“THE SCOREBOARD”
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMI-STATE MATCH-UPS
NORTH
CLASS 4A AT HUNTINGTON NORTH
G1: FORT WAYNE SNIDER (21-4) VS. FISHERS (24-2) 10 AM ET
G2: SB WASHINGTON (27-0) VS. LAKE CENTRAL (22-5) 12 PM ET
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER. 8 PM ET
CLASS 3A AT LAPORTE
G1: TWIN LAKES (27-0) VS. HAMILTON HEIGHTS (20-5) 10 AM CT
G2: TIPPECANOE VALLEY (22-3) VS. FAIRFIELD (25-2) 12 PM CT
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER. 7:30 PM CT
CLASS 2A AT LOGANSPORT
G1: ANDREAN (25-3) VS. LAPEL (220-7) 10 AM ET
G2: CENTRAL NOBLE (25-2) VS. LAF. CENTRAL CATHOLIC (20-6) 12 PM ET
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER. 8 PM ET
CLASS 1A AT FRANKFORT
G1: TRI (25-1) VS. TRI-CENTRAL (12-13) 10 AM ET
G2: BETHANY CHRISTIAN (22-3) VS. WASHINGTON TWP. (20-6) 12 PM ET
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER. 8 PM ET
SOUTH
CLASS 4A AT SOUTHPORT
G1: BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (24-3) VS. CENTER GROVE (22-4) 10 AM ET
G2: LAWRENCE NORTH (18-9) VS. BEN DAVIS (18-9) 12 PM ET
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER. 8 PM ET
CLASS 3A AT JASPER
G1: GIBSON SOUTHERN (21-4) VS. CORYDON CENTRAL (25-2) 10:30 AM ET
G2: INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD (12-13) VS. INDIAN CREEK (26-1) 12:30 PM ET
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER. 8 PM ET
CLASS 2A AT SHELBYVILLE (BROADCAST ON INDIANA SRN)
G1: FOREST PARK (23-3) VS. GREENCASTLE (23-4) 10 AM ET
G2: NORTH KNOX (27-1) VS. EASTERN HANCOCK (23-3) 12 PM ET
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER. 8 PM ET
CLASS 1A AT NEW ALBANY
G1: BLOOMFIELD (14-14) VS. JAC-CEN-DEL (16-11) 10 AM ET
G2: LANESVILLE (25-2) VS. TRINITY LUTHERAN (22-6) 12 PM ET
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER. 8 PM ET
INDIANA WRESTLING STATE FINALS
FRIDAY, FEB. 17, 2023
SESSION 1
GATES OPEN AT 12:30 PM ET
PARADE OF CHAMPIONS AT 1:30 PM ET
FIRST ROUND WEIGHT CLASSES 106 – 145 BEGIN AT 2 PM ET
FIRST ROUND WEIGHT CLASSES 152 – 285 BEGIN AT 5:30 PM ET
SATURDAY, FEB. 18, 2023
SESSION 2
GATES OPEN AT 8 AM ET
QUARTERFINALS BEGIN AT 9 AM ET WITH SEMIFINALS TO FOLLOW
FIELDHOUSE CLEARED OF ALL SPECTATORS FOLLOWING SEMIFINALS
SESSION 3
GATES OPEN AT 3:30 PM ET
CONSOLATIONS AT 4:30 PM ET WITH STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS TO FOLLOW AT 7:30 PM ET
BRACKETS ARE AVAILABLE VIA FLOWRESTLING.COM
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL POLLS/ RANKINGS
AP POLL
| RANK | SCHOOL | VOTES | PREV |
| 1 | ALABAMA 22-3 | 1523 (38) | 3 |
| 2 | HOUSTON 23-2 | 1503 (22) | 2 |
| 3 | PURDUE 23-3 | 1408 (2) | 1 |
| 4 | UCLA 21-4 | 1302 | 7 |
| 5 | KANSAS 20-5 | 1283 | 9 |
| 6 | TEXAS 20-5 | 1214 | 5 |
| 7 | VIRGINIA 19-4 | 1212 | 8 |
| 8 | ARIZONA 22-4 | 1139 | 4 |
| 9 | BAYLOR 19-6 | 1072 | 14 |
| 10 | TENNESSEE 19-6 | 896 | 6 |
| 11 | MARQUETTE 20-6 | 815 | 10 |
| 12 | KANSAS STATE 19-6 | 790 | 12 |
| 13 | GONZAGA 21-5 | 761 | 16 |
| 14 | INDIANA 18-7 | 717 | 18 |
| 15 | MIAMI (FL) 20-5 | 693 | 19 |
| 16 | XAVIER 19-6 | 642 | 13 |
| 17 | SAINT MARY’S 22-5 | 567 | 15 |
| 18 | CREIGHTON 17-8 | 517 | 23 |
| 19 | IOWA STATE 16-8 | 396 | 11 |
| 20 | UCONN 19-7 | 358 | 21 |
| 21 | SAN DIEGO STATE 20-5 | 271 | 25 |
| 22 | TCU 17-8 | 204 | 17 |
| 23 | NORTH CAROLINA STATE 20-6 | 140 | 22 |
| 24 | PROVIDENCE 18-7 | 136 | 20 |
| 25 | FLORIDA ATLANTIC 24-2 | 117 | NR |
COACHES POLL
| RANK | SCHOOL | VOTES | PREV |
| 1 | ALABAMA 22-3 | 782 (15) | 3 |
| 2 | HOUSTON 23-2 | 775 (15) | 2 |
| 3 | PURDUE 23-3 | 728 (1) | 1 |
| 4 | UCLA 21-4 | 679 | 7 |
| 5 | TEXAS 20-5 | 642 | 6 |
| 6 | VIRGINIA 19-4 | 634 (1) | 9 |
| 7 | KANSAS 20-5 | 624 | 8 |
| 8 | ARIZONA 22-4 | 554 | 4 |
| 9 | BAYLOR 19-6 | 549 | 12 |
| 10 | MARQUETTE 20-6 | 455 | 10 |
| 11 | TENNESSEE 19-6 | 438 | 5 |
| 12 | GONZAGA 21-5 | 368 | 16 |
| 13 | MIAMI (FL) 20-5 | 360 | 20 |
| 14 | KANSAS STATE 19-6 | 354 | 11 |
| 15 | INDIANA 18-7 | 346 | 18 |
| 16 | XAVIER 19-6 | 328 | 15 |
| 17 | SAINT MARY’S 22-5 | 305 | 14 |
| 18 | IOWA STATE 16-8 | 238 | 13 |
| 19 | CREIGHTON 17-8 | 226 | NR |
| 20 | SAN DIEGO STATE 20-5 | 158 | 23 |
| 21 | PROVIDENCE 18-7 | 151 | 17 |
| 22 | NORTH CAROLINA STATE 20-6 | 128 | 22 |
| 23 | UCONN 19-7 | 119 | 21 |
| 24 | TCU 17-8 | 78 | 19 |
| 25 | TEXAS A&M 18-7 | 65 | NR |
RPI RANKING
| RANK | SCHOOL | RPI | PREV |
| 1 | ALABAMA 22-3 | 0.6753 | 1 |
| 2 | KANSAS 20-5 | 0.6569 | 2 |
| 3 | GONZAGA 21-5 | 0.6448 | 3 |
| 4 | NEVADA 20-6 | 0.6411 | 6 |
| 5 | SAN DIEGO STATE 20-5 | 0.6408 | 5 |
| 6 | PURDUE 23-3 | 0.6385 | 4 |
| 7 | TEXAS 20-5 | 0.6376 | 8 |
| 8 | UCLA 21-4 | 0.6375 | 10 |
| 8 | VIRGINIA 19-4 | 0.6375 | 8 |
| 10 | HOUSTON 23-2 | 0.6372 | 7 |
| 11 | FLORIDA ATLANTIC 24-2 | 0.6325 | 12 |
| 11 | BAYLOR 19-6 | 0.6325 | 11 |
| 13 | SAINT MARY’S 22-5 | 0.6260 | 13 |
| 14 | KANSAS STATE 19-6 | 0.6234 | 14 |
| 15 | ARIZONA 22-4 | 0.6230 | 15 |
| 16 | TENNESSEE 19-6 | 0.6166 | 16 |
| 17 | XAVIER 19-6 | 0.6157 | 18 |
| 18 | DUKE 17-8 | 0.6147 | 17 |
| 19 | MIAMI (FL) 20-5 | 0.6127 | 19 |
| 20 | ARKANSAS 17-8 | 0.6119 | 20 |
| 21 | NORTH TEXAS 21-5 | 0.6063 | 22 |
| 22 | UTAH STATE 19-7 | 0.6060 | 21 |
| 23 | INDIANA 18-7 | 0.6032 | 23 |
| 24 | AUBURN 17-8 | 0.6017 | 24 |
| 25 | CREIGHTON 17-8 | 0.6010 | 25 |
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES
TEXAS TECH 74 #6 TEXAS 67
#9 BAYLOR 79 WEST VIRGINIA 67
#15 MIAMI FLORIDA 80 NORTH CAROLINA 72
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/CBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230213
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL RANKINGS/POLLS
AP POLL
| RANK | SCHOOL | VOTES | PREV |
| 1 | SOUTH CAROLINA 25-0 | 700 (28) | 1 |
| 2 | INDIANA 23-1 | 670 | 2 |
| 3 | STANFORD 24-3 | 627 | 6 |
| 4 | UTAH 22-2 | 574 | 7 |
| 5 | LSU 23-1 | 562 | 3 |
| 6 | UCONN 22-4 | 561 | 4 |
| 7 | IOWA 20-5 | 552 | 5 |
| 8 | MARYLAND 21-5 | 513 | 8 |
| 9 | DUKE 22-3 | 478 | 9 |
| 10 | NOTRE DAME 20-4 | 447 | 10 |
| 11 | VIRGINIA TECH 20-4 | 427 | 11 |
| 12 | MICHIGAN 20-5 | 386 | 12 |
| 13 | OHIO STATE 21-4 | 354 | 13 |
| 14 | VILLANOVA 22-4 | 313 | 15 |
| 15 | OKLAHOMA 20-4 | 288 | 16 |
| 16 | UCLA 20-6 | 256 | 18 |
| 17 | TEXAS 20-6 | 243 | 20 |
| 18 | ARIZONA 19-6 | 215 | 17 |
| 19 | NORTH CAROLINA 18-7 | 212 | 14 |
| 20 | GONZAGA 23-3 | 187 | 23 |
| 21 | COLORADO 20-5 | 175 | 25 |
| 22 | IOWA STATE 15-7 | 58 | 21 |
| 23 | UNLV 24-2 | 52 | NR |
| 24 | FLORIDA STATE 20-7 | 51 | 19 |
| 25 | USC 19-6 | 31 | NR |
RPI RANKINGS
| RANK | SCHOOL | RPI | PREV |
| 1 | SOUTH CAROLINA 25-0 | 0.7052 | 1 |
| 2 | UCONN 22-4 | 0.6991 | 2 |
| 3 | INDIANA 23-1 | 0.6886 | 3 |
| 4 | STANFORD 24-3 | 0.6798 | 4 |
| 5 | UTAH 22-2 | 0.6762 | 6 |
| 6 | DUKE 22-3 | 0.6760 | 5 |
| 7 | COLORADO 20-5 | 0.6548 | 7 |
| 8 | MARYLAND 21-5 | 0.6526 | 9 |
| 8 | VILLANOVA 22-4 | 0.6526 | 8 |
| 10 | NOTRE DAME 20-4 | 0.6497 | 10 |
| 11 | ALABAMA 19-6 | 0.6464 | 12 |
| 12 | OKLAHOMA 20-4 | 0.6463 | 16 |
| 13 | TEXAS 20-6 | 0.6450 | 14 |
| 13 | IOWA STATE 15-7 | 0.6450 | 15 |
| 15 | IOWA 20-5 | 0.6430 | 11 |
| 16 | LSU 23-1 | 0.6416 | 19 |
| 17 | VIRGINIA TECH 20-4 | 0.6402 | 23 |
| 18 | CREIGHTON 18-6 | 0.6396 | 13 |
| 19 | UCLA 20-6 | 0.6383 | 21 |
| 20 | GONZAGA 23-3 | 0.6375 | 22 |
| 21 | TENNESSEE 18-9 | 0.6365 | 20 |
| 22 | NORTH CAROLINA STATE 17-8 | 0.6340 | 17 |
| 23 | MICHIGAN 20-5 | 0.6296 | 25 |
| 24 | NORTH CAROLINA 18-7 | 0.6289 | 24 |
| 25 | SOUTH FLORIDA 22-5 | 0.6276 | 18 |
NET RANKINGS
| RANK | SCHOOL | VOTES | PREV |
| 1 | SOUTH CAROLINA 25-0 | () | 1 |
| 2 | UCONN 22-4 | () | 2 |
| 3 | LSU 23-1 | () | 3 |
| 4 | STANFORD 24-3 | () | 4 |
| 5 | INDIANA 23-1 | () | 5 |
| 6 | UTAH 22-2 | () | 6 |
| 7 | DUKE 22-3 | () | 8 |
| 8 | IOWA 20-5 | () | 9 |
| 9 | NOTRE DAME 20-4 | () | 7 |
| 10 | TEXAS 20-6 | () | 10 |
| 11 | VILLANOVA 22-4 | () | 11 |
| 12 | OHIO STATE 21-4 | () | 12 |
| 13 | VIRGINIA TECH 20-4 | () | 18 |
| 14 | MICHIGAN 20-5 | () | 14 |
| 15 | IOWA STATE 15-7 | () | 16 |
| 16 | MARYLAND 21-5 | () | 15 |
| 17 | NORTH CAROLINA STATE 17-8 | () | 13 |
| 18 | FLORIDA STATE 20-7 | () | 17 |
| 19 | TENNESSEE 18-9 | () | 20 |
| 20 | COLORADO 20-5 | () | 21 |
| 21 | OREGON 14-11 | () | 19 |
| 22 | ALABAMA 19-6 | () | 22 |
| 23 | NORTH CAROLINA 18-7 | () | 23 |
| 24 | BAYLOR 16-8 | () | 25 |
| 25 | CREIGHTON 18-6 | () | 24 |
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
#2 INDIANA 83 #13 OHIO STATE 59
#22 IOWA STATE 66 #17 TEXAS 61
CLEVELAND STATE 73 PURDUE FORT WAYNE 63
OLE MISS 74 KENTUCKY 52
SETON HALL 89 DEPAUL 82
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/WCBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230213
NBA SCOREBOARD
UTAH 123 INDIANA 117
CLEVELAND 117 SAN ANTONIO 109
PHILADELPHIA 123 HOUSTON 104
CHARLOTTE 144 ATLANTA 138
DENVER 112 MIAMI 108
NEW YORK 124 BROOKLYN 106
ORLANDO 100 CHICAGO 91
NEW ORLEANS 103 OKLAHOMA CITY 100
MINNESOTA 124 DALLAS 121
GOLDEN STATE 135 WASHINGTON 126
PORTLAND 127 LA LAKERS 115
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NBA/SCOREBOARD.ASP
NHL SCOREBOARD
OTTAWA 4 CALGARY 3
ARIZONA 4 NASHVILLE 2
FLORIDA 2 MINNESOTA 1
DETROIT 6 VANCOUVER 1
LOS ANGELES 5 BUFFALO 2
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NHL/SCOREBOARD.ASP
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES
NFL NEWS
SUPER BOWL AVERAGES 113 MILLION, 3RD MOST-WATCHED IN HISTORY
(AP) — Fox was hoping the matchup of two top teams in the Super Bowl and a close game would lead to a record night.
Even though Sunday’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles came down to a field goal with 8 seconds remaining, Fox fell just short of its goal.
The Chiefs’ rally to defeat the Eagles 38-35 is on pace to become the third most-watched television show in history, with an estimated 113 million people watching, according to preliminary numbers released Monday.
Fox said the audience estimate includes the broadcasts on Fox and Fox Deportes as well as streaming on Fox and the NFL’s digital sites. The figures are via Nielsen’s Fast National data and Adobe Analytics.
The 2015 game between New England and Seattle on NBC holds the record at 114,442,000 viewers (not including streaming), followed by Super Bowl 51 in 2017 on Fox between Atlanta and New England (113,668,000).
This was Fox’s 10th Super Bowl since it began airing NFL games in 1994 and the second most-watched program in Fox Sports history.
It would also be a slight increase over the 112.3 million average for last year’s Super Bowl. The Los Angeles Rams’ victory over the Cincinnati Bengals was broadcast by NBC and Telemundo and streamed on Peacock and NFL digital sites.
According to Adobe Analytics, this year’s digital feed averaged a Super Bowl-record 7 million streams, an 18% increase over last year (6 million) and more than double Fox’s last Super Bowl in 2020 (3.4 million).
It was the third straight year the streaming average has surpassed 5 million. The first Super Bowl to be streamed, in 2012, averaged 346,000.
Rihanna’s halftime show averaged 118.7 million viewers, making it the second-most watched in Super Bowl history. Katy Perry’s 2015 performance holds the top mark at 121 million.
The Spanish-language audience average for the game was 951,000, a record for the most-watched Super Bowl game in Spanish-language cable television history. It was also the most watched non-soccer event in Spanish-language cable history.
The Spanish-language number is down from last year’s record of 1.9 million on Telemundo, which unlike Fox Deportes has broadcast affiliates in 90 markets.
The Super Bowl has been televised in Spanish in the United States since 2014.
Final Nielsen data will be available on Tuesday, including the English-language television-only figures. After Super Bowls averaged over 100 million viewers from 2010-18, four of the five games before this year had fallen short of that number because of cord-cutting. That included 95.2 million for the 2021 Super Bowl between Tampa Bay and Kansas City, which was the game’s lowest TV-only average since 2007.
If Sunday’s number can better the 99.18 million from last year, it would mark the first time since 2015 there had been two straight years of increases.
Unsurprisingly, Kansas City and Philadelphia were the two highest-ranked markets. Kansas City led the way with a 52.0 rating and 87 share followed by Philadelphia’s 46.3/77.
The rating is the percentage of television households tuned in. The share refers to a percentage of the TV-watching audience viewing a particular program at the time.
Cincinnati, which lost to the Chiefs in the AFC championship game, and Minneapolis also recorded 77 shares.
The flood of ads during what is easily television’s most-watched event of the year was heavy on celebrities – Ben Affleck, Ozzy Osbourne, Matt Damon, Maya Rudolph, Martha Stewart and “Breaking Bad” cast members.
Steve Williamson, senior vice president of the market research firm GWI. said surveys show that trust in brands is down this year and companies were looking for well-known names for a boost.
“There wasn’t a primary brand that took over the Super Bowl,” he said. “There were all sorts of brands from alcohol to gambling to Jesus.”
Fox also said 15.5 million people watched the season premiere of Gordon Ramsay’s competition show “Next Level Chef” following the game. The spot after the Super Bowl is usually the most-coveted time slot on television.
NBA NEWS
MITCHELL SCORES 41 AS CAVS HAND SPURS 13TH STRAIGHT LOSS
CLEVELAND (AP) Donovan Mitchell scored 41 points and led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their seventh straight win, 117-109 on Monday night over the nose-diving San Antonio Spurs, who matched a team record with their 13th consecutive loss.
Mitchell made five 3-pointers and scored 23 in the first half, helping the Cavs build an 18-point lead. Cleveland’s advantage grew to 21, but the Spurs fought back and got within four in the fourth before fading.
Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff was not happy with his team’s performance.
“We didn’t play to our standard, it’s that simple,” he said. “We didn’t do the things we needed to to do at the level we’re used to doing them at. We got lucky to get away with a win. We’ve been better in these moments, tonight just wasn’t our best.”
San Antonio’s slide equals the longest in club history. The Spurs also lost 13 straight during the 1988-89 season. Coincidentally, that streak also reached 13 with a loss at Cleveland on March 2, 1989.
“We played a hell of a team,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “They play really strong defense, which is going to suit them well in the playoffs. There is no magic (solution) out there. We played the right way for three quarters. I’m really proud of our guys.”
Voted an Eastern Conference starter for this week’s All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, where he spent five seasons with the Jazz, Mitchell, who sat out last year’s event in Cleveland due to an illness, finished 16 of 26 from the field.
Like his coach, Mitchell didn’t like the way the Cavs played.
“Sometimes when you have success, you have lapses,” he said. “We played a team to their record and that can’t happen. So for us, take this as a learning lesson. We can’t really play around. We came here just expecting things to go well.”
Jarrett Allen added 17 points and had 11 rebounds as Cleveland improved to 25-6 at home. Evan Mobley had 15 points and 10 boards.
Keldon Johnson scored 25 and rookie Malaki Branham 18 to pace the Spurs, who are just 2-20 in 2023.
The Spurs, who haven’t won since Jan. 17, stunned the Cavs at home in December, beating Cleveland 112-111.
But the Cavs weren’t taking any chances for a repeat, and as has been the case during this winning streak, Cleveland’s starters set the tone early.
Mitchell, Allen (13) and Mobley (10) combined for 46 of Cleveland’s 65 points in the first half.
GOING GREEN
Once Danny Green clears waivers, the veteran will sign with the Cavaliers, who didn’t make a move at the trade deadline but jumped at the chance to grab the three-time NBA champion.
Green was drafted by Cleveland in 2009.
Bickerstaff couldn’t comment specifically on Green, but said adding a player with postseason experience (165 games) to a young team is invaluable.
“You listen to those guys, guys who have been to the mountaintop and won championships and played in those type of games,” he said.
Following the game, Green, who spent eight seasons with the Spurs, visited with some of his former colleagues.
TIP-INS
Spurs: Popovich, who is in his 27th season as Spurs coach, will likely be named a Hall of Fame finalist on Friday during All-Star festivities. While Popovich has been a fixture with San Antonio, the league’s other franchises have cycled through 294 coaches. … The Spurs aren’t accustomed to losing streaks of any length. They have the best winning percentage (.609) in league history and the second-highest percentage for any team in the four major pro sports since 1997.
Cavaliers: Cleveland won eight straight in the first two weeks of the season. … F Kevin Love was active but didn’t play for the eighth game in a row. The Cavs insist they don’t intend to discuss a buyout with the 34-year-old. “There’s going to be times where we really need him,” Bickerstaff said.
UP NEXT
Spurs: At Charlotte on Wednesday.
Cavaliers: At Philadelphia on Wednesday.
HARDEN SCORES 29 TO HELP 76ERS THROTTLE ROCKETS, 123-104
PHILADELPHIA (AP) James Harden had 29 points and 10 assists against his former team while Tyrese Maxey scored 26 off the bench as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Houston Rockets 123-104 on Monday night.
Joel Embiid scored 23 points in 31 minutes for the Sixers, who have won three in a row and improved to 22-8 at home.
“Once you hit shots and make 3s, it kind of opens up everything,” said Maxey, who is averaging 16 points and 28.6 minutes in 15 games since being placed in a reserve role.
Jalen Green scored 29 points for the Rockets, who have lost six straight to fall to a league-worst 13-44. KJ Martin added 15 for Houston.
“To me, it’s about being more decisive and trying to make the play instead of reading the play,” Rockets coach Steven Silas said. “We have to do a better job of that.”
It was Harden’s fifth game against the Rockets since he forced a trade with Brooklyn at the beginning of the 2020-21 season. Harden had played nine seasons with Houston, winning three scoring titles and the 2017-18 MVP award. In those five games, Harden is averaging 24.2 points. nine assists and seven rebounds. Harden now has 218 games in which he’s scored at least 20 points and recorded 10 or more assists.
Harden declined to speak to reporters after the game.
The Sixers controlled the action from the outside, shooting 15 for 34 (44.3%) from beyond the arc while holding the Rockets to 6 for 24 (25%) from 3-point range. Maxey helped kick-start an 18-3 fourth-quarter scoring run that stretched Philadelphia’s lead to 26 points.
