THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” WEDNESDAY JANAURY 4, 2023

INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SCORES

ADAMS CENTRAL	65	PARKWAY (OHIO)	43
ANDREAN	63	BOWMAN ACADEMY	62	OT
ARGOS	44	TRINITY GREENLAWN	27
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE	60	MARTINSVILLE	53
BEECHER (ILL.)	63	SOUTH NEWTON	21
BORDEN	62	SHAWE MEMORIAL	28
CASTLE	80	BOONVILLE	61
CORYDON CENTRAL	52	ROCK CREEK ACADEMY	45
CROTHERSVILLE	63	MADISON CHRISTIAN	62
EVANSVILLE CENTRAL	54	PRINCETON	51
EVANSVILLE HARRISON	72	EVANSVILLE MATER DEI	52
EVANSVILLE REITZ	48	JASPER	39
FISHERS	64	LAFAYETTE JEFF	41
FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK	78	SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH	64
FORT WAYNE NORTH	43	HUNTINGTON NORTH	34
FRANKLIN CENTRAL	60	WHITELAND	45
GARRETT	57	HAMILTON	29
GUERIN CATHOLIC	61	LEBANON	29
HAMMOND CENTRAL	76	EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL	54
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN	81	INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY	62
ILLIANA CHRISTIAN	55	WHITING	20
INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL	81	INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI	50
INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD	70	BEECH GROVE	51
JAY COUNTY	63	FORT WAYNE LUERS	50
LEO	57	FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY	44
MEDORA	68	COLUMBUS CHRISTIAN	56
MISHAWAKA	80	ELKHART	56
MONTPELIER (OHIO)	66	LAKEWOOD PARK	64
MORGAN TWP.	46	WASHINGTON TWP.	30
NEW HAVEN	69	FORT WAYNE SNIDER	56
NEWPORT (KY.)	60	EAST CENTRAL	46
NORTHWOOD	70	COLUMBIA CITY	44
PERU	66	NORTH MIAMI	38
PIKE	61	NOBLESVILLE	60
PROVIDENCE	68	SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER)	42
PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD	78	INDIANA MATH & SCIENCE	67
SHERIDAN	58	NORTH MONTGOMERY	29
SOUTH BEND CAREER	73	NEW BUFFALO (MICH.)	28
SULLIVAN	71	NORTH KNOX	42
TERRE HAUTE NORTH	57	SOUTH VERMILLION	37
WABASH	58	GOSHEN	53
WEST VIGO	76	RIVERTON PARKE	59
WESTERN	51	LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC	44
WESTFIELD	67	MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE)	58
WESTVIEW	63	EAST NOBLE	58	OT
DELPHI CLASSIC
TRI-COUNTY	43	PIONEER	42	7TH
HENDRICKS COUNTY TOURNAMENT
PLAINFIELD	82	DANVILLE	60	R1
BROWNSBURG	69	CASCADE	15	R1

