INDIANA BOYS AP BASKETBALL POLLS
4A
1. BEN DAVIS (9-0)
2. PENN (6-0)
3. INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (5-1)
4. HOMESTEAD (5-0)
5. BROWNSBURG (7-1)
6. KOKOMO (5-2)
7. WESTFIELD (5-1)
8. NOBLESVILLE (4-1)
8. CENTER GROVE (7-0)
10. CARMEL (5-3)
11. NORTHRIDGE (6-1)
12. HAMMOND CENTRAL (6-0)
13. JENNINGS COUNTY (7-0)
14. FISHERS (5-3)
15. CHESTERTON (4-2)
16. LAWRENCE NORTH (4-1)
17. ANDERSON (4-2)
3A
1. MISHAWAKA MARIAN (7-0)
2. NORTH DAVIESS (6-0)
3. NORTHWOOD (7-1)
4. NORWELL (6-1)
5. WEST NOBLE (6-0)
6. BEECH GROVE (5-2)
7. PERU (5-1)
8. SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON (7-1)
9. BREBEUF JESUIT (4-2)
10. LEBANON (6-1)
11. FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA (5-1)
11. SCOTTSBURG (7-1)
13. LAKE STATION (6-1)
14. CULVER ACADEMY (5-3)
15. EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (4-1)
16. GREENSBURG (2-2)
16. SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (5-2)
2A
1. FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK (6-0)
2. LINTON-STOCKTON (6-1)
3. CARROLL (FLORA) (5-0)
4. BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (7-1)
5. SOUTH SPENCER (7-0)
6. EASTERN HANCOCK (5-1)
7. GARY 21ST CENTURY (5-2)
8. WAPAHANI (6-1)
9. TAYLOR (7-0)
10. UNIVERSITY (6-0)
11. SOUTH KNOX (5-1)
12. SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) (7-0)
13. PROVIDENCE (3-2)
14. TIPTON (7-1)
15. SULLIVAN (6-1)
16. TRITON CENTRAL (6-2)
1A
1. BLOOMFIELD (6-1)
2. ORLEANS (4-1)
3. LOOGOOTEE (6-2)
4. FOUNTAIN CENTRAL (5-0)
5. EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN (4-3)
6. BARR-REEVE (4-3)
7. BETHESDA CHRISTIAN (4-1)
8. JAC-CEN-DEL (4-3)
9. EDINBURGH (5-2)
10. TRI (5-1)
11. INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (3-2)
12. INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY (3-4)
13. CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (6-2)
14. GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN (3-3)
15. BETHANY CHRISTIAN (3-3)
16. NORTHEAST DUBOIS (4-2)
16. SPRINGS VALLEY (4-3)
INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SCORES
| AIKEN (OHIO) | 57 | EAST CENTRAL | 52 | OT |
| BATESVILLE | 60 | UNION COUNTY | 29 | |
| BEECH GROVE | 71 | INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON | 56 | |
| BELLMONT | 60 | ADAMS CENTRAL | 41 | |
| BLOOMFIELD | 56 | NORTHEAST DUBOIS | 47 | |
| CASCADE | 40 | NORTH PUTNAM | 35 | |
| CENTRAL NOBLE | 56 | BREMEN | 49 | |
| CHRISTEL HOUSE MANUAL | 69 | INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN | 68 | OT |
| COLUMBIA CITY | 67 | WAWASEE | 59 | |
| CONCORD | 33 | EDWARDSBURG (MICH.) | 20 | |
| CRAWFORDSVILLE | 57 | SPEEDWAY | 49 | |
| DECATUR CENTRAL | 74 | INDIANAPOLIS RITTER | 63 | |
| DELTA | 66 | BLACKFORD | 60 | |
| EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL | 83 | LIGHTHOUSE CPA | 59 | |
| EASTERN (PEKIN) | 71 | NEW WASHINGTON | 61 | |
| EASTERN HANCOCK | 86 | RANDOLPH SOUTHERN | 61 | |
| EASTSIDE | 50 | EDON (OHIO) | 26 | |
| EVANSVILLE MATER DEI | 56 | EVANSVILLE NORTH | 50 | OT |
| EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL | 47 | PROVIDENCE | 44 | |
| GOSHEN | 63 | EAST NOBLE | 53 | |
| GREENSBURG | 79 | COLUMBUS EAST | 47 | |
| HAMMOND CENTRAL | 51 | CROWN POINT | 44 | |
| HERITAGE CHRISTIAN | 74 | PENDLETON HEIGHTS | 68 | OT |
| HERITAGE HILLS | 69 | MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) | 48 | |
| HOMESTEAD | 49 | LEO | 46 | |
| LAKE CENTRAL | 47 | MUNSTER | 44 | |
| LAWRENCEBURG | 60 | TAYLOR (OHIO) | 48 | |
| LIBERTY CHRISTIAN | 94 | PHALEN ACADEMY | 44 | |
| MACONAQUAH | 75 | WHITKO | 61 | |
| MARTINSVILLE | 61 | INDIAN CREEK | 60 | |
| MISHAWAKA | 74 | NEW PRAIRIE | 42 | |
| MONROE CENTRAL | 45 | SOUTH ADAMS | 42 | |
| NOBLESVILLE | 83 | MARION | 46 | |
| OAK HILL | 43 | WESTERN | 39 | |
| OLDENBURG ACADEMY | 40 | SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE) | 29 | |
| ORLEANS | 66 | MITCHELL | 34 | |
| PERU | 47 | HUNTINGTON NORTH | 32 | |
| PIKE | 60 | FRANKLIN CENTRAL | 58 | |
| PORTAGE | 76 | GARY WEST | 46 | |
| SEYMOUR | 57 | WHITELAND | 54 | OT |
| SHOALS | 47 | BLOOMINGTON LIGHTHOUSE | 45 | |
| SOUTH BEND CLAY | 53 | TRINITY GREENLAWN | 33 | |
| SOUTH BEND RILEY | 58 | PLYMOUTH | 48 | |
| SOUTHPORT | 52 | AVON | 50 | |
| TERRE HAUTE NORTH | 56 | PLAINFIELD | 54 | |
| TERRE HAUTE SOUTH | 66 | OBLONG-PALESTINE-HUTSONVILLE (ILL.) | 28 | |
| TWIN LAKES | 54 | FRONTIER | 29 | |
| WAPAHANI | 66 | FRANKTON | 37 | |
| WESTVIEW | 48 | LAKELAND | 47 | |
| WOODLAN | 72 | FREMONT | 64 | |
| YORKTOWN | 71 | MADISON-GRANT | 56 | |
| ZIONSVILLE | 48 | KOKOMO | 41 | |
| CENTRAL CHRISTIAN TOURNAMENT | ||||
| PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD JV | 71 | PURDUE POLY NORTH | 50 | |
| IRVINGTON PREP ACADEMY | 41 | INDIANAPOLIS HERRON | 38 | OT |
| NORTHWEST HOMESCHOOL | 85 | THRIVAL INDY ACADEMY | 64 | |
| PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD | 70 | INDIANAPOLIS HOMESCHOOL | 62 | |
| DELPHI CLASSIC | ||||
| DELPHI | 45 | PIONEER | 33 | |
| FRANKFORT | 40 | WINAMAC | 28 |
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SCORES
| ALEXANDRIA | 63 | ANDERSON PREP ACADEMY | 24 | |
| ANDREAN | 50 | HIGHLAND | 49 | OT |
| BEECH GROVE | 53 | CHRISTEL HOUSE MANUAL | 8 | |
| BLUFFTON | 42 | CHURUBUSCO | 32 | |
| BOONE GROVE | 43 | BOWMAN ACADEMY | 28 | |
| BOONVILLE | 45 | EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN | 41 | |
| BORDEN | 39 | PERRY CENTRAL | 26 | |
| CARROLL (FLORA) | 55 | NORTHWESTERN | 52 | |
| CLINTON CENTRAL | 45 | CLINTON PRAIRIE | 43 | |
| CORYDON CENTRAL | 67 | CHARLESTOWN | 46 | |
| CRAWFORD COUNTY | 53 | SOUTH SPENCER | 50 | |
| DEKALB | 51 | FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK | 50 | OT |
| DECATUR CENTRAL | 78 | INDIANAPOLIS RITTER | 18 | |
| DELTA | 50 | DALEVILLE | 46 | |
| EASTERN GREENE | 35 | NORTH DAVIESS | 21 | |
| ELKHART | 51 | GOSHEN | 36 | |
| EVANSVILLE CENTRAL | 64 | MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) | 22 | |
| FAIRFIELD | 65 | NORTHWOOD | 24 | |
| FAITH CHRISTIAN | 40 | NORTH WHITE | 36 | |
| FORT WAYNE DWENGER | 43 | GARRETT | 35 | |
| GREENFIELD-CENTRAL | 46 | CONNERSVILLE | 41 | |
| GREENSBURG | 75 | SEYMOUR | 64 | |
| GRIFFITH | 54 | HAMMOND SCIENCE & TECH | 35 | |
| HAMILTON HEIGHTS | 46 | LAPEL | 38 | |
| HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN | 55 | INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL | 51 | |
| HENRYVILLE | 56 | DUGGER UNION | 18 | |
| HERITAGE HILLS | 60 | EVANSVILLE REITZ | 51 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS | 44 | VICTORY COLLEGE PREP | 7 | |
| JASPER | 40 | PIKE CENTRAL | 26 | |
| JOHN GLENN | 33 | LAVILLE | 30 | |
| KANKAKEE VALLEY | 46 | CHESTERTON | 32 | |
| KOUTS | 58 | LAPORTE | 29 | |
| LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC | 80 | TRI-WEST | 41 | |
| LAKELAND | 50 | WESTVIEW | 45 | |
| LAKEWOOD PARK | 51 | NEW HAVEN | 42 | |
| LAWRENCE CENTRAL | 63 | NEW PALESTINE | 53 | |
| LOGANSPORT | 56 | PERU | 42 | |
| MONROVIA | 47 | INDIANA DEAF | 21 | |
| MOORESVILLE | 39 | MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) | 38 | |
| MUNSTER | 79 | WASHINGTON TWP. | 39 | |
| NEW PRAIRIE | 57 | ARGOS | 50 | |
| NORTH KNOX | 37 | LINTON-STOCKTON | 26 | |
| NORTHEASTERN | 46 | EAST CENTRAL | 43 | |
| NORTHRIDGE | 63 | PENN | 51 | |
| PLAINFIELD | 42 | TERRE HAUTE NORTH | 39 | |
| PORTAGE | 56 | LAFAYETTE JEFF | 34 | |
| PROVIDENCE | 46 | BREBEUF JESUIT | 39 | |
| RENSSELAER CENTRAL | 67 | LOWELL | 39 | |
| RUSHVILLE | 48 | NORTH DECATUR | 42 | |
| SHENANDOAH | 56 | WES-DEL | 14 | |
| SHERIDAN | 36 | LEBANON | 34 | |
| SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) | 30 | CLARKSVILLE | 19 | |
| SPRINGS VALLEY | 44 | WEST WASHINGTON | 39 | |
| TRINITY LUTHERAN | 71 | NORTH HARRISON | 59 | |
| TRITON CENTRAL | 64 | INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA | 25 | |
| TRITON | 42 | BREMEN | 35 | |
| WABASH | 65 | SOUTHWOOD | 40 | |
| WEST NOBLE | 38 | PRAIRIE HEIGHTS | 31 | |
| WESTERN | 71 | TAYLOR | 11 | |
| WESTFIELD | 49 | FRANKLIN CENTRAL | 44 | |
| DELPHI TOURNAMENT | ||||
| WINAMAC | 68 | FRANKFORT | 34 | |
| PIONEER | 54 | DELPHI | 30 |
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI 42 TELL CITY 22
ROCHESTER 37 WESTERN 36
HERITAGE HILLS 70 GIBSON SOUTHERN 12
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 66 GUERIN CATHOLIC 6
LEO 60 FORT WAYNE NORTH 19
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
#2 UCONN 84 GEORGETOWN 73
#5 ARIZONA 85 MONTANA STATE 64
#22 MIAMI FLORIDA 66 #6 VIRGINIA 64
#9 ALABAMA 84 JACKSON STATE 64
#11 GONZAGA 85 MONTANA 75
#12 BAYLOR 58 NORTHWESTERN STATE 48
WAKE FOREST 81 #14 DUKE 70
DRAKE 58 #15 MISSISSIPPI STATE 52
#18 INDIANA 96 ELON 72
PROVIDENCE 103 #24 MARQUETTE 98 2 OT
IUPUI 62 TEXAS A&M COMMERCE 52
PURDUE FORT WAYNE 83 SOUTHERN INDIANA 59
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: http://hosted.stats.com/cbk/scoreboard.asp?conf=-1&day=20221220
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
#2 STANFORD 72 #21 CREIGHTON 59
#3 OHIO STATE 88 S. FLORIDA 86 OT
#19 MICHIGAN 76 #6 NORTH CAROLINA 68
#11 UCLA 82 FRESNO STATE 48
#12 UTAH 88 WEBER STATE 52
#16 OREGON 85 #17 ARKANSAS 78
RICHMOND 75 OF BALL STATE 73
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/WCBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20221220
COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL SCHEDULE
TUESDAY SCOREBOARD
TOLEDO 21 LIBERTY 19
EASTERN MICHIGAN 41 SAN JOSE STATE 27
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21
SOUTH ALABAMA VS. WESTERN KENTUCKY — NEW ORLEANS BOWL (NEW ORLEANS) | 9 P.M. | ESPN
THURSDAY, DEC. 22
BAYLOR VS. AIR FORCE — ARMED FORCES BOWL (FORT WORTH, TEXAS) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
FRIDAY, DEC. 23
HOUSTON VS. LOUISIANA — INDEPENDENCE BOWL (SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA) | 3 P.M. | ESPN
WAKE FOREST VS. MISSOURI — GASPARILLA BOWL (TAMPA, FLORIDA) | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN
SATURDAY, DEC. 24
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE VS. SAN DIEGO STATE — HAWAI’I BOWL (HONOLULU, HAWAI’I) | 8 P.M. | ESPN
MONDAY, DEC. 26
BOWLING GREEN VS. NEW MEXICO STATE — QUICK LANE BOWL (DETROIT) | 2:30 P.M. | ESPN
TUESDAY, DEC. 27
BUFFALO VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN — CAMELLIA BOWL (MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA) | 12 P.M. | ESPN
OKLAHOMA STATE VS. WISCONSIN — GUARANTEED RATE BOWL (PHOENIX) | 10:15 P.M. | ESPN
MEMPHIS VS. UTAH STATE — FIRST RESPONDER BOWL (DALLAS) | ESPN
COASTAL CAROLINA VS. EAST CAROLINA — BIRMINGHAM BOWL (BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA) | ESPN
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 28
DUKE VS. UCF — MILITARY BOWL (ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND) | 2 P.M. | ESPN
ARKANSAS VS. KANSAS — LIBERTY BOWL (MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE) | 5:30 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 15 OREGON VS. NORTH CAROLINA — HOLIDAY BOWL (SAN DIEGO) | 8 P.M.
TEXAS TECH VS. OLE MISS — TEXAS BOWL (HOUSTON) | 9 P.M. | ESPN
THURSDAY, DEC. 29
MINNESOTA VS. SYRACUSE — PINSTRIPE BOWL (BRONX, NEW YORK) | 2 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 13 FLORIDA STATE VS. OKLAHOMA — CHEEZ-IT BOWL (ORLANDO, FLORIDA) | 5:30 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 12 WASHINGTON VS. NO. 20 TEXAS — ALAMO BOWL (SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS) | 9 P.M. | ESPN
FRIDAY, DEC. 30
NO. 23 NC STATE VS. MARYLAND — DUKE’S MAYO BOWL (CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA) | 12 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 18 UCLA VS. PITT — SUN BOWL (EL PASO, TEXAS) | 2 P.M. | CBS
NO. 19 SOUTH CAROLINA VS. NO. 21 NOTRE DAME — GATOR BOWL (JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
OHIO VS. WYOMING — ARIZONA BOWL (TUCSON, ARIZONA) | 4:30 P.M.| BARSTOOL
NO. 6 TENNESSEE VS. NO. 7 CLEMSON — ORANGE BOWL (MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA) | 8 P.M. | ESPN
SATURDAY, DEC. 31
IOWA VS. KENTUCKY — MUSIC CITY BOWL (NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE) | 12 P.M. | ABC
NO. 5 ALABAMA VS. NO. 9 KANSAS STATE — SUGAR BOWL (NEW ORLEANS) | 12 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 2 MICHIGAN VS. NO. 3 TCU (CFP SEMIFINAL) — FIESTA BOWL (GLENDALE, ARIZONA) | 4 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 1 GEORGIA VS. NO. 4 OHIO STATE (CFP SEMIFINAL) — PEACH BOWL (ATLANTA) | 8 P.M. | ESPN
MONDAY, JAN. 2
NO. 22 MISSISSIPPI STATE VS. ILLINOIS — RELIAQUEST BOWL (TAMPA, FLORIDA) | 12 P.M. | ESPN2
NO. 17 LSU VS. PURDUE — CITRUS BOWL (ORLANDO, FLORIDA) | 1 P.M. | ABC
NO. 10 USC VS. NO. 16 TULANE — COTTON BOWL (ARLINGTON, TEXAS) | 1 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 8 UTAH VS. NO. 11 PENN STATE — ROSE BOWL (PASADENA, CALIFORNIA) | 5 P.M. | ESPN
SUNDAY, JAN. 8
FCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (FRISCO, TEXAS) | 2 P.M. | ABC
MONDAY, JAN. 9
CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA) | ESPN
NFL SCHEDULE
WEEK 16
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2022
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT NEW YORK JETS (THU) 8:15P (ET) 8:15P PRIME VIDEO
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2022
ATLANTA FALCONS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (SAT) 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
DETROIT LIONS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (SAT) 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
BUFFALO BILLS AT CHICAGO BEARS (SAT) 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (SAT) 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (SAT) 12:00P (CT) 1:00P FOX
NEW YORK GIANTS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (SAT) 12:00P (CT) 1:00P FOX
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (SAT) 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
HOUSTON TEXANS AT TENNESSEE TITANS (SAT) 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (SAT) 1:05P (PT) 4:05P CBS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT DALLAS COWBOYS (SAT) 3:25P (CT) 4:25P FOX
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (SAT) 8:15P (ET) 8:15P NFLN
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2022
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
DENVER BRONCOS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS 1:30P (PT) 4:30P CBS / NICKELODEON
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS 6:20P (MT) 8:20P NBC
MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2022
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (MON) 8:15P (ET) 8:15P ESPN
NBA
UTAH 126 DETROIT 111
CHICAGO 113 MIAMI 103
NEW YORK 132 GOLDEN STATE 94
WASHINGTON 113 PHOENIX 110
DENVER 105 MEMPHIS 91
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NBA/SCOREBOARD.ASP
NHL
TORONTO 4 TAMPA BAY 1
PHILADELPHIA 5 COLUMBUS 3
PITTSBURGH 3 NY RANGERS 2
CAROLINA 4 NEW JERSEY 1
WINNIPEG 5 OTTAWA 1
SEATTLE 5 ST. LOUIS 2
LOS ANGELES 4 ANAHEIM 1
CALGARY 7 SAN JOSE 3
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NHL/SCOREBOARD.ASP
2022 NFL PLAYOFF SCENARIOS FOR WEEK 16
AFC
CLINCHED:
Kansas City Chiefs – AFC West division title
Buffalo Bills – playoff berth
BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-5)
Week 16 – vs. Atlanta (5-9), Saturday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX
Week 17 – vs. Pittsburgh (6-8)
Week 18 – at Cincinnati (10-4)
Baltimore clinches playoff berth with:
- BAL win + MIA loss or tie + NE loss or tie OR
- BAL win + MIA loss or tie + NYJ loss or tie OR
- BAL win + NE loss or tie + NYJ loss or tie OR
- BAL tie + NE loss + NYJ loss OR
- BAL tie + NE loss + MIA loss + LAC win OR
- BAL tie + NE loss + MIA loss + NYJ tie OR
- BAL tie + NE loss + NYJ tie + LAC win OR
- BAL tie + NE tie + NYJ loss + MIA loss OR
- BAL tie + NE tie + NYJ tie + MIA loss + LAC win OR
- NE loss + NYJ loss + CLE loss or tie + LV loss or tie + TEN loss or tie + LAC win
BUFFALO BILLS (11-3)
Week 16 – at Chicago (3-11), Saturday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS
Week 17 – at Cincinnati (10-4)
Week 18 – vs. New England (7-7)
Buffalo clinches AFC East division title with:
- BUF win or tie OR
- MIA loss or tie
CINCINNATI BENGALS (10-4)
Week 16 – at New England (7-7), Saturday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS
Week 17 – vs. Buffalo (11-3)
Week 18 – vs. Baltimore (9-5)
Cincinnati clinches playoff berth with:
- CIN win or tie OR
- NYJ loss or tie
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (8-6)
Week 16 – at Indianapolis (4-9-1), Monday, 8:15 PM ET, ESPN
Week 17 – vs. L.A. Rams (4-10)
Week 18 – at Denver (4-10)
L.A. Chargers clinch playoff berth with:
- LAC win + LV loss or tie + NE loss + NYJ loss OR
- LAC win + LV loss or tie + NE loss + NYJ tie + MIA loss OR
- LAC win + LV loss or tie + NE tie + NYJ loss + MIA loss
NFC
CLINCHED:
Minnesota Vikings – NFC North division title
San Francisco 49ers – NFC West division title
Dallas Cowboys – playoff berth
Philadelphia Eagles – playoff berth
NEW YORK GIANTS (8-5-1)
Week 16 – at Minnesota (11-3), Saturday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX
Week 17 – vs. Indianapolis (4-9-1)
Week 18 – at Philadelphia (13-1)
N.Y. Giants clinch playoff berth with:
- NYG win + WAS loss + DET loss OR
- NYG win + WAS loss + SEA loss OR
- NYG win + DET loss + SEA loss
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (13-1)
Week 16 – at Dallas (10-4), Saturday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX
Week 17 – vs. New Orleans (5-9)
Week 18 – vs. N.Y. Giants (8-5-1)
Philadelphia clinches NFC East division title with:
- PHI win or tie
Philadelphia clinches homefield advantage and NFC’s lone first-round bye with:
- PHI win OR
- PHI tie + MIN loss or tie
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES:
NFL legend Franco Harris, known for Immaculate Reception, dead at 72
Franco Harris, the Hall of Fame running back who was known for making a miraculous grab in the AFC Divisional Playoffs against the Oakland Raiders in 1972, has died. He was 72.
Harris’ death came days before the Pittsburgh Steelers were set to retire his No. 32 jersey and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception at Acrisure Stadium. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin talked about Harris’ catch on Tuesday when he addressed reporters.
“I was in Section 135 that day. I was eight months old. I think it’s funny. Surprisingly, I’ve probably met 75,000 people that were there that day,” Tomlin said. “It’s just one of those beautiful things in the history of our game. It’s humbling to be in close proximity to it, to work for this organization, to understand its impact on this organization, the career it spawned in Franco [Harris], a gold-jacket career, what it did for them that season in terms of changing the trajectory of that season, what it’s done for this franchise …
“There are many things that make it the play that it is and the most significant play in the history of our game. It’s just an honor to be in proximity to it. To know the man involved, to call Pittsburgh home, and so it’s awesome to be a part of and to witness. But at the same time, we understand that we’ve got business, we’ve got present-day business and the best way we can honor him and that is by performing. We’re going to work extremely hard to prepare ourselves leading up to it.”
WTAE first reported the shocking news about Harris. The cause of death wasn’t immediately known.
Harris’ son Dok told the Associated Press his father died overnight.
THURSDAY NIGHT CAPSULE – JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT NEW YORK JETS
Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season gets underway on Thursday, December 22 (8:15 PM ET, Prime Video) as the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-8) visit the New York Jets (7-7) in a pivotal late-season meeting between playoff hopefuls. Each team enters the matchup only one game out of the AFC playoff picture. The Jaguars hold the all-time regular-season series advantage, 8-7, but the Jets earned the victory in the most recent meeting, a 26-21 win in Week 16 of the 2021 season. New York quarterback ZACH WILSON (91 rushing yards) and running back MICHAEL CARTER (118) each set career high rushing totals in rushing in that game, including a 52-yard touchdown run by Wilson.
The Jaguars enter Week 16 with back-to-back wins and sit only a game back of Tennessee for first place in the AFC South. Jacksonville is looking to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2017. Last week, the Jaguars overcame a 17-point deficit in the third quarter to defeat Dallas, 40-34, in overtime. Quarterback TREVOR LAWRENCE led a seven-play drive with just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter to set up the game-tying 48-yard field goal by RILEY PATTERSON as time expired. In overtime, safety RAYSHAWN JENKINS recorded the game-winning 52-yard interception-return touchdown – his second interception of the game – to mark the seventh-longest game-winning interception return for a touchdown in overtime since regular-season overtime was instituted in 1974. Jenkins also led the team with a career-high 18 tackles, the most tackles in a game by a player with multiple interceptions since 1991.
Lawrence totaled 318 passing yards and a career-high four touchdown passes in the victory, his second consecutive game with at least 300 passing yards and three touchdown passes. Over his past six games, the second-year quarterback has 15 touchdowns (14 passing, one rushing) against one interception with a 111.2 passer rating, the highest passer rating among qualified passers in the NFL since Week 9. Running back TRAVIS ETIENNE led the team with 127 scrimmage yards (103 rushing, 24 receiving) last week and needs 83 rushing yards on Thursday to become the fifth player in franchise history to record 1,000 rushing yards in a season. Wide receiver CHRISTIAN KIRK aims for his fourth in a row with at least five catches and has over 90 receiving yards in two of his past three games. He needs 34 receiving yards for his first-career 1,000-yard season. Wide receiver ZAY JONES had six catches for 109 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in Week 15 and has a touchdown reception in each of his past two games. Linebacker FOYESADE OLUOKUN enters Thursday with at least 14 tackles in each of his past four games and can become the first player since 2000 with at least 14 tackles in five straight games. He leads the NFL with 156 tackles this season.