“I feel like I’ve fixed my spirit, talked to my people and back in the space of having fun,” Maxey said. “That’s what helps me help my teammates. The spirit is contagious when I am out there, having fun and being energetic. And I think it helps my teammates as well.”
Houston entered the game as the second-worst 3-point shooting team in the NBA, converting only 32.8% from beyond the arc.
“We don’t have a way to do kick-out 3s and guys are feeling pressure when they are trying to shoot 3s, it seems,” Silas said. “Shot creation is what I’m most concerned about.”
TIP-INS
Rockets: Guard Kevin Porter Jr. missed his 16th game with a left foot contusion. … Forward Jabari Smith Jr. posted an Instagram video on Sunday night, complaining about the noise levels coming from Eagles fans on Broad Street in front of Houston’s team hotel after the Eagles’ 38-35 loss to Kansas City in the Super Bowl. Silas said the Rockets had no other issues in their Center City hotel. “Jabari was just kidding,” Silas said.
76ers: PJ Tucker left the game with right calf tightness and did not return in what Sixers coach Doc Rivers called a precautionary move. Tucker is averaging 3.4 points and four rebounds through 54 games. … According to multiple reports, the Sixers will sign backup center Dewayne Dedmon to a contract for the rest of the season on Tuesday. Dedmon became a free agent after being waived by San Antonio last Thursday and playing in 30 games for Miami earlier in the year. Dedmon would fill a size gap behind Embiid in the middle. Philadelphia has struggled on the boards, starting the day 28th in the NBA with 40.6 per game.
UP NEXT
Rockets: At Oklahoma City Wednesday night in their final game before All-Star Break.
76ers: Host Cleveland on Wednesday night before the break.
LAMELO BALL LEADS HORNETS TO WIRE-TO-WIRE VICTORY OVER HAWKS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) LaMelo Ball had 30 points and 15 assists, Terry Rozier added 29 points and the Charlotte Hornets held off the Atlanta Hawks 144-138 on Monday night to snap a seven-game losing streak.
Gordon Hayward scored 26 points and P.J. Washington chipped in with 22 as the Hornets shot 63% from the field. Ball had six 3-pointers and Rozier hit five as Charlotte tied a season high with 20 made 3s.
Rookie center Mark Williams finished with 15 points and a huge block on Trae Young’s 3-point attempt in the final minute.
Ball put on a show, finishing 12 of 19 from the field and 6 of 10 from beyond the arc. When he wasn’t scoring, he was creating off the dribble and finding open teammates. He had four turnovers, but the good far outweighed the bad.
“One thing about Melo is he’s a gamer,” Rozier said. “He can be having any type of day, good or bad, but once he’s in that game he just hoops. Nothing that he does surprises me anymore. He’s a true gamer.”
It was the second-highest point total in Hornets franchise history, behind the 158 they scored against Indiana last season.
“I thought they were the more aggressive team from start to finish,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan said. “They averaged 30-plus points each quarter. We never really established defensively that we could get stops consistently, and 21 fast-break points, they basically just got to their tempo and were the aggressive team.”
Young finished with 25 points and 14 assists for the Hawks, who had their two-game win streak snapped. Clint Capela added 22 points, DeAndre Hunter had 21 and Dejounte Murray scored 20 for Atlanta.
Charlotte entered tied for the most losses in the NBA with 43, but the Hornets never trailed in this one as they raced to a 14-point lead behind 21 first-half points from Hayward.
Charlotte extended its advantage to 17 early in the fourth quarter when Ball found Washington in the left corner for a wide-open 3. But the Hawks wouldn’t quit, cutting the deficit to two with 2:22 left when Young knocked down a 3 from the right wing.
A few possessions later, Young had a chance to tie the game on a step-back 3, but the 7-foot Williams stepped out to block the shot with his long wingspan.
Hayward gathered the loose ball and fired a lookahead pass to Williams, who avoided a defender and scored on a Euro step with 52.8 seconds to go, bringing the crowd to its feet.
“He has great hands and great agility for a man his size,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. “That was a big-time play.”
Williams entered the starting lineup when the team traded Mason Plumlee to the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday. Williams has become a solid shot blocker, but Clifford wants to see him continue to improve on the defensive end.
“He just has to keep learning,” Clifford said. “He is super talented. The hardest thing for him (and backup Nick Richardson) in a game like this is the pick-and-roll stuff where they tattooed us.”
TIP-INS
Hawks: Saddiq Bey, acquired in a trade with Detroit, made his first start for the Hawks with John Collins out due to a sore hip flexor. Bey was quiet in the first quarter but finished with 12 points, including three 3s.
Hornets: Ball set a franchise record by making a 3-pointer in his 47th straight game. … Charlotte was 20 of 37 from 3-point range.
UP NEXT
Hawks: Host the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.
Hornets: Wrap up a three-game homestand Wednesday night vs. San Antonio.
NIKOLA JOKIC SCORES 27, NUGGETS HOLD OFF HEAT 112-108
MIAMI (AP) No team came into Monday night having allowed fewer points in the paint per game this season than Miami.
Nikola Jokic wasn’t bothered.
The two-time reigning MVP made the most of every opportunity, finishing with 27 points on 12-of-14 shooting and leading the Denver Nuggets past the Heat 112-108 – snapping Miami’s eight-game home winning streak.
“Nikola did what he does,” Denver coach Michael Malone said.
Jokic also had 12 rebounds and eight assists for Denver, which shot 58%. The Nuggets moved five games ahead of idle Memphis atop the Western Conference standings and joined Boston as the only teams to reach the 40-win mark this season.
“He’s a great player. He makes everybody around him better,” Miami’s Max Strus said. “They stepped up and made shots. Tough team to beat. Obviously, they’re No. 1 in the West for a reason.”
The Nuggets were 29 of 40 inside the paint, good for 58 points. Miami came into the night allowing an average of 44.9 paint points.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 17, Bruce Brown added 16, Jeff Green scored 12 and three Nuggets – Vlatko Cancar, Christian Braun and Thomas Bryant – each finished with 10 points.
“It speaks to the quality of our depth,” Malone said.
Jimmy Butler had 24 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for the Heat. Strus scored 23, Bam Adebayo had 19, Gabe Vincent 15 and Jamaree Bouyea added 10 for Miami.
Denver was without its second- and third-leading scorers – Jamal Murray (right knee inflammation) and Aaron Gordon (left rib contusion). It was the fifth consecutive game missed for Murray, and the third in a span of five games for Gordon.
Malone said “hopefully, maybe” they could return in Denver’s game against Dallas on Wednesday, the team’s finale before the All-Star break.
Brown, who played his college ball at Miami, made a 3-pointer with 9:07 left in the third to put Denver up 70-69 – and the Nuggets held the lead the rest of the way. Denver eventually led by as many as 10. Miami got within one point on three occasions from there.
“People don’t win here a lot, especially because there’s a lot of festivities, obviously,” Brown said. “But they’re also a great team … glad we got the win.”
It was the 40th double-double of the season for Jokic. Only Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis, with 44, has more.
TIP-INS
Nuggets: Denver’s 40-18 record matches the best 58-game start in franchise history. The Nuggets also were 40-18 in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. … Jokic got a technical with 16.7 seconds left in the half, arguing that he was fouled as he scored. It was his third technical of the season.
Heat: It was another close game for Miami. The Heat fell to 20-12 in games decided by five points or fewer. … Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel was at the game. … The Heat do not play at home again until March 1. That’ll start a stretch where 12 of the final 20 Heat games are at home. … Kyle Lowry (left knee soreness) and Victor Oladipo (ankle) remained out. Tyler Herro also missed the game with a left knee bruise, suffered in Saturday’s win at Orlando.
BAM’S MOM
Marilyn Blount, Adebayo’s mother, presented her two-time All-Star son with a ball commemorating the accomplishment in a brief pregame ceremony.
JOKIC VS. JOVIC
Barring an NBA Finals meeting, the world will have to wait until next season for a Jokic vs. Jovic matchup. Heat rookie Nikola Jovic did not play in either Miami-Denver game this season. He’s currently out with a stress reaction in his lower back.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: Host Dallas on Wednesday.
Heat: Visit Brooklyn on Wednesday.
BRUNSON SCORES 40 AS KNICKS END 9-GAME SKID VS NETS, 124-106
NEW YORK (AP) Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are gone, and so is the Nets’ dominance of New York’s basketball rivalry.
Jalen Brunson scored 40 points, Josh Hart added a season-high 27 in his second game with his new team and the Knicks snapped a nine-game losing streak against Brooklyn with a 124-106 victory Monday night.
Julius Randle had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who beat the Nets for the first time in three years. Brooklyn never lost to the Knicks when Durant or Irving played.
“You’ve got to give them credit. They’ve been really good the past couple of years and they were great tonight,” Brunson said, “but I think we just had the upper hand in the second half and we kind of just turned it up a little bit and came away with a win.”
The seventh-place Knicks pulled within two games of the Nets for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The top six teams are guaranteed playoff spots.
Spencer Dinwiddie scored 28 points for the Nets, who showed again how much of a struggle scoring could be after trading their two All-Stars last week. Cam Johnson had 14, but Mikal Bridges, who came with him from Phoenix in the Durant trade, was 2 of 8 for seven points.
“That was the overall challenge, just to be able to put the ball in the basket,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. “And it’s something we’re going to work on and stress as a group.”
The Knicks beat the Nets twice in the 2019-20 season, which Durant missed while recovering from Achilles tendon surgery. Irving was injured for one Knicks victory, then left Madison Square Garden after learning of Kobe Bryant’s death before the most recent one on Jan. 26, 2020.
Brunson scored 17 in the decisive third quarter on his way to his third 40-point game of the season after never having one in the regular season during his first four years with Dallas.
“Obviously seeing him play in college and he was amazing and I knew he would have a long career in the NBA, but I didn’t think it was going to be how he’s playing now,” said Hart, Brunson’s teammate at Villanova. “And he’s someone who should be an All-Star and he’s playing at an All-Star level.”
Brunson turned the game in the Knicks’ favor for good after it was tied at 80 late in the third quarter. Brunson had a basket and 3-pointer that started a 13-3 finish to the period for the Knicks, with his 3 making it 93-83.
Hart, acquired from Portland last week, converted a three-point play to push the lead to 12 with 7:05 remaining and the Knicks were never in jeopardy again.
TIP-INS
Nets: Joe Harris, who had made six 3-pointers and scored 18 points in each of the last two games, took only one shot. … Seth Curry missed his fifth straight game with a left adductor strain. Vaughn was hopeful Curry could be able to play Wednesday in the team’s final game before the All-Star break.
Knicks: Coach Tom Thibodeau said C Mitchell Robinson, who had surgery Jan. 19 for a broken right thumb, should be cleared for contact during practices over the All-Star break. … RJ Barrett was scoreless on 0-for-5 shooting in the first half. He finished 2 of 8 for four points.
‘NOVA IN NEW YORK
Trade-deadline week put three players from Villanova’s 2016 national championship team in New York, with Hart joining Brunson on the Knicks, and Bridges going to the Nets. Brunson and Bridges won another title together in 2018.
STILL STREAKING
Bridges’ consecutive games streak, the longest current one in the NBA, reached 367 even though he missed the Nets’ game against Chicago last Thursday. Bridges wasn’t available to play after his trade from Phoenix in the blockbuster for Durant wasn’t approved in time, and the league determined he shouldn’t be penalized for not playing in a game for which he wasn’t eligible. Bridges hasn’t missed a game in the NBA or college.
UP NEXT
Nets: Host Miami on Wednesday.
Knicks: At Atlanta on Wednesday.
BANCHERO, WAGNER, FULTZ LEAD MAGIC OVER BULLS 100-91
CHICAGO (AP) The Orlando Magic were sailing along with what appeared to be a comfortable lead before things tightened up in the closing minutes.
Just when it looked like they might be in trouble, they regrouped and found a way to pull out a win over Chicago.
Paolo Banchero scored 22 points, Franz Wagner and Markelle Fultz added 18 points apiece and the Magic beat the cold-shooting Bulls 100-91 on Monday night.
Fultz just missed a triple-double with 10 rebounds and nine assists. Wendell Carter Jr. scored 15 points against his former team as the Magic won for the fourth time in six games.
Coming off an overtime loss at home to Miami, Orlando led by 13 midway through the fourth and hung on after Chicago got within five.
“We know what we need to do,” Fultz said. “I think today we did a great job as players, just talking amongst each other and understanding that we’re gonna be in a situation and we’ve got to find a way to get through it. I think that’s what you saw tonight. We just all talked to each other, continued to push each other and not get too frustrated when they got it down to five.”
The Bulls matched a season high by dropping their fourth in a row, thanks to another horrendous shooting performance. They missed their first 16 3-pointers before Coby White hit one late in the third and 18 of 21 in all. Chicago is 26 of 125 from long range over its past five games.
Coach Billy Donovan said all those misses led to some poor decisions and, in turn, difficulties hanging onto the ball. The Bulls committed 16 turnovers.
“I think it’s just normal instinct – let’s just drive the ball in there, let’s drive it to the basket,” Donovan said. “What happened is two times we had charges and a few times we had spray-outs that weren’t there, that weren’t open, that we turned the ball over.”
Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 26 points, and DeMar DeRozan scored 19 even though a hip issue that’s been bothering him the past six weeks or so flared up.
“It’s been bad,” he said. “I’m never gonna want to complain or make any type of excuses. It’s just been something I’ve been dealing with for a while.”
Former Magic star Nikola Vucevic finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
MAGIC HANG ON
Orlando led 89-76 after Banchero hit a 12-footer with just over five minutes remaining. DeRozan cut for a layup to pull Chicago within 91-86 with 3:34 left. But Carter answered with a three-point play following a timeout and the Magic remained in control the rest of the way.
“We had that problem in two of the last couple games, where we had the lead the whole game and gave it away in the last couple minutes,” Wagner said. “All (coach Jamahl Mosley) said was stay composed, keep pushing the pace because that’s what helped us early on in the game.”
TAKING CONTROL
Orlando took control early in the third, when 3-pointers by Gary Harris Jr. and Wagner made it 60-50.
The Bulls’ next three possessions ended with Patrick Williams missing badly on a tip-in, Ayo Dosunmu getting blocked by Fultz on a fast-break layup and LaVine getting called for traveling. DeRozan then made a turnaround jumper. But Wagner nailed a 3 and Carter scored, making it 65-52 midway through the third.
It was 73-63 with less than two minutes remaining in the quarter when White hit the first 3 for Chicago. A reverse layup by Dalen Terry pulled Chicago within five. Orlando’s Moritz Wagner hit a 3 to make it 76-68 with 30 seconds remaining in the quarter.
TIP-INS
Magic: The Magic signed C Goga Bitadze on Monday. Drafted by Indiana with the No. 18 overall pick in 2019, Bitadze averaged 4.8 points over four seasons before getting released by the Pacers last week. … G Cole Anthony (sore right wrist) missed the game. … The Magic have made at least one 3-pointer in 1,269 consecutive games, the fifth-longest active streak in the NBA and the fifth-longest in league history.
Bulls: Chicago is on its third four-game losing streak. … F Derrick Jones Jr. (strained left adductor) left the game. … G Alex Caruso (sore left foot) sat out for the third time in six games.
UP NEXT
Magic: Visit Toronto on Tuesday.
Bulls: Visit Indiana on Wednesday.
INGRAM SCORES 34 AS PELICANS HOLD OFF THUNDER, 103-100
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Brandon Ingram scored 34 points and the New Orleans Pelicans outlasted the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-100 on Monday night.
Ingram made 14 of 24 field goal attempts and helped New Orleans win even though high-scoring guard CJ McCollum sat out with a sprained right ankle.
“Brandon was phenomenal,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “He can get his shot anywhere on the floor. You know, he was patient. … At the end of the day, he had a dominant performance, and we needed his scoring tonight.”
Oklahoma City had a chance to tie in the closing seconds, but Isaiah Joe’s 3-pointer bounced away at the buzzer.
Josh Richardson scored 10 points and made five steals in his first game with the Pelicans since being traded from San Antonio.
“J-Rich was good,” Green said. “You can see his veteran savviness on the floor. Makes great decisions defensively. … That’s part of what we wanted when we acquired him is bringing in another veteran who can score but who can defend who’s smart on the floor.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 24 points and 10 rebounds, Jalen Williams scored 22 points and Joe added 16 for the Thunder.
Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said his players will need to adjust now that opponents are taking them more seriously.
“They know they have to show up against us, and that’s a good thing, but we’re going to get heavier and heavier punches, and we need to understand the mentality of the opponent for that,” he said.
Ingram scored 23 points in the first half to help the Pelicans take a 60-51 lead at the break. New Orleans led by 20 in the second quarter.
“They were more ready to play,” Daigneault said. “I thought they threw the first punch. They were more physical, more alert in the first quarter. And it took us a long time to get it going.”
Oklahoma City chipped away in the third. A steal by Josh Giddey led to a fast break, and Williams’ perfect behind-the-back pass to Gilgeous-Alexander led to a two-handed dunk that cut New Orleans’ lead to 72-71. The Pelicans took a 76-73 advantage into the fourth.
New Orleans scored the first eight points of the final quarter, but the Thunder rallied again. Oklahoma City gained possession trailing 101-98 with 35 seconds remaining, but the Thunder turned it over.
The Pelicans took a 103-98 lead with 9.5 seconds to play on a pair of free throws by Trey Murphy III. Williams went downcourt for a quick dunk with 5.3 seconds left, then the Thunder forced a turnover on the inbounds pass to gain possession and set up the final sequence.
Daigneault said it all came down to the way the Thunder started the game.
“You want to focus on controllables and the things that we can control and how we start the game, how physical we are, how alert we are from the onset,” he said. “We can control that, and we allowed them to get into a pretty good rhythm there early.”
TIP-INS
Pelicans: Ingram scored New Orleans’ first 12 points, all in the first 3 1/2 minutes. He finished with 16 in the first quarter. … New Orleans shot 65% in the first quarter to take a 33-25 lead.
Thunder: Gilgeous-Alexander was named Western Conference Player of the Week for helping Oklahoma City win two of three last week. … The Thunder started rookies Jalen Williams and Jaylen Williams together for the fifth time this season. … F/C Jeremiah Robinson-Earl returned after missing 25 games with a sprained right ankle. He went scoreless in 18 minutes.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.
Thunder: Host the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
IRVING’S 26-POINT 4TH NOT ENOUGH AS MAVS FALL TO T-WOLVES
DALLAS (AP) Kyrie Irving was trying to get Luka Doncic a shot. The All-Star guard for the Dallas Mavericks was trying to do the same for his new teammate making his home debut.
Neither one of them got a shot off in the closing seconds, and the Mavs’ big comeback attempt came up short against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“Man. I’m still trying to emotionally recover … still so raw,” Irving said. “Oh, man. I would have liked to at least get a shot up.”
Irving had the highest-scoring fourth quarter of his career, scoring 26 of his 36 points in the final 12 minutes Monday night. But he made a bad pass after stepping inside the 3-point line on the final possession after Minnesota had thrown off the timing between him and Doncic by knocking the inbound pass into the backcourt. The Timberwolves nearly blew a 26-point lead but held on to win 124-121.
After Doncic tracked down the tipped inbound pass, he passed to Irving before crossing midcourt. Irving pump-faked a 3 and passed back to Doncic, who almost immediately gave it back to him on a bounce pass before the final turnover.
“Great stop. Guys wanted to play it out. Trust the defense in that moment,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “Did a really good job of kind of disrupting their play, pressuring and denying the catch. Forced it out. It became a broken play.”
Doncic, who finished with 33 points, said it was a great defensive play at the end for the visitors.
“We didn’t get a clear shot, we just passed (to) each other, but I think it was a great defense,” Doncic said. “I was trying to get him a shot, he was trying to give me a shot, At the end, nobody got a shot, but he was going off.”
It was the second game Irving and Doncic played together. The Mavs have lost both, falling in overtime at Sacramento on Saturday night. Irving, acquired a week ago from the Brooklyn Nets, had played two road games for Dallas before that – both victories.
“I really wanted this win,” Irving said.
First-time All-Star guard Anthony Edwards scored 32 points and Rudy Gobert had 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who had their biggest lead at 89-63 on a long step-back jumper by Edwards midway through the third quarter.
Dallas had that deficit down to 107-97 with about nine minutes left after a 25-foot shot by Irving, who on their previous possession tipped in Josh Green’s miss of a reverse layup.
Irving, who made 11 of 12 shots in the fourth quarter, had a 3 in the final half-minute, soon after a turnover by Doncic.
There was a stretch a couple of minutes before that when Irving made a bounce pass to Theo Pinson, who missed the layup – but the newly acquired eight-time All-Star was there for the rebound and putback. Doncic added a 3-pointer right after that.
“I’ve got to get a shot up, if anything, or allow Luca to have some space to get a shot and not turn the ball over in that situation,” Irving said of the closing seconds. “So it’s on me, just be smart in those situations. But if you look at the overall game, you know, I’m just grateful we were even in that position.”
Christian Wood added 24 points for the Mavericks. He had 18 of those in the second quarter, including 13 in a row at one point
Gobert was 9 of 9 from the field, and Jaden McDaniels was 7 of 8 while scoring 19 points.
TIP-INS
Timberwolves: Since a six-game losing streak to end 2022, Minnesota has had consecutive losses only once. The T-wolves are 15-8 in that stretch.
Mavericks: Tim Hardaway Jr. was out with right hamstring tightness after playing only 15 minutes before halftime at Sacramento. The Mavericks are still without Maxi Kleber, who has missed 31 games since December.
COURTSIDE VIEW
Wu Yibing, who Sunday at the Dallas Open became the first Chinese player to win an ATP Tour title, attended the game. The 23-year-old Wu overcame 44 aces, four match points and a third-set tiebreaker to beat John Isner in the final. Wu sat in the second row courtside, behind MLB commentator and former player Alex Rodriguez.
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: Host Washington on Thursday night.
Mavericks: At Denver on Wednesday night, then play six consecutive home games after this weekend’s All-Star break.
WARRIORS BEAT WIZARDS 135-126, SNAP TWO-GAME LOSING STREAK
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) After illness and injury twice interrupted his season and threw off his rhythm, Andrew Wiggins sure needed a dominant game like this.
JaMychal Green did, too, because he has also been through the wringer dealing first with COVID-19 then an infection in his lower right leg. Now, he’s dealing with a tender wrist.
Wiggins had 29 points and seven rebounds, Klay Thompson scored 27 points, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Washington Wizards 135-126 on Monday night in their final home game before the All-Star break.
“Definitely his best game since he’s been back, he had a lot of good games early in the season but I loved his aggressiveness, he was attacking the rim all night and got it going from the mid-range and just got us a lot of key buckets when we were starting to fade a little bit,” coach Steve Kerr said of Wiggins.
Green went 4 of 4 from deep and made all five of his field goals for 14 points to go with five assists and backup point guard Ty Jerome had nine points, seven assists and one turnover.
Jerome praised Green’s efforts through it all, staying upbeat even the days he doesn’t get in the game.
“I don’t care how many years you’ve been in the league, I don’t care how old you are, it’s not easy,” Jerome said. “So to be perfect from the field tonight, to be good on defense, he always brings a toughness factor for us every night. That’s who he is as a shooter, so it’s good to see them fall like that. Wiggs looked like an All-Star tonight. That’s who he is.”
Fellow reserve Donte DiVincenzo added 17 points off the bench, while Kevon Looney contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds as the Warriors snapped a two-game skid. The defending champions played without Stephen Curry for a fourth straight game because of a left leg injury that will keep him out until sometime after the All-Star break.
Kristaps Porzingis scored 34 points on 12-of-16 shooting for a Wizards team that had won 8 of 11 and five of its previous six road games. Bradley Beal added 33 points and reach 15,000 career points. He received a $25,000 from the NBA earlier in the day for making contact with a game official in the third quarter Saturday against Indiana.