INDIANA BOYS AP BASKETBALL POLLS

4A

1. BEN DAVIS (12-0)

2. INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (7-1)

3. PENN (7-1)

4. BROWNSBURG (11-1)

5. HOMESTEAD (9-1)

6. WESTFIELD (7-1)

7. CENTER GROVE (10-1)

8. CARMEL (7-3)

9. NOBLESVILLE (7-3)

10. HAMMOND CENTRAL (12-1)

11. LAWRENCE NORTH (7-1)

12. JENNINGS COUNTY (10-0)

13. MUNSTER (9-2)

14. KOKOMO (7-4)

15. HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) (10-0)

16. HANOVER CENTRAL (6-4)

17. LAWRENCE CENTRAL (7-4)

17. MISHAWAKA (9-2)

3A

1. MISHAWAKA MARIAN (10-1)

2. NORTHWOOD (9-2)

3. NORTH DAVIESS (9-2)

4. NORWELL (9-2)

5. PERU (9-1)

6. BEECH GROVE (6-3)

7. SCOTTSBURG (9-1)

8. WEST NOBLE (7-1)

9. SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON (9-2)

10. LEBANON (8-3)

11. BREBEUF JESUIT (6-3)

12. EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (7-1)

13. LAKE STATION (8-1)

14. FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA (6-2)

2A

1. LINTON-STOCKTON (10-1)

2. FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK (11-1)

3. SOUTH SPENCER (10-1)

4. BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (9-2)

5. WAPAHANI (8-1)

6. TAYLOR (9-0)

7. GARY 21ST CENTURY (8-3)

8. SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) (10-1)

9. EASTERN HANCOCK (8-3)

10. UNIVERSITY (7-1)

11. WABASH (9-2)

12. CARROLL (FLORA) (7-2)

13. TIPTON (9-2)

14. PROVIDENCE (6-3)

14. SOUTH KNOX (6-3)

1A

1. ORLEANS (8-1)

2. BLOOMFIELD (10-2)

3. BETHESDA CHRISTIAN (7-1)

4. EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN (6-4)

5. FOUNTAIN CENTRAL (8-2)

6. LOOGOOTEE (8-4)

7. TRI (7-1)

8. INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (6-2)

9. BARR-REEVE (5-5)

10. EDINBURGH (7-3)

11. JAC-CEN-DEL (6-4)

11. INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY (6-7)

13. CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (6-2)

14. BLUE RIVER (6-3)

15. GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN (5-4)

16. ARGOS (6-2)

INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SCORES

ANDREAN	58	HAMMOND NOLL	42
AUSTIN	65	SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH)	32
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE	52	JENNINGS COUNTY	39
BETHANY CHRISTIAN	50	LAKEWOOD PARK	27
BLACKFORD	57	DELTA	27
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH	56	BROWN COUNTY	31
BLUFFTON	56	NORTHFIELD	33
BOONE GROVE	39	ILLIANA CHRISTIAN	34
BOONVILLE	53	TECUMSEH	52	OT
BORDEN	54	SALEM	53	OT
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL	51	MADISON	39
CARROLL (FORT WAYNE)	69	NORWELL	57
CASTON	47	CLINTON CENTRAL	46
CENTRAL NOBLE	59	BREMEN	37
CORYDON CENTRAL	46	SILVER CREEK	44
CRAWFORDSVILLE	62	SHERIDAN	31
DEKALB	38	EASTSIDE	35
EASTERN (PEKIN)	60	NEW ALBANY	44
EASTERN HANCOCK	47	BLUE RIVER	40
FAIRFIELD	56	GARRETT	28
FISHERS	66	PIKE	42
FOREST PARK	33	NORTHEAST DUBOIS	23
FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK	54	WEST NOBLE	36
FORT WAYNE NORTH	41	HERITAGE	27
GIBSON SOUTHERN	71	MOUNT VERNON (POSEY)	26
GREENCASTLE	79	CLAY CITY	43
GREENFIELD-CENTRAL	45	PERRY MERIDIAN	36
HAMMOND MORTON	59	HOBART	57
HENRYVILLE	56	CROTHERSVILLE	9
HERITAGE HILLS	48	PIKE CENTRAL	20
HOMESTEAD	58	NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS)	53
HUNTINGTON NORTH	52	EASTBROOK	30
INDIAN CREEK	58	SOUTHPORT	41
INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA	60	INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY	33
JAY COUNTY	62	FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA	48
LAVILLE	66	SOUTH BEND CAREER	25
LAKE CENTRAL	67	KANKAKEE VALLEY	39
LEO	56	PRAIRIE HEIGHTS	30
MISHAWAKA MARIAN	55	GOSHEN	48
MOORESVILLE	41	INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL	33
MOUNT NOTRE DAME (OHIO)	57	EAST CENTRAL	46
NOBLESVILLE	75	BEN DAVIS	59
NORTH PUTNAM	42	NORTH MONTGOMERY	32
NORTHWOOD	43	JOHN GLENN	38
OAK HILL	24	LEWIS CASS	14
PAOLI	48	PERRY CENTRAL	30
PENN	62	NEW PRAIRIE	32
PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD	70	INDIANA MATH & SCIENCE	25
ROSSVILLE	35	BETHESDA CHRISTIAN	25
RUSHVILLE	59	FRANKLIN COUNTY	57
SCOTTSBURG	49	SEYMOUR	39
SEEGER	57	COVINGTON	32
SOUTH BEND CLAY	29	TRINITY GREENLAWN	20
SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS)	52	LAKE STATION	45
SOUTH SPENCER	60	EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN	52
SOUTHERN WELLS	42	DALEVILLE	37
SOUTHMONT	39	RIVERTON PARKE	30
TIPTON	58	MISSISSINEWA	36
TRI-TWP.	80	RIVER FOREST	37
TWIN LAKES	75	FRONTIER	14
UNIVERSITY	59	WESTERN	57
WAPAHANI	66	WES-DEL	19
WASHINGTON TWP.	65	WHITING	26
WASHINGTON	47	SOUTHRIDGE	38
WEST LAFAYETTE	69	FRANKFORT	9
YORKTOWN	59	MUNCIE CENTRAL	32
HENDRICKS COUNTY TOURNAMENT
DANVILLE	54	PLAINFIELD	48	R1
BROWNSBURG	67	CASCADE	46	R1
RIPLEY COUNTY TOURNAMENT
SOUTH RIPLEY	44	MILAN	29	R1
BATESVILLE	56	JAC-CEN-DEL	43	R1

INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL POLLS

4A

1. SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON (17-0)

2. ZIONSVILLE (15-0)

3. HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (15-1)

4. FISHERS (14-2)

5. NOBLESVILLE (14-3)

6. FORT WAYNE NORTHROP (11-1)

7. BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (15-3)

8. HOMESTEAD (12-2)

9. COLUMBIA CITY (14-2)

9. NORTHRIDGE (16-2)

11. CENTER GROVE (12-4)

11. VALPARAISO (14-1)

11. WARREN CENTRAL (11-4)

11. LAKE CENTRAL (12-4)

15. BEN DAVIS (11-6)

15. LAWRENCE NORTH (11-6)

3A

1. TWIN LAKES (17-0)

2. NORWELL (13-3)

3. INDIAN CREEK (17-0)

4. EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (15-0)

5. JAY COUNTY (14-1)

6. CORYDON CENTRAL (15-2)

7. HAMILTON HEIGHTS (11-2)

8. MISHAWAKA MARIAN (13-4)

9. WEST LAFAYETTE (13-3)

9. DANVILLE (14-2)

11. FAIRFIELD (13-2)

12. NORTHWESTERN (9-3)

13. GIBSON SOUTHERN (12-3)

13. BELLMONT (13-1)

2A

1. BLACKFORD (15-0)

2. CENTRAL NOBLE (16-0)

3. NORTH KNOX (17-1)

4. FOREST PARK (14-2)

5. CARROLL (FLORA) (15-2)

6. ANDREAN (13-2)

7. BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (13-4)

8. LINTON-STOCKTON (13-2)

9. EASTBROOK (10-3)

10. LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (10-5)

10. SEEGER (15-1)

10. EASTERN HANCOCK (13-3)

13. PIONEER (13-2)

13. UNIVERSITY (10-4)

15. TRITON CENTRAL (11-3)

16. CRAWFORD COUNTY (12-5)

1A

1. TRI (14-0)

2. LANESVILLE (15-2)

2. CASTON (16-0)

4. TRINITY LUTHERAN (13-3)

5. BLUE RIVER (12-4)

6. NORTHEAST DUBOIS (11-3)

7. WASHINGTON TWP. (12-5)

8. KOUTS (11-4)

9. BETHANY CHRISTIAN (12-2)

9. MORGAN TWP. (10-4)

11. CLINTON CENTRAL (12-3)

12. DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN (12-3)

13. NORTHFIELD (4-8)

14. TRI-TWP. (11-3)

15. VINCENNES RIVET (6-8)

15. WALDRON (3-12)

15. BORDEN (11-4)

TOP 25 MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

#3 KANSAS 75 TEXAS TECH 72

KANSAS STATE 116 #6 TEXAS 103

#7 ALABAMA 84 OLE MISS 62

#8 TENNESSEE 87 MISSISSIPPI STATE 53

PITTSBURGH 68 #11 VIRGINIA 65

#14 WISCONSIN 63 MINNESOTA 60

FRESNO STATE 71 #21 NEW MEXICO 67

ELSEWHERE

BOSTON COLLEGE 70 NOTRE DAME 63

BALL STATE 90 TOLEDO 83

AKRON 76 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 51

MICHIGAN STATE 74 NEBRASKA 56

BUFFALO 75 OHIO 72

CENTRAL MICHIGAN 68 MIAMI OHIO 56

BOWLING GREEN 91 EASTERN MICHIGAN 65

KENT STATE 80 WESTERN MICHIGAN 72

SYRACUSE 70 LOUISVILLE 69

MARQUETTE 96 ST. JOHN’S 85

KENTUCKY 74 LSU 71

VANDERBILT 84 SOUTH CAROLINA 79 OT

CREIGHTON 83 SETON HALL 61

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/CBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230103 

TOP 25 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

#5 UCONN 80 BUTLER 47

#14 MICHIGAN 82 PENN STATE 72

#23 BAYLOR 81 #17 OKLAHOMA 70

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/WCBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230103

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL SCHEDULE

SUNDAY, JAN. 8

FCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (FRISCO, TEXAS) | 2 P.M. | ABC

