THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2023

INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMI-STATE MATCH-UPS

CLASS 4A

FORT WAYNE WAYNE (21-4) VS. KOKOMO (22-4)

PENN (27-1) VS. HAMMOND CENTRAL (26-1)

BROWNSBURG (21-4) VS. JENNINGS COUNTY (24-2)

BEN DAVIS (30-0) VS. BLOOMINGTON NORTH (19-5)

CLASS 3A

DELTA (18-9) VS. JOHN GLENN (17-10)

NORTHWOOD (25-2) VS. FORT WAYNE DWENGER (13-13)

SCOTTSBURG (21-5) VS. NORTH DAVIESS (24-5)

GUERIN CATHOLIC (18-8) VS. BEECH GROVE (17-6)

CLASS 2A

GARY 21ST CENTURY (21-5) VS. FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK (24-3)

WAPAHANI (25-1) VS. LEWIS CASS (19-7)

BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (23-4) VS. INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA (18-6)

PARKE HERITAGE (19-9) VS. LINTON-STOCKTON (27-1)

CLASS 1A

SOUTHWOOD (13-12) VS. FOUNTAIN CENTRAL (23-4)

MARQUETTE CATHOLIC (20-7) VS. KOUTS (17-9)

INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (17-7) VS. LOOGOOTEE (20-7)

JAC-CEN-DEL (18-9) VS. ROCK CREEK ACADEMY (11-14)

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL- NCAA TOURNAMENT

FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 84 TEXAS SOUTHERN 61

ARIZONA STATE 98 NEVADA 73

THURSDAY, MARCH 16 (ROUND OF 64. ALL TIMES EASTERN)

NO. 9 WEST VIRGINIA VS. NO. 8 MARYLAND | 12:15 P.M. | CBS

NO. 13 FURMAN VS. NO. 4 VIRGINIA  | 12:40 P.M. | TRUTV

NO. 10 UTAH ST. VS. NO. 7 MISSOURI  |1:40 P.M. | TNT

NO. 16 HOWARD VS. NO. 1 KANSAS  | 2 P.M. | TBS

NO. 16 TEXAS A&M CC VS. NO. 1 ALABAMA | 2:45 P.M. | CBS 

NO. 12 COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON VS. NO. 5 SAN DIEGO ST. | 3:10 P.M. | TRUTV

NO. 15 PRINCETON VS. NO. 2 ARIZONA | 4:10 P.M. | TNT

NO. 9 ILLINOIS VS. NO. 8 ARKANSAS | 4:30 P.M. | TBS 

NO. 9 AUBURN VS. NO. 8 IOWA | 6:50 P.M. | TNT

NO. 12 ORAL ROBERTS VS. NO. 5 DUKE | 7:10 P.M. | CBS

NO. 15 COLGATE VS.  NO. 2 TEXAS | 7:25 P.M. | TBS

NO. 10 BOISE ST. VS. NO. 7 NORTHWESTERN | 7:35 P.M. | TRUTV

NO. 16 NORTHERN KENTUCKY VS. NO. 1 HOUSTON | 9:20 P.M. | TNT

NO. 13 LOUISIANA VS. NO. 4 TENNESSEE | 9:40 P.M. | CBS

NO. 10 PENN STATE VS. NO. 7 TEXAS A&M | 9:55 P.M. | TBS

NO. 15 UNC ASHEVILLE VS. NO. 2 UCLA | 10:05 P.M. | TRUTV

FRIDAY, MARCH 17 (ROUND OF 64. ALL TIMES EASTERN)

NO. 10 USC VS. NO. 7 MICHIGAN STATE | 12:15 P.M. |CBS

NO. 14 KENNESAW ST. VS. NO. 3 XAVIER | 12:40 P.M. | TRUTV

NO. 14 UC SANTA BARBRA VS. NO. 3 BAYLOR | 1:30 P.M. | TNT

NO. 12 VCU VS. NO. 5 SAINT MARY’S | 2 P.M. | TBS

NO. 15 VERMONT VS. NO. 2 MARQUETTE| 2:45 P.M. | CBS

NO. 11 MISSISSIPPI STATE/PITT VS. NO. 6 IOWA STATE | 3:10 P.M. | TRUTV

NO. 11 NC STATE VS. NO. 6 CREIGHTON| 4 P.M. | TNT

NO. 13 IONA VS. NO. 4 UCONN | 4:30 P.M. | TBS

NO. 16 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON VS. NO. 1 PURDUE| 6:50 P.M. | TNT

NO. 11 PROVIDENCE VS. NO. 6 KENTUCKY | 7:10 P.M. | CBS

NO. 12 DRAKE VS. NO. 5 MIAMI | 7:25 P.M | TBS

NO. 14 GRAND CANYON VS. NO. 3 GONZAGA| 7:35 P.M. | TRUTV

NO. 9 FLORIDA ATLANTIC VS. NO. 8 MEMPHIS | 9:20 P.M.| TNT

NO. 14 MONTANA ST. VS. NO. 3 KANSAS ST. | 9:40 P.M. | CBS

NO. 13 KENT STATE VS. NO. 4 INDIANA | 9:55 P.M. | TBS

NO. 11 ARIZONA ST/NEVADA VS. NO. 6 TCU | 10:05 P.M. | TRUTV

NIT

MOREHEAD STATE 68 CLEMSON 64

CENTRAL FLORIDA 67 FLORIDA 49

OKLAHOMA STATE 69 YOUNGSTOWN STATE 64

NORTH TEXAS 69 ALCORN STATE 53

CINCINNATI 81 VIRGINIA TECH 72

SAM HOUSTON 58 SANTA CLARA 56

UTAH VALLEY 83 NEW MEXICO 69

OREGON 84 UC IRVINE 58

NBA SCOREBOARD

PHILADELPHIA 118 CLEVELAND 109

MIAMI 138 MEMPHIS 119

SACRAMENTO 117 CHICAGO 114

HOUSTON 114 LA LAKERS 110

BOSTON 104 MINNESOTA 102

LA CLIPPERS 134 GOLDEN STATE 126

NHL SCOREBOARD

COLORADO 2 TORONTO 1

WASHINGTON 5 BUFFALO 4

MINNESOTA 8 ST. LOUIS 5

NY ISLANDERS 6 ANAHEIM 3

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD

TEXAS 4 KANSAS CITY 3

BOSTON 9 TAMPA BAY 1

PHILADELPHIA 9 NY YANKEES 8

HOUSTON 9 ATLANTA 3

TORONTO 7 PITTSBURGH 1

ST. LOUIS 4 NY METS 1

TOP INDIANA RELEASES

INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL

FLORY BIDUNGA NAMED INDIANA BASKETBALL GATORADE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Kokomo 6-10 junior Flory Bidunga is the boys basketball Gatorade Player of the Year for Indiana.

Bidunga averaged 19.7 points, 13.4 rebounds and 4.3 blocked shots per game, is shooting 82% from the field for Kokomo as they prepare for Saturday’s Class 4A semi-state game against Fort Wayne Wayne at Michigan City.

The Gatorade award recognizes “not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court.” Bidunga, ranked as a top-five player in the country in the junior class, carries a 3.41 grade-point average.

Recent winners for the Gatorade Player of the Year in Indiana are Homestead’s Fletcher Loyer (2022), Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian’s Caleb Furst (2021), Silver Creek’s Trey Kaufman-Renn (2020) and Center Grove’s Trayce Jackson-Davis (2019).

PACERS BASKETBALL

GAME PREVIEW: PACERS AT BUCKS

There’s no better time to stop the skid against the Milwaukee Bucks than now.

With just 13 games left on the regular season schedule, and the squad still in the postseason hunt, the Indiana Pacers (31-38) can stop a 10-game losing streak to the Bucks (50-19) on Thursday at Fiserv Forum.

Milwaukee, winners of the Central Division for four straight seasons, who are also currently the No. 1 seed in the East, have been a thorn in the Pacers’ side in recent years. The last time the Blue & Gold beat the Bucks was in February 2020.

Indiana is currently a game back of the 10th and final spot for the Play-In Tournament. The top six teams in the East will automatically make the playoffs while seeds seven through 10 advance to the Play-In.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Track the Latest Standings, Remaining Schedules, and More >>

The Pacers enter the matchup coming off a disappointing Monday night loss to the last-place Detroit Pistons. The Pacers are 6-4 over their last 10 games but have won two of the last three.

Against Detroit the Pacers were without multiple key players, as All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, veteran center Myles Turner, and bench guards T.J. McConnell and Bennedict Mathurin all sat out. Mathurin has been out since he sprained his right ankle on March 9 against the Houston Rockets while Haliburton, Turner and McConnell sat out the last two games.

Indiana played Detroit twice in three days in the Motor City, with the teams splitting games. In the most recent game, the Pistons led by as many as 31 points in the first half before holding on for the win.

Jordan Nwora came off the bench and scored 20 points while rookie Andrew Nembhard and forward Aaron Nesmith each provided 15 points for the Pacers.

The good news for the Pacers is they’ve had three days rest while the Bucks enter the game playing a late game on Tuesday night in Phoenix. Against the Suns, the Bucks came away with a 116-104 win behind another standout performance by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who tallied 36 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists.

Milwaukee has been dominant dating back to a few weeks before the All-Star break, going 21-2 since Jan. 23, with their only losses over that span being a three-point defeat to Philadelphia on March 4 and an overtime loss at Golden State last Saturday.

A point of emphasis will need to be on rebounding for the Pacers, as they rank 23rd in rebounds per game (41.5) while the Bucks are first in that category (49.0). The Bucks are also tough defensively, boasting the third-best defensive rating in the league (109.7).

Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA MVP, has continued to exert his dominance in the league, averaging 31.5 points (fourth in the NBA), 11.9 rebounds (second) and 5.5 assists this season.

Both teams like to let it fly from deep, as the Bucks have drained the fourth most 3-pointers (14.8 per game) this season and the Pacers are fifth (13.8).

Indiana will need to find a way to slow the Bucks down, as they’ve scored at least 132 points in each of the first two games.

The teams will conclude the regular season series on March 29 in Indianapolis.

Projected Starters

Pacers:  G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Buddy Hield, F – Aaron Nesmith, C – Myles Turner

Bucks: G – Jrue Holiday, G – Pat Connaughton, F – Khris Middleton, F – Giannis Antetokounmpo, C – Brook Lopez

Injury Report

Pacers:  Tyrese Haliburton – questionable (right ankle sprain), Buddy Hield – questionable (sore left foot), T.J. McConnell – questionable (sore lower back), Myles Turner – questionable (sore lower back), Kendall Brown – out (right tibia stress fracture), Chris Duarte – out (sore left ankle), Bennedict Mathurin – out (right ankle sprain)

Bucks: Goran Dragic – questionable (sore left knee), Brook Lopez – questionable (sore left ankle), Grayson Allen – out (sore right plantar fascia)

Last Meeting

Jan. 27, 2023: The Pacers were able to narrow a 33-point deficit to the Bucks to seven points, but couldn’t complete the comeback in a 141-131 loss in Indianapolis.

Milwaukee led 85-56 at halftime before the Pacers dropped 43 points in the third quarter to get back into the game. The Blue & Gold got it to seven points with 2:06 remaining, but the Bucks closed it out from there.

Turner, who scored 30 in the first matchup between the two teams, led the Pacers again with 24 points while Buddy Hield scored 22 and Mathurin chipped in 21 points off the bench. Haliburton also did not play in this contest.

Antetokounmpo scored 41 points on 16-for-29 shooting while also collecting 12 rebounds and dishing out six assists and Jrue Holiday had 20 points, nine assists and nine rebounds.

Milwaukee won the rebounding margin 50-38 and made 18 3-pointers to the Pacers’ 13 from deep. Six players hit at least two 3-pointers each in the game led by four from Pat Connaughton.

Noteworthy

Nwora will be going against his former team for the first time since being traded from the Bucks to the Pacers in February. He has scored in double figures in eight straight games for the Blue & Gold.

The Bucks have won four straight Central Division titles and have the most of any team in the division all-time (11). The record for most Central Division championships in a row is owned by the Bucks, which won six straight from 1981 to 1986.

Milwaukee owns an all-time regular season record of 113-91 against the Pacers.

COLTS FOOTBALL

THE COLTS SIGN BRYAN

The Colts signed veteran defensive tackle Taven Bryan to a one-year, $4.5 million deal. Bryan was a starter for Cleveland last season, posting three sacks, 11 hits and 19 hurries.

DULIN SIGNS DEAL

The Colts re-signed wide receiver and special teams ace Ashton Dulin to a two-year deal worth up to $9.2 million.

INDY ELEVEN

INDY ELEVEN SOCCER EXPERIENCE TO DEBUT SATURDAY DURING RILEY CHILDREN’S HEALTH SPORTS LEGENDS EXPERIENCE’S OPENING WEEKEN

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, March 15, 2023) – Indy Eleven is excited to team up with The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis to unveil the updated Indy Eleven Soccer Experience at the Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience, part of the museum’s Outdoor Sports Opening Weekend this Saturday, March 18.

Indy Eleven will kick off two days of special activities, prizes, photo opportunities, and guest appearances at the Sports Legends Experience with Saturday’s 11:11 a.m. Opening Ceremony for the rebranded soccer experience, featuring the chance for kids to play alongside coaches and players from the Eleven’s men’s and women’s teams until 1:00 p.m.

“Our entire organization is thrilled to help The Children’s Museum open up the Sports Legends Experience for its 2023 season, featuring a new way for families from near and far to make a connection with Indiana’s only professional soccer team,” said Indy Eleven President & CEO Greg Stremlaw.

Saturday’s activities at the Sports Legends Experience will also include the Grand Opening of two more exhibits – the USA Track & Field RunJumpThrow Experience at 1:00 p.m., and the Tony Stewart Foundation Accessibility Lane at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Pedal Car Racetrack at 3:00 p.m.

Access to the Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience is included with museum general admission and membership. Click here for more details on the full 2023 Opening Weekend calendar, including five additional events on Sunday. Click here to purchase tickets to The Children’s Museum in advance.

The updating of the Sports Legends Experience’s soccer exhibit is just part of a long-term partnership agreement between Indiana’s Team and the world’s largest children’s museum that began last summer. Updates to the Indy Eleven Soccer Experience include a newly installed turf surface for the mini-pitch featuring the club’s iconic crest and club marks displayed on new and updated exhibit equipment and signage.

The mini-pitch area features ample practice space and multiple goals of varying sizes where kids can learn soccer fundamentals and work on dribbling, passing, and shooting skills as they get one step closer to becoming the next stars of the Boys and Girls in Blue! As part of Indy Eleven’s activation of the field, Indiana’s Team will host a minimum of one youth soccer camp annually and numerous player appearances throughout the men’s and women’s seasons in United Soccer League (USL) play.

The partnership also includes a year-round presence inside The Children’s Museum, including Indy Eleven game-worn and other commemorative memorabilia being displayed in the Sports Experience’s locker room exhibit area, where it will sit proudly alongside items from other popular sports teams from across the Hoosier State. In addition, Indy Eleven merchandise, including items featuring the team’s loveable English Mastiff mascot Zeke, will be made available for purchase inside The Children Museum of Indianapolis Store.

The partnership will also feature cross-promotional opportunities, including exclusive offers for general and special event admission at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and Indy Eleven games held at IUPUI Carroll Stadium – and eventually at Eleven Park upon its projected opening in 2025.

INDIANA SWIMMING

NO. 10 HOOSIERS REACH PODIUM, SIT NINTH AFTER NIGHT ONE OF NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 10-ranked Indiana swimming and diving produced top-12 finishes in both opening night relays on Wednesday (March 15) night at the 2023 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships inside the Allan Jones Aquatic Center.

The Hoosiers put a relay on the podium for the first time since 2019 with a seventh-place finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay (6:59.01) after its 200-yard medley relay (1:35.96) finished 12th. Both relays achieved All-America status, with the latter receiving the honorable mention label.

“It was a good start to the meet,” IU head swimming coach Ray Looze said. “Our medley relay moved up pretty significantly, and we got a couple of really good splits in there which really helped us. The 800 free relay was our first podium since 2019 with a fantastic leadoff by Anna Peplowski, a school record. The three girls behind her did a great job of swimming tough. It wasn’t perfect tonight, but we showed great determination, toughness and grit, and that really plays well here. Hopefully every day we can get better and settle into the meet, but this was a solid start.”

Sophomore Anna Peplowski bested her own 200-yard freestyle program record with a 1:42.86 leadoff split in the 800 freestyle relay. Her previous best of 1:43.33 won her the Big Ten title last month. Freshman Kristina Paegle, sophomore Ching Hwee Gan and senior Mackenzie Looze were steady in the final three legs of the relay, all posting 1:35 splits.

IU dropped two hundredths from its season-best time in the 200-yard medley relay and moved up three spots from its seed into a 12th place finish in 1:35.96. Freshman Kristina Paegle dropped a 21.51 in the final leg, the fastest anchor by a freshman and No. 7 overall in the race.

Indiana has earned All-America honors in the 200 medley relay in seven straight seasons and nine of the last 10 NCAA Championships. IU’s 12th-place finish was its best since 2019 when the Hoosiers placed fourth.

IU also finished better than it did in both relays a year ago – the Hoosiers placed 15th in each at the 2022 championships.

After two events, Indiana sits ninth with 34 points.

RESULTS

200 MEDLEY RELAY

12. Anna Peplowski, Noelle Peplowski, Elizabeth Broshears, Kristina Paegle – 1:35.96 (Honorable Mention All-America)

800 FREESTYLE RELAY

7. Anna Peplowski, Kristina Paegle, Ching Hwee Gan, Mackenzie Looze – 6:59.01 (All-America)

HOOSIER ALL-AMERICANS

Elizabeth Broshears (200 Medley Relay)

Ching Hwee Gan (800 Freestyle Relay)

Mackenzie Looze (800 Freestyle Relay)

Kristina Paegle (200 Medley Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay)

Anna Peplowski (200 Medley Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay)

Noelle Peplowski(200 Medley Relay)

UP NEXT

Thursday marks the first full day of events, and IU has at least one athlete in each event. In the 500 free, Big Ten silver medalist Gan (4:38.96) is the 12th-fastest coming into the meet, while fellow sophomore Mariah Denigan comes in with a time of 4:40.52. The lone Hoosier in the 200 IM, Looze enters with a 1:56.52 seed though her personal best sits at 1:55.68 from 2022 Big Tens. Paegle’s 21.91 in the 50 free sits just a hundredth of a second off IU’s program record as she and senior Ashley Turak (22.00) race in the final individual swimming event of the day.