The Warriors swept the season series after winning 127-118 in Washington last month.
The Wizards used a 14-3 run late in the first to build a 39-29 lead after the opening period, but Golden State’s 42-point second quarter put the Warriors ahead 71-66 at the break.
PAYTON’S HEALTH
Newly acquired Golden State guard Gary Payton II will be out for at least a month as he fully recovers from offseason surgery for a core muscle injury, and Warriors general manager Bob Myers is awaiting a decision from the NBA on whether Portland withheld anything on Payton’s health before trading him last week.
Myers is hopeful the defensive guard returns before the playoffs. Payton is listed on the injury report with right adductor soreness, stemming from the abdominal area.
“What do I want? Whatever the NBA says is fair, just whatever that is,” Myers said Monday of receiving any potential compensation from the Trail Blazers. “I just want a fair result. I don’t know, whatever it takes, it takes, I don’t know how long.”
Payton received a rousing ovation when welcomed back on the big screen in the first half.
TIP-INS
Wizards: G Kyle Kuzma, who came in questionable, missed a second straight game because of a sprained left ankle that kept him out of a 127-113 rout of the Pacers. Coach Wes Unseld Jr. is hopeful Kuzma could return Tuesday night at Portland. … The Wizards have lost seven of nine on the Warriors’ home floor.
Warriors: Draymond Green picked up his 15th technical, moving him one from a suspension, while Kerr was whistled for his sixth technical of the season 3:32 before halftime. … The Warriors are playing their 12th back-to-back sequence. … Golden State had 40 assists and has dished out 30 or more in a league-best 32 games.
UP NEXT
Wizards: Visit the Trail Blazers on Tuesday night to finish a tough road-road back-to-back.
Warriors: At the Clippers on Tuesday night to complete the home-away back-to-back before the All-Star break
BLAZERS HIT 23 3-POINTERS, BEAT LEBRON-LESS LAKERS 127-115
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Damian Lillard had 40 points, including eight 3-pointers, to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 127-115 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.
LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, missed his third straight game for the Lakers with a sore left ankle. He hasn’t played since breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record last Tuesday in a loss to Oklahoma City.
The Blazers led by as many as 27 and made a season-best 23 3-pointers, including a franchise-record 17 in the first half.
When Lillard went to the bench for good with seven minutes left, he got a standing ovation from many in the crowd.
“I think the number one thing is just being aggressive,” Lillard said. “That’s the mentality, because I’m not going out there saying I want to score points – I’m just applying pressure. I’m going to attack coverages, take opportunities that are there, try to create opportunities.”
Anthony Davis had 19 points and 20 rebounds for the Lakers, who have lost four of five.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham said his team had no answer for Lillard, who has 11 games this season with 40 or more points.
“Aside from stealing his sneakers, I don’t know what else you could do,” Ham said.
Both teams continued to integrate players acquired at the trade deadline last week. Matisse Thybulle, obtained from Philadelphia in a four-team deal, made his debut for the Blazers and started. He had 14 points and four 3-pointers.
D’Angelo Russell, who the Lakers got as part of the trade that sent Russell Westbrook to Utah, started for the second straight game and finished with 16 points. Malik Beasley, who came over from the Jazz, had 22 points off the bench.
Mo Bamba, traded to the Lakers from the Orlando Magic at the deadline, continues to serve a four-game suspension for an on-court fight with Minnesota guard Austin Rivers during a game on Feb. 3.
The Blazers went on a 20-2 run in the opening quarter that ended with Nassir Little’s 3-pointer that made it 25-16. Portland made 10 3-pointers in the quarter, including Lillard’s 3 from distance at the buzzer that stretched the lead to 34-19.
Lillard had 30 points and eight 3s to lead all scorers at halftime, and the Blazers led 65-46.
Portland led 101-79 going into the final quarter.
“We’ve gotten spoiled here, being able to see this guy, night in and night out, just dominate and score 30 in a half or 60 in a game,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said about Lillard. “I mean, it’s been incredible. He’s been so dang good.”
It was the fourth and final scheduled meeting between the teams this season. The Lakers won the previous two after a Portland win to open the series.
TIP-INS
Lakers: The Lakers are 5-9 in games James has missed this season. … The Lakers shot 1 of 10 on 3-point attempts in the opening quarter.
Trail Blazers: The Blazers were without Jerami Grant after he entered the concussion protocol this past weekend. Grant was averaging 20.8 points for Portland. … Jusuf Nurkic hasn’t played since Feb. 1 because of a left calf strain. Portland’s big man is not expected back until after the All-Star break.
HISTORY
Lillard was encouraged by Thybulle’s first start with the Blazers, but he’s known for a while what he’s capable of. Thybulle worked out with Lillard a bit when he was playing at the University of Washington.
“I’ve always liked him as a player. I trained with him since he was in college – we’ve got the same agent,” Lillard said. “We just encourage him, shoot the ball when you’re open. Shoot it with confidence. Everything that we need to bring defensively, we have to be willing to give him those opportunities, and he’s got to take them and have confidence. I thought for the first game, that he did that. I think the more comfortable he gets, we’ll see him continue to blossom for us.”
UP NEXT
Lakers: Host the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.
Trail Blazers: Host the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.
IRVING DEBUTS IN DALLAS NOT WANTING TO TALK ABOUT FUTURE
DALLAS (AP) Kyrie Irving isn’t interested in talking about what his long-term future could be with the Dallas Mavericks, and he doesn’t understand why people don’t think he can play well off the ball.
“All I know, this is really playing basketball with a lot of high-level, high-IQ players and making it work,” Irving said before his first home game Monday with the Mavericks and All-Star teammate Luka Doncic. “Every single time I step foot out there, I get a chance to prove it to myself that I can play with anybody and everybody and still be efficient and be myself.”
Irving’s home debut in Dallas came a week after the blockbuster deal became official to bring the potential free agent from the Brooklyn Nets. The Mavericks lost 124-121 to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who held on even as Irving scored 26 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter.
The first three games for Irving with the Mavs were on the road, and he played with Doncic for the first time Saturday night – Irving had 28 points and Doncic 27 in an overtime loss at Sacramento. Doncic had 33 points against Minnesota.
As for what happens after this season, the talented and enigmatic eight-time All-Star said that question constantly getting asked just puts unwanted distractions on him and the team.
“I’ve dealt with it before and it’s very emotionally draining to ask questions about what’s the long term,” Irving said. “What the future holds is really only going to be dictated on what I do right now, and how I prepare for those next steps, and that’s being the best teammate that I can in that locker room and a great leader out here, I think within the Dallas community. … So we’re just putting that to bed and just focus on what we have ahead as a team.”
The Mavericks, with 23 games remaining, are part of a crowded mix for a playoff spot. They are tied for fifth in the Western Conference, only 2 1/2 games ahead of 11th place – the first spot left out of the postseason.
When Dallas general manager Nico Harrison was asked his response to people who viewed the acquisition of Irving and his expiring contract as a risk, the former Nike executive, who already had a relationship with the player, said that wasn’t the case.
“I don’t see any risk involved at all. I’ve known Kyrie for a long time, I know his core, I know what what type of person is. I think anybody who’s ever watched him play basketball knows the type of basketball player he is,” Harrison said. “So I don’t see risk. I actually see a risk in not doing it.”
Irving smiled and responded, “touche,” then adding that he appreciated their relationship and that it was now up to him to prove it “and control what I can control.”
Dallas also got Markieff Morris in the trade that sent Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 first-round pick and two second-round choices to the Nets.
Irving had a relationship with Nike for the entirety of his NBA career until earlier this season, when the sneaker giant dropped him – and canceled the planned release of his next signature shoe just before it came out – after Irving tweeted a link to an antisemitic film.
“I would love to be well-liked by everybody. … Oh, that’s just not it. That’s just not for I think anyone in this room,” Irving said. “But the genuine love that you have in your heart is the only thing that you can really control. I have open dialogue with everybody that spends time with me, wants to have conversation, wants to ask me questions.”
For those who don’t like him, he said he wishes them well.
“But I have a life to live and I have kids to raise,” he said. “So I don’t really have the energy to sit and focus on things I can’t control.”
NHL NEWS
STUTZLE SCORES IN OT, SENATORS RALLY TO BEAT FLAMES 4-3
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) Tim Stutzle scored at 1:55 of overtime to cap Ottawa’s comeback from two goals down as the Senators beat the Calgary Flames 4-3 Monday night.
Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson and Alex DeBrincat also scored for Ottawa and Stutlze had assists on all three goals. Mads Sogaard, appearing in his fourth NHL game, made 34 saves.
“A lot of pucks bobbling in the slot and on the power play, too,” Stutzle said. “We had some good looks and the puck bobbled every time we wanted to shoot. . I got really mad there a couple of times, but in the end we figured it out. We did a great job staying with it.
The 22-year-old Sogaard got the start with Cam Talbot and Anton Forsberg sidelined. He had 10 saves in the first period, 15 in the second, eight in the third and one in overtime.
“It’s awesome to be here and awesome to get a win in front of our fans and you know it’s my first win here,” Sogaard said. “I lost the last time I played against Winnipeg so it was a very special moment and something I won’t forget.”
Senators coach D.J. Smith gave Sogaard plenty of credit.
“He looked really calm,” Smith said. “I mean he’s big, obviously, pucks hit him and he made the saves he had to make. They had plenty of chances and he looked good.”
Dillon Dube had two goals and Tyler Toffoli had a goal and an assist for the Flames. Jacob Markstrom finished with 21 saves.
“We had chances throughout the entire game to essentially put them away, and we didn’t,” Toffoli said. “We let them hang around. They’re a team with a lot of skill and can do what they did.”
The Senators trailed 3-1 late in the third period before Batherson scored on the rebound of a shot by Stutzle with 2:14 left and DeBrincat tied it 46 seconds later. Both goals came with Sogaard pulled for an extra skater.
“There’s four, five minutes left and you see a few people leaving and before you know it, it’s tied up,” Batherson said. “It’s awesome. We haven’t scored many 6-on-5 goals since I’ve been here and the place went nuts so it was great to get the win.”
The Senators got off to a bit of a slow start, but were first on the scoreboard when Stutzle fed Tkachuk a great pass to spring him loose for a breakaway goal 6:10 into the first period. It was his 21st goal of the season.
Dube tied it on a power play when he deflected Noah Hanifin’s shot past Sogaard with 5:13 left in the opening period.
Toffoli put Calgary ahead at 5:55 of the second – just seconds after a power play expired – when he beat Sogaard on the glove side with his 22nd.
Dube put the Flames up 3-1 with his second of the night and 15th of the season by tipping Toffoli’s shot past Sogaard.
“I thought we dominated the game,” Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. “I thought we totally dominated puck possession. Whether it’s the next goal or the next save, I thought we were in total control of the game.”
LINEUP
Ottawa LW Austin Watson returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch the last three games. … Talbot is expected to return in seven to 10 days, while Forsberg, who injured his right and left MCL, will be out two to three months.
UP NEXT
Flames: Host Detroit on Thursday night.
Senators: At the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.
CROUSE SCORES 2 GOALS AS COYOTES BEAT PREDS 4-2 FOR ROAD WIN
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Lawson Crouse scored his second goal at 4:20 of the third period, and the Arizona Coyotes beat the Nashville Predators 4-2 on Monday night to snap an 18-game road skid.
Crouse nearly had a hat trick but missed an empty net wide with 1:11 left. Christian Fischer didn’t miss with 52.9 remaining.
Nick Schmaltz also scored a goal as the Coyotes won for the first time on the road since a 4-0 win at Carolina on Nov. 23, a span that saw them go 0-13-5 until capping this three-game road swing that started with back-to-back overtime losses.
Matias Maccelli, J.J. Moser and Clayton Keller each had two assists.
Goalie Karel Vejmelka made 29 saves for his first win against the team that drafted him in the fifth round in 2015.
“It’s more special than the other games,” Vejmelka said. “But I don’t care who plays against us. I just want to give us a chance to win. We had big points tonight.”
Arizona now is 3-0-3 without a regulation loss over the past six games, and coach Andre Tourigny said he thinks that says something about the character of a team trailing all but two teams in the Western Conference.
“We’re obviously not the level of a Tampa Bay or something like that,” Tourigny said. “But character wise, you could see even in the second period, when the wind was against us, we still battled and worked really hard. So, proud of the boys.”
Captain Roman Josi and Colton Sissons scored a goal apiece as Nashville started a three-game home stand with its second loss in three games since the All-Star Game break. Nashville slipped five points back of Calgary for the West’s second wild-card slot.
“It’s definitely a frustrating loss,” Josi said.
The Coyotes improved to 7-20-6 on the road despite being outshot 10-2 in the second. Crouse not only tied it up at 2 with Arizona’s only power play of the game, it was the Coyotes’ first shot of the period. Keller hit off the crossbar with 36.4 seconds left for their other shot.
Then Arizona opened the third taking five of the first seven shots, including Crouse’s game-winner. Maccelli passed a backhander from near the boards to Crouse for his 19th goal.
“(I) just tried to get open in that soft spot, and (Maccelli) put it right on my tape,” Crouse said. “I think it squeaked in somehow, so obviously a good feeling.”
The Predators had a fifth and final power play when Crouse put the puck over the glass with 4:36 remaining. Coach John Hynes took his timeout with 51 seconds left on the man advantage, not that it helped as Nashville finished 1-of-5 on the power play.
Nashville honored P.K. Subban before the game as the three-time All-Star defenseman handled the ceremonial puck drop.
Subban announced his retirement in September after 13 NHL seasons. The 2013 Norris Trophy winner helped Nashville reach the 2017 Stanley Cup Final and played all 82 games in winning the 2018 Presidents’ Trophy.
When Predators forward Nino Niederreiter turned it over, Schmaltz quickly took advantage with his 14th goal this season and third in as many games. He scored on a one-timer from the left circle off a pass from Keller for a 1-0 lead with 2:45 left in the first period. He now has seven points in three games.
MIA
Nashville played without second-leading scorer Filip Forsberg who went down in the first period of a 2-1 overtime win in Philadelphia on Saturday. He’s listed as day to day with an upper-body injury after being checked into the boards.
Hynes said earlier Monday the injury might not be as serious as it first appeared. Philip Tomasino was called up from AHL Milwaukee and replaced Forsberg on the top line with Ryan Johansen and Mikael Granlund.
Arizona played its second game with defenseman Jakob Chychrun a healthy scratch for “trade related reasons.”
UP NEXT
The Coyotes return home to host Tampa Bay on Wednesday night.
The Predators host Boston on Thursday night.
BOBROVSKY, PANTHERS BEAT WILD 2-1 IN SHOOTOUT
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Anton Lundell and Aleksander Barkov scored in the shootout to send the Florida Panthers to a 2-1 win against the Minnesota Wild on Monday night.
Eetu Luostarinen scored in regulation for Florida, which has won four of its past five games. Sergei Bobrovsky made 27 saves for the Panthers in a low-scoring game with plenty of scoring opportunities.
Bobrovsky stopped two of the three players he faced in the shootout.
“Bob was unbelievable today,” Lundell said. “He kept us in the game, took some big saves and gave us, pretty much, two points today.”
Filip Gustavsson nearly matched Bobrovsky save for save, making 33 saves for Minnesota. Kirill Kaprizov scored in regulation for the Wild, who have lost four of five since the All-Star break.
“We’ve had a couple of games like that now and to be honest, we have to go and get some of the dirty goals,” Kaprizov said through a translator. “Find a way to win some ugly battles and get some ugly goals and that’ll open up some space for us to be able to make some plays and score some nicer goals. But myself included, I think I need to go and get some dirty goals and find a way have things open up in the ice and to start winning games.”
The goaltenders shined as Florida outshot Minnesota 34-28 and had a 14-3 advantage in shots at one point in the first period.
Both teams had their chances. They went a combined 0 of 12 on the power play, with the Panthers unable to score on seven man-advantage opportunities.
They had entered the day with a 33.3% scoring rate on the power play since the start of 2023, the best mark in the NHL. Florida had a power-play goal in seven of its previous 10 games.
“I don’t want to get fined,” Wild coach Dean Evason said. “You guys see it. We all see it. It’s tough. It was tough tonight. But having said that, we’ve been praising, our group’s been so good, disciplined, only one penalty here, and then that happens. And it’s hard because we obviously can’t take seven minors but we really liked our composure.”
On the defensive side, the Panthers have now killed 18 of 19 penalties in the past six games.
“There wasn’t a lot of flow in that game,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “Both team’s penalty kill was really good. Both team’s goalies were really good on the penalty kill. That’s the important part.”
Luostarinen opened the scoring 2:06 into the second period, deflecting a point shot from Gustav Forsling for his 12th goal of the season.
Minnesota answered back three minutes later when Kaprizov scored his 30th of the season. Kaprizov was finally able to control a bouncing puck entering the offensive zone and wristed a quick shot high past Bobrovsky.
“The only thing I can say is it’s big points for us,” Bobrovsky said. “This time of year, it’s already like a playoff spot kind of. It’s a huge point.”
THIRD’S A CHARM
Lundell was Florida’s first shooter in the shootout and was seen working on his stick prior to the shootout attempt.
“I don’t know what happened today,” Lundell said. “I broke two sticks in the game, which is not normal for me. So, I had to take a new stick for the shootout and it worked pretty well.”
OUCH
Wild forward Marcus Foligno left the game in the second period after taking a shot off the inside of his left knee. Foligno never returned and the team said he’s dealing with a lower-body injury. Foligno had to be helped off the ice and couldn’t put any weight on his left leg as he left.
UP NEXT
Panthers: Finish a back-to-back Tuesday in St. Louis.
Wild: Host Colorado on Wednesday.
RED WINGS TROUNCE STRUGGLING CANUCKS 6-1
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) Dylan Larkin scored twice and the Detroit Red Wings extended their win streak with a 6-1 victory over the struggling Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.
Robby Fabbri and Gustav Lindstrom each contributed a goal and an assist for the Red Wings, who have won three straight.
Pius Suter and Jonatan Berggren also scored for the visitors and Michael Rasmussen notched a pair of helpers. Detroit’s Ville Husso made 29 saves, including a late penalty shot.
The Canucks’ lone goal came from Sheldon Dries early in the second period.
Collin Delia stopped 17 shots for Vancouver, which has now given up five or more goals in 25 of 54 games this season.
The result marked the second time in three days the Red Wings have chalked up a lopsided victory over the Canucks after beating them 5-2 in Detroit on Saturday.
The Canucks were awarded a penalty shot with 59.4 seconds left on the game clock when Husso was called for delay of game when the net came down over his back as Elias Pettersson tried to jam a shot in from the side of the net.
Depth forward Phillip Di Giuseppe skated in and sent a quick wrist shot off the goalie’s blocker.
Berggren sealed the score 7:52 into the third period, collecting a slick pass from Joe Veleno and tapping it in backdoor to make it 6-1 with his 11th goal of the campaign.
Detroit was a perfect 1-for-1 with the man advantage while Vancouver went 0-for-4.
MR. 100
Canucks right-winger Vasily Podkolzin played his 100th NHL game. The 21-year-old from Moscow was picked 10th overall by Vancouver in the 2019 entry draft and has since registered 30 points for the team, including one goal and three assists in 21 appearances this season.
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY
Vancouver held its second annual Black History Month game. Celebrations included warm-up jerseys designed by Ethiopian-Canadian artist Yared Nigussu and a ceremonial puck drop featuring pioneering players Alton White, John Craighead and the Canucks manager of minor hockey, Rod Brathwaite.
UP NEXT
Red Wings: Play in Edmonton on Wednesday.
Canucks: Host the New York Rangers on Wednesday.
KEMPE SCORES FOR 3RD STRAIGHT GAME, KINGS BEAT SABRES 5-2
LOS ANGELES (AP) Adrian Kempe scored for the third straight game, Viktor Arvidsson had a goal and two assists, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Monday night.
Sean Walker and Matt Roy also scored to help the Kings get their second straight win after the All-Star break and bye week. Phillip Danault had three assists and Pheonix Copley made 27 saves.
Dylan Cozens and Peyton Krebs scored, and Craig Anderson allowed five goals on 28 shots for the Sabres, who have dropped four straight games following a five-game win streak.
The Kings scored four times in the second period, turning the tables after allowing six goals in the third period of a 6-0 loss at Buffalo on Dec. 13.
Kempe following up his four-goal eruption against Pittsburgh on Saturday by scoring short-handed at 9:20 of the middle period to open the scoring. It was his seventh goal in three games.
Kaliyev hammered in a slap shot on a power play with 7:25 left for the 2-0 lead.
Walker and Roy scored 33 seconds apart at the end of the period to make it 4-0 with 46 seconds left and effectively put the game out of reach.
Arvidsson poked in the puck after it took an odd bounce and ended up at Anderson’s feet 5:14 into the third.
Cozens broke up Copley’s bid for a second straight shutout with 9:44 left, and Krebs added power-play goal nearly 5 minutes later.
RARE AIR
Kempe is the third Kings player to score five straight goals for the club, joining Tomas Sandstrom (Nov. 22-24, 1990) and Luc Robitaille (Feb. 4-6, 1992).
Sandstorm holds the club record with eight goals in a three-game span from Nov. 20-24, 1990.
DIDN’T WORK
The Sabres shuffled their forward combinations coming into the game in hopes of trying to end their skid, having Cozens center the top line between Jeff Skinner and Alex Tuch and putting Tage Thompson with Casey Mittelstadt and Kyle Okposo on the second line.
WORTH NOTING
Danault had his fourth three-point game in two seasons since coming to Los Angeles. … The Kings won their 200th game since Rob Blake took over as general manager following the 2017 season. … Middlestadt and Victor Olofsson each had two assists for the Sabres.
UP NEXT
Sabres: At Anaheim on Wednesday night.
Kings: At Anaheim on Friday night.
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
HARMON, OBANOR LEAD TEXAS TECH TO 74-67 WIN OVER NO. 6 TEXAS
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) De’vion Harmon scored 25 points and Kevin Obanor added 19 as Texas Tech defeated its second ranked opponent in three days, upending No. 6 Texas 74-67 on Monday night.
Fardaws Aimaq had a season-high 12 points for the Red Raiders, who led by 13 in the second half before fending off the Longhorns down the stretch.
Texas Tech (14-12, 3-10 Big 12) also topped No. 12 Kansas State on Saturday.
“Obviously, I’m extremely excited for these guys,” Red Raiders coach Mark Adams said. “It was a great team effort. That is a good basketball team that we beat. Texas plays hard. We matched their intensity and played, I thought, 40 minutes of great basketball.”
Texas (20-6, 9-4) tied the game at 64 on a 3-pointer by Dylan Disu, but Tech responded by scoring the next six points as Obanor had two dunks and Aimaq converted a tip-in. Harmon added a driving basket with 35.1 seconds remaining, and the Red Raiders held on.
“Give them credit,” Texas interim coach Rodney Terry said. “They made shots. Our guys had great effort. We just didn’t do enough to put ourselves in position to win. In our league, anybody can beat anybody.”
Marcus Carr led the Longhorns with 23 points, and Disu scored 11.
“We’re a team that has been through a lot of adversity this season,” Obanor said. “It’s like being in a boxing match, and you get beat up, but it speaks to your character when you get back up, have a sense of urgency and refuse to give up.”
Texas Tech scored on seven consecutive possessions spanning halftime, taking a 51-38 lead. Texas used a 12-4 spurt to get within 59-54, and a 3 by Tyrese Hunter trimmed it to 64-61 before Disu’s tying shot.
Harmon had 21 points in the first half and scored his team’s final seven as the Red Raiders took a 44-35 lead at the break. Both teams connected on more than 45% of their shots. Tech went 7 of 12 from 3-point range, and Texas countered by shooting 6 for 11 from beyond the arc.
After the Longhorns pulled to 37-35 on Carr’s 3-pointer with 1:40 remaining in the half, Harmon answered with a short jumper in the lane, two free throws and a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded.