MONDAY, JAN. 9

CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA) | ESPN

NFL WEEK 17

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 2023

KANSAS CITY AT LAS VEGAS ESPN/ABC 4:30

TENNESSEE AT JACKSONVILLE ESPN/ABC 8:15

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2023

TAMPA BAY AT ATLANTA FOX 1:00

NEW ENGLAND AT BUFFALO CBS 1:00

MINNESOTA AT CHICAGO FOX 1:00

HOUSTON AT INDIANAPOLIS CBS 1:00

NEW YORK JETS AT MIAMI FOX 1:00

CAROLINA AT NEW ORLEANS FOX 1:00

CLEVELAND AT PITTSBURGH CBS 1:00

BALTIMORE AT CINCINNATI CBS 1:00 OR 4:25

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT DENVER CBS 4:25

NEW YORK GIANTS AT PHILADELPHIA CBS 4:25

ARIZONA AT SAN FRANCISCO FOX 4:25

LOS ANGELES RAMS AT SEATTLE FOX 4:25

DALLAS AT WASHINGTON FOX 4:25

DETROIT AT GREEN BAY NBC 8:20

NBA

MILWAUKEE 123 WASHINGTON 113

OKLAHOMA CITY 150 BOSTON 117

SACRAMENTO 117 UTAH 115

BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NBA/SCOREBOARD.ASP

NHL

ST. LOUIS 6 TORONTO 5

OTTAWA 4 COLUMBUS 0

FLORIDA 5 ARIZONA 3

NY RANGERS 5 CAROLINA 3

BUFFALO 5 WASHINGTON 4

NASHVILLE 6 MONTRÉAL 3

WINNIPEG 3 CALGARY 2

TAMPA BAY 4 CHICAGO 1

SEATTLE 5 EDMONTON 2

NY ISLANDERS 6 VANCOUVER 2

LOS ANGELES 3 DALLAS 2

BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NHL/SCOREBOARD.ASP

TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES

******NFL NEWS*****

NFL PLAYERS, COMMUNITIES RALLY FOR BILLS SAFETY DAMAR HAMLIN

(AP) — With tears beginning to well, Tennessee Titans linebacker Rashad Weaver shook his head and lowered it to his knees, his body swaying as he tried to express what it was like watching friend and former college teammate Damar Hamlin having to be resuscitated back to life on the football field.

“I don’t know, man,” Weaver said Tuesday after sobbing uncontrollably at his locker. “I missed exactly what happened but like five seconds later, seeing the first replay of it, just kind of like everybody else sitting there and holding your breath and figure out what happened.”

Weaver’s reaction was that of most everyone watching from home and on the field in Cincinnati on Monday night, when Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills safety, collapsed while going into cardiac arrest after making what appeared to be a routine tackle.

As the second-year Bills player lay sedated in a hospital bed with his family by his side at University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he remained in critical condition, Hamlin’s competitive and giving spirit was not lost on those who know him.

Dorrian Glenn, Hamlin’s uncle, told CNN in a televised interview outside the hospital Tuesday that Hamlin needed to have his heart re-started twice — once on the field, and again after he arrived at the hospital. Glenn also provided those details to other outlets, including ESPN and NFL Network.

“They were resuscitating him on the field before they brought him in the hospital and then resuscitated him a second time when he got to the hospital,” Glenn told CNN. “I just want to show my gratitude for the medical staff that were on hand because if not for them, my nephew probably wouldn’t even be here.”

Glenn said he was watching the game with some relatives in Pittsburgh. He arrived in Cincinnati early Tuesday; the cities are about 300 miles apart.

“I never cried so hard in my life,” Glenn said. “Just to know, like, my nephew basically died on the field and they brought him back to life. I mean, it’s just heartbreaking.”

Glenn said there were some encouraging signs, such as doctors lowering the level of oxygen Hamlin needs from 100% to 50%.

“He’s still sedated right now,” Glenn told CNN. “They just want him to have a better chance of recovering better. So, they feel that if he’s sedated, his body can heal a lot faster than if he was woke and possibly cause other complications.”

The chilling scene of Hamlin’s collapse, which played out in front of a North American television audience on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football,” has put the NFL on hold, with the game suspended. That sparked an outpouring of support in placing Hamlin’s life ahead of sports, and pushed to the forefront the generous person he is.

“He has his own clothing brand called Chasing M’s, which is about chasing your dreams and chasing millions,” said Weaver, who spent four years playing alongside Hamlin at the University of Pittsburgh. “And that’s everybody’s goal in life, reaching your dreams.”

Players and fans from across the NFL rallied to Hamlin’s support, with vigils held in Cincinnati and outside the Bills’ home stadium. The shock of what happened also reverberated in Pittsburgh, where the 24-year-old Hamlin grew up and was determined to give back to those in need.

“Damar is a hero to thousands of Pittsburgh kids,” Pitt football coach Pat Narduzzi said in a statement. “Damar, we love you. We are praying for you. Pittsburgh’s always had your back. And now it’s obvious the entire country has your back, too.”

The Bills said Hamlin spent the night in intensive care after his heart stopped when tackling receiver Tee Higgins in the opening quarter against the Bengals. Medical staff restored his heartbeat during frantic moments on the field before he was loaded into an ambulance, where he was joined by his mother, with teary-eyed players and coaches on both teams watching helplessly.

“First and foremost, the Bengals continue to send thoughts and prayers to Damar Hamlin and his family. Our hearts are with everyone in this unprecedented time – what we can do is support one another,” Bengals president Mike Brown said in a statement.

In Buffalo, the Bills changed their social media avatar to that of Hamlin’s No. 3 jersey with the words “Pray For Damar.” The other 31 teams and the NFL quickly followed suit.

While some Bills players stayed in Cincinnati to be with their teammate, the rest returned home early Tuesday, when they were greeted by a handful of fans watching silently from the side of the road outside Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

The Bills took the day off and were unsure when they might resume practicing, putting Hamlin above everything else, including their quest to clinch the AFC’s top seed.

The NFL’s schedule is now in flux after the game between Buffalo (12-3) and Cincinnati (11-4) – a showdown with AFC playoff race implications – was postponed indefinitely.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell informed both teams that their game would not resume this week. No decision has been made on whether it will be played at a later date, with the league not making any changes to its Week 18 schedule, a week before the playoffs are set to begin.

Numerous NFL teams canceled their media availabilities, including the New England Patriots, who are scheduled to travel to Buffalo for the teams’ season finales on Sunday.

“Please pray for our brother,” quarterback Josh Allen posted in a tweet.

Added offensive lineman Rodger Saffold: “He is more than an athlete. He is a son and brother. And I pray God gives him mercy and brings him back to us.”

Hamlin is from McKees Rocks, a hardscrabble exurb of Pittsburgh, and was selected by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2021 draft. He spent his rookie season limited to special teams roles, and took over the starting job in Week 3 in place of veteran Micah Hyde, who remains sidelined by a neck injury.