Diving enters the conversation on Thursday, beginning with IU’s most loaded event on the 1-meter springboard. Two-time Big Ten 1-meter Champion and junior Anne Fowler will lead the way, though sophomore Megan Carter has the team’s highest score in the event this season with a 351.60 at midseason. Fellow sophomore Skyler Liu joined Fowler and Carter on the podium at Big Tens, her first of three top-eight finishes that week. Carter, Liu and another sophomore, Alaina Heyde, are competing in their first NCAA Championships.

Thursday will conclude with the 200-yard freestyle relay, another program record set this season. Anna Peplowski, Paegle, Turak and junior Elizabeth Broshears won silver at Big Tens, going 1:27.70. The reordered lineup went .05 seconds faster than its previous program-best time at midseason.

INDIANA BASEBALL

TIBBITTS WALKS OFF EAGLES IN SERIES OPENER

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana baseball team walked-off Morehead State, 6-5, in 10 innings on Wednesday afternoon (March 15) to take the opening contest of a three-game series this week at Bart Kaufman Field.

Sophomore Brock Tibbitts took a two-strike pitch up the middle with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning to bring redshirt senior Phillip Glasser around to score.

The Hoosiers (11-7) clawed their way back into the contest in the final two innings to bring the ballgame to extras.

A Glasser single in the eighth brought the game within one run before freshman Devin Taylor drilled an opposite field homerun into the Hoosier bullpen to bring the score level in the bottom of the ninth.

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Ryan Kraft (1-0) was the winning pitcher after tossing an inning in relief in the top of the 10th inning.

Scoring Recap

Top First

Roman Kuntz singled through the right side to bring home Jackson Felter with two outs in the opening frame.

Morehead State 1, Indiana 0

Bottom First

Devin Taylor responded right back in the bottom of the first, driving a full-count fastball over the wall in right field for the first home run of his career.

Indiana 1, Morehead State 1

Bottom Second

With sophomore Josh Pyne on third and sophomore Carter Mathison on second, redshirt junior Bobby Whalen hit a groundball right at the Eagles’ shortstop. He gathered and elected to pick off Mathison who was stranded between second and third. Pyne scored and Whalen ultimately reached on the fielder’s choice.

Indiana 2, Morehead State 1

Top Third

Jacob Ferry brought the score level in the third with a solo bomb over the wall in center field on the second pitch of the inning.

Indiana 2, Morehead State 2

Top Fourth

Chase Vinson drove a ball into the Indiana bullpen in left field to hand the Eagles the lead in the fourth inning.

Morehead State 3, Indiana 2

Bottom Fifth

Pyne brought Taylor around to score on a fielder’s choice groundball to the shortstop.

Indiana 3, Morehead State 3

Top Eighth

Feltner rocketed a two-run shot over the bullpen in left field to give Morehead State a 5-3 lead in the eighth inning. Ryley Preece stole second right before Feltner took a fastball off of redshirt senior Craig Yoho over the fence.

Morehead State 5, Indiana 3

Bottom Eighth

The Hoosiers chipped into the lead in the bottom of the frame. Pyne singled to lead off the inning before reaching third on an error and a groundout. Redshirt senior Matthew Ellis walked in a pinch-hit appearance before fellow redshirt senior Phillip Glasser singled through the right side with two outs to score Pyne and close the deficit to one.

Morehead State 5, Indiana 4

Bottom Ninth

Taylor hit his second home run of the contest, driving a 2-2 fastball opposite field into the IU bullpen in left field to tie the game.

Morehead State 5, Indiana 5

Bottom Tenth

With the bases juiced and the infielders drawn into the grass, Tibbitts drove a 1-2 pitch up the middle to bring Glasser around to score the winning run.

Indiana 6, Morehead State 5

Up Next

Indiana will return to Bart Kaufman Field tomorrow afternoon for the second game of the series against Morehead State at 1 p.m. The game can be seen on B1G+ and heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network

INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL

INDIANA BASKETBALL GAME NOTES – GAME 34 VS. KENT STATE

Opening Tip

• The Indiana men’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight season and will face Mid-American Conference champion Kent State at 9:55 p.m. ET on March 17 at MVP Arena in New Albany, N.Y.

• IU has been selected for consecutive NCAA Tournaments for the first time since the 2015 and ’16 seasons. Hoosier head coach Mike Woodson is the second coach in program history (Mike Davis, 2000-03) to guide the program to two March Madness berths in his first two seasons.

• The Hoosiers will be making the program’s 41st trip to the NCAA Tournament, the sixth most in NCAA history.

Game Information

March 17, 2023 • 9:55 p.m. ET • 2023 NCAA Tournament First Round

MVP Arena (23,500) • Albany, N.Y.

TV: TBS (Spero Dedes, Debbie Antonelli, A.J. Ross)

Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)

Series History: Indiana leads, 3-1

Last Meeting: IU 81, KSU 69 on March. 23, 2002 in Lexington

Series History

• The Hoosiers and Golden Flashes have met four previous times on the hardwood, including twice in the NCAA Tournament this century. Indiana holds a 3-1 series advantage but have split the two postseason matchups.

• IU topped KSU in the 2002 Elite 8 game by a score of 81-69 on the strength of 15-of-19 (78.9%) made 3-point field goals. The shooting percentage marked the highest in NCAA Tournament history for a team with 10-plus made triples in a single game.

Last Time Out

• Indiana fell to Penn State in the semifinal round of the 2023 Big Ten Tournament by a final tally of 77-73.

• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis paced the Hoosier attack with 24 points on 11-of-14 shooting from the floor. He added 10 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and one block.

• Jackson-Davis has produced as many games (2) with at least 20 points, eight rebounds, and five assists on 75.0% shooting or better as the rest of the Big Ten Conference.

• TJD was named to the Big Ten Tournament Team after averaging 24.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game.

• Sixth-year senior forward Race Thompson battled early foul trouble to finish with 10 points, four rebounds, and three steals. Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino finished with 11 points and four assists.

Jackson-Davis, The All-American

• Since the calendar flipped to 2023, senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis has averaged 23.0 points, 12.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.8 blocks per game. His rebounding figure marks the second-highest tally in the NCAA during the 20-game stretch.

• Jackson-Davis was one of two players (Zach Edey, Purdue) unanimously selected to the All-Big Ten First Team for both the coaches and the media. TJD was also named to the five-player All-Defensive Team.

• The first team honor comes a season after earning second team accolades across all three voting outlets as a junior. Following his sophomore campaign, he was tabbed an All-Big Ten First Team performer by the media and a second team choice by the coaches. He was a third team honoree and was included on the All-Freshman Team after his rookie season.

• The last Hoosier to be named to an All-Big Ten Team in four-straight seasons since Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell (2013-16). He is the first Hoosier since Victor Oladipo (2012-13) to be named to the All-Defensive team in consecutive seasons.

• Over the last 25 years of basketball only Jackson-Davis (Jan. 2023), Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O’Neal have averaged at least 23.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game in a calendar month (min. 5 games) in Division I basketball or the NBA.

• TJD posted three 30-pooint games in the month of January, including back-to-back games with 35 points at Illinois (Jan. 19) and 31 points against Michigan State (Jan. 22). He also grabbed at least 20 rebounds three times during the stretch of nine games.

NCAA Tournament History

• The Hoosiers rank fourth in NCAA titles (5), sixth all time in NCAA Tournament appearances (41), seventh in tournament victories (67), seventh in wins over No. 1 seeds (5), and ninth in tournament games played (102).

• Indiana’s 1976 championship capped off the last perfect season in NCAA history. The Hoosiers went 32-0, including an 86-68 victory over Michigan in the title game.

• IU holds a record of 67-35 (.657) in tournament play.

Miller Time

• Fifth-year senior forward Miller Kopp has knocked down a team-best 58 3-pointers this season, the second most of his career (65 in 2019-20). He is hitting the long ball at a 44.3% clip, the second-highest percentage on the team (min. 20 attempts).

• Kopp was selected as the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honoree for Indiana. In his final start at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Kopp broke the Big Ten record for conference games played with 99. He was one of three Hoosiers to appear in all 31 games this season and the only player to appear in the starting lineup each game.

2023 AP All-America Team

Zach Edey, Purdue

Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana

Brandon Miller, Alabama

Marcus Sasser, Houston

Jalen Wilson, Kansas

2023 NABC All-America Team

FIRST TEAM

Zach Edey, Purdue

Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana

Brandon Miller, Alabama

Drew Timme, Gonzaga

Jalen Wilson, Kansas

2023 Sporting News All-America Team

FIRST TEAM

Zach Edey, Purdue

Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana

Marcus Sasser, Houston

Drew Timme, Gonzaga

Jalen Wilson, Kansas

2023 USBWA All-America Team

FIRST TEAM

Zach Edey, Purdue

Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana

Marcus Sasser, Houston

Drew Timme, Gonzaga

Jalen Wilson, Kansas

2023 NABC All-District Team

FIRST TEAM

Hunter Dickinson, Michigan

Zach Edey, Purdue

Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana

Kris Murray, Iowa

Jalen Pickett, Penn State

2023 USBWA All-District TEAM

DISTRICT V

Souley Boum, Xavier

Boo Buie, Northwestern

Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy

Hunter Dickinson, Michigan

Zach Edey, Purdue

Jalen Hood-Schifino, Indiana

Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana

Tyler Kolek, Marquette

Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois

Tyson Walker, Michigan State

INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

HOLMES SELECTED AS USBWA FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN; BERGER IS HONORABLE MENTION

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.  – Senior forward Mackenzie Holmes becomes the program’s first United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) First Team All-American while graduate student guard Grace Berger earns a place on the honorable mention team, announced by the organization on Wednesday.

Holmes has now earned her third All-American honor this season, as she was named The Athletic All-America and Associated Press All-American first team. She was also named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and All-Big Ten first team in the annual postseason conference awards and is now a two-time All-Big Ten selection in her career. She has also been named to the 2023 Lisa Leslie Award finalist and the first Hoosier to appear on the national ballot. She is also up for a variety of other national player of the year awards including 2023 Wooden Award national ballot, 2023 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy, 2023 Lisa Leslie Award finalist, 2023 Wooden Award and 2023 USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Player of the Year.

The Gorham, Maine native averages a team-high 22.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and is one of the nation’s most accurate shooters by going 68.8 percent from the floor. She is second in the nation and leading the Big Ten in field goal percentage, fifth in field goals made (271), seventh in points per game (22.3) and eighth in points scored (670). Holmes has led the Hoosiers in scoring on 24 occasions this season. She has scored in double figures in all 30 games, scoring 20 points 17 times and has three 30-point scoring efforts this season. Her nine double-doubles leads her teams as six of her double-doubles have occurred in conference play, which ranks eighth all-time in a single season. She led the league in blocks (56) and blocks per game (1.9) and averages 1.1 steals (33) per game. She set a season-high five blocks against Nebraska and Michigan while recording multiple blocks in 14 games. Holmes is now in the top five in scoring in school history (1,875) and second in all-time blocks (206).

Berger returns as an honorable mention selection from the 2021-22 season as she was also named an Associated Press honorable mention this season. In 22 games, the Louisville, Ky. native is averaging 12.5 points, 5.8 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 74.6 percent at the free throw line. She has scored in double figures 16 times including a season-high 26 points in the win over Iowa.  A player who does a little bit of everything, Berger has dished out multiple assists in 19 games and averages 1.1 steals per outing while holding a +2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio. She collected three double-doubles this year including two on the road at then No. 11/4 Tennessee and in a win at Ohio State while also having the first point/assist double-double for the program since 2017.

The Hoosiers were selected as a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, which begins on Saturday, March 18 against the winner of the play-in game between Tennessee Tech and Monmouth. Tip time is set for 11:30 a.m. ET at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and will be live on ESPN2.

PURDUE BASEBALL

BOILERMAKERS RIDE BIG INNINGS TO HOME-OPENING WIN

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Paul Toetz, Jake Parr and Jake Jarvis teamed up for 11 RBI and Purdue baseball scored at least four times in three different innings, riding the extended rallies to a 14-5 victory vs. Northern Illinois on Wednesday in the home opener at Alexander Field.

The Boilermakers (9-7) scored four times in the bottom of the second and five times in both the fourth and seventh innings. Purdue sent nine men to the plate in the second and batted around two frames later. Jarvis hit a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh.

Toetz delivered an RBI hit in both big innings early – a two-out double in the second and two-run single in the fourth. Parr cleared the bases with a two-out, three-run double to punctuate the first five-run frame. Toetz was 3-for-4 with a walk and four RBI. He leads the Big Ten Conference with 27 RBI in 16 games.

Evan Albrecht connected for a two-run double in his first at-bat of the season at Alexander Field, opening the scoring and extending his on-base streak to 19 consecutive games dating back to last season. Albrecht finished the day with three hits and three runs scored, raising his average for the season back over .400. He’s batting over .600 in Purdue’s nine wins this year.

Khal Stephen worked three innings of one-hit ball in his first career start at Alexander. He retired nine of the 10 batters he faced, striking out three while not issuing a walk.

Jarvis hit the second grand slam of the season by a Boilermaker and the first at Alexander since Cam Thompson cleared the bases with a big fly in the 2021 home opener.

Thompson was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning to extend his on-base streak at home to 23 consecutive games dating back to last season. Jo Stevens beat out an infield hit in the third inning to extend his team-best hit streak to 12 consecutive games.

Khal Stephen worked three innings of one-hit ball in his first career start at Alexander. He retired nine of the 10 batters he faced, striking out three while not issuing a walk.

Jarvis hit the second grand slam of the season by a Boilermaker and the first at Alexander since Cam Thompson cleared the bases with a big fly in the 2021 home opener.

Thompson was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning to extend his on-base streak at home to 23 consecutive games dating back to last season. Jo Stevens beat out an infield hit in the third inning to extend his team-best hit streak to 12 consecutive games.

PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL

EDEY EARNS CONSENSUS FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA ACCOLADES

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue’s Zach Edey has been named a consensus first-team All-American after picking up accolades by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). 

He previously earned honors from The Sporting News and the Associated Press, giving him first-team accolades in all four of the major organizations comprising the All-America ballots, thus making him a consensus first-team All-American, Purdue’s first since Caleb Swanigan in 2017.

It marks the second straight year that Purdue had a consensus All-American after Jaden Ivey was a second-team selection in 2022. Edey is the fourth consensus All-American in the last seven years for the Boilermaker program (2017 1st team – Swanigan; 2019 2nd team – Carsen Edwards; 2022 2nd team – Ivey; 2023 1st team – Edey).

Since the 2016-17 season, Purdue has had three players earn at least one first-team All-America distinction (Ivey was a first-team honoree by the NABC a year ago), the third-highest total in the country (Kansas – 5; Gonzaga – 4).

Edey has already been announced as a semifinalist for the Naismith Player of the Year and Wooden Award, as well as the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award given to the nation’s top center. Edey is considered a front-runner to win all the major awards this season.

Edey has already won National Player of the Year honors by The Sporting News and Big Ten Player of the Year accolades after helping Purdue to a Big Ten regular-season title and a No. 1 national ranking for seven weeks. He becomes Purdue’s first recipient of National Player of the Year honors since Glenn Robinson in 1994.

Earlier this season, Edey joined an exclusive list of Boilermakers to win the Big Ten Player of the Year, joining the late Caleb Swanigan (2017), JaJuan Johnson (2011), Glenn Robinson (1994) and Steve Scheffler (1990) as winners of the league’s top honor.

Edey has also been named to the Sporting News’ first-team All-America squad. Should he be named All-American by the AP, the USBWA and NABC, Edey would become Purdue’s fourth consensus All-American in the last seven years, joining Swanigan (2017), Carsen Edwards (2019) and Jaden Ivey (2022).

Edey, a 7-foot, 4-inch center from Toronto, currently averages 22.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.6 assists per game while shooting almost 60 percent from the field and nearly 75 percent from the free throw line – ranking sixth nationally in scoring and second in rebounds. He also leads the country with 26 double-doubles.

He is one of just two Big Ten players in league history to have at least 700 points and 400 rebounds in a season is close to becoming the first player in NCAA history with 750 points, 450 rebounds, 50 blocks and 50 assists in a season (assists became an official NCAA statistic in 1983-84).

His eight games of 30 points and 10 rebounds are the most for a major-college player in the last 20 years, surpassing Blake Griffin’s and Kevin Durant’s seven games of 30 and 10.

Edey became the second player in Big Ten history and the first since Ohio State’s Gary Bradds in 1963-64 to lead the league in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage, and he is one of just nine players (Blake Griffin, Ike Diogu, Antawn Jamison, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, Bill Walton, Lew Alcindor, Gary Bradds) to lead a major-college conference in all three categories in NCAA history. Griffin was the last to do so in 2009.

Edey was also named a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award and earned a spot on the Big Ten’s All-Defensive team.

The Boilermakers will face Fairleigh Dickinson in Friday’s NCAA Tournament first-round game in Columbus, Ohio.

PURDUE SOFTBALL

SOFTBALL SPLITS DAY IN STARKVILLE

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Boilermaker softball squad split the day in Starkville, picking up a 2-1 win over North Dakota State before falling to host Mississippi State, 1-5. With the day’s results, Purdue’s record moves to 12-9 on the season.

GAME ONE: Purdue 2, North Dakota State 1

Purdue clinched the win over North Dakota with a home run from Alex Echazarreta in the bottom of the sixth inning. Echazarreta led the day, not only recording the game-winner, but also pitching a complete game in the process.

In the game, the Boilermakers registered seven total hits with a career-best three singles from Jordyn Ramos, two from Ryen Ross, and one from Tyrina Jones. Khloe Banks earned the first run for Purdue in the bottom of the fifth.

Echazarreta went the distance in the circle with three strikeouts and only allowing one run. The win advanced her record to 5-6 on the season.

Purdue and North Dakota State both remained scoreless until the fifth inning when North Dakota State took the lead with one run. Purdue responded at the bottom of the inning with a hit by Ramos, which batted in fellow freshman Banks to tie the game back up. The Boilermakers defense held North Dakota State to one run while a homerun from Echazarreta notched the 2-1 win.

GAME TWO: Purdue 0, Mississippi State 6

After defeating North Dakota State, Purdue fell 1-5 to Mississippi State, dropping the Boilermakers record to 12-9 while the Bulldogs, a team receiving votes in the national polls, improved to 19-8.

Olivia McFadden earned the Boilermakers lone run in the fifth inning. The hit came in home run fashion and was the first of the season and second of the sophomore’s career.

Purdue produced two hits, with a single by Echazarreta joining McFadden’s homer.