Texas’ shooting cooled in the second half as the Longhorns connected on 10 of 30 shots overall and went 5 of 16 from 3-point range. Texas Tech tightened its defense after halftime, forcing the Longhorns to work on every possession.
“They play well here,” Terry said. “Texas Tech has good personnel and a coach who does a great job getting them in position.”
BIG PICTURE
Texas Tech has won 10 of the past 12 meetings and holds a 37-29 edge in Lubbock. … The Red Raiders have beaten three ranked Big 12 opponents at home this season, including Iowa State in overtime.
UP NEXT
Texas hosts Oklahoma on Saturday.
Texas Tech visits West Virginia on Saturday.
MILLER, PACK LEAD NO. 15 MIAMI TO WIN AT NORTH CAROLINA
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) Miami coach Jim Larranaga went into halftime Monday night knowing his 15th-ranked Hurricanes couldn’t keep letting North Carolina attack off the dribble and get to the rim.
So the Hurricanes turned an opponent that struggles from 3-point range into a jump-shooting team.
Jordan Miller and Nijel Pack combined for 47 points to lead the offense, while the Hurrricanes’ second-half shutdown of driving lanes helped Miami beat UNC 80-72 to stay at the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title chase.
Miller had 24 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Hurricanes (21-5, 12-4), who led 35-34 at halftime but shot 52% after the break to take control and build a 14-point lead. Yet it was more about Miami’s defense, which closed off the avenues that had helped the Tar Heels (16-10, 8-7) score 26 points in the paint before the break.
The Hurricanes hedged even harder on screens after halftime to drive UNC ballhandlers farther from the basket and take that away. UNC managed just 14 points in the paint after halftime.
“They were making layups on us,” Larranaga said. “We had to take that away. The guys did a great job of doing that. Again, when you fall behind, oftentimes that leads to teams looking for 3s.”
And UNC wasn’t up to the challenge of making them. The Tar Heels came in ranked 14th of 15 league teams in 3-point percentage (31.4%) and made just 5 of 31 attempts from behind the arc.
“In the second half, we tried to do (attack) and they just did a better job of closing down that paint,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “The only way that you can open that up is to make some perimeter jump shots, and we just weren’t able to do it.”
R.J. Davis scored 23 points while Caleb Love had 20 for the Tar Heels, who trailed by 11 in the final 2 1/2 minutes before making a frantic comeback. UNC got within 73-69 on Love’s 3-pointer with 34.9 seconds left, but the Hurricanes made 11 of 14 free throws in the last 63 seconds to stay in control.
BIG PICTURE
Miami: The Hurricanes entered with four straight wins including a 32-point romp against Duke at home. That run had pushed Miami to within a game in the loss column of Pittsburgh and No. 7 Virginia for the league lead. Now they have a fifth road win in ACC play.
UNC: The Tar Heels have had a strange journey from preseason No. 1-ranked team with four starters back from last year’s unexpected ride to the NCAA title game to unranked and working to shore up their NCAA Tournament resume in mid-February. After a humbling loss at Wake Forest, the Tar Heels responded with a spirited effort to beat Clemson on Saturday – only to squander this chance to help their postseason resume.
“We all know, everybody in the building knows what’s at stake,” said big man Armando Bacot, who had 12 points and sat with four fouls for a key second-half stretch.
NIFTY MOVES
Miller scored at least four times inside against different defenders with the same move: turning toward the middle in the paint with a pump fake and then spinning back toward the baseline to get a step under a defender for a layup.
Larranaga chuckled when Miller was asked about repeatedly using the same move successfully.
“It’s definitely something I practice, but it’s also what the defense gives me,” Miller said. “I just like getting in the paint and taking my time, seeing what’s there, whether a score, an assist, whatever it is. And I love the pump-fake – I do, I really do.”
UP NEXT
Miami: Hosting Wake Forest on Saturday.
UNC: At No. 23 North Carolina State on Sunday.
FORMER MICHIGAN STATE STAR PLEADS GUILTY IN 2021 MURDER CASE
DETROIT (AP) A former Michigan State University basketball star pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder and a firearm charge in the fatal 2021 shooting of a Detroit man.
Keith Damon Appling, 31, pleaded guilty in Wayne County Circuit Court to one count each of second-degree murder and felony firearm in the killing of Clyde Edmonds, 66, county Prosecutor Kym Worthy said.
Appling pleaded guilty to the charges on the same day his trial in Edmonds’ death was set to begin.
The Detroit Pershing prep star played at Michigan State from 2010 to 2014. Appling also played pro basketball overseas and had two brief contracts with the NBA’s Orlando Magic.
He was charged in Edmonds’ murder in June 2021. Prosecutors said Appling fatally shot Edmonds on May 22, 2021, after the men argued over a handgun. Edmonds was pronounced dead at a hospital. His wife and Appling’s mother are first cousins, authorities said.
Appling’s plea agreement calls for 18 to 40 years in prison on the second-degree murder charge and two years to be served consecutively on the firearm charge. The remaining charges Appling faced – first-degree murder, felony in possession of a firearm and a second count of felony firearm – will be dismissed at his sentencing hearing, which is set for March 3, Worthy said in a news release.
Prosecutors said Appling’s girlfriend, Natalie Bannister, drove Appling from the shooting scene, The Detroit News reported.
She pleaded guilty last year to one count of lying to a police officer and was sentenced to 18 months of probation. A charge of accessory after the fact and a second count of lying to police were dropped under Bannister’s plea agreement.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
NO. 22 IOWA STATE WOMEN SNAP 3-GAME SKID, BEAT NO. 17 TEXAS
AMES, Iowa (AP) Ashley Joens scored 24 points, Emily Ryan had 12 points and eight assists and No. 22 Iowa State beat No. 17 Texas 66-61 on Monday night to snap a three-game losing streak.
Joens completed a three-point play with 2:37 left to give Iowa State a 61-55 lead, but she missed two free throws at 1:45 and Texas took advantage when Rori Harmon sank a baseline jumper to make it 61-57. Iowa State had two chances at the other end following an offensive rebound and Denae Fritz made a 3-pointer from the corner for a seven-point lead. Joens added two free throws with 14.2 seconds left to seal it.
Lexi Donarski had 11 points and Fritz scored 10 for Iowa State (16-7, 8-5 Big 12). Donarski and Joens had three 3-pointers apiece as the Cyclones went 8 of 15.
Joens and Donarski each made a 3-pointer in the final minute of the third quarter to help Iowa State extend its lead to 52-40. Donarski added an open 3-pointer in the opening 70 seconds of the fourth quarter for a 15-point lead.
Texas’ first 3-pointer of the game, in 12 attempts, came with 4:18 left in the fourth. Shay Holle added another 3-pointer on the Longhorns next possession to get within 57-53 after a 13-2 run.
Harmon scored nine of her 19 points in the first quarter and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda added 10 points for Texas (20-7, 11-3), which had a seven-game winning streak end. The Longhorns were 5 of 12 from the free-throw line compared to 12 of 20 for Iowa State.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
‘GHOST RUNNER’ IN EXTRA INNINGS MADE PERMANENT BY MLB
NEW YORK (AP) Starting extra innings with a runner on second base during the regular season was made a permanent rules change by Major League Baseball on Monday after three seasons of use during the coronavirus pandemic.
Known by some as the “Ghost Runner” and by others as the “Manfred Man” after baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, the rule was unanimously adopted by the sport’s 11-person competition committee.
Use of position players as pitchers also was tightened by the committee. They will be limited to extra innings, when a player’s team is losing by eight or more runs or is winning by 10 or more runs in the ninth inning. Last year, a position player could pitch only in extra innings or if his team was losing or winning by six or more runs.
The joint competition committee, established in the lockout settlement last March, includes six management officials, four union representatives and one umpire.
There were 216 extra-inning games last year, down from 233 in 2021 and 78 during the shortened 2020 season. The longest last year was Cleveland’s 7-6, 15-inning win over Minnesota in the second game of a doubleheader on Sept. 17. That was one inning shy of the longest in the three seasons of the rule, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 16-inning win at San Diego on Aug. 25, 2021.
Home teams went 113-103 in extra-inning games last year and are 262-263 in extra innings since the runner on second rule started in 2020, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Home teams were 312-294 in extra-inning games from 2017-19, Elias said.
The rule was adopted as a pandemic measure for the 2020 season and appears likely to stay.
“Clubs have gotten used to the extra-innings rule,” Manfred said Thursday after an owners’ meeting. “I think it’s generally well-liked by players.”
Use of position players as pitchers rose from 90 on 2019 to 89 in 2021 and 132 last year, according to the commissioner’s office. Use when trailing by six or seven runs increased from eight in 2019 to 16 in 2021 to 28 last year.
Use when leading by six or more runs rose from 1 in 2019 and none in 2021 to 18 last season.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS OWNER TED LERNER DIES AT 97
WASHINGTON (AP) Ted Lerner, the billionaire real estate developer whose family bought the Washington Nationals in 2006, has died, the team announced Monday. He was 97.
A Nationals spokesperson said Lerner died Sunday of complications from pneumonia at his home in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Lerner’s group purchased the Nationals from Major League Baseball in 2006 for $450 million after the team was moved to the U.S. capital from Montreal. He was managing principal owner until ceding that role to son Mark in 2018.
Under the Lerners’ ownership, the Nationals went from one of baseball’s worst teams in their first several seasons in Washington to World Series champions in 2019. The Lerners also are credited with revitalizing the city’s Navy Yard area since Nationals Park opened in 2008.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Founding Managing Principal Owner Theodore N. Lerner,” the team said in a statement. “The crowning achievement of his family business was bringing baseball back to the city he loved – and with it, bringing a championship home for the first time since 1924. He cherished the franchise and what it brought to his beloved hometown.”
Lerner was born in 1925, the year after the Washington Senators beat the New York Giants in the World Series. That franchise left the city in 1960 to become the Minnesota Twins, and its expansion replacement lasted a decade before moving to Texas as the Rangers.
Washington did not have a baseball team until MLB assumed control of the Expos and moved them there from Montreal in 2005. The group led by the Lerners was chosen as the winning bidder.
Last year, the Lerners began exploring the possibility of selling the team, which is worth $2 billion, according to Forbes, which estimates the family’s net worth is $6.6 billion thanks to the Nationals and Lerner Enterprises, one of the largest property-owning companies in the Washington area.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in a statement called Lerner “an extraordinary American success story” – a former stadium usher who brought baseball back to prominence in the nation’s capital.
“I have great appreciation for Ted’s impact on his hometown and the game he loved,” Manfred said. “The Nationals have always remained loyal to Ted’s vision of unity, philanthropy and civic pride in Washington.”
YANKEES’ CORTES TO MISS WBC WITH HAMSTRING INJURY
TAMPA, Fla, (AP) New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes will miss next month’s World Baseball Classic due to a strained right hamstring but hasn’t ruled out being ready for the start of the regular season.
Colorado left-hander Kyle Freeland replaced Cortes on the United States roster.
“Came in on Wednesday and told the staff I was a little banged up,” Cortes said Monday at the Yankees’ minor league complex. “After long talks, obviously, the best interest was to stay out of it. The biggest goal right here is to get healthy and be ready for the start of fhe season. I think it’s something that’s definitely doable to start the season off healthy and in the rotation.”
Cortes said the injury is low grade two strain and there is no timeframe. He will not pitch for at least a couple weeks.
Cortes first felt a tweak a week ago while running sprints at home.
“Didn’t think of it much,” Cortes said. “I thought it was just a cramp. Later that night went to put on a shoe and kind of felt a little pull there. Once I showed up here it was a little bruised. We’re taking it day by day. We’re seeing how I progress.”
Cortes went 12-4 with a 2.44 ERA in 28 starts during an All-Star season last year.
“I was very excited for it,” Cortes said. “Wanted to represent Team USA, a country that gave me a lot of opportunities to do a lot of the stuff I’m doing today, Very disappointed and obviously very sad I can’t participate.”
Cortes was sidelined fron Aug. 21 to Sept, 8, and pulled from Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros last year because of groin injuries.
“Took care of it all offseason,” Cortes said. “Was down in Miami rehabbing it throughout the whole offseason. It feels great. No soreness.”
Another Yankees’ starter, Frankie Montas, could miss the start of the season with right shoulder inflammation.
Obtained from the Oakland Athletics in a trade deadline deal last season, the right-hander was slowed by the same issue. He went 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA over eight starts with New York.
Notes: DJ LeMahieu went through a pre-spring training work without OF Aaron Judge and SS Gleyber Torres. LeMahieu missed the 2022 postseason with a toe injury.
BIG 10 ATHLETICS
MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA AND RUTGERS EARN BIG TEN SOFTBALL WEEKLY AWARDS
Player of the Week
Kyleigh Sand, Rutgers
Jr. – SS – Norco, Calif. – Norco – Major: Labor and Employment Relations
• Batted .611 with a .667 slugging percentage and .632 on-base percentage last week, collecting 11 hits, eight runs and three RBI while stealing seven bases as Rutgers won all five games at the NorCal Kickoff, the Scarlet Knights’ first 5-0 start since 1993
• Went 3-for-3 with two runs and four stolen bases (the most by an RU player since at least 2004) in a Feb. 10 win over Santa Clara
• Also had three hits and two stolen bases in a Feb. 11 win over Seattle, as well as two-hit games against Utah Valley (Feb. 10) and Sacramento State (Sunday)
• Dating back to last season, has reached base in 41 consecutive games, moving into second on the Big Ten all-time list, passing Wisconsin’s Kelsey Jenkins (40 in 2018) and trailing only Northwestern’s Adrienne Monka (59 in 2011-12)
•?Earns her second career Big Ten Player of the Week award
• Last Rutgers Player of the Week: Gabrielle Callaway (March 28, 2022)
Pitcher of the Week
Courtney Wallace, Nebraska
Sr. – RHP – Omaha, Neb. – Papillion La Vista – Master’s: Education Administration
• Posted three complete-game shutout wins in her three appearances at last weekend’s Houston Invitational, tossing 19.0 scoreless innings while striking out 14, walking only four and pacing Nebraska to a 4-1 start
• Held opponents to a .174 batting average for the weekend, allowing just 12 hits
• Registered a five-inning one-hit shutout with five strikeouts in a season-opening win over Lamar on Feb. 10
• Collects her first career Big Ten Pitcher of the Week award
• Last Nebraska Pitcher of the Week: Cassie McClure (April 11, 2016)
Freshman of the Week
Jess Oakland, Minnesota
SS – San Jose, Calif. – Saint Francis – Intended Major: Kinesiology
• Recorded a .500 batting average, 1.125 slugging percentage and .619 on-base percentage with eight hits (five for extra bases), two home runs, 13 RBI and six runs scored to help Minnesota to a 4-1 record at the season-opening Northern Lights/Southern Nights Invitational in Leesburg, Fla.
• Had at least one hit, one run and one RBI in all five games, including four-RBI outings against Butler (Feb. 10) and Portland State (Feb. 11)
• Also hit home runs and drove in two in each of the Golden Gophers’ final two games against Colgate (Feb. 11) and Western Kentucky (Sunday)
• Captures her first Big Ten Freshman of the Week award
• Last Minnesota Freshman of the Week: Emily Leavitt (May 9, 2022)
INDIANA AND NORTHWESTERN SCORE MEN’S BASKETBALL WEEKLY ACCOLADES
Co-Players of the Week
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
F – Jr. – 6-9 – Greenwood, Ind. – Center Grove – Major: Sports Marketing
- Led the Hoosiers to a pair of wins with 24 points, 14.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists, while playing 39.5 minutes in wins over Rutgers and Michigan.
- Shot 8-14 from the floor for 20 points, 18 rebounds and six assists to help Indiana snap a six-game losing streak to the Scarlet Knights.
- Recorded 28 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots, as the Hoosiers scored their first win in Ann Arbor since 2016.
- Garners his seventh career Player of the Week award and fourth in a row.
- Last Indiana Player of the Week: Trayce Jackson-Davis (Feb. 6, 2023)
Boo Buie, Northwestern
G – Sr. – 6-2 – Albany, N.Y. – Gould Academy (Me.) – Major: Learning and Organizational Change
- Averaged 22.5 points, 4.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocked shots as Northwestern went 2-0 with wins at Ohio State and over No. 1 Purdue.
- Totaled 26 points, three assists, three blocks and three steals as Northwestern defeated No. 1 Purdue 64-58, recording the school’s first win over an AP No. 1 team.
- Scored 19 points with five assists, two rebounds and a steal in a 69-63 road win at Ohio State, Northwestern’s third in Columbus since 1977.
- Collects his second career Player of the Week award.
- Last Northwestern Player of the Week: Boo Buie (Dec. 21, 2020)
Freshman of the Week
Jalen Hood-Schifino, Indiana
G – 6-6 – Pittsburgh, Pa. – Monteverde Academy – Major: Sports Marketing and Management
- Averaged 14.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists, as Indiana scored wins over Rutgers and Michigan
- Posted 21 points, four rebounds and five assists in a 62-61 win over the Wolverines
- Went 4-4 from the free throw line, including the eventual game-winning points in the final minutes.
- Earns his third Freshman of the Week award.
- Last Ohio State Freshman of the Week: Jalen Hood-Schifino (Jan. 30, 2023)
MARYLAND AND OHIO STATE EARN BIG TEN WEEKLY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AWARDS
Player of the Week
Diamond Miller, Maryland
Sr. – G – Somerset, N.J. – Franklin – Major: Family Science
• Averaged 24.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game with a .531 field-goal percentage last week in pacing Maryland to a pair of conference victories
• Scored 31 points (one off her career high) while adding nine rebounds and four assists in Sunday’s Senior Day victory over Illinois
• Contributed a game-high 18 points, nine rebounds and a career high-tying seven assists on Feb. 9 in a win at Northwestern
• Chosen as an Academic All-Big Ten honoree in 2021
• Earns her second career Big Ten Player of the Week award
• Last Maryland Player of the Week: Shyanne Sellers (Jan. 23, 2023)
Big Ten Women’s Basketball Weekly Honor Roll
Caitlin Clark, Jr., G, IOWA: Logged 25.0 ppg and 10.0 apg. with two double-doubles as the Hawkeyes went 1-1 last week against No. 2/3 Indiana and Rutgers
Taiyier Parks, Sr., F, MSU: Registered 17.5 ppg., 6.5 rpg. and 3.0 spg. last week to help the Spartans to wins over Wisconsin and Penn State
Julie Pospíšilová, Sr., G, WIS: Posted 22.0 ppg., 4.5 apg. and 2.0 spg. in a 1-1 week for the Badgers, including 22 points and game-tying layup in a Feb. 12 overtime win at Minnesota
Freshman of the Week
Cotie McMahon, Ohio State
F – Centerville, Ohio – Centerville – Major: Sport Industry
• Scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed four rebounds in 24 minutes of a Feb. 8 win over Minnesota
• Converted on 8-of-13 shots from the floor and 9-of-9 from the foul line
• Tallied her team-high ninth 20-point game this season
• Collects her fifth Big Ten Freshman of the Week award
• Last Ohio State Freshman of the Week: Cotie McMahon (Jan. 2, 2023)
MAC ATHLETICS
BALL STATE’S CLEPHANE NAMED WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Anna Clephane, Guard/Forward, Ball State
Redshirt senior Anna Clephane put on quite the show this week in Mid-American Conference action, helping Ball State defeat Eastern Michigan and Akron on the road. Her week was highlighted after tying her career high in points with a 26-point performance at Akron Saturday. Clephane began the week scoring 23 points against the Eagles while also having a career best in rebounds with 10 for her first double-double of her career. She then mimicked that performance against the Zips with 26 points. Clephane had some timely baskets against both Eastern Michigan and Akron but especially on Saturday as she hit two crucial free throws with seconds remaining to help Ball State move past Akron. For the week, Clephane averaged 24.5 points per game and 7.5 rebounds. She also shot a staggering 78 percent (15-19) from the charity stripe. Clephane helped Ball State remain atop of the MAC standings with an 11-1 mark and while also extending BSU’s win streak to nine.
OHIO’S HUNTER, EMU’S ACUFF SHARE CO-MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Jaylin Hunter, Ohio, Guard
Junior, Manchester, Conn.
Junior guard Jaylin Hunter led the Bobcats this week, putting together his best stretch of the season and helping the Bobcats go 2-0 on the week and extend their winning steak to three games. Overall, Hunter averaged 22.0 points a game, while shooting .556 from the field, .500 from three and was 7-of-9 from the line. He also added 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals a game. On Feb. 7 at NIU, Hunter scored a team-high 19 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out five assists. He went 8-of-13 from the field and 3-of-7 from three in the 82-76 victory. Hunter continued his dominance on Friday night against Akron, scoring a career-high 25 points, while going 7-of-14 from the field, 4-of-7 from three and 7-of-9 from the line, while grabbing one rebound, dishing out four assists and grabbing two steals in the 90-81 victory.
Tyson Acuff, Eastern Michigan, Guard
Sophomore, Detroit, Mich. (Cass Tech)
Eastern Michigan guard Tyson Acuff put together a career week in a pair of games at Buffalo, Feb. 7, and at home against Toledo, Feb. 9. The Detroit, Mich., native combined to average 35.5 points per game, 20 points better than EMU’s next best scorer for the week, and the single-best scoring average in a set of games for his career. Acuff also limited his turnovers, giving it away just 1.5 times per game during the week, while shooting an incredible .692 from the field and .647 from three-point territory. He also shot 85.7% from the free-throw line. Acuff’s week started with against the Bulls, where he dropped a then-career-high 35 points, going 13-of-17 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from three, while adding 5-of-6 shooting from the free throw line. Acuff, who added five rebounds, joined the 30-point club, marking the second player to reach the marker this year (Emoni Bates – 4 occasions). Not to be outdone, Acuff recorded another career effort against Toledo, dropping 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting and 7-of-10 from deep, a career-best mark and tied for the third-highest total in George Gervin GameAbove Center history (1998-Pres.). All told, Acuff’s 71 points are the best in a two-game stretch for an Eastern player since at least the 1998-99 season.
TOP INDIANA RELEASES
PACERS BASKETBALL
GAME REWIND: PACERS 117, JAZZ 123
Just days before heading to Salt Lake City for his first All-Star game of his career, Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton put on a show in the second half on Monday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The 22-year-old demonstrated his shot-making ability over the final two quarters against the Jazz, scoring 25 of his team-high 30 points in the second half, many of which he set up himself with his ball-handling. He also dished out 12 assists and collected three steals, but a late Pacers rally came up just short as Indiana (25-34) fell to Utah (29-30), 123-117.
The Pacers trailed by 12 with just over five minutes remaining in Monday’s contest, but they mounted a charge with seven straight points — two baskets by Tyrese Haliburton sandwiching a Buddy Hield three. CollinSexton answered with a layup to push the visitors’ lead back to five, but Haliburton came right back down and converted a three-point play to make it 110-106. Hield came up with a steal and Haliburton probed the defense, finding a cutting Bennedict Mathurin for a two-hand slam that made it a two-point game with 3:10 remaining.
After a Utah timeout, Sexton dribbled down the shot clock before blowing by Hield for another layup. Once again, Haliburton answered, using a nice pass-fake to open up the lane for an easy layup.
Jordan Clarkson swished his sixth three of the night to push the Jazz’s lead to 115-110 with 2:05 remaining, but Haliburton responded with a step-back three in front of the Indiana bench with 1:12 to play.
“We just keep talking about,” Haliburton said of hunting his shot down the stretch. “It’s trying to find that balance between being aggressive and getting guys involved and what is best for the team at that point in time.
“When (Mathurin) has got it going, I’m trying to run stuff for him to get the ball. When I have it going, I’ve got to find ways to get myself shots….(Tonight) there were some favorable matchups for me and I was able to get it going.”