The Jets enter Thursday one game back of an AFC Wild Card spot, as the franchise is aiming for its first postseason berth since 2010. Last week, Wilson made his eighth start of the season and totaled 317 passing yards and two touchdown passes, his second-career game with at least 300 passing yards. Running back ZONOVAN KNIGHT has at least 75 scrimmage yards in three of his four career games and is one of three undrafted rookies with over 300 scrimmage yards (321) this season. Wide receiver GARRETT WILSON totaled 98 receiving yards in Week 15, his fourth-consecutive game with at least 75 receiving yards, the longest active streak in the league. Wilson leads all rookies with 67 catches and 966 receiving yards this season, both the most ever by a Jets rookie. Tight end C.J. UZOMAH recorded his third-career game with two touchdown receptions last week. In his last game against Jacksonville (Sept. 30, 2021, with Cincinnati), Uzomah recorded five catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensive lineman QUINNEN WILLIAMS leads the team with 11 sacks this season and is the first Jet with at least 11 sacks in a season since 2015 (MUHAMMAD WILKERSON). Linebacker QUINCY WILLIAMS aims for his sixth in a row at home with a tackle for loss. Linebacker C.J. MOSLEY is one of 10 players in the NFL with at least five tackles in 14 games this season. In the teams’ 2021 meeting, Mosley recorded 10 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Rookie cornerback SAUCE GARDNER leads the NFL with 16 passes defensed in 2022, while cornerback D.J. REED tied a career high with three passes defensed last week.
Prime Video will stream 15 Thursday Night Football games this season (Weeks 2-17, excluding Thanksgiving). The game will feature Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit and Kaylee Hartung on the call.
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES HISTORY
LEADER Jaguars lead all-time series, 8-7
STREAKS Jaguars have won 2 of past 3
LAST GAME 12/26/21: Jaguars 21 at Jets 26
LAST GAME AT SITE 12/26/21
JAGS NOTES:
LAST WEEK W 40-34 vs. Dallas (OT)
COACH VS. OPP. Doug Pederson: 1-0
PTS. FOR 23.9
OFFENSE 367.9
PASSING Trevor Lawrence: 330-500-3,520-24-7-96.6
RUSHING Travis Etienne: 182-917-5.0-4
RECEIVING Christian Kirk: 73-966-13.2-7
PTS. AGAINST 23.4
DEFENSE 370.7
SACKS Josh Allen, Dawuane Smoot: 5
INTs Andre Cisco, Rayshawn Jenkins: 3
TAKE/GIVE +5 (20/15)
PUNTING (NET) Logan Cooke: 50.6 (44.1)
KICKING Riley Patterson: 98 (29/30 PAT; 23/27 FG)
QB TREVOR LAWRENCE passed for 318 yards & career-high 4 TDs vs. INT with 109 rating last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 315+ pass yards, 3+ TD passes & 105+ rating. Has 15 TDs (14 pass, 1 rush) vs. INT with 111.2 rating over past 6 games. Aims for 5th in row on road with 0 INTs. Totaled 317 yards (280 pass, 37 rush) in last meeting. Passed for 204 yards & had rush TD in only career primetime start (9/30/21 at Cin. on TNF). • RB TRAVIS ETIENNE led team with 127 scrimmage yards (103 rush, 24 rec.) last week, his 3rd game this season with 125+ scrimmage yards. • WR CHRISTIAN KIRK had 92 rec. yards in Week 15. Aims for 4th in row with 5+ catches & has 90+ rec. yards in 2 of past 3. Had 5 catches for 78 yards in only career game vs. NYJ (10/11/20 w/ Az.). Needs 34 rec. yards for 1st-career 1,000-yard season. • WR ZAY JONES had 6 catches for 109 yards & career-high 3 TDs last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 6+ catches, 75+ rec. yards & rec. TD. Has 5+ catches in 5 of 6 road games this season. Has career-best 764 rec. yards in 2022. • WR MARVIN JONES had 3rd TD catch of season in Week 15. Aims for his 4th in row vs. NYJ with 50+ rec. yards. Has 65+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3 on TNF. • TE EVAN ENGRAM aims for 4th in row with 5+ catches. Has TD catch in 2 of past 3. • S RAYSHAWN JENKINS set career highs in tackles (18) & INTs (2) last week, incl. GW 52-yard INT-TD in OT, 1st-career TD. Is 1st player since 1991 with 18+ tackles & 2 INTs in single game. Had 7 tackles & PD in his last game vs. NYJ (11/22/20 w/ LAC). • LB FOYESADE OLUOKUN is 2nd player since 2000 (Zach Thomas – 2005) with 14+ tackles in 4 straight games. Leads NFL with 156 tackles this season. • DE/LB JOSH ALLEN aims for 3rd in row with sack. Had 2 sacks & FF in 2019 meeting.
JETS NOTES:
LAST WEEK: L 20-17 vs. Detroit
COACH VS. OPP. Robert Saleh: 1=0
PTS. FOR 20.1
OFFENSE 336.9
PASSING Mike White: 80-129-952-3-2-85.8
RUSHING Michael Carter: 108-390-3.6-3
RECEIVING Garrett Wilson (R): 67-966-14.4-4
PTS. AGAINST 18.8
DEFENSE 305.4
SACKS Quinnen Williams: 11
INTs Lamarcus Joyner: 3
TAKE/GIVE -2 (15/17)
PUNTING (NET) Braden Mann: 47.4 (40.1)
KICKING Greg Zuerlein: 103 (28/29 PAT; 25/30 FG)
QB MIKE WHITE has 315+ pass yards in 2 of 3 starts this season. • QB ZACH WILSON passed for 317 yards & 2 TDs last week, 2nd-career game with 300+ pass yards. Has 0 INTs in 2 of his past 3 starts. Had 193 yards (102 pass, career-high 91 rush) & 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs in last meeting. • RB ZONOVAN KNIGHT (rookie) has 75+ scrimmage yards in 3 of 4 career games. • RB MICHAEL CARTER had career-high 118 rush yards in last meeting. • WR GARRETT WILSON had 98 rec. yards last week. Aims for 5th in row with 75+ rec. yards. Has 75+ rec. yards in 4 straight games, longest active streak in NFL. Aims for 5th in row at home with 90+ rec. yards. Leads rookies with 67 catches & 966 rec. yards, both most-ever by NYJ rookie. • WR ELIJAH MOORE aims for 3rd in row with 50+ rec. yards. • TE C.J. UZOMAH had season-best 41 rec. yards & 2 rec. TDs last week, 3rd-career game with 2 TDs. Had 5 catches for 95 yards & 2 TDs in his last game vs. Jax. (9/30/21 w/ Cin.). Aims for his 3rd in row on TNF with TD catch. • DL QUINNEN WILLIAMS aims for his 3rd in row with 2+ TFL & sack. Has sack in 5 of his past 6. Is 1st NYJ player with 11+ sacks since Muhammad Wilkerson (12 in 2015). • LB QUINCY WILLIAMS had 7 tackles & 2 TFL last week. Aims for his 6th in row at home with TFL. Had 5 tackles in last meeting. • LB C.J. MOSLEY is 1 of 10 in NFL with 5+ tackles in 14 games this season. Has PD in 3 of his past 4 at home. Had 10 tackles, sack & FF in last meeting. • CB SAUCE GARDNER (rookie) has PD in 2 of past 3 & leads NFL with 16 PD this season.
Eagles coach refuses to rule out injured QB Hurts vs Cowboys
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has not been ruled out to play Saturday against the Cowboys, even as the NFL MVP candidate deals with a sprained right shoulder.
Hurts injured his throwing shoulder when he was driven into the ground on a tackle in a win over Chicago on Sunday that moved the Eagles to 13-1. Hurts was diagnosed with the shoulder injury on Monday.
“I do not put it past Jalen Hurts, I don’t put anything past Jalen Hurts as far as his physical and mental toughness,” coach Nick Sirianni said Tuesday. “There’s a chance he can play this week.”
Hurts said Tuesday it was “business as usual” and there was “definitely a chance” he could play against Dallas. He took several big hits against the Bears and landed hard on his shoulder when he was tackled by defensive tackle Travis Gipson.
“I knew when it happened,” Hurts said. “I don’t want to talk about myself. It took a lot of grit, it took some courage, it took the people around me. We have a ton of guys that have to play through things.”
The 24-year-old morphed into a serious NFL MVP candidate in his second season as a starter. Hurts has thrown 22 touchdowns and has 3,472 yards passing, and he has rushed for 747 yards and 13 touchdowns.
“We will play him when he’s ready to play,” Sirianni said. “If that’s this week, it’s this week. If it’s next week, it’s next week. When Jalen’s ready to play, he’s ready to play. All aspects of it.”
The Eagles need one more win to clinch the NFC East and secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They would turn to backup QB Gardner Minshew to start against Dallas if Hurts isn’t ready to play.
“I think the best thing for me is being ready to play,” Hurts said.
Hurts’ 35 total touchdowns this season tied the franchise record set by Randall Cunningham in 1990. He threw two interceptions against the Bears after throwing only three total all season. But he rushed for three touchdowns for the second time in his career. He went 22-of-37 passing for 315 yards in Sunday’s 25-21 win.
“It’s not the first time I’ve had things I’ve had to overcome,” Hurts said. “Nothing changes about this other than the publicity of it. The mentality of this team, it’s truly about just being ready go into Saturday. It’s going to take everybody like it does every week.”
Steelers expect QB Kenny Pickett to start against Raiders
PITTSBURGH (AP) Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett should leave the concussion protocol this week, clearing the way for him to start on Saturday against Las Vegas.
Pickett did not play in Sunday’s 24-16 victory over Carolina after sustaining his second concussion in two months early in a loss to Baltimore on Dec. 11. Mitch Trubisky played well while filling in, but Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Pickett will play against the Raiders (6-8) if there are no setbacks.
“The concussion component of where (Pickett) is, is behind us,” Tomlin said. “I think he’s gotta check a box procedurally, but if we were to practice (Tuesday), he’d be a full participant.”
Tomlin also anticipates inside linebacker Myles Jack to play after he sat out against the Panthers with a groin injury. Safety Terrell Edmunds, wide receiver Diontae Johnson and fullback Derek Watt are dealing with minor injuries that should not affect their availability.
Pittsburgh (6-8) has won four of six to remain in the outermost fringe of the playoff race.
Penix, Ibrahim, Latu earn comeback player of the year honors
(AP) — Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Minnesota running back Mohamed Ibrahim and UCLA linebacker Laiatu Latu were named college football’s comeback players of the year on Tuesday.
Penix transferred to Washington after four seasons at Indiana, each ending with a serious injury.
With the Huskies, Penix played all 12 games and heads into the postseason leading the nation with 363 yards passing per game. Washington (10-2) will face Texas (8-4) in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29.
Ibrahim played only one game in 2021, rupturing his left Achilles tendon in the opener against Ohio State. He returned in 2022 to lead the Big Ten in rushing at 145 yards per game. He ranks second in the nation heading into the Pinstripe Bowl, where Minnesota (8-4) will face Syracuse (7-5) on Dec. 29.
Latu suffered a neck injury during preseason practice in 2020 when he was at Washington and needed surgery to led to a medical retirement.
Hoping to play again, he transferred to UCLA in 2022 and went through spring practice in noncontact drills. He became one of the top pass rushers in the Pac-12 this season, with 9 1/2 sacks and three forced fumbles.
UCLA (9-3) faces Pitt (8-4) in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 30.
Previous winners of the comeback player of the year aware include Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson in 2021 and Oregon State quarterback Jake Luton in 2019.
The comeback player of the year is presented by College Sports Communicators in association with the Fiesta Bowl. Winners are chosen by AP Top 25 voters, sports information directors and Fiesta Bowl Organization representatives.
Illinois rewards Bielema with new contract through 2028
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) Illinois signed coach Bret Bielema to a new six-year contract through 2028 on Tuesday, a big reward for transforming a struggling program into a winner in his second season.
Bielema, 13-11 with Illinois, gets a bump in salary from $4.2 million to $6 million. The deal, which is pending approval by the school’s board of trustees in January, includes various bonuses like a $500,000 annual retention incentive. He is also eligible for four one-year extensions if certain performance thresholds – which were not disclosed in the announcement – are met.
“I am proud of the progress we have made in two years and I could not be more excited about where our program is going,” Bielema said in a statement.
The Illini (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten) are wrapping up their best season since the 2007 Rose Bowl team won nine games. They were ranked in the AP Top 25 poll for five straight weeks and made the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time. They’re set to face Mississippi State in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 2 in Tampa, Florida, after finishing with losing records the previous 10 years.
The 52-year-old Bielema, who led Wisconsin to three Rose Bowls before a disappointing run at Arkansas, is 110-69 in 14 seasons as a college coach. He is from western Illinois.
“He has assembled an exceptional staff, developed the existing players on our roster, and recruited talented student-athletes to join our program,” Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said. “He has worked tirelessly, with an eye for detail and tremendous competitive urgency, to set a new standard of excellence for Fighting Illini Football. Perhaps most importantly, he has brought an immediate identity to our football program and represented the University of Illinois with class, humility, and confidence.”
Miami MBB Topples Sixth-Ranked Virginia, 66-64
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team knocked off sixth-ranked Virginia, 66-64, Tuesday night in its first top-25 matchup of the season.
Fourth-year junior guard Isaiah Wong scored a game-high 24 points for No. 22 Miami (12-1, 3-0 ACC), which led by as many as 15 points and trailed for just 34 seconds in front of a season-high 7,257 fans at the Watsco Center.
After Virginia (8-2, 1-1 ACC) scored the opening basket, Miami forced six consecutive misses and, in just 3:33, put up12 straight points at the other end to go up by 10 after just five-and-a-half minutes. The Hurricanes extended their lead to 14, 26-12, with 9:15 on the clock after a four-point play by Wong capped a 12-2 run in 2:33.
Miami entered the locker room with a 36-26 edge after holding the Cavaliers to just 34.5 percent (10-of-29) shooting, including a 22.2 percent (2-of-9) clip beyond the arc.
The Hurricanes kept Virginia scoreless for the first 5:16 after the break, making it a stretch of 7:07 without a point for the Cavaliers, as the home team upped its lead to 15 points, 41-26. In total, Miami held the Cavaliers without a basket for 8:21.
Virginia closed within one, 43-42, with 8:54 to go after a 10-0 burst in 2:15, capped by back-to-back 3-pointers from graduate student forward Ben Vander Plas. Miami, though, never gave away the lead and pushed it back as high as 10 down the stretch on the way to its 11th top-10 win in head coach Jim Larrañaga’s 12-year tenure.
Virginia, which entered the night No. 11 in KenPom adjusted offensive efficiency, shot just 36.7 percent (22-of-60) overall and 26.1 percent (6-of-23) from deep. In addition to its strong defense, Miami posted a 9-0 margin in fast-break points and shot 77.2 percent (17-of-22) at the line.
Wong shot 7-of-13 overall, 2-of-3 from deep and 8-of-9 at the line. The Piscataway, N.J., native added six rebounds and a team-high five assists. He became the first Hurricane with four straight 20-point performances since Jack McClinton in January 2009.
Fifth-year senior guard Jordan Miller logged 11 points, while third-year sophomore forward Norchad Omier posted 10 to go along with a team-high eight rebounds and a season-high four blocks.
Vander Plas led Virginia with a season-best 20 points, while graduate student guard Kihei Clark added 13 despite Miami holding him to 2-of-10 shooting. Junior guard Reece Beekman notched 10 points in the setback.
After a week without a contest, the Hurricanes resume play Dec. 28 at 8 p.m. against Vermont at the Watsco Center, live on ACC Network.
To keep up with the University of Miami men’s basketball team on social media, follow @CanesHoops on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
MIAMI HURRICANES POSTGAME NOTES
– The Hurricanes posted three separate runs of at least 7-0, including two spurts of at least 9-0.
– The Cavaliers started the second half 1-of-11 from the field and 0-of-3 from the free-throw line.
– The last time Miami beat a top-10 team was 3/20/22 when it took down No. 8/7 Auburn, 79-61, in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 in Greenville, S.C.
– Miami’s last win over a top-six team was 1/8/22 when it upset second-ranked Duke, 76-74, in Durham, N.C.
– The Hurricanes’ last top-10 win at the Watsco Center came on 2/25/17, a 55-50 victory over No. 10/11 Duke.
– Miami has won 12 of its first 13 games for the eighth time in program history, including the third under Larrañaga and first since 2017-18.
– Per Jared Berson, Wong is the second high-major conference player in the last decade to post four straight games with 20-plus points, five-plus rebounds and five-plus assists, joining Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine in 2015-16.
– This is the first time Wong has scored 20-plus points in four straight games as a collegian and he previously had just one three-game stretch in December 2020.
– The last Hurricane with four consecutive 20-point performances was Jack McClinton on 1/17/09 at No. 5/6 North Carolina (21), 1/21/09 versus Florida State (28), 1/25/09 against Virginia Tech in overtime (20) and 1/27/09 at NC State in overtime (27).
– Wong moved past Guillermo Diaz (2003-06) for the No. 12 spot on Miami’s all-time scoring list, now possessing 1,492 points.
– Omier’s four blocks set a season high, eclipsing his prior mark of three set in the most recent game, 12/17/22 versus St. Francis (PA).
Deacs Knock Off No. 14 Duke at Home in Big Four Showdown
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Looking to bounce back and remain undefeated on its home floor, the Wake Forest men’s basketball team completed the deed during Tuesday evening (Dec. 20), defeating Big Four rival No. 14 Duke (10-3, 1-1) for a first Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) victory of the year.
The victory was the Demon Deacons’ (9-4, 1-1) first over a ranked opponent both this season and in the head coach Steve Forbes era. It was Wake Forest’s first win over Duke since Feb. 25, 2020.
With the win, Wake Forest is 7-0 at home for the second season in a row and just the second time since 2013-14 when the Deacs went 12-0. This is the first time Wake has had back-to-back 7-0 home starts since 2007-08 and 2008-09 when they went 12-0 and 8-0 inside LJVM.
Five Deacs notched double-figures in scoring, led by Tyree Appleby’s 18 points. The graduate guard was especially effective at the free-throw line (13-of-14), while adding eight assists and four rebounds. Appleby has now led Wake Forest in scoring through six season contests.
Cameron Hildreth was close to recording a double-double, finishing with 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds. The sophomore continued his streak of 10 or more points, reaching a ninth consecutive showing.
Damari Monsanto posted 13 points while snagging five rebounds. Andrew Carr and Matthew Marsh rounded out the quintet with 10 points apiece.
Wake Forest made 22 of 26 attempts at the charity stripe, totaling a near 85.0 percentage. The team also shot over 46 percent from the field.
Standout Stat
For the second time this season, five Demon Deacons had double-digit scoring performances.
It was also the first time all five starters have finished in double figures since Feb. 26, 2022 against Louisville
Tyree Appleby – 18 points
Cameron Hildreth – 16 points
Damari Monsanto – 13 points
Matthew Marsh – 10 points
Andrew Carr – 10 points
How It Happened
Marsh opened the scoring with a tip-in layup at the 19:14 mark.
Wake Forest went on a 9-0 run over a three minute span to take an early 11-4 lead.
Hildreth leveled the score at 4-4 with a jumper before Marsh gave the Demon Deacons the lead with an alley-oop slam assisted by Monsanto with 16:39 remaining in the first half.
Appleby extended the lead as he earned his way to the line and knocked down a pair of free throws after the first media timeout.
Wake Forest opened the contest with a 6-2 rebounding advantage over Duke, including four offensive rebounds in the first two minutes.
Williamson capped off the run with a three-pointer, assisted by Appleby.
Appleby regained the lead for the Demon Deacons with a three-point play with 12:37 left in the first half.
Bradford recorded his first points of the contest with a dunk off another Appleby assist to extend the lead to 16-12.
Williamson hit a turnaround jumper at the 10:39 mark to give Wake Forest a three-point lead before the under-12 media timeout.
Klintman doubled the lead with a three-pointer off a dish-out from Appleby.
Appleby found Marsh for his second alley-oop dunk of the game to make it 23-17 Wake Forest with 7:46 remaining in the half.
Appleby picked up his fifth assist of the game with 7:20 left in the first half as he found Monsanto open for three.
Carr knocked down a three-pointer of his own to extend the lead to eight after a Monsanto assist with 5:25 to go in the half.
The junior forward scored seven straight Wake Forest points, including a pair of jumpers.
Hildreth hit a hookshot with 2:12 remaining in the half to put the Deacs up 35-28.
Wake Forest went into the locker room with a 39-30 lead.
The Deacs used balanced scoring in the first half to build the nine-point advantage, as all eight players recorded at least one field goal and five had at least five points.
Appleby finished the first half with five points, five assists and three rebounds.
As a team, the Deacs shot 14-for-30 (46.7%) and outrebounded the Blue Devils, 21-15.
Appleby opened the second half scoring with a pair of free throws at the 18:52 mark.
Hildreth hit a jumper in the paint before Appleby knocked down a three to give Wake Forest a 14-point lead with 17:47 remaining.
Marsh finished his third alley-oop of the contest after a lob from Appleby.
Hildreth reached double-digits with a layup for the Deacs’ fourth consecutive make to open the second half.
The Deacs forced five turnovers in the first five minutes of the second half.
Bradford fought his way to the basket for two with 13:07 remaining to extend the lead to 55-42.
Monsanto hit his second three-pointer of the contest with 11:35 to go to give Wake Forest a 14-point lead before the under-12 media timeout.
Monsanto earned his way to the line and knocked down a pair of free throws to reinstate the double-digit lead with 9:17 remaining.
Appleby and Marsh connected on an alley-oop for the third time of the contest (Marsh’s fourth) at the 7:48 mark.
Hildreth knocked down a two-point jumper to put Wake Forest up 68-57 with 4:42 left.
The Demon Deacons held Duke to no field goals (0-6) over a four-minute span until the 4:03 mark.
A pair of Appleby free throws followed by a Hildeth layup and Monsanto jumper on three consecutive possessions helped the Deacs hold on to a comfortable nine-point lead before a Duke timeout with 1:54 left.
Carr went 2-for-2 from the line with a minute left before Monsanto sealed the victory with a three-pointer from the left lane line.
The Deacs held off the Blue Devils to win, 81-70.
Coach’s Comments
“I’m really proud of my team. Here’s the thing, you go up to Rutgers and you get your butt kicked, and that’s life, right? It’s how you bounce back and I thought they did a really good job of coming back and preparing to play Duke. I know they had a couple of really good players out and I have a lot of respect for the program and Jon. I think they have a really good team. They’re gonna get better and better but it was their first road game. We’ve been pretty battle-tested with our schedule.
They do a really good job of not fouling and offensive rebounding. Tonight, we did the best job we could rebounding the ball against them, so that was huge. They didn’t get a lot of easy points off offensive rebounds. Then in the second half, we got into the double bonus, and we haven’t been able to do that for a while. That hurt them. Then you have a guy like Ty who can put the ball in his hands and get fouled, he’s gonna make free throws. That was a big key. I’m really proud of our team. In the second half, we took a punch to the canvas there in about nine minutes, but we came right back. We didn’t fold, and we’ve had some moments where we’ve teetered and we didn’t finish and tonight was a great example of finishing. If Matthew had enough attempts, he’d be leading the country in field goal percentage. He’s 31-for-35 from the field. Hildreth just plays so hard and he’s just a competitor. I’m really proud of my team. It’s a good feeling in the locker room. We’re 1-1 in the league. That’s what it is. 1-1 with 18 more of these to go so enjoy and get ready to play the next one.” – head coach Steve Forbes
Up Next
Wake Forest will take a holiday break from December 21-26 before returning to practice ahead of their New Year’s Eve matchup against the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Deacs and the Hokies will face off Dec. 31 at 12:00 p.m. ET inside LJVM Coliseum.
Markkanen scores 38 to lead Jazz past Pistons 126-111
DETROIT (AP) Lauri Markkanen scored 38 points, including a career-high nine 3-pointers, and the Utah Jazz defeated the Detroit Pistons 126-111 on Tuesday night.
Markkanen also matched his career best for points, set Nov. 18 against Phoenix.
“Obviously, Lauri had an amazing game for us,” Utah coach Will Hardy said. “He really pushed us into the lead.”
Jarred Vanderbilt added 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Jazz, who outscored Detroit 65-51 in the second half. Utah had at least 30 points in all four quarters.
“We’re going to score, but we have to take some pride in sitting down and guarding someone,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “If you don’t play with that conviction against Utah, they are going to hit those shots on you.”
Jordan Clarkson scored 21 for the Jazz, and Malik Beasley led the second unit with 17 points. Utah lost its previous two games by an average of 24.5 points, including a 122-99 defeat Monday in Cleveland.
“With this being the second of a back-to-back and our third game in four nights, we needed to get off to a good start,” Hardy said. “Detroit’s bench is so different than their starters that we really wanted to get ahead of the curve. The rhythm changes because their two lineups play such a different style.”
Jaden Ivey led Detroit with a season-best 30 points. Pistons rookie Jalen Duren had 15 points and 14 rebounds. He has at least 11 rebounds in seven straight games, matching Dwight Howard’s 2005 mark for the longest streak by a teenager.
“He brings a dominance on both ends,” Ivey said of his fellow rookie. “He’s dunking offensive rebounds, and defensively he’s so long and athletic that he can get deflections and blocks.”
Markkanen scored 19 points in the first half while Ivey had 18.
Utah led by one at halftime, then outscored the Pistons 34-25 in the third quarter to take a 95-85 lead into the fourth. Markkanen had nine points in the third, hitting all three 3-point attempts.