Purdue’s defense held the Bulldogs scoreless in the first three innings, but the Boilermakers fell behind as the Bulldogs took a three-run lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Purdue responded in the fifth inning with a home run, but the Bulldogs earned two more runs, securing their lead.

Alexa Pinarski (1-1) was tagged with the loss in her 3.1 innings pitched despite her one strikeout. Madi Elish, Mo Wimpee and Kendall Klochack all saw time in the circle with Mo Wimpee notching one strikeout.

Purdue will finish the week in Oxford, Mississippi for the Rebels Invitational. Tomorrow, Purdue will play two games: first another showdown vs. North Dakota State at 5 p.m. ET, followed by Samford at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Boilermakers will play two more games Friday and close the weekend with one game on Saturday.

BUTLER SOFTBALL

BUTLER SOFTBALL EDGES PURDUE FORT WAYNE

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Butler softball team came from behind to beat Purdue Fort Wayne, 5-4, in a midweek game. The Bulldogs (8-18) took an early lead but gave it up in the fifth inning, as the Mastodons (5-16) carried a 4-3 lead into the seventh. Butler rallied with two late runs and the defense held for the non-conference victory.

How It Happened

Butler jumped on the board early, hitting three doubles in the top of the first and scoring three. After a Kaylee Gross lead-off double and a Sydney Carter walk, Paige Dorsett (2-2, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R) hit a double to center that plated Gross. Monique Hoosen then hit a two-run double, sending Carter and Dorsett across. The 3-0 lead held through three innings.

In the bottom of the fourth, Purdue Fort Wayne followed up a single with a home run and drew to within one, 3-2. In the fifth, after the Bulldogs made a pitching change, the Mastodons scored two more on three hits and two walks. Purdue Fort Wayne led 4-3, after five complete.

In the top of the seventh, Ella White (2-3) hit a lead-off double, and Dorsett produced her second double of the game, sending White home and tying the score at four. After a Ryan walk and a passed ball, Butler had runners on second and third with nobody out. An Ellie Boyer single allowed Dorsett to tag home and provided what was ultimately the winning run.

Butler made it’s second pitching change entering the bottom of the seventh and then retired all three Fort Wayne batters to secure the win.

Kayla Noerr (4.0 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 3 BB, K) started in the circle for Butler and left after the third with Butler up, 3-2. Rylyn Dyer (4-5) provided relief in the fifth and sixth and was awarded the win. In 2.0 innings she allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one. Sydney Cammon entered in the middle of the seventh and was credited with a save. Cammon retired all three batters she faced, striking out one.

Bulldog Bits

Kaylee Gross’s double was her third of the season and the fourth of her career.

Paige Dorsett’s two doubles were her second and third of the season and the fourth and fifth of her career.

Monique Hoosen’s double was her fourth of the season and the tenth of her career.

Ella White’s double her fifth of the season and the 16th of her career.

Cate Lehner’s stolen base in the fourth inning was the first of her career.

Up Next

Butler’s three-game home series with St. John’s, from Friday, Mar. 17 through Sunday, Mar. 19, has been cancelled due to forecast inclement weather. The Bulldogs are next scheduled to host IUPUI on Wednesday, Mar. 22.

IUPUI SOFTBALL

JAGUARS DROP DOUBLEHEADER AT HOME ON WEDNESDAY

INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI softball team hosted Indiana State for their home opener in a doubleheader on Wednesday. The Sycamores defeated the Jags in back-to-back games. Kennedy Cowan hit her third home run of the season in the first game.

Indiana State won the first game, 4-1. The Jags jumped on the board first, 1-0, with Cowan’s third blast of the season, launching a homer over the left field wall. After five scoreless, in the top of the sixth inning, the Sycamores scored four runs on three hits. The Jags left two runners stranded in the bottom of the seventh inning, unable to push across a run sealing the game at 4-1.

Carly Metcalf took the loss on the mound giving up three runs on four hits with five strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work. Five Jags recorded hits in the loss with Cowan earning the RBI with her homer. Kendal Calvert, Jordan Jenkins, Jaylin Calvert and Jaida Speth all recorded singles.

Game two was a pitcher’s dual with the Sycamores once again coming out on top, 2-1. IUPUI pitching struggled with control in the first inning giving up three walks and a wild pitch, giving Indiana State the 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. After the first inning both teams defense and pitching locked in.

In the fourth inning the Jags cut the lead in half with one run on one hit. Rachel Gregory was hit by pitch to reach base then came around to score on Kasie Keyes single to shortstop.

Despite cutting the lead in half, the Jags would not score again with Indiana State’s Hailey Griffin earning her first save on the year striking out six batters in three innings.

Madison Bryant took the loss for the Jags giving up two runs on no hits with nine strikeouts and four walks in five innings. Cowan went 3-for-3 in game two with a double while Jaida Speth also recorded a double.

IUPUI is now 3-14 and will open Horizon League play on Friday when they welcome Oakland for a 3:00 PM first pitch.

BALL STATE VOLLEYBALL

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL EARNS 3-0 SWEEP OVER RIVAL OHIO STATE

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men’s volleyball team began its two-match Mid-Western Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) home and away series against its longest rival Ohio State with an impressive 3-0 (26-24, 25-15, 25-20) sweep Wednesday night in Worthen Arena.

With the win, the Cardinals improved to 12-7 overall and 5-2 in MIVA action while the Buckeyes fell to 11-9 and 4-3 in league play.

The first set saw five ties which was to be expected in a match against your arch nemesis.

Frame one was tied 24-24 but a service error from Ohio State’s Samuel Clark gave Ball State the upper hand for set point. Dyer Ball came through for the Cardinals with a fierce kill to give Ball State the first set over Ohio State, 26-24.

After that, sets two and three mimicked one another as Ball State took significant leads in both frames. The Cardinals won by 10 (25-25) in the second period which was also secured by a Ball kill.

The Cardinals were up 2-0 in the match heading into the five-minute break. When the two teams returned for the third set Ohio State came out strong trying to give BSU a run for their money which included eight ties and three lead changes.

But the Cardinals weren’t fazed by the Buckeyes aggressive style of play. Sammy Adkisson came in late in the frame and would serve up three-straight points to put BSU up 17-12.

Ball State continued to cruise past Ohio State the remainder of the set allowing Tinaishe Ndavazocheva to serve up an ace for the 25-20 win while also claiming match point for the Cardinals.

Tonight’s victory was an all-around strong offensive performance for the Cardinals with Ball State hitting .405 percent from the floor. Both Kaleb Jenness and Ndavazocheva had 12 kills apiece while Ball finished the night with 11.

The Ball State men’s volleyball team continues MIVA rival action Saturday at Ohio State.

BALL STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

WBB WELCOMES BELMONT TO WORTHEN ARENA THURSDAY FOR FIRST ROUND OF THE WNIT

Ball State (25-8) vs. Belmont (23-11)

Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT)

March 16, 2023 >>Worthen Arena>>Muncie, Ind.>>First Round

Opening Tip:

– Ball State will be making its eighth WNIT appearance under Ball State 11th-year head coach Brady Sallee and 11th overall (all since 2002). The Cardinals are 6-10 all-time in WNIT play winning a first round game in 2018 and then won two games to reach the final 16 of the 2013 event.

– Ball State enters the WNIT with a 25-8 overall record. The Cardinals went 14-4 in Mid-American Conference play and made it to the semifinal game of the 2023 Mid-American Conference Tournament for the second-straight season which was also under Sallee. The 20-win season marks the sixth time within the last eight campaigns he has reach the 20-win plateau.

– Brady Sallee, is the only head coach in program history to take the Cardinals to eight WNITs. He is also he program’s winningest coach with 208 victories.

– Belmont comes to Ball State with a 23-11 season ledger. The Bruins went 17-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference and made it to the Hoops in the Heartland conference tournaments championship game losing to Drake, 89-71. Prior to that loss, the Bruins’ were on a 16-game win streak.

– This is the first-ever meeting between Belmont and Ball State.

– The 2023 WNIT field features 64 NCAA Division I women’s basketball teams. The field includes 30 teams that receive automatic berths – one berth from each of the nation’s established conferences – and 33 at-large selections. All teams at the NCAA Division I level are considered for at-large berths, including those who are independent and/or are in the process of reaching full NCAA Division I status.

– A Cardinal win will advance Ball State to the second round of the WNIT for the first time since the 2018 season when BSU hosted Middle Tennessee in Worthen Arena winning by a score of 69-60 March 15, 2018.

Fast Facts:

– Redshirt senior Anna Clephane has 1,284 points for her career and became the 10th player under Brady Sallee to reach the 1,000 point milestone against Miami (1/14/23). Clephane is first on the team in scoring averaging 15.4 points per game.

 – Sophomore Marie Kiefer has proven to be a great defender for the Cardinals. She currently sits in thirrd place all-time in blocked shots with 98 and so far has 50 total this season. Kiefer averages 1.4 blocks per contest. Kiefer with her 50 blocks this season ranks third all-time in a single-season in the Ball State record books and she is fourth all-time with 98 in program history. Kiefer needs six to move into second all-time for career blocks with former Cardinal Renee Bennett (2013-17) with 104.

– Graduate senior Thelma Dis Agustsdottir has found her rhythm behind the arc again as she currently leads the team with 98 three’s so far this season. Agustsdottir has 316 total 3-pointers for her career and sits in second place all-time. She needs eight more to take the top spot which is currently being held by former Cardinal and current associate head coach Audrey Spencer (2006-10) with 323 3-pointers. She enters the 2023 MAC Tournament ranked fifth in the nation in made 3-pointers (98), 10th in 3-pointers per game (2.97), and 22nd in 3-point field goal attempts (229).

A Look Back at 2022 WNIT:

The Ball State women’s basketball team suffered a 93-70 season ending loss at Marquette in the first round of the 2022 postseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) March 16 at the Al McGuire Center. Ally Becki led Ball State with 22 points.

Scouting Belmont:

Belmont is making its third WNIT appearance and first since 2014. The Bruins played in the last six NCAA Tournaments and were an automatic qualifier for both the 2014 and 2006 Postseason WNIT.

Belmont will be seeking its first WNIT win as the Bruins fell by a single point in both of its first two WNIT games. In their first-ever WNIT appearance in 2006, the Bruins were defeated 56-55 at Tennessee Tech. In its last WNIT appearance in 2014, Belmont dropped a 48-47 decision at the Big Ten Conference’s Indiana in Bloomington, Indiana.

The Bruins are coming off their third consecutive conference tournament championship game appearance after reaching the Missouri Valley Conference title game this past Sunday. In its inaugural Hoops in the Heartland tournament in Moline, Illinois, last week, second-seeded Belmont defeated seventh-seeded Southern Illinois 70-64 in the quarterfinals before taking out third-seeded Northern Iowa 69-62 in the semifinals. Fourth-seeded Drake upset the Bruins 89-71 in the title game for the MVC’s automatic bid to the Big Dance.

In its first year in one of the strongest conferences outside the Power Five, Belmont won its ninth regular season conference championship and sixth in seven seasons. The Bruins ended the regular season on a 14-game winning streak and held a 16-game winning streak, which was tied for the fifth-longest active winning streak in the nation, heading into championship Sunday.

Junior guard Destinee Wells, who was named to the MVC All-Tournament Team leads Belmont in scoring averaging 19.1 points per game.

NOTRE DAME SOFTBALL

IRISH OFFENSE KEEPS THE PRESSURE ON IN 12-3 WIN AT UNCG

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The University of Notre Dame softball jumped out to an early lead and kept the pressure on as the Fighting Irish earned a 12-3 victory over the UNC Greensboro Spartans Wednesday evening at the UNCG Softball Stadium. The Irish hung crooked numbers in four innings, led by a four-run first inning.

Graduate student Payton Tidd got the start in the circle, picking up her eighth win of the season. She worked 4.0 innings, allowing four hits, three earned runs and struck out three. Micaela Kastor earned her third save of the season, working three innings effectively, allowing just three hits and striking out four.

Carlli Kloss led the powerful Irish offense. Kloss becomes the second player in 2023 to record four or more hits, going 4-for-5, with an RBI, two runs scored and finished a double short of the cycle. Lexi Orozco added three hits, scored a run and drove in a run. Joley Mitchell and Payton Tidd each finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and scored a run.

How It Happened

The Irish jumped up early, scoring four runs in the first inning. A lead-off triple scored on a fielder’s choice before a walk and a single put two on. A sacrifice fly from Mitchell drove in the second run of the afternoon, before back-to-back doubles from Tidd and Kronenberger put the Irish up 4-0 after the first inning.

Kloss added a solo home run in the second before a walk and an RBI single scored Gaskins to extend the lead to 6-0, Irish.

Three more Irish runs scored in the fourth inning. A lead-off single and a walk put two on for Mitchell who doubled to bring in one. Tidd added another double to drive in two more the extend the lead to 9-0.

The Spartans got on the board in the fourth thanks to a three-run home run by Samantha Lagrama, cutting the Notre Dame lead to 9-3.

An infield single, a hit batter and a walk loaded the bases for Orozco who drove a ball to the wall to clear the bases and extend the lead to 12-3.

Up Next

The Irish are back in action tomorrow night as they close the North Carolina road swing with a matchup with East Carolina at 5 p.m. in Greenville.

NOTRE DAME BASEBALL

NOTRE DAME TAKES GAME TWO AGAINST THE HAWKS

HOLLY SPRINGS, NC – The Fighting Irish advanced to 8-6 on the season as they took down Saint Joseph 10-9 on Wednesday, March 15 at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs, NC. Notre Dame is on a three-game winning streak after defeating Georgia Tech on Saturday and going 2-0 against the Hawks in the midweek matchup.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Freshman David Lally Jr. had his first career start, picking off the runner at second and following the play with a strikeout to close the top of the first.

While the Irish had two hits in the bottom of the first from Zack Prajzner and Brooks Coetzee, it was a scoreless first inning across the board for the Irish and the Hawks.

The Irish would put their first run on the board in bottom of the second as DM Jefferson would reach after a walk and proceed to steal second, putting himself in scoring position. Estevan Moreno singled up the middle in his first at bat of the day to send Jefferson home. Penney would follow with a base hit, but was left on base to close out the second as the Irish led 1-0.

The Hawks tied it up in the top of the third with a base hit and an RBI double. The Irish went three up and three down to finish the third, followed by another scoreless inning from both Notre Dame and Saint Joseph’s.

The Hawks took the lead 2-1 to start the fifth after doubling to left field and scoring on a sac fly to center field. The Irish responded with their best offensive production of the day, scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth. After Coetzee was hit by the pitch and Juaire reached on a walk, TJ Williams doubled down the left field line to score Coetzee and advance Juaire to third.

Dani Neri stepped up to the plate and smashed a ball into deep right field for his third home run of the season as he scored Juaire and Williams to take the lead 5-2.

The Hawks homered to left center to score two more in the top of sixth and closed the gap to one 5-4. The bottom of the sixth started with a double down the left field line from Prajzner and was followed by Coetzee being hit by the pitch for the second time. Putz had a base hit to right field to make it bases loaded with Juaire up to bat. Juaire reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Prajzner to make it a 6-4 ballgame.

The top of the seventh started with back-to-back walks, putting runners on first and second for the Hawks. Two base hits and one home run later, Saint Joseph’s five runs in the seventh gave them the 9-6 advantage heading into the eighth.

 A ground out to shortstop and two flies to right field would close the top of the eighth with Penney, Prajzner, and Coetzee due up for Notre Dame to start the bottom of the inning. It didn’t take for the Irish to strike as Jack Penney launched it to right field for his third home run of the season to close the gap to 9-7. Coetzee reached after being hit by the pitch for the third time and was sent home on another homer from Putz as he too sent it to deep right field. After Putz’s two-run home run, the Irish tied it up at 9-9 heading into the ninth.

Sammy Cooper took the mound to relieve Ricky Reeth at the top of the inning. Second baseman Estevan Moreno made two big-time catches for the first two outs, before Prajzner was able to get the final out on a line drive to shortstop to close the top of the ninth.

Casey Kmet and Moreno were each hit by the pitch to put runners on first and second to start the bottom of the ninth. Penney followed with a sac bunt to advance Kmet and Moreno into scoring position on second and third. Prajzner was intentionally walked by the Hawks, making it bases loaded for Notre Dame. Coetzee stepped up to plate and inevitably was hit by the pitch for the fourth time in the game to score Kmet and take home the 10-9 walkoff win.

UP NEXT

The Irish are back in action on Friday as they resume conference play at Wake Forest for a three-game series before opening up at home at Frank Eck Stadium on Tuesday, March 21 against Valpo.

NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MILES, CITRON MAKE AP ALL-AMERICA CUT

Following a standout sophomore regular season, Olivia Miles has been named to the AP All-America Second Team.

Miles, a 5-10 sophomore out of New Jersey, is averaging 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game. She leads Notre Dame in rebounds, assists and steals, and she ranks second on the team in points. Miles is the only player in the nation averaging at least 14 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals every time she takes the floor.

Her shining moment of the season thus far came at home against Louisville. The Cardinals had beaten Notre Dame in six-straight games, and the Feb. 16 meeting was a back-and-forth contest that ended with overtime. At the final buzzer, Miles hit a long-two to give Notre Dame a 78-76 victory.

Miles’ greatest improvement this year, at least statistically, has come on the boards. She posted 5.7 rebounds per game last year, and she has increased that by nearly a pair per contest.

Miles was an Honorable Mention selection last year after putting up 13.7 points and 7.4 assists per game.

On that topic, fellow sophomore Sonia Citron is an AP All-America Honorable Mention selection this year. Citron, a native of Eastchester, N.Y., is Notre Dame’s leading scorer to date with 14.7 points per game. She holds the two highest single-game point totals this year for the Irish, and the marks came in back-to-back contests: 27 at Louisville on Feb. 26 and 28 against NC State on March 3 in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. With the showings, Citron became the first Irish player since 2018 (Arike Ogunbowale) to put up 25+ points in consecutive games.

Citron is easily the most accurate shooter for Notre Dame, pacing the team with a .495 mark from the floor and a .439 mark from deep. The former mark ranks second in the ACC amongst guards, and the latter mark is a near-10 percent improvement for Citron from her freshman year.

Notre Dame (25-5) will be back in action on Friday, as the Irish host WAC champion Southern Utah (23-9) for the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The game tips off on ESPN2 at 3:30 p.m.

NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S LAX

GAME 7 PREVIEW: VIRGINIA TECH

SOUTH BEND, Ind.- The No. 12 Fighting Irish are back at home to take on conference opponent Virginia Tech. The matchup will take place at Loftus Arena at Notre Dame.

#12 NOTRE DAME vs. Virginia Tech

Date/Time: Thursday, March 16 — 2:00 p.m.

