 2 – 3 – 0 | 7 W |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 0.0 | 384 | 334 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 4 – 5 – 0 | 7 – 4 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 4 W |
| x-Los Angeles Chargers | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 0.0 | 363 | 353 | 5 – 3 – 0 | 5 – 3 – 0 | 7 – 4 – 0 | 2 – 3 – 0 | 4 W |
| x-Baltimore Ravens | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 0.0 | 334 | 288 | 5 – 3 – 0 | 5 – 3 – 0 | 6 – 5 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 1 L |
| New England Patriots | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 0.0 | 341 | 312 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 6 – 5 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 1 W |
| Miami Dolphins | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2.0 | 386 | 393 | 5 – 2 – 0 | 3 – 6 – 0 | 6 – 5 – 0 | 2 – 3 – 0 | 5 L |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2.0 | 280 | 332 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 5 – 4 – 0 | 4 – 7 – 0 | 2 – 3 – 0 | 3 W |
| New York Jets | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3.0 | 290 | 305 | 3 – 5 – 0 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 5 – 6 – 0 | 2 – 3 – 0 | 5 L |
| Tennessee Titans | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3.0 | 282 | 339 | 3 – 5 – 0 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 5 – 6 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 6 L |
| Cleveland Browns | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3.0 | 347 | 353 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 3 – 5 – 0 | 4 – 7 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 1 W |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 4.0 | 382 | 387 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 2 – 7 – 0 | 5 – 6 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 2 L |
| Indianapolis Colts | 4 | 11 | 1 | .281 | 5.5 | 258 | 395 | 2 – 5 – 0 | 2 – 6 – 1 | 4 – 6 – 1 | 1 – 3 – 1 | 6 L |
| Denver Broncos | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 6.0 | 256 | 331 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 1 – 8 – 0 | 2 – 9 – 0 | 0 – 5 – 0 | 2 L |
| Houston Texans | 2 | 13 | 1 | .156 | 7.5 | 257 | 389 | 0 – 7 – 1 | 2 – 6 – 0 | 2 – 8 – 1 | 2 – 2 – 1 | 1 L |
| National Football Conference | ||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | |
| x-Philadelphia Eagles | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 0.0 | 455 | 328 | 6 – 2 – 0 | 7 – 1 – 0 | 8 – 3 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 2 L |
| xy-San Francisco 49ers | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 0.0 | 412 | 264 | 7 – 1 – 0 | 5 – 3 – 0 | 9 – 2 – 0 | 5 – 0 – 0 | 9 W |
| xy-Minnesota Vikings | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 0.0 | 395 | 414 | 8 – 1 – 0 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 7 – 4 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 1 L |
| xy-Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 0.0 | 296 | 328 | 5 – 4 – 0 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 8 – 3 – 0 | 4 – 1 – 0 | 2 W |
| x-Dallas Cowboys | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 0.0 | 461 | 316 | 8 – 1 – 0 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 8 – 3 – 0 | 4 – 1 – 0 | 2 W |
| x-New York Giants | 9 | 6 | 1 | .594 | 0.0 | 349 | 349 | 5 – 3 – 1 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 4 – 6 – 1 | 1 – 3 – 1 | 1 W |
| Seattle Seahawks | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 0.0 | 388 | 385 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 5 – 6 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 1 W |
| Detroit Lions | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 1.5 | 433 | 411 | 5 – 4 – 0 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 6 – 5 – 0 | 4 – 1 – 0 | 1 W |