He added five more points in the first three minutes of the fourth, helping Utah build a 102-91 lead. The Jazz pulled away throughout the period, leading by as many as 22.
TIP-INS
Jazz: Improved to 3-7 against Eastern Conference teams. … Markkanen made eight of his first 11 3-point tries.
“I think this is the first game this season where he’s really bombed away from 3,” Hardy said. “But he still mixed in a few drives to the rim, so they couldn’t sell out to guard the 3.”
Pistons: Detroit’s starters, who have struggled in recent games, were outscored 94-71 despite Utah emptying its bench at the end of the game.
NO PERIMETER DEFENSE
The Pistons have been outscored 171-107 on shots outside the paint in the last three games, including 66-37 against Utah.
“We know they are good 3-point shooters, but our energy wasn’t there tonight,” Ivey said. “We couldn’t find Markkanen and that opened things up for everyone else.”
UP NEXT
Jazz: Host the Washington Wizards on Thursday.
Pistons: Visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.
Bulls snap 4-game slide, top short-handed Heat 113-103
MIAMI (AP) The only yells in the Chicago locker room were happy ones.
Nikola Vucevic had 29 points and 12 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points and the Bulls stopped a four-game slide by beating the short-handed Miami Heat 113-103 on Tuesday night.
Zach LaVine scored 21 and Coby White added 14 for the Bulls, who used a 30-7 run in the second half to take control – and looked nothing like the team that lost 150-126 to Minnesota on Sunday.
“It was good to get a win, get that positive feeling a little bit, especially after that very tough, terrible loss,” Vucevic said. “It was needed. Hopefully we can learn from this.”
Bam Adebayo made his first nine shots and scored 27 points. Adebayo also had 12 rebounds for the Heat, who got 19 points from Tyler Herro, 18 from Haywood Highsmith, 14 from Victor Oladipo and 13 from Duncan Robinson.
“They grabbed momentum and took it from there,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Miami was without three starters – Jimmy Butler (gastrointestinal illness), Kyle Lowry (left knee soreness) and Caleb Martin (sprained left ankle) – and had its season-best, four-game winning streak snapped.
And for one night, all was well with the Bulls again.
The 11-18 start entering Tuesday had clearly taken a toll. Players were confronting one another in the locker room at halftime of what became Sunday’s rout, and Bulls coach Billy Donovan spent considerable time before the game Tuesday discussing the state of the team.
“Certainly, there’s times where you can see guys are frustrated,” Donovan said. “But, to me, there’s only one or two responses to that. Either try harder and fight harder, or be frustrated and have the same thing continue on. To me, frustration’s a feeling. We’ve got to stop worrying about feelings and start making choices.”
The choices Tuesday were good ones. Chicago shot 55%, its second-best clip of the season.
“They have highly skilled offensive players, and if they see a few go down then they start to make quite a few shots,” Spoelstra said.
Herro made a 3-pointer to open the second half and put Miami up by eight. Chicago responded with its 30-7 run, highlighted by 14 consecutive points in one stretch, and Patrick Williams’ 3-pointer put the Bulls up 82-67.
The lead stayed in double digits for most of the rest of the way.
TIP-INS
Bulls: Chicago went 2-0 in its two trips to Miami this season, after winning on opening night back in October. … The Bulls were outscored 36-21 in the second quarter. It was the 14th time they lost a quarter by more than 10 points this season; they had been 0-13 in such games before Tuesday. … Former Heat guard Goran Dragic, as always, got a warm ovation when entering the game from the still-appreciative Miami crowd.
Heat: After appearing in each of the season’s first eight games, Butler has missed 12 of Miami’s last 24 contests. … Miami used its 12th starting lineup of the season. Each of the last five games has featured a different starting five. … Adebayo was 7 for 7 in the first half, the best such mark of his career. He was 6 for 6 in the first half against Cleveland on Feb. 22, 2020.
NO BLOCKS
The NBA can – and often does – change stats upon review, but as of now, this Bulls-Heat game was the league’s first with zero blocked shots since Detroit-Toronto on Oct. 26, 2016. DeRozan and Andre Drummond (who played 7:02 for Chicago on Tuesday) played in that game, DeRozan for the Raptors, Drummond for the Pistons.
RESPECT
Lowry was on the Heat bench wearing an Argentina soccer jersey — the No. 10, for Lionel Messi, the superstar who has been linked to Inter Miami for some time.
DOUBLE VUC
Vucevic had his team-best 14th double-double of the season. It was his first in his last six games.
UP NEXT
Bulls: Visit Atlanta on Wednesday.
Heat: Host Indiana on Friday.
Knicks rout Warriors 132-94, extend win streak to 8 games
NEW YORK (AP) Immanuel Quickley scored 22 points, Jalen Brunson had 21 and the New York Knicks rolled to their eighth straight victory, beating the depleted Golden State Warriors 132-94 on Tuesday night.
Quentin Grimes added 19 points and RJ Barrett had 18 as New York extended the longest current winning streak in the NBA.
“No one has talked about the streak at all,” Brunson said. “Obviously, we tell each other to keep it rolling. But, we’re just trying to be the best team we can be and just focus on one day at a time.”
Julius Randle finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds, Mitchell Robinson had nine points and 11 rebounds and Miles McBride added 10 points.
“We have a lot of players on this team who are capable of having monster games,” Brunson said. “It’s not surprising when someone like `Quick’ plays that way or `Q’ having that type of game or even Deuce (McBride) getting double figures. When they do it, it’s definitely a plus.”
Jordan Poole scored 26 points for the Warriors, who are without Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins and other key players. Jonathan Kuminga had 13, while Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Ty Jerome each had 11.
The Knicks scored the first eight points of the game and never trailed. They led 33-25 at the end of the first quarter.
The Warriors pulled within 35-33, but a 3-pointer by Grimes with 4:17 left in the second quarter gave the Knicks a 60-45 lead. New York led 69-56 at halftime.
“Winning naturally gains confidence,” Randle said. “But, I’m not going to put much into a winning streak or whatever. It’s still December.”
Robinson’s free throws put the Knicks up 88-67 with 5:37 remaining in the third quarter. They again went up by 21 on Quickley’s free throws with five seconds left in the quarter.
Quickley shot 6 for 10 after going 3 for 20 in the previous two games.
The Knicks led 100-81 heading into the fourth, and the Warriors never got any closer.
Svi Mykailiuk’s free throws with 58 seconds remaining gave New York its biggest lead of the night and were the final points of the contest.
“The Knicks are in a good groove right now. They totally outplayed us,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “We sank tonight. We’re trying to hang in there and we will. Another game tomorrow.”
TIP-INS
Warriors: Golden State is now 3-15 in away games this season, 1-8 against the Eastern Conference. . Donte DiVincenzo (illness, unrelated to COVID-19) and JaMychal Green (health and safety protocols) did not play. . Curry became the NBA’s career leader in 3-pointers made the last time he played at Madison Square Garden (Dec. 14, 2021). He missed his third straight game (left shoulder injury). . Andre Iguodala has yet to play this season (left hip injury).
Knicks: New York had lost eight straight home games to the Warriors. The Knicks’ last victory over Golden State was on Feb. 27, 2013, a 109-105 victory in which Curry’s 54 points were his career high. . Obi Toppin has not played since Oct. 10 (fractured right fibula). Coach Tom Thibodeau said he is doing better but was only working in the pool and still not doing anything on the court.
LONE WARRIOR
Kevon Looney is the only Warrior to start all 32 games this season. Poole is the other Golden State player to see the floor in all 32 games, but he has only started 13.
UP NEXT
Warriors: At the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.
Knicks: Host Toronto on Wednesday.
Wizards snap losing streak at 10, beat Suns 113-110
PHOENIX (AP) Kyle Kuzma scored 29 points and the Washington Wizards stopped their 10-game losing streak on Tuesday night, beating the Phoenix Suns 113-110.
Washington played without Kristaps Porzingis, sidelined with what Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. called a “non-COVID illness.” But Daniel Gafford filled in at center and had 12 points and eight rebounds as the Wizards won for the first time since Nov. 28, when they beat Minnesota 142-128 in Washington.
Bradley Beal, held to two points in the first half, scored 16 in the fourth quarter and finished with 27 for the Wizards (12-20), including two free throws to make it a five-point lead with 14 seconds left. Deni Avdija had 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Washington led by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, but Phoenix cut the deficit to 80-78 by the end of the period and took a 10-point lead midway through the fourth. The Wizards got it back to 100-96 and a charging foul on Ayton against the Wizards’ Taj Gibson led to nine straight points for the visitors.
“That’s a huge step for us,” Unseld said. “It’s something that we can continue to build on. You give yourself a chance. We minimized some of the mistakes that jumped us and bit us the last few games.
“These guys have continued to play hard and (the streak) didn’t affect their competitive spirit. Sometimes you make your own luck. Some of those hustle plays, 50-50 balls, the charge that Taj took, those are the plays that get you out of those ruts. I’m happy for those guys, I know they’re relieved and excited at the same time.”
Landry Shamet led the Suns with a season-high 31 points, making a career-high nine 3-pointers. Deandre Ayton had 30 points and 13 rebounds.
“My teammates were finding me, and I just made shots,” Shamet said. “We couldn’t close the game out.”
Devin Booker missed his second straight game with groin soreness after scoring 58 points against New Orleans on Saturday.
“Our defense in the fourth quarter broke down and we gave up 33 points, and 25 points off turnovers in the game,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “That kind of put us in mud. The offense wasn’t our demise tonight, it was our defense.
“I thought we got a bit tired and missed some shots and didn’t execute down the stretch.”
Earlier Tuesday, mortgage executive Mat Ishbia agreed in principle to buy a majority stake of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury from the embattled owner Robert Sarver for $4 billion.
Chris Paul, who scored 28 points against the Lakers on Monday, didn’t score Tuesday until midway through the third quarter and finished with 12 points and 11 assists.
Duane Washington Jr., in his first game back from a hip injury, scored 10 for the Suns. Mikal Bridges also scored 10.
TIP-INS
Wizards: Unseld said before the game that Porzingis woke up this morning “not feeling particularly well.” While tests came back negative for COVID-19, he missed the shootaround and was still not feeling right. “I don’t think it’s anything that’s substantial. Hopefully it’s just 24(equals), 48-hour variety,” Unseld said. He also said he’s hopeful that G Delon Wright, who has missed nearly two months with a right hamstring strain, could return in Washington’s next game Thursday.
Suns: Josh Okogie (right hip soreness) joined the injured list. Cameron Payne (foot) and Jock Landale (concussion protocol) remain sidelined along with Booker and Cam Johnson (right knee meniscus tear). Williams said Booker will probably have an evaluation on Wednesday.
NEXT
Wizards: At Utah Thursday.
Suns: Host Memphis Friday.
Jokic’s latest triple-double leads Nuggets past Grizzlies
DENVER (AP) Nikola Jokic had 13 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists for his second straight triple-double to lead the Denver Nuggets over the Memphis Grizzlies 105-91 on Tuesday night in a matchup between the top two teams in the Western Conference.
Jokic followed up his 40-point, 27-rebound, 10-assist performance Sunday night with his sixth triple-double of the season and 82nd of his career. He joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to put up those stats in a single game. Chamberlain did it four times.
Aaron Gordon had 24 points and Bruce Brown scored 16 for Denver. Rookie Christian Braun scored 13 points in the first start of his career.
“It doesn’t change much. You just got to be ready for the plays out of the huddle, but it didn’t change anything,” Braun said. “Same mindset, I have come in to the same exact thing. So it’s pretty easy.”
Braun’s defensive assignment was Ja Morant, who led Memphis with 35 points and 10 assists.
“I thought I was doing a good job on Ja and I looked up in the third quarter and he had 30,” Braun said.
The Grizzlies, now tied with the Nuggets in the standings, have lost two in a row following a seven-game winning streak.
“You’re playing for first place in the Western Conference — meaningless in the middle of December – but that’s what we’re playing for tonight,” Denver coach Michael Malone said. “That team is a top five in offensive and defense, so we’re going to have to bring our A game tonight. And I felt that Bruce, Christian, (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope), Aaron and Nikola did that.”
Denver, which never trailed, shot 59% and built a 21-point lead in the first quarter. Jeff Green’s running dunk over Ziaire Williams made it 37-14 and prompted a Memphis timeout 22 seconds into the second.
“Insane. His new nickname is Vino,” Gordon said of the 36-year-old Green. “Ages like fine wine.”
Memphis got within nine in the third period, but the Nuggets went back ahead by 20 and led by 13 entering the fourth. The Grizzlies made it 92-84 midway through the fourth but Denver used a 13-3 run to put it away.
“Two games in a row we don’t come out in the first quarter and we pay the price for it,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “We were getting some good shots early, we just need to convert those and give ourselves a better start to the game.”
TIP-INS
Grizzlies: F Desmond Bane missed his 17th straight game with a sprained big toe on his right foot. … Jaren Jackson Jr. had three blocks in his first nine minutes and finished with five, three shy of his career best set Dec. 12 against Atlanta.
Nuggets: Malone said Michael Porter Jr. is increasing his workload while rehabbing a heel injury and could return Friday against Portland or Sunday against Phoenix. … Jamal Murray (sore left knee) was inactive. … Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning and former wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders sat courtside. Both played on the Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 title team.
UP NEXT
Grizzlies: At the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.
Nuggets: Host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
AP source: Ishbia agrees to buy Suns, Mercury for $4 billion
(AP) — Mortgage executive Mat Ishbia has agreed in principle to buy the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury from the embattled owner Robert Sarver for $4 billion, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
It is the first step in a process that is expected to take several weeks to complete, according to the person, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because neither Ishbia nor the Suns had disclosed the agreement publicly.
ESPN first reported the agreement between Sarver and Ishbia – who is chairman, president and chief executive of United Wholesale Mortgage, which bills itself as the nation’s top overall mortgage lender. Forbes recently listed Ishbia’s net worth at $5.1 billion.
Ishbia, a former Michigan State player and a member of the Spartans’ NCAA championship team in 2000, will now be subject to a vetting process by the NBA. Once that process is completed, the NBA’s board of governors will have to approve the sale. The board isn’t scheduled to meet again until March, though it could convene virtually if the vetting process is successfully completed beforehand.
If the sale closes at $4 billion, it would be the largest purchase in NBA history. Joe Tsai bought the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center for $3.3 billion in 2019, and Tilman Fertitta purchased the Houston Rockets for $2.2 billion in 2017.
The only other NBA franchise known to be sold for $2 billion or more was the Los Angeles Clippers, when Steve Ballmer acquired that team in 2014.
“I had a great call with fellow Spartan Mat Ishbia congratulating him on his purchase of the Phoenix Suns,” Magic Johnson, another Michigan State alum tweeted Tuesday. “He’s going to do great things not only for the Suns organization, but for the entire league. All of the other 29 NBA teams better watch out because Mat’s a winner!”
Ishbia’s company is built around team aspects, and he often speaks of the lessons he learned while playing for Tom Izzo and with Mateen Cleaves at Michigan State. His company even has an intramural basketball program with an on-site full-court gym.
“This is not that complicated,” Ishbia recently told HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” for a profile, discussing his strategy with people. “Get the best people to join your team, just like in sports. Train them, coach them to be the best version of themselves, like Izzo used to do with us. And then treat them so well that they never want to leave.”
Justin Ishbia, Mat Ishbia’s brother, is also expected to be a prominent investor in the sale and would be part of the new ownership group, the person told the AP.
The NBA suspended Sarver in September for one year, plus fined him $10 million, after an investigation found that he had engaged in what the league called “workplace misconduct and organizational deficiencies.”
The findings of the league’s report came nearly a year after the NBA asked a law firm to investigate allegations that Sarver had a history of racist, misogynistic and hostile incidents over his nearly two-decade tenure overseeing the franchise.
Shortly afterward, Sarver announced that he would be looking to sell the Suns and the Mercury.
Sarver bought the Suns in 2004 for $401 million – then an NBA record, and roughly 10 times less than the sale price that Ishbia is willing to pay.
Ishbia has been mentioned before as a possible buyer of pro franchises, and he is a prominent Michigan State donor. He helped fund the $95 million deal that the Spartans gave football coach Mel Tucker last year. He played in 48 games for Izzo during his time as a walk-on guard in East Lansing.
Konecny, Tippett propel Flyers over Blue Jackets, 5-3
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett scored twice while Carter Hart recorded 30 saves to help lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 5-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.
In a game that featured the two teams currently at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, Philadelphia (11-15-7) used its young core players of Konecny (25 years old), Tippett (23) and Morgan Frost (23) to carry the scoring load.
“As hard as it has been to eat all the losses (as coaches) … they are the ones who play,” Flyers head coach John Tortorella said. “I can imagine how they feel, but there are some good things going on for development and your team concept. You have to hang your hat on it somewhere or you will lose your minds.”
Kirill Marchenko, Kent Johnson and Andrew Peeke each scored for the Blue Jackets, who have lost five straight and eight of their last 10. Daniil Tarasov had 34 saves in his fifth straight loss for Columbus (10-20-2), which is missing players due to injury.
“Tonight, I don’t think we managed the puck well,” Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. “We were sloppy and it cost us. Right up to the last play. We had pockets of decent moments, but we were a step slow, and we just couldn’t connect.”
Konecny recorded his first shorthanded goal in the NHL for the first period’s lone goal, turning a Gustav Nyquist turnover in the defensive zone into a scoring chance capped off with a wrister over Tarasov’s glove. Konecny would score the eventual game winner early in the third period with his 14th goal of the season, an unassisted breakaway goal off the backhand into the upper right corner.
“Right now, it’s about making the plays the right way and the guys are getting me the puck in the right spots,” Konecny said. “All the bounces are going my way right now.”
The Blue Jackets bunched two goals together midway through the second period to take the 2-1 lead on Johnson’s wrist shot past Hart on a 2-on-1 breakaway.
The Flyers answered before the end of the period with Frost adding his 6th goal of the season to tie game less than two minutes after Johnson’s goal. Three minutes later, Tippett received a cycle pass from Joel Farabee and whipped it past Tarasov. Tippett, who has been paired up on a line with Frost and veteran James van Riemsdyk, would seal the game with 1:19 left with an empty net goal for his 10th of the season.
“It’s always nice to know where guys are going to be all the time and building chemistry,” Tippett said. “It’s been great and hopefully we can keep going.”
Hart improved to 10-9-6 on the season.
NOTES: With the loss, Columbus fell to 2-9-1 on the road. … Philadelphia had forward Kevin Hayes back in the lineup on Tuesday night. Hayes, who is second on the Flyers with nine goals and entered play Tuesday a team-high 29 points, was a healthy scratch in Philadelphia’s 6-3 home loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday night. John Tortorella has been upset about the defensive play of a few of his veterans. Hayes entered Tuesday night’s game as a minus-12. … Wade Allison was activated off injured reserve and saw his first game action since Nov. 12. for Philadelphia. … Columbus starting goaltender Elvis Merzlikins missed his second straight game with an illness. Tarasov started on back to back nights, falling 2-1 to Dallas on Monday at home.
UP NEXT
Blue Jackets: At Chicago on Friday
Flyers: At Toronto on Thursday afternoon.
Donato scores in fourth straight, Kraken topple Blues 5-2
SEATTLE (AP) Ryan Donato continued his hot streak of goal scoring and got the Seattle Kraken off to the start they needed against an opponent they’ve struggled with in their first two seasons.
Donato scored in his fourth straight game, Carson Soucy, Daniel Sprong and Jared McCann scored in Seattle’s three-goal second period, and the Kraken beat the St. Louis Blues 5-2 on Tuesday night.
Seattle won consecutive games for the first time in nearly three weeks, snapped the Blues’ four-game win streak and beat St. Louis for the first time in the Kraken’s two seasons.
“I think we see when we play the right way, were going to get our chances, and if we capitalize on them it’s hard to beat us,” Donato said.
Donato’s seventh goal of the season came at 16:27 of the first period and the four-game goal streak is the longest of his career. Donato split St. Louis defenders during a change, collected a long stretch pass from Adam Larsson and beat Blues goalie Thomas Greiss.
“For me, it definitely is sweet. I think it’s exciting,” Donato said. “But honestly at the end of the day, I think everybody in here can agree that it’s more about winning. So for me to be a part of that win, it’s definitely a good feeling.”
Soucy scored at the 10-minute mark of the second period by happening to be in the right spot after Will Borgen’s shot from the point deflected to the side of the net. He used one hand to poke the puck past Greiss. Sprong and McCann added goals just over two minutes apart late in the period. Sprong’s eighth goal came on a breakaway, while McCann scored from behind the goal line banking his shot off Greiss. McCann leads Seattle with 15 goals on the season.
Brandon Tanev added an empty-net goal with 4:13 left.
Martin Jones made 22 saves for Seattle and won for the fourth time in his last five starts.
“The first two periods we were pretty good. We did what we had to do in terms of overall pace of play, energy,” Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. “We had a lot of good opportunities in the second period.”
St. Louis looked as if fatigue finally caught up. The Blues were playing their third back-to-back in the last nine days. The Blues had swept through Western Canada with wins in Edmonton, Calgary and Monday night in Vancouver before running out of steam in Seattle.
“We didn’t have the legs tonight, but we’ve got to be smarter then, and your puck play has to be really good,” St. Louis coach Craig Berube said.
Colton Parayko scored his second of the season for St. Louis at 5:59 of the third period, and Pavel Buchnevich scored with one second left on a power play at 10:54 to pull St. Louis within 4-2. Greiss made 28 saves.
The Blues also were without leading scorer Jordan Kyrou due to an upper-body injury, one night after recording his first career hat trick in a 5-1 win over Vancouver. Kyrou was checked into the boards by Vancouver’s Kyle Burroughs with 1:31 left in the game and didn’t play another shift.
Kyrou had been on a hot streak with nine points – six goals and three assists – in the first three game of the Blues’ road trip. Kyrou began the night as St. Louis’ leading scorer with 16 goals and 32 points.
“I think they handled it OK. We obviously miss him,” Berube said. “He’s a good player for us. It is what it is.”
NOTES: Tanev was stopped by Greiss on a penalty shot early in the third period after Tanev was tripped from behind on a breakaway. … Logan Brown moved into the lineup for his sixth game of the season with Kyrou out.
UP NEXT
Blues: Closes out road trip at Vegas on Thursday.
Kraken: Travels to Vancouver on Thursday.
Masters to keep criteria, invite all eligible players in ’23
(AP) — Players who defected from the PGA Tour to join Saudi-funded LIV Golf are still welcome at the Masters next year, even as Augusta National officials expressed disappointment Tuesday in the division it has caused in golf.
The Masters, the smallest field among the four majors, is by invitation and there was some question whether it would honor the PGA Tour suspending players – including past Masters champions – for joining a rival league.
Chairman Fred Ridley put the tournament over the ongoing battle, which is now playing out in federal court with antitrust lawsuits and countersuits.
“Although we are disappointed in these developments, our focus is to honor the tradition of bringing together a preeminent field of golfers this coming April,” Ridley said in a statement, which were his first comments on how Augusta National viewed the divide.
“Therefore, as invitations are sent this week, we will invite those eligible under our current criteria to compete in the 2023 Masters Tournament.”
Sixteen players with LIV Golf are among the 78 players currently eligible for the Masters. That includes six Masters champions – Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson and Charl Schwartzel.
Three others have won majors that come with a five-year exemption: British Open champion Cameron Smith, former U.S. Open and PGA champion Brooks Koepka and former U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau.
Joaquin Niemann qualified by reaching the Tour Championship, while six others will finish the year in the top 50 of the world ranking – Abraham Ancer, Talor Gooch, Harold Varner III, Jason Kokrak, Kevin Na and Louis Oosthuizen.
Still to be determined is how Augusta National will react after the 2023 tournament.
“As we have said in the past, we look at every aspect of the tournament each year, and any modifications or changes to invitation criteria for future tournaments will be announced in April,” Ridley said.
Mickelson, a three-time Masters champion, chose not to attend last year as he was recovering from the public pushback over his disparaging comments about the Saudi Arabians funding the new league, the tour and his ultimate goal of gaining leverage to change the PGA Tour landscape.
Ridley leaned on the heritage of the Masters and listed nine players – from Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, to the Big Three of Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus. He referenced Tiger Woods and Tom Watson, all who whom he said “have become heroes to golfers of all ages.”
Conspicuously missing from his list was Mickelson, regarded as the chief recruiter among players for LIV Golf.
“They have inspired some to follow in their footsteps and so many others to play and enjoy the game,” Ridley said. “They have supported the sport and, thus, all who benefit from it. They have shown respect for those who came before them and blazed a trail for future generations. Golf is better because of them.
“Regrettably, recent actions have divided men’s professional golf by diminishing the virtues of the game and the meaningful legacies of those who built it.”
The British Open has said it would not turn away those eligible. The U.S. Open hasn’t said if its criteria will change; that is expected at the USGA annual meeting in February. The PGA Championship has not said what it will do.
The Masters prefers to keep its field under 100 players and is target for that. Players who win PGA Tour events with full FedEx Cup points are eligible, and the club will take anyone else who gets into the top 50 in the world a week before the Masters.
LIV Golf does not get world ranking points – its application is pending – and it is unlikely anyone else from LIV would crack the top 50 by then.