Clarkson took the ball to the right baseline and drained a fadeaway over Haliburton with 54 seconds remaining. On the other end, Haliburton tried another stepback three, but couldn’t get it to fall this time, as the ball bounced off the back of the rim and over the backboard.
Indiana elected to send Clarkson to the line with 25.2 seconds left and the veteran drained both free throws to make it a six-point game. Mathurin got a quick slam with 16.8 seconds remaining. Four Markkanen free throws over the final seconds and a late layup by Mathurin rounded out the scoring.
Five Pacers finished in double figures in the loss, the Pacers’ fifth straight, ninth in their last 10, and 16th in their last 18 contests.
Markkanen — who will start the All-Star Game on Sunday in his home city — had 29 points and 11 rebounds for the Jazz. Clarkson also tallied 29, going 6-for-8 from 3-point range. Utah entered the night in 11th place in the Western Conference, but just three games out of fourth in that conference’s congested standings.
“There was just high-level shot-making down the stretch,” Haliburton said. “I thought Jordan made some tough shots down at the end there. They got the free throw line. I think the start of that fourth really hurt us, but I think they just attacked us in different ways. Obviously Lauri and Jordan both had good games…they did a good job of getting their guys going.”
Aaron Nesmith scored eight of Indiana’s first 15 points on Monday, knocking down his first two 3-point attempts and then throwing down a massive right-hand slam off a fastbreak sprung by Daniel Theis’ block on Sexton.
Newly acquired forward Jordan Nwora checked in with 6:16 remaining in the first quarter and made a quick impact. Nwora scored his first points as a Pacer with 3:51 left in the frame on a reverse layup off a nice dish from Haliburton. He added a go-ahead 3-pointer 28 seconds later and scored on another layup later in the frame.
The Pacers closed the first quarter with a 14-4 run to take a 33-27 lead after one.
The Jazz retook the lead on Ochai Agbaji’s corner three with 4:02 remaining in the second quarter. The two teams traded the lead three times before halftime and were tied at 51 in the final minute until Lauri Markkanen’s dunk with 29.7 seconds remaining gave the visitors a two-point lead entering the intermission.
The third quarter was essentially a duel between Haliburton and Clarkson. The Pacers’ All-Star guard scored 13 points and went 5-for-6 from the field in the frame. But Clarkson one-upped him, as the former Sixth Man of the Year went 4-for-4 from 3-point range and drew another foul on a three and hit all three free throws in a 15-point frame.
The Jazz took a narrow 89-88 lead into the fourth quarter. Indiana moved in front on T.J. McConnell’s steal-and-score just seconds into the final frame, but Sexton answered with a three-point play on the other to put Utah back in front.
After two Mathurin free throws with 10:58 remaining trimmed Indiana’s deficit to 93-92, the Jazz put together a 15-4 run — featuring back-to-back threes from Kelly Olynyk and Markkanen — to open up a 108-96 lead with 5:25 to play.
Mathurin finished with 21 points off the bench on 8-of-13 shooting for the Blue & Gold. Nesmith added 19 points and six boards, going 7-for-9 from the field and 4-for-5 from beyond the arc.
Starting center Myles Turner missed Monday’s game with a sore back, but both Theis and Isaiah Jackson performed well in his absence. Theis got the start and tallied 11 points, five boards, and three assists, while Jackson racked up 11 points, five rebounds, and four blocks coming off the bench.
Olynyk recorded a double-double for Utah with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Sexton finished with 18 points and six assists.
The Pacers have one more game before the All-Star break. They will host Chicago on Wednesday night. Indiana returns to action after the break on April 23 against Boston.
Inside the Numbers
Haliburton recorded his team-leading 26th double-double of the season and reached 30 points for the fourth time.
Haliburton went 10-for-15 from the field and 3-for-3 from the free throw line while also dishing out six assists in the second half.
Mathurin recorded his 24th 20-point game of the season, tied with Mathurin for the team lead.
The Pacers forced Utah in 19 turnovers and scored 24 points off of them, while surrendering just 11 points off 11 giveaways themselves.
Theis reached double figures for the first time as a Pacer, while Jackson finished in double digits for the seventh time in his last 15 contests.
George Hill played his first game for the Pacers since 2016 on Monday. The former Broad Ripple and IUPUI star who helped lead Indiana to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014 received a standing ovation when he checked in in the first quarter. The 36-year-old logged 9:35 off the bench and recorded a steal.
You Can Quote Me On That
“It starts on the defensive end of grabbing rebounds. They’ve got a ton of high-IQ basketball players over there and when you make mistakes, they make you pay for them.” -Haliburton with what went wrong during Utah’s big run early in the fourth quarter
“For the most part in this game, I liked the tone of how we were competing. We didn’t always play great, but our intentions were good. And when we were beat in the fourth, we were trying. It’s just a question of we’ve just got to try a little better and we’ve got to coach a little better and we’ve got to keep working on it.” -Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle on the Pacers competing until the final buzzer
“They obviously start big with three bigs, we start small with four smalls, four guards. It was interesting because if they were jumping out to a big lead, we might have had to go big or if we were jumping out to a big lead they might have had to go small. But it seemed like we were just trading buckets, so nobody ever had to change anything they were doing.” -Haliburton on the unique dyamnics of Monday’s matchup
“His job is to figure out what’s needed. He can go out and get 30 in probably the majority of the games if he wanted to, but would that be the right thing for the team? He would tell you no, it wouldn’t be. But tonight we needed him to get aggressive and he did and it gave us a chance in the fourth quarter.” -Carlisle on Haliburton’s aggression down the stretch
“I feel like they come from a great place. Having George Hill back as a vet, it’s a great thing. And having Jordan, too, he came into the game, he had great minutes on offense and defense. It was great having them on the court.” -Mathurin on Hill and Nwora playing their first game since being acquired from Milwaukee last Thursday at the trade deadline
“It was great playing with them. The ball is moving around, everybody’s getting touches. A lot faster to what I’m used to where I came from. The pace is a lot faster, but I love it. I think it’s going to be really, really good for me.” -Nwora on playing with his new teammates
“It’s good to be back. I haven’t played in a while, so good to get on the court and get your feet wet and things like that.” -Hill on returning to Indiana
Stat of the Night
The Jazz went off for 70 points in the second half, going 11-for-17 from 3-point range (61.1 percent) over the final three quarters.
Noteworthy
- The Jazz swept the season series with Indiana with Monday’s win (they also won 139-119 in Utah on Dec. 2), avenging last season when the Blue & Gold swept two games against Utah.
- Turner missed his 11th game of the season. He previously sat out three games with back spasms from Jan. 11-14.
- Mathurin now has 1,019 points on the season, making him the fifth Pacers rookie to score 1,000 points in his first year in the league. He joins Vern Fleming (1,126 points in 1984-85), Wayman Tisdale (1,192 in 1985-86), Chuck Person (1,541 in 1986-87), and Clark Kellogg (1,625 in 1982-83) in accomplishing that feat.
Up Next
In their final game before the All-Star break, the Pacers welcome DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7:00 PM ET.
INDY FUEL
PIT STOP: WEEK 17
INDY FUEL WEEK 11 RESULTS: 2-1-0-0,
INDY FUEL OVERALL RECORD: 31-15-2-0 Overall (1st Central)
GAME 46 – WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8 AT IOWA 4-1 W
The Indy Fuel made the trek to Iowa Wednesday night for their seventh game this season against the Heartlanders. Despite being scoreless and down by one headed into the third, the Fuel scored four goals in a row to mount the comeback and claim a 4-1 victory.
GAME 47 – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10 VS IOWA – 4-2 L
The Fuel hosted the Iowa Heartlanders on Friday night for Indy 500 Night. Last year’s Indy 500 winner, Marcus Ericsson dropped the ceremonial puck to start the game and unveiled this year’s Indy 500 ticket during the second intermission. Despite the festivities, Indy ultimately lost to Iowa 4-2.
GAME 48 – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11 AT KALAMAZOO – 5-0 W
The Fuel traveled to Kalamazoo Saturday night for their eighth of 15 games versus the Wings in the 2022-23 season. Outshooting the Wings 37-23, the Fuel earned a 5-0 victory and a shutout for goaltender Mitchell Weeks, his second of the season.
ROSTER MOVES
Defenseman Cliff Watson recalled by Rockford on 2/6
Forward Spencer Watson activated from reserve on 2/8
Forward Bryan Lemos activated from reserve on 2/8
Forward Nate Pionk placed on reserve on 2/8
Defenseman Kirill Chaika activated from reserve on 2/10
Defenseman Shane Kuzmeski placed on reserve on 2/10
OIL DROPS
Forward Alex Wideman is projected to finish the season with 77 points which would be the highest scoring season of his career.
Currently, Wideman is just four points away from tying his single season best for the Fuel from the 2016-17 season. He is 11 points away from his ECHL best of 62 points with the Cincinnati Cyclones in 2018-19.
Wideman also tallied his 100th Fuel assist with a helper in Saturday’s win over Kalamazoo. He holds the franchise record for Fuel assists.
Cam Hillis had a seven-point week with three assists against Iowa on Wednesday and a goal and an assist in both weekend games.
Chad Yetman has at least one point in ten of the Fuel’s last thirteen games since returning from an AHL call-up to Belleville.
Mitchell Weeks tallied his second shutout of the season with his 5-0 win over Kalamazoo on Saturday. He made 23 saves on 23 shots.
Defenseman Shane Kuzmeski leads all Fuel defensemen in points with 25 and he is also the only defenseman to have tallied a shorthanded goal this season.
Kuzmeski also leads defensemen in power play assists with eight. The next closest defensemen in that category are Keoni Texeira and Andrew Perrott tied with 3.
TEAM NOTES
The Fuel are currently in second place in the Western Conference with 64 points and a point percentage of .667.
Indy is tied with Toledo for most games played in the conference with 48.
The Fuel are ranked sixteenth in the league in average penalty minutes with 13.73 per game through 48 games.
Indy’s power play is ranked fourth in the league while their penalty kill is ranked eleventh overall.
The Fuel still lead the league in shorthanded goals, as they have all season. With their thirteenth shorthanded goal of the season this past weekend, they are now just three away from their single season record of 16.
For the first time this season, the Fuel’s goal scoring in the third period has surpassed their goal scoring in the second period. Through 48 games, 64 of Indy’s goals have come in the final frame.
They do give up the most goals in the third period however, having 52 goals against in the last period.
INDY FUEL WEEK 18 SCHEDULE
GAME 49 – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17 AT KALAMAZOO
GAME 50 – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18 AT KALAMAZOO
INDIANA WBB
NO. 2 IU WINS 12TH STRAIGHT IN VICTORY AT NO. 13 OHIO STATE
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 2 Indiana used a strong first half as it picked up its 12th-straight win in a victory at Ohio State, 83-59, on Monday night.
KEY MOMENTS
Indiana (24-1, 14-1 B1G) started off with a Berger and-1 opportunity to take control early. Back-to-back buckets from Holmes gave Indiana a 10-6 lead.
In the final 2:55 of play in the first, IU would go on a 9-2 run including a triples from Garzon and Scalia to build a 24-12 lead.
In the second, the Hoosiers would drop 30 points en route to shooting 74.2 percent in the first half, holding a 54-29 lead. They led by as many as 27 in the second quarter, as Scalia found Holmes in the paint with 6:01 to play.
Scalia would put up 12 of her 18 points in the second quarter as Holmes joined her in double figures with 10 points. Scalia’s 4-for-5 effort from the 3-point line helped Indiana shoot 63.6 percent in the opening half (7-for-11).
Ohio State pushed back in the third quarter, outscoring the Hoosiers, 24-14. The lead never left double figures for Indiana as it got Scalia’s sixth 3-pointer of the night to push the lead back to 12 with 1:53 to play in the third.
Answering the call in the fourth. Indiana limited OSU to just three buckets for six points in the final 10 minutes of action. Holmes scored nine of her points in the frame to close things out.
NOTABLE
Indiana’s win streak improves to 12, the third longest win streak in program history under ninth year head coach Teri Moren.
IU also earned its eighth ranked in win of the season, defeating six of those Top 25 opponents in Big Ten play.
The Hoosier pick up their fifth-straight win in the series, including a season sweep, with the Buckeyes, tying its longest ever win streak between the two schools which dates back to the 1972-73 season. They also won five in the series between 2000-03.
Holmes set a new career-high 33 points on a 15-for-18 effort from the floor. Her 15 made field goals ranks third in a single game in school history
Scalia added an IU career-high 24 points as she connected on six of her eight 3-point attempts.
Berger finished the game with her second double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 also added five assists, passing IU alum Ali Patberg with 529 all-time assists.
Junior guard Chloe Moore-McNeil led the way with seven assists as Indiana dished out 20 asissts on 34 made field goals.
QUOTABLE
Indiana head coach Teri Moren
“Terrific win. Had things really going well for us in the first half offensively. We did some good things defensively, but I really thought what we did on another level tonight was really get out to a fast start offensively, get a lot of points on the board. Then in the second half, it was sort of the tale of two halves. We knew that there was going to be a run that was going to be made by Ohio State, and sure enough there was. One of the things with this group is they don’t panic, we just kind of settle in and realize that one, we have to get stops, and then we have to go down on the other end and execute at a high level. Really proud of Sara and how she shot the ball tonight. She’s an elite shooter and everything that came out of her hands just looked so good tonight. So, I’m really happy for her. Mack, was just once again terrific on the inside. I know that Ohio State was without JC and Becca, but the plan didn’t change for us. We knew we wanted to put the ball inside, when that happens, it opens things up on the outside as well. So, handled their press tonight I thought. Low turnovers, shot it at a really high clip, so really, really proud of our group tonight.”
UP NEXT
Indiana returns home for its final regular season home games starting with No. 12 Michigan on Thursday night. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on BTN.
INDIANA MBB
INDIANA BASKETBALL GAME NOTES – GAME 26 AT RV/RV NORTHWESTERN
Opening Tip
• Indiana University concludes a brief two-game road swing in its 123rd season of competition in men’s basketball at Northwestern at 9 p.m. ET on Feb. 15 at the Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game will be broadcast on BTN.
• Northwestern, led by 10th-year head coach Chris Collins, enter the game with a 18-7 record and an 9-5 mark in B1G play. Northwestern has earned victories in three-straight games, including an upset win over No. 1/1 Purdue (64-58) on Feb. 12. The Wildcats are aiming to reach the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history.
Game Information
Feb. 15, 2023 • 9 p.m. ET
Welsh-Ryan Arena (7,039) • Evanston, Ill.
TV: BTN (Kevin Kugler, Robbie Hummel)
Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)
Series History: Indiana leads, 120-54
Last Meeting: NW 84, IU 83 on Jan. 8, 2023 in Bloomington
Series History
• Indiana leads the all-time series against Northwestern, 120-54, but are just 5-5 against the Wildcats in the last 10 meetings. IU’s longest win streak in the series came in the form of 26-straight triumphs from Feb. 11, 1988 to Jan. 15, 2003.
• Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino tallied a career-best 33 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the floor and 5-of-7 attempts from the 3-point line against Northwestern in an 84-83 loss against Northwestern on Jan. 8.
• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis registered 18 points, a career-high 24 rebounds, eight assists, and four blocks against the Wildcats. He became the first Big Ten player to post a game with at least 15 points, 20 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in a league game since Jordan Murphy (Minnesota, Jan. 19, 2019).
• Indiana turned the ball over 16 times in the loss, the third-most giveaways for the season. Northwestern turned the extra possessions into 25 points.
• In six career games against the Wildcats, head coach Mike Woodson averaged 20.3 points. He scored in double figures in all 60 games played against Big Ten Conference opponents in his storied Hoosier career.
Last Time Out
• Indiana overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Michigan by a score of 62-61 at the Crisler Center on Feb. 11. The victory marked the first for IU in Ann Arbor since Feb. 2, 2016.
• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis led the Hoosiers with 28 points and 11 rebounds, his 45th career double-double. He also dished out three assists and blocked a pair of shots.
• Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino overcame early foul trouble to post 21 points, four rebounds, and five assists.
• The duo scored or assisted on the first 16 Indiana made field goals against the Wolverines.
• Michigan made just one of their final 10 shot attempts from the field and did not score a point for the final 5:12 of the game. The Hoosiers found a stop on eight-straight possessions to close out the Wolverines.
Jackson-Davis, The All-American
• Since the calendar flipped to 2023, senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis has averaged 23.3 points, 13.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.3 blocks per game. His rebounding figure marks the highest tally in the NCAA during the 12-game stretch.
• 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.
• Jackson-Davis made 111-of-207 (53.6%) of his shots from the floor and 58-of-84 (69.0%) of his free throw attempts in the first 12 games of the new year.
• 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.
Rise of the Fino
• After hitting double figures in the scoring column just twice in his first six collegiate games, freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino scored 10-plus points in his next nine games.
• Since returning to the Indiana lineup against Kansas on Dec. 17, Hood-Schifino is averaging 14.4 points, 4.3 assists, and 1.0 steals on 43.8% shooting from the floor and 41.8% shooting from the 3-point line. He has 11 double-digit scoring outputs during that stretch, including four games exceeding the 20-point threshold.
• Hood-Schifino scored a career-best 33 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the floor and 5-of-7 shooting from the 3-point line against Northwestern on Jan. 8, the highest point total by a Hoosier freshman since Eric Gordon scored 33 against Chattanooga on Nov. 12, 2007.
• JHS ranks third among all freshmen in the Big Ten in scoring (12.6 points per game), second in assists (4.2), fifth in rebounds (3.9), and fifth in made 3-pointers per game (1.3). He is second in the league averaging a combined 20.7 points, rebounds, and assists per game.
Miller Time
• Fifth-year senior forward Miller Kopp has knocked down a team-best 45 3-pointers this season. He is hitting the long ball at a 45.5% clip (45-of-99), the second-highest percentage on the team (min. 20 attempts).
• In the two games against Rutgers this season, Kopp averaged 19.5 points and hit 60.0% (9-of-15) of his shots from behind the arc. The two games mark his two highest scoring outputs of his season.
• Kopp transferred to Indiana before the 2021-22 season after playing three seasons with Northwestern. While with the Wildcats, Kopp averaged 9.6 points on 122-of-339 (36.0%) from the 3-point line in 87 career games (74 starts).
Double Double, Double Double (CAREER)
Trayce Jackson-Davis: 45; last at Michigan, 2/11/23
Race Thompson: 9; last vs. Elon, 12/20/22
Xavier Johnson: 4; last vs. Arizona, 12/10/22
Jordan Geronimo: 2; last vs. Wisconsin, 1/14/23
Twenty Piece (CAREER)
Trayce Jackson-Davis: 42; last at Michigan, 2/11/23
Xavier Johnson: 15; last vs. North Carolina, 11/30/22
Miller Kopp: 10; last at Rutgers, 12/3/22
Jalen Hood-Schifino: 4; last at Michigan, 2/11/23
Race Thompson: 2; last vs. Little Rock, 11/23/22
Tamar Bates: 1; vs. Jackson State, 11/25/22
Trey Galloway: 1; vs. Nebraska, 12/7/22
TJD, The Big Fundamental, and The Diesel
• In the last 30 seasons of Division I men’s college basketball, only senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis and NBA Hall of Famer Tim Duncan have averaged at least 19.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game.
• Over the last 25 years of basketball only Jackson-Davis, 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.
Chasing History
• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis currently sits sixth all-time at IU in scoring (2,004), third in rebounds (1,035), and holds the school record for blocked shots (242). He joins Alan Henderson as the only Hoosiers to be top-10 all-time in career scoring, rebounding, and blocks.
Up Next: Career Scoring Leaders
1. Calbert Cheaney (2,613)
2. Steve Alford (2,438)
3. Don Schlundt (2,192)
4. A.J. Guyton (2,100)
5. Mike Woodson (2,061)
6. Trayce Jackson-Davis (2,032)
Up Next: Career Rebounding Leaders
1. Alan Henderson (1,091)
2. Walt Bellamy (1,087)
3. Trayce Jackson-Davis (1,046)
Up Next: Career Double-Doubles
1. Walt Bellamy (59)
2. Archie Dees (56)
3. Alan Henderson (49)
4. Trayce Jackson-Davis (45)
• TJD is the fifth player in Big Ten history to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, joining Joe Barry Carroll (Purdue), Ethan Happ (Wisconsin), Greg Kelser (Michigan State), and Herb Williams (Ohio State).
• The Center Grove product is the only active men’s Division I player to tally at least 2,000 career points, 1,000 career rebounds, and 225 career blocks. In the last 25 seasons, only nine players have achieved those numbers in college basketball. Only Kyle Hines (UNCG) produced those numbers on a higher career scoring average.
• Jackson-Davis is one of two high-major players (Zach Edey; Purdue) to average at least 20.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game this season.
PURDUE MGOLF
PURDUE GOES LOW TO TAKE 16-SHOT LEAD INTO FINAL ROUND
NEW ORLEANS – The second round of a 54-hole event is usually known as “Moving Day,” but Purdue Women’s Golf remained in the same spot it started Monday. Holding a seven-shot lead, the Boilermakers went low at English Turn Golf & Country Club with a second-round 285 (-3) to increase its cushion to 16 strokes heading into the final round of the Tulane Classic.
Not only did Purdue produce the only under-par team round of the day, but the Boilermakers shaved 14 shots off their opening round. Danielle du Toit led the way with a 3-under 69, her third round in the 60s this season, to vault into third on the individual leaderboard. Momo Sugiyama bounced back to her normal strong play, firing a 70 (-2) to sneak into the top five, while Ashley Kozlowski’s even-par 72 kept her at 1-under for the tournament and only two strokes back of Chattanooga’s Kera Healey. Kan Bunnabodee added a 74 (+2) to contribute to the team score.
Du Toit drained an 8-footer on the par-5 sixth for her first birdie of the day, sparking her round. She made the turn at level par, and despite bogeying the 10th hole, the senior caught fire on the back nine. Du Toit birdied four of her final seven holes, including both par 3s on the side to shoot the Boilermakers’ low round of the day.
Sugiyama recorded three birdies on the front nine before making the turn at 2-under. She could not find a birdie on the back, but she did not make a bogey either. With 10 straight pars to end her round, Sugiyama posted a 70 for a seven-stroke improvement from her opening 18.
After being the only golfer in the field to sneak into red figures on Sunday, Kozlowski racked up four birdies over a five-hole stretch on the front, moving to 4-under for the tournament and growing her individual lead. While she ran into a little trouble over three holes on the back, she birdied No. 15 to get herself back to even par for the day. The 72 allowed her to remain 1-under through 36 holes and within striking distance for medalist honors heading into the final round.
Bunnabodee began her day with a birdie before adding another at No. 3. Her third birdie of the round came on the par-5 11th, and the senior battled the par-72 course before settling for a 74.
The Boilermakers (+8) find themselves 18 holes from capturing the Tulane Classic to kick off the spring season. The host Green Wave (+24) and Incarnate Word (+28) join Purdue in the final groups, starting at 10:20 a.m. ET Tuesday morning.
For updates throughout the remainder of the tournament, follow Purdue Women’s Golf on Twitter @PurdueWGolf.
BOILERMAKERS
2. Ashley Kozlowski: 71-72—143 (-1)
3. Danielle du Toit: 76-69—145 (+1)
T5. Momo Sugiyama: 77-70—147 (+3)
T7. Kan Bunnabodee: 75-74—149 (+5)
T59. Nitisha Manikandesh: 81-78—159 (+15)
*T16. Jade Gu: 76-75—151 (+7)
*Competing as an individual
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Purdue: 299-285—584 (+8)
2. Tulane: 309-291—600 (+24)
3. Incarnate Word: 313-291—604 (+28)
4. UTEP: 306-301—607 (+31)
5. Southern Miss: 310-299—609 (+33)
6. Central Arkansas: 311-300—611 (+35)
7. Iowa: 315-299—614 (+38)
8. Memphis: 310-306—616 (+40)
9. Rutgers: 320-297—617 (+41)
T10. Boston College: 316-303—619 (+43)
T10. Cal Poly: 317-302—619 (+43)
12. Chattanooga: 323-302—625 (+49)
T13. Arkansas State: 325-302—627 (+51)
T13. Howard: 313-314—627 (+51)
15. Missouri State: 328-300—628 (+52)
16. South Dakota: 315-315—630 (+54)
17. Charleston Southern: 325-310—635 (+59)
18. Wichita State: 319-321—640 (+64)
BUTLER MGOLF
BUTLERUGOLF IN THE HUNT ENTERING FINAL ROUND OF UNC GREENSBORO COLLEGIATE
The Bulldogs stayed in contention at the Advance Golf Partners Invitational, finishing Monday’s second round in a tie for second as a team, just three shots off the pace.