| Green Bay Packers | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 1.5 | 354 | 351 | 5 – 3 – 0 | 3 – 5 – 0 | 6 – 5 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 4 W |
| Washington Commanders | 7 | 8 | 1 | .469 | 2.0 | 295 | 337 | 3 – 5 – 0 | 4 – 3 – 1 | 4 – 6 – 1 | 1 – 3 – 1 | 3 L |
| New Orleans Saints | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2.5 | 323 | 335 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 3 – 5 – 0 | 5 – 6 – 0 | 2 – 3 – 0 | 3 W |
| Carolina Panthers | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 3.5 | 337 | 367 | 5 – 4 – 0 | 1 – 6 – 0 | 5 – 6 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 1 L |
| Atlanta Falcons | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 3.5 | 335 | 369 | 5 – 3 – 0 | 1 – 7 – 0 | 5 – 6 – 0 | 1 – 4 – 0 | 1 W |
| Los Angeles Rams | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 4.5 | 291 | 365 | 4 – 5 – 0 | 1 – 6 – 0 | 3 – 8 – 0 | 1 – 4 – 0 | 1 L |
| Arizona Cardinals | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 5.5 | 327 | 411 | 1 – 8 – 0 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 3 – 8 – 0 | 1 – 4 – 0 | 6 L |
| Chicago Bears | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 6.5 | 313 | 434 | 2 – 6 – 0 | 1 – 7 – 0 | 1 – 10 – 0 | 0 – 5 – 0 | 9 L |
*******NBA STANDINGS*******
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||
| W | L | Pct | Conf GB | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Last 10 | Streak | |||
| 1 Boston | 26 | 12 | .684 | — | 15-5 | 11-7 | 4-0 | 15-8 | 5-5 | 2 L | ||
| 2 Milwaukee | 25 | 13 | .658 | 1.0 | 16-4 | 9-9 | 4-3 | 13-9 | 5-5 | 2 W | ||
| 3 Brooklyn | 25 | 13 | .658 | 1.0 | 13-5 | 12-8 | 5-2 | 19-7 | 9-1 | 1 L | ||
| 4 Cleveland | 25 | 14 | .641 | 1.5 | 18-4 | 7-10 | 7-3 | 17-8 | 7-3 | 3 W | ||
| 5 Philadelphia | 23 | 14 | .622 | 2.5 | 16-5 | 7-9 | 4-3 | 15-9 | 8-2 | 3 W | ||
| 6 New York | 21 | 18 | .538 | 5.5 | 10-10 | 11-8 | 1-4 | 12-9 | 5-5 | 3 W | ||
| 7 Indiana | 21 | 18 | .538 | 5.5 | 13-7 | 8-11 | 2-2 | 15-9 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| 8 Miami | 20 | 19 | .513 | 6.5 | 11-8 | 8-11 | 5-1 | 8-11 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| 9 Atlanta | 18 | 20 | .474 | 8.0 | 11-8 | 7-12 | 4-3 | 13-14 | 4-6 | 1 W | ||
| 10 Chicago | 17 | 21 | .447 | 9.0 | 10-9 | 7-12 | 4-3 | 15-11 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| 11 Washington | 17 | 22 | .436 | 9.5 | 10-7 | 7-15 | 4-3 | 10-14 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| 12 Toronto | 16 | 22 | .421 | 10.0 | 11-9 | 5-13 | 2-7 | 11-15 | 3-7 | 2 L | ||
| 13 Orlando | 14 | 24 | .368 | 12.0 | 10-11 | 4-13 | 2-5 | 7-18 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| 14 Detroit | 11 | 30 | .268 | 16.5 | 5-13 | 6-17 | 0-6 | 4-18 | 3-7 | 1 W | ||
| 15 Charlotte | 10 | 29 | .256 | 16.5 | 5-14 | 5-15 | 3-6 | 4-18 | 3-7 | 3 L | ||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||
| W | L | Pct | Conf GB | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Last 10 | Streak | |||
| 1 Denver | 24 | 13 | .649 | — | 14-3 | 10-10 | 7-3 | 18-9 | 7-3 | 1 L | ||
| 2 Memphis | 24 | 13 | .649 | — | 15-3 | 9-10 | 4-2 | 11-10 | 6-4 | 4 W | ||
| 3 New Orleans | 24 | 14 | .632 | 0.5 | 17-4 | 7-10 | 7-2 | 16-9 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| 4 Dallas | 22 | 16 | .579 | 2.5 | 15-5 | 7-11 | 5-2 | 16-6 | 8-2 | 7 W | ||
| 5 Sacramento | 20 | 17 | .541 | 4.0 | 11-8 | 9-9 | 4-4 | 9-8 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| 6 LA Clippers | 21 | 18 | .538 | 4.0 | 11-8 | 10-10 | 3-4 | 11-11 | 5-5 | 3 L | ||
| 7 Portland | 19 | 18 | .514 | 5.0 | 9-6 | 10-12 | 4-6 | 13-13 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| 8 Phoenix | 20 | 19 | .513 | 5.0 | 14-5 | 6-14 | 7-0 | 17-10 | 3-7 | 4 L | ||
| 9 Golden State | 20 | 19 | .513 | 5.0 | 17-3 | 3-16 | 4-3 | 12-8 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| 10 Utah | 19 | 21 | .475 | 6.5 | 12-7 | 7-14 | 3-4 | 15-13 | 3-7 | 5 L | ||
| 11 Minnesota | 18 | 21 | .462 | 7.0 | 11-9 | 7-12 | 6-4 | 11-13 | 4-6 | 2 W | ||