TOP INDIANA RELEASES
Football High School Early Signings (Central Indiana)
Christian Abney, QB, Zionsville (Ball State)
Trent Baker-Booker, DB, Lawrence Central (Virginia)
Nick Beidl, RB, Carmel (Valparaiso)
Winston Berglund, S, Carmel (Purdue)
Luke Burgess, OL, New Palestine (Louisville)
Nick Cloyd, DB, Brownsburg (Butler)
Ben Decker, OL, Noblesville (Miami of Ohio)
Desmond Duffy, WR, Carmel (Ohio)
Carson Dunn, RB, Fishers (Indiana State)
Will Heldt, LB, Carmel (Purdue)
Bryson Hobbs, DL, Park Tudor (Youngstown State)
Preston Jarvis, OL, Brownsburg (Murray State)
Leighton Jones, OL, Brownsburg (Iowa)
Pat Kendall, DL, Cathedral (Army)
Trevor Lauck, OL, Roncalli (Iowa)
Blake Matthews, WR, Carmel (Butler)
T.J. McWilliams, WR, North Central (Minnesota)
Brady Neu, DL, Roncalli (Central Michigan)
Drew Page, OL, Noblesville (Kent State)
Bryce Patterson, DE, Brownsburg (Indiana State)
Brady Probst, TE, Brownsburg (Illinois State)
Grant Shelton, DB, Fishers (Indiana State)
Luke Skartvedt, OL, Roncalli (Northern Illinois)
Sterling Smith, DB, Cathedral (Holy Cross)
Grady Stanley, LB, Fishers (Indiana State)
Aycen Stevens, LB, Decatur Central (Virginia Tech)
Isaiah Thacker, DB, New Palestine (Ball State)
Dillon Thieneman, S, Westfield (Purdue)
Jaron Tibbs, WR, Cathedral (Purdue)
Kevion Wellington, DL, North Central (Eastern Michigan)
Brennan Wooten, TE, Cathedral (Western Michigan)
Colts Place RB Jonathan Taylor On Injured Reserve
The Colts on Tuesday placed running back Jonathan Taylor on injured reserve, waived defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo, signed running back Jordan Wilkins to the 53-man roster from the practice squad and signed linebacker Cameron McGrone to the 53-man roster from the New England Patriots’ practice squad.
Because players must miss a minimum of four games while on injured reserve, Taylor’s 2022 season is over. He finished his third year in Indianapolis with 192 carries for 861 yards (4.5 yards/attempt) with four touchdowns over 11 games.
Taylor dealt with ankle issues during the season, and missed the Colts’ Weeks 5, 6 and 9 games after sustaining ankle injuries. Taylor injured his ankle – interim head coach Jeff Saturday said it was the same one that’s bothered him in 2022 – early in the Colts’ Week 15 game against the Minnesota Vikings.
With Taylor out on Saturday, running backs Zack Moss (24 carries, 81 yards) and Deon Jackson (13 carries, 55 yards) split time in the Colts’ backfield.
Wilkins re-joined the Colts via the practice squad earlier this season and was elevated to the active roster for Weeks 9 and 10, in which he rushed six times for 31 yards and caught four passes for 15 yards. Wilkins, a 2018 fifth-round pick of the Colts, has 201 carries for 982 yards with four touchdowns over his five-year NFL career.
McGrone, an Indianapolis native and Lawrence Central High School alum, was a 2021 fifth-round pick (No. 177 overall) of the Patriots from Michigan. Odenigbo appeared in 13 games and totaled 3 1/2 sacks for the Colts in 2022.
The Colts also signed tight end Dominique Dafney and running back Aaron Shampklin to the practice squad.
Game Preview: Pacers at Celtics
Aaron Nesmith will make his return to Boston on Wednesday night as the Pacers (15-16) and the Celtics (22-9) meet for the first time this season.
The Celtics drafted Nesmith out of Vanderbilt with the 14th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. The 6-5 wing spent two seasons in Boston and was part of the Celtics team that reached the 2022 NBA Finals, but struggling to find consistent playing time on a roster that included a pair of All-Star wings in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Nesmith was traded to Indiana last summer in the deal that sent Malcolm Brogdon to Boston (Daniel Theis, who has yet to play this season after undergoing right knee surgery, was also dealt from the Celtics to the Pacers). It’s a move that has worked out well for both teams.
Nesmith has found a larger role in Indiana, starting 15 of 27 games and averaging 8.8 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 38.7 percent from 3-point range. He has earned rave reviews from his teammates and coaches for his hard-nosed, two-way play, often guarding the opposing team’s best player. The 23-year-old heads back to Boston coming off one of the best games of his career — a 23-point, 10-rebound performance in Sunday’s loss to New York.
“I’m looking forward to this game,” Nesmith said of his return to Boston. “It will be a lot of fun getting to see the guys again and competing against them.”
After three seasons as the starting point guard in Indiana, Brogdon has moved back into a sixth man role in Boston. While his scoring has taken a dip from 19.1 points per game last year to 13.8 this season, the 6-5 guard is much more efficient. After shooting a career-low 31.2 percent from 3-point range last season, Brogdon has rediscovered his shooting stroke with the Celtics, looking much more like the sharpshooter that made the 50/40/90 Club while in Milwaukee. As of Tuesday, Brogdon ranks third in the NBA in 3-point percentage, converting 46.2 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
The Celtics got off to the best start in the NBA this season, racing out to a 21-5 record, but have dropped four of their last five, falling a half-game back of Milwaukee in the race for first place in the Eastern Conference.
Still, Boston is clearly one of the favorites to contend for the 2023 NBA title, with Tatum and Brown leading the way. 24-year-old Tatum has inserted his name into the early MVP conversation, averaging 30.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Brown has been great as well, averaging 26.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Buddy Hield, F – Andrew Nembhard, F – Jalen Smith, C – Myles Turner
Celtics: G – Marcus Smart, G – Derrick White, F – Jaylen Brown, F – Jayson Tatum, C – Al Horford
Injury Report
Pacers: Kendall Brown – out (right tibia stress reaction), Daniel Theis – out (right knee surgery)
Celtics: Danilo Gallinari – out (left knee ACL repair)
Last Meeting
April 1, 2022: Tyrese Haliburton scored 30 points, going 10-for-11 from the field and 6-for-6 from 3-point range, but the Pacers fell in Boston, 128-123.
“He was aggressive,” Rick Carlisle said of Haliburton’s play. “He got himself going. He got himself on a roll.”
“He was able to go 10-for-11 from the field without disrupting what we were doing as a team. That’s a sign of a great point guard.”
Jalen Smith and Oshae Brissett each tallied 17 points and six rebounds in the loss. Goga Bitadze added 13 points, while Lance Stephenson recorded a double-double off the bench with 11 points and 11 assists.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 32 points and seven assists, while Jayson Tatum added 31 points, six boards, and six assists. Al Horford chipped in 17 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists for the Celtics.
Noteworthy
The Pacers have lost five straight regular season road games at Boston and also lost two playoff games at TD Garden over that span. Indiana’s last win in Boston was on March 11, 2018.
Pacers center Myles Turner was teammates with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart on the United States men’s national team at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
Pacers guard Chris Duarte and Celtics guard Payton Pritchard were teammates the University of Oregon from 2019-20.
Indiana Races Past Elon 96-72
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The point-guard spotlight found Jalen Hood-Schifino and he didn’t blink.
He thrived, in fact.
Against Elon on Tuesday night, Hood-Schifino was an offensive force and facilitator, big in these life-without-Xavier-Johnson times.
Case in point, the freshman’s career-high 17 points (on 7-of-12 shooting) and seven assists in 30 minutes in No. 18 IU’s 96-72 victory at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
This was huge with Johnson, the veteran point guard, out indefinitely with a foot injury suffered in last Saturday’s loss to Kansas. He spent Tuesday night’s game in a boot, moving around on a scooter.
“Things change with X out,” forward Miller Kopp said. “He’s one of our leading scorers and one of our leaders. He’s a big loss.
“Fino is making strides. The kid is a relentless worker. We’re super comfortable of where he’s going.”
Hood-Schifino has scored 14, 11 and now those 17 points in his last three games. He seems over the back spasms that cost him three games.
Coach Mike Woodson wants to keep it that way.
“With X, that gives you two guards in the game who make plays with the ball. Now, we don’t have X. I’ve got to keep an eye on Jalen. He’s just getting back from his flareup, I don’t want to bury him with a lot of minutes and he goes down. Then, we’re really stuck.
“I wanted to play him 30 minutes, and he responded. He had a few too many turnovers (five), but he’s young and learning.”
Guards Trey Galloway, Tamar Bates, CJ Gunn and Anthony Leal will have to help with the point-guard burden.
“This isn’t like the NBA where I can go to the D-League and find another point guard,” Woodson said. “Gallo, Scoop, CJ and Anthony have to play stronger and make basketball plays to help us.”
This was much-needed Hoosier dominance after a pair of double-digit defeats to top-10 Arizona and Kansas. They controlled points in the paint (58-24), rebounding (39-22) and bench scoring (37-22).
IU (9-3) did that without Johnson, forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (out for precautionary reasons) and forward Jordan Geronimo (dislocated finger).
Freshman Malik Reneau replaced Jackson-Davis and totaled nine points and seven rebounds.
“We play well at home,” Woodson said. “I expect us to win every game at home.
“Bouncing back is a confidence builder. This is still a young team. I started two freshmen (Hood-Schifino and Reneau) tonight.”
Career highs also came for Gunn (11 points) and forward Logan Duncomb (10).
Forward Race Thompson led the Hoosier with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Kopp added 13 points.
The goal, Woodson said, is getting everyone to play hard.
“That’s a big part of it. Some of our guys are not playing hard enough. That’s my job to get them to play hard. Everything else will fall in place if they learn to just play hard.
“That’s what you deal with when you have young players. They think they play hard, but there’s always another level that they’ve got to reach. That’s what I’m trying to get them to.”
Elon (2-11) fell to 0-30 against ranked NCAA Division I teams. It stayed as close as it did by making 10-of-24 three-pointers.
Kopp sparked IU out of a sluggish start with a steal, a drive, a pair of free throws and consecutive three-pointers. Reneau added an inside basket. Bates came off the bench and quickly hit a three-pointer. The Hoosiers surged ahead 17-9.
With Woodson taking full use of his bench, Elon surged back behind six three-pointers in the first 13 minutes, and trailed 27-25.
IU went to work behind Thompson, who scored off a soft hook, and then a monster dunk from a Bates assist. The Hoosiers led by 10 with two minutes left. Thompson’s block led to a Gunn layup. Kopp quickly followed with another layup. IU led 43-29
Thompson added another inside hook shot, and Gunn had a half-beating dunk for a 47-29 lead. IU had a 24-14 rebounding edge, a 26-8 advantage in points in the paint and just six turnovers.
Thompson scored the Hoosiers’ first six points of the second half as the built a series of 20-point leads. A Duncomb inside basket and a Gunn three-pointer pushed the advantage to 65-40.
IU cruised from there.
The Hoosiers host Kennesaw State on Friday night before taking an extended holiday break leading back into Big Ten play.
“It’s about making guys come together,” Kopp said. “I always say, when the spider webs unite, you can tie up a lion.
“At the end of the day, it’s just about getting guys to understand that we need everybody, and we’re only as strong as our weakest link.”
No. 4/3 Hoosiers Host Butler On Wednesday Afternoon
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The non-conference finale is set for Wednesday afternoon when No. 4/3 Indiana hosts Butler. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
Butler has lost four of its last five, including three in Big EAST play, coming in to Wednesday’s matchup, dropping a contest at Marquette on Sunday, 67-47. Rachel McLimore is averaging 11.5 points while Sydney Janes adds 10.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per outing. The Bulldogs average 65.7 points per game and shoot 45.1 percent from the floor.
SERIES HISTORY
Indiana leads 8-1
LAST MEETING
11/10/21 – W, 86-63 (Indianapolis)
NOTES
Indiana routed Morehead State, 87-24, on Sunday afternoon in its penultimate non-conference matchup. The 63-point margin of victory is the third largest in school history. It also held the Eagles to just 24 points, the fewest for an opponent since 1974.
Freshman guard Yarden Garzon led the way with 16 points as she drained four 3-pointers in the win. Three others scored in double figures including senior guard Sara Scalia who added 13 points and 12 points from senior forward Mackenzie Holmes.
Ninth year head coach Teri Moren picked up her 183rd victory at the helm of the Hoosiers program on Sunday, pulling closer to the all-time coaching win record in school history. She needs seven more victories to tie Jim Izard’s 188 wins that he amassed over 12 seasons.
Junior guard Chloe Moore-McNeil continues to keep turnovers low, as she holds one of the nation’s best assist-to-turnover ratios. The Sharon, Tenn. native, who serves as the team’s primary point guard, has dished out 57 assists and just 10 turnovers and ranks second overall in the country amongst Division I players. It also helps the Hoosiers hold a +1.69 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is third amongst all teams.
UP NEXT
IU resumes action on Thursday, December 29 when it travels to Michigan State. Tipoff at the Breslin Center is set for 3 p.m. ET.
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UP NEXT
IU resumes action on Thursday, December 29 when it travels to Michigan State. Tipoff at the Breslin Center is set for 3 p.m. ET.
#1 Purdue Hosts New Orleans in First Home Game as Top-Ranked Team
GAMEDAY INFO
[1] Purdue (11-0) vs. New Orleans (3-7)
West Lafayette, Indiana | Mackey Arena (14,876)
TELEVISION: ESPNu | RADIO: Purdue Sports Network
ANNOUNCERS: Jordan Bernfield, Robbie Hummel
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• Purdue closes out the pre-Holiday break portion of the schedule when New Orleans visits Mackey Arena for a Wednesday night battle.
• The game marks the first time that the Boilermaker basketball program will play a home game as the nation’s No. 1 team. Purdue’s previous three games as the No. 1-ranked team have come on the road (Rutgers) and at two neutral sites (Brooklyn, Indianapolis).
• Purdue is looking to extend its non-conference, regular-season winning streak to 23 games, dating to a Dec. 8, 2020, loss at Miami, Fla. The win streak is the longest in the country by nine games (13 – New Mexico, Connecticut).
• For the second straight year, Purdue has been voted No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll. A year ago, Purdue was voted No. 1 on Dec. 6, for the first time in school history. Purdue becomes the first Big Ten program since Indiana (1974-75, 1975-76) to be ranked No. 1 in consecutive seasons.
• Purdue can claim America’s best resume, owning a nation’s-best four top-50 KenPom wins, all of them against teams ranked in the top 30. Three of the wins (Marquette was at home) have come away from Mackey Arena.
• Appearing at No. 1 in this week’s AP Top 25, Purdue has been ranked in the top 5 in consecutive years for the first time since the 1986-87 and 1987-88 seasons. The Boilermakers have spent 16 of the past 26 AP polls ranked in the top 5. Only Gonzaga (22) has spent more time in the top 5 than Purdue since the start of last season. Purdue’s 23 appearances in the top 10 during that span are second behind Kansas (26).
• One year after ranking second in the country in rebound margin, Purdue now leads the country in rebound margin (+12.8). The Boilermakers are outscoring their opponents 147 to 69 in second-chance points (13.4 to 6.3 points per game).
• Purdue has made 192 free throws this season, while opponents have shot just 116. Purdue has made 112 more free throws (192 to 80) this season, the second-highest discrepancy in the country (North Carolina +123, Purdue +112, Denver +106, Iowa +103, New Mexico +103).
• Purdue has held 23 straight opponents to 75 or fewer points, the third-longest streak in the country (North Texas 43, Houston 27).
• Purdue has won 32 straight regular-season games when it faced an unranked opponent at home or on a neutral game.
• Purdue is currently the fifth-youngest team among power-conference teams in America in terms of D-I experience (1.36) according to KenPom.com. The Purdue freshman class is averaging 28.4 points per game (36.9 percent of scoring).
• Through Thursday, Zach Edey ranks No. 1 in the KenPom POY ratings by a significant margin and has been the game MVP in all 11 Purdue contests (unprecedented to start a season in the KenPom era) so far this year. It’s now tied for the longest game MVP streak ever with Ohio State’s Keita Bates-Diop in 2017-18 (11 games). Including this season with Edey, Purdue has had a top-10 KenPom player in five of the last seven seasons. Edey ranks 6th in the country in scoring, 1st in rebounding, 21st in blocked shots and 22nd in field goal percentage.
• Perhaps our favorite Zach Edey stat: Through 11 games this year, he has more blocked shots (24) than personal fouls (20). He has also played 30 minutes nine times this season after not doing it once in his first two seasons. Edey is averaging just 2.3 fouls / 40 minutes.
• Over the last four games, Zach Edey has produced 94 points and 73 rebounds. He is the first player since Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin (Nov. 2008; 104 points, 79 rebounds) to have at least 94 points and 73 rebounds in a 4-game span.
• Edey became the first Big Ten player since Ethan Happ (Nov. 2018) to be named Big Ten Player of the Week in three consecutive weeks. His three Big Ten Player of the Week awards (in only five weeks) are tied for the third most in a season in Purdue history.
• Fletcher Loyer has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice this season (Nov. 28, Dec. 5). The two awards are the third most for a freshman in Purdue history (Caleb Swanigan, Vince Edwards – 3).
• Matt Painter needs five overall victories to become the fifth coach in Big Ten history with 400 victories while at a conference school (Bob Knight, Tom Izzo, Gene Keady, Lou Henson). He needs four victories to become the seventh coach with 200 Big Ten Conference victories.
Purdue Wraps Up Non-Conference Slate at Texas A&M
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women’s basketball team will hit the road to SEC country as it closes out the non-conference season against Texas A&M on Wednesday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. (ET) at Reed Arena on SEC Network+.
Tim Newton will have the call for the Purdue Radio Network on 95.3 BOB FM.
GAME INFORMATION
Purdue (9-2) at Texas A&M (5-4)
Wednesday, Dec. 21
Time: 2 PM (ET)
TV: SECN+
Radio: 95.3 BOB FM
Live Stats: Purduestats.com
LAST TIME OUT
The Boilermakers pulled away to a 64-51 win over Illinois State on Dec. 11. Lasha Petree paced Purdue with 14 points, while Jeanae Terry and Abbey Ellis each chipped in nine points and seven rebounds. Terry added six assists. Purdue shot 51.1% from the field, while keeping the Redbirds to just 29.3% shooting on the afternoon.
NOTES
• Purdue leads the all-time series with Texas A&M 3-1 with the last matchup coming back in 2011, when the No. 13 Boilermakers knocked off the No. 4 Aggies 60-51 in Mackey Arena.
• The Boilermakers and Aggies were slated to play in the Las Vegas Invitational/Holiday Hoops Classic at The Mirage/South Point Arena on the same day, but both clubs agreed to move their scheduled game to College Station.
• Purdue’s bench has provided a much-needed jolt this season, averaging 26.5 points per game and scoring 20 or more in 10 contests.
• Lasha Petree has scored in double figures in every game this season, pacing the Boilermakers seven times.
• After a week off, Jeanae Terry slid down the national rankings in total assists from second to fourth. The Detroit native has 84 helpers on the year and ranks third with 7.6 per night.
• Abbey Ellis has found her rhythm offensively with 12.1 points per game, scoring in double figures in five of the last seven games.
• Purdue is second in the Big Ten with 14.7 made freebies per game, aided by 16.4 over the last five games.
• Caitlyn Harper is one of six players from the Big Ten to average over 10 points per game with a 60% shooting clip (10.5 ppg, 62.3%)
• The Boilermakers have made over half their shots this season with a 50.5% clip, ranking sixth in the nation and third in the Big Ten.
• Lasha Petree’s 18.6 points per game rank seventh among first year transfers in the major six conference.
• The Boilermakers are one of 10 teams to score 71 or more points in 10 games this season.
Wrestling Competes in Purdue Duals
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Wrestling hosted its second quad of the season on Tuesday in what will be the team’s last action of 2022. The Boilermakers (4-3, 0-0 B1G) went 1-2 on the day, taking a 20-18 win over Utah Valley and dropping their matches to Drexel (20-17) and Campbell (29-9).
In the win over Utah Valley, Purdue splits the matches five-a-piece but emerged victorious thanks to three bonus point wins from No. 3 Kendall Coleman, Stoney Buell and No. 32 Ben Vanadia. The swing match turned out to be Buell’s first period pin (1:56) of Danny Snediker, the first win via fall of the young 165-pounder’s career. Majors from Coleman and Vanadia along with earlier wins from No. 8 Matt Ramos and Dustin Norris gave Purdue the edge.
The redshirt senior Coleman (15-1) would shine the brightest for the Boilermakers throughout the day with a trio of bonus point victories. His two major decisions and one tech fall put him into ties for the most such victories on the team in both categories. His 46 points was the most scored by any wrestler on the day with the he next highest coming up with 31.
Coleman also etched his name in program history on Tuesday by breaking into the top-10 of the career takedowns list at Purdue. He now has 274 across his four years of competition which puts him in 10th all-time, just two shy of Luke Manuel (2008-11) in 9th. Ryan Lange (2001-04) holds the record with 523.
125-pounder Ramos (14-2) won two of his three matches, claiming his third pin of the year in the first match of the day against Drexel’s Antonio Mininno (4:08). His eight bout dual win streak came to an end in sudden victory against Campbell’s Anthony Molton 6-4. Both Ramos and Molton graduated from Lockport Township HS in Lockport, Ill. and have done battle on the mat for years. Most recently, Ramos got the better of Molton in the 57 kg final of the U.S. Open.
It was a feast or famine kind of day for the Boilermakers, who both earned and surrendered eight bonus point wins. Beyond that, four of their losses were by one takedown or less.
Up Next
The Boilermakers are done competing in 2022, but will not make fans wait very long to see them back in action in 2023. Purdue will travel to the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn., from Jan. 1-2.
Match Results
Purdue 17 – Drexel 20
125: #8 Matt Ramos (PUR) over Antonio Mininno (DREX) (Fall 4:08)
133: Kyle Waterman (DREX) over Dustin Norris (PUR) (Dec 5-1)
141: #16 Parker Filius (PUR) over Jordan Soriano (DREX) (MD 11-3)
149: #29 Luke Nichter (DREX) over Trey Kruse (PUR) (Dec 6-1)
157: #3 Kendall Coleman (PUR) over Tyler Williams (DREX) (MD 15-6)
165: #27 Evan Barczak (DREX) over Stoney Buell (PUR) (MD 13-2)
174: #9 Michael O`Malley (DREX) over Macartney Parkinson (PUR) (MD 9-0)
184: Brian Bonino (DREX) over #32 Ben Vanadia (PUR) (Dec 2-1)
197: Sean O`Malley (DREX) over Hayden Filipovich (PUR) (Dec 7-3)
285: Tristan Ruhlman (PUR) over Santino Morina (DREX) (Dec 4-1)
Extra: Kooper Loehr (PUR) over Desmond Pleasant (DREX) (Dec 3-2)
Extra: Tate Nichter (DREX) over Brennan Doyle (PUR) (Dec 6-5)
Extra: Joshua Stillings (DREX) over Mitch Hutmachter (MD 10-2)
Purdue 20 – Utah Valley 18
125: #8 Matt Ramos (PUR) over Kase Mauger (UVU) (Dec 3-1)
133: Dustin Norris (PUR) over Kobe Nelms (UVU) (Dec 5-2)
141: Ty Smith (UVU) over Christian White (PUR) (MD 10-1)
149: Isaiah Delgado (UVU) over Trey Kruse (PUR) (MD 14-4)
157: #3 Kendall Coleman (PUR) over Alex Emmer (UVU) (MD 13-3)
165: Stoney Buell (PUR) over Danny Snediker (UVU) (Fall 1:56)
174: #5 Demetrius Romero (UVU) over Macartney Parkinson (PUR) (MD 11-2)
184: #32 Ben Vanadia (PUR) over Hunter Morse (UVU) (MD 10-2)
197: #20 Evan Bockman (UVU) over Hayden Filipovich (PUR) (Dec 5-0)
285: Chase Trussell (UVU) over Tristan Ruhlman (PUR) (Dec 5-4)
Extra: Tyson Humphreys (UVU) over Jaden Reynolds (PUR) (Dec 7-3)
Extra: Cooper Noehre (PUR) over Tanner Lofthouse (UVU) (Dec 9-5)
Purdue 9 – Campbell 29
125: Anthony Molton (CAMP) over #8 Matt Ramos (PUR) (SV-1 6-4)
133: Domenic Zaccone (CAMP) over Dustin Norris (PUR) (Dec 9-3)
141: Shannon Hanna (CAMP) over Christian White (PUR) (Dec 9-5)
149: Trey Kruse (PUR) over Callum Sitek (CAMP) (MD 11-0)
157: #3 Kendall Coleman (PUR) over Troy Nation (CAMP) (TF 18-3 4:43)
165: Domonic Baker (CAMP) over Stoney Buell (PUR) (Dec 5-4)
174: Cole Rees (CAMP) over Macartney Parkinson (PUR) (Dec 5-3)
184: #21 Caleb Hopkins (CAMP) over #32 Ben Vanadia (PUR) (MD 12-2)
197: Levi Hopkins (CAMP) over Hayden Filipovich (PUR) (Fall 2:45)
285: #12 Taye Ghadiali (CAMP) over Tristan Ruhlman (PUR) (MD 14-4)
Extra: Zachary Thompson (CAMP) over Kooper Loehr (PUR) (SV-1 5-3)
Extra: Keegan Roberson (CAMP) over Nate Camiscioli (PUR) (Dec 7-3)
ButlerUBaseball Releases 2023 Schedule
INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler baseball 2023 schedule features plenty of tough matchups against teams from the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, AAC and MAC. The Bulldogs play five teams who made last year’s NCAA tournament field with four of those games falling during the non-conference slate. BIG EAST action will begin April 6 in Cincinnati with a three-game series against Xavier. The first home BIG EAST series is set for April 14 against Villanova.
Opening day for Butler is Feb. 17. The Bulldogs will face Fairleigh Dickinson in Lexington S.C. The four-game series will feature a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 12 PM. Road games continue with Butler playing a three-game series at Campbell followed by a contest at Indiana on Feb. 28. The month of March begins with Butler traveling to Baton Rouge to play LSU and Central Connecticut State. The Tigers were an NCAA regional team last season and Blue Devils posted 29 wins.
BU will swing through Itta Bena, Mississippi for a single game against Mississippi Valley State on March 8 and will also take on last year’s Ohio Valley Conference baseball tournament champions and NCAA regional team Southeast Missouri State (March 10-12). They follow that series with games against Northwestern (March 18-19), Eastern Michigan (March 21), Ball State (March 22), and Cincinnati (March 24-26).