Overnight, Hamlin went from being a relatively unknown second-year player to receiving an international outpouring of support.

His Chasing M’s Foundation eclipsed its modest goal of raising $2,500, exceeding $5 million by Tuesday evening.

Bills and Bengals fans gathered at the hospital immediately following the postponement of the game, with many returning on Tuesday.

Elena Weiler, 33, from Amelia, Ohio, and Billy Jeffers held a sign that said “Pray for Hamlin 3” with candles in front.

“It don’t matter if you’re a Bengals fan or a Bills fan, we’re here to show our support,” said Jeffers, who was wearing a Bengals sweatshirt.

The Bills now face perhaps their most difficult hurdle in a calendar year filled with on- and off-field adversity. The team has seen its schedule disrupted twice by major snowstorms in the past month, including a blizzard that led to at least 40 deaths in the region over Christmas. The Bills also rallied to support the community in the aftermath of a racist shooting rampage that left 10 dead at a Buffalo supermarket in May.

On Tuesday, it was the region’s turn to rally for the team on both sides of the New York-Ontario border.

The Ontario-based Niagara Parks commission announced it will illuminate Niagara Falls in blue in honor of Hamlin.

“Our collective thoughts are with him, his family, his team and the City of Buffalo,” the commission wrote.

BILLS-BENGALS WON’T RESUME GAME THIS WEEK, WEEK 18 UNCHANGED

(AP) — The Bills-Bengals game that was suspended Monday night after Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest will not be resumed this week and the Week 18 schedule remains unchanged, the NFL said Tuesday.

The NFL has made no decision regarding the possible resumption of the pivotal Bills-Bengals game at a later date.

The 24-year-old Hamlin remained in critical condition on Tuesday after the Bills said his heart stopped after making a tackle in the opening quarter of a game against the Bengals. Medical staff restored his heartbeat during frantic moments on the field before he was loaded into an ambulance. Players from both teams were crying and praying during an emotional scene in front of a national television audience.

“Damar experienced cardiac arrest and was promptly resuscitated by on-site club physicians and independent medical personnel, all of whom are highly trained in implementing the plans for medical emergencies,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a letter sent to all teams that was obtained by The Associated Press. “Damar was stabilized and transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, a Level One trauma center, where he remains in the ICU.”

Goodell informed the clubs in his memo that Dr. Nyaka NiiLampti sent each team’s clinician and head of player engagement information about mental health and support resources that are available to players and staff.

“Additional resources including on-site services can be available for any club that wishes this assistance,” Goodell said.

Goodell told teams they would be advised promptly of any changes to this weekend’s schedule. The outcome of the Bills-Bengals game has major playoff implications.

Both teams are fighting for the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The Bills (12-3) entered the game in the top spot while the Bengals (11-4) had a chance to clinch the AFC North with a victory and also were in the mix for the No. 1 seed along with Kansas City (13-3).

The Bengals led 7-3 in the first quarter when the game was stopped. The NFL is scheduled to begin playoffs on Jan. 14.

FANS GIVE MILLIONS TO DAMAR HAMLIN’S TOY DRIVE FOR KIDS

(AP) — Damar Hamlin’s goal was simple: He wanted to raise $2,500 online to buy toys for needy kids.

It took about two years.

Then came Monday, when the Buffalo Bills safety was critically injured and needed his heart restarted on the field in a chilling scene that unfolded during a nationally televised game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He instantly became one of the biggest stories in sports, and thousands of people found his GoFundMe page.

The result: roughly $4.4 million donated in the first 17 hours after his injury. And the number is climbing.

A fundraiser that as of last month had raised $2,921 was up to $4,427,080 by 2 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday – with about 157,000 people going online in that span to donate, on average, about $28. Some of the donations were smaller. Some were more than $5,000. Some were even from New England Patriots players, who are scheduled to play at Buffalo on Sunday for the regular-season finale.

On average, about 2.5 donations were being made every second in that initial 17-hour span. And many came with messages of hope for a 24-year-old player in his second season, sedated in a Cincinnati hospital, listed in critical condition and with some teammates unwilling to return to Buffalo just so they could remain close to him.

“There are moments in life that stop the world,” wrote Michael Lynch, who donated. “We all pray for two things. Your speedy recovery and that your impact to the world is enhanced by your go fund me.”

The messages poured in from different fan bases, many of the donors letting the world know that they support other teams. One came with a hashtag that read, “we are all Bills fans.”

Hamlin started the GoFundMe in December 2020. He was just wrapping up his college career and getting ready for the NFL draft process. And he wanted to have a toy drive at Kelly and Nina’s Daycare Center – a facility co-owned by his mother – in his hometown of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, a place with about 6,000 residents along the south bank of the Ohio River.

“As I embark on my journey to the NFL, I will never forget where I come from and I am committed to using my platform to positively impact the community that raised me,” Hamlin wrote when setting up the drive. “I created The Chasing M’s Foundation as a vehicle that will allow me to deliver that impact, and the first program is the 2020 Community Toy Drive. This campaign gives you the opportunity to contribute to our first initiative and positively impact children who have been hardest hit by the pandemic.”

He pulled the first event off with about 10 days of planning. Gifts poured in, some of it clothing donated by Pitt, where he had just finished playing. Hamlin’s upbringing was far from easy: He lost three friends to gun violence while growing up and saw his father incarcerated for about 3 1/2 years for selling drugs. But as soon as he was able, Hamlin wanted to help others.

So, he started the toy drive. And on Monday, the world finally noticed.

“Damar created The Chasing M’s Foundation to use as a vehicle to bring lasting impact to his community,” his foundation wrote in a message posted to the donation page Tuesday. “The foundation supports toy drives, back-to-school drives, kids camps, and more.”

Many of the donations came from Bills fans, affectionately known as Bills Mafia, and this is far from the first time they’ve gone online to show support. In recent years, Bills fans have shown support for Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s foundation after he left a game – also in Cincinnati – with a concussion; for Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson’s charity after the Ravens lost a playoff game to Buffalo; and many made donations of $16.88 to the P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative in western New York following the death this summer of FIU player Luke Knox.

Luke Knox’s brother, Dawson Knox, is a tight end for the Bills. The $16.88 was a nod to their jersey numbers.

AP SOURCE: PANTHERS OWNER, JIM HARBAUGH DISCUSS COACHING JOB

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper has talked to University of Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh about the team’s head coaching position, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The person characterized the meeting as a conversation, not an interview. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Tuesday because the team does not typically release details of its coaching search.

Charlotte Sports Live was first to report the conversation.

The Panthers’ head coaching search is expected to begin in earnest in the coming weeks.

Carolina (6-10) was eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday following a 30-24 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Steve Wilks has been serving as interim head coach after Matt Rhule was fired in the middle of his third season as head coach. The Panthers are 5-6 under Wilks.