Location: Notre Dame, Ind.

Live Stream: ACCNX

Live Stats: Click Here

Twitter Updates: @NDWomensLax

For a more in-depth look at the matchup – Game Notes: Notre Dame

FOR STARTERS

The No. 12 Irish are back at Loftus to take on the Virginia Tech Hokies.

Live stats will be available for the contest as well as a the game being aired on ACCNX

The attacking trio of  Choma, Ahern, and Wolak combine for 73 of the 128  Irish points.

THE NOTRE DAME- VIRGINIA TECH SERIES

The Irish and Hokies will be meeting for the 14th time on Thursday. The Irish hold the advantage in the series 11-2.

In the last outing, the Irish ultimately fell in a game down to the buzzer, 13-12.

Kelly Denes led the Irish with seven draw controls along with Jackie Wolak (3) and Mary Kelly Doherty (2) leading the Irish in goals.

Notre Dame featured seven different goal scorers in the last matchup.

IN THE POLLS

Notre Dame is ranked No. 12 in this week’s ILWomen/IWLCA poll.

Six other ACC programs are currently ranked in the top-25 according to the  IL Women/IWLCA Preseason Poll, including #1 North Carolina, #2 Syracuse, #4 Boston College, #10 Virginia,  #15 Duke, and #24 Clemson.

BALANCED ATTACK

The Irish return 3 of the 4 top scorers from the 2022 season in Kasey Choma, Madison Ahern, Jackie Wolak.

The top scorers were assisted by Kelly Denes who won 100 draw controls and tallied 14 goals of her own.

Choma, Ahern, and Wolak lead the Irish in points combining for 73 points.

Choma is currently  ranked in the top ten in the ACC for goals per game (3.00)

Wolak is ranked in the top five in the ACC for points per game (5.17) and assists per game (2.5).

Denes is ranked fourth in the ACC for draw controls per game tallying  6.33.

Fourteen different players have scored at least one goal this season with 12 having found the back of the net multiple times.

THREE HEADED MONSTER

The attacking trio of Choma, Ahern, and Wolak are combining for 73 points.

Choma leads the Irish with 18  goals and four assists, Wolak has 16 goals and 15 assists, and Ahern has 14 goals and six assists.

Wolak leads the team in points with 31, while Choma has 22 and Ahern has 20.

Choma  now has tallied four hat tricks in the 2023 season and Wolak has tallied three in a row.

Choma, Ahern, and Wolak have all been named to the 2023 Tewaaraton Watchlist.

Choma, Ahern and Wolak combined for 15 points in the win over Central Michigan (02/18/23).

They also combined for 14 assists leading to eleven different goal scorers over Central Michigan.

 Wolak ranks in the top ten in the ACC and nationally for assists per game (2.50).

Ahern ranks in the top fifteen nationally for free position goals.

DEFENSE ON DEMAND

The Irish held the nation’s top scoring offense to just nine goals, which is more than 12 below Clemson’s season average.

Notre Dame is the first team this season to hold the Tiger attack under a double-digit goal total in a game.

Mary Kelly Doherty and Keelin Schlageter are both ranked in the top ten  in the conference in caused turnovers per game.

The Irish have held four of their six opponents to single digits.

Emma Schettig won ACC Defensive Player of the Week after helping the Notre Dame defense hold Duke to just six goals.

Notre Dame has caused havoc on defense, averaging 11 caused turnovers per game, a mark that ranks ninth in the nation.

CALLAHAN IN THE CREASE

Callahan made her first double-digit save performance of her career, finishing with 15 saves against Northwestern. This also established a new career high in saves for her.

Ranks in the top 15 in the country in both goals-against average (7.79) and save percentage (.519)

Lilly Callahan earned her first career win in her first career start while holding the San Diego State attack to just two goals .

The two goals Callahan allowed marked the lowest scoring output in SDSU program history, which dates back to the 2012 season.

DOMINATING THE DRAW

The Irish have won the draw control battle in five of their six games this season.

Notre Dame currently ranks No. 8 in the country in both draw control percentage (.618) and  in draw controls per game 17.00.

Kelley Denes leads the Irish in draws per game (6.33) and is the primary player used at the draw for the Irish. She ranks in the top 20 nationally for draw controls per game.

The Irish draw control unit held the nation’s leader on the draw circle to only four draw controls in their matchup against Duke.

The Irish currently have won the draw control battle on the season by a margin of 102-63.

INDIANA STATE BASEBALL

LATE RALLY SPARKS SYCAMORES TO ROAD WIN AT ILLINOIS

URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Indiana State picked up its first win at Illinois since 2007 as Jorge Pereira and Keegan Watson sparked a four-run 10th inning to propel the Sycamores past the host Fighting Illini on Wednesday night, 7-3.

The Sycamores (8-8) loaded the bases with one out in the top of the 10th inning after Illinois forced the game into extra innings following a three-run seventh. Luis Hernandez and Parker Stinson both reached on infield singles, while Mike Sears was hit by a pitch to put three on with none out.

After a foul out, Pereira worked a 1-1 count before getting hit by a pitch from Illinois (7-6) reliever Alex Vera (0-1) bringing home Joe Kido to give ISU a 4-3 lead. Two batters later, Watson followed with a fly ball double to right field clearing the bases and giving the Sycamores the 7-3 lead.

Spencer (2-1) struck out the Fighting Illini side in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings. He posted five strikeouts over the final 2.2 innings and retired the final eight Illini hitters in closing out the win.

Josue Urdaneta, Parker Stinson, Mike Sears, and Grant Magill all posted multi-hit games on Wednesday evening as the Sycamores connected on 13 hits in the win. Stinson, Magill, and Watson all doubled, while five ISU players were hit by pitches in the contest.

Spencer took his second win of the season after shutting down the Illini over the final 2.2 innings. Brennyn Cutts picked up the no-decision on the start after going two scoreless innings and striking out three. Cam Edmonson, Jacob Pruitt, Zach Davidson, and Joey Hurth also saw time on the mound in relief. Overall, the ISU pitching staff tied a season-high with 14 strikeouts in the win.

Drake Westcott and Brody Harding posted multi-hit games for Illinois, while Cam McDonald added a two-RBI performance in the loss. Danny Doligale and Branden Comia both doubled for Illinois.

Vera took the loss after surrendering all four runs in the top of the 10th inning. Jake Swartz went the first 3.1 innings in the start, while Ryan O’Hara, Logan Tabeling, John Lundgren, TJ Constertina, and Jack Wenninger also saw time on the mound.

How They Scored

Indiana State took the 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning highlighted by a Grant Magill RBI double scoring Miguel Rivera. Seth Gergely added an RBI fielder’s choice and a run scored as the Sycamores went ahead early.

Illinois tied the game up with three runs in the bottom of the seventh as Branden Comia doubled home Brody Harding and Cam McDonald singled in Comia and Danny Doligale to knot the score at 3-3.

After nearly going ahead in the ninth, the Sycamores took the 7-3 lead in the 10th as Jorge Pereira drew a bases-loaded HBP scoring Joe Kido and Keegan Watson connected on the bases-clearing three-run double to give ISU the final four-run margin.

News & Notes

Indiana State won its first game in Urbana-Champaign since the March 27, 2007, when the Sycamores topped Illinois, 4-0.

ISU ran its winning streak to six consecutive games marking the longest winning streak since the 2021 season when ISU topped Florida International (three games), Florida Gulf Coast, and Florida Atlantic (two games) from March 5-12.

ISU’s five-game home run streak came to an end on Wednesday as the Sycamores failed to leave the park against Illinois.

ISU was hit by five pitches for the second time in the 2023 season tying the previous high set back on February 26, 2023, against Northeastern. The Sycamores have been hit by a Missouri Valley-leading 34 pitches so far this season.

Jared Spencer became the second ISU reliever to post his second win of the season joining Zach Davidson for the team wins lead.

ISU’s 13 hits marked a season-high for the Sycamores.

The ISU pitching staff’s 14 strikeouts tied a season-high (14 vs. Quinnipiac – Feb. 18, 2023)

ISU went to its third extra-inning game of the 2023 season and picked up their first win in extras after previously falling in 11 innings to both Iowa and Northeastern.

Up Next

Indiana State is set to make its home debut this weekend with a three-game series against Michigan State at Bob Warn Field on March. 17-19. Keep up to date on GoSycamores.com or by following ISUBaseball on Twitter for any potential schedule changes.

INDIANA STATE SOFTBALL

SYCAMORES SWEEP DOUBLEHEADER AT IUPUI

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Indiana State softball swept a road doubleheader against IUPUI on Wednesday afternoon at the IUPUI Softball Complex.

The Sycamores took game one 4-1 while winning the second game by a score of 2-1. ISU is now 10-11 on the season heading into Missouri Valley Conference play.

The pair of wins grows the Sycamores all-time record to 40-20 against the Jaguars.

Game One

The Sycamores struggled to get the bats going early and trailed by a run heading into the sixth inning.

Isabella Henning continued to swing a hot bat, doubling to right center in the opening frame but that would be the only ISU offense in the inning. IUPUI would take a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the first with a leadoff solo shot by Kennedy Cowan.

Indiana State had only two other baserunners prior to the sixth, a single from TeAnn Bringle and a walk by Kennedy Shade. After a pair of strikeouts from starter Lexi Benko, the Sycamores came to the plate in the top of the sixth where they would explode for four runs in the inning.

Danielle Henning hit the first home run of her collegiate career to start the scoring and tie the game at one. Isabella Henning drew a walk and was pinch ran for by Hannah Welch who would come around to score on an Annie Tokarek RBI double which gave ISU a 2-1 lead. After an IUPUI pitching change, Morgan Goodrich pinch ran for Tokarek at second. Kennedy Shade then launched her first home run of the 2023 season to make it a 4-1 game.

For Tokarek, it was her team-leading 13th RBI of the season.

Maeve McDonough and Olivia Patton both singled in the seventh, giving Indiana State seven hits on the afternoon but the Sycamores couldn’t get another run across.

Lexi Benko worked into the seventh, getting two outs before being replaced by Lauren Sackett who came on to close out the Jaguars. Sackett got a strikeout to pick up her third save of the year.  Benko ended her afternoon with four strikeouts and the win improves her record to 4-3 on the season.

Game Two

Indiana State struck first in game two, scoring two runs in the opening frame. A trio of walks loaded the bases and a passed ball and a wild pitch allowed Olivia Patton and Isabella Henning to score to put ISU up 2-0.

Cassi Newbanks started for the Sycamores and worked around a leadoff single to sit down the Jaguars in the first inning.

Still leading 2-0 to begin the third, Olivia Patton walked and reached third after a Danielle Henning SAC bunt and a stolen base but IUPUI got two-straight strikeouts to retire the Sycamores. Newbanks continued her strong outing, stranding a runner on second to keep it a 2-0 game after three complete.

IUPUI got on the board in the fourth inning, scoring on an RBI single to make it 2-1 after a hit by pitch and walk put runners on. Cassi Newbanks got a swinging strikeout to limit the damage and end the inning, stranding runners on second and third. Prior to the bottom of the fifth, Newbanks was replaced by Hailey Griffin who mowed down the Jaguar lineup striking out two in the fifth and three in the sixth.

The Sycamores did not get their first hit of the game until the top of the sixth, a leadoff infield single from Danielle Henning. Kennedy Shade also singled in the inning but ISU left a pair of runners on base and did not score.

Abi Chipps reached on an error in the seventh, but that would be the only action for the Sycamores in the frame. IUPUI came up for one final crack at the plate, but Griffin remained in command, setting down the Jaguars to complete the doubleheader sweep. Newbanks picks up her third win of the season, throwing four innings and allowing just one unearned run. Griffin picks up the save, the first of her career, while recording six strikeouts in three innings of work.

Up Next

The Sycamores will welcome UIC to Price Field this weekend to begin MVC play. A three-game series is currently scheduled to begin Friday at 3 p.m. ET but the schedule may be altered due to impending weather.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE SOFTBALL

BUTLER COMES FROM BEHIND TO TOP MASTODONS 5-4

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Thanks to a two-run seventh inning, Butler came away with a 5-4 win over Purdue Fort Wayne softball on Wednesday (March 15) in the Mastodons’ home opener.

The Mastodons weathered a three-run first inning in which Butler had three doubles. The tide shifted away from Butler once Gracie Brinkerhoff entered. She threw 1.1 innings of hit-less relief. Alanah Jones relieved her in the third inning, stranding two on base in the third and fifth innings and one in the fourth.

Brooke Wintlend made the game interesting with a two-run home run in the fourth just to the left of the center field wall, scoring Grace Hollopeter. In the next inning, Purdue Fort Wayne took its first lead of the game when the ‘Dons loaded the bases. Epiphany Hang collected an RBI when she drew a walk and sent Taryn Jenkins home, then Tori Countryman recorded the first RBI of her career on a single.

The ‘Dons held this 4-3 lead until the seventh, when Butler got the bats going again. The Bulldogs had gone the previous five innings with just two hits. Butler had a pair of doubles to find the tying run. Alyson Quinlan then struck out two batters in a row, but Ellie Boyer singled through the left side to score the game-winner. Quinlan took the loss to fall to 1-5. Butler’s Rylyn Dyer (4-5) got the win and Sydney Cammon picked up her first save of the season. Purdue Fort Wayne moves to 5-16 and Butler improves to 8-18. The Mastodons will take the field again on Tuesday (March 21) for a pair of games at Youngstown State for the Horizon League opener. This series was originally scheduled for three games this weekend, but shifted due to forecasted cold in Youngstown.

SOUTHERN INDIANA BASEBALL

EAGLES OVERRUN BY SALUKIS, 16-9

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball had control early, but could not hold off Southern Illinois University, 16-9, Wednesday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI watched its record go to 7-10, while SIU goes to 8-10.

The Screaming Eagles flew out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and extended the margin to as many as 6-1 after the first three frames. SIU rallied to tie the score, 6-6, in the seventh, before the Eagles regain the lead, 9-6, with a three run seventh.

The Salukis maintained the momentum, closing the gap to one, 9-8, with a pair of unearned tallies in the eighth before exploding for eight in the ninth for the 16-9 victory.

Offensively at the plate, senior second baseman Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana), junior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas), junior designated hitter Jack Ellis (Jeffersonville, Indiana), and junior leftfielder Drew Taylor (Jeffersonville, Indiana) led the way with two RBIs each.

USI sophomore right-hander Riley Harris (Calvert City, Kentucky) took the loss for the Eagles, allowing three runs without getting an out in the ninth. Harris (0-1) was one of nine USI hurlers to throw in the game and one of three pitchers in the ninth.

Up Next for the Eagles: 

USI returns to the road this weekend when it travels to Murray State University for a three-game series in Murray, Kentucky. Game times are 3 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. Saturday; and 1 p.m. Sunday.

Murray State leads the series with USI, 6-3-1, since the first meeting in 1981. The Racers also have won the last four meetings, including the latest matchup in 2003, 3-1, at Murray. USI’s last wins over Murray came 1994 when the Eagles swept the season series, 7-3 and 10-9.

The Racers are 7-10 overall in 2023 and have won three of the last four, including a 9-6 win over the University of North Alabama this week.

VALPO SOFTBALL

BEACONS FALL AT ILLINOIS WEDNESDAY

The Valpo softball team took to the field for the final time before the start of conference play on Wednesday afternoon in Urbana, Ill., falling by a 9-0 final to Illinois.

How It Happened

Illinois scored a pair of runs on sacrifice flies in the bottom of the first to open the scoring.

Taylor Herschbach (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) led off the top of the second with a base hit up the middle, but was erased on a double play. Emily Crompton (Salem, Ill./Christ Our Rock Lutheran) drew a walk in that frame as well.

Starting pitcher Caitlin Kowalski (Temperance, Mich./Notre Dame Academy) retired six Illini batters in a seven-batter stretch spanning the first and second innings, including a shutout second inning.

Illinois scored four runs in the third and three in the fourth to close the scoring.

Inside the Game

Wednesday’s game was Valpo’s first at Illinois since 2003.

Herschbach has reached base at least once in eight of Valpo’s last nine games.

Crompton has drawn four walks over the last four games.

Kowalski tossed the first three innings Wednesday, while Easton Seib (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs South) threw the final frame.

Next Up

Valpo (3-15) is slated to open MVC play Friday afternoon at Southern Illinois. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m., with the game broadcasted on ESPN+.

U OF INDY WOMEN’S TENNIS

WOMEN’S TENNIS DROPS MATCH TO #33 TAMPA

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Indianapolis women’s tennis fell to the Tampa University Spartans to start their Florida trip. The No. 3-ranked Hounds fell by a score of 6-1, their second loss of the season.

INS AND OUTS

Tampa got out on the right foot grabbing the doubles point, taking victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 slots. Lea Cakarevic and Diane Flament fought to keep the Hounds in doubles, winning 6-2, but it was to no avail.  

From there, the Spartans ran away with it, first taking a win at the No. 3 slot 6-1, 6-2. The followed that up with wins at No. 2 and No. 3, much like doubles, to secure the victory. Maria Fiacan was the lone Hounds to pick up a win, taking a 6-4, 6-3 straight sets win.

The Spartans closed out the match with two more victories at No. 4 and No. 6 singles.

UP NEXT

The Hounds have another ranked foe on deck, facing off against the Saint Leo Lions tomorrow at 11 a.m.

MARIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MARIAN FALLS TO CENTRAL METHODIST IN NAIA QUARTERFINALS 52-48

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Marian women’s basketball fought until the end, but were unable to withstand a scrappy Central Methodist team Wednesday afternoon inside the Tyson Events Center. Marian’s season came to a close in the NAIA Quarterfinals against Central Methodist 52-48, closing the year with a 29-6 record.

The first quarter was a battle as both teams went at it, trading points throughout. Jayla Wehner got the game going with a deep two-pointer before a three by Allison Bosse at the 6:01 mark ignited the Knights, giving them the 9-4 lead. After trading baskets, Central Methodist cut their deficit down to two off of the Marian turnover. Ella Collier returned the favor moments later as she picked up the steal that would lead to a shot in the paint for Bosse. The Eagles had the final say of the quarter, but it was the Knights leading 14-12 after quarter one.

Marian started the second quarter with back-to-back buckets from Bosse and Collier before CMU matched to cut the Knights’ lead to three at 19-16. Neither team could score for the next three minutes before Bosse ended the scoring drought with a pair of free throws to put her team back up five. The remainder of the quarter went point for point until Marian got scores from Aliyah Evans and Collier to go into halftime ahead 30-22.