Butler goes to South Bend to play the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame on March 28. Last year’s Notre Dame team made a college world series appearance, defeating number one ranked Tennessee in the Super Regionals along the way.
After playing Eastern Illinois in a home and away three-game series (April 1-2), Butler begins BIG EAST play. A rivalry matchup with Xavier kicks things off for the Bulldogs in conference play. A one game matchup with Michigan on April 11 takes place in between BIG EAST series. The Wolverines earned last year’s NCAA regional appearance by winning the Big Ten tournament.
Butler hosts its first BIG EAST series on April 14-16 against Villanova. After hosting Northern Kentucky, they travel to West Lafayette on April 19 for a matchup with Purdue—their final Big Ten opponent on the 2023 schedule.
The rest of the schedule mainly features BIG EAST play with away matchups at Seton Hall, Georgetown and defending BIG EAST champions UConn. The Bulldogs host Creighton on April 28-30. Other non-conference games include matchups with Evansville and Dayton.
Butler closes their regular season with a home stand against St. John’s May 18-20. The 2023 BIG EAST postseason tournament will be held May 25-28 and will be hosted in Mason Ohio at Prasco Park.
The Bulldogs return some experience with the likes of Ryan O’Halloran, Scott Jones, Kyle Van Liere, Kollyn All, Garret Gray, Lukas Galdoni, and Cory Bosecker. O’Halloran is the top returning bat in the lineup after hitting .256 last season. Jones was close behind with a .249 average. On the mound, Bosecker led Butler with 14 starts, including a team-high 69 strikeouts. The roster also welcomes 13 newcomers.
Butler Heads West for Thursday Night Match-up at Creighton
Butler (8-4, 0-1 BE) at Creighton (6-6, 0-1 BE)
Thursday, Dec. 22; 8PM ET
CHI Health Center; Omaha, Neb.
FOLLOW ALONG:
TV: FS1 – Matt Schumacker & Nick Bahe
Radio: 1430AM – @MarkMinner & Nick Gardner (@n_gardner)
Varsity Network Radio App
SiriusXM 387, SXM App 977
THE SERIES: Creighton Leads, 15-11
Streak: Creighton, W1
In Omaha: Creighton Leads, 10-2
First Meeting: CU, 27-22; 1/30/1933
Last Meeting: CU, 54-52, 2/8/22
PDF Notes Available at https://bit.ly/3NGADRf
• Butler’s five starters are each averaging double figures on the season, and the quintet has accounted for 781 of the team’s 871 points scored.
• Butler’s average of 7.5 bench points per game ranks last (of 352 teams) nationally.
• The Butler bench will be helped by the return of two transfers who were expected to be key contributors. Both Ali Ali and Jalen Thomas made their respective Butler debuts in Saturday’s game with No. 3 UConn. Ali had been sidelined with concussion symptoms and nasal surgery, while Thomas was being treated for a pulmonary embolism.
• Ali led Akron in scoring, three-point percentage and assists last season, earning second-team All-MAC honors.
• Thomas has 116 career blocks, which put him fifth in Georgia State program history despite playing only three seasons there.
• Butler is committing only 11.9 fouls per game, which is the fewest in the nation.
• Butler’s 5.0 blocks per game are 35th nationally.
• For the season, Butler is shooting 48.6 percent from the field, which is 38th nationally.
• Through 12 games, Butler has shot 50 percent or better from the field eight times; the Bulldogs hit the 50-percent mark six times all of last season (31 games). In a similar fashion, Butler already has six games this season shooting 40 percent or better from three-point range, which was only done four times during the 2021-22 season.
• Butler is 8-0 this season when leading at halftime.
• Butler is 3-6 all-time in its BIG EAST road opener, but has won two of its last three.
• The series against Creighton stretches back to a pair of match-ups in 1933; of current BIG EAST opponents, only the series against Marquette dates back longer (1922).
• Among active coaches with at least 10 seasons of NCAA Division I experience, Thad Matta’s .739 winning percentage ranks fourth (Few, Self, Calipari).
• In Saturday’s loss to UConn, Butler limited the Huskies to 39.4-percent shooting from the field, which was the second-best defensive performance against UConn so far this season.
• Chuck Harris scored a (then) career-best 29 points at Creighton March 6, 2021 in the regular season finale of his freshman campaign.
• Jayden Taylor has averaged 17.2 points per game this season in Butler’s five games away from Hinkle Fieldhouse.
• Manny Bates is 11th nationally in blocks per game at 2.7 per game.
• Bates is 19th nationally with a 63.2 field goal percentage.
• Bates led the Bulldogs with 22 points and 10 rebounds against Kansas State Nov. 30, his third double-double of the season.
• Eric Hunter Jr. posted the first double-double of his collegiate career in the Dec. 10 win at Cal; he scored 13 points to go along with a career-high 11 rebounds.
• Including his seasons at Purdue, Hunter has 982 career points.
• Harris is now tied for 23rd in Butler history in career three-pointers (115).
• Harris posted career-highs of 32 points and six three-pointers in the Dec. 3 win over Tennessee Tech.
• Simas Lukosius handed out a career-high seven assists against Kansas State Nov. 30, which also matched the most by a Butler player this season.
• Butler has placed all five starters in double figures three times this season, with the most recent coming at Cal Dec. 10.
• Myles Tate has missed the last three games due to illness. DJ Hughes missed the team’s most recent game Saturday vs. UConn (illness). John-Michael Mulloy has yet to play this season due to an ankle/foot injury.
#4 Indiana to Host Butler Wednesday Afternoon
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler’s final non-conference opponent appears on the schedule this Wednesday afternoon. The Bulldogs will play the No. 4 ranked Indiana Hoosiers inside Assembly Hall at 1 PM. Fans can catch the action live on Big Ten Network +.
GameDay
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 21
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Assembly Hall
Live Stats: IUHoosiers.com – Statbroadcast
Watch: Big Ten Network +
Bulldog Bits
– Wednesday is just the 10th overall meeting between Butler and Indiana.
– Jessica Carrothers has scored in double figures five times this season for the Bulldogs. She is coming off a 14-point game at Marquette.
– Carrothers led Butler in scoring for the second time in her career on Sunday. The rookie guard also has 11 steals over Butler’s last three games.
– Carrothers only hit one 3-pointer over her first nine games at BU, but has four over her last two starts.
– Jessica Carrothers ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in field goal percentage (55.4%) and Sydney Jaynes ranks ninth (54.1%).
– Tenley Dowell has hit at least one 3-pointer in three-straight games and led BU with five rebounds at Marquette.
– Dowell led BU in rebounding for the first time this season at Marquette.
– BU ranks third in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage defense (26.9).
– Anna Mortag ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in 3-point field goal percentage (42.9%) and Rachel McLimore ranks 10th (41.7%).
– BU averages 7.1 made 3-pointers per game, the fourth-best average in the BIG EAST.
– Butler ranks third in the BIG EAST in field goal percentage (45.1%) and second in 3-point field goal percentage (38.6).
– Butler only committed five fouls in Milwaukee and kept Marquette off the free throw line for the entire game.
– Anna Mortag and Kendall Wingler returned to action at Marquette.
– Wingler hit multiple 3-pointers in a game for the first time since the season opener vs. Chicago State.
– Sunday was just the third time this season BU was held under 20 made field goals.
– Butler’s last win against a ranked opponent came on March 1, 2021 when the Bulldogs traveled to Chicago to defeat #25 DePaul 86-81.
Scouting #4 Indiana
The No. 4 ranked Hoosiers improved to 11-0 for the third time in program history and for the first time under ninth year head coach Teri Moren on Sunday afternoon with a win over Morehead State. Indiana is 7-0 at home and have already claimed conference wins over Illinois and Penn State. They defeated No. 6 North Carolina 87-63 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and had an impressive non-conference win in Knoxville over No. 11 Tennessee (79-67). Mackenzie Holmes averages 19.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game for the Hoosiers. She shoots 69 percent from the field and is also the team leader in blocked shots with 18. Nearly every member of the IU starting five averages double figures in the scoring column. Yarden Garzon and Sara Scalia are the top 3-point shooters on the team and Sydney Parrish leads the club in steals.
All-Time Series vs. Indiana
Indiana leads the all-time series against Butler 8-1. The first meeting came at Assembly Hall during the 1989-90 season with IU winning 75-57. Butler’s lone win came inside Hinkle Fieldhouse on Dec. 9, 2012. The ‘Dawgs topped the Hoosiers 59-56.
Last Meeting vs. Indiana
Indiana came to Hinkle Fieldhouse a year ago in the season opener and claimed an 86-63 victory over the Bulldogs. Two BU freshmen accounted for 38 of the team’s 63 points that night in front of a Butler women’s basketball program record 2,360 fans. Each team shot over 50 percent from the field, but the Hoosiers hit twice as many 3-pointers than the Bulldogs. Mackenzie Holmes nearly had a double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds while Butler got nine points, four rebounds and an assist from Trinity White.
Indiana’s Last Game
The Hoosiers recorded their third largest margin of victory in program history on Sunday by defeating Morehead State by 63 points (87-24). Indiana held the Eagles to just four points in the first quarter and used a 22-1 scoring run to take full control of the action. Yarden Garzon led all scorers with 16 points and Sydney Parrish would add 12 points, three boards and three steals.
First Four, Last Four
Sydney Jaynes has scored 62 points for Butler over the team’s last four games to average 15.5 points during that stretch. She opened the season with 34 points over the first four games for an average of 8.5 points. Jaynes has been the top scoring threat for BU during the month of December. She has reached double figures in four-straight games and poured in a career-high 26 points vs. Illinois on Dec. 11.
BIG Stage
The Bulldogs have faced 15 Top-25 opponents over the last five years and have come up with three wins. Butler topped #25 DePaul in 2020-21, they defeated #11 Marquette in 2018-19 and took down #21 Villanova during the 2017-18 campaign. All three of those wins came on the road. Butler has also faced a ranked Indiana squad twice during this stretch. The Hoosiers were ranked No. 8 last year and No. 12 in the 2019-20 meeting.
NCAA Ranking
Butler ranks 15th in the NCAA in 3-point field goal percentage (38.6). The ‘Dawgs made five 3-pointers in their last game with Sydney Jaynes, Jessica Carrothers and Tenley Dowell all making one shot from behind the arc. Kendall Wingler led BU with two 3-pointers. Rachel McLimore is the top 3-point shooter on the roster with 15 makes on 36 attempts (41.7%). Anna Mortag is second on the team with 12 made 3-pointers and Shay Frederick is third with 10. 11 of the 14 Bulldogs to see playing time this season have hit at least one shot from distance.
Focused on Free Throws
Rachel McLimore has made 11 of her 12 free throw attempts in BIG EAST contests this year. She ranks seventh in the league with a 91.7 percentage. McLimore also leads BU in minutes played during conference matchups (31.3).
Keys to Victory
Butler’s path to success starts with defense. The Bulldogs are 5-1 when their opponent shoots under 40 percent and are 5-0 when allowing less than 60 points. On top of that, outrebounding their opponent has led to wins (5-2) and shooting more free throws than the opposition (5-2).
Marquette Recap
Marquette used an evenly spread offensive attack and a dominant performance in the post to help secure the win over visiting Butler on Sunday. Four different Golden Eagles finished in double-figures, led by Rose Nkumu’s game-high 15 points, while MU outscored the Bulldogs 46-20 in the paint. After an even start to the contest, the Golden Eagles (9-2, 2-1) closed out the first quarter on a 10-2 run to gain some separation, then carried that momentum into the second quarter. After the first two quarters, MU held a 34-24 advantage. Jessica Carrothers led Butler (5-6, 0-3) with 14 points, while Sydney Jaynes joined her double figures with 11.
Lucky #13
The Bulldogs are one of three BIG EAST teams to make 13 3-pointers in a single game this season. Butler did it first with 13 makes from behind the arc against Binghamton on Nov. 26. UConn hit 13 triples vs. Providence on Dec. 2 and Villanova recently hit 13 vs. Saint Joseph’s on Dec. 10.
Milestone Markers
Rachel McLimore hit two 3-pointers vs. Southern Indiana to move her career total to 100! She only needs three more steals to reach 100.
Up Next
Butler will return to BIG EAST action on Wednesday, Dec. 28 with a trip to Xavier. The 1PM tip at the Cintas Center will stream on FloSports.com.
Counter, Hamilton Lead Jaguars Past Texas A&M Commerce, 62-52
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Sophomore Jlynn Counter scored a game-high 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting and junior Daylan Hamilton added a career-high 14 points, four assists and three steals as the Jaguars staved off Texas A&M Commerce in the finale of the Indiana Classic, 62-52. IUPUI (3-10) shot 51.1 percent from the floor and 50 percent from deep while holding Commerce to just 38.5 percent overall and 2-of-18 (11.1 percent) from three.
Freshman Vincent Brady II tallied 11 in the victory, including three threes.
“I’m super proud of our guys. We only played eight guys in this game, but they all contributed and played their role in the win. What I’m most proud of is we didn’t panic when things got tight in the second half. We knew they’d make a run at us, but we stuck to the game plan and got (defensive) stops when we needed them,” head coach Matt Crenshaw said. “This was a solid win against a solid team and hopefully it’ll give us some momentum going into Horizon League play.
“These guys earned this one.”
IUPUI imposed its will from the outset, ultimately building a 22-8 lead when Armon Jarrard stroked a corner three, prompting a Lion timeout. Hamilton keyed the offense early with four early assists, including two that led to Brady treys. However, IUPUI led by just four at the break at 32-28.
Commerce (4-9) scored on its opening two possessions of the second half, including a Demarcus Demonia transition dunk, to tie the score at 32 all. However, as was the case the entire second half, IUPUI refused to relinquish the lead. The teams continued to trade buckets for much of the half with Tommie Lewis pulling Commerce within two with 6:42 to play. However, IUPUI responded with a 12-0 run and held Commerce scoreless without a point for more than five minutes late to seal the win.
Counter scored seven points during the run, including a tough finish heading into the game’s final media timeout, giving the Jags a nine-point lead.
Jarrard finished with five points and three boards off the bench and Boston Stanton III had four points and a career-high seven rebounds. IUPUI finished having led for 38 of the game’s 40 minutes and never trailed in the contest.
Demonia and Kalen Williams scored a team-high 10 points apiece for Commerce.
IUPUI will return to Horizon League play after the Christmas holiday, beginning with a New Year’s Eve showdown with Northern Kentucky at 2:00 p.m. inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
Game 12 Preview: Irish Resume Acc Play At Fsu
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Notre Dame men’s basketball team (7-4, 0-1) is looking to capture a couple of firsts on Wednesday, Dec. 21, right before the holiday break. If victorious over Florida State (3-10, 1-1), the Irish would become level in ACC play and get its first conference win at 1-1. If victorious on Wednesday, the Irish would also earn its first ever win in Tallahassee. More on the series history below.
Tip is slated for 8:30 pm ET on ACC Network. Fans can also listen to the game on the Notre Dame radio network.
LOOKING FOR FIRST WIN IN TALLAHASSEE
The Notre Dame men’s basketball program may be over 100 years old but the series between the Irish and Seminoles didn’t start until 2011 and then revved up when ND joined the ACC in 2013. FSU currently enjoys the series lead at 7-5.
Interestingly to note, the Irish could achieve their first win in Tallahassee – entering the game 0-5. The two sides met just once last season, with Florida State taking it 74-70 in the Donald L Tucker Center.
NOTRE NOTABLES
The Irish currently rank in the top-6 in three different statistical categories. Their highest ranking – 2nd in fouls per game – only committing 12.2. That has been a Coach Brey staple. 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 5th in the country in turnovers per game, only surrendering 9.5.
Furthermore, if the Irish can get to the free-throw line in late-game situations, look out. They rank 6th in free-throw percentage, converting 80.5 percent from the stripe – leads the ACC as well. Goodwin, Ryan and Laszewski are all shooting above .870 from the stripe.
LET CORMAC COOK
Over the last five games (Michigan St game on), Cormac Ryan is 18-of-28 (.643) from three. His 18 three’s are the 2nd most by a Power-Five conference player since Nov. 30 (top spot is FSU’s Darin Green Jr’s 20).
In addition, his 64.3 percent clip from three ranks 13th in the country overall since Nov. 30.
In fact, since Nov. 30, Ryan is averaging a team best 16.0 ppg, which includes two 20+ point performances.
NATE’S GREAT START
Nate Laszewski is averaging a career best 15.4 ppg and a career high 7.9 rpg.
With four years under his belt, he entered the year with nine career double-doubles to his name and six 20-point performances. Already this season he has three double-doubles and four 20+ point efforts.
In fact, on Wednesday, he’s looking to become the first Irish player since Bonzie Colson in Feb. of 2017 to record three straight 20-point games.
Laszewski is doing it all for the Irish, simply look at his ACC individual rankings – 11th in scoring (15.4), 6th in rebounds (7.9), 7th in FG% (.539), 10th in 3PT FG% (.422), 3rd in FT% (.870) and 3rd in defensive rebounds (7.0). In addition, his 7.0 defensive boards per game rank 19th in the country.
To further illustrate how unique of a player Laszewski is, take this — he’s the only player in the country averaging at least 15 points and 7.5 rebounds, while shooting above .500 overall, .400 from three and .850 from the free-throw line.
THREAT FROM THREE
Notre Dame has recorded double-digit three-pointers in 4 of the last 5 games, and the one game they didn’t – Boston U – they connected on nine. Over that 5-game stretch, they’ve knocked down 52 three-pointers aka 10.4 per game. That 10.4 average ranks 2nd amongst Power-Five schools since Nov. 30 – only behind Penn State’s 11.0.
Overall on the season, they are averaging 8.9 three’s per game, which would crack the program’s all-time top-10. The program record is 9.7 set by the 19-20 squad.
Now, the big reason for that – the squad’s big three who are all shooting above 40 percent. Specifically noting Goodwin and Ryan who respectively rank 3rd and 6th in three-point field goal percentage in the ACC.
Goodwin – .474 – ranks 3rd in the ACC
Ryan – .451 – ranks 6th in the ACC
Laszewski – .422
*Hammond – .429
STAR(LING) FRESHMAN
JJ Starling is off to a solid start – averaging 12.6 ppg. In fact, if the season ended today, JJ’s 12.6 ppg would rank 8th all-time at ND for a freshmen.
Furthermore, he ranks 3rd in scoring amongst ACC freshmen. The top two spots belong to Duke’s Kyle Filipowski and Syracuse’s Judah Mintz. All-in-all, they’re the only 3 ACC freshmen in double figures.
Starling is starting to heat up a little from three – 5-of-11 over the last 3 games. Speaking of the last 3 games, he’s recorded double-digit points in all of them, averaging 13.7 ppg in that span.
2 NAMES, 1 DYNAMIC OPTION
Ven-Allen Lubin is another freshman you need to know. He’s averaging a modest 6.5 points and 5.0 rebounds off the bench, as the latter ranks 2nd on the team.
Before the Georgia game, Lubin was shooting a highly efficient 73.2 percent from two. He’ll enter the FSU game still leading the team from two at 68.9 percent. In addition, he’s knocking down 60.4 percent from the floor overall, which leads the team. That number would rank 2nd all-time for a ND freshman if the season ended today, behind Harold Swanagan’s .645 in 98-99.
He’s also a big presence defensively, leading the team in blocks with 1.0 per game. A shining example of such – Lubin was subbed in for his defense with under a minute left in the Boston U game and it paid off, earning a pivotal block and rebound, then converting a free throw on the other end. He finished with nine points, 5 rebounds and a career best 3 blocks.
Ball State Welcomes Georgia Southern to Worthen Arena
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men’s basketball team returns to the friendly confines of Worthen Arena for a midweek matchup with Georgia Southern on Wednesday. The Cardinals enter with a 7-4 record, while the Eagles have a 7-5 mark.
All spectators for Wednesday night’s contest can enjoy free parking.
MAC Player of the Week
Sellers poured in a career-high 24 points, his fourth 20-or-more point effort this season, to pace all scorers inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse last Saturday. Over 35 minutes of action, Sellers went 7-for-12 from the field, including draining all three of his three-point attempts. He also went 7-for-8 from the free throw line, while adding four rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block.
Last Time Out
BSU has had five players finish in double-digit points in three of the last four games. Sellers dropped a game-high 24 points, including going 3-for-3 from 3-point range. He added four rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal. Jarron Coleman has scored in double figures for 10 straight as he notched a 16-point effort. He produced a game-high seven assists along with five rebounds, one steal, and one block. Demarius Jacobs collected 16 points, five assists, three rebounds, and one steal. His three blocks tied a career high and were a game high. Jacobs has scored in double figures in nine games this season. Mickey Pearson Jr. tallied 13 points, four rebounds, one steal, and one block. Payton Sparks closed out the double-digit scoring with 12 points. He added a team-high six rebounds and one assist.
Spark Plug
Sparks leads the team with 14.5 points a contest and 8.1 rebounds per game through 11 games. He is shooting 62.5 percent from the field, which is tied for 28th in the NCAA and is at the top of the MAC. His 3.36 offensive rebounds per game have him tied for 28th in the country and second in the conference. Sparks is tied for 83rd in the nation with 8.1 rebounds per game, which is fourth in the MAC. His four double-doubles are tied for 25th in the NCAA and tied for the most in the MAC. He is second on the squad with nine blocks, third on the team with 23 assists, and he has added six steals.
Spreading the Love
The Cardinals have four players averaging double-digit points through 10 games of the season. Sellers is second on the team with 14.2 points per game. He is shooting 63.0 percent from 3-point range, which leads the team, and he is 55.0 percent from the field. Sellers has brought down 4.3 rebounds per game to go along with five steals and five assists. Coleman is third on the team with 13.2 points per game. He leads the team with 41 assists. He is second on the team with 5.2 boards per contest and in steals with 18. Coleman has eight blocked shots for the year. Jacobs is averaging 12.3 points per contest to close out the double-digit scorers. He leads the team with 19 steals and 16 blocks. His 16 blocks are tied for 95th in the country and are tied for the MAC lead. He is averaging 1.45 blocks per game, which is tied for 93rd in the NCAA and tied for first in the conference. His 37 assists are second on the team. Jacobs has collected 3.8 rebounds per game. Jalen Windham is just outside of averaging double digits with 8.9 points a contest and is third on the team with 12 steals. He has produced 16 assists and one block. Pearson is third on the team with 5.0 rebounds a game and is averaging 7.9 points a contest.
Taking Advantage at the Free-Throw Line
As a team, the Cardinals are averaging 25.1 free throws per game, which is tied for 14th in the NCAA and leads the MAC. Ball State is averaging 17.6 free-throws made per contest, which is 15th in the nation and leads the conference. Sparks is tied for 17th in the nation with 80 free-throw attempts, which is second in the MAC. The Cardinals are one of just nine teams in the NCAA that have made more free throws than their opponents have attempted. Ball State is joined by Creighton, Dayton, Iowa, New Mexico, North Carolina, Purdue, Rice, and VCU as programs that have made more free throws than opponents have attempted.
Effective Shooting
The Cardinals are currently tied for 25th in the NCAA as the team is shooting 49.3 percent from the field, which leads the MAC. Ball State has been effective from behind the arc with a combined 39.4 percent from 3-point range, which is tied for 24th in the country and the best in the MAC.
Series History with Georgia Southern
The Cardinals and Eagles will meet for just the fifth time on Wednesday. Georgia Southern has a 3-1 advantage in the series, including an 82-71 victory last season. Ball State won the first ever meeting in 1955, 93-87, on a neutral court. BSU is 0-1 against GSU in Muncie.
Scouting the Eagles
The Eagles are led by Andrei Savrasov with 13.3 points per game. He is averaging 6.8 rebounds per game, which is second on the team. Jalen Finch closes out the double-digit scorers with 10.4 a game. Finch has added a team-high 22 steals and team-best 42 assists. Carlos Curry leads Georgia Southern with 7.4 rebounds per game to go along with 9.1 points a contest. Kamari Brown has a team-best 11 blocks. Brown is tied for second on the team with 16 steals.
Mastodons Earn Fifth Straight Win; Top Southern Indiana 83-59
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne led wire-to-wire in an 83-59 men’s basketball victory over Southern Indiana on Tuesday (Dec. 20). It is the Mastodons’ fifth-straight win.
The game was part of the Indiana Classic with IUPUI defeating Texas A&M-Commerce prior the Mastodon contest. The ‘Dons were the only team to finish the Indiana Classic 2-0.
The ‘Dons led 44-25 at half after making 10-of-20 from long range in the first 20 minutes. The ‘Dons closed the half with an exclamation point on a buzzer beater alley oop. Anthony Roberts slammed it home on the pass from Jarred Godfrey with the ‘Dons in transition and the clock winding down. It is Roberts’ second alley oop buzzer beater of the season. Against Bluffton to close the half it was Roberts finishing on a lob from Damian Chong Qui.
Roberts’ dunk on Tuesday capped a 26-9 run for the ‘Dons to close the half over the final 8:21. The Mastodons forced five turnovers while committing zero in the stretch. Godfrey had 11 points in the game clinching push.
Godfrey finished with 21 points in the contest while adding five assists. He connected on a season-high five 3-pointers. He moved into fifth place in program history in made 3-pointers in the contest. He now owns 214 hoops from long range as a Mastodon.
Quinton Morton-Robertson added 16 points with four 3-pointers. Chong Qui was also in double-digits with 13 points.
The ‘Dons committed a season-low seven turnovers in the contest. The ‘Dons shot 49.1 percent (28-of-57) from long range with 14 3-pointers, their most treys against a Division I team this season.
USI was limited to 35.5 percent (22-of-62) from the floor. Isaiah Swope had 17 for the Screaming Eagles.