Carolina is required to interview at least two minority candidates in person, and those can’t come until after the wild-card weekend if those coaches are employed by another NFL team.

Harbaugh has had success coaching at the NFL and college levels.

He coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-2014, winning two NFC West titles and reaching the NFC championship game three times in four seasons. He was 44-19-1 during that span and helped the 49ers get to Super Bowl 47, where they lost 34-31 to the Baltimore Ravens.

He left the 49ers after going 8-8 in 2014 – the only season the 49ers didn’t make the postseason under his direction – to take the job at Michigan.

The 59-year-old Harbaugh has spent the past eight seasons coaching the Wolverines, compiling a 74-25 record. Michigan was 13-0 this season before getting upset this past weekend by TCU in the College Football Playoffs.

Harbaugh also spent four seasons as head coach of Stanford and three more at San Diego.

He was the AP NFL Coach of the Year in 2011 and AP College Coach of the Year in 2021.

He spent 15 seasons as an NFL quarterback, wrapping up his career with a short stint with the Panthers in 2001, although he didn’t play.

The Panthers, who have failed to reach the playoffs the past five seasons, wrap up the season Sunday at New Orleans.

*****MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL NEWS******

AP SOURCE: DEVERS AVOIDS ARBITRATION VIA 1-YEAR, $17.5M DEAL

BOSTON (AP) The Boston Red Sox have agreed to a one-year contract with two-time All-Star Rafael Devers, avoiding salary arbitration.

The deal is for $17.5 million, according to a person with knowledge of the agreement who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team did not disclose the terms of the contract.

The 26-year-old third baseman, who made $11.2 million last season, will be on Boston’s roster for at least one season in his final year of arbitration eligibility before he can hit the open free-agent market.

Boston will keep one of its key contributors from last season in house after All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts, slugger J.D. Martinez and pitcher Nathan Eovaldi all departed in free agency.

The Red Sox’s biggest splash this offseason has been signing Japanese star Masataka Yoshida to a five-year, $90 million deal.

There are six remaining unsigned Red Sox players eligible for arbitration: Christian Arroyo, Ryan Brasier, Reese McGuire, Nick Pivetta, Josh Taylor, and Alex Verdugo.

Devers was the American League’s starting third baseman in the 2021 and 2022 All-Star games. In 141 games last season, he batted .295 with 42 doubles, 27 home runs, and 88 RBI.

The Red Sox are trying to bounce back from a difficult 2022 season in which they plummeted to a 78-84 and last-place finish in the AL East a year after winning 92 games, earning a wild-card postseason berth and making it to the ALCS.

BRIAN SABEAN REJOINS YANKEES AFTER 30 YEARS WITH GIANTS

NEW YORK (AP) Former San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean joined the New York Yankees on Tuesday as executive adviser to GM Brian Cashman.

The 66-year-old Sabean helped lead the Giants to World Series titles in 2010, ’12 and ’14. He was the Giants’ general manager from 1996 until 2014, then was promoted to executive vice president of baseball operations from 2015-18.

Sabean joins former Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry as an adviser to Cashman in a front office that includes assistant general managers Jean Afterman and Mike Fishman, and vice presidents Damon Oppenheimer (domestic amateur scouting), Kevin Reese (player development) and Tim Naehring (baseball operations). Hendry joined the Yankees before the 2012 season as a special assignment scout.

Sabean shifted to an executive vice president role when Farhan Zaidi took over a restructured front office as president of baseball operations after the 2018 season.

Sabean worked for the Yankees as a scout in 1985, then director of scouting from 1986-90 and vice president of player development and scouting from 1990-92. He moved to the Giants in 1993 as assistant to the GM and vice president of scouting/player personnel in 1993 and was promoted to senior vice president of player personnel in 1995.

A graduate of Eckerd, he was an assistant baseball coach at St. Leo in 1979 and at the University of Tampa from 1980-82, then was Tampa’s head coach in 1983 and ’84.

********COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS********

ANTETOKOUNMPO HAS CAREER-HIGH 55 POINTS; BUCKS BEAT WIZARDS

MILWAUKEE (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo says he wants to produce with so much consistency that it causes boredom.

That’s the only respect in which the two-time MVP has fallen shortly lately.

Antetokounmpo scored a career-high 55 points with a series of thrilling dunks and drives Tuesday as the Milwaukee Bucks beat Washington 123-113 on Tuesday night, snapping the Wizards’ five-game winning streak. The spectacular forward also had 10 rebounds and seven assists to continue arguably the best stretch of his career.

“I want to get in a position … that my game is boring,” Antetokounmpo said. “I just do what I do and people don’t talk about it because it becomes boring – I do it every single night. That’s what I want to do. I want other people to feel like my game is boring. But I don’t get bored. The greats – the best players – never get bored. They go out there and they always give their best any given night.”

Antetokounmpo has at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in each of the last three games he’s played. The two-time MVP sat out a 118-95 loss to the Wizards on Sunday because of a sore left knee.

The only other players in NBA history to have three straight performances of 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists are Elgin Baylor in 1961 and 1963, Wilt Chamberlain in 1963 and Russell Westbrook in 2016. The only other Bucks to score at least 40 points in three straight appearances are Flynn Robinson in February 1969 and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in February 1972.

“He’s been kind of playing with this kind of determination, this kind of just willing us in games,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “Tonight we were able to win it. He’s just been phenomenal.”

Bucks center Brook Lopez is in his fifth season of playing alongside Antetokoumpo. The 7-footer couldn’t recall a regular-season stretch in which Antetokounmpo has played better than this.

“He’s just constantly improving,” said Lopez, who had 21 points and 12 rebounds. “When you think where else can he go and how else can he improve, he just improves again. We’re going to have to expand the English language in some way to come up with words (to describe him). I don’t know if I’ve said that before, but I’m sure he’s going to improve again. Who knows what he’s going to do next. He’s just so otherworldly.”

Antetokounmpo’s previous career high was a 52-point effort against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 17, 2019. He just missed the single-game franchise scoring record owned by Michael Redd, who scored 57 points against the Utah Jazz in November 2006.

Washington’s Bradley Beal returned after missing three games with a sore left hamstring, but he played just 13 minutes. Beal scored eight points before the hamstring issue prevented him from playing at all in the second half.

“Same area,” Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. “We just have to get it evaluated.

Kristaps Porzingis scored 22 points for the Wizards, and Kyle Kuzma added 20.

Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis had 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Milwaukee’s Jrue Holiday returned to action after missing three games with a non-COVID illness and scored six points in 19 minutes. Bucks forward Khris Middleton missed an eighth straight game with a sore right knee and also won’t play Wednesday at Toronto.

TIP-INS

Wizards: Taj Gibson missed a third consecutive game with a sore left groin. … Gaford had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. … Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija and Corey Kispert had 12 points each.