Central Methodist attacked first to start the third quarter on a 5-1 run before the Knights answered back with Kinnidy Garrard and Collier knocking down shots. Marian struggled to get a bucket besides free throws, but Bosse took her defender to the hole to take 40-35 lead. However, a 13-5 spurt from the Eagles allowed the game to be deadlocked at 40-40 going into the final quarter.

After a turnover by the Knights, CMU executed on the play to take their first lead of the game and got out to a 6-0 run to take the 46-40 advantage at the 5:45 mark. Marian answered with their own 6-0 run that got started by four points from Abbey McNally to even it up at 46-46. With 2:26 left in the game, the Eagles went back up by two after two freebies, but it was Collier tying it back up with the layup. A second chance basket from CMU with 1:01 remaining gave them the 50-48 lead.

Marian had a chance to tie with 45 ticks left as Garrard was fouled but both rimmed out as Central Methodist gathered the defensive rebound. The Knights played tough defense as the Eagles worked the clock, however CMU threw up a circus shot with the shot clock winding down that would find its way in to go ahead 52-48. In the final 11 seconds, Marian had several opportunities, but missed free throws and the second chance looks didn’t fall as time ran out. The Knights would fall 52-48.

Collier finished with a game-high 20 points to go along with six rebounds. Boose added 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while McNally added six points and seven rebounds. Garrard also pulled down seven rebounds and Wehner dished out a game-high five assists.

ELLA COLLIER NAMED WBCA NAIA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Atlanta, Ga. – For the second time in Marian women’s basketball program history, a Marian Knight has been named the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NAIA  National Player of the Year, as the Knights’ Ella Collier was honored as the 2022-23 recipient Wednesday afternoon. Collier joins Imani Guy as the only Knights in program history to earn the honor. As Player of the Year, Collier will headline the WBCA NAIA All-American Team, an All-American honor she has earned for three consecutive seasons.

Collier, a junior from Danville, Indiana, was named the Crossroads League Player of the Year as a junior, leading the Marian women’s basketball team in scoring steals while ranking second on the team in rebounding and assists. Collier has climbed the career scoring charts this year for Marian, rising from 22nd as she began the season with 1001 career points, to third all-time as she entered Wednesday’s NAIA Quarterfinal game with 1574 career points. Collier completed the quarterfinal game against Central Methodist with a 20-point outing.

On the season Collier is averaged a career-high 17.9 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per contest, recording 1.7 steals and 2.6 assists per game. The junior has turned in her third consecutive 50/40/90 season, shooting over 50 percent from the field, 40 percent or better from three, and over 90 percent at the free throw line. Among all NAIA players this season, Collier ranks in the top-50 in scoring and field goal percentage, top-15 in three-point percentage, while leading the NAIA in free throw percentage for the third consecutive season.

Collier is a two-time NAIA All-American and three-time WBCA NAIA All-American. The junior guard will likely be named to her third career NAIA All-American Team following the conclusion of the NAIA National Tournament.

MARIAN WOMEN’S LAX

FOURTH QUARTER SCORING FRENZY SEALS NON-CONFERENCE WIN OVER WITTENBERG

Springfield, Ohio – The Marian women’s lacrosse team finished their non-conference play with a strong 14-8 victory over Wittenberg on Wednesday night, closing the game with a seven-goal fourth quarter. Marian’s win gives them a 5-2 record heading into WHAC play, as Marian has matched their win total from 2022 through seven games.

Wittenberg struck first in the opening quarter as Anna Roller was able sneak a goal past Katherine Hirsch just 29 seconds into the game. The Knights responded and forced three turnovers to get the offense back in flow, scoring on their first shot of the game at the 10:38 mark as Katelynn Gray rattled the cage to tie the game. Hirsch and the Knights defense anchored down for the remainder of the quarter allowing just one shot attempt, playing strong until the final two minutes of the quarter. Madeline Dumke netted her first goal of the game with 89 seconds left in the period, sending Marian into the second quarter with a 2-1 lead.

The Tigers broke their drought 61 seconds into the quarter as they scored a man-advantage goal, but the score wouldn’t stay tied long as Ruby Mason pushed Marian ahead 3-2 with 12:14 to play before half. Marian continued to dominate possession as their defense forced multiple turnovers, and at the 8:22 mark the Knights gained cushion on the scoreboard with Madison Ash scoring to take a 4-2 edge. The Marian lead would push to three goals as Kate. Gray scored her second of the night, but Wittenberg roared back before the half, scoring twice to cut the difference to one.

Marian won a low scoring third quarter to hold their stamp on the game, going on top by two goals with 11:16 remaining as Ambrosia Johnson scored her first goal of the season. Wittenberg would trim the Marian lead to one, but a score in the final four mintues from Grace Martin allowed Marian to hold a 7-5 lead after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter the scoring broke open, as Marian answered an early Wittenberg goal with four unanswered goals in a three minute window. Ashlynn Gray scored her first goal of the night to push the Knights on top 8-6, while Ella Grace Giedd scored her first goal of the game to take a three-goal lead. The duo each scored one more time in the window as Marian continued to dominate in the draw circle, pushing Marian in front 11-6. The Knights would lead by four goals or more for the final 8:02 of the game, getting scores from Ash. Gray, Giedd, and Martin to close the game in a 14-8 victory.

The Knights defense played strong throughout the win, forcing 45 turnovers while causing 16 of the giveaways. Each of the Gray siblings and Giedd recorded a hat trick in the win, while Martin scored twice. Ashlynn Gray led Marian with 12 shot attempts, while she and her sister each had five ground balls. Katelynn Gray and Ruby Mason caused a team-high three turnovers, and in goal Hirsch recorded her fifth victory of the year playing first half minutes. Coyne made the lone save of the game for the Knights.

Marian will begin WHAC play on Saturday, taking on Madonna at 10 a.m. in Livonia, Mich.

MARIAN WOMEN’S TENNIS

KNIGHTS SUFFER 5-4 LOSS TO DEPAUW

GREENCASTLE, Ind. – The Marian women’s team dropped a tough one to DePauw on Wednesday night as the Knights fell 5-4 to bring their overall record to 14-6.

Today’s match was played by NCAA rules in which the match was a nine-point match where all three doubles point count and there are eight game pro sets instead of just one six game set.

In doubles action, Dana Savarino and Isadora Muller dropped 8-2 to Ellen Gardner and Kat Wilder at No. 2 doubles, followed by Josie Yarbrough and Tea Vrkic dropping 8-6 to Alex Preston and Valerie Doherty at the No. 3 spot, and Katharina Bopst and Betija Dusele losing in a tie breaker 8-7 (9-7) at No. 1 to Kiley Shaw and Sonal Matta.

After falling behind 3-0, Marian picked it back up in singles as Vrkic got the straight 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 6 singles over Franny Werner, while Savarino won 6-2, 6-1 against Valerie Doherty at the No. 4 spot. The Knights got two more wins from Joelle Leihbacher and Muller at No. 3 and No. 5 singles. Leihbacher took down Shaw 6-4, 6-1 and Muller won in three sets at 1-6, 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 (10-9). Even with the four singles wins, DePauw needed just two wins in singles to take the match, with Dusele falling 7-5, 6-2 at No. 1 to Gardner and Bopst dropping 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to Matta at No. 2.

Marian returns to the courts on Saturday when they make the trip to Oakland City for the 12 p.m. match.

MARIAN SOFTBALL

STUNKEL’S CAREER-HIGH AND HOME RUNS HIGHLIGHTS KNIGHTS’ CL-OPENING SWEEP OF GRACE

INDIANAPOLIS – The Marian softball team extended their winning streak to 13 consecutive games Wednesday afternoon as the Knights began Crossroads League play, sweeping Grace College in their home opener. Marian’s pair of wins increase the season total to 13, with the overall record a strong 13-1.

GAME 1 | Marian 7-1 Grace

A pair of unusual errors plagued Marian in the first inning, as Grace scored the game’s opening run on a pair of dropped fly balls. Olivia Stunkel was able to strand the pair of Lancers on the bases with back to back strikeouts and hold the damage to one run, while striking out two more in the second to keep the game a one-run contest.

In the bottom of the second the Knights notched their first runs in league play, loading the bases on a pair of base hits and a walk. With two outs, Savannah Harweger roped a double down the left field line, plating two runs to give Marian a 2-1 lead. Stunkel kept throwing hard as she picked up another strikeout in the third inning, while gaining run support from a two-out Hayley Greene double and RBI single from Savannah Baker.

The sophomore continued to gel in the circle, striking out the side in both the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to bring her strikeout total into double figures. The Knights gained run support for the pitcher in each the fifth and sixth, with Mackenzie Dalton chalking an RBI on an errant play made by the Lancers in the fifth. Three runs pushed across in the bottom of the sixth, as Caitlyn Phillips and Harweger racked back to back infield singles to get on base for Sierra Norman, who launched a 1-1 pitch to dead center for her first home run of the season.

Norman’s homerun provided the final offense in the game, as Stunkel completed the 7-1 game with a four-batter seventh inning, locking down the win to improve to 6-0 on the season. Stunkel struckout a career-high 15 batters in the game, allowing one unearned run and two walks against three hits over seven innings. As a team Marian had nine hits, with Norman doubling and homering to lead the Knights. Baker and Harweger each had two hits in the win.

GAME 2 | Marian 9-1 Grace | 6 Innings

The Knights got a lift from Sydney Wilson’s pitching to start the second act of the doubleheader, as the fifth-year senior retired the side in order in each of the first two innings. In the bottom of the second the game’s first runs were scored, as Hayley Greene reached second after the Lancers dropped a fly ball in center field. Two batters and six pitches later the error turned into two runs, as Abby Madere belted an 0-2 pitch to deep center for her first collegiate homerun.

The 2-0 lead provided comfort for the southpaw, as Wilson stranded an error in the top of the third before gaining additional run support in the home half. Grace’s Kierstin Fickas walked the bases loaded to start the inning, setting up Grace Meyer who delivered a two-RBI single off the left field wall to score a pair of runs. Madere walked to load the bases, and later in the inning an errant throw to third base to pick off Norman sprayed into left field, allowing the first baseman to score and push Marian ahead 5-0.

Grace broke their shutout in the fourth as Bree Gardinier shot a home run off Wilson to right center field, but the senior closed the inning strong gettting an groundout to the circle to close the frame. Harweger recorded an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth to score Brooke Knox and push Marian’s lead to 6-1, and after a three-up, three-down frame from Wilson in the top of the fifth, the Knights plated two more in the home half with Hayley Greene hitting a solo home run and Knox recording an RBI single.

Jaylah Guilliam entered to pitch the sixth and recorded a pair of strikeouts to protect the 8-1 lead, and in the home half Marian worked the bases loaded as Lily Wendt, Abbi Wirey, and Raegan Hiatt drew walks. Knox ended the game in a run-rule win following Hiatt’s walk, sending the Knights home victorious 9-1 following her RBI single through the left side.

Wilson was near perfect in the win as she moved to 5-0 on the year, allowing two hits and one run while recording one strikeout in a 49-pitch, five-inning outing. Guilliam finished the game facing four batters, striking out two. Offensively the Knights recorded eight hits and played 16 position players in their lineup, getting a lift from Knox who was a perfect 3-3 with two RBI. Madere had two home runs as she and Greene each recorded home runs, while Meyer and Harweger had the other two hits. Harweger walked three times in the win and Wirey drew a pair of walks.

With mother nature washing out Marian’s remaining two scheduled doubleheaders of the week, the Knights will be off until March 21, when they host Goshen College at 3 p.m.

MARIAN MEN’S TENNIS

MARIAN PICKS UP 11TH WIN WITH 6-3 DECISION OVER DEPAUW

GREENCASTLE, Ind. – The Marian men’s tennis team picked up their 11th win of the season after defeating DePauw Wednesday night 6-3. The Knights move to 11-7 on the season with the win.

Today’s match was played by NCAA rules in which the match was a nine-point match where all three doubles point count and there are eight game pro sets instead of just one six game set.

Marian fell behind 3-0 as DePauw picked up all three doubles points. Ashwin Bhat and Jones McNamar fell 8-5 to Cole Metzger and Hudson Mosher at No. 2 doubles, before Andrew Ilett and Jona Henze dropped 8-6 to Finley Buelte and Jake Watson at the No. 3 spot. At No. 1 doubles, Mark Griffin and Shadi Al Tori put up a hard-fought match but eventually fell 8-7 (8-6) to Thomas Partridge and Ryan McCook.

After trailing 3-0, the Knights dominated in singles action as McNamar picked up the first win at No. 6 singles, downing Grayson Zylstra 6-2, 6-2. Ilett finished next for Marian at the No. 3 spot winning in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 against Jake Louiselle, while Dmitrii Voshchenkov won 6-4, 7-5 over Buelte at No. 2 singles. Griffin grabbed the 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) victory at No. 1 singles against Partridge, followed by Bhat winning 6-4, 6-2 at the No. 4 spot over McCook. Henze won at No. 5 singles to sweep the singles for Marian after he defeated Metzger 1-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1.

Marian returns to the courts on Saturday when they make the trip to Oakland City for the 12 p.m. match.

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

TOP NATIONAL NEWS

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON BEATS TEXAS SOUTHERN 84-61 IN FIRST FOUR

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) Ansley Almonor scored 23 points and Fairleigh Dickinson beat Texas Southern 84-61 Wednesday night to earn its first NCAA Tournament win in four seasons.

The Knights held a 14-2 lead after a 12-0 run in the opening 3:29 and didn’t never gave up the lead. Grant Singleton scored seven points during a 19-6 run in which the Knights led by as many as 18 points at the end of the first half.

Jordan Gilliam made a jumper that got Texas Southern as close as 10 points with 10:01 left in the second half. The Tigers shot 42% and went 1 for 17 from 3-point distance.

Fairleigh Dickinson shot 50% and made 11 3’s to advance to the East Region and play top-seeded Purdue in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday.

“Our press got us going, and then our half-court defense was excellent. We shared the ball. We played unselfish,” Fairleigh Dickinson coach Tobin Anderson said. “When you play that well, life’s pretty easy, so I thought we played very, very well.”

Joe Munden Jr. scored 17 points, Demetre Roberts had 15, Singleton finished with 13 and Sean Moore 10 for Fairleigh Dickinson (20-15).

John Walker III led Texas Southern (14-21) with 22 points. Joirdon Karl Nicholas added 10.

“Unfortunately, we just didn’t have enough to overcome those guys and their 3-point shooting tonight,” Texas Southern coach Johnny Jones said.

A DREAM FOR ANDERSON

Around a year ago, Anderson wrapped up his ninth season as head coach of Division II St. Thomas Aquinas.

He compiled a 10-7 record in the NCAA Tournament and took the Spartans to the Elite Eight in 2016-17.

Anderson arrived at Fairleigh Dickinson in 2022 tasked with improving on a 4-22 season. In less than one year, he and the Knights captured an NCAA Tournament win.

“It’s hard to put it into words, really,” Anderson said. “There’s not something I could say. It’s just been an unbelievable ride. We never would’ve dreamed of this 10 months ago.”

SETTING THE TONE

Fairleigh Dickinson led the Northeastern Conference behind an average scoring offense of 77.8 points per game.

The Knights started fast, leading by as many as 12 points in the first three minutes. Singleton scored seven of Fairleigh Dickinson final 19 points in the first half that helped keep the Tigers more than three points behind for the rest of the game.

“Once you get the butterflies out, you get used to this stage,” Singleton said. “Coach was telling us to have fun. It’s fun being out there, fun playing in a crowd like that with a team that’s so good. We just wanted to get the butterflies out and keep playing.”

SMALL BUT MIGHTY

The Knights are the shortest team in Division I, standing at an average height of 6-foot-1.

Disregarding size, the Knights had the upper hand on the glass. Fairleigh Dickinson had a 32-31 rebounding advantage and held Texas Southern to 10 offensive rebounds.

“We’re the shortest team in Division 1, so we got to make an impact in some way,” Roberts said. “I think when we throw the first punch, it’s a good outcome for us so we got to just keep on doing that.”

BIG PICTURE

Fairleigh Dickinson: First-year coach Tobin Anderson turned around a Knights squad that went 4-22 a season ago.

“I just think that’s a testament to coach and how much we believe in coach,” Munden said. “We came in from Day 1 and we gelled together and we’re doing pretty well.”

Texas Southern: The Tigers missed their first 13 3’s before making their first with 4:52 remaining. Their 28.4% clip this season from 3-point distance ranks worst in the Southwest Athletic Conference, and Texas Southern missed out on winning its third-straight appearance in the First Four.

UP NEXT

Fairleigh Dickinson will play Purdue on Friday.

ARIZONA STATE’S BIG FIRST HALF BURIES NEVADA IN FIRST FOUR

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) DJ Horne had 20 points and Arizona State raced to a big halftime lead and finished with the highest point total in a First Four game, burying Nevada 98-73 on Wednesday night.

Arizona State (23-12) led 53-26 at the half and kept scoring in the second on the way to the rout.

The first-half output was a season high for Arizona State, which advanced as a No. 11 seed to face TCU in a West Region first-round game on Friday in Denver.

“It was a complete performance for us. You want to be playing this way at this time of year,” Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley said. “That’s what it’s all about. I truly believe that our schedule and the games we’ve been in, especially late in the season, prepares you for these types of games. And it was across the board, just everyone contributed. Our defense was outstanding in the first half.”

Arizona State hit 67.7% of its shots from the floor and forced 10 turnovers in the first half, putting together a 22-2 run over eight minutes to pull away, meanwhile keeping the defensive pressure on and forcing the Wolf Pack to the perimeter.

“I think when we get off to starts like that, it just feeds on to everybody on the team and builds energy, and I feel like it showed tonight,” Horne said.

The Sun Devils shot a stunning 64% from the floor, much better than their season average of 41.3%. They hit 11 of 21 (52.4%) from 3-point range, with Horne making four of his five tries.

Desmond Cambridge Jr. – a Nevada transfer – had 17 points, Jamiya Neal had 16 and Desmond’s brother, Devan Cambridge, added 15 for Arizona State.

Will Baker scored 17 and Tre Coleman had 14 for the Wolf Pack (22-11). One of Nevada’s top players, Kenan Blackshear, picked up three fouls early and sat on the bench for more than five minutes of the opening half. Averaging 14.4 per game through the season, he was held to four points in this one.

“You’ve got to give Arizona State credit,” Nevada coach Steve Alford said. “I’ve watched a bucket load of games on them, and I thought that’s as well as they’ve played all year. That’s a great credit to them, because if you can play some of your best basketball in March, that’s really, really good.”

Both teams appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. The Sun Devils beat St. Johns in the First Four that season, but lost in the round of 64.