It is the Mastodons’ first win over Division I newcomer Southern Indiana since 1993 and snapped a 16-game losing streak against the Screaming Eagles. Granted the two teams hadn’t played since 2001, the Mastodons’ final season in Division II. But how long had it been since a Mastodon team defeated Southern Indiana? Mastodon head coach Jon Coffman was a freshman at Washington & Lee in 1993.
The ‘Dons are now 9-4. USI is 7-6. The ‘Dons are done with non-league play and will return after Christmas with Horizon League action. First up is a trip east to Robert Morris (Dec. 29) and Youngstown State (Dec. 31).
Sellers vs. Sellers Highlights No. 15 Maryland’s Visit to Fort Wayne
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Shayla Sellers and the Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball team will welcome Shyanne Sellers and the No. 15 Maryland Terrapins to the Gates Sports Center on Wednesday (Dec. 21) for an 11 a.m. tip.
Game Day Information
Who: No. 15 Maryland Terrapins
When: Wednesday, December 21 | 11 AM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: 1380 The Fan
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Maryland | Horizon League
Know Your Foe
No. 15 Maryland is 9-3 this season and is coming off an 85-78 win over No. 6 Connecticut. The Terrapins are 3-1 against the AP Top 25 this season, including wins over No. 17 Baylor, No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 6 UConn. The Terps lost to No. 1 South Carolina in their home opener. Maryland is led by Diamond Miller, who is scoring 18.4 points per game. 2022 Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year Shyanne Sellers is scoring 13.9 points per game.
The Series
Maryland won the only matchup in the series 84-50 in College Park in 2002. The Terps had five players in double-figures while the ‘Dons had three.
Ranked in Gates
When Maryland comes to Fort Wayne on December 21, it will be the first ranked opponent to play in the Gates Sports Center since No. 14 Purdue came to Gates on December 6, 2012. Purdue won that contest 69-54 despite Mastodon Hall of Famer Amanda Hyde scoring 26 points.
Sellers vs. Sellers
Purdue Fort Wayne’s Shayla Sellers and Maryland’s Shyanne Sellers will play against each other for the first time on Wednesday (Dec. 21). The two played together for Aurora High School for two years (2017-19).
Big Ten in The Fort
When Maryland visits the Gates Sports Center on December 21, it will be the sixth time a Big Ten team has come to Gates.
Maryland – 12/21/2022
Indiana – 11/24/2015
Indiana – 11/12/2013
Purdue – 12/6/2012
Illinois – 11/14/2008
Indiana – 12/10/2006
Buy Stock, Don’t Sell(ers)
Shayla Sellers ranks in the top-10 in program history in career free throw percentage with at least 100 makes.
1. Haley Seibert (.868 – 2011-15)
2. Amanda Hyde (.861 – 2010-14)
3. Jamie Holderman (.836 – 1999-01)
4. Jordan Zuppe (.819 – 2007-11)
5. Teena Merrell (.818 – 1986-90)
6. Shayla Sellers (.816 – 2019-present)
7. Lisa Miller (.804 – 1988-92)
8. Leah Sheets (.795 – 1994-98)
9. Kamilah Carter (.795 – 2014-16)
10. Hannah Albrecht (.793 – 2017-20)
Free Throw Club
Three Mastodons are perfect from the free throw line this season: Sylare Starks (12-of-12), Lauryn Stover (4-of-4) and Abbigail Stephens (2-of-2).
Linbo Limbo
Jazzlyn Linbo is second in the Horizon League with 16 blocks.
This Ott-a Be Good
Ryin Ott is fifth in the Horizon League with 17 steals.
You’re Gonna Shoot From There?
Purdue Fort Wayne is second in the Horizon League and 24th in the country in 3-point percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 24.6 percent from outside.
About That…
Purdue Fort Wayne held Norfolk State (Nov. 21) and Indiana State (Dec.18) to just one 3-pointer each. This is the first time since 2015-16 that the Mastodons have held two opponents to one or fewer 3-pointers in a season.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne fell to Indiana State 64-56 on the road. Shayla Sellers scored 19 points behind a 12-of-13 effort from the charity stripe.
Coming Up
The Mastodons will return to Horizon League play for good on Thursday (Dec. 29) when they visit Robert Morris. The ‘Dons will also visit Youngstown State on New Year’s Eve before returning home.
Women’s Basketball Returns to Action Thursday at Wisconsin; Game Time Moved to Noon
Valparaiso (2-6, 0-0 MVC)
Game #9 – Dec. 22, 2022 – noon
at Wisconsin (4-9, 0-2 Big Ten)
Kohl Center (17,287) – Madison, Wis.
Next Up in Valpo Basketball: Following a lengthy break from competition which included the fall semester final exam period, the Valpo women’s basketball team returns to the court for one last nonconference test on Thursday, as the Beacons travel to Wisconsin for their second game against a Big Ten team this season. Please note that game time has been moved up to noon in anticipation of incoming winter weather.
Previously: Juniors Jayda Johnston and Ava Interrante each smashed their career best in the scoring column on Dec. 9 at Western Illinois, but it wouldn’t be enough to come away victorious, as the host Leathernecks jumped out to an 11-point lead after one quarter on their way to an 83-67 win. Johnston scored a team-high 16 points and Interrante scored all 15 of her points in the second half.
Following Valpo Basketball: Streaming Video: BTN+
Radio: WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso)
Streaming Audio: TuneIn app
Links for live coverage: Available via ValpoAthletics.com
Head Coach Mary Evans: Mary Evans is in her fifth year at the helm of the program in 2022-23 and owns a record of 50-74. Evans has made an impact on the program in her first four years, raising the team’s level of play to be competitive in a strong Missouri Valley Conference. Evans’ preferred style of play has been a big part of the program’s turnaround, as Valpo has led the MVC in 3-pointers made per game in each of the last three seasons and in steals per game in two of the last three years.
Series Notes: Thursday marks the third meeting between the Valpo and Wisconsin women’s basketball programs. Both of the previous two matchups have come in Madison as well, including the most recent – an 89-82 overtime win for the Badgers on Dec. 20, 2020. Valpo rallied from a 10-point second half deficit to force overtime on a Shay Frederick layup with 1.3 seconds to play in regulation – two of her career-best 27 points. Leah Earnest is the only current Beacon to have played in that game, as the Badger State native contributed 11 points and four rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench as a freshman.
@ValpoWBB…
…and @ValleyHoops
– Valpo was picked to finish in 10th place in the MVC preseason poll, totaling 197 points, just 10 points behind Evansville.
– Valpo is in its sixth season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
– The Valley was ranked 10th in conference NET last year, was ranked seventh nationally in conference NET in 2020-21 and was eighth nationally in conference RPI in 2019-20.
…looking back at last year
– Valpo finished last year with an 11-19 overall record, but was strong in MVC play, going 9-9 in conference and finishing in sixth place – both of which match the program’s best since joining the Valley.
– The Beacons registered the first win at Drake and the first win at Bradley in program history.
– Valpo swept the season series over Drake, the program’s first two wins ever against the Bulldogs.
– The Beacons also tallied four top-100 wins within Valley play.
– Grace White was named MVC Sixth Player of the Year – the program’s first major postseason award since joining the Valley. Shay Frederick was a First Team All-MVC choice, while White was an All-Defensive Team selection and Olivia Brown earned a spot on the All-Newcomer Team.
…at Western Illinois
– WIU led 27-16 at the end of the first quarter and extended its lead to 50-28 at intermission.
– The Leathernecks led by 25 early in the third quarter. Valpo battled back to within 16 at the end of the third period and got the deficit down to 11 points in the fourth quarter, missing a shot that would have potentially made it an eight-point game with 8:41 to play.
– Jayda Johnston surpassed her previous career high of six points early in the second quarter and finished with a team-best 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting and four rebounds in 32 minutes of action off the bench.
– Ava Interrante’s third-quarter output of nine points broke her previous career best by itself. All 15 of the junior’s points came in the second half, as she hit 5-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range.
– Leah Earnest registered her fourth double-double of the season, scoring 10 points and leading all players with 10 rebounds.
– After shooting just 9-of-26 from the field in the first half, Valpo shot nearly 50% (13-of-27) in the second half. The Beacons also were 6-of-14 from 3-point range in the final 20 minutes after going without a triple in the opening 20 minutes.
– Western Illinois took advantage of an edge at the charity stripe, going 28-of-37 from the foul line to Valpo’s 17-of-23. The Leathernecks also forced 22 Valpo turnovers and committed just 11 miscues, finishing with an 18-5 edge in points off turnovers.
…versus Western Michigan
– Valpo scored just one basket in the game’s first seven minutes, allowing the Broncos to lead by as many as 10 points in the opening quarter.
– WMU led 20-11 at the end of one period and 34-25 at halftime.
– The Broncos were up 46-33 halfway through the third period before a 8-0 Valpo run brought the Beacons within five.
– WMU scored the final seven points of the quarter, however, to extend back out to a 12-point lead with 10 minutes to play.
– Western Michigan led by as many as 15 points in the fourth quarter and held a 60-47 lead to 5:30 to play. The Beacons’ defense stepped up, however, forcing five straight empty possessions from the Broncos over a span of nearly five minutes.
– On the offensive end, Olivia Brown drilled a 3-pointer and Leah Earnest had drives and finishes on back-to-back trips to bring Valpo within 60-54 with 3:10 to play. But with an opportunity to climb even closer, the Beacons committed turnovers on their next three possessions — the last a charge call which wiped out a potential and-1 opportunity with 85 seconds to play — and would get no closer the rest of the way.
– Brown led the way for Valpo offensively, finishing with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting — including 4-of-5 from 3-point range. The senior, who also grabbed five rebounds, tallied at least 20 points for the fourth time in a Valpo uniform.
– Earnest extended her streak of double-figure scoring games to open the season to seven straight with 12 points on Wednesday while pulling down a team-high seven rebounds as well.
– Pitts posted a career high in the scoring column as she hit 5-of-9 from the floor for 11 points.
– Valpo hit at a 50% clip from the field (24-of-48) on Wednesday and was 5-of-13 (38.5%) from 3-point range. Both percentages were the team’s second-best marks of the season.
– Meanwhile, the Beacons held WMU to 36.1% shooting (22-of-61) and just 4-of-24 (16.7%) from 3-point range, both of which were the second-lowest by a Valpo opponent this season.
– The Broncos secured 21 offensive rebounds to just nine offensive boards for Valpo, while WMU also held a +7 edge in turnover margin (22-15).
…looking ahead
– Missouri Valley Conference play opens up next Friday, Dec. 30 as the Beacons visit Valley newcomer Belmont.
– Valpo’s conference-opening road trip continues on New Year’s Day at Murray State.
…on the road
– Friday’s game is the fourth of 14 true road games for Valpo this season and the final nonconference road game.
– The Beacons are 1-2 so far this season on the road nad posted a 5-11 in true road games last season.
@BadgerWBB
– Wisconsin enters Thursday’s game with a 4-9 overall record so far this season, including losses in its first two Big Ten games.
– The Badgers dropped a 70-60 decision at Green Bay last Wednesday in their last game.
– Thursday’s contest will be the rubber game in the three games between Wisconsin and MVC programs this season – the Badgers defeated Bradley, but lost to Illinois State.
– All five Wisconsin starters score in double figures, led by 13.4 points/game from Julie Pospisilova, who scored 23 in the Badgers’ OT win against Valpo two years ago.
Setting Career Bests
– It wasn’t just the fact that juniors Ava Interrante and Jayda Johnston both set career highs in the scoring column last time out at Western Illinois, it was more in the fact of how both zoomed past their previous career best.
– Interrante came out of the first half scoreless, but matched her previous career high of five points just 2:35 into the third quarter – despite starting the period on the bench – and surpassed it 2:55 in.
– Interrante eventually ended the third quarter with nine points and finished the game with 15 points.
– Meanwhile, Johnston raced past her previous high of six points just 2:05 into the second quarter on her way to a team-best 16 points.
– Eight of Valpo’s 11 players who have seen action this season have tied or set career bests for scoring at some point in this season’s first eight games – notably, three separate games have featured multiple Beacons hitting career highs.
– The season-opening win at Central Michigan featured career bests for Leah Earnest (20) and Katie Beyer (11), while Ali Saunders (32) and Olivia Sims (12) hit career highs in the overtime loss to UAB.
Top Scorers Doing So Efficiently
– Three of Valpo’s top four scorers are hitting at least half their shots from the floor so far this year.
– Leah Earnest is averaging 13.0 points/game on 57.5% shooting, Ali Saunders 12.3 points/game on 56.1% shooting and Ilysse Pitts 6.1 points/game on 50% shooting.
– While she’s not hitting at a 50% clip, Olivia Brown isn’t shabby either, scoring 11.4 points/game on 42.9% shooting.
– All four are knocking down at least 38.9% from the 3-point line as well.
– Valpo has not had even one of its top scorers shoot at least 50% for a season since Sharon Karungi scored 11 points/game on 52.9% shooting in 2013-14.
Taking a Break From Taking a Break
– When they step on the court to tip off against the Badgers on Thursday afternoon, it’ll be a sight for sore eyes, as it has been nearly two weeks since the Beacons last saw action.
– Valpo played at Western Illinois Dec. 9, meaning the game against Wisconsin is the first game for Valpo in 13 days.
– It is the longest stretch between two games for the program (excepting the COVID-19 affected season of 2020-21) since the 2013-14 squad played Butler on Dec. 13 and next played Western Michigan on Dec. 29.
– The 2018-19 team also had a 16-day stretch between games mid-season, but played an exhibition contest during that stretch.
– After Thursday’s game, Valpo will have another eight days until playing again Dec. 30 at Belmont, meaning that the game against the Badgers will be the lone game for the Beacons over a stretch over 20 days.
Sycamores close non-conference play against Detroit Mercy
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State closes the non-conference portion of its schedule Wednesday evening, as the Sycamores welcome Detroit Mercy to Hulman Center for a 6 p.m. tip. The game will be carried on ESPN+.
Gameday Promotions
In conjunction with Sycamore Pantry, we will be conducting a canned food drive at Wednesday’s game. All fans attending are asked to bring a canned or nonperishable food item to the game. Donation points will be at the Hulman Center entrances.
Last Time Out
Chelsea Cain scored a season-high 17 points and Bella Finnegan added 13 off the bench, as Indiana State came from behind in the fourth quarter to defeat Purdue Fort Wayne, 64-56, inside Hulman Center.
Cain finished one rebound shy of her first double-double in a Sycamore uniform, while Del’Janae Williams and Adrian Folks added nine points apiece. Indiana State went 29-for-37 from the free throw line, including a 21-for-25 mark in the fourth quarter, while limiting Purdue Fort Wayne to a season-low four 3-pointers on 31 attempts.
The entirety of the game was a choppy affair, with 57 fouls combined. Neither team was able to get in an offensive rhythm, as seven players fouled out between the two teams. With Indiana State trailing in the fourth quarter, Cain blocked a shot on one end and converted a three-point play on the fastbreak on the other to put the Sycamores ahead for good. Indiana State made its trips to the charity stripe late in the game count, as the Sycamores knocked down 14 free throws in the last five minutes to snap a two-game skid.
Home, Sweet Home
Indiana State is in the midst of a five-game homestand, its longest since the 2017-18 season. The Sycamores are 1-1 through the first two games and have games against Missouri State and Southern Illinois coming up after the holiday break.
Indiana State is 4-2 at home this season, with wins over Saint Louis (64-62), Central Michigan (84-71), Chicago State (68-43) and Purdue Fort Wayne (64-56).
Etched in History
Former Indiana State star Melanie Boeglin was announced as part of the Missouri Valley Conference’s 2023 Hall of Fame Class earlier this week.
Boeglin was one of the best players in MVC history, leading the Trees to a pair of regular season titles and earning all-conference honors four times. She was the 2006 Jackie Stiles MVC Player of the Year and also earned All-America honors that season.
Knock Them Down
Indiana State’s 29 free throws and 37 free throw attempts in its win over Purdue Fort Wayne were by far the most in a game under head coach Chad Killinger. It’s most free throws attempted and made by the Sycamores since Nov. 24, 2013 at Marshall (30-for-43).
The Sycamores’ 21 made free throws and 25 free throw attempts in the fourth quarter were the most in a quarter in program history. Freshman Bella Finnegan stepped up in the fourth quarter, going 9-for-10 from the line in the last 10 minutes.
Turn Up The Noise
Indiana State’s attendance of 2,321 against Western Kentucky was the most in a home game this season for the Sycamores. It was also the highest-attended Indiana State women’s basketball home game since Dec. 8, 2015, when 2,340 fans filled the stands to see the Trees face Indiana.
Aiding the attendance efforts were more than 1,000 sixth-grade students from middle schools across Vigo County, who could be heard from pregame warmups all the way through the final whistle.
Silver Anniversary Squad
A pair of former Indiana State women’s basketball student-athletes were selected to the 2023 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Team, as announced by the organization Tuesday afternoon.
Abbe Brauman (1998-00) and Shana Sparks (1998-01) were among the 18 honorees of the Silver Anniversary Team, which recognizes the top of Indiana’s high school class of 1998. Brauman and Sparks were both a part of Indiana State’s 1998-99 team that reached the WNIT, one of eight postseason appearances in program history.
Detroit Mercy at a Glance
Detroit Mercy enters Wednesday’s game at 2-8 overall and 0-2 in Horizon League play. The Titans dropped a 91-41 decision to Michigan State in their last game.
Irene Murua leads the Titans in scoring (11.5) and rebounding (9.8) this season, nearly averaging a double-double. Amaya Burch (9.5) and Imani McNeal (9.3) are averaging just shy of double-figure scoring for Detroit Mercy. Detroit Mercy has been a strong rebounding team this season, averaging 41.9 boards per game with a rebound margin of plus-2.5. The Titans have won the rebound battle in six of their 10 games this season.
A familiar face is on the sidelines for Detroit Mercy, as Kate Achter is in her first season at the helm of the Titans. Achter previously spent the last six seasons at former Missouri Valley Conference member Loyola Chicago, leading the Ramblers to their best season since 1988-89 last year.
Detroit Mercy is still in search of its first road win this season. The Titans are 0-6 in road games thus far, dropping those six contests by an average of 30.8 points.
Indiana State and Detroit Mercy share one common opponent – Purdue Fort Wayne (ISU W 64-56, UDM L 58-49).
Series History Against Detroit Mercy
Indiana State has a 4-3 lead in the all-time series and has won the last four contests between the teams. The last time the teams played in Terre Haute was in the 2011-12 season.
Last Game Against Detroit Mercy (Nov. 29, 2020)
Sycamore junior Essy Latu connected on six three-pointers, just one short of the school-record, to lead Indiana State past Detroit Mercy, 84-79.
Indiana State’s 84 points were the most since an 86-82 overtime victory over Valparaiso on Jan. 18, 2019. Five Sycamores crossed the double-digit point threshold including Latu (21), Sommer Pitzer (15), Hattie Westerfeld (14), Marie Hunter (13) and Jamyra McChristine (10). Indiana State shot 55.5 percent from the field and also dished out 20 assists. The Sycamores had a 38-23 advantage on the boards.
With the game tied at 74-74 with just 3:50 remaining, Latu took over. The junior connected on back-to-back triples to push the Sycamore lead to 82-74 and put the final nail in the coffin of the Detroit comeback attempt, ultimately leading to the 84-79 victory.
Up Next
Indiana State opens Missouri Valley Conference play December 29 when it plays host to Missouri State for a 4 p.m. tip inside Hulman Center.
Carroll signs nine to impressive 2023 class
EVANSVILLE – Building off of last season, University of Evansville head baseball coach Wes Carroll has announced the signing of nine players in the 2023 class.
“What a great start to the 2023 recruiting class. I want to thank the coaching staff for putting in so much time and effort finding these future Aces,” said Carroll. “The Aces baseball program got better this week with the addition of nine student-athletes that are not only talented on the field but in the classroom as well. It starts on the mound where we added 3 LHP’s and 2 RHP’s that can make immediate impacts. We’ve also added to the middle of our field by signing a frontline Catcher, an athletic Short Stop and 2 outfielders that have plenty of tools. This is a very well-rounded recruiting class that will continue to elevate our program for many years to come.”
The nine members of the class represent four states and two countries with four staying in-state to play for the Aces. Of the nine soon-to-be Aces, five will join Evansville’s pitching staff and four will bolster UE’s hitting and defense.
BJ Peart, MI, People’s Christian Academy, Markham, Ontario, Canada
Coming to the River City from Canada, BJ Peart brings in experience from the top travel league in the country. A 6’3″, 190 lb. middle infielder, Peart competed for the Toronto Mets in travel ball in the Canadian Premier Baseball League.
“Brodie has a real feel for the game that gives him a chance to contribute in a big way early in his career,” said Coach Matt Wollenzin. “He possesses a consistent path at the dish that allows him to use the whole field and we believe he has a chance to develop juice as he continues to grow into his frame. He’s a sound defender that slows the game down and brings a mature defensive presence. Above all we are excited to bring BJ’s passion for the game into the UE family.”
Chance Bentley, C, Connersville HS, Connersville, Ind.
Bentley signs with the Aces after an impressive junior campaign at Connersville HS. The Connersville, Ind. native hit a scorching .430 at the plate in 30 games as a junior in 2022, driving in 24 runs and smashing a trio of homers.
“Chance is an elite catcher that we are thrilled to sign,” said Carroll. “He is a leader and has a great feel for the game behind the plate. Chance has an opportunity to make an immediate impact on our program and has a bright future in an Aces uniform.”
Kenton Deverman, LHP, Fort Zumwalt West HS, Dardenne Prairie, Mo.
Another St. Louis area product to join the Aces, Kenton Deverman adds a talented left-handed arm to the team. In 2022, Deverman recorded a 7-1 record with 71 punch-outs in 52.2 innings.
“Kenton Deverman is a projectable left-handed pitcher with a quick arm and a high spinning fastball,” said Coach Tyler Shipley. “He continues to develop physically and has not even begun to scratch the surface of what he is capable of on the mound. I am extremely excited to watch Kenton grow in our program, and I am confident that he will play a significant role on our pitching staff in the future.”
Jacob Jarvis, LHP, Jefferson College, Farmington, Mo.
Bringing collegiate experience, JuCo lefty Jacob Jarvis provides further depth for a talented Aces pitching staff. At Jefferson College in 2022, Jarvis tallied eight appearances, earning a win in relief, and striking-out 17.
“Jacob is a power left-handed pitcher that comes to us from one of the premier junior college programs in this region in Jefferson College,” said Shipley. “Within the past six months he has had a major increase in velocity and has blossomed into a front-line caliber arm that we are excited to have join the program. Jacob has all of the intangibles with a physical frame, fastball up to 93mph, feel for his secondary pitches, and a great work ethic, but beyond that he is an even better individual that will add veteran leadership to this highly talented incoming recruiting class.”
Charlie Longmeier, Outfielder, Seymour HS, Seymour, Ind.
Staying in-state for his college baseball, outfielder Charlie Longmeier adds a well-rounded player to the Evansville squad. As a junior for Seymour HS, Longmeier hit .429 recording 25 RBI with eight doubles and six triples.
“We are excited to have Charlie join our program,” said Carroll. “He is an athletic Outfielder and student of the game. Charlie has great hand eye coordination at the plate and always finds ways to barrel baseballs. He fits our mold and the type of student-athlete here at UE. Looking forward to getting him on campus next fall.”
Matt Maloney, RHP, Southwestern Illinois College, Mokena, Ill.
The second JuCo product in the 2023 class, Matt Maloney helps bolster the Aces pitching staff. Coming to Evansville from Southwestern Illinois College, Maloney made an appearances last season for Titans to open his collegiate career.
“Matt Maloney is a player that I have been following since his travel ball days pitching for the Cangelosi Sparks out of the Chicagoland area,” said Shipley. “As Matt has continued to develop and mature physically his ability has increased significantly, but one of traits that has always stood out to me about Matt is his competitive nature. There is no situation that is too big for him as he has proved throughout high school, summer ball, and his first season at SWIC. He hasn’t even begun to reach his full potential yet, and he is a pitcher that we hope will play a major role during his time on campus.”
Aaron Nehls, Outfielder, North HS, Evansville, Ind.
The second North HS Husky to join the roster, outfielder Aaron Nehls stays home to help lead the Aces. As a sophomore in 2021, Nehls hit .346 for the Huskies, driving in 1 runs and generating 11 extra-base hits.
“Aaron is a local kid which is the backbone of our program and we are happy he is staying home,” said Carroll. “He is a great athlete that has potential to be a five-tool player on the field. Aaron plays with the type of energy and passion we look for here at UE.”
Kevin Reed, LHP, Martinsville HS, Martinsville, Ind.
Making the two hour trip south to the River City, Kevin Reed brings another talented left arm to the program. As a junior in 2022, Reed recorded a 2.27 ERA, striking-out 94 while allowing 36 hits and 20 runs against 210 batters. At the plate, Reed impressed as well, hitting .312 batting average, adding 27 runs, 18 RBI’s and 7 home runs last season. His efforts earned him an All-State honorable mention and All Mid-State Conference honors.
“We are extremely excited about the signing of Kevin Reed as part of our 2023 recruiting class,” said Shipley. “Kevin attacks the strike zone with a fastball up to 90mph and shows an above average breaking ball the keeps hitters from ever getting comfortable in the box. He is one of the top pitching prospects in Indiana and will be a vital member of our pitching staff from the time that he steps on campus. “
Kellen Roberts, RHP, Monroe HS, Monroe, Mich.
Coming to Evansville from Michigan, Kellen Roberts adds depth to its pitching staff right a talented right-hander. Prior to his junior season in 2022, Roberts was selected as a Perfect Game Preseason All-American honorable mention in the central region.
“Kellen spent this past summer pitching against some of the top teams in the country and consistently had success regardless of who he was facing,” said Shipley. “He is a great competitor and is very athletic, and we are excited to see what he is capable of once he is focusing solely only on baseball. Roberts already runs his fastball up to the low 90’s and has the ability to throw an elite breaking ball, he has tremendous upside, and we cannot wait to watch him develop in our program.”