| 12 LA Lakers | 17 | 21 | .447 | 7.5 | 9-8 | 8-13 | 0-7 | 7-13 | 5-5 | 3 W | ||
| 13 Oklahoma City | 16 | 22 | .421 | 8.5 | 11-9 | 5-13 | 3-6 | 9-12 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| 14 San Antonio | 12 | 26 | .316 | 12.5 | 7-12 | 5-13 | 2-5 | 5-20 | 3-7 | 3 L | ||
| 15 Houston | 10 | 28 | .263 | 14.5 | 6-12 | 4-16 | 1-8 | 5-20 | 1-9 | 5 L |
******NHL STANDINGS******
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | ROW | GF | GA | Home | Road | L10 | ||
| 1 Boston Bruins | 37 | 29 | 4 | 4 | 62 | 27 | 140 | 83 | 19-0-3 | 10-4-1 | 7-0-3 | |
| 2 Carolina Hurricanes | 38 | 25 | 7 | 6 | 56 | 22 | 121 | 99 | 12-3-1 | 13-4-5 | 9-1-0 | |
| 3 Toronto Maple Leafs | 38 | 23 | 8 | 7 | 53 | 23 | 130 | 100 | 13-2-4 | 10-6-3 | 6-3-1 | |
| 4 New Jersey Devils | 38 | 24 | 11 | 3 | 51 | 24 | 129 | 98 | 10-9-2 | 14-2-1 | 3-6-1 | |
| 5 Tampa Bay Lightning | 37 | 24 | 12 | 1 | 49 | 23 | 131 | 108 | 15-4-1 | 9-8-0 | 7-3-0 | |
| 6 New York Rangers | 39 | 21 | 12 | 6 | 48 | 20 | 127 | 108 | 9-7-4 | 12-5-2 | 7-2-1 | |
| 7 Washington Capitals | 40 | 21 | 13 | 6 | 48 | 21 | 131 | 113 | 12-5-3 | 9-8-3 | 7-1-2 | |
| 8 New York Islanders | 39 | 22 | 15 | 2 | 46 | 22 | 126 | 106 | 12-6-0 | 10-9-2 | 5-3-2 | |
| 9 Pittsburgh Penguins | 37 | 19 | 12 | 6 | 44 | 18 | 122 | 111 | 10-4-4 | 9-8-2 | 4-4-2 | |
| 10 Buffalo Sabres | 36 | 19 | 15 | 2 | 40 | 18 | 143 | 122 | 8-8-2 | 11-7-0 | 7-2-1 | |
| 11 Detroit Red Wings | 36 | 16 | 13 | 7 | 39 | 15 | 111 | 122 | 9-7-3 | 7-6-4 | 3-5-2 | |
| 12 Ottawa Senators | 38 | 18 | 17 | 3 | 39 | 17 | 116 | 116 | 11-8-1 | 7-9-2 | 6-3-1 | |
| 13 Florida Panthers | 39 | 17 | 18 | 4 | 38 | 16 | 129 | 134 | 10-6-3 | 7-12-1 | 4-6-0 | |
| 14 Philadelphia Flyers | 38 | 14 | 17 | 7 | 35 | 14 | 102 | 125 | 7-9-1 | 7-8-6 | 5-4-1 | |
| 15 Montreal Canadiens | 38 | 15 | 20 | 3 | 33 | 11 | 103 | 144 | 7-9-0 | 8-11-3 | 1-8-1 | |
| 16 Columbus Blue Jackets | 36 | 11 | 23 | 2 | 24 | 11 | 94 | 142 | 9-11-1 | 2-12-1 | 2-8-0 | |
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | ROW | GF | GA | Home | Road | L10 | ||
| 1 Vegas Golden Knights | 40 | 26 | 12 | 2 | 54 | 23 | 134 | 113 | 11-9-0 | 15-3-2 | 6-3-1 | |
| 2 Dallas Stars | 40 | 23 | 11 | 6 | 52 | 23 | 139 | 109 | 11-4-3 | 12-7-3 | 6-3-1 | |
| 3 Los Angeles Kings | 41 | 22 | 13 | 6 | 50 | 18 | 135 | 140 | 12-6-2 | 10-7-4 | 7-2-1 | |
| 4 Winnipeg Jets | 38 | 24 | 13 | 1 | 49 | 24 | 121 | 97 | 14-6-0 | 10-7-1 | 6-4-0 | |
| 5 Minnesota Wild | 37 | 22 | 13 | 2 | 46 | 19 | 121 | 103 | 12-7-1 | 10-6-1 | 8-2-0 | |
| 6 Seattle Kraken | 36 | 20 | 12 | 4 | 44 | 20 | 126 | 117 | 10-8-2 | 10-4-2 | 5-4-1 | |
| 7 Calgary Flames | 39 | 18 | 14 | 7 | 43 | 17 | 119 | 118 | 11-7-2 | 7-7-5 | 5-3-2 | |
| 8 Edmonton Oilers | 39 | 20 | 17 | 2 | 42 | 20 | 138 | 132 | 9-11-1 | 11-6-1 | 4-4-2 | |
| 9 Colorado Avalanche | 36 | 19 | 14 | 3 | 41 | 16 | 107 | 104 | 9-7-3 | 10-7-0 | 5-4-1 | |
| 10 St. Louis Blues | 38 | 18 | 17 | 3 | 39 | 15 | 120 | 140 | 7-8-2 | 11-9-1 | 6-2-2 | |
| 11 Nashville Predators | 36 | 16 | 14 | 6 | 38 | 14 | 100 | 110 | 9-6-3 | 7-8-3 | 4-3-3 | |
| 12 Vancouver Canucks | 37 | 16 | 18 | 3 | 35 | 14 | 126 | 144 | 7-10-1 | 9-8-2 | 4-6-0 | |
| 13 Arizona Coyotes | 36 | 13 | 18 | 5 | 31 | 12 | 105 | 133 | 7-3-2 | 6-15-3 | 4-5-1 | |
| 14 San Jose Sharks | 39 | 12 | 20 | 7 | 31 | 11 | 120 | 146 | 4-10-6 | 8-10-1 | 4-4-2 | |
| 15 Anaheim Ducks | 39 | 11 | 24 | 4 | 26 | 8 | 90 | 158 | 7-10-1 | 4-14-3 | 4-5-1 | |
| 16 Chicago Blackhawks | 37 | 8 | 25 | 4 | 20 | 8 | 80 | 141 | 5-14-2 | 3-11-2 | 1-9-0 |
*******FOOTBALL HISTORY*******
January 5, 1964 – Balboa Stadium, San Diego – AFL Championship game for the 1963 season matched the San Diego Chargers against the Boston Patriots. It was all Chargers in this one as they won 51-10. The stat lines on Pro-Football-Reference.com show Chargers RB Keith Lincoln rushed for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns to secure him as the game’s MVP.