BIG PICTURE

Nevada: The Wolf Pack shot better in the second half (60.7% compared with 33.3% in the first) but couldn’t climb out of the hole Arizona State put them in early. Nevada couldn’t get closer than 19 points after halftime.

Arizona State: The Sun Devils forced 11 turnovers and kept the pressure on in the second half after Nevada was already crushed. They were 11 for 21 (52.4%) from beyond the 3-point line.

“We already play good defense, so that’s what we hang our hats on,” Desmond Cambridge Jr. said. “But when our offense is clicking like that, we’re a hard team to stop.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Arizona State has forced double-digit turnovers in 60 of 66 games dating to last season.

DAYTON ON TOP

The University of Dayton Arena has now hosted 133 NCAA Tournament games, more than any other venue in the country. The First Four has been played here since 2011, except for 2020 when the event was canceled because of the pandemic, and 2021, when it was played in the COVID-19 bubble in Indiana.

UD has an agreement to host the First Four through 2026. There is discussion aimed at expanding the March Madness field beyond its current 68 schools, but the situation is still too speculative to foresee what it might mean for the Dayton event.

The First Four is one of the most important events of the year for the city, with an estimated economic benefit to the region of more than $5 million and national TV exposure for the medium-sized city that’s often overshadowed by nearby Columbus and Cincinnati.

NBA ROUND-UP

KINGS NIP BULLS ON DE’AARON FOX’S 3-POINTER

De’Aaron Fox scored 15 fourth-quarter points as part of his team-high 32 and sank the game-winning 3-pointer just before the buzzer, and the Sacramento Kings kicked off a four-game road swing with a 117-114 defeat of the host Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.

Fox’s big closing stretch began at the 6:25 mark of the fourth when he hit a 3-pointer off a Domantas Sabonis assist. The pass gave Sabonis his second triple-double in as many games and 11th of the season, as he finished with 14 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists.

Beginning with that triple, Fox scored 12 points in the final 6:25, including a pull-up jumper with 41.1 seconds remaining that proved crucial down the stretch. Zach LaVine scored four points, part of his 25 for the contest, while DeMar DeRozan scored on a four-point play with 12.5 seconds remaining to tie the game at 114.

Fox’s fourth-quarter heroics overshadowed a big closing period for DeRozan, who made three of his four 3-pointers for the game in the period and finished with 16 of his game-high 33 points over the last 12 minutes.

Clippers 134, Warriors 126

Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points and Paul George added 24 as Los Angeles extended their resurgence with a victory over Golden State, as the Warriors’ road woes continued despite 50 points from Stephen Curry.

Terance Mann added 17 points, Eric Gordon had 16 and Russell Westbrook delivered 15 for the Clippers, who extended their winning streak to four games following a five-game losing streak. Ivica Zubac had 19 points and 16 rebounds for Los Angeles.

Curry shot 20 of 28 (71.4 percent) from the field and 8 of 14 (57.1 percent) from 3-point range for the Warriors during his ninth career 50-point game. He scored 21 points in the third quarter alone on the day after his 35th birthday. Jordan Poole added 19 for Golden State, which saw its road losing streak reach nine games.

76ers 118, Cavaliers 109

Joel Embiid had 36 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks to lift surging Philadelphia past host Cleveland.

Embiid appeared to foul out with 4:12 remaining, but the Sixers challenged the call and the offensive foul was overturned. James Harden added 28 points and 12 assists for his 32nd game this season with at least 10 points and 10 assists, setting a franchise record.

Tyrese Maxey scored 23 points for the Sixers, who won their sixth in a row. Caris LeVert led the Cavaliers with 24 points and Donovan Mitchell added 21.

Heat 138, Grizzlies 119

Bam Adebayo scored a game-high 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds, leading host Miami to a win over short-handed Memphis.

Tyler Herro added 24 points and six assists for the Heat, who have won five of their past seven games. Miami’s Jimmy Butler produced 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Butler sank 11 of 12 free throws.

Memphis fell to 13-22 on the road. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 25 points and a game-high nine rebounds. The Grizzlies, whose three-game winning streak ended, already were playing without superstar guard Ja Morant (suspension), starting center Steven Adams (knee) and sixth man Brandon Clarke (Achilles).

Celtics 104, Timberwolves 102

Jaylen Brown tossed in a game-high 35 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Boston extended Minnesota’s home losing streak to five games in Minneapolis.

Jayson Tatum (22 points) extended Boston’s lead to 104-99 by making three free throws with 1.7 seconds to play. Minnesota’s Mike Conley tossed in a 3-pointer as time expired, but the Celtics earned their third win in four games.

Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Minnesota received 15-point performances from Rudy Gobert, Kyle Anderson and Naz Reid.

Rockets 114, Lakers 110

Kevin Porter Jr. scored a game-high 27 points to pace seven in double figures as Houston defeated visiting short-handed Los Angeles.

Porter was 11-for-16 shooting from the floor and added nine rebounds and six assists to his ledger. All five Rockets starters scored in double figures while Jae’Sean Tate produced 13 points off the bench.

The Lakers, playing without LeBron James (foot) and Anthony Davis (rest), shot just 37.8 percent. Austin Reeves scored a team-high 24 points off the bench while D’Angelo Russell paired 18 points with seven assists and Jarred Vanderbilt had 13 points with 10 rebounds.

Mavericks 137, Spurs 128

Christian Wood racked up 28 points and 13 rebounds off the bench as visiting Dallas was at its best late in regulation and in overtime in a win over San Antonio.

The Mavericks took charge by opening the overtime with a 9-2 run that gave them a 130-123 lead with 2:18 remaining and they held on to snap a three-game losing streak.

Jaden Hardy and Dwight Powell had 22 points each for Dallas while Josh Green scored 21, Reggie Bullock had 20 points and 13 rebounds and McKinley Wright IV scored 11. The Mavericks played without Luka Doncic (left thigh sprain), Kyrie Irving (right foot soreness) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (left calf contusion). Keldon Johnson led San Antonio with 27 points.

NBA WIRE:

March 16, 2023

• Kings face Nets with chance to seal winning road mark
• Clippers beat Warriors 134-126 despite 50 points from Curry
• Wood has 27 points, 13 rebounds in Mavs’ OT win over Spurs
• De’Aaron Fox hits 3 at buzzer, Kings beat Bulls 117-114
• Brown scores 35, Celtics hold on to beat Wolves 104-102
• Porter scores 27 points, Rockets beat short-handed Lakers
• Embiid scores 36, gets late call reversed in win over Cavs
• Warriors forward Iguodala to have wrist surgery next week
• Heat get rare easy win, roll past Grizzlies 138-119
• NBA suspends Ja Morant 8 games for video showing gun in club
• Suns face Magic out to end three-game skid
• With playoff spot secure, Bucks set to face Pacers
• Thunder look to expand hot stretch, face Raptors
• Timberwolves: Towns expected to return ‘in the coming weeks’
• NBA suspends Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant 8 games over video showing him with gun in club; he could return Monday
• Today in Sports: Bonnie Blair sets world record in 500 m
• Kings’ Lyles suspended 1 game; Bucks’ Lopez fined $25,000
• Bucks clinch playoff spot, top Suns 116-104 for 50th win

NHL ROUND-UP

AVALANCHE EDGE MAPLE LEAFS IN SHOOTOUT

Nathan MacKinnon scored the only goal of a shootout, and the visiting Colorado Avalanche defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 on Wednesday night.

Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, who made 17 saves during the game, stopped William Nylander in the shootout before Auston Matthews’ shot missed and Mitchell Marner had a failed shot attempt.

Mikko Rantanen scored for the Avalanche, who have won three in a row. Morgan Rielly scored for the Maple Leafs, who have lost two in a row. Ilya Samsonov stopped 28 shots.

The Avalanche were playing the second game of a four-game road trip, while it was the third of four consecutive games at home for the Maple Leafs.

Capitals 5, Sabres 4 (SO)

Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the deciding goal in the shootout and Washington rallied for a win against visiting Buffalo.

Alex Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie each had a goal and an assist for the Capitals, who won for the second time in their past three games. Charlie Lindgren made 23 saves and stopped two in the shootout

Ilya Lyubushkin, JJ Peterka, Tyson Jost and Zemgus Girgensons scored and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 35 saves for the Sabres, who are 1-0-2 in their past three after losing five of six in regulation.

Wild 8, Blues 5

Ryan Hartman had two goals and an assist as visiting Minnesota rallied from down 3-1 to beat St. Louis Blues and extend its point streak to 14 games.

Joel Eriksson Ek had a goal and two assists and Ryan Reaves and Alex Goligoski had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who are 11-0-3 during their streak.

Pavel Buchnevich collected a hat trick and Jakub Vrana scored twice for the Blues, who have won just three of their last 13 games. Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington allowed five goals on 24 shots before getting ejected in the second period after punching Hartman following the latter’s power-play goal.

Islanders 6, Ducks 3

Kyle Palmieri collected one goal in a career-best four-point game against his former team and Brock Nelson scored twice to lead visiting New York past Anaheim.

Pierre Engvall and Zach Parise both netted one goal and one assist while Hudson Fasching also scored for the Islanders, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Adam Pelech posted two assists, and goaltender Ilya Sorokin made 20 saves.

The Islanders sit in the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot, five points up on two teams. Kevin Shattenkirk scored twice and Max Jones added a single for the Ducks, who are 5-2-3 in their past 10 games. Goalie John Gibson stopped 27 shots.

NHL WIRE:

March 16, 2023

• Rising Avalanche square off with sinking Senators
• Hartman scores twice in Wild win; Blues’ Binnington ejected
• Palmieri, Nelson lead Islanders’ 6-3 rout of Anaheim Ducks
• Capitals tie it late, come back to beat Sabres in shootout
• MacKinnon’s shootout goal gives Avs 2-1 win over Maple Leafs
• Out to continue road success, Kraken visit Sharks
• Canucks, Coyotes cruise into matchup in desert
• Struggling Flames take on red-hot Golden Knights
• Kings eager to showcase balanced attack when Jackets visit
• Predators aim to continue success against Blackhawks
• Oilers try to stay hot on home ice vs. Stars
• Bruins in unfamiliar role of needing to regroup vs. Jets
• Early success vs. Devils might foretell more good for Lightning
• Cup-hungry Boston Bruins shrug off shot at NHL records
• Rule changes boost Bruins in regular-season record quest
• Penguins, Rangers preparing for critical Eastern Conference duel
• Canadiens hope to continue spoiler role vs. Panthers
• Gaudreau has 5 points as Blue Jackets beat Sharks 6-5 in OT
• Kings get boost from power play in 5-2 win over Islanders
• Canucks beat West-leading Stars 5-2 for 5th straight win
• Coyotes beat Flames 4-3 in OT to extend points streak to 6
• Draisaitl, McDavid carry Oilers past Senators, 6-3
• Red-hot Raddysh nets hat trick, Blackhawks top Bruins 6-3

NFL NEWS

RODGERS PLANS TO PLAY FOR JETS IN 2023, AWAITS PACKERS’ MOVE

(AP) — Aaron Rodgers said Wednesday he intends to play for the New York Jets in 2023 after 18 seasons in Green Bay and the four-time NFL MVP quarterback is waiting for the Packers to trade him.

The 39-year-old Rodgers, speaking during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on YouTube and Sirius XM, said he believes the Packers want to move on and make 2020 first-round draft pick Jordan Love their starting quarterback.

“At this point, as I sit here, I think since Friday I’ve made it clear that my intention was to play and my intention was to play for the New York Jets,” Rodgers said. “I haven’t been holding anything up at this point. It’s been compensation the Packers are trying to get for me, kind of digging their heels in.”

Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy has acknowledged the team granted the Jets permission to talk to Rodgers, the face of the franchise since Hall of Famer Brett Favre was traded to the Jets in 2008. The Jets sent a contingent that reportedly included owner Woody Johnson, coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas to Rodgers’ home in Southern California last week.

Rodgers expressed his appreciation for his 18 seasons in Green Bay but added that it’s time for the Packers “to do the right thing.”

“I have nothing but love in my heart for every Packer fan and everybody who works in the organization,” Rodgers said. “My life is better because of my time in Green Bay. But we’ve just got to look at the reality. They want to move on. They don’t want me to come back and that’s fine. They’re ready to move on with Jordan. That’s awesome. Jordan’s going to be a great player.”

The Packers declined to comment on Rodgers’ remarks, which follow days of speculation that his time in Green Bay might be done.

Murphy spoke of Rodgers in the past tense while discussing the quarterback’s future with Green Bay TV station WBAY last week.

“Very few players play for only one team,” Murphy told WBAY. “Obviously Brett had a great career. Aaron had a great career here. Regardless of what happens, Aaron will be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He’ll be in our Hall of Fame. We’ll bring him back, retire his number. This is just one of the things that we go through as a team. We want to try to achieve something that’s good for both Aaron and us.”

In a separate interview that aired Friday during a broadcast of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association girls basketball championships on Green Bay TV station WCWF, Murphy said he would honor a trade request if Rodgers made one.

“It’s trying to find what he wants and what we want, and hopefully we can find a win-win situation,” Murphy said.

Rodgers had said at the end of the 2022 season that he would need time to decide whether to return to the Packers, request a trade or retire. He said Wednesday he had discussions with Packers officials regarding his future shortly after the team wrapped up a 8-9 season that ended a string of three straight NFC North titles.

“Everything that I was told in the week that I was in Green Bay was: ‘Take as long as you want and we want you to retire a Packer. If you want to come back and play, obviously the door is wide open,’” Rodgers said. “That was the information I was going on.”

As he pondered his future, Rodgers spent multiple days last month on a isolation retreat in Oregon, where he said he stayed alone in a room in total darkness.

Rodgers said he was 90% leaning toward retirement at the time of the retreat. When he was done with it, he said, he noticed a difference in the Packers’ approach toward his future with the franchise.

“Now when I came out of the darkness, something changed,” Rodgers said. “I’m not exactly sure what that was, but something changed. … I realized there had been a little bit of a shift. I heard from multiple people that I trust around the league – players mostly –- that there was some shopping going on, that they were interested in actually moving me.”

Rodgers said that made him realize the Packers probably didn’t want him back.

“It was clear to me at that point, that although the Packers were going to say the right thing publicly, that they were ready to move on,” he said. “I don’t know what changed that or what moved that – if they just said, ‘Hey, we need to make a decision here because he hasn’t made a decision here yet.’ Again, there’s no victims here. I’m not sitting here as a victim.”

The Jets’ interest in Rodgers has been apparent as they seek to end the NFL’s longest active playoff drought. They lost their final six games while going 7-10 last season and haven’t reached the postseason since 2010.

Their new offensive coordinator is Nathaniel Hackett, who earned raves from Rodgers while coordinating Green Bay’s offense from 2019-21.

“There’s a lot of reasons why the Jets are attractive,” Rodgers said Wednesday. “But there’s one coach that has meant as much to me as any coach I’ve ever had. And he happens to be the coordinator there.”

Saleh and Johnson both expressed their interest in adding a veteran quarterback to a roster that already features one of the league’s best defenses.

If Rodgers ends up with the Jets, it would be a case of history repeating itself.

The Packers sent a soon-to-be 39-year-old Favre to the Jets in 2008, a move that ushered in Rodgers’ arrival as Green Bay’s starting quarterback. Favre won three MVPs with Green Bay during his Hall of Fame career.

Rodgers backed up Favre for three seasons after the Packers selected him out of California with the 24th overall pick in the 2005 draft. Love has backed up Rodgers for three seasons since the Packers traded up to take the former Utah State quarterback with the 26th overall pick.

Rodgers’ future has been the subject of speculation ever since the Packers selected Love. Rodgers acknowledged the selection caught him by surprise. One year later, he skipped the Packers’ mandatory minicamp in a standoff with Packers management.

But the two sides eventually patched things up.

Rodgers signed a contract extension with the Packers last year after producing a second straight MVP season.

When he was asked last June at the Packers’ mandatory minicamp whether he expected to finish his career in Green Bay, Rodgers replied, “Yes. Definitely.”

Those plans apparently changed after a 2022 season in which he had his lowest passer rating as a starter (91.1) and threw 12 interceptions, his highest total since 2008. Now Rodgers believes his time in Green Bay is done.

“Coming to this reality has been really bittersweet,” Rodgers said. “I was drafted by Green Bay. I … love that city, love that organization. Always going to have love for that organization. But the facts are right now they want to move on, and now so do I.”

AGENT: ORLANDO BROWN, JR. GETS 4-YEAR DEAL WITH BENGALS

(AP) — Four-time Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Brown, Jr. is leaving the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs for a $64.09 million, four-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Brown’s agent, Michael Portner, confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on Wednesday night. He said it includes a $31 million signing bonus.

Brown, a third-round pick by Baltimore in 2018, spent three seasons with the Ravens and the last two with the Chiefs.

He goes from protecting NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes to blocking for Joe Burrow.

Brown began his career at right tackle and shifted to the left side in 2020. He’ll protect Burrow’s blindside in Cincinnati.

The Bengals lost to the Chiefs in the AFC championship game in January.

AP SOURCE: EAGLES RELEASE CB SLAY, WORK TO RESTRUCTURE DEAL

(AP) — Darius Slay said goodbye to Philadelphia prematurely.

After the Eagles informed Slay that he will be released Wednesday, the team reversed course and the two sides are working on restructuring the five-time Pro Bowl cornerback’s contract to keep him in Philadelphia, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.

The person confirmed the decision to the AP on condition of anonymity because a new deal hasn’t been finalized.

Slay posted a goodbye on Twitter earlier Wednesday: “Nothing but love Philly!! Lets see where we heading next.”

His wife, Jennifer, posted late Wednesday night: “WE HERE BABY!!”

Slay is scheduled to earn a base salary of $17 million in 2023 with a salary cap hit of $26.1 million. A post-June 1 release would’ve opened up $17.5 million of salary cap space and pushed about $13 million of Slay’s cap hit to 2024. The Eagles agreed with cornerback James Bradberry on a $38 million, three-year contract on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old Slay played a key role on defense for the NFC champion Eagles. He was acquired in a trade from Detroit in 2020 and had seven interceptions in three seasons in Philadelphia.

The Eagles have lost defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, linebacker T.J. Edwards and safety Marcus Epps in free agency. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson are free agents.

END OF AN ERA: COWBOYS RELEASE 2-TIME RUSHING CHAMP ELLIOTT

(AP) — The Dallas Cowboys released running back Ezekiel Elliott on Wednesday, ending a seven-season run for a two-time rushing champion who never regained the form of his dominant early years.

Elliott will be designated a post-June 1 cut, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team didn’t reveal details of the decision. The move will save Dallas about $11 million under the salary cap this season.

Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said the decision was mutual to let the 27-year-old Elliott pursue another team in free agency and give the Cowboys more financial flexibility in building a roster.

“This is one of the toughest parts of operating a team,” said Jones, who issued similarly heartfelt statements after the salary cap-related releases of defensive end DeMarcus Ware and receiver Dez Bryant in the past decade.

“Moments like this come, and extremely difficult decisions and choices are made. For the franchise. For me personally. For players, too,” Jones said. “We will always have a special place and love for Zeke.”

While Elliott finished with 12 rushing touchdowns in a second consecutive playoff season for the Cowboys in 2022, his overall production never matched the value of a $90 million, six-year extension he signed to end a preseason-long holdout in 2019.

As the quick start to Elliott’s career fizzled, 2019 fourth-round draft pick Tony Pollard emerged as the best playmaker for quarterback Dak Prescott in the Dallas offense. The Cowboys have placed the $10.1 million franchise tag on Pollard for 2023.

Elliott has 8,262 career yards rushing, third on the Dallas list behind Pro Football Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith, the NFL’s career leading rusher, and Tony Dorsett. Elliott also was third behind Smith and Dorsett with 68 career touchdowns rushing.

Elliott was an instant star as the fourth overall pick out of Ohio State in 2016, leading the NFL with 1,631 yards as a rookie and helping the Cowboys to the top seed in the NFC alongside fellow first-year sensation Prescott, who edged his teammate for 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Elliott’s second season was interrupted by a six-game suspension over domestic violence allegations. Elliott fought the ban in federal court, but abandoned the two-month effort 10 games into the 2017 season.

Despite the suspension, Elliott still led the league in yards rushing per game, then added a second rushing title in 2018 when he and Prescott won their first playoff game together, a wild-card victory over Seattle.

Injuries robbed Elliott of the explosiveness that marked his first few seasons, although he rarely missed games over his final two years. He had career lows of 876 yards and a 3.8-yard average per carry last season.

His final play for Dallas left plenty to be desired.

With the Cowboys 76 yards from the end zone in the final seconds of a 19-12 divisional-round loss to San Francisco, they split offensive linemen wide and lined up Elliott at center. He was immediately knocked on his backside after the snap on a play that went nowhere.

The Cowboys will choose to remember many of the plays before such an ignominious ending.

“Zeke’s impact and influence is seared into the Cowboys franchise in a very special and indelible way,” Jones said. “He has been a consummate professional and leader that set a tone in our locker room, on the practice field and in the huddle. Zeke defined what a great teammate should be.”

NOTES: The Cowboys restructured the contracts of DE DeMarcus Lawrence and T Tyron Smith. Combined with recent restructures for Prescott and RG Zack Martin, the Cowboys have cleared nearly $50 million in cap space. Smith’s reworked deal ensures the return of the eight-time Pro Bowler when he could have been another player cut to clear cap space. … RT Terence Steele received a second-round tender, giving the team the option to match offers for the restricted free agent. Steele is recovering from an ACL tear late in the season. … S Donovan Wilson and LB Leighton Vander Esch, both returning free agents, signed their new contracts Tuesday.

AP SOURCE: SAINTS, RB JAMAAL WILLIAMS AGREE ON 3-YEAR DEAL

(AP) — The New Orleans Saints and running back Jamaal Williams agreed on a $12 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t announced the agreement, said it includes $8 million in guaranteed money. Williams led the NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns while running for a career-best 1,066 yards with the Detroit Lions last season. Williams played four seasons with the Packers before joining the Lions in 2021. He has averaged 4.0 yards per carry in his career. Williams joins five-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara in the backfield. Kamara is facing a potential suspension for legal troubles. Last month, a grand jury in Nevada indicted Kamara, Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Chris Lammons and two others on two criminal counts in connection with an alleged beating at a Las Vegas nightclub last February.

Williams has 3,652 yards rushing, 160 receptions for 1,191 yards and 38 total TDs in six seasons.

NFL WIRE:

March 15, 2023

• Agent: Orlando Brown, Jr. gets 4-year deal with Bengals
• OL Coleman Shelton returning to LA Rams with 2-year deal
• AP source: Eagles release CB Slay, work to restructure deal
• AP source: Eagles, DT Fletcher Cox agree on 1-year deal
• Chargers agree to terms with Morgan Fox, release Matt Feiler
• AP source: Saints, RB Jamaal Williams agree on 3-year deal
• Cardinals sign LB White, OL Froholdt to 2-year deals
• Panthers add free agent RB Sanders, TE Hurst to offense
• AP source: Browns, safety Thornhill agree to 3-year deal
• Broncos continue upgrades by signing special teams ace
• Vikings add ex-Cardinals CB Byron Murphy in defensive revamp
• End of an era: Cowboys release 2-time rushing champ Elliott
• Dolphins release CB Byron Jones after three seasons
• AP source: Commanders signing veteran QB Jacoby Brissett
• Safety Jordan Poyer agrees to 2-year deal to stay with Bills
• Packers re-sign CB/KR Keisean Nixon, TE Tyler Davis
• Titans place 2nd-round tenders on Teair Tart, Aaron Brewer
• Raiders re-sign safety Roderic Teamer
• Rodgers plans to play for Jets in 2023, awaits Packers’ move
• Patriots add WR JuJu Smith-Schuster with 3-year deal
• AP source: 49ers agree to 1-year deal with Clelin Ferrell
• Lions re-sign Cominsky to add to busy free agency week
• AP source: Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield agree on 1-year deal
• Aaron Rodgers says his intention is to play for New York Jets, he is waiting for Green Bay Packers to complete trade
• AP Source: Titans add DE Arden Key, OL Daniel Brunskill
• AP source: Lions add David Montogmery, Emmanuel Moseley
• AP source: Saints’ Thomas agrees to new 1-year contract
• Bears agree to deal with Titans DE DeMarcus Walker
• Kendricks signs, Pipkins agrees to terms with Chargers
• AP source: Browns re-signing LB Takitaki to 1-year contract
• AP sources: Raiders set to trade Darren Waller to Giants
• AP source: Vikings convert Cousins bonus, clear $16M off cap
• AP source: Colts planning to release Matt Ryan in cap move
• Pratt said he stayed in Cincy because he wants to win
• AP source: Jarran Reed returning to Seahawks on 2-year deal
• Cowboys get CB Gilmore in trade with Colts on big day for D
• AP sources: Cowboys keep Wilson, Vander Esch in free agency
• AP source: Raiders, Jakobi Meyers agree on 3-year deal
• AP sources: QB Dalton agrees to 2-year deal with Panthers
• AP source: Dolphins bringing back RB duo of Mostert, Wilson
• Lawyers want Roger Goodell role cut in NFL race bias claims
• AP sources: Eagles keep James Bradberry, add Rashaad Penny
• AP source: Commanders fire offensive line coach John Matsko
• AP source: 49ers agree to 4-year deal with C Jake Brendel
• Ekeler receives permission from Chargers to seek trade
• AP source: QB Heinicke returning home to sign with Falcons
• AP source: Jaguars bringing back special teams ace Wingard
• AP source: Texans agree to trade for guard Shaq Mason
• Salary cap-squeezed Bills handcuffed entering free agency
• AP sources: Broncos get McGlinchey, Powers, Allen, Stidham
• AP source: Browns restructure Watson deal, get D-line help

BASEBALL NEWS

METS’ DÍAZ HURTS KNEE AS PUERTO RICO TOPS DOMINICANS IN WBC

MIAMI (AP) New York Mets star closer Edwin Díaz injured his right knee celebrating a win Wednesday night that advanced Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic and eliminated the Dominican Republic.

Díaz was taken off the field in a wheelchair in Miami soon after pitching a perfect ninth inning to close out Puerto Rico’s 5-2 win over the Dominicans.

The Mets later tweeted that Díaz injured his knee and would undergo further tests Thursday.

The Puerto Rican players were jumping together in the infield when Díaz collapsed to the ground, and he quickly reached for his right leg. Díaz was in tears and did not put any weight on the leg.

Díaz’s brother, Cincinnati pitcher Alexis Díaz, was also crying as Edwin was taken away. Mets teammate and Puerto Rico shortstop Francisco Lindor stood nearby with his hands on his head.

Christian Vázquez homered in a four-run third inning as Puerto Rico advanced to the WBC quarterfinals to face the winner of Pool C on Saturday in Miami.

It’s just the second time ever that Dominican Republic didn’t make it past the first round (2009).

After Vázquez’s solo homer off starter Johnny Cueto, Vimael Machin, Martin Maldonado, Francisco Lindor and Kiké Hernandez hit four straight singles to make it 3-0. MJ Melendez then grounded out on a play that allowed Lindor to score.

Cueto took the loss and was lifted before the end of the third after allowing four hits, three runs and striking out two.

Juan Soto made it 4-1 when he homered to deep center field — 448 feet — off Puerto Rico reliever Jovani Moran for his second home run of the tournament.

Soto finished the tournament 6-for-15 with three doubles and three RBIs.

Puerto Rico capped a dominant pool round in which it blanked Israel in a perfect 10-0 win Monday night.

UNITED STATES 3, COLOMBIA 2

PHOENIX (AP) – Mike Trout had three hits and three RBIs, and the United States used a stellar night from its deep bullpen to beat Colombia 3-2 and advance to the quarterfinals.

Mexico and the U.S. both finished with a 3-1 record in Group C to advance. Mexico gets the top seed because it beat the U.S. 11-5 on Sunday.

Trout singled in the third, bringing home Mookie Betts and giving the U.S. a 1-0 lead. Colombia bounced back quickly, taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third on Gio Urshela’s sacrifice fly and an RBI double from Reynaldo Rodriguez.

Trout put the Americans ahead again in the fifth with a two-run single that scored Betts and Will Smith.

Merrill Kelly gave up two runs in three innings for the Americans. Kelly then gave way to a parade of hard throwing bullpen arms: Kendall Graveman, Daniel Bard, David Bednar, Jason Adam, Devin Williams and Ryan Pressly each threw a scoreless inning to finish the win.

Colombia started the tournament with an upset win over Mexico, but then lost three straight to Canada, Britain and the U.S.

A crowd of 29,856 at Chase Field watched the game.

CUBA 4, AUSTRALIA 3

TOKYO (AP) – Cuba earned a 7,500-mile flight to Miami for a trip to the WBC semifinals for the first time since 2006.

Alfredo Despaigne hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly and Yoelkis Guibert followed with a two-run single in three-run fifth inning.

Using current major leaguers for the first time at the WBC, Cuba plays on Sunday in Marlins Park against the winner of a quarterfinal between Venezuela and the second-place team from Group C: Canada, Colombia, Mexico or the U.S.

Former Philadelphia Phillies prospect Rixon Wingrove, who led Australia with seven RBIs in the tournament, hit a go-ahead RBI sngle in the second and had a two-run homer in the sixth off the Chicago Cubs’ Roenis Elías. Australia got two on later in the sixth before Elías retired Milwaukee Brewers prospect Alex Hall on a flyout.

Elías pitched a perfect seventh, Liván Moinelo worked around a pair of walks in a hitless eighth by striking out Ulrich Bojarski and retiring Tim Kennelly on an inning-ending flyout. Raidel Martinez pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save, striking out Darryl George on the eighth pitch of the at-bat for the final out.

Before a crowd of 35,061 at the Tokyo Dome, Luis Robert tied the score for Cuba with a run-scoring groundout in the third.

Cuba, which lost the 2006 final to Japan, had been eliminated in the second round of the previous three WBCs. The Cubans won their third straight game in this tournament after losing their first two.

Australia advanced past the group stage for the first time.

Yoán Moncada of the Chicago White Sox had two hits and two walks, and is hitting .421 wth five RBIs. Moncada sparked the third with a one-out double off Mitch Neunborn, who had walked Roel Santos leading off.

Winner Miguel Romero, the second of five Cuban pitchers, allowed one hit in 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Former major leaguer Yoenis Céspedes left the team before the game for unspecified personal reasons, the Cuban Baseball Federation said.

MEXICO 10, CANADA 3

PHOENIX (AP) – Randy Arozarena had two doubles and five RBIs, Rowdy Tellez added a two-run single and solo homer, and Mexico pulled away late from Canada to earn a spot in the quarterfinals.

Mexico started the tournament with a surprising loss to Colombia in Group C at Chase Field but rallied with three straight wins, beating the U.S., Britain and Canada.

José Urquidy gave up two runs over four innings, striking out five to earn the win. Arozarena – the 2021 AL Rookie of the Year for the Tampa Bay Rays – hit a bases-clearing double in the sixth that broke the game open, giving Mexico a 6-2 lead.

Canada leadoff hitter Edouard Julien had two hits and an RBI and catcher Bo Naylor hit a solo homer. Rob Zastryzny took the loss after giving up three runs over two innings.

Canada played without Los Angeles Dodgers star first baseman Freddie Freeman, who left Tuesday’s game because of a hamstring injury.

Arozaena already has nine RBIs through four games in the tournament. That’s just three shy of the record set by Netherlands’ Wladimir Balentien in 2017.

VENEZUELA 5, ISRAEL 1

MIAMI (AP) – Eugenio Suárez homered, singled twice and had three RBIs and starter Jesús Luzardo struck out five in four scoreless innings to lead Venezuela, which already had clinched the Group D title and a quarterfinal berth.

Ronald Acuña Jr. had two singles while Eduardo Escobar also went deep for Venezuela, which finished with 10 hits.

Venezuela burst to a three-run lead in the first against Robert Stock. Acuña broke out of a tournament-starting 1-for-11 skid with an RBI single and Suárez hit a two-run single.

Escobar’s solo shot in the fourth made it 4-0 and Suárez connected with a leadoff drive in the sixth.

Jakob Goldfarb’s RBI single in the seventh snapped a 22-inning scoreless streak for Israel.

Venezuela joined Japan as the only group winners to finish unbeaten.

Israel finished 1-3 after reaching the second round in the 2017 tournament.

SPORTS EXTRA

NBA STANDINGS

Eastern Conference
	W	L	Pct	Conf GB	Home	Road	Div	Conf	Last 10	Streak
1 Milwaukee	50	19	.725	—	28-6	22-13	8-4	29-14	8-2	2 W
2 Boston	48	22	.686	2.5	26-9	22-13	9-4	29-16	5-5	1 W
3 Philadelphia	46	22	.676	3.5	26-10	20-12	7-6	27-15	7-3	6 W
4 Cleveland	44	28	.611	7.5	28-8	16-20	12-3	28-15	6-4	1 L
5 New York	41	30	.577	10.0	19-16	22-14	8-8	28-17	7-3	2 W
6 Brooklyn	39	30	.565	11.0	19-12	20-18	7-8	26-18	5-5	1 L
7 Miami	38	33	.535	13.0	24-13	14-20	9-5	19-23	6-4	2 W
8 Atlanta	34	35	.493	16.0	18-15	16-20	7-8	21-23	5-5	2 L
9 Toronto	33	36	.478	17.0	21-13	12-23	4-9	20-21	5-5	1 W
10 Washington	32	37	.464	18.0	16-17	16-20	7-5	19-24	4-6	1 W
11 Chicago	31	37	.456	18.5	18-16	13-21	6-8	23-22	5-5	1 L
12 Indiana	31	38	.449	19.0	19-16	12-22	6-6	21-20	6-4	1 L
13 Orlando	28	41	.406	22.0	16-19	12-22	5-8	15-28	4-6	1 L
14 Charlotte	22	49	.310	29.0	11-23	11-26	7-9	13-33	4-6	3 L
15 Detroit	16	54	.229	34.5	9-27	7-27	1-12	7-36	1-9	1 L
Western Conference
	W	L	Pct	Conf GB	Home	Road	Div	Conf	Last 10	Streak
1 Denver	46	23	.667	—	30-6	16-17	10-5	32-13	5-5	4 L
2 Sacramento	41	27	.603	4.5	21-14	20-13	8-6	27-14	8-2	1 W
3 Memphis	41	27	.603	4.5	28-5	13-22	9-2	23-19	6-4	1 L
4 Phoenix	37	32	.536	9.0	22-12	15-20	9-3	24-17	5-5	3 L
5 LA Clippers	37	33	.529	9.5	19-15	18-18	7-7	21-21	5-5	4 W
6 Golden State	36	34	.514	10.5	29-7	7-27	6-9	23-19	6-4	1 L
7 Minnesota	35	35	.500	11.5	20-17	15-18	8-7	25-20	4-6	1 L
8 Dallas	35	35	.500	11.5	22-14	13-21	9-5	26-21	4-6	1 W
9 Oklahoma City	34	35	.493	12.0	21-15	13-20	7-7	20-23	6-4	3 W
10 LA Lakers	34	36	.486	12.5	18-16	16-20	4-9	20-23	6-4	1 L
11 Utah	33	36	.478	13.0	20-13	13-23	5-8	21-22	4-6	1 L
12 New Orleans	33	36	.478	13.0	22-13	11-23	8-4	22-19	3-7	1 L
13 Portland	31	38	.449	15.0	17-16	14-22	5-8	21-20	3-7	4 L
14 San Antonio	18	51	.261	28.0	12-24	6-27	2-11	7-36	4-6	1 L
15 Houston	17	52	.246	29.0	11-24	6-28	3-9	10-35	4-6	2 W

NHL STANDINGS

Eastern Conference
	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	ROW	GF	GA	Home	Road	L10
1 x-Boston Bruins	66	50	11	5	105	48	248	148	27-3-3	23-8-2	7-3-0
2 Carolina Hurricanes	66	44	14	8	96	40	222	168	24-8-2	20-6-6	6-4-0
3 New Jersey Devils	67	44	17	6	94	42	236	181	19-13-2	25-4-4	7-2-1
4 Toronto Maple Leafs	67	40	18	9	89	40	227	181	24-7-5	16-11-4	6-3-1
5 New York Rangers	67	38	19	10	86	34	222	189	18-11-4	20-8-6	5-4-1
6 Tampa Bay Lightning	68	40	22	6	86	38	237	207	24-6-5	16-16-1	3-5-2
7 Pittsburgh Penguins	67	34	23	10	78	33	221	216	19-10-5	15-13-5	7-2-1
8 New York Islanders	70	35	27	8	78	35	204	195	20-12-3	15-15-5	6-3-1
9 Florida Panthers	67	33	27	7	73	31	229	226	19-10-4	14-17-3	6-3-1
10 Washington Capitals	69	33	29	7	73	31	216	209	16-13-4	17-16-3	5-4-1
11 Buffalo Sabres	67	33	28	6	72	32	246	244	13-18-3	20-10-3	3-5-2
12 Ottawa Senators	67	33	30	4	70	31	210	218	19-12-2	14-18-2	6-4-0
13 Detroit Red Wings	67	30	28	9	69	28	200	219	17-12-4	13-16-5	2-7-1
14 Montreal Canadiens	68	27	35	6	60	23	190	248	14-17-3	13-18-3	2-6-2
15 Philadelphia Flyers	67	24	32	11	59	23	172	222	12-16-4	12-16-7	2-7-1
16 Columbus Blue Jackets	66	21	38	7	49	20	175	249	13-20-2	8-18-5	3-4-3
Western Conference
	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	ROW	GF	GA	Home	Road	L10
1 Vegas Golden Knights	68	42	20	6	90	38	222	188	21-13-1	21-7-5	7-2-1
2 Dallas Stars	68	37	18	13	87	34	236	185	17-9-8	20-9-5	7-2-1
3 Los Angeles Kings	68	39	20	9	87	33	233	223	21-9-3	18-11-6	7-1-2
4 Minnesota Wild	68	39	21	8	86	32	203	183	21-10-3	18-11-5	7-0-3
5 Colorado Avalanche	66	38	22	6	82	33	216	186	18-11-5	20-11-1	6-3-1
6 Edmonton Oilers	68	37	23	8	82	37	264	230	17-12-5	20-11-3	6-4-0
7 Seattle Kraken	67	37	23	7	81	37	234	216	16-14-4	21-9-3	5-4-1
8 Winnipeg Jets	68	38	27	3	79	37	212	194	21-11-2	17-16-1	3-5-2
9 Nashville Predators	65	34	24	7	75	30	188	190	17-11-3	17-13-4	7-2-1
10 Calgary Flames	68	30	24	14	74	28	209	208	16-14-3	14-10-11	3-4-3
11 Vancouver Canucks	66	29	32	5	63	25	226	252	16-17-1	13-15-4	7-2-1
12 St. Louis Blues	67	29	33	5	63	26	210	250	14-16-4	15-17-1	3-5-2
13 Arizona Coyotes	68	25	32	11	61	22	192	240	18-11-3	7-21-8	5-3-2
14 Anaheim Ducks	68	22	36	10	54	19	175	277	11-17-3	11-19-7	5-2-3
15 Chicago Blackhawks	67	23	38	6	52	21	171	239	14-18-3	9-20-3	3-6-1
16 San Jose Sharks	68	19	36	13	51	18	198	263	6-19-9	13-17-4	1-7-2

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

1907      Ty Cobb quarrels with Bungy Cummings, a black groundskeeper who made a friendly gesture toward the Tiger outfielder. When the groundskeeper’s wife intercedes, the ‘Georgia Peach’ reportedly chokes her, and according to Charlie Schmidt, he allegedly stopped the assault by knocking out his teammate.