Aces wrap up non-conference slate on Wednesday
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Non-conference play comes to a close for the regular season when the University of Evansville men’s basketball team plays host to Bellarmine on Wednesday evening inside the Ford Center. Tip is set for 7 p.m. CT with the Purple Aces Radio Network and ESPN+ having the coverage. Fans will have the opportunity to get photos Purple Santa in the lobby of the Ford Center when the doors open at 6 p.m.
Last Time Out
– Up by 14 points at halftime, Ball State doubled its lead to as many as 28 in the second half on their way to an 88-69 win on Dec. 10 in Muncie
– UE closed the deficit to 19 points in the final minutes
– Leading the way for the Purple Aces was Marvin Coleman II who recorded 17 points while hitting three triples
– Kenny Strawbridge Jr. scored 15 while Antoine Smith Jr. checked in with 14
Top Scorer
– With his scoring average of 15.8 points per game, Kenny Strawbridge Jr. continues to lead the Aces while ranking 9th in the Missouri Valley Conference
– Scoring 25 points against Fairfield, Strawrbridge reached the 20-point mark for the fifth time this season
– His top scoring output of the season saw him register 25 points on 11-of-18 shooting
– Strawbridge is a 37.8% shooter in 2022, but his average over the last four games is 28.6%
No Fluke Here
– Three days after scoring a career-high 18 points against Campbell, Marvin Coleman II led the Aces with 17 points at Ball State
– Over the last two games, Coleman is 12-of-22 from the field and 7-for-11 from 3-point range
– In the win over Campbell, he set career-highs in scoring (18 points), field goals (7), triples (4) and minutes (38:20)
– The last two games have marked his first double-digit scoring games since the season opener at Miami Ohio
– Coleman entered the Campbell game hitting just two of his first 22 3-point tries but is 7-for-11 in the last two outings
– Over the last four games, Coleman has converted 19 out of 41 attempts (46.3%)…he opened the season hitting just 13 out of his first 70 field goal tries (18.6%)
Regaining His Form
– Entering the Campbell game, Antoine Smith Jr. was shooting 35.9% from outside but has found his shot over the last two games, hitting 7 of his 10 attempts
– Those efforts improved his season mark to 42.9%
– With one minute remaining in the Dec. 7 game against Campbell, he drained a triple that gave UE the lead for good; he completed the game with a season-high 15 points while draining 3 of his 4 outside attempts
– He has been on a roll over the last four games, averaging 12.75 points per game after recording a mark of 5.9 PPG through the opening eight contests
Scouting the Opponent
– Bellarmine is set to face the Purple Aces for the first time in Evansville
– It will be the third meeting in program history and the first since March 6, 1965
– The Knights are led by Garrett Tipton, who is recording 10.8 points per game
– Ben Johnson and Bash Wieland are just behind with 9.8 and 9.4 PPG, respectively
– Juston Betz has a team-high 4.7 rebounds per game and is tied for the top total on the squad with 30 assists
– Bellarmine has played a challenging schedule that has seen them play road games at Louisville, Clemson, Duke, UCLA and Kentucky.
USI stymied by Ft. Wayne, 83-59
FT. WAYNE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball offense was stymied by Purdue University Ft. Wayne, 83-59, to conclude the Indiana Classic Tuesday at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The Eagles finish non-conference action with a 7-6 mark after tonight’s action, while the Mastodons are 9-4.
USI was cold from the field in the first 20 minutes, while Ft. Wayne had the hot hand. The Mastodons led by 19 at the intermission, 44-25, after shooting 54.8 percent from the field (17-31) and dropped in 10 three-point field goals.
The Eagles was cold in the opening half, hitting just 35.7 percent from the field (10-28) despite the 12-point contribution by sophomore guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana).
In second half, the Mastodon defense continued to thwart the USI offense, holding the Eagles to 35.3 percent (12-34), and go on to post the 83-59 final.
Individually for USI, Swope finished with a team-high 17 points to lead the Eagles in double-digits. The sophomore guard was seven-of-12 from the field, three-of-five from beyond the arc, for his 17 points.
Senior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) followed with 14 points on five-of-12 from the field, three-of-seven from long range, and one-of-two from the stripe. Graduate forward Trevor Lakes (Lebanon, Indiana) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points on three three-pointers and two free throws.
Next Up 2022-23:
USI begins Ohio Valley Conference action after Christmas when it hosts Southeast Missouri State University December 29 at Screaming Eagles Arena. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.
The games will be streamed on ESPN+ in addition to being heard on ESPN 97.7FM (http://listentotheref.com) and 95.7FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com).
SEMO is 5-7 overall in the non-conference portion of the season but is in the middle of a six-game losing streak. The Redhawks will be looking to snap the slide Wednesday when they host Southern Illinois University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
USI trails the all-time series with SEMO, 3-2, and lost the last meeting in the NCAA Division II Central Regional, 91-73, in 1990 at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.
The Eagles will finish its first weekend of OVC action on the road when they visit Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. The Panthers, who visit the University of Iowa Wednesday and host Lindenwood University December 29 prior to hosting USI, are 3-9 this season.
USI leads the all-time series, 2-1, winning the last two regular season matchups in the 1980 The Eagles defeated the Panthers on the road, 72-70, in 1980-81, and at home, 81-78, in the 1982-83 season. EIU took the first ever meeting, 79-67 in the 1978 NCAA II Great Lakes Regional.
USI captured a road exhibition game, 95-92, in the 2017-18 season in the last meeting between the two programs.
USI returns home Wednesday for non-conference finale against Brescia (Ky.)
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball returns home to Screaming Eagles Arena Wednesday to take on Brescia University (Ky.) at 6 p.m. (ticket information). The matchup will be the non-conference finale for the Screaming Eagles before Ohio Valley Conference play begins December 29.
The contest can be seen live with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on 95.7 FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com).
The Screaming Eagles (5-5) finally return home for a game on the USI campus for the first time since an 85-52 win against Bethel University (Ind.) on November 23 before Thanksgiving. Since then, USI has been on the road for five straight, going 2-3 during the road swing.
Most recently, USI split back-to-back road games last weekend with a 76-66 win at Wright State University on Saturday before dropping a 99-57 matchup at the University of Cincinnati on Sunday. The weekend road slate was highlighted by the win at Wright State, the second road victory for USI this season. In that game, sophomore guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana) and junior forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana) each tallied 20 points. Senior forward Hannah Haithcock (Washington Courthouse, Ohio) also scored in double figures, posting 14 points, which she followed with another 14 points on Sunday at Cincinnati.
When Shafford and Raley each scored 20 points on Saturday, it was the second time already this season that USI had two players reach the 20-point plateau in the same game. Back on November 19 against Bowling Green State University, Shafford and Haithcock each recorded 21 points. Out of ten games played, Raley scored 10 or more in nine to lead the team while Shafford and Haithcock are second with seven double-digit games this season. With three consecutive double-digit games, Haithcock is averaging 15 points per outing in the last three games.
Also playing well and bringing consistency to the Screaming Eagles’ lineup in recent games has been senior forward Tara Robbe (Wildwood, Missouri). Robbe has scored nine points in three of the last five games while also grabbing six rebounds in three of the last five outings. While earning those season-best marks, Robbe dished out a season-high four assists in Saturday’s win at Wright State. In the last five contests, the senior is averaging 7.8 points a game and 4.6 boards per outing. The Wildwood, Missouri native has started the last three games for USI.
Wednesday’s opponent, Brescia (Ky.), will be the third NAIA school USI has faced this season. Southern Indiana previously beat Oakland City University 87-39 to open the season and capture USI’s first win as a D-I program. USI also beat Bethel (Ind.) 85-52 before Thanksgiving.
Brescia (Ky.) is a member of the River States Conference in NAIA. The Bearcats are 1-12 so far this season entering play this week. Before facing USI, Brescia takes on St. Mary-of-the-Woods College Tuesday evening. Brescia’s last win was a 69-59 win on November 17 against Campbellsville University-Harrodsburg. The Bearcats have dropped seven straight contests since then.
Brescia has squared off against two other Division-I programs this season. On October 29, the Bearcats fell 116-53 at Bellarmine University in a preseason exhibition against the Knights. Back on November 30, Brescia took on Morehead State, whom USI will see in Ohio Valley Conference play. Morehead State won that game 104-54.
On the season, junior forward Lindsey Peyton paces the Bearcats at 9.2 points per game. Junior forward Madelyn Lyon leads the squad with 5.5 rebounds per game and just over one steal and one block per contest.
As the non-conference season concludes Wednesday for Southern Indiana, the Screaming Eagles will next prepare for the start of the OVC season after the holidays. On December 29, USI will open the OVC season at Screaming Eagles Arena against Southeast Missouri State University for a 5 p.m. tip-off time.
Marian Wrestling Competes At Reno Tournament Of Champions
Reno, Nev. – The Marian wrestling team competed at the Reno Tournament of Champions over the weekend, competing against multiple NCAA DI competitors and west cost NAIA teams. Marian went 0-3 in duals held on Friday, and scored 15.5 points to finish 23rd in the open tournament on Sunday.
Embry Riddle 25-9 Marian
The Knights lost to the Eagles 25-9, earning two wins in the dual. Marian forfeited at both 125 and 133, but earned a fall by decision from Aundre Beatty at 141, as he pinned Carson Coy with 31 seconds remaining in the first period. Bailey Moore and Jack Servies suffered defeats by decision by two points or less that could have turned the tide in the dual, but the pair of three point losses helped Embry Riddle solidify their win. Marian’s other win in the dual was at 184, with Sam Osho earning a 13-6 win by decision over Michael Densmore.
Southern Oregon 25-14 Marian
Marian fell to Southern Oregon 25-14, as the Raiders won four matches and earned victories at 125 and 133 by forfeit. Aundre Beatty picked up a 7-4 win by decision at 141, and Bailey Moore won 10-3 by decision at 157. Elliott Rodgers scored a 16-0 win by tech fall in his bout at 165, and Sam Osho was victorious at 184 in a high-scoring 18-12 decision over Southern Oregon’s Kabb Christensen. Jack Servies suffered a close loss at 197 as he was defeated in a sudden-victory, and Austin Lane was defeated to close the dual by decision at 285.
Menlo 28-18 Marian
The Menlo Owls defeated Marian by 10 points, winning by forfeit at 125 and 133 to score 12 points. Aundre Beatty picked up his third win in the duals with a second period win by fall, and Seth Johnson won by fall at 149 to tie the score. The Knights would fall by decision at 157 and 165, and at 174 Menlo scored a major decision victory to go on top 22-12 in the match. Sam Osho would win by forfiet, but Marian was unable to catch up as they lost by decision at both 197 and 285 to end the match in a defeat.
DUAL RECORDS
Aundre Beatty: 3-0
Sam Osho: 3-0
Seth Johnson: 1-0
Bailey Moore: 1-2
Elliott Rodgers: 1-2
Excel Brooks: 0-1
Austin Lane: 0-2
Ricky Hegedus: 0-2
Noah Hollendonner: 0-3
Jack Servies: 0-3
In Sunday’s Tournament of Champions, Marian had their best performance from Asa Garcia, as he went 3-2 overall. Sam Osho had the longest run in the championship bracket reaching the quarterfinal round as he went 2-2 overall, while Ian Heath and Elliott Rodgers also picked up two wins each.
Tournamet Records
Asa Garcia (unattached): 3-2
Sam Osho: 2-2
Ian Heath: 2-2
Elliott Rodgers: 2-2
Austin Lane: 1-2
Excel Brooks: 1-2
Aundre Beatty: 1-2
Anthony Hughes (unattached): 1-2
Jack Servies: 0-2
Bailey Moore: 0-2
Ricky Hegedus: 0-2
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
NFL STANDINGS
| American Football Conference | ||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | |
| x-Buffalo Bills | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 0.0 | 385 | 250 | 6 – 1 – 0 | 5 – 2 – 0 | 8 – 2 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 5 W |
| xy-Kansas City Chiefs | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 0.0 | 414 | 322 | 5 – 1 – 0 | 6 – 2 – 0 | 7 – 3 – 0 | 4 – 0 – 0 | 2 W |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 0.0 | 369 | 288 | 5 – 1 – 0 | 5 – 3 – 0 | 6 – 3 – 0 | 2 – 3 – 0 | 6 W |
| Tennessee Titans | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 0.0 | 255 | 293 | 3 – 3 – 0 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 5 – 5 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 4 L |
| Baltimore Ravens | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 0.0 | 304 | 263 | 4 – 2 – 0 | 5 – 3 – 0 | 6 – 4 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 1 L |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | 0.0 | 312 | 340 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 6 – 4 – 0 | 2 – 3 – 0 | 2 W |
| Miami Dolphins | 8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | 0.0 | 345 | 344 | 5 – 1 – 0 | 3 – 5 – 0 | 6 – 4 – 0 | 2 – 2 – 0 | 3 L |
| New England Patriots | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 1.0 | 300 | 269 | 3 – 3 – 0 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 5 – 4 – 0 | 2 – 2 – 0 | 1 L |
| New York Jets | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 1.0 | 281 | 263 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 5 – 5 – 0 | 2 – 3 – 0 | 3 L |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 2.0 | 334 | 328 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 2 – 5 – 0 | 5 – 4 – 0 | 2 – 2 – 0 | 2 W |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 2.0 | 338 | 337 | 4 – 2 – 0 | 2 – 6 – 0 | 5 – 5 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 1 W |
| Cleveland Browns | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 2.0 | 313 | 326 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 2 – 5 – 0 | 4 – 7 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 1 W |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 2.0 | 251 | 309 | 2 – 4 – 0 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 2 – 7 – 0 | 1 – 3 – 0 | 1 W |
| Indianapolis Colts | 4 | 9 | 1 | .321 | 3.5 | 245 | 337 | 2 – 4 – 0 | 2 – 5 – 1 | 4 – 5 – 1 | 1 – 3 – 1 | 4 L |
| Denver Broncos | 4 | 10 | 0 | .286 | 4.0 | 218 | 253 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 1 – 6 – 0 | 2 – 8 – 0 | 0 – 4 – 0 | 1 W |
| Houston Texans | 1 | 12 | 1 | .107 | 6.5 | 235 | 344 | 0 – 6 – 1 | 1 – 6 – 0 | 1 – 7 – 1 | 1 – 1 – 1 | 9 L |
| National Football Conference | ||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | |
| x-Philadelphia Eagles | 13 | 1 | 0 | .929 | 0.0 | 411 | 268 | 6 – 1 – 0 | 7 – 0 – 0 | 8 – 1 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 5 W |
| xy-Minnesota Vikings | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 0.0 | 351 | 349 | 7 – 1 – 0 | 4 – 2 – 0 | 6 – 3 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 1 W |
| xy-San Francisco 49ers | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 0.0 | 338 | 210 | 6 – 1 – 0 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 8 – 2 – 0 | 5 – 0 – 0 | 7 W |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 0.0 | 247 | 288 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 2 – 4 – 0 | 6 – 3 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 2 L |
| x-Dallas Cowboys | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 0.0 | 394 | 269 | 7 – 1 – 0 | 3 – 3 – 0 | 7 – 3 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 1 L |
| New York Giants | 8 | 5 | 1 | .607 | 0.0 | 287 | 312 | 4 – 3 – 1 | 4 – 2 – 0 | 4 – 5 – 1 | 1 – 3 – 1 | 1 W |
| Washington Commanders | 7 | 6 | 1 | .536 | 0.0 | 265 | 276 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 4 – 2 – 1 | 4 – 5 – 1 | 1 – 3 – 1 | 1 L |
| Seattle Seahawks | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 1.5 | 355 | 355 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 5 – 6 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 2 L |
| Detroit Lions | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 1.5 | 369 | 364 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 3 – 3 – 0 | 5 – 4 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 3 W |
| Green Bay Packers | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 2.5 | 287 | 314 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 2 – 5 – 0 | 5 – 5 – 0 | 2 – 2 – 0 | 2 W |
| Carolina Panthers | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 3.5 | 276 | 314 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 1 – 5 – 0 | 4 – 5 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 1 L |
| New Orleans Saints | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 3.5 | 286 | 315 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 1 – 5 – 0 | 4 – 6 – 0 | 2 – 3 – 0 | 1 W |
| Atlanta Falcons | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 3.5 | 306 | 333 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 1 – 6 – 0 | 4 – 6 – 0 | 1 – 4 – 0 | 3 L |
| Arizona Cardinals | 4 | 10 | 0 | .286 | 4.5 | 292 | 372 | 1 – 7 – 0 | 3 – 3 – 0 | 3 – 6 – 0 | 1 – 4 – 0 | 4 L |
| Los Angeles Rams | 4 | 10 | 0 | .286 | 4.5 | 230 | 320 | 3 – 5 – 0 | 1 – 5 – 0 | 3 – 8 – 0 | 1 – 4 – 0 | 1 L |
| Chicago Bears | 3 | 11 | 0 | .214 | 5.5 | 290 | 358 | 2 – 5 – 0 | 1 – 6 – 0 | 1 – 9 – 0 | 0 – 4 – 0 | 7 L |
NBA STANDINGS
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||
| W | L | Pct | Conf GB | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Last 10 | Streak | |||
| 1 Milwaukee | 22 | 8 | .733 | — | 14-3 | 8-5 | 4-1 | 11-4 | 7-3 | 2 W | ||
| 2 Boston | 22 | 9 | .710 | 0.5 | 11-4 | 11-5 | 4-0 | 14-7 | 5-5 | 2 L | ||
| 3 Cleveland | 21 | 11 | .656 | 2.0 | 15-2 | 6-9 | 4-2 | 14-5 | 7-3 | 4 W | ||
| 4 Brooklyn | 19 | 12 | .613 | 3.5 | 10-5 | 9-7 | 5-2 | 15-6 | 9-1 | 6 W | ||
| 5 Philadelphia | 17 | 12 | .586 | 4.5 | 12-5 | 5-7 | 3-3 | 12-8 | 7-3 | 5 W | ||
| 6 New York | 18 | 13 | .581 | 4.5 | 8-7 | 10-6 | 1-2 | 12-6 | 8-2 | 8 W | ||
| 7 Atlanta | 16 | 15 | .516 | 6.5 | 10-5 | 6-10 | 4-3 | 12-11 | 5-5 | 2 W | ||
| 8 Miami | 16 | 16 | .500 | 7.0 | 9-7 | 6-9 | 5-1 | 8-10 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| 9 Indiana | 15 | 16 | .484 | 7.5 | 9-7 | 6-9 | 1-2 | 10-8 | 3-7 | 2 L | ||
| 10 Toronto | 13 | 18 | .419 | 9.5 | 10-6 | 3-12 | 1-7 | 9-13 | 2-8 | 6 L | ||
| 11 Chicago | 12 | 18 | .400 | 10.0 | 7-7 | 5-11 | 2-1 | 10-9 | 3-7 | 1 W | ||
| 12 Washington | 12 | 20 | .375 | 11.0 | 8-7 | 4-13 | 3-3 | 7-13 | 1-9 | 1 W | ||
| 13 Orlando | 11 | 21 | .344 | 12.0 | 8-9 | 3-12 | 2-4 | 7-16 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| 14 Charlotte | 8 | 23 | .258 | 14.5 | 4-11 | 4-12 | 3-6 | 4-17 | 2-8 | 1 W | ||
| 15 Detroit | 8 | 25 | .242 | 15.5 | 4-12 | 4-13 | 0-5 | 3-15 | 3-7 | 3 L | ||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||
| W | L | Pct | Conf GB | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Last 10 | Streak | |||
| 1 Denver | 19 | 11 | .633 | — | 10-3 | 9-8 | 6-2 | 15-7 | 6-4 | 2 W | ||
| 2 Memphis | 19 | 11 | .633 | — | 13-2 | 6-9 | 3-2 | 8-8 | 7-3 | 2 L | ||
| 3 New Orleans | 18 | 12 | .600 | 1.0 | 12-4 | 6-8 | 5-1 | 12-8 | 6-4 | 4 L | ||
| 4 Phoenix | 19 | 13 | .594 | 1.0 | 14-4 | 5-9 | 7-0 | 16-8 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| 5 LA Clippers | 18 | 14 | .563 | 2.0 | 10-7 | 8-7 | 3-4 | 11-11 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 6 Sacramento | 16 | 13 | .552 | 2.5 | 8-5 | 8-8 | 3-4 | 5-6 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| 7 Portland | 17 | 14 | .548 | 2.5 | 7-6 | 10-8 | 4-3 | 13-9 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| 8 Utah | 18 | 16 | .529 | 3.0 | 11-5 | 7-11 | 3-4 | 15-9 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 9 Minnesota | 16 | 15 | .516 | 3.5 | 9-7 | 7-8 | 4-4 | 9-11 | 6-4 | 3 W | ||
| 10 Dallas | 15 | 16 | .484 | 4.5 | 12-5 | 3-11 | 1-2 | 10-6 | 5-5 | 2 L | ||
| 11 Golden State | 15 | 17 | .469 | 5.0 | 12-2 | 3-15 | 4-3 | 9-8 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| 12 LA Lakers | 13 | 17 | .433 | 6.0 | 8-7 | 5-10 | 0-6 | 7-11 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| 13 Oklahoma City | 13 | 18 | .419 | 6.5 | 8-7 | 5-11 | 2-6 | 7-11 | 5-5 | 2 W | ||
| 14 San Antonio | 10 | 20 | .333 | 9.0 | 5-11 | 5-8 | 2-3 | 4-17 | 4-6 | 1 W | ||
| 15 Houston | 9 | 21 | .300 | 10.0 | 6-8 | 3-13 | 1-4 | 5-16 | 4-6 | 3 L |
NHL STANDINGS
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | ROW | GF | GA | Home | Road | L10 | ||
| 1 Boston Bruins | 31 | 25 | 4 | 2 | 52 | 23 | 123 | 69 | 17-0-2 | 8-4-0 | 7-1-2 | |
| 2 Carolina Hurricanes | 32 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 46 | 18 | 96 | 82 | 9-3-1 | 11-3-5 | 9-0-1 | |
| 3 Toronto Maple Leafs | 33 | 20 | 7 | 6 | 46 | 20 | 107 | 79 | 12-2-3 | 8-5-3 | 7-2-1 | |
| 4 New Jersey Devils | 32 | 21 | 9 | 2 | 44 | 21 | 108 | 81 | 10-7-1 | 11-2-1 | 3-5-2 | |
| 5 Pittsburgh Penguins | 32 | 19 | 9 | 4 | 42 | 18 | 111 | 91 | 10-3-2 | 9-6-2 | 8-1-1 | |
| 6 Tampa Bay Lightning | 31 | 20 | 10 | 1 | 41 | 20 | 111 | 90 | 12-4-1 | 8-6-0 | 7-3-0 | |
| 7 New York Rangers | 34 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 41 | 17 | 111 | 93 | 7-6-4 | 11-5-1 | 7-2-1 | |
| 8 New York Islanders | 33 | 18 | 13 | 2 | 38 | 18 | 104 | 92 | 9-6-0 | 9-7-2 | 3-5-2 | |
| 9 Washington Capitals | 34 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 38 | 17 | 104 | 99 | 10-5-1 | 7-8-3 | 7-2-1 | |
| 10 Buffalo Sabres | 32 | 16 | 14 | 2 | 34 | 15 | 127 | 109 | 7-8-2 | 9-6-0 | 7-2-1 | |
| 11 Florida Panthers | 33 | 15 | 14 | 4 | 34 | 14 | 111 | 111 | 8-4-3 | 7-10-1 | 5-5-0 | |
| 12 Detroit Red Wings | 31 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 33 | 12 | 91 | 101 | 7-6-3 | 6-5-4 | 2-5-3 | |
| 13 Montreal Canadiens | 32 | 15 | 15 | 2 | 32 | 11 | 92 | 112 | 7-9-0 | 8-6-2 | 4-5-1 | |
| 14 Ottawa Senators | 32 | 14 | 16 | 2 | 30 | 14 | 98 | 103 | 8-8-0 | 6-8-2 | 6-3-1 | |
| 15 Philadelphia Flyers | 33 | 11 | 15 | 7 | 29 | 11 | 82 | 109 | 7-9-1 | 4-6-6 | 3-5-2 | |
| 16 Columbus Blue Jackets | 32 | 10 | 20 | 2 | 22 | 10 | 87 | 130 | 8-11-1 | 2-9-1 | 2-8-0 | |
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | ROW | GF | GA | Home | Road | L10 | ||
| 1 Vegas Golden Knights | 34 | 22 | 11 | 1 | 45 | 20 | 112 | 94 | 8-9-0 | 14-2-1 | 5-5-0 | |
| 2 Dallas Stars | 33 | 19 | 8 | 6 | 44 | 19 | 118 | 91 | 9-3-3 | 10-5-3 | 6-2-2 | |
| 3 Winnipeg Jets | 32 | 21 | 10 | 1 | 43 | 21 | 108 | 81 | 12-5-0 | 9-5-1 | 7-3-0 | |
| 4 Los Angeles Kings | 35 | 18 | 12 | 5 | 41 | 15 | 116 | 123 | 9-5-2 | 9-7-3 | 6-3-1 | |
| 5 Seattle Kraken | 31 | 18 | 10 | 3 | 39 | 18 | 108 | 98 | 9-6-2 | 9-4-1 | 5-5-0 | |
| 6 Minnesota Wild | 31 | 18 | 11 | 2 | 38 | 15 | 100 | 89 | 11-6-1 | 7-5-1 | 8-2-0 | |
| 7 Colorado Avalanche | 30 | 17 | 11 | 2 | 36 | 14 | 91 | 81 | 8-5-2 | 9-6-0 | 5-4-1 | |
| 8 Edmonton Oilers | 33 | 17 | 14 | 2 | 36 | 17 | 118 | 114 | 9-8-1 | 8-6-1 | 4-4-2 | |
| 9 Calgary Flames | 33 | 15 | 12 | 6 | 36 | 14 | 104 | 103 | 10-6-2 | 5-6-4 | 5-2-3 | |
| 10 St. Louis Blues | 33 | 16 | 16 | 1 | 33 | 14 | 101 | 119 | 6-7-1 | 10-9-0 | 5-4-1 | |
| 11 Nashville Predators | 30 | 13 | 13 | 4 | 30 | 11 | 76 | 93 | 8-5-2 | 5-8-2 | 4-4-2 | |
| 12 Vancouver Canucks | 31 | 13 | 15 | 3 | 29 | 12 | 103 | 122 | 5-9-1 | 8-6-2 | 5-5-0 | |
| 13 San Jose Sharks | 34 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 26 | 9 | 103 | 127 | 3-10-5 | 7-8-1 | 3-5-2 | |
| 14 Arizona Coyotes | 30 | 10 | 15 | 5 | 25 | 10 | 83 | 111 | 4-3-2 | 6-12-3 | 3-5-2 | |
| 15 Anaheim Ducks | 33 | 9 | 21 | 3 | 21 | 7 | 80 | 139 | 5-7-0 | 4-14-3 | 3-6-1 | |
| 16 Chicago Blackhawks | 30 | 7 | 19 | 4 | 18 | 7 | 68 | 116 | 4-11-2 | 3-8-2 | 1-9-0 |
FOOTBALL HISTORY
December 21, 1941 – Wrigley Field, Chicago – The 1941 NFL Championship Game took place. The New York Football Giants were challenging the defending Champs, the Bears of Chicago. The game was pretty much one sided as the Monsters of the Midway dominated their visitors from the Big Apple as reported by the Golden Rankings website. In an interesting side note Bears kicker Ray McLean made the last NFL drop kick for an extra point per ESPN Classic. The story goes that the Bears were dominating the New York Football Giants in this late season game up 30-9 late in the game. New York coughed up the ball and the Bears Ken Kavanaugh picked it up and raced 42 yards for another Chicago score. Whether it was to humiliate the Giants further or just for entertainment value, McLean attempted the archaic method of kicking for points that had not been used in quite awhile. The kick was up and good and the Bears celebrated the 37-9 Title victory to become the first repeat Champs in NFL History and garner their fifth championship for the storied franchise.