January 5, 1990 – Former Hamilton Tiger-Cats executive J Donald Crump was appointed as the 8th Commissioner of Canadian Football League.
January 5, 1996 – Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula announces his retirement. This was the day after the legendary coach’s birthday. We cover the details of Shula’s great coaching career in the Football History Headlines of January 4.
January 5, 2007 – Is the fifth day of the year a day that Hall of Fame Coaches retire? Bill Cowher on this day stepped down as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cowher who took over the Steelers in 1992 from another HOF legend, Chuck Noll, coached the team for 15 seasons. During his tenure the Steelers enjoyed playing in two Super Bowls including winning it all in SB XL. Cowher holds an incredible regular season record of 149-90-1, .623 and a postseason record of 12-9, .571 for an overall record of 161-99-1. He was voted as the NFL Coach of the Year twice, in 1992 by the AP and in 2004 by the Sporting News.
January 5, 2010 – Mike Shanahan is formally introduced as head coach of the Washington Redskins
January 5, 2021 – Alabama Senior Wide Reciever, Devonta Smith won the Heisman Trophy Award for his outstanding play during the 2020 season! Check out the full story on Devonta on Heisman.com.
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAY FOR JANUARY 5
January 5, 1891 – Monaca, Pennsylvania – The fantastic end from the University of Pittsburgh, Hube Wagner was born. According to the FootballFoundation.org website Hube has the almost unheard of distinction on making the Pitt varsity squad in 1910 as a freshman. The Panthers went undefeated through a nine-game schedule that season, scoring 282 points and amazingly did not once did an opponent cross their goal line stripe even once! Pitt frustrated big name teams of the day in this stretch such as Notre Dame, Penn State, the famous Carlisle Indians, Navy, Cornell, West Virginia, and Bucknell. Wagner was such a great athlete that his Coach Joe Thompson used him at every position except quarterback even though Wagner was primarily an end. During the next 3 seasons, Wagner’s star continued to rise. He captained the 1913 team and made All-American. The National Football Foundation selected Hube Wagner to enter into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1973.
January 5, 1892 – Eightmile, Oregon – John Beckett the tackle from Oregon celebrated his birth. His bio on the NFF’s website says that he played on the gridiron for Oregon 1913-1916. In his senior season he was the team captain, did the punting, and sometimes played halfback. His bio goes on to read that Beckett joined the Marines during his senior year in college. He was assigned to the marine base at Mare Island, California, and was on the football team and again he played in the Rose Bowl, as Mare Island defeated Camp Lewis 19-7. Both of Beckett’s teams, Oregon in 1916, and Mare Island in 1917, were undefeated. John Beckett is the only player to captain two different Rose Bowl teams. The College Football Hall of Fame welcomed John Beckett into their museum of collegiate gridiron legends in 1972.
January 5, 1901 -Massena, New York – Cornell tackle Frank Sundstrom arrived into this life. After the 1923 season Frank was named to Walter Camp’s All-America team according to the NFF. Frank Sundstrom was placed into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1978.
January 5, 1910 – Gonvick, Minnesota – Ed Widseth a tackle of the Golden Gophers of the University of Minnesota was born. The National Football Foundation explains how Ed was a disruptive force on defense for the Gophers. In fact in every one of Widseth’s varsity seasons, the Gophers claimed national championships. They lost but once in 24 games, the blemish a 6-0 upset decision to Northwestern in 1936. He was a three- time All-America tackle and the College Football Hall of Fame inducted him in 1954.
January 5, 1919 – Garfield, New Jersey – Al Blozis the Georgetown Hoya tackle was born. The NFF Bio on Al on the NFF’s website says that he was a large powerful man who stood 6’-6” tall and weighed 245 pounds which was extremely large for a man in that era. In 1986 the NFF voters sent Al Blozis and his stats to the College Football Hall of Fame. After college he joined the New York Giants and was an all- pro tackle because he was too tall to join the US military.