The tournament is being played at the Hammock Creek Golf Club in Palm City, Fla. The 54-hole event concludes Tuesday with a final 18.
In Monday’s second round, the Bulldogs carded a four-over 292, which was four shots behind Sunday’s even-par performance that gave Butler the 18-hole lead. The Bulldogs are still among the event’s leaders, standing in a tie for second with Drexel just behind host UNC-Greensboro. UNCG and Drexel both went under par Monday to climb the leaderboard. UNCG is at one-over 577, followed by Butler and Drexel (580).
There are 19 teams in the field, including several BIG EAST teams in DePaul (fourth, 589), Creighton (tied for fifth, 592), UConn (11th, 598), and Villanova (tied for 15th, 607).
Damon Dickey and Daniel Tanaka had their strong play from Sunday’s opening round carry over into Monday.
Tanaka had five birdies on the front nine – and six overall – to card a one-under 71. Combined with his 72 from Sunday, he is part of a group that is tied for fourth at 143 (-1). Among that group is Dickey, who followed up his Sunday 70 with a three-over 73. He was two-under on the back nine in the second round.
Raymond Sullivan matched Tanaka’s 71 Monday with a round that also featured six birdies. Sullivan is tied for 26th at 148 (+4). He shot 77 Sunday in the first round.
Connor McNeely shot a five-over 77 Monday after a level-par 72 in the opening round. He is tied for 32nd at 149 (+5). Derek Tabor is at eight-over 152 and tied for 54th. He shot 78 Monday.
Leo Zurovac (153, tied for 62nd) and Will Horne (157, tied for 91st) are playing as individuals.
Drexel’s Drue Nicholas followed his six-under 66 Sunday with a 68 Monday. Nicholas is at 134 (-10). He holds a one-shot lead over Nick Lyerly, who shot an eight-under 64.
Live scoring is available via GolfStat with a link on ButlerSports.com.
BUTLER MBB
BUTLER AND VILLANOVA SET TO MEET TUESDAY NIGHT IN PHILLY
The Bulldogs have won two straight games, including a Friday night win over No. 13 Xavier, to level their season mark at 13-13. Butler returns to the road for a Tuesday match-up at Villanova. Butler defeated Villanova, 79-71, Jan. 13 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs, playing without Manny Bates, shot 57 percent from the field and went 18-for-21 from the free throw line.
Butler (13-13, 5-10 BIG EAST) at Villanova (12-13, 6-8)
Tuesday, Feb. 14; 8PM
Finneran Pavilion; Villanova, Pa.
TV: CBS Sports Network – Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas & AJ Ross
Radio: 1430AM – @MarkMinner & Nick Gardner (@n_gardner)
Varsity Network Radio App, SiriusXM 381, SXM App 971
Bulldogs vs. Villanova
• The teams first met in the 1996 Puerto Rico Shootout; current Director of Athletics Barry Collier was Butler’s head coach at the time.
• The remainder of the match-ups have come since Butler joined the BIG EAST prior to the 2013-14 season.
• Butler is 1-8 against Villanova in Philadelphia with that win coming Feb. 22, 2017 (74-66). At that point, Butler was the only BIG EAST team to have beaten Villanova at the Finneran Pavilion since the BIG EAST reconfigured prior to the 2013-14 season. The next BIG EAST team to defeat Villanova “on campus” was Marquette Jan. 19, 2022.
Series: Villanova Leads, 15-6
Streak: Butler, W1
In Philadelphia: Villanova Leads, 8-1
First Meeting: VU, 62-54; 11/30/96
Last Meeting: BU, 79-71; 1/13/23
• Jayden Taylor averaged 19.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in Butler’s 2-0 week to earn BIG EAST Player of the Week honors as announced by the conference office Monday morning; it is the first weekly honor of Taylor’s career.
• Taylor has scored at least 19 points in each of his last three games; his 20 points vs. Xavier Friday night was his third 20-point game of the season and fourth of his career.
• Only three BIG EAST teams are on a winning streak of at least two games; Creighton has won eight in a row, while Tuesday’s match-up features the other two teams. Butler and Villanova have each won two straight.
• According to KenPom, Butler has played the nation’s 15th-toughest schedule so far this season.
• Bates had 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting Friday night vs. Xavier. It marked his highest scoring output in a BIG EAST game this season.
• Bates tied a season-high with five blocks against Xavier. Jalen Thomas added three swats. Butler had nine blocks as a team, tying their second-most in a game this season.
• Butler is 35th nationally, averaging 4.6 blocks per game.
• Butler limited Xavier to 67 points Friday, matching the second-lowest output of the season for the (then) No. 13 Musketeers. Butler held (then) No. 14 Marquette to only 60 points Feb. 4, which was the Golden Eagles’ second-lowest output of the season.
• Butler had 19 assists on 23 made field goals in the Bulldogs’ win over St. John’s Tuesday.
• Tuesday’s win over St. John’s included overcoming a seven-point halftime deficit. It was the first time this season that Butler won when trailing at the half and the Bulldogs’ first win of the season when the opponent registered a better field goal percentage than Butler. Butler is 12-0 this season when leading at halftime.
• After committing 22 turnovers in the Jan. 10 loss at St. John’s, Butler only had 11 turnovers against the Red Storm in Tuesday’s win.
• Butler has been without junior guard Chuck Harris for the last three games after he sustained a concussion in the Jan. 28 game against Seton Hall.
• Butler is committing only 13.1 fouls per game, which is third nationally.
• Butler is 11-0 this season when scoring 70 or more points.
• Butler has shot 40 percent or better from behind the arc 11 times this season.
• Butler has 11 games so far this season shooting 50 percent or better from the field; eight of those have come at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler has won all 11 of those games.
• In the team’s 12 games away from home, Taylor is averaging a team-best 14.4 points per game.
• Lukosius, Harris, Manny Bates and Taylor have each led the Bulldogs in scoring in at least five games this season (includes ties).
• Bates has 47 blocks this season, which already places him in seventh on Butler’s single-season list.
• Butler is 11-2 this season when Eric Hunter Jr. scores in double figures.
• Lukosius is fourth in the BIG EAST in three-point shooting at 41.9 percent on the season.
• In BIG EAST games, Butler is committing only 11.8 turnovers per game, which is third among league schools.
• Among active coaches with at least 10 seasons of NCAA Division I experience, Matta’s .730 winning percentage ranks fourth (Few, Self, Calipari). The Jan. 13 win over Villanova was Win No. 450 for Matta.
ALSO:
JAYDEN TAYLOR NAMED BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
After leading the Bulldogs to a pair of victories, sophomore Jayden Taylor has been selected as the BIG EAST Player of the Week. The conference office made the announcement Monday, Feb. 13.
This is the first BIG EAST weekly honor of Taylor’s career.
Taylor averaged 19.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in the team’s two victories. In Butler’s win over No. 13 Xavier Friday at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Taylor had 20 points and six rebounds, while going 9-for-11 from the free throw line in playing all 40 minutes. He had 19 points in Tuesday’s win over St. John’s.
The Bulldogs return to action Tuesday at Villanova. The 8 p.m. tip will air on CBS Sports Network.
BUTLER BASEBALL
2023 @BUTLERUBASEBALL PREVIEW: PITCHERS / CATCHERS
INDIANAPOLIS – The 2023 Butler pitching staff features a revamped rotation and bullpen under new head coach Blake Beemer.
“The nice part about our pitching staff is that we have experienced options. In all, we have 19 different arms ready for the 2023 season,” Beemer said.
“The game starts on the bump, and I think we have a hungry group. They have a sour taste in their mouth from the results they had last year, but that has not dictated how they have gone about their work in getting ready for this season.”
Weekend Rotation
The starting rotation for the Bulldogs is still up in the air. While Alex Voss has solidified himself as one of the weekend starters, there is still a battle between Cory Bosecker, Aaron Barokas, Nick Miketinac, and Jon Vore for the last two spots.
Voss is returning for his fifth season in a Bulldog uniform. The right-handed pitcher will look to make his first start since 2021 after holding a 5.14 ERA as a long-reliever in 16 appearances last season.
In his 2022 junior season, Bosecker was a weekend starter leading the team with 14 starts on the mound. The southpaw struck out a team-high 69 batters ranking seventh in the BIG EAST while only walking 25 batters.
Barokas is a senior transfer from Bellevue University. In his first year in a Bulldog uniform, he struck out 58 batters and ended the 2022 season with a 2-4 record.
After missing all of last season due to injury, Miketinac hopes to fight for the last spot. During his 2021 season, the right-hander threw 7.1 innings and struck out five batters.
Vore held a record of 3-2 in 16 appearances last season. He threw 26 strikeouts over 35.2 innings pitched and a season-high 75 pitches in his first start of the season at Murray State (2/20) in Murray, KY.
“We also are not dead-set on how this battle will play out,” Beemer said. “People tend to gravitate towards what is normal and in college baseball, it is normal to name three-weekend starters and let them go, but we are not married to that idea. When you have 19 different arms, you have the ability to do some things differently.”
Bullpen
The Bulldog bullpen will include Luke Zmolik, Spencer Seigworth, Clay Holzworth, Cole Graverson, and Ben Whiteside.
Zmolik had a shortened opportunity last season pitching only three innings, but Beemer believes he could be in for a larger role this season.
“He might be a guy that we throw out there to open a game up,” Beemer said. “He could set the tone for one or two innings, and then maybe he passes the ball on to a more traditional starter to go four or five innings from there.”
There are also a few young guns looking to make an impact in their first collegiate season on the mound, including Cooper Robinson, Grant Brooks, Shane Kilfoyle, and Gabe Pancratz.
“We are not opposed to being creative and we are not trying to hide anything,” Beemer said. “We just want to put our team in the best position to win games.”
Closers
On the back end of the bullpen, Lukas Galdoni, Dawson Taylor, and Cade Thune could be in for Beemer’s unique approach to the closer role.
Galdoni earned three saves in 2022 over 38 innings pitched. The right-hander threw 25 strikeouts with only 11 walks.
The only other active Butler pitcher who earned a save last season was Taylor after earning one against Jackson State (2/26). He also racked-up 13 strikeouts compared to just seven walks in 15 appearances.
Thune is a transfer from Kalamazoo College who struck out 49 batters and earned two saves with a 5.63 ERA last season.
“If you have a lead in the seventh, eighth, ninth, we would feel good about passing the ball off to one of those three. Give them each an inning and try to shorten games.”
Catchers
Butler returns two veterans behind the plate this year in seniors Garret Gray and Kollyn All. The Bulldogs will also have two younger options in the mix with sophomore Cade Vota and freshman Keegan Connors pushing for playing time.
All played 47 games for Butler last year primarily at catcher. He ranked third on the team with a .262 batting average in 2022. Over 47 games, All generated 44 hits, 28 RBI’s and 26 runs.
Gray made 23 starts last season, splitting time at catcher and first base. He hit .309 by recording 25 hits in 81 at-bats.
“Gray hit the ball well last year, so his bat has never been in question,” Head Coach Blake Beemer stated. “He really emerged as a vocal leader for us this fall and that’s exactly what you need from your catcher.”
With All away from the team in the fall, Vota was able to step up and share more reps alongside Gray. Vota played in eight games last season, making one start. He held a .250 batting average at the plate in his limited time.
“Vota did a great job receiving the ball this fall and showed the ability to block pitches and work at a high level,” Beemer added.
Connors was added to the program after hitting .407 as a senior in high school. He helped Harry Jacobs High School win a 4A Regional Championship before arriving on campus.
“Connors is another young man that gives us competition behind the plate,” Beemer stated. “He is twitchy and a great base runner. We are really happy that we gave him a spot and he has been fun to have around the team.”
Overall, Beemer loves the versatility and depth he has behind the plate.
“The fun part as a coach is that All is a right-handed hitter while Gray and Vota are left,” Beemer explained. It gives us some real options in how to formulate the lineup. That being said, we will play matchups and we don’t have to have one guy bear the brunt of the load.”
BUTLER FB
SEAN CHASE JOINS @BUTLERUFOOTBALL AS AN ASSISTANT COACH
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler Football Head Coach Mike Uremovich added Sean Chase to the coaching staff over the weekend. Chase will coach tight ends and running backs for the Bulldogs in 2023. Prior to arriving on campus, Chase coached at Culver-Stockton College and Northern Illinois.
Chase graduated from Northern Illinois in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Arts in Rhetoric and Public Communication. During his time there, he served as the head student equipment manager. After graduation, he stayed with the Huskies program for two years serving as a graduate assistant working with the offensive line.
In 2018, Chase took on a new role as offensive line coach at Culver-Stockton College, a NAIA program located in Canton, Missouri. During his time at Culver-Stockton, he was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2021 and then to associate head coach in 2022.
In 2019, Chase coached four All-Conference offensive lineman (two second-team and two first-team) and the freshman offensive conference player of the year. As the offensive coordinator he helped the Wildcats post an 8-3 record in 2021—a school record for wins in a season. He also coached Andrew Rupcich, helping him earn an NFL contract as a free agent with the Tennessee Titans. Most recently, 2022 saw Chase serve as interim head coach for one game, leading the Wildcats to a 49-21 win.
“We are very excited to welcome Sean and his wife Michelle to the Butler family,” Uremovich stated. “Sean has been a part of winning programs at multiple levels of college football. He has coached in national playoff games and bowl games. He has coordinated a highly successful offense at the college level and been a part rebuilding two other programs. Sean cares about the student-athletes and will help develop the men in our program both on and off the field.”
BALL STATE WBB
WBB’S ANNA CLEPHANE NAMED MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Ball State women’s basketball redshirt senior Anna Clephane has earned Mid-American Conference Player of the Week honors.
Clephane put on quite the show last week in Mid-American Conference action, helping Ball State defeat Eastern Michigan (68-50) and Akron (61-56) on the road. Her week was highlighted after tying her career high in points with a 26-point performance at Akron Saturday.
She began the week scoring 23 points against the Eagles while also having a career best in rebounds with 10 for her first double-double of her career. Clephane then mimicked that performance against the Zips with 26 points. She had timely baskets against both Eastern Michigan and Akron but especially on Saturday as she hit two crucial free throws with seconds remaining to help Ball State move past Akron.
For the week, Clephane averaged 24.5 points per game and 7.5 rebounds. She also shot a staggering 78 percent (15-19) from the charity stripe. Clephane helped Ball State remain atop of the MAC standings with an 11-1 league mark, while also extending BSU’s win streak to nine.
The Ball State women’s basketball team returns home Wednesday when it hosts Ohio at 6:30 pm ET in Worthen Arena. It will also be Ball State’s annual “Think Pink” game where fans are encouraged to wear pink for breast cancer awareness.
BALL STATE MBB
BALL STATE HOSTS NORTHERN ILLINOIS ON TUESDAY
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men’s basketball team is back inside Worthen Arena for a game against Northern Illinois on Tuesday, Feb. 14. The Cardinals (18-7, 9-3 MAC) and Huskies (11-14, 7-5 MAC) are slated for a 7 p.m. tip. Tuesday’s game is sponsored by ScreenBroidery.
BSU students, be among the first 500 in The Nest and receive a free hot dog, a slice of pizza, a fountain drink, or a beer. Arrive early, cheer loud, and enjoy responsibly.
During Tuesday’s game, one lucky couple will receive a $100 gift card to the 1925 PubHouse and one night at the Courtyard by Marriott Muncie.
Head Coach Michael Lewis is the first, first-year head coach to produce a seven-game winning streak. Ball State started 16-7 overall, which is the best start since the 1999-2000 season. The 17-7 record is the best start since the Cardinals started 1997-98 with a 21-7 record. He is the second coach in BSU history to win the regular season opener and the MAC opener in their first season as a head coach. He joins Rick Majerus in achieving the feat.
Last Time Out
Ball State is coming off a 93-72 victory against Bowling Green. Payton Sparks produced a team-high 18 points for his 18th game in double figures on the year. He finished 8-of-11 from the field. He led the team with eight rebounds and added three assists. Jaylin Sellers was a perfect 5-for-5 from 3-point range and tallied 17 points, his 17th contest with double figures. Sellers led the team with two blocks to go along with two assists and two rebounds. Jarron Coleman posted a 13-point effort, his 21st game of the season in double figures. He brought down seven rebounds with four assists and a steal. Kaiyem Cleary recorded his second game in double figures with 12. He chipped in with six rebounds and one block. Mickey Pearson Jr. collected 11 points, six rebounds, and one assist. Luke Bumbalough led the team with eight assists to go along with eight points.
Boogie on Down
Jarron Coleman is averaging a team-high 14.8 points per game. He leads the team with 61 made 3-pointers and is shooting 37.7 percent from behind the arc. He leads the team with 87 assists and leads the squad in steals with 37. Coleman has added 10 blocks. He has compiled five games of 20 or more points. Earlier this season, Coleman recorded his 1,000th career point.
Sensational Sellers
Sellers is second on the team with 13.3 points per game. He is shooting 51.2 percent from 3-point range, which leads the team. He is averaging 3.8 rebounds per game. He has produced a field-goal percentage of 50.7 on the season. Sellers has collected 22 assists, 16 steals, and 14 blocks. He has notched four games with 20 or more points for the season.
Spark Plug
Sparks leads the team with 8.2 rebounds per game, which is tied for 71st in the country and fourth in the conference. His 3.12 offensive rebounds per contest have him tied for 37th in the nation and third in the MAC. He is third on the team averaging 12.6 points per game. He is shooting 61.3 percent from the field, which leads the team. He has seven double-doubles on the season, which is tied for 62nd in the country and is third in the MAC. He is third on the team with 49 assists, second on the team with 23 blocks, and has added 12 steals.
Spreading the Love
The Cardinals have four players averaging double-digit points. Demarius Jacobs rounds out the double-digit scorers with 11.8 points a contest. He has a team-high 35 blocks, which is tied for 78th in the NCAA and most in the MAC. His 1.40 blocks per contest is tied for 80th in the nation and first in the conference. He second on the team in assists with 83 and is second on the team in steals with 34. He is averaging 3.8 boards per contest. Pearson is second on the squad with 5.4 rebounds per contest and is averaging 7.6 points a game. Pearson is shooting 51.2 percent from the field.
Taking Advantage at the Free-Throw Line
As a team, the Cardinals are averaging 24.8 free throws per game, which is third in the NCAA and leads the MAC. Ball State is averaging 16.5 free-throws made per contest, which is tied for 15th in the nation and leads the conference. Sparks is tied for seventh in the nation with 184 free-throw attempts, which is second in the MAC.
Effective Shooting
The Cardinals are currently shooting 47.5 percent from the field, which is tied for 39th in the NCAA and is second in the MAC. Ball State has been effective from behind the arc with a combined 37.9 percent from 3-point range, which is tied for 20th in the country and tied for the best in the MAC.
Series History with the Huskies
The Cardinals and Huskies will meet for the 101st time on Tuesday. Ball State holds a 60-40 advantage in the series. BSU won the last meeting, 87-69, in DeKalb earlier this season on Jan. 28. The Cardinals are 35-31 against NIU in Muncie and are 17-9 inside Worthen Arena. Ball State has won six of the last seven meetings.
Scouting Northern Illinois
In the matchup earlier this season, David Coit led the Huskies with 20 points and added four assists with two rebounds. Kaleb Thornton recorded 18 points, five rebounds, a team-high five assists, and one steal. Anthony Crump finished in double digits with 12 points and led the team with seven rebounds. Keshawn Williams leads NIU with 17.9 points per game but has not played since Jan. 7. Coit is averaging 15.7 points per game. He is second on the team with 67 assists and in steals with 34. He is averaging 2.8 boards a game. Zarique Nutter has a team-high 5.0 rebounds per game. He rounds out the double-digit scorers with 11.7 a contest. He has added 18 assists, 16 steals, and five blocks. Kaleb Thornton paces the Huskies with 112 assists and 40 steals. He is averaging 8.2 points per contest and 2.6 rebounds a game. Oluwasegun Durosinmi leads the team with 21 blocks.
NOTRE DAME SWIMMING
IRISH HEAD TO GREENSBORO FOR ACC CHAMPIONSHIP MEET
GREENSBORO, N.C. — It’s time for everything to come together.
The Notre Dame men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams head south this week to North Carolina for the 2023 ACC Swimming and Diving Championships, which will be held at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. The meet begins on Tuesday and will continue through Saturday evening. Live video coverage of both prelims and finals on both days can be streamed via ACC Network Extra.
Full Schedule:
Tuesday: 10 a.m. diving prelims, 5:30 p.m. finals
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. prelims, 5:30 p.m. finals
Thursday: 9:30 a.m. prelims, 5:30 p.m. finals
Friday: 9:30 a.m. prelims, 5:30 p.m. finals
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. prelims, 2:45 p.m. mile heats, 6 p.m. finals
A complete list of the events can be found here. Live results can be found here.
Peterson Family Head Coach Chris Lindauer will be coaching his first ACCs as the head of the team, and he has several swimmers who could end up on the podium this week.
On the women’s side, senior Coleen Gillilan is poised to final in multiple events. The school record holder in both the 100 and 200 butterfly, the Colorado native has been Notre Dame’s most consistent scorer this year. Her 51.73 100 butterfly from the Tim Welsh Classic is the seventh-fastest time in the event this year in the ACC, and a 1:55.54 200 butterfly from the Ohio State meet in November ranks sixth.
Senior Jack Hoagland makes his return to the conference stage after missing last year, and he is one of the favorites to win the 400 IM. Hoagland’s time from Notre Dame’s meet against Navy and Princeton this year (3:43.06) is the fastest anyone has gone in the conference this season by more than a second.
Sophomore and school record holder Chris Guiliano ranks in the top 10 in the ACC in multiple events this year; he is sixth in the 50 freestyle (19.30) and third in the 100 freestyle (42.32). The latter time, which he went at the Tim Welsh Classic in January, lowered his school record set last year (42.34).
Finally, freshman Tommy Janton has the third-best time in the ACC this year in the 200 backstroke (1:41.08). He is seventh in the 100 (46.50).
In the diving well, Mark Bradshaw’s squad has posted some impressive performances so far this year.
Freshman Daniel Knapp has been a particular bright spot. He won three individual events (two against Navy and Princeton, one against Louisville), and he took sixth overall at November’s Texas Diving Invitational. The Arizona native also competed at the 2022 USA Diving Winter National Championships in West Virginia, finishing 17th overall against future Olympians and other top American talent.
On the women’s side, sophomore Calie Brady looks to improve upon last year’s postseason. She made the NCAA Championships, but she struggled a bit down the stretch. She is coming off of her best performance of the year at the Tim Welsh Classic. Brady won the 1-meter event (314.55) and took second in the 3-meter (347.95).
NOTRE DAME WGOLF
IRISH TAKE FIFTH AT COLUMBIA CLASSIC
MELBOURNE, Fl. – The Notre Dame women’s golf team finished in fifth place at the Columbia Classic at the Duran Golf Club, hosted by Columbia University and Moon Golf. Notre Dame shot 589 (+13).
“It was a very solid first tournament of our spring season and I am happy with how our team competed in the windy conditions. Chloe and Montgomery were so steady and were really locked in all weekend. We have a few things to continue to work on but each player continues to get better and we are proud of the progress that we are making as a team,” said Head Coach Caroline Powers-Ellis.