Bucks: George Hill missed a third straight game due to a non-COVID illness. … Portis has four consecutive double-doubles. … Grayson Allen shot 1 of 9 overall and 1 of 7 from 3-point range to continue his slump. Allen is 9 of 37 on 3-point attempts over his last four games. … Antetokounmpo was 15 of 16 on free throws.

UP NEXT

Wizards: At Oklahoma City on Friday night.

Bucks: At Toronto on Wednesday night.

THUNDER BLOW OUT CELTICS 150-117 WITHOUT GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma City’s top scorer was out, so everybody pitched in to make things work.

Josh Giddey scored a season-high 25 points and the short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder blew out the NBA-leading Boston Celtics 150-117 on Tuesday night.

Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who ranks among the league’s leaders with 30.8 points per game, sat out with an illness. Without him, the Thunder set a record for points since the team moved to Oklahoma City from Seattle before the 2008-2009 season. The previous mark was 149 points in 2013.

Lu Dort scored 23 points and Jalen Williams, Tre Mann and Isaiah Joe each added 21 points for the Thunder. They shot 59.2% from the field.

“I just think we’ve got great players and great people,” Mann said. “Guys who don’t really care who gets the credit.”

The Thunder hadn’t won a game by more than 16 and the Celtics hadn’t lost by more than 16 this season. Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said the result came from his team’s approach.

“I told them after the game, I want them to realize what got it going, which was we had a great practice yesterday, came into the game with great focus on both ends of the floor, what we had to do, and that’s what allowed us to have fun tonight,” he said. “And we can’t lose sight of that.”

Oklahoma City took advantage of the fact that Robert Williams, one of Boston’s primary rim protectors, was out managing his injured left knee. The Thunder made 38 of 58 shots inside the 3-point line.

“You have to play with a sense of humility every night knowing your opponent wants to beat you,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “We have to match that, and we didn’t. We got outplayed in every aspect of the game.”

Jaylen Brown scored 29 points for Boston, and Jayson Tatum added 27.

The Thunder led 74-54 at halftime behind Joe’s 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting. Oklahoma City shot 57% in the first half. The Celtics trailed big, despite Brown’s 18 points in the first half.

A 10-0 run put Oklahoma City ahead 90-63 just over three minutes into the second half, and the game was never close after that. The Thunder scored 48 points in the third quarter – the most ever for an Oklahoma City team in a quarter – and shot 67.9% in the third to lead 122-91 heading into the fourth.

Oklahoma City’s largest lead was 37 points.

“Late in the second quarter, they sort of put their head down, Boston did, and they got to the line and they were trying to play through us and they were just trying to like jam their way back into the game,” Daigneault said. “And we needed to stand in there in order to fend that off. And I thought the guys did a really good job of that.”

TIP-INS

Celtics: Mazzulla and G Marcus Smart attended the Oklahoma State-West Virginia game Tuesday in Stillwater and sat together. Smart played college ball for Oklahoma State and Mazzulla played for West Virginia. Oklahoma State won 67-60. … Smart was called for a technical in the second quarter and ejected in the third for berating an official.

Thunder: Even Oklahoma City’s fans were hitting shots from deep. Johnnie Durossette, a 20-year-old from Muskogee, Oklahoma, made the MidFirst Bank halfcourt shot during a timeout to win $20,000. … F Aaron Wiggins scored 17 points.

AT HOME

The Celtics had their shootaround at the Oklahoma City facility where Celtics F Blake Griffin’s AAU basketball program practices. Griffin is from Oklahoma City and he played college ball at the University of Oklahoma.

UP NEXT

Celtics: At Dallas on Thursday night.

Thunder: At Orlando on Wednesday night.

DE’AARON FOX SCORES 37 POINTS, LIFTS KINGS BEAT JAZZ 117-115

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) De’Aaron Fox made a driving layup with 0.4 seconds left and scored 22 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter to help the Sacramento Kings beat the Utah Jazz 117-115 on Tuesday night.

Utah’s Lauri Markannen made a long jumper at the final buzzer that was initially ruled good, but reversed upon replay.

Time and again, Sacramento worked Fox into situations where he could use his quickness to get to the basket or hit mid-range jumpers against sagging defenders.

“If there was a matchup that I felt like we can exploit, go to that. I mean, that’s when it gets to in the fourth quarter in a lot of NBA games. It’s real basic,” Fox said, explaining that he often changed the called plays to something he thought worked better.

Fox’s big fourth quarter included an emphatic dunk and an 18-foot pullup with 23.1 seconds remaining to put the Kings up 115-112.

“I was getting in a zone. A lot of that was just picking where I wanted to get to, and then getting there and shooting the shoots you work on every day,” said Fox, whose fourth quarter was a career best of any quarter.

Markkanen made all three free throws on a foul behind the arc, but Fox got switched onto the Finnish 7-footer and drove by him for an acrobatic layup to clinch the win.

The Kings then held their breath until Markannen’s shot was disallowed after a short review.

“I thought I had it off in time,” Markannen said. “Right from the moment it left my hand, it felt good. … It’s tough. Obviously, everyone remembers the ending but there’s a lot of things that we did early, we fix and win this ball game.”

Markannen had 28 points, including a 15-for-15 performance from the line, and Jordan Clarkson added 24. The Jazz dropped their fifth straight game, with the five losses by a combined 17 points.

Domantas Sabonis, playing with a broken right thumb, had 21 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists to help the Kings win for the third time in four games.

“My main job was to get Fox open,” Sabonis said. “He’s so fast and you saw it on that layup for the game winner.”

Coupled with a 126-125 victory over the Jazz last week, Sacramento has moved three games ahead of Utah in the Western Conference standings.

“We haven’t really been in this position before. We’re all learning and we’re all growing together and Fox is at the forefront of it,” Sacramento coach Mike Brown beamed.

Harrison Barnes had 19 for the Kings, and Keegan Murray and Kevin Huerter both added 16 each.

But it was Fox’s night.

“I thought he made a lot of shots over defenders in that middle area of the court, which with a player like Fox that’s what you’re trying to make him do. He’s a really talented scorer and you can’t press up too far into him or else he’s going right by you, as we saw on the last play,” Hardy said.

TIP-INS

Kings: Sabonis made 17 straight field goals over the last two games against the Jazz until finally missing a shot in the second quarter. . Sacramento’s 18 turnovers led to 27 Utah points. . The Kings shot 53.5 percent from the field.

Jazz: Collin Sexton missed the game to manage his recurring right hamstring injury. . Clarkson reached 10,000 career points with a basket in the first quarter. . Mike Conley scored a season-high 18 points.

UP NEXT

Kings: Host Atlanta on Wednesday night to start a five-game homestand.

Jazz: At Houston on Thursday night.