January 5, 1921 – Bronx, New York – Paul Governali the halfback from Columbia University found his way into this world. The National Football Foundation calls Paul a “skillful passer” and the accolades he received really prove that to be true. Paul won honors as an All-American from multiple sources including the Associated Press, Colliers and United Press. He also earned the AP Best All- Around Eastern College Athlete, was the 1942 Maxwell Memorial Award Winner and First Runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. The College Football Hall of Fame welcomed Paul Governali to their lodge of legends in 1986. After giving his service to the US Marines, Paul played football for two years for the Boston Yanks and the New York Giants.
January 5, 1924 – Calhoun Falls, South Carolina- The nifty Army and University of Miami Florida Quarterback Arnold Tucker was born. Tucker was the recipient of the 1946 Sullivan Award, won All-American honors that same year and was a member of three Army National Championship teams of 1944 through 1946. In fact Arnold had never experienced a loss while playing for the Cadets. The NFF raises the case that he may have played in the best backfield ever assembled on the gridiron as the other members were Tom McWilliams and Heisman Trophy winners Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis. In 2008 Arnold Tucker was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
January 5, 1926 – Chicago, Illinois – The terrific Illinois halfback Claude Henry K. “Buddy” Young arrived into this world. Buddy Young was a terrific back at Illinois and in fact he challenged many of Red Grange’s records at the school. The Footballfoundation.org website states that Buddy rushed for an average of 8.9 yards a carry in 1944, finishing second among the nation’s ball carriers. He was blessed with blinding speed and could ran the 100 yards in 9.5 seconds. Buddy was an All-America selection in 1944 and was accepted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1968. After college Young embarked on a nine-year professional career, playing for teams in New York, Dallas, and Baltimore. As a pro, Buddy scored 44 touchdowns and gained 9,419 yards, an average of more than 1,000 yards per season. Later after his playing days were over Buddy served on the staff of the National Football League Commissioner. My friend and fellow partner on the Sports History Network, Warren Rogan has a great episode on his Sports Forgotten Heroes Podcast dedicated to Buddy Young that I invite you to check out that goes into some great detail.
January 5, 1932 – Cleveland, Ohio – Four time Super Bowl winning Coach, Chuck Noll was born. He didn’t get his feet wet coaching in the NFL, in fact he played guard and linebacker on some great Cleveland Browns teams of the 1950s under the guidance of Paul Brown. After his playing days were complete, Chuck was an assistant coach in San Diego and in Baltimore before landing the Steelers job according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website bio on him. It wasn’t also rosey for Noll who took over a franchise that had never even won an NFL playoff game before he arrived. In Noll’s first season, the Steelers were a dismal 1-13 on the season. Chuck took all of those lemons of poor finishes of the Steelers and made lemonade as he used the advantageous draft position to fill his sidelines with stars. Noll paced the sidelines of the Pittsburgh Steelers for 23 seasons and unlike most of his peers in that profession walked away from the position on his own accord. He won 4 Super Bowls in a six year period in the 1970’s and coached countless Hall of Fame Players. Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Chuck Noll as a contributor in their class of 1993.
January 5, 1938 – Wausau, Wisconsin – The great center from the University of Miami, Jim Otto was born. Otto anchored the Oakland Raider offensive line for 15 seasons according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website bio on him. He was a great blocker and was voted as an All-League player in 12 consecutive years in respectively in the AFL and NFL. The Pro Football Hall of Fame fitted Jim Otto for his gold jacket in 1980.
January 5, 1938 – Schulenburg, Texas -Texas Tech’s great center/linebacker E. J. Holub was born. He entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986.
January 5, 1964 – Gainesville, Florida – Tracy Ham, Georgia Southern’s fine quarterback celebrates his birth. The NFF tells of how Ham was a dual threat. When his career ended he was the only collegiate player to have ever run for 3,000 yards and passed for 5,000 yards. College Football Hall of Fame in 2007. Georgia Southern had his #8 jersey retired. Tracy then enjoyed a long career in the Canadian Football League. In 1989, he won league MVP honors. In the CFL he played for 13 seasons and appeared in two Grey Cups.
******BASEBALL HISTORY******
1920 “I think the Yankees are taking a gamble. While Ruth is undoubtedly the greatest hitter the game has ever seen, he is likewise one of the most selfish and inconsiderate men ever to put on a baseball uniform.” – HARRY FRAZEE, owner of the Red Sox defending his trade of Babe Ruth to New York. Harry Frazee defends his selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees for cash by calling his former player “one of the most selfish and inconsiderate men ever to put on a baseball uniform.” The Red Sox owner laments the popular player had become impossible to deal with, and the team could no longer put up with the Bambino’s eccentricities.
1925 The French Baseball Federation honors John McGraw, Charlie Comiskey, and Hugh Jennings for their efforts in promoting America’s national pastime in France. The trio is given their medals during a tour of Europe by the Giants and White Sox.
1927 Commissioner Judge Landis begins a three-day public hearing to investigate the allegation that the Tigers threw a four-game series to the 1917 White Sox. After summoning and listening to the oral testimony from thirty-five players and ex-players from the two teams, the game’s first commissioner, acting as the judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, and jury, will decide to clear all charges a week later.