December 21, 1948 -Philadelphia’s Bellevue-Stratford Hotel – At the 1949 NFL Draft the Philadelphia Eagles chose University of Pennsylvania center/linebacker Chuck Bednarik as the first overall pick. Bednarik, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s information, played in the League for 14 seasons registering 9 interceptions and becoming an All-Pro selection 9 times. Other legends that got their starts in the NFL in this draft were George Blanda, Doak Walker, Frank Tripucka and Norm Van Brocklin.
December 21, 1959 – The Dallas Cowboys hire the New York Giants defensive coordinator, Tom Landry as their First Head Coach. Landry stayed on as the Dallas head man until 1988. The Dallas News website has a fascinating story on how the former Cowboys owner Tex Schram chose Landry to guide his team. In the article Schram, a former LA Rams GM and later a CBS Sports employee, was quoted to say, “I went to their [Giants] games and was surprised by what I saw,” Schramm said. “Here was an assistant coach – a defensive coach — who was looked upon by his players as almost a god. They were the best defensive club in the league for several years, and Tom Landry was the reason. He had a different philosophy of defense, and it worked.” Tom actually signed on with Schram before the Cowboys franchise even officially existed. The NFL made the formal announcement of awarding Dallas a franchise on January 28, 1960.
December 21, 1969 – Washington D.C. – Legendary Coach Vince Lombardi coached his last football game. The final game was very unceremonious as the great coach six months in the future would learn that he had colon cancer and would pass away from the terminal condition on September 3, 1970 at the age of 57 according to a Washington-Post story. It is almost forgotten too that in what would be the final season that Lombardi would see he was walking the sidelines of the Washington Redskins and not the Green Bay Packers where he spent 9 seasons winning 5 NFL titles including the first two Super Bowls. By the way the Redskins lost that day to their rivals the Dallas Cowboys 20-10. Lombardi in his one season turned the Washington franchise around though after 14 years of dismal finishes to a 7-5-2 record and put the franchise on a course to be successful in the next decade of play.
December 21, 1980 – Philadelphia Eagles, Harold Carmichael’s NFL streak of 127 consecutive games with a reception comes to an end per Onthisday.com.
December 21, 1984 – Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego – Brigham Young University wins their school’s first National Title. BYU knocked of a very tough University of Michigan team by the score of 24-17 in the Holiday Bowl at to remain undefeated to secure the NCAA Division I-A football title per Onthisday.com.
December 21, 1997 – Pontiac Silverdome, Michigan – The Detroit Lions legendary Running Back Barry Sanders is the third player to run for 2,000 yards in a single season. Sanders had 23 rushing attempts for 184 yards and one score in the LIons 13-10 victory over the visiting New York Jets to help him reach the milestone according to the Pro-Football-Reference website.
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 21
December 21, 1916 – Vallejo, California – Cal’s great halfback Vic Bottari is born per the National Football Foundation’s website. The voters in the NFF in 1981 inducted Vic Bottari and his legendary collegiate career into the College Football Hall of Fame.
December 21, 1935 – Hayti, South Dakota – Garney Henley the running back from Huron came to life per the NFF website. The College Football Hall of Fame welcomed Garney Henley into their ranks in 2004.
December 21, 1941 – Chicago, Illinois – USC’s terrific end, Hal Bedsole was born. National Football Foundation voters selected Hal Bedsole to enter into their College Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
December 21, 1960 – Tampa, Florida – The pride of Eastern Kentucky, Safety George Floyd celebrates his day of birth. The NFF’s bio on him states that Floyd intercepted 22 passes in four years and against Youngstown State in 1980 he ran 100 yards for a touchdown with an interception. George Floyd proudly entered the College Football Hall of Fame rank and file during the induction ceremonies in 1999.
BASEBALL HISTORY
1926 Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis dismisses claims by Dutch Leonard, Ty Cobb’s former Tiger teammate, alleging the Georgia Peach and Indian outfielder Tris Speaker bet on a fixed game six years ago. The commissioner will declare the matter closed, with both future Hall of Famers getting a clean bill of health given their support from the public and the accuser’s failure to defend his claim at last month’s hearing.
1959 After Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh rejects the A’s offer to deal Roger Maris for shortstop Dick Groat, Pittsburgh obtains Gino Cimoli and Tom Cheney from the Cardinals for right-hander Ron Kline. Maris, who goes to the Yankees, will enjoy the first of his two consecutive MVP years in New York, but Groat will play a vital role for the World Champion Bucs next season, and he will also be named the most valuable player of his league.
1960 Cub owner P.K. Wrigley announces the club will not have a manager next season but will instead use a college of coaches. The ‘faculty’ of head coaches for the upcoming campaign will include El Tappe, Charlie Grimm, Goldie Holt, Bobby Adams, Harry Craft, Rube Walker, Ripper Collins, and Vedie Himsl.
1978 Sports cartoonist Willard Mullin, the creator of the lovable caricature known as the ‘Brooklyn Bum,’ dies in Corpus Christi at 76. The cartoon featured a low-brow, working-class character who would proudly represent the borough of Brooklyn, quickly becoming a favorite of the Dodger fans.
1995 After considering an attractive offer from the Orioles, David Cone re-signs with the Yankees as a free agent, inking a three-year deal worth $19.5 million. The 32-year-old ‘hired hand’ starts the season 4-1 with a 2.02 ERA before being diagnosed with an aneurysm in his right arm, resulting in being on the disabled list for most of the season.
1995 The Orioles sign Toronto free-agent Roberto Alomar to a three-year $18 million contract. The 27-year-old second baseman, selected as an All-Star all three seasons he is with the team, wins two Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger award during his stay in Baltimore.
2000 Hoping to pick it up where his success started, 41-year-old outfielder Tim Raines, a lifetime .295 batter, signs a minor league contract with the Expos, the team he played for as a rookie in 1979. Last season, the Rock retired during spring training with the Yankees and failed to make the U.S. Olympic baseball team.
2002 After deciding at first not to exercise their club option to sign Mark Grace (.252, 7, 48), the Diamondbacks retain the popular veteran first baseman. The lifetime .305 hitter agrees to a one-year deal, including a club option for the 2004 season that the club declines after the 39-year-old bats .200 in 66 games.
2005 With the announcement Oakland will no longer sell tickets for the third deck of McAfee Coliseum, the A’s home becomes the smallest park in the major leagues. The seating capacity, reduced from 44,073 to 34,179, is less than Fenway Park, recently increased to accommodate 38,805 denizens of Red Sox Nation.
2005 After trying to sign the All-Star outfielder twice as a free agent, the Giants finally acquire Steve Finley (.222, 12, 54) in a trade with the Angels, which sends third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo (.277, 2, 43) to Los Angeles. The veteran infielder appeared in only 109 games last season due to injuries.
2009 The Yankees are assessed with a luxury tax of $25.69 million for its spending in 2009. The World Series champion club is the only team to be penalized this year for crossing the salary threshold, as it has in all seven years since the collective bargaining agreement initiated the tax in 2002.
2009 Chip Caray, who left Turner Sports three weeks ago under a storm of criticism, says he has been hired to be the Braves play-by-play announcer on Fox Sports South and SportsSouth. The 44-year-old broadcaster, son of the late Atlanta broadcaster Skip Caray and grandson of fabled Harry Caray, is replacing ESPN-bound Jon Sciambi and is expected to call approximately 105 games next season.
2010 The Red Sox and Bobby Jenks agree to a two-year, $12 million deal bringing the former White Sox closer to Boston as a set-up man for Jonathan Papelbon. The two-time All-Star reliever, who did not pitch after saving both ends of a doubleheader against his new team in early September, saved 27 games for Chicago but lost his job at the end of the season when he struggled because of difficulties with his forearm.
SPORTS IN NUMBERS
57 – 60 – 17 – 25 – 20 – 11 – 7
December 21, 1891 – 1st game of basketball, based on rules created by James Naismith, played by 18 students in Springfield, Massachusetts
December 21, 1937 – Chicago Black Hawks left wing Paul Thompson became the first player in NHL history to score a goal against his brother. That goal he scored was on goaltender Cecil Thompson of the Boston Bruins with just 9 seconds left in regulation; Bruins win though, 2-1
December 21, 1941 – Chicago Bears Number 57, Ray McLean made the last NFL drop kick for an extra point
December 21, 1948 – 1949 NFL Draft: University of Pennsylvania linebacker/center Number 60, Chuck Bednarik was selected first by Philadelphia Eagles
December 21, 1979 – Atlanta Flames Number 17, Garry Unger’s NHL record for consecutive games ends at 914, as the Flames lose 5-1 to the St Louis Blues and he is benched by coach Al MacNeil; record eventually broken by Washington Capitols Number 25, Doug Jarvis (964)
December 21, 1980 – Philadelphia Eagles future Hall of Fame receiver, Number 17, Harold Carmichael had his NFL streak of 127 consecutive game receptions come to an end
December 21, 1997 – Detroit Lions Number 20, Barry Sanders became the 3rd NFL player to run for 2,000 yards in a season
December 21, 1999 – Ballon d’Or: FC Barcelona’s Brazilian midfielder Number 11, Rivaldo was named best soccer player in Europe ahead of Manchester United midfielder Number 7, David Beckham and Milan striker Number 7, Andriy Shevchenko
TV WEDNESDAY
| COLLEGE BASKETBALL – MEN’S | TIME ET | TV |
| TOCCOA FALLS AT GEORGIA STATE | 12:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ALICE LLOYD AT MOREHEAD STATE | 12:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MID-ATLANTIC CHRISTIAN AT LIBERTY | 12:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NORTHEASTERN AT DAVIDSON | 1:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SIENA HEIGHTS AT WESTERN MICHIGAN | 1:00PM | ESPN+ |
| STONEHILL AT VALPARAISO | 1:00PM | ESPN+ |
| JARVIS CHRISTIAN AT LOUISIANA TECH | 1:00PM | CUSATV |
| JACKSONVILLE STATE AT SOUTH ALABAMA | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| LAFAYETTE AT LA SALLE | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| WINTHROP AT DUQUESNE | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UNCW AT CAMPBELL | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| HOUSTON CHRISTIAN AT TEXAS TECH | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| RANDOLPH AT WILLIAM & MARY | 2:00PM | FLOHOOPS |
| RADFORD AT KANSAS STATE | 2:30PM | ESPN+ |
| CHATTANOOGA AT GEORGIA | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| HOWARD PAYNE AT ABILENE CHRISTIAN | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| U. OF SCIENCES & ARTS AT TEXAS STATE | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY AT UMASS LOWELL | 4:00PM | ESPN+ |
| GEORGE MASON AT OLD DOMINION | 4:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UC DAVIS AT UCLA | 5:00PM | PAC12 |
| NORFOLK STATE AT NEVADA | 5:00PM | MWN |
| AUSTIN PEAY AT TENNESSEE | 6:00PM | ESPN+ |
| HIGH POINT AT EAST CAROLINA | 6:00PM | ESPN+ |
| OMAHA AT IOWA STATE | 6:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UC SANTA BARBARA VS. APP STATE | 6:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ST. JOHN’S AT VILLANOVA | 6:30PM | FS1 |
| OAKLAND AT MICHIGAN STATE | 6:30PM | BTN |
| VIRGINIA TECH AT BOSTON COLLEGE | 6:30PM | ACCN |
| NORTH CAROLINA VS. MICHIGAN | 7:00PM | ESPN |
| FLORIDA A&M AT KENTUCKY | 7:00PM | SECN |
| SOUTHERN UTAH AT COLORADO | 7:00PM | PAC12 |
| UTA AT CALIFORNIA | 7:00PM | PAC12 |
| NAVY AT VCU | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| BUCKNELL AT RICHMOND | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SAINT FRANCIS U AT ROBERT MORRIS | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE AT BROWN | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| STETSON AT UCF | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| YOUNGSTOWN STATE AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MOUNT ST. JOSEPH’S AT CLEVELAND STATE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| CANISIUS AT FGCU | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| BINGHAMTON AT NIAGARA | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT BALL STATE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MURRAY STATE AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| DETROIT MERCY AT CINCINNATI | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MERCER AT TROY | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SUNY CANTON AT BUFFALO | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| OHIO AT DELAWARE | 7:00PM | FLOHOOPS |
| NORTHERN KENTUCKY AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC | 7:00PM | CUSATV |
| UIW AT FIU | 7:00PM | CUSATV |
| NORTH DAKOTA AT WESTERN ILLINOIS | 7:00PM | – |
| JAMES MADISON AT COPPIN STATE | 7:00PM | – |
| CLEMSON AT GEORGIA TECH | 7:30PM | ESPN2 |
| SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI | 7:30PM | ESPN+ |
| SAMFORD AT BELMONT | 7:30PM | ESPN+ |
| LOUISIANA AT TEXAS | 8:00PM | LHN |
| SIUE AT SAINT LOUIS | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MOUNT ST. MARY’S AT HOWARD | 8:00PM | – |
| ETSU AT LSU | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| BELLARMINE AT EVANSVILLE | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ALABAMA STATE AT MEMPHIS | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE AT TULANE | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MCNEESE AT HOUSTON | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SOUTHERN AT SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| HUSTON-TILLOTSON AT TARLETON | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| EASTERN ILLINOIS AT IOWA | 8:00PM | BTN+ |
| SOUTH DAKOTA AT ORAL ROBERTS | 8:00PM | – |
| SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT KANSAS CITY | 8:00PM | – |
| NORTH DAKOTA STATE AT ST. THOMAS | 8:00PM | – |
| MAINE AT OHIO STATE | 8:30PM | BTN |
| NOTRE DAME AT FLORIDA STATE | 8:30PM | ACCN |
| WYOMING VS. SAINT MARY’S | 8:30PM | – |
| NEW ORLEANS AT PURDUE | 9:00PM | ESPNU |
| UNC ASHEVILLE AT ARKANSAS | 9:00PM | SECN |
| AUBURN AT WASHINGTON | 9:00PM | PAC12 |
| TCU VS. UTAH | 9:00PM | PAC12 |
| SACRAMENTO STATE AT CAL STATE FULLERTON | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NORTH CAROLINA A&T AT UTEP | 9:30PM | CUSATV |
| ARIZONA STATE AT SAN FRANCISCO | 10:00PM | CBSSN |
| DENVER AT OREGON STATE | 10:00PM | PAC12 |
| TULSA AT LOYOLA MARYMOUNT | 10:00PM | WCC |
| IDAHO AT LONG BEACH STATE | 10:00PM | ESPN+ |
| COLORADO STATE VS. USC | 11:00PM | PAC12 |
| COLLEGE FOOTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| NEW ORLEANS BOWL: WKU VS. SOUTH ALABAMA | 9:00PM | ESPN |
| NBA | TIME ET | TV |
| MILWAUKEE AT CLEVELAND | 7:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| DETROIT AT PHILADELPHIA | 7:00PM | NBCS-PHI BALLY SPORTS |
| GOLDEN STATE AT BROOKLYN | 7:30PM | NBATV NBCS-BAY YES |
| INDIANA AT BOSTON | 7:30PM | NBCS-BOS BALLY SPORTS |
| TORONTO AT NEW YORK | 7:30PM | SPORTSNET MSG |
| CHICAGO AT ATLANTA | 7:30PM | NBCS-CHI BALLY SPORTS |
| ORLANDO AT HOUSTON | 8:00PM | BALLY SPORTS ATTSN-SW |
| DALLAS AT MINNESOTA | 8:00PM | ROOT SPORTS< |
| PORTLAND AT OKLAHOMA CITY | 8:00PM | ROOT SPORTS BALLY SPORTS |
| LA LAKERS AT SACRAMENTO | 10:00PM | SPORTSNET NBCS-CA |
| CHARLOTTE AT LA CLIPPERS | 10:30PM | NBATV BALLY SPORTS |
| NHL | TIME ET | TV |
| NEW JERSEY AT FLORIDA | 7:00PM | TNT |
| TAMPA BAY AT DETROIT | 7:00PM | BALLY SPORTS< |
| MONTREAL AT COLORADO | 8:00PM | ALT SPORTSNET |
| NASHVILLE AT CHICAGO | 8:30PM | BALLY SPORTSNET NBCS-CHI |
| EDMONTON AT DALLAS | 9:30PM | TNT |
| ARIZONA AT VEGAS | 10:00PM | BALLY SPORTS ATTSN-RM |
| MINNEOSTA AT ANAHEIM | 10:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| UEFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS VS JUVENTUS | 12:45PM | DAZN |
| UEFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: ZÜRICH VS ARSENAL | 12:45PM | DAZN |
| COPA DEL REY: SAGUNTINO VS RAYO VALLECANO | 1:00PM | ESPN+ |
| COPA DEL REY: NUMANCIA VS SPORTING GIJÓN | 1:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLAND LEAGUE CUP: CHARLTON ATHLETIC VS BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION | 2:45PM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLAND LEAGUE CUP: BLACKBURN ROVERS VS NOTTINGHAM FOREST | 2:45PM | ESPN+ |
| BELGIAN CUP: GENK VS ANDERLECHT | 2:45PM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLAND LEAGUE CUP: MANCHESTER UNITED VS BURNLEY | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| COPA DEL REY: ARENAS DE GETXO VS REAL VALLADOLID | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| COPA DEL REY: JUVENTUD TORREMOLINOS VS SEVILLA | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| COPA DEL REY: ARNEDO VS OSASUNA | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UEFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: BARCELONA VS ROSENGÅRD | 3:00PM | DAZN |
| UEFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: BAYERN MÜNCHEN VS SL BENFICA | 3:00PM | DAZN |
TV THURSDAY
| COLLEGE BASKETBALL – MEN’S | TIME ET | TV |
| HOLY CROSS AT SACRED HEART | 11:30AM | NEC |
| SUNY OLD WESTBURY AT HOFSTRA | 11:30AM | FLOHOOPS |
| VMI AT FORDHAM | 12:00PM | ESPN+ |
| TOWSON AT BRYANT | 12:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SIENA AT AMERICAN | 1:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ST. AMBROSE AT DRAKE | 2:00PM | – |
| MEDGAR EVERS AT ST. FRANCIS BROOKLYN | 2:00PM | NEC |
| CORNELL AT COLGATE | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UNCG AT EASTERN KENTUCKY | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NORTH FLORIDA AT BETHUNE-COOKMAN | 2:00PM | – |
| IONA VS. SMU | 3:00PM | ESPNU |
| KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN AT CHARLESTON SOUTHERN | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| LINDENWOOD AT UTAH TECH | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| JACKSON STATE AT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| GWYNNED MERCY AT WAGNER | 4:00PM | NEC |
| SAN DIEGO AT CSUN | 4:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SEATTLE VS. UTAH STATE | 5:00PM | ESPNU |
| BOISE STATE AT SANTA CLARA | 5:00PM | WCC |
| AKRON AT BRADLEY | 5:00PM | ESPN+ |
| PORTLAND AT UC RIVERSIDE | 5:00PM | ESPN+ |
| STONY BROOK AT WEST VIRGINIA | 6:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SAINT PETER’S AT MARYLAND | 6:30PM | BTN |
| HARVARD AT KANSAS | 7:00PM | ESPN2 |
| WKU AT SOUTH CAROLINA | 7:00PM | SECN |
| LOUISVILLE AT NC STATE | 7:00PM | ACCN |
| YALE AT MONMOUTH | 7:00PM | FLOHOOPS |
| MILWAUKEE AT RHODE ISLAND | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| QUEENS AT FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON | 7:00PM | NEC |
| PURCHASE AT LIU | 7:00PM | NEC |
| DREXEL AT FAIRFIELD | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| WILLIAMS BAPTIST AT NORTH ALABAMA | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| GOUCHER AT LOYOLA MARYLAND | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MARIST AT RIDER | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NORTHERN ILLINOIS AT INDIANA STATE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NJIT AT SOUTH FLORIDA | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| CENTRAL CONNECTICUT AT SAINT JOSEPH’S | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MIAMI (OH) AT WRIGHT STATE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| CHICAGO STATE AT MINNESOTA | 7:30PM | ESPNU |
| CHARLOTTE AT UAB | 7:30PM | ESPN+ |
| BUTLER AT CREIGHTON | 8:00PM | FS1 |
| MORGAN STATE AT ARIZONA | 8:00PM | PAC12 |
| ST. BONAVENTURE AT UNI | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ALABAMA A&M AT VANDERBILT | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| TEXAS SOUTHERN AT WICHITA STATE | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| LITTLE ROCK AT ARKANSAS STATE | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SAM HOUSTON AT MISSOURI STATE | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NORTH TEXAS AT UTSA | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| QUINNIPIAC AT PENN STATE | 8:30PM | BTN |
| WASHINGTON STATE VS. GEORGE WASHINGTON | 9:00PM | ESPN2 |
| ILLINOIS VS. MISSOURI | 9:00PM | SECN |
| WEBER STATE AT BYU | 9:00PM | – |
| HARTFORD AT SAN FRANCISCO | 9:00PM | WCC |
| LOYOLA CHICAGO VS. STANFORD | 10:00PM | PAC12 |
| SOUTHERN MISS AT UNLV | 10:00PM | MWN |
| PORTLAND STATE AT CALIFORNIA BAPTIST | 10:00PM | ESPN+ |
| PEPPERDINE AT HAWAI’I | 11:00PM | ESPN2 |
| COLLEGE FOOTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| LOCKHEED MARTIN ARMED FORCES BOWL: AIR FORCE VS. BAYLOR | 7:30PM | ESPN |
| NBA | TIME ET | TV |
| SAN ANTONIO AT NEW ORLEANS | 8:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| WASHINGTON AT UTAH | 9:00PM | NBATV NBCS-WSH ATTSN-RM |
| NFL | TIME ET | TV |
| JACKSONVILLE AT NY JETS | 8:15PM | PRIME |
| NHL | TIME ET | TV |
| PHILADELPHIA AT TORONTO | 2:00PM | SPORTSNET NBCS-PHI |
| CAROLINA AT PITTSBURGH | 7:00PM | NHLN ATTSN-PIT BALLY SPORTS |
| NY ISLANDERS AT NY RANGERS | 7:00PM | MSG MSGSN |
| WASHINGTON AT OTTAWA | 7:00PM | NBCS-WSH SPORTSNET |
| WINNIPEG AT BOSTON | 7:00PM | NESN SPORTSNET |
| SEATTLE AT VANCOUVER | 10:00PM | ROOT SPORTS SPORTSNET |
| CALGARY AT LOS ANGELES | 10:00PM | BALLY SPORTS SPORTSNET |
| MINNESOTA AT SAN JOSE | 10:30PM | BALLY SPORTS NBCS-CA |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| UEFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: SLAVIA PRAHA VS ROMA | 12:45PM | DAZN |
| UEFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: ST. PÖLTEN VS WOLFSBURG | 12:45PM | DAZN |
| COPA DEL REY: GERNIKA VS CELTA DE VIGO | 1:00PM | ESPN+ |
| COPA DEL REY: CACEREÑO VS GIRONA | 1:00PM | ESPN+ |
| COPA DEL REY: REAL OVIEDO VS GRANADA | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| COPA DEL REY: ARENTEIRO VS ATLÉTICO MADRID | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLAND LEAGUE CUP: MANCHESTER CITY VS LIVERPOOL | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UEFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: CHELSEA FC VS PSG | 3:00PM | DAZN |
| UEFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: REAL MADRID VS VLLAZNIA | 3:00PM | DAZN |
| COPA POR MEXICO: TOLUCA VS CRUZ AZUL | 8:00PM | TUDN |
| COPA POR MEXICO: GUADALAJARA VS TIGRES UANL | 10:00PM | TUDN |