PELICANS’ ZION WILLIAMSON (HAMSTRING) OUT AT LEAST 3 WEEKS

NEW ORLEANS (AP) The New Orleans Pelicans are bracing for another extended stint without forward Zion Williamson.

The Pelicans announced Tuesday that Williamson has a strained right hamstring and will be re-evaluated in three weeks. If that timetable holds, Williamson will miss at least 10 games.

Williamson was hurt Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers.

He has appeared in 29 of the season’s first 37 games for the Pelicans (23-14), who entered Tuesday a game out of first place in the Western Conference behind Denver and Memphis. Williamson has a team-best scoring average of 26.0 points this season, plus averages 7.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists on 61% shooting.

He’s led the Pelicans in scoring in 17 of his 29 games.

Williamson missed the entire 2021-22 season and was limited to 85 games in his first two seasons because of injuries. But this season, he’s been relatively healthy, until now.

He missed two games in October because of a contusion around his right hip and lower back; three games in November with a right foot contusion; and three games in December while in the NBA’s health and safety protocols.

The Pelicans are 6-2 without Williamson this season. They play host to Houston on Wednesday.

*******MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL*******

NO. 3 KANSAS ENDS TEXAS TECH’S 29-GAME HOME WIN STREAK 75-72

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) KJ Adams scored the last of his 16 points on a breakaway dunk with 7 seconds remaining, and No. 3 Kansas fought off Texas Tech 75-72 on Tuesday night, ending the Red Raiders’ home winning streak at 29 games.

Texas Tech failed to produce a shot on its final possession as Pop Isaacs lost the ball on a drive following contact in the key. The Jayhawks came up with the loose ball, setting the stage for Adams’ dunk as defending national champion Kansas won its seventh consecutive game.

“We didn’t have much left,” Kansas coach Bill Self said following a second down-to-the-wire Big 12 game. “If it had gone to overtime, it probably wouldn’t have been a good thing for us today. We played well. Anytime you score 75 points on the road it’s a good thing, especially against a team that guards like Texas Tech.”

Dajuan Harris scored 18 points for the Jayhawks (13-1, 2-0 Big 12), who had rallied to beat Oklahoma State 69-67 on Saturday. Kansas led by a dozen points early in the second half but allowed the Red Raiders to make it close at the finish. Jalen Wilson had 14 points and Gradey Dick scored 11.

Kevin Obanor scored 26 points for Texas Tech, which had not lost at home since falling to West Virginia in February of 2021. Isaacs added 18 points.

“There was a lot of contact, but that’s a good refereeing crew,” Red Raiders coach Mark Adams said of the final sequence. “We hoped we’d get that call, but the guys played their hearts out tonight, and they really responded in the second half.”

The Red Raiders (10-4, 0-2) trailed 67-57 with seven minutes left but got within 71-70 on Lamar Washington’s layup with 1:43 remaining. Texas Tech trailed 73-72 in the final minute when Isaacs’ turnover set up Adams’ slam.

“Give them credit. They made shots tonight,” Self said.

Kansas put together a strong offensive flurry toward the end of the first half, outscoring Texas Tech 11-2 over the final four minutes and taking a 43-36 lead at intermission. Adams keyed the surge with eight points, capped by a 10-footer in the lane.

“The most positive things about tonight was we had a great crowd and the guys responded to the crowd,” Mark Adams said. “They also responded to Kansas and played well, particularly in the second half, and that’s something we can build on.”

BIG PICTURE

Kansas: Harris connected on all five of his 3-point attempts, accounting for almost half of the Jayhawks’ total of 11.

Texas Tech: The Red Raiders outscored Kansas 12-5 in the final 3:53.

UP NEXT

Kansas: At West Virginia on Saturday.

Texas Tech: Hosts Oklahoma on Saturday

NOWELL SCORES 36 AS K-STATE ROLLS OVER NO. 6 TEXAS 116-103

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Markquis Nowell had 36 points and nine assists as Kansas State beat No. 6 Texas 116-103 on Tuesday night, setting a school scoring record with a stunning offensive outburst that gave first-year Wildcats coach Jerome Tang his biggest victory.

The Wildcats poured in 58 points in the first half behind 64% shooting and eight 3-pointers. Kansas State then held off a Texas rally as the Longhorns made 11 consecutive shots in the second half and shaved a 20-point deficit under 10 with just under five minutes left.

“We wanted to be aggressive the first five minutes,” said Nowell, who was one assist shy of being the first Kansas State player with at least 30 points and 10 assists. “We’re a really dangerous team when we get it going downhill.”

And they never let up, especially in the second half as the teams traded basket after basket.

Nowell and Kansas State also showed enough poise to get the big shots they needed late to close out the win. Nowell’s two free throws with 3:23 remaining made it 100-88 before he swished a step-back 3-pointer on the next possession to put an exclamation point on the night for the Wildcats.

Keyontae Johnson added 28 points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats (13-1, 2-0 Big 12), whose free-flowing offense with Nowell leading the way found just about any open shot the team wanted. Nowell came into the game No. 2 nationally in assists, and his shifty drives and nifty passing had Texas defenders looking for the ball all game.

“People who complain about scoring in college basketball, I think they got to see a whole bunch of scoring tonight. Those of us who consider ourselves defensive coaches? It was a headache,” Tang said. “But it was a lot of fun.”

The scoring display is sure to grab the attention of the rest of the Big 12.

“Every game is a statement game for us,” Johnson said. “We were picked last in the conference. We have to keep proving people wrong.”

Tyrese Hunter scored 29 points and Marcus Carr had 27 for the Longhorns, handed their first loss in their new arena, the Moody Center.

Kansas State also sent the Longhorns (12-2, 1-1) to their first loss since head coach Chris Beard was suspended indefinitely without pay following his Dec. 12 arrest on a felony family violence charge. Assistant coach Rodney Terry has been acting head coach since then and had led Texas to five straight wins, including a victory at Oklahoma in the Big 12 opener.

The 116 points were the most Texas has permitted in a Big 12 game.

“We’ll work hard to get a lot better defensively,” Terry said. “(Nowell) put his will on the game.”

Sir’Jabari Rice’s three-point play pulled Texas to 77-65 with 11:28 to play and a Longhorns rally was on. A block by Rice against Nowell set up another Longhorns 3-pointer. But the Wildcats kept answering, usually behind Nowell.

“Every time the crowd got into it, our guys were able to silence it,” Tang said. “That was huge.”

KEEPING IT CLEAN

Texas has smothered a lot of opponents with aggressive defense that often leads to turnovers and points in transition. Kansas State committed just 12 turnovers, though, and only three in the second half. That sort of ball control kept the Longhorns from getting extra possessions. Texas scored just nine points off K-State turnovers.

“This was a game where both teams’ players were making big shots,” Tang said. “As long as you don’t turn it over, the ball is going in the hole.”