1934 An early afternoon five-hour blaze destroys much of Fenway Park’s newly-constructed concrete and steel left-field grandstand and center-field bleachers built to replace the wooden structures in the 22-year-old ballpark. Tom Yawkey, the Red Sox’s new owner, will have construction crews work overtime to rebuild the team’s home in time for the season opener against Washington on April 17.
1946 The Giants pay the most substantial amount ever spent for a single player when the team obtains the Cardinals’ All-Star catcher Walker Cooper for $175,000 in a straight cash transaction. The 30-year-old six-foot-three, 195-pound Atherton (MO) native, who played a key role in the Redbirds’ three consecutive pennants from 1942 to 1944, will hit .276 during his 3+ seasons with New York.
1974 Due to heavy financial losses, Rheingold Beer reveals plans to close the Brooklyn-based plant. As a result, the brewery will end its 13-year relationship with the Mets as the team’s primary radio-TV sponsor.
1982 The BBWAA selects Vin Scully as the sixth recipient of the Ford Frick Award, an honor given for excellence in broadcasting the national pastime. The Dodger veteran announcer follows mentor Red Barber, Mel Allen, Bob Elson, Russ Hodges, and Ernie Harwell into the Hall of Fame.
1993 Reggie Jackson appears 93.6% (396/423) of the writers’ ballots, becoming the only player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame this year. Mr. October, a 14-time All-Star who played on five championship teams, hit 563 homers and batted .262 in 21 seasons, playing for the Angels, A’s, Orioles, and Yankees.
1994 The Mets trade Vince Coleman to the Royals to reacquire Kevin McReynolds, who played in New York for five seasons beginning in 1987, along with $500,000 to make up the difference between the salaries of the two outfielders. Co-owner Fred Wilpon indicated that Coleman would never wear his team’s uniform again due to the 32 year old’s role in the firecracker incident at Dodger Stadium, reported to have injured three fans in the Chavez Ravine parking lot.
1999 After receiving an apology from Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for his 1985 dismissal as the team’s manager 16 games into the season, Yogi Berra ends his self-exile from Yankee Stadium and the organization. The Bronx Bomber legend will continue to participate in Opening Day and Old Timers’ ceremonies once again.
1999 The BBWAA elects the largest class of first-time Hall of Fame candidates since the writers chose five in the inaugural election of 1936. Nolan Ryan (98.8), George Brett (98.2), and Robin Yount (77.5) each receive more than the mandatory 75% of the votes needed for induction.
2001 The Cardinals, needing help due to the departures of Shawon Dunston and Eric Davis, sign their first free agents of the off-season. The four new Redbirds include outfielders Bobby Bonilla and Bernard Gilkey, along with infielders John Mabry and Shane Andrews.
2001 The Mariners ink Ichiro Suzuki to a three-year deal worth $14,088,000. The signing rights to the Japanese outfielder, winner of seven batting titles in Japan, were awarded to Seattle for approximately $13 million.
2001 The plan to name a new ballpark in downtown Montreal Labatt Park dims as the Canadian brewery announces ending their 15-year sponsorship of the Expos. The company cites the lack of a local television contract and stalled stadium plans as factors in the decision.
2007 Felipe Alou is named special assistant to Brian Sabean, general manager of the Giants. The team’s 72-year-old former manager (2003-06), handling both major league and minor league scouting assignments, will provide insights on personnel for the GM.
2009 Carl Pohlad, believed by many to be the savior of major league baseball in Minnesota after buying the club in 1984, dies at 93. Although the owner of the Twins’ net worth was $3.6 billion, the franchise often had some of the lowest payrolls in baseball, including the World Champion teams of 1987 and 1991.
2009 Pat Burrell agrees to a two-year deal reportedly worth $16 million with the Rays, his World Series foes last season. The 32-year-old outfielder, who spent his first nine seasons in the majors with the Phillies, will be granted free agency by Tampa Bay during the 2010 season, after hitting only .218 in 146 games for his new team.
2009 According to reports, a preliminary agreement has been reached between the Cubs and free-agent outfielder Milton Bradley on a $30 million, three-year deal. The switch-hitting All-Star, who batted .321 and led the American League with a .436 on-base percentage, will fill the team’s need for a left-handed presence in the middle of the lineup.
2010 Troy Glaus and the Braves agree on a $1.75 million, one-year incentive-laden deal that will shift the four-time All-Star third baseman to first base. After arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder a year ago, the 33-year-old infielder appeared in only 14 games with St. Louis at the end of the season.
2010 After 22 big league seasons, playing for the Expos (3-4), Mariners (130-74), Astros (10-1), Diamondbacks (118-62), Yankees (34-19), and the Giants (8-6), five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson announces his retirement. The 6-foot-10 ‘Big Unit’ finishes his no-miss Hall of Fame career, which includes a World Series Most Valuable Player award, a perfect game, and two no-hitters, with a record of 303-166 and as the all-time left-handed strikeout leader with 4,875.