1908      Pirates legend Honus Wagner comes out of retirement when Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss makes him the highest-paid player in the league, offering him $10,000 yearly. The 34-year-old shortstop earns his salary, leading the National League in batting average, hits, total bases, doubles, triples, RBIs, and stolen bases, completing the campaign that historian Bill James cites as the greatest single-season for any player in baseball history.

1932      Due to the economic depression gripping the nation, Babe Ruth signs a deal for $75,000, a five-thousand pay cut from last season, and 25 percent of the Yankees exhibition games’ net receipts. Legend has it the Bambino signed a blank contract, with the amount filled in later by Yankee owner Jacob Ruppert.

1953      The American League rejects Bill Veeck’s request to shift the Browns to Baltimore, voting 6-2 to keep the failing franchise in St. Louis. The lack of support from his fellow owners, except for Charles Comiskey of the White Sox, is an effort to oust the independent-minded maverick from the Junior Circuit.

1961      The state of New York approves a bond issue for constructing a 55,000-seat stadium on the 1939-40 World’s Fair site in the Flushing Meadow area of Queens. The Mets’ future home will be named Shea Stadium, honoring attorney William Shea, who brought the National League back to New York.

1994      Former major league starter Eric Show dies of an accidental drug overdose in his room at the Rancho L’Abri, a private rehab center in San Diego (CA). The 37-year-old right-hander finished his 11-year career with Oakland, pitching the first ten years with the Padres, where he established the franchise record for most career wins (100) when he left the team as a free agent in 1990.

2001      Slammin’ Sammy Sosa signs a four-year contract extension keeping the Cub right fielder in the Windy City until 2006. The prolific home run hitter has averaged nearly sixty home runs (179 HRs/3 years) during the last three seasons.

2006      🇲🇽 At Angel Stadium in front of 38,284 enthusiastic fans, Oliver Perez and seven relievers combined to lead Mexico to a stunning defeat of Roger Clemens and the United States, 2-1. The second-round loss eliminates Team USA from the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

2006      Roy Halladay (12-4, 2.41) agrees to a $40 million, three-year contract extension which could keep the ‘Doc’ with the Blue Jays through the 2010 season. The 2003 American League Cy Young winner’s season was cut short after getting drilled by a line drive hit by Ranger Kevin Mench, resulting in a broken leg.

2006      At the 5:00 p.m. EST airing of the show Daily News Live!, the Mets begin transmitting Sportsnet New York, which will become better known as SNY. The club modeled the team-owned network after similar regional cable television ventures by the Red Sox (NESN, 1984) and the Yankees (YES, 2002).

2010      The Red Sox announce 19-year-old prospect Ryan Westmoreland has undergone a five-hour surgical procedure to remove a cavernous malformation in his brain. The highly touted minor league outfielder received the diagnosis at Mass General after leaving spring training earlier this month.

2010      Former L.A. outfielder Willie Davis, the team leader in hits, extra-base hits, and runs, is fondly remembered by his family and friends, including many teammates, at a memorial service in Dodger Stadium. The 69-year-old, known as 3 Dog, was found dead in his home last week.

2015      The Grapefruit League game between the Phillies and Twins marks the first time two current Hall of Fame players have managed against each other. Minnesota manager Paul Molitor, enshrined in 2004, opposes Philadelphia skipper Ryne Sandberg, an inductee a season later.

2019      The Fix, a two-act opera inspired by the Black Sox scandal, premieres at the Ordway Theater in St. Paul (MN). The dramatic work composed by Joel Puckett portrays the century-old events surrounding the White Sox fix of the 1919 World Series against the Reds.

BASEBALL’S BEST

LUKE APPLING

He was a line-drive machine for 20 seasons, a man who had more career extra-base hits (587) than strikeouts (528).

Luke Appling had a reputation for nagging injuries, but his career numbers illustrate a player who was remarkably durable and consistent.

Appling broke into the big leagues with the Chicago White Sox in 1930 and became entrenched at shortstop the following season. By 1936, Appling won his first All-Star Game selection en route to a .388 batting average – the top single-season mark ever by a modern-era shortstop. That same season, Appling drove in 128 runs while hitting just six homers – the second-best RBI total ever for anyone with less than 10 home runs in a season.

Appling also had one of the best batting eyes in the game, averaging about 87 walks and just 35 strikeouts per season en route to a career on-base percentage of .399. All this came despite a variety of maladies that earned Appling the nickname “Old Aches and Pains.”

“Few were better or more deadly with two strikes than Appling,” wrote Arthur Daley of The New York Times. “He just waited for the pitch he wanted and lashed into it. If there was a good pitch he didn’t want, he artistically spoiled it by fouling it off.”

Appling finished his career in 1950 with a .310 career batting average, two batting titles, seven All-Star Game selections and 2,749 hits. He played each of his 20 big league seasons with the White Sox and was named the Sox’s greatest player by Chicago fans in 1969.

Appling was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1964. He passed away on Jan. 3, 1991.

RICHIE ASHBURN

A fleet-footed center fielder who used his athletic gifts to get on base and chase down fly balls on the field, then a broadcaster that used his storytelling skills to become a much beloved voice off the field, Richie Ashburn would become a fixture on the Philadelphia sports scene for a half century.

Playing in an era that featured stalwart center fielders Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and Duke Snider, the lefty swinging Ashburn twice won the National League batting title, finished second twice and nine times batted over .300. A lifetime .308 hitter, his 1,198 walks and 2,574 hits helped him finish with a .396 on-base percentage.

“Ashburn is the fastest man I’ve ever seen getting down to first base,” said Brooklyn Dodgers manager Leo Durocher in 1948. “He’s even faster than Pete Reiser in his prime. Anybody who’s faster than Ashburn isn’t running. He’s flying.”

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Ashburn excelled from 1948 to 1959 with the Phillies as the prototypical leadoff hitter and center fielder. With an excellent eye at the plate, he led the league in walks on four occasions and his 1958 season marked the first time a leadoff hitter paced the league in both batting average (.350) and bases on balls (97).

Defensively, Ashburn set outfield marks with nine years of 400 or more putouts and four years with 500 or more. Six of the Top 10 seasons all-time of outfielder putouts were authored by Ashburn, including second place (538 putouts in 1951) and third place (514 in 1949).

“The only complaint I have about him is he wasn’t tall enough to catch the balls that went into the seats,” said longtime Phillies teammate Robin Roberts. “He caught everything else.”

After spending two seasons (1960-61) with the Chicago Cubs, Ashburn ended his playing career as a member of the expansion New York Mets for their inaugural 1962 season. Despite hitting .306 and being the lone All-Star representative for a team that lost a record 120 games, he became one of the few regulars to ever retire following a season batting at least .300.

After leaving the field of play, Ashburn began a second career when he returned to Philadelphia as a member of the media. He joined the Phillies’ television-radio broadcasting team in 1963, where he would combine perceptive commentary with a wry sense of humor for 35 years.

Ashburn was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1995. He passed away on Sept. 9, 1997.

BASEBALL YEAR IN REVIEW

YEAR IN REVIEW : 1913 AMERICAN LEAGUE

Off the field…

The Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution (for income tax) was adopted stating that: “Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.”

One of the most important exhibitions of art ever held in the United States, “The Armory Show” aroused the curiosity of the public and helped to change the direction of American painting. An estimated 1,600 works including paintings representing many avant-garde movements from Europe were revealed to mixed reviews. Duchamp’s “Nude Descending a Staircase” was singled out by the hostile critics as a prime example of the “degeneracy” of the new art. Later, many of the same paintings would become modern masterpieces commanding millions of dollars in value.

In the American League…

The New York Yankees became the first team to practice outside the United States after they traveled to Bermuda for spring training.

On May 14^th, Walter “The Big Train” Johnson topped Jack Coombs with a record of fifty-six straight scoreless innings as his Washington Senators beat the St. Louis Browns 10-5 at Sportsman’s Park III.

The Boston Red Sox set a Major League record for frustration on July 3^rd after totaling fifteen hits off the Washington Senators’ Walter Johnson during a 1-0 shutout.

In the National League…

Philadelphia Phillies ace Erskine Mayer set an unwanted National League mark on August 18^th after surrendering nine consecutive hits to the Chicago Cubs (all in the ninth-inning) en route to a 10-4 loss.

In September, Pittsburgh Pirate Honus Wagner was presented with a commemorative bat carved from a piece of wood taken from naval hero Oliver Perry’s flagship Niagara (which had sunk in Lake Erie one-hundred years before). Wagner had been the first player ever to have his signature scrawled on a Louisville Slugger (1905).

Around the League…

American League President Ban Johnson and Detroit Tigers President Frank Navin both voiced complaints on the extensive length of the games, which were taking up to two hours to play. Both blamed several rules and regulations including the location of the “coachers boxes” and proposed that they be moved back so that the catcher could relay the pitcher his signals more quickly.

After ruling that a ballplayer on the field was considered a “public person,” a New York judge tossed out several cases (brought by both New York and Boston players) against a motion picture company that had apparently taken film of the 1912 World Series.

In December, The Sporting News reported that fifteen men (none well known) had died from various baseball-inflicted injuries during the 1913 season, according to a list compiled by J.R. Vickery of Chicago.

FOOTBALL HISTORY

March 16, 1964 – Paul Hornung & Alex Karras reinstated in the NFL after 1 year suspension for betting on NFL games. An ESPN Classic website article says that three years earlier in 1961 that Hornung set an NFL record with 176 points in 1960 and was the league’s MVP. The Nola.com website claims that Hornung placed bets of up to $500 during the seasons of 1959 through 1961, though the player reputed that he only wagered about $100 once or twice with some friends. Karras on the other hand was an All-Pro defensive tackle for three straight seasons and was accused by the NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle of making at least six bets of $50 or $100 each. Karras was not a happy camper about the accusation or the suspension. Both players were able to return to their teams for the 1965 season.

HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 16

Have you ever heard of something as jaw dropping as a freshman quarterback scoring eleven, yes one more than ten, touchdowns in one varsity college football game? Surely something like this has to be conjured up by Disney or the Brothers Grimm but no my friends this actually occurred. It was a game in 1890 when Princeton University entertained Columbia in an early stocking cap era game per the NFF. Statistics were not as well maintained as they are today so it is hard to imagine how many yards this curly haired 5′-6″ first year player accumulated in the 19th century contest, but we do know that even though a TD was worth only 5 points in that era of football 55 points is still an extremely high amount of points for a team let alone an individual player to put up in a single game. Let’s introduce the man that accomplished the feat, he was born March 16, 1872 in Washington, D.C. and was the legendary Princeton University quarterback from 1890 to 1893 Phillip King. As a matter of fact according to the JewsinSports.org website King made his first appearance for Princeton in the fourth game of the 1890 season, and subsequently scored a 25-yard touchdown on his first carry. Phil became the captain of the football team and the baseball squad at Princeton and remember when you were the captain back in that era of sports, you were basically the coach too. That Freshman year, King scored 29 touchdowns, 18 of them in two consecutive weeks and remember he didn’t even play until the fourth week of the season! His four-year career as quarterback of the Orange and Black would include 50 touchdowns and 56 conversion kicks. Phil was a first-team All-American from 1891-1893, one of the few four-time All-American selections the game has ever known (he was an All-American at baseball, too). The article goes on to say that Phil declined offers to play professionally in both sports, and subsequently became a successful coach in both sports after he graduated in 1893. On the gridiron he was the head coach at the University of Wisconsin in 1896 through 1902 and again in 1905 and had a 65-11-1 record.

March 16, 1920 – Towsend, Tennessee – William and Mary’s two way guard and linebacker Buster Ramsey was born. You guessed it, we have much more on this legend of the gridiron that you can observe by clicking his name.

March 16, 1951 – Detroit, Michigan – The great All-American Michigan State Guard Joe DeLamielleure received his birth date. Joe came out of the Spartans program as a great talent and it did not take long for the Buffalo Bills to use their first round pick in the 1973 NFL Draft to claim him for the franchise. The big guard provided instant reward for his employer as he was voted with All-Rookie honors in year one according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Though offensive linemen have few stats that one can look at in the era Joe played one thing that is seen is that he was many times the lead blocker for O.J. Simpson and we do know what Simpson did in as far as rushing yards. DeLamielleure and his line mates were often referred to as the “Electric Company.” Joe DeLamielleure Pro Football Hall of Fame 2003.

March 16, 1956 – Muscle Shoals, Alabama – The big four year starting wide receiver of the Alabama Crimson Tide from 1974 to 1977, Ozzie Newsome arrived into this life. According to his bio on the National Football Foundation’s website, Ozzie was the offensive captain and earned All-America honors in 1977. Newsome had a brilliant collegiate career with the Tide as in his four years he caught 102 passes for 2,070 yards with an average gain of 20.3 per catch. Oz’s best game in his senior season came against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame when he caught seven passes, scored two touchdowns and a two-point conversion while receiving high praise and accolades for his blocking. The highest award that Ozzie may have received in college may have been the remarks of his Head Coach, Bear Bryant, who called Ozzie “the greatest end in Alabama history and that includes Don Hutson. A total team player, fine blocker, outstanding leader, great receiver with concentration, speed, hands.” The NFF voters chose Ozzie Newsome for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994. At the 1978 NFL Draft the Cleveland Browns sent their first round card to the Commissioner with Ozzie’s name upon it. Newsome played 13 seasons with the Browns and ended his career as the League’s fourth leading receiver and first amongst Tight Ends. He caught 662 passes for 7980 yards and 47 TDs. The Wizard of Oz’s best professional season was in 1983 when he hauled in 89 balls and then replicated those numbers the next season. In 1999 Ozzie Newsome was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

March 16, 1969 – Chicago, Illinois – The tough defensive tackle from the University of Notre Dame, Chris Zorich came into this life. When you come from the same high school as Dick Butkus did you know you have to be well versed in strong defense and Zorich definitely was. Chris’s physical attributes were off the charts as the NFF tells us he could bench 455 pounds and ran a 4.68 40 yard dash. Like Butkus Zorich played linebacker when he first arrived at South Bend but the coaches moved him to Nose Tackle and with that he had to sit and learn the position for a year without even seeing the field. It sure paid dividends for the team and the player though as in his first game he had one and a half sacks and ten tackles against Michigan. Chris completed the season as the player with the third highest in tackles on the team as Notre Dame went undefeated and won the national championship and Zorich became a first-team All-America as a sophomore. a consensus All-America year in 1989 as he had three double-digit tackle games. Zorich was also one of four finalists for the Lombardi Award. As a senior, Chris Z. won the Lombardi Award and was recognized as a unanimous All-America. In the final game of his collegiate career he was the Defensive Most Valuable player of the Orange Bowl. The place was prepared in the College Football Hall of Fame for this great player, Chris Zorich in 2007 induction ceremonies. Chris went on to be drafted by his hometown team the Chicago Bears and had a productive career with both the Bears and Washington.

NUMBERS IN SPORTS

9 – 71 – 5 – 17

March 16, 1900 – The fledgling American League of baseball held a conference in Chicago, Illinois. Its leader Ban Johnson, announced that the League would consist of Cleveland Blues, Boston Americans, Chicago White Stockings, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Athletics, and Washington Senators.

March 16, 1939 – The New York Rangers versus the New York Americans NHL game provided a thrill for fans as a record 10 goals in the first periodwas scored and a total of 26 point in the final stanza.

March 16, 1953 – Montreal Canadiens legendary Number 9, Maurice “Rocket” Richard was suspended for the rest of the season by NHL President Clarence Campbell after he fiercely attacked an opponent during a game.

March 16, 1964 – Detroit Lions great Alex Karras, Number 71 and Green Bay Packers All-star Number 5, Paul Hornug were reinstated back to playing status in the NFL after a one year suspension for allegedly violating the League’s gambling policies.nMarch 16, 1985 – Two-time Cy Young Award winner Denny McLain, who wore the Number 17 for much of his career with multiple teams was convicted of embezzlement and drug trafficking; sentenced to 25 years but conviction later reversed