The first day of the tournament featured the Irish tied for fourth place out of fourteen teams. Duran Golf Club is “located near the Atlantic Ocean, the coastal breezes can add great variety and toughness to the game here,” which it did. Despite the windy conditions throughout the day Chloe Schiavone and Montgomery Ferreira led the team with even par rounds (72).
Lauren Beaudreau wasn’t far behind as she finished the first round with a 74. Madelyn Jones finished the first day with a 77, Caroline Curtis 80, and Caroline Wrigley finished 83.
Round two of the tournament saw the Irish hold strong and maintain their top five finish. Ferreira and Schiavone again finished with even par rounds (72) to land them both in sixth place with a 144. Beaudreau finished +4 after shooting a 74-76 for a 150. Jones finished the tournament shooting 77-76 for a 153, while teammate Wrigley was right behind her shooting a 157 (83-74). Curtis finished with a 161 (80-81) on the weekend.
NOTRE DAME MBB
GAME 26 PREVIEW: IRISH VISIT CAMERON INDOOR ON V-DAY
DURHAM, N.C. – At the spry age of 28, Mike Brey took an assistant coaching job at Duke which jumpstarted a career that led to the shadow of the Golden Dome here on Notre Dame’s campus. On Tuesday, Feb. 14, the Glenn & Stacey Murphy Head Coach will have a full circle moment when he takes his Fighting Irish (10-15, 2-12) into Duke (17-8, 8-6) for a 7 p.m. ET showdown on ESPN.
BREY VS DUKE
Irish are 8-28 all-time against the Blue Devils but own a fair better mark in the Brey Era with a 6-10 record. In fact, the last time the Irish visited Cameron Indoor, they walked out with a 93-89 victory. Important to note that this occurred back on Feb. 9, 2021, with no fans in the building. Regardless, it marked their first win there since 2016. If Notre Dame were to win on Tuesday, it would mark the first time in the series they have won two straight in Durham.
There was one player in particular that played well the last time the Irish were in Durham – Cormac Ryan. The guard out of New York City scored 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting, which included four threes.
Brey on coming back to Durham one last time:
“That decision, that Mike hired me as a high school coach (36) years ago, it opened up everything for me,” said Brey, who was 28 years old when he arrived at Duke. “The move that I made to Durham set me up for the rest of my career.
“Anytime we were able to beat them, especially when Mike was there, it gave our program great credibility,” he said. “To win one in there when the place was rocking was unbelievable. That’s one of the greats. You talk about the things you remember in your career here, that was awesome.”
TAKEAWAYS FROM VT GAME
Can’t deny that the offense was clicking due to a combined 50-point effort from Laszewski and Ryan. In fact, the 87 points were the second most points the Irish have scored all season, second to their 88 points against Youngstown State.
Laszewski went off for a career-high 33 points on 12-of-17 shooting, including a 6-for-9 mark from three-point range. He also grabbed a team best eight rebounds. It marked the first Irish 30-point performance since Matt Farrell dropped 37 points at Boston College on Feb. 17, 2018. The 33 points also land him in a tie for 15th place in Brey-Era single-game point totals.
Nate entered the year with six 20-point scoring games and he now has 6 on the season.
With that said, the problem continues to be defensive lapses in the second half. Virginia Tech recorded a stretch in which they made 14-of-16 from the field, pounding the ball down low. They finished with 42 points in the paint.
NATE THRIVING IN PURCELL
Home sweet home is a phrase you hear often because you just tend to play better in the friendly confines of your own arena. And this certainly holds true for Laszewski as of late.
Check this stat out – Over the last 4 home games – 97 points (24.3 ppg), 27 rebounds, 32-of-52 FG, 18-of-31 3PT.
MILESTONE HERE
All it will take is one basket on Tuesday night for Laszewski to secure over 1,500 points in his ND career. He currently ranks 18th all-time in program history and 6th in the Brey-Era in scoring.
Another stat worth noting – Laszewski is already 8 threes away from achieving a new career best for a single season. Plus, he’s 23 threes away from 250 in his career
2 STARTS – 2 GAMES IN DOUBLE FIGURES
Freshman Ven-Allen Lubin has made 2 consecutive starts and has rewarded the Irish for it with 2 games in double figures. He scored a career high 13 points at Georgia Tech, then followed that up with 11 points vs Virginia Tech. So in those 2 starts: 24 points on 11-of-15 shooting, plus 12 rebounds.
One could argue that Lubin could have had even larger numbers in both those games if it weren’t for limited minutes due to foul trouble in both.
THREAT FROM THREE
Notre Dame’s offense may struggle from time to time, but you can’t argue with the team’s three-point shooting ability. The Irish rank 2nd in the ACC in made three-pointers per game and 26th in the country, converting 9.2 per game. They also rank 2nd in three-point shooting percentage (.369). Their 9.2 threes per game would rank 4th all-time in program history – the program record is 9.7 set by the 19-20 squad.
CAREER HIGH STREAK
Cormac Ryan is currently riding a career best six-game double-digit scoring streak. He’s totaled 85 points in that span (14.2 ppg). What’s great to see about this stretch is that he’s done it in different ways: had 2 games in which he made five three-pointers. One game in which he went 6-for-6 from the line. Another in which he made all twos and went 5-for-13.
Ryan is averaging a career best 11.8 ppg. He’s also 1 three-pointer away from 200 in his career.
23 IN ‘23
Goodwin recently ended his best offensive stretch of the season – 10 straight games in double figures from Dec. 27-Jan. 28. He amassed 131 points in that span, averaging 13.1 ppg. It marked the 2nd time of his collegiate career reaching a double-digit scoring streak mark – his career best is 20 from the 21-22 season.
In 2023 (11 games), Goodwin is averaging 11.8 ppg (130 points) – which ranks 2nd on the team behind Laszewski for that time span. He’s also been more active on the glass in 2023 grabbing 73 boards aka 6.6 rpg – that number leads the team.
FEBRUARY GROOVE
Speaking of Goodwin, the man thrives in the month of February. Starting in 2021 (so over last 3 seasons), Goodwin is averaging 12.1 ppg in the month of February. He scored 112 points over 8 games in 2021. Then 81 points in 7 games in 2022. He has 25 through three games in 2023.
NOTRE NOTABLES
The Irish currently rank in the top-10 in two statistical categories. Their highest ranking – 1st in turnovers per game, only surrendering 8.7 per game.
They rank 7th in least amount of fouls per game with 13.6. That has been a Coach Brey staple for awhile. In the last 12 years, Notre Dame has only failed to finish among the top 10 in least amount of personal fouls committed just once. They have also led the country in least amount of personal fouls five times.
Next, they rank 23rd in A/TO Ratio – 1.31, 26th in made threes/game – 9.2 and 29th in FT% – .761.
INDIANA STATE MBB
MCCAULEY RACKS UP SECOND STRAIGHT, THIRD OVERALL MVC NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK HONOR
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Indiana State transfer guard Courvoisier McCauley has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Newcomer of the Week for the second consecutive week and third time overall this season, as announced Monday afternoon by the league.
This marks the second time ever and first time since Manny Arop in 2012 that a Sycamore has earned back-to-back MVC Newcomer of the Week honors, and McCauley joins Brenton Scott and Jake Odum as the only three Sycamores to earn the award three times in one season.
As Indiana State’s leading scorer and rebounder this season, McCauley led the Sycamores to two double-digit victories this week to extend their win streak to five games. He averaged 18 points on the week with a team-high 15 points against Valparaiso alongside six rebounds, three triples, a block, and a steal in the game.
Saturday at Northern Iowa, McCauley paced all scorers in the game with 21 points and a game-high five triples for his eighth 20+-point outing this season. He is one of just seven Valley players with eight or more 20+-point games this year.
McCauley ranks top-five in the league in 3-point percentage, 3-pointers per game, and total 3-pointers made. He currently ranks fourth in program history for threes made in a single season with 83 and is 10 triples away from moving into sole possession of second place on that list.
Up Next
McCauley, a transfer from DePaul, heads to his old stomping grounds of Chicago Wednesday as the Sycamores travel to UIC for an 8 p.m. ET tip against the Flames on ESPN+.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE WBB
VIKINGS TOP ‘DONS IN HORIZON LEAGUE ACTION
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball team dropped a 73-63 decision to the visiting Cleveland State Vikings on Monday (Feb. 13) in the Gates Center.
Despite trailing by double digits for most of Monday’s game, the Mastodons did manage to whittle the Vikings’ lead down to nine points midway through the final period following a 13-2 spurt. Shayla Sellers led the late push with seven points during the run, while Jazzlyn Linbo, Aubrey Stupp and Sylare Starks each added baskets.
An old-fashioned three-point play by Sellers with just over a minute left to play drew the ‘Dons to within eight points. The Vikings knocked in a couple of free throws over the game’s final minute to thwart any further comeback attempt by the ‘Dons.
Cleveland State had won its last six games by an average margin of 29.5 points. The ‘Dons’ 10-point margin was the closest result for the Vikings since their last defeat, which was a 73-69 decision back on January 22 at Northern Kentucky.
Cleveland State was led by Destiny Leo’s 31 points. Leo, the Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year, scored 16 of her 31 points in the opening half. Barbara Zieniewska and Brittni Moore both scored in double figures with 12 points. Amele Ngwafang had 19 rebounds for CSU.
Sellers led Purdue Fort Wayne with 21 points. She also had a pair of blocks and a steal, further solidifying her case for Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year. Amellia Bromenschenkel added 12 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Stupp added 12 points and seven boards.
Purdue Fort Wayne forced Cleveland State into committing 18 turnovers on Monday night. The Mastodons converted those turnovers into 23 points. The ‘Dons matched its season-low with just seven turnovers. The ‘Dons led the points off turnovers battle 23-1.
Cleveland State, who entered today’s contest receiving votes in the latest Associated Press Top 25 Poll, won for the seventh straight game. CSU improved to 24-3, 14-2 Horizon on the season. The Vikings sit atop the Horizon League standings.
Purdue Fort Wayne moved to 10-16 overall and 7-9 Horizon League. The Mastodons are set to return to action on Thursday (Feb. 15) against the Wright State Raiders. Game time against WSU is scheduled for 5 p.m. from the Gates Center and will be a doubleheader with the Mastodon men’s volleyball team, which takes on MIVA foe Ohio State at 8 p.m.
VALPO MGOLF
BEACONS BOUNCE BACK WITH STRONG SECOND DAY AT ADVANCE GOLF PARTNERS
The Valparaiso University men’s golf team climbed nine spots on the team leaderboard with a much-improved performance from a day prior during Monday’s second round of the Advance Golf Partners Collegiate, held at the par-72, 7169-yard Hammock Creek Golf Club in Palm City, Fla. All five players in the lineup boasted better scores than Sunday, with No. 1 golfer Caleb VanArragon (Blaine, Minn. / Blaine) enjoying the most staggering turnaround.
How It Happened
VanArragon trimmed 11 strokes off his opening-round score by carding a 67 (-5) on Monday. He turned the page from a wobbly opening round to vault into a tie for 10th in a 119-player field. He moved up 56 spots with Monday’s performance. He owns a 36-hole score of 145 entering Tuesday’s final round.
Also achieving a massive jump was Sam Booth (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel), who cut nine strokes off his Round-1 score with a 70 (-2) on Monday, joining VanArragon as the two Beacons to go under par. Booth’s 36-hole score of 149 puts him at t-32, 50 spots better than he was following the first round.
Valpo also got big improvement from Yianni Kostouros (Crown Point, Ind. / Crown Point [Ball State]) and Mason Bonn (Sherwood, Ore. / Sherwood), who both bettered their Round-1 showing by five strokes with a 73 on Monday. They sit at t-46 with 18 holes to play.
Valpo made a steep ascension on the team leaderboard, starting the day tied for 17th of 19 before finishing the second round at t-8. The Beacons cut 28 strokes off their Round-1 team score with a 283 for a two-day total of 594.
Valpo could make another big climb on Tuesday as the Beacons are just four shots out of fourth in a tightly-packed cluster. UNCG leads the tournament at 577, while Drexel’s Drue Nicholas is at 134 and has a one-stroke lead in the medalist race.
Inside the Round
VanArragon’s 67 was the second-best score by any golfer in the 119-player field on Monday.
Valpo’s team score of 283 was the second best in the 19-team field in Monday’s round. UNCG, the No. 50 team in the country, was a single stroke better at 282.
This marked the third time in his esteemed career that VanArragon has shot 67 or better in a round. His score on Monday tied for eighth in program history in 18-hole low in terms of overall score.
In relation to par, VanArragon’s minus five also cracked the program record book, tying for eighth. This was his second-best single-round score in relation to par in his career behind only his second round at the Island Resort Intercollegiate on Sept. 4 of this season (-6).
The 18-hole team score of 283 on Monday tied for the 10th best in program history in terms of overall score. In relation to par, the team round of five strokes under is tied for the seventh best in program history.
Valpo leads the tournament field in par-5 scoring at 4.73 and ranks second in par-4 average at 4.15. Par 3s have been a different story, with Valpo second from the bottom at 3.60.
The Beacons have produced 28 birdies, led by VanArragon and Booth with eight apiece.
Thoughts from Head Coach Dave Gring
“The team showed a lot of resolve and determination in today’s second round and I was impressed with the guys quickly turning around a very poor first-round performance into an excellent second-round performance. This was one of the best bounce-back rounds that we have had in a long time and it was important for this to take place this early in our spring season. We still have a lot of rust to kick off and work to be done to get our games to a better point, but today was a great start.”
“The team responded to yesterday’s rounds with better putting, making a total of 24 birdies versus only 11 yesterday. We still had some big scores on particular holes, but it was better than yesterday. Lastly, we improved our Par-3 scoring from a horrible +16 yesterday to a much more tolerable +3 today. The guys were focused on what they needed to improve from yesterday and our shot execution was so much better today.”
“Caleb and Sam led our team with six and five birdies, respectively. Their putting was exemplary, reading the greens well and they both had good speed with their putts. Our Par-5 scoring really improved today and we need to do the same tomorrow to pick up more shots on the field. We still have our work cut out for us tomorrow, but our players are heading into the final round with a lot more confidence in their games.”
Up Next
The tournament will continue on Tuesday with the third and final round of the event. A link to live scoring via GolfStat is available on ValpoAthletics.com.
VALPO BASEBALL
SEASON PREVIEW: BASEBALL SET FOR FIRST PITCH OF 2023 CAMPAIGN
Soon, the pop of the glove and the crack of the bat will cut the air as the Valparaiso University baseball team prepares to make its way to Corpus Christi, Texas to take on Kansas in a three-game, season-opening series that begins on Friday.
As the Beacons get set to travel to the Lone Star State, they do so with an experienced group of position players as 82.7 percent of the team’s hits in 2022 came from players who are back for the 2023 campaign.
“The team is fun to be around this year,” head coach Brian Schmack said. “It’s a bunch of incredible personalities. I want to see them play with a little bit of passion and energy and have fun out there. Sometimes you get bogged down by losing a game or having a bad season, and you let the pressure get to you. I want our guys to play easy and have fun.”
Infield
The infield will be the most experienced group on the diamond with all four starters returning from last season.
Third baseman Kaleb Hannahs (West Terre Haute, Ind. / West Vigo) was named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Defensive Team in 2023 after earning All-MVC Second Team honors the year prior, when he was tabbed a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and was the 2021 MVC Freshman of the Year.
Hannahs will be joined once again on the left side of the infield by fellow junior Alex Thurston (Fowler, Ind. / Benton Central), who finished second on the team in batting average at .301 last season. Thurston made a significant jump after hitting .158 as a rookie in 2021.
After leading the team in hitting and finishing with the program’s highest single-season batting average since 2010 at .365 last year, Nolan Tucker (Cedar Lake, Ind. / Hanover Central) is back to man second base. He was named to the All-MVC First Team, becoming the first Valpo player since 2018 and the second since the team joined the league to earn that distinction. Tucker also garnered Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshman All-American status, an honor that he qualified for despite being in his third season on campus due to the COVID year and a medical redshirt.
Rounding out the around-the-horn group for the Beacons will be first baseman Brady Renfro (Antigo, Wis. / Antigo), who was All-MVC Honorable Mention as a freshman in 2021. Last season, he tied for the team lead in both home runs (seven) and RBIs (27). He hit .319 in MVC play, ranking second on the team in league-only batting average.
“All of our starting infielders had a good fall,” Schmack said. “We’re looking forward to them continuing what they did for us last season, and we hope all of them are able to continue to take that next step.”
Outfield
While there were no preseason competitions for the starting infield roles with returnees at all four spots, the outfield features more of a logjam with five players in the mix.
Kyle Schmack (Wanatah, Ind. / South Central) will start at one of the outfield positions, most likely in left but could see time in any of the three roles. He hit .292 last year and tied for the team lead in both home runs (seven) and RBIs (27) while also notching 10 doubles, a triple and 27 runs scored.
The other outfield spots will feature a combination of Spencer Warfield (Fullerton, Calif. / Servite), Alex Ryan (Lake Mills, Wis. / Lakeside Lutheran), Ryan Maka (Oak Forest, Ill. / Oak Forest) and Matt Olive (Minneapolis, Minn. / Blake School) who returns after missing the majority of last season with an injury.
“We’re confident that all of them can do a good job out there,” Schmack said. “Right now, it’s a matter of trying to find playing time for everybody.”
Catching
After starting 17 games last season, Kade Reinertson (Huxley, Iowa / Ballard Community) will once again factor in behind the dish with transfer Jake Skrine (Longmont, Colo. / Mead [Indiana]) also seeing significant playing time. Skrine will see at-bats at the designated hitter spot as well.
“Catching will be a split between Kade and Skrine,” Schmack said. “Kade has separated himself on the defensive side. We’ll also get Skrine’s bat in there and that allows us to get other players in the DH spot and get Kade some rest.”
Pitching
Gone is Friday starter Colin Fields, who signed with the Detroit Tigers as an undrafted free agent. Gone is Saturday starter Jake Miller, who was drafted by the Tigers in the eighth round. But the cupboard isn’t bare for Schmack’s pitching staff.
“A number of guys will get an opportunity to pitch, so I’m looking forward to that,” Schmack said. “Pitchers will get an opportunity to step up and we will be mixing and matching for each series. Our success will be based on whether or not we can throw the ball over the plate and avoid free bases. Our wins come when we minimize free bases.”
Trent Turzenski (Burlington, Wis. / Burlington) will miss the beginning of the season with the injury that cost him the end of the 2022 campaign, but is expected to return this year and play a key role on the pitching staff when he gets back to full health.
Griffin McCluskey (Normal, Ill. / Normal Community), Connor Lockwood (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville) and Ryan Mintz (Lombard, Ill. / Willowbrook) are pitchers who have started games for Valpo in years past. McCluskey’s 2022 was highlighted by his first collegiate victory coming at Illinois State in his hometown of Normal, while Lockwood turned it around late in the season and posted a 1.80 ERA over his final three regular-season appearances.
“Griffin has been throwing the ball over the plate, changing speeds and keeping hitters off balance,” Schmack said. “Lockwood looks good and both have added pitches. Mintz’s confidence has grown tremendously, which is huge.”
Hurlers who return after logging significant bullpen innings last season include Jacob Rosenkranz (Lincolnshire, Ill. / Stevenson), Nathan Chasey (Ames, Iowa / Gilbert [Indian Hills CC]), Grant Jablonski (Mishawaka, Ind. / Mishawaka), Josh Cottrill (Pewaukee, Wis. / Pewaukee) and Bobby Nowak (Cedar Lake, Ind. / Hanover Central [Kankakee]). Nowak nailed down eight saves last season and ranks in the top 10 on the program’s career saves list after only one year donning the brown and gold. Chasey and Nowak boasted the team’s top two ERAs a year ago.
“Rosenkranz has looked good and we’re excited for him to take the next step,” Schmack said. “Jablonski had a great fall and really stood out. Chasey has been himself. Bobby is peaking at the right time. Cottrill looks confident and is throwing the ball hard. We look forward to seeing these guys have an opportunity to step up.”
U OF I SB
COOK AWARDED FIRST GLVC SOFTBALL WEEKLY HONOR OF THE SEASON
INDIANAPOLIS – UIndy freshman Shelby Cook started her college softball career with a bang, earning the season’s first GLVC Offensive Player of the Week accolades.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Shelby Cook | Fr.
INF | Murphysboro, Ill.
Major: Elementary Education
Team Results: 4-6 L vs. #20 Lincoln Memorial (2/10) | 14-3 W (5) vs. Union (2/10) | 4-1 W vs. Trevecca Nazarene (2/11) | 11-8 W vs. #23 Alabama Huntsville (2/11) | 11-3 W (6) vs. Carson-Newman (2/11) | 11-0 (5) vs. Miles (2/12)
Went 9-for-18 (.500) on the weekend, scoring nine runs and driving in 11
Had two doubles, three triples, and one homer for a slugging percentage of 1.111
Homered in first collegiate plate appearance
Earns first career Player of the Week award
Last Greyhounds’ Player of the Week: Lexy Rees (5/2/2022)
U OF I MLAX
BILLIG SNAGS SECOND GLVC WEEKLY AWARD
INDIANAPOLIS –University of Indianapolis redshirt-senior attacker Drew Billig was voted the GLVC Offensive Player of the Week in men’s lacrosse, it was announced by the league office Monday. It marked the second such accolade for Billig
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Drew Billig, #8 Indianapolis
R-Sr. | A | Brighton, Mich.
Major: Exercise Science
Team Result: 15-11 W vs. Westminster (2/11)
Recorded nine points on three goals and six assists in lone win
Took six shots with three on goal
Added two ground balls
Earns fifth career Offensive Player of the Week Award (2/13/23, 2/6/23, 2/7/22, 4/26/21, 4/5/21)
Last Greyhounds’ Offensive Player of the Week: Drew Billig (2/6/23)
U OF I WLAX
BLADON, SATO COLLECT FIRST GLVC WEEKLY HONORS OF THE SEASON
INDIANAPOLIS – Freshman midfielder Olivia Bladon and senior midfielder Christina Sato have each been named as the GLVC Players of the Week in women’s lacrosse, announced by the league office on Monday.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Olivia Bladon, #8 UIndy
Fr. | M | Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Major: Exercise Science
Team Result: 18-1 W at Concordia-St. Paul (2/11)
Tallied four points on four goals to tie for team lead in scoring en route to season-opening road win
Registered six shots with all on goal
Added team-high five ground balls
Earns first career Offensive Player of the Week award
Last Greyhounds’ Offensive Player of the Week: Abigail Lagos (4/18/22)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Christina Sato, #8 UIndy
Sr. | M | Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
Major: Communication
Team Result: 18-1 W at Concordia-St. Paul (2/11)
Scooped up four ground balls and team-high two caused turnovers en route to season-opening road win
Added four points on two goals and as many assists
Earns first career Defensive Player of the Week award
Last Greyhounds’ Defensive Player of the Week: Peyton Romig (4/18/22)
MARIAN WTRACK
GINA BUTZ NAMED CROSSROADS LEAGUE INDOOR TF FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jackson, Mich. – For the first time in her career Gina Butz has been named Crossroads League Indoor TF Field Athlete of the Week, as announced by conference on Monday.
Butz was recognized by the conference after her performance at the Indianapolis Jerry England Invitational on Saturday. The sophomore high jumper finished second in the event after clearing 1.62 meters for her best height of the season.
Marian will compete at the Indoor Crossroads League Championships this Friday and Saturday.
MARIAN BASEBALL
DION WINTJES NAMED CROSSROADS LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jackson, Mich. – The Marian baseball team picked up their first Crossroads League Player of the Week honor of the season on Monday, with Dion Wintjes earning the weekly honor. The honor is the second of Wintjes in his career, and the first this season.