2010 Kelly Shoppach (.214, 12, 40) and the Rays come to terms on a $5.5 million, two-year contract that includes a club option for a third season at $3.2 million or a $300,000 buyout. The Rays obtained the 29-year-old backup catcher from the Indians last month for a player to be named, which turns out to be right-hander Mitch Talbot.
2010 In a deal intended to strengthen Philadelphia’s bullpen, right-handed reliever Danys Baez (4-6, 4.02) and the Phillies come to terms on a $5.25 million, two-year contract. The 32-year-old former Baltimore closer will be used with Ryan Madson and J.C. Romero as a setup man but could become an option to replace an unreliable Brad Lidge, who led the majors last season with 11 blown saves while compiling an 0-8 record along with a 7.21 ERA.
2010 The Mets and R.A. Dickey agree to a one-year minor league deal reportedly worth $600,000 if the journeyman makes to the major league roster, along with the opportunity to earn $150,000 more in performance bonuses. The 35-year-old knuckleballer will become the first player in franchise history to win six of his first seven starts (6-0, 2.33 ERA).
2011 After narrowly missing induction last year, second baseman Roberto Alomar and hurler Bert Blyleven are elected to the Hall of Fame by a wide margin. The right-hander, who waited 14 years before getting the nod, and the second baseman, considered a sure first-ballot inductee last season, join executive Pat Gillick, broadcaster Dave Van Horne, and writer Bill Conlin in Cooperstown next July.
2011 Adrian Beltre agrees to a $96 million, six-year deal with the Rangers, the reigning American League champs. The acquisition of the All-Star third baseman will make incumbent Michael Young the team’s designated hitter, giving Texas a potent lineup and a much-improved defense.
2012 The Cubs trade Carlos Zambrano to the Marlins for right-hander Chris Volstad and cash. The 30-year-old right-hander will join fellow Venezuelan Ozzie Guillen, Miami’s new manager, who has been publicly supportive during the combative hurler’s controversial moments, including firing a ball into the outfield physically fighting with teammates.
******SPORTS IN NUMBERS*******
42 – 22 – 24 – 44 – 30 – 6
Jackie Robinson of course is our Number 42 in the historic news as on January 5, 1957 he retired from Major League Baseball rahter than be traded to the New York Giants from the Brooklyn Dodgers.
The Number 22 is significant to January 5 as on this date in 1964, the AFL’s San Diego Chargers had a running back Keith Lincoln, Number 22 rush for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Bolts blew out the Boston Patriots 51-10 to win the AFL Championship.
January 5, 1991 – Kevin Bradshaw, Number 24, of US International Gulls team scored an NCAA Division 1 opponent record of 72 pts. Ironically the Gulls somehow lost the contest 186–140 loss to Loyola Marymount University.
The Number 44 is for legendary baseball slugger Reggie Jackson is elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 5, 1993. Jackson wore a few different numbers including 9 and 31 in addition to 44 that he wore for at least 9 of his 21 seasons.
January 5, 2019 – Golden State and Sacramento combine for 41 3-pointers in Warriors’ 127-123 win; set new NBA record for 3s in a game; Number 30, Stephen Curry hits 10 triples while Number 24, Buddy Hield leads Kings with 8, Number 44, Justin Jackson adds 5
January 5, 2021 – 86th Heisman Trophy Award: Number 6, DeVonta Smith, Alabama (WR)
TV THURSDAY
| NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON AT ST. FRANCIS BROOKLYN | 1:00PM | NEC |
| MAINE AT UMASS LOWELL | 6:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MARYLAND AT RUTGERS | 6:30PM | BTN |
| QUEENS AT BELLARMINE | 6:30PM | ESPN+ |
| COASTAL CAROLINA AT APP STATE | 6:30PM | ESPN+ |
| SMU AT HOUSTON | 7:00PM | ESPN2 |
| PURDUE AT OHIO STATE | 7:00PM | FS1 |
| BRYANT AT VERMONT | 7:00PM | ESPNU |
| TENNESSEE STATE AT SIUE | 7:00PM | ESPNEWS |
| DREXEL AT TOWSON | 7:00PM | CBSSN |
| LIU AT CENTRAL CONNECTICUT | 7:00PM | NEC |
| SACRED HEART AT MERRIMACK | 7:00PM | NEC |
| WAGNER AT STONEHILL | 7:00PM | NEC |
| SOUTHERN INDIANA AT MOREHEAD STATE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ARMY WEST POINT AT LOYOLA MARYLAND | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| AMERICAN AT HOLY CROSS | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| LEHIGH AT BUCKNELL | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NAVY AT COLGATE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| GREEN BAY AT PURDUE FORT WAYNE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MILWAUKEE AT CLEVELAND STATE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ROBERT MORRIS AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UAB AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| CHARLOTTE AT FIU | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UALBANY AT UMBC | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE AT BINGHAMTON | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| JACKSONVILLE AT STETSON | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| JACKSONVILLE STATE AT LIBERTY | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| KENNESAW STATE AT NORTH FLORIDA | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MARSHALL AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| OLD DOMINION AT TROY | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| TEXAS STATE AT JAMES MADISON | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| HOFSTRA AT HAMPTON | 7:00PM | FLOSPORTS |
| NORTHEASTERN AT WILLIAM & MARY | 7:00PM | FLOSPORTS |
| STONY BROOK AT MONMOUTH | 7:00PM | FLOSPORTS |
| LAFAYETTE AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| GRAND CANYON AT SAM HOUSTON | 7:30PM | ESPN+ |
| GEORGIA STATE AT ULM | 7:30PM | ESPN+ |
| SEATTLE U AT UTRGV | 7:30PM | ESPN+ |
| WASHINGTON STATE AT ARIZONA STATE | 8:00PM | PAC12 |
| SOUTH DAKOTA AT NORTH DAKOTA | 8:00PM | – |
| SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE | 8:00PM | – |
| ARKANSAS STATE AT SOUTH ALABAMA | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SOUTHERN MISS AT LOUISIANA | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SOUTHERN UTAH AT TARLETON | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UTAH VALLEY AT UTA | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| LAMAR AT NEW ORLEANS | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| LOUISIANA TECH AT RICE | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MIDDLE TENNESSEE AT UTSA | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MONTANA STATE AT NORTHERN COLORADO | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MONTANA AT NORTHERN ARIZONA | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NORTH ALABAMA AT LIPSCOMB | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| FGCU AT AUSTIN PEAY | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| EASTERN KENTUCKY AT CENTRAL ARKANSAS | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| DENVER AT ST. THOMAS | 8:00PM | – |
| NORTHWESTERN STATE AT MCNEESE | 8:30PM | ESPN+ |
| UIW AT A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI | 8:30PM | ESPN+ |
| HOUSTON CHRISTIAN AT SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA | 8:30PM | ESPN+ |
| EASTERN ILLINOIS AT TENNESSEE TECH | 8:30PM | ESPN+ |
| OREGON AT COLORADO | 9:00PM | ESPN2/U |
| CINCINNATI AT WICHITA STATE | 9:00PM | ESPN2/U |
| INDIANA AT IOWA | 9:00PM | FS1 |
| NORTH TEXAS AT WKU | 9:00PM | CBSSN |
| UC IRVINE AT UC DAVIS | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| PORTLAND STATE AT EASTERN WASHINGTON | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SACRAMENTO STATE AT IDAHO | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AT UT MARTIN | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NICHOLLS AT A&M-COMMERCE | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| USC AT UCLA | 9:30PM | ESPN |
| OREGON STATE AT UTAH | 10:00PM | PAC12 |
| SANTA CLARA AT PEPPERDINE | 10:00PM | STADIUM |
| PACIFIC AT SAN DIEGO | 10:00PM | WCC |
| UTAH TECH AT CALIFORNIA BAPTIST | 10:00PM | ESPN+ |
| CAL POLY AT CSU BAKERSFIELD | 10:00PM | ESPN+ |
| CAL STATE FULLERTON AT UC RIVERSIDE | 10:00PM | ESPN+ |
| HAWAI’I AT UC SAN DIEGO | 10:00PM | ESPN+ |
| LONG BEACH STATE AT CSUN | 10:00PM | ESPN+ |
| GONZAGA AT SAN FRANCISCO | 11:00PM | ESPN2 |
| BYU AT LOYOLA MARYMOUNT | 11:00PM | ESPNU |
| WASHINGTON AT ARIZONA | 11:00PM | FS1 |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| PGA TOUR: SENTRY TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS | 6:00PM | GOLF |
| NBA REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| MEMPHIS AT ORLANDO | 7:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| BOSTON AT DALLAS | 7:30PM | TNT |
| UTAH AT HOUSTON | 8:00PM | ATTSN-RM ATTSN-SW |
| LA CLIPPERS AT DENVER | 10:00PM | TNT |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| ARIZONA AT PHILADELPHIA | 7:00PM | BALLY SPORTS NBCS-PHI |
| NY RANGERS AT MONTRÉAL | 7:00PM | MSG SPORTSNET |
| NASHVILLE AT CAROLINA | 7:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| SEATTLE AT TORONTO | 7:00PM | ROOT SPORTS SPORTSNET |
| ST. LOUIS AT NEW JERSEY | 7:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| WASHINGTON AT COLUMBUS | 7:00PM | ESPN |
| NY ISLANDERS AT EDMONTON | 9:00PM | MSGSN2 SPORTSNET |
| COLORADO AT VANCOUVER | 10:00PM | ALT SPORTSNET |
| PITTSBURGH AT VEGAS | 10:00PM | ATTSN-PIT ATTSN-RM |
| BOSTON AT LOS ANGELES | 10:30PM | NESN BALLY SPORTS |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| COPA DEL REY: IBIZA ISLAS PITIUSAS VS REAL BETIS | 10:00AM | ESPN+ |
| COPA DEL REY: GIMNÀSTIC TARRAGONA VS OSASUNA | 10:00AM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLISH REMIER LEAGUE: CHELSEA VS MANCHESTER CITY | 3:00PM | PEACOCK |