Winjes dominated at the plate, batting a whopping .700 in three games at Tougaloo. The catcher/first baseman had 7 hits, two walks, one hit by pitch, and one sacrifice fly in Marian’s three wins, doubling three times and homering once. The dinger was Marian’s first of the season, and with 7 RBI leading Marian in the series. The senior also made 32 outs in the field on the week.
Marian will have a three-game series at Brewton-Parker, starting with a single game on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
SPORTS EXTRA
NBA STANDINGS
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||
| W | L | Pct | Conf GB | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Last 10 | Streak | |||
| 1 Boston | 41 | 16 | .719 | — | 23-7 | 18-9 | 8-1 | 24-11 | 6-4 | 4 W | ||
| 2 Milwaukee | 39 | 17 | .696 | 1.5 | 23-5 | 16-12 | 7-4 | 21-13 | 10-0 | 10 W | ||
| 3 Philadelphia | 37 | 19 | .661 | 3.5 | 22-8 | 15-11 | 7-5 | 21-13 | 7-3 | 3 W | ||
| 4 Cleveland | 38 | 22 | .633 | 4.5 | 25-6 | 13-16 | 11-3 | 22-10 | 8-2 | 7 W | ||
| 5 Brooklyn | 33 | 24 | .579 | 8.0 | 17-11 | 16-13 | 6-7 | 23-13 | 4-6 | 2 L | ||
| 6 Miami | 32 | 26 | .552 | 9.5 | 19-10 | 13-16 | 7-3 | 15-16 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| 7 New York | 32 | 27 | .542 | 10.0 | 16-15 | 16-12 | 5-8 | 22-16 | 6-4 | 2 W | ||
| 8 Atlanta | 29 | 29 | .500 | 12.5 | 15-11 | 14-18 | 5-5 | 17-18 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| 9 Toronto | 27 | 31 | .466 | 14.5 | 17-13 | 10-18 | 4-9 | 16-19 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| 10 Washington | 26 | 30 | .464 | 14.5 | 14-12 | 12-18 | 6-3 | 15-17 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| 11 Chicago | 26 | 31 | .456 | 15.0 | 16-12 | 10-19 | 5-5 | 20-18 | 4-6 | 4 L | ||
| 12 Indiana | 25 | 34 | .424 | 17.0 | 17-14 | 8-20 | 3-5 | 17-17 | 1-9 | 5 L | ||
| 13 Orlando | 24 | 34 | .414 | 17.5 | 14-15 | 10-19 | 3-8 | 12-24 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 14 Charlotte | 16 | 43 | .271 | 26.0 | 8-18 | 8-25 | 6-8 | 9-29 | 3-7 | 1 W | ||
| 15 Detroit | 15 | 43 | .259 | 26.5 | 8-21 | 7-22 | 0-9 | 6-26 | 3-7 | 1 L | ||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||
| W | L | Pct | Conf GB | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Last 10 | Streak | |||
| 1 Denver | 40 | 18 | .690 | — | 26-4 | 14-14 | 10-5 | 28-11 | 6-4 | 2 W | ||
| 2 Memphis | 34 | 22 | .607 | 5.0 | 23-5 | 11-17 | 6-2 | 16-16 | 3-7 | 1 L | ||
| 3 Sacramento | 32 | 24 | .571 | 7.0 | 17-12 | 15-12 | 5-5 | 20-12 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 4 Phoenix | 31 | 27 | .534 | 9.0 | 19-9 | 12-18 | 8-0 | 20-14 | 7-3 | 1 W | ||
| 5 Dallas | 31 | 28 | .525 | 9.5 | 19-10 | 12-18 | 7-2 | 23-15 | 6-4 | 2 L | ||
| 6 LA Clippers | 31 | 28 | .525 | 9.5 | 14-13 | 17-15 | 4-4 | 17-16 | 6-4 | 2 L | ||
| 7 New Orleans | 30 | 28 | .517 | 10.0 | 20-10 | 10-18 | 7-4 | 19-14 | 4-6 | 1 W | ||
| 8 Minnesota | 31 | 29 | .517 | 10.0 | 20-12 | 11-17 | 8-7 | 22-19 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| 9 Golden State | 29 | 28 | .509 | 10.5 | 22-7 | 7-21 | 4-5 | 17-13 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| 10 Utah | 29 | 30 | .492 | 11.5 | 18-12 | 11-18 | 4-6 | 19-17 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 11 Portland | 28 | 29 | .491 | 11.5 | 16-13 | 12-16 | 5-8 | 20-16 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| 12 Oklahoma City | 27 | 29 | .482 | 12.0 | 16-12 | 11-17 | 5-6 | 14-17 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| 13 LA Lakers | 26 | 32 | .448 | 14.0 | 13-14 | 13-18 | 2-9 | 13-20 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| 14 San Antonio | 14 | 44 | .241 | 26.0 | 9-21 | 5-23 | 2-7 | 5-30 | 0-10 | 13 L | ||
| 15 Houston | 13 | 44 | .228 | 26.5 | 8-20 | 5-24 | 1-8 | 7-30 | 2-8 | 6 L |
NHL STANDINGS
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | ROW | GF | GA | Home | Road | L10 | ||
| 1 Boston Bruins | 52 | 39 | 8 | 5 | 83 | 37 | 193 | 113 | 22-2-3 | 17-6-2 | 6-3-1 | |
| 2 Carolina Hurricanes | 52 | 34 | 10 | 8 | 76 | 31 | 175 | 142 | 17-6-2 | 17-4-6 | 8-1-1 | |
| 3 New Jersey Devils | 52 | 34 | 13 | 5 | 73 | 33 | 181 | 139 | 15-10-2 | 19-3-3 | 7-1-2 | |
| 4 Toronto Maple Leafs | 54 | 32 | 14 | 8 | 72 | 32 | 181 | 145 | 20-6-4 | 12-8-4 | 6-3-1 | |
| 5 Tampa Bay Lightning | 52 | 34 | 16 | 2 | 70 | 33 | 187 | 153 | 21-4-2 | 13-12-0 | 6-3-1 | |
| 6 New York Rangers | 53 | 31 | 14 | 8 | 70 | 29 | 178 | 141 | 16-9-4 | 15-5-4 | 7-2-1 | |
| 7 Washington Capitals | 55 | 28 | 21 | 6 | 62 | 27 | 169 | 157 | 14-9-3 | 14-12-3 | 5-5-0 | |
| 8 Pittsburgh Penguins | 52 | 26 | 17 | 9 | 61 | 25 | 169 | 163 | 15-6-4 | 11-11-5 | 5-2-3 | |
| 9 Florida Panthers | 56 | 27 | 23 | 6 | 60 | 25 | 194 | 191 | 15-8-3 | 12-15-3 | 6-3-1 | |
| 10 New York Islanders | 56 | 27 | 23 | 6 | 60 | 27 | 162 | 155 | 16-10-2 | 11-13-4 | 4-4-2 | |
| 11 Buffalo Sabres | 52 | 26 | 22 | 4 | 56 | 25 | 190 | 182 | 11-14-2 | 15-8-2 | 5-3-2 | |
| 12 Detroit Red Wings | 52 | 24 | 20 | 8 | 56 | 23 | 160 | 169 | 14-11-3 | 10-9-5 | 6-3-1 | |
| 13 Philadelphia Flyers | 55 | 22 | 23 | 10 | 54 | 21 | 149 | 171 | 11-14-3 | 11-9-7 | 3-4-3 | |
| 14 Ottawa Senators | 52 | 25 | 24 | 3 | 53 | 24 | 158 | 168 | 15-12-1 | 10-12-2 | 6-4-0 | |
| 15 Montreal Canadiens | 53 | 22 | 27 | 4 | 48 | 18 | 144 | 194 | 13-14-1 | 9-13-3 | 5-4-1 | |
| 16 Columbus Blue Jackets | 53 | 16 | 33 | 4 | 36 | 15 | 135 | 204 | 11-16-2 | 5-17-2 | 3-5-2 | |
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | ROW | GF | GA | Home | Road | L10 | ||
| 1 Dallas Stars | 54 | 30 | 14 | 10 | 70 | 28 | 181 | 139 | 15-6-6 | 15-8-4 | 5-2-3 | |
| 2 Vegas Golden Knights | 54 | 32 | 18 | 4 | 68 | 29 | 177 | 152 | 15-13-0 | 17-5-4 | 4-4-2 | |
| 3 Winnipeg Jets | 53 | 33 | 19 | 1 | 67 | 33 | 170 | 138 | 19-8-0 | 14-11-1 | 5-5-0 | |
| 4 Los Angeles Kings | 55 | 30 | 18 | 7 | 67 | 26 | 184 | 185 | 16-9-2 | 14-9-5 | 5-4-1 | |
| 5 Seattle Kraken | 53 | 30 | 18 | 5 | 65 | 30 | 185 | 167 | 13-10-3 | 17-8-2 | 4-5-1 | |
| 6 Minnesota Wild | 53 | 28 | 20 | 5 | 61 | 23 | 159 | 154 | 16-9-2 | 12-11-3 | 3-6-1 | |
| 7 Edmonton Oilers | 54 | 30 | 19 | 5 | 65 | 30 | 201 | 175 | 13-11-3 | 17-8-2 | 7-1-2 | |
| 8 Calgary Flames | 54 | 25 | 18 | 11 | 61 | 24 | 172 | 165 | 14-9-2 | 11-9-9 | 4-4-2 | |
| 9 Colorado Avalanche | 51 | 28 | 19 | 4 | 60 | 24 | 157 | 143 | 13-9-3 | 15-10-1 | 7-2-1 | |
| 10 Nashville Predators | 51 | 25 | 20 | 6 | 56 | 23 | 142 | 151 | 14-9-3 | 11-11-3 | 6-4-0 | |
| 11 St. Louis Blues | 52 | 24 | 25 | 3 | 51 | 21 | 162 | 190 | 11-12-2 | 13-13-1 | 3-7-0 | |
| 12 Vancouver Canucks | 54 | 21 | 29 | 4 | 46 | 18 | 181 | 218 | 10-14-1 | 11-15-3 | 3-6-1 | |
| 13 San Jose Sharks | 54 | 17 | 26 | 11 | 45 | 16 | 166 | 204 | 5-12-7 | 12-14-4 | 4-3-3 | |
| 14 Arizona Coyotes | 54 | 18 | 28 | 8 | 44 | 16 | 146 | 191 | 11-8-2 | 7-20-6 | 4-3-3 | |
| 15 Anaheim Ducks | 54 | 17 | 31 | 6 | 40 | 14 | 135 | 223 | 9-14-1 | 8-17-5 | 5-4-1 | |
| 16 Chicago Blackhawks | 51 | 16 | 30 | 5 | 37 | 16 | 125 | 186 | 10-16-3 | 6-14-2 | 5-4-1 |
FOOTBALL HISTORY
WOODY HAYES – OHIO STATE COACHING LEGEND
Born February 14, 1913, in Clifton, Ohio was the Ohio State University coaching legend Wayne Woodrow Hayes. We know him better as Woody Hayes the Buckeyes front man from 1951 through 1978. Woody was a large personality and he commanded attention. The Buckeyes led the nation in home attendance in 21 of Woody’s 28 years at OSU. Hayes’ offensive football strategy was the old “Three Yards and a Cloud of Dust,” in fact the National Football Foundation floats it out there that Hayes may have created the phrase. The NFF bio goes on to say how Hayes’ coaching produced 3 Heisman Trophy winners and 51 first team All- America selections. The Buckeyes under Woody Hayes took the National Championship title in the years of 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968 and 1970. He majored in English in college and always emphasized educational values in talks with players. He wasn’t without controversy though as an SI.com article points out, Hayes had a well-earned reputation for losing his temper. There was the time he shoved a cameraman at the Rose Bowl, and the time he destroyed the sideline markers near the end of a loss to Michigan. But his biggest tirade, and unfortunately his last impression on the football world was his infamous punching of a Clemson player in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 29, 1978. An action that ended Hayes’ long tenured coaching career. Woody was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
HOF BIRTHDAY’S
February 14, 1919 – Brookline, Massachusetts – Boston College’s legendary Guard, George Kerr was born. Kerr played on the Eagles gridiron from 1938 through the 1940 season per the National Football Foundation’s online bio of him. The “Righteous Reject”, as he was called at Boston College reported to his coach the first time wearing multiple layers of sweaters and jackets to boost his weight some 25 pounds heavier than he actually was and to give him the appearance of a larger stature. What the coach saw though was his big heart and desire to succeed at football. Through his hard work and dedication Kerr went from sixth team to receiving All-American mention. Kerr helped to post a 26-3-2 record in three seasons, and his outstanding Sugar Bowl performance against Tennessee earned him a place on the All-Time Sugar Bowl team. George Kerr received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984.
February 14, 1960 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – The outstanding quarterback from the Miami Hurrcaines program Jim Kelly was born. The Buffalo Bills selected Kelly in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft but the signal caller decided to sign with the USFL’s Houston Gamblers franchise instead. The 6’-4” 225 quarterback spent two seasons with the Gamblers and threw for 9,842 yards and a whopping 83 touchdowns per the ProFootballHOF.com website. When the USFL folded Jim signed on with the NFL team that originally drafted him, the Bills in 1986. It was a perfect fit for both parties as Kelly ran the famed “no Huddle” fast paced offense of Coach Marv Levy to a tee. Having offensive weapons like running back Thurmon Thomas and receivers Andre Reid and James Lofton didn’t hurt either. The Bills played in four straight Super Bowls in the 1990’s led by Kelly’s arm. In Jim’s 11 seasons with the Bills, he led the Bills to the AFC playoffs eight times. In those 17 playoff appearances, including four the Super Bowls, Kelly tossed the ball for 3,863 yards and 21 touchdowns! Jim Kelly was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1887 For a record price of $10,000, the Cubs, then known as the White Stockings, sell current National League batting champ and future Hall of Famer Mike King Kelly to the Beaneaters. The popular box office draw, who will earn his nickname King while playing in Boston, will continue to be productive, hitting .311 for three years during his first tenure with the team.
1928 The American Legion baseball program, on the brink of bankruptcy, receives a pledge of $50,000 from Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis and the MLB Advisory Council to continue developing a national championship program for teenagers. With the much-needed funding, Legion Baseball will continue in 1928, and the following season, teams from every state and the District of Columbia will participate in the youth tournament.
1934 Sam Rice, who spent the first 19 seasons with the Senators, ends his career after playing one year with the Indians. The 44-year-old future Hall of Famer collected 2,987 career hits during his two decades in the major leagues.
1945 After his retirement as the team’s president, Bob Quinn’s son, John, succeeds him as the Braves’ general manager. The former owner of the Red Sox and Braves, whose grandson will also become a major league GM, will serve as president of the Baseball Hall of Fame from 1948 to 1951, resigning from the position after suffering two strokes.
1957 “Anything that tends to break down the bulwarks of segregation must be forcibly met by this general assembly. We have a situation in Georgia which has come about because of a national situation. I am referring to the Negroes in organized baseball in this state. It is unfortunate that some few people would participate in the destruction of our institutions for a few dollars.” – GEORGIA STATE SENATOR LEON BUTTS, commenting on his bill that prohibits blacks from playing baseball with whites. Ten years after the integration of major league baseball, the Georgia Senate unanimously approves Leon Butts’ bill barring that prohibits blacks from playing baseball with whites except at religious gatherings. The Lumpkin legislator’s measures, which carry fines up to $1000 and imprisonment for 60 days to a year for committing the misdemeanor, will directly impact the minor league spring training centers of the Braves and Cardinals whose farmhands workout, respectively, in Waycross and Albany.
1959 The Orioles, to find a backup for first baseman Bob Boyd, buy 32-year-old veteran infielder/outfielder Whitey Lockman from the Giants for an undisclosed sum. In June, Baltimore will trade their new acquisition to the Reds for Walt Dropo, who has played the position exclusively since winning the Rookie of the Year award in 1950.
1976 Braves’ season-ticket holders and the Atlanta media receive Valentine’s Day cards from the team. The verse reads:
“Rose is a Red Morgan’s one too.
They finished first, like we wanted to.
But last year’s behind us, we’re happy to say.
Now we’re tied for first, Happy Valentines Day.”
1986 The Mets sign Doc Gooden to a one-year, $1.32 million contract, making the 21-year-old the youngest millionaire in major league history. The National League’s reigning Cy Young Award winner, who struck out 268 batters and posted a league-leading 1.53 ERA en route to compiling a 24-4 record last season, avoids going to arbitration after agreeing to his new deal.
1996 Kevin McClatchy and his group of investors purchase the Pirates from the Pittsburgh Associates. The deal includes the condition of having to build a baseball-only ballpark in Pittsburgh within five years.
2001 The Ford C. Frick Award, named in memory of the former baseball commissioner who was a broadcaster, will be given to the Marlins’ radio announcer Rafael Ramirez during Hall of Fame induction ceremonies this summer. ‘Felo,’ who began his 56-year career broadcasting games in Cuba, has been in the Miami broadcast booth since the team’s inaugural season in 1993.
2001 According to the Detroit Free Press, major league baseball is informing umpires to remove pitchers without issuing a warning who deliberately throw a beanball at a batter’s head from the game. The crackdown, according to officials, is a clarification and reinforcement of an existing rule.
2002 Detroit signs Dmitri Young (.302, 21, 69) to a four-year contract with two team options. In December, the Tigers traded outfielder Juan Encarnacion (.242, 12, 52) and minor league right-hander Luis Pineda to acquire the first baseman/outfielder from the Reds.
2003 After much speculation and the help of Major League Baseball, the Chunichi Dragons return Kevin Millar to the Marlins for an undisclosed amount of money for relinquishing their rights to the outfielder. After reconsidering an offer from the Red Sox, who blocked the waiver deal to obtain him, the 31-year-old California native had a change of heart and didn’t want to play for the Japanese Central League team.
2005 🇻🇪 The Twins sign arbitration-eligible Johan Santana (20-6, 2.61) to the richest contract in franchise history, agreeing to a four-year, $40 million deal. Last season, the 25-year-old southpaw, garnering all 28 first-place votes, became the first Venezuelan to win the Cy Young Award.
2007 For the first time at Wrigley Field, the Cubs will allow ads on the green doors located in the ivy in the left- and right-field bleachers, according to Jay Blunk, director of marketing and sales. Although other companies have approached the team, Under Armour, whose company spokesman is newly acquired outfielder Alfonso Soriano, is the “right fit” for the 7-by-12 foot signage featuring the performance apparel’s signature logo.
2009 The Angels and Bobby Abreu (.296, 20, 100) agree to a $5 million, one-year deal. The 34-year-old free-agent outfielder, taking a significant pay cut after having a solid season with the Yankees last season, is expected to add some much-needed punch from the left side for the AL West champions.
2011 The Yankees come to terms with free-agent Andruw Jones on a $1.5 million, one-year contract, eliminating the team’s likelihood of resigning Johnny Damon. The ‘Curacao Kid,’ best known for his outstanding outfield defense for the Braves at the start of his career, will spend two seasons in the Bronx before finishing his 17-year major league tenure with a lifetime .254 batting average.
2011 Avoiding arbitration, Carlos Marmol agrees to a three-year, $20 million deal with the Cubs. The 28-year-old closer saved 38 games in 43 opportunities last season and compiled a 2-3 record along with an ERA of 2.55.
2014 Avoiding arbitration, 24-year-old outfielder Jason Heyward and the Braves agree to a two-year, $13.3 million deal. After the season, Atlanta will trade their 2007 first-round pick (14th overall) and right-handed reliever Jordan Walden to the Cardinals for right-handers Tyrell Jenkins and Shelby Miller.
2014 Freddie Freeman agrees to a franchise-record eight-year, $135 million contract, surpassing the six-year, $90 million deal the Braves gave Chipper Jones in 2000. The 24-year-old All-Star first baseman, who finished fifth in the MVP balloting this season, has hit .285 during his four years with the team, averaging annually 17 home runs and 70 RBIs.
SPORTS IN NUMBERS
27 – 13 – 43 – 22
February 14, 1887 – The Chicago Cubs sold the rights of player Mike King Kelly for $10,000 cash to the Boston Beaneaters. That is truly a mouthful of information!
February 14, 1960 – At the Daytona 500 Race, there was a 37 car pile up in turn number 4 of the track, that Junior Johnson somehow avoided and escaped to claim victory of the second running of the legendary race. Johnson was driving the Number 27 Chevrolet owned by John Masoni in the victory.
February 14, 1966 – Wilt Chamberlain, Number 13 of Philadelphia hit a record setting milestone in NBA scoring at 20,884 points!
February 14, 1971 – The results of the 13th annual Daytona 500 were that the driver of car Number 43, Richard Petty won his 3rd time at the Great American Race. This propelled the legendary driver to go on to win the inaugural Winston Cup title later in 1971.
February 14, 1995 – The Portland Trail Blazers traded star Clyde Drexler, Number 22 to the Houston Rockets. The Rockets with the aquisition of Clyde “the Glide” went on to end up winning the 1995 NBA Championship!
TV TUESDAY
| NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES – MEN’S | TIME ET | TV |
| Georgetown at Seton Hall | 6:00pm | CBSSN |
| Vanderbilt at South Carolina | 6:30pm | SECN |
| Notre Dame at Duke | 7:00pm | ESPN |
| Missouri at Auburn | 7:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Creighton at Providence | 7:00pm | FS1 |
| Illinois at Penn State | 7:00pm | ESPNU |
| NC State at Syracuse | 7:00pm | ACCN |
| Loyola Chicago at UMass | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Buffalo at Ohio | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Central Michigan at Bowling Green | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Kent State at Western Michigan | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Miami (OH) at Toledo | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Northern Illinois at Ball State | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Southern Illinois at Valparaiso | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Akron at Eastern Michigan | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Nebraska at Rutgers | 8:00pm | BTN |
| Butler at Villanova | 8:00pm | CBSSN |
| LSU at Georgia | 8:30pm | SECN |
| Kansas at Oklahoma State | 9:00pm | ESPN |
| Michigan at Wisconsin | 9:00pm | ESPN2 |
| St. John’s at DePaul | 9:00pm | FS1 |
| Kansas State at Oklahoma | 9:00pm | ESPNU |
| Boston College at Pitt | 9:00pm | ACCN |
| Air Force at Utah State | 9:00pm | Staduim |
| Wyoming at New Mexico | 10:00pm | CBSSN |
| San Jose State at UNLV | 10:00pm | Staduim |
| NBA REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| Boston at Milwaukee | 7:30pm | TNT |
| Orlando at Toronto | 7:30pm | Bally Sports Sportsnet |
| Sacramento at Phoenix | 9:00pm | NBCS-CA Bally Sports |
| Golden State at LA Clippers | 10:00pm | NBCS-BAY Bally Sports |
| Washington at Portland | 10:00pm | Root Sports NBCS-BAY |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| Carolina at Washington | 7:00pm | Bally Sports NBCS-WSH |
| Chicago at Montreal | 7:00pm | NBCS-CHI Sportsnet |
| New Jersey at Columbus | 7:30pm | MSGSN Bally Sports |
| Ottawa at NY Islanders | 7:30pm | Sportsnet MSGSN |
| Florida at St. Louis | 8:00pm | ESPN+ HULU |
| Seattle at Winnipeg | 8:00pm | Root Sports Sportsnet |
| Boston at Dallas | 8:30pm | NESN Bally Sports |
| Tampa Bay at Colorado | 9:00pm | ALT Bally Sports |
| Pittsburgh at San Jose | 10:30pm | ATTSN-PIT NBCS-CA |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| UEFA Champions League: Milan vs Tottenham Hotspur | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Champions League: PSG vs Bayern München | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Argentina Primera División: Barracas Central vs Unión Santa Fe | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Copa Libertadores: Nacional Asunción vs Sport Huancayo | 7:00pm | beIN Sports |
| Liga MX: Tigres UANL vs Juárez | 8:00pm | TUDN |