BIG PICTURE

Kansas State: Made 31 of 33 free throws to maintain a comfortable cushion in the second half.

Texas: School officials have provided no updates on Beard’s status with the program. His legal case is scheduled for its first court hearing on Jan. 18. His fiancee issued a Dec. 23 statement saying he did not choke her during the Dec. 12 incident, contradicting what the arrest warrant affidavit said she initially told police. Beard’s attorney has said the coach is innocent.

UP NEXT

Kansas State plays at No. 19 Baylor.

Texas visits Oklahoma State.

********NHL NEWS********

RANGERS SCORE 3 IN 3RD TO STOP HURRICANES’ WIN STREAK AT 11

NEW YORK (AP) Artemi Panarin, K’Andre Miller and Filip Chytil scored third-period goals as the New York Rangers rallied to beat Carolina 5-3 on Tuesday night, snapping the Hurricanes’ 11-game winning streak.

Jacob Trouba and Mika Zibanejad also scored for the Rangers, who are 10-2-1 in their last 13 games. Igor Shesterkin made 20 saves in the first meeting between the teams since New York eliminated Carolina in seven games during a second-round playoff series last May.

“It’s a big win for us,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. “We had some fortunate breaks tonight. They are a tough team to play against.”

The Hurricanes had points in 17 straight and hadn’t lost in regulation since Nov. 23.

“They were the better team,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “We never really got things going. It was going to happen.”

Carolina led 3-2 entering the third before Panarin tied it with his 11th goal, scoring on a long shot through traffic 36 seconds into the period. Miller put New York ahead 4-3 with a deflection at 10:27, beating Carolina netminder Pyotr Kochetkov for the defenseman’s third of the season, assisted by Zibanejad and Kaapo Kakko.

The Rangers have 52 third-period goals this season, third-most in the NHL.

Kochetkov made 26 saves but lost in regulation for only the second time in 16 decisions.

“It was about us sticking with it tonight,” Miller said. “We wanted to come out in the third and give our team the best chance to win.”

Panarin’s goal was assisted by defensemen Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox, who has at least one point in 26 of New York’s 39 games this season. Panarin leads the Rangers with 44 points.

“They play hard hockey, pressure everywhere,” Panarin said of the Hurricanes. “For that team, it’s easy to keep focus 100%.”

Chytil’s goal came on the power play into an empty net at 18:57 as the Rangers won for the fifth time in their last six home games after a 4-6-4 start at Madison Square Garden.

The Hurricanes were 15-0-2 in their past 17 games. Their previous loss in regulation was 4-0 at home to Arizona just before Thanksgiving. Their most recent defeat was 4-3 in overtime at Anaheim on Dec. 6.

“We’ve done something special these past few weeks,? defenseman Brady Skjei said. “Tonight just wasn’t our night. One loss doesn’t change the way we feel about our team.”

Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield put Carolina ahead 3-2 at 17:14 of the second.

Carolina scored first when defenseman Brent Burns put the puck past Shesterkin off a scrum in front at 7:24 of the opening period. The goal was the fifth this season for the 37-year-old Burns, in his first season with the Hurricanes after 11 with San Jose. Paul Stastny and Jaccob Slavin assisted.

The Rangers tied it on the power play when Trouba scored his third at 16:26 of the first.

Carolina answered right back when Martin Necas fired a shot past Shesterkin just 16 seconds later. The goal was the 17th this season for Necas. Stastny and Andrei Svechnikov assisted. Necas has a point in six straight games.

Zibanejad scored his team-leading 19th goal at 16:45 of the second on the power play, but Chatfield put Carolina back ahead 29 seconds later. Zibanejad has points in 13 of his last 17 games.

Carolina was coming off a 5-4 shootout win at New Jersey on Sunday, when the Hurricanes tied a franchise record with points in 12 consecutive road games.

NOTES: Brind’Amour remained one win shy of 200. . The Hurricanes scratched defenseman Dylan Coghlan. … The Rangers scratched forward Johnny Brodzinski and defenseman Libor Hajek. … The teams play three more times: Feb. 11 and March 23 in North Carolina, and March 21 at Madison Square Garden.

UP NEXT

Hurricanes: Host the Nashville Predators on Thursday.

Rangers: Visit the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

HAGEL, KILLORN HELP LIGHTNING BEAT LOWLY BLACKHAWKS 4-1

CHICAGO (AP) Tampa Bay forward Brandon Hagel has a lot of fond memories of his time in Chicago.

A few more after Tuesday night.

Hagel had a goal and an assist in his return to Chicago, and the Lightning beat the lowly Blackhawks 4-1 for their fourth straight victory.

The 24-year-old Hagel made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks in 2020. He was in the middle of a breakout season when he was traded to the Lightning in March.

He faced his old team last year, but Tuesday night was his first game at the United Center since the multiplayer deal.

“It was obviously a little bit emotional,” Hagel said. “This is where my career started. This is the organization that gave me the opportunity to live my dream.”

Alex Killorn snapped a tie in the third period as Tampa Bay won for the 11th time in 14 games overall. Pat Maroon and Nicholas Paul also scored in the opener of a three-game trip, and Brian Elliott made 25 saves.

Killorn was stopped by Alex Stalock on his first try, but he slammed home the rebound as he was knocked down by Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy. Killorn’s 12th goal of the season made it 2-1 at 7:11.

“It was just sitting there,” Killorn said. “You typically don’t get those rebounds right on your stick, so just fortunate it came right to me.”

Hagel helped set up Killorn’s move, and then scored his 15th goal when he converted a power-play opportunity with 9:46 remaining.

“He wasn’t here super long, but I thought he had an impact,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said of Hagel. “He’s having that same impact for us, and he’s such a great kid. It’s great for him. Big thrill.”

Chicago dropped its fifth straight game, managing five goals during the slide. It is 2-20-1 in its last 23 games overall.

Seth Jones scored for Chicago, and Stalock finished with 25 stops.

The Blackhawks dressed seven defensemen after they scratched forward Tyler Johnson against his former team because of an illness. Then Patrick Kane departed with a lower-body injury.

Defenseman Caleb Jones, Seth’s younger brother, got some ice time as a forward with Johnson out.

Chicago coach Luke Richardson said Kane got hit during Sunday’s 5-2 loss to San Jose. It wasn’t a major issue, Richardson said, but Kane felt it a bit and then it came on more against Tampa Bay.

“He’s getting checked out tonight, so we really don’t know much `til tomorrow, probably,” Richardson said. “He’ll see the doctors here tonight and tomorrow and get an update on that.”

Chicago jumped in front when Jones scored his second of the season, knocking Taylor Raddysh’s pass into the net 4:50 into the first period.

It was the first power-play goal by a Blackhawks defenseman since Murphy got one on May 1, 2021, against Florida, according to Sportradar.

Tampa Bay then tied it at 1 when Maroon tipped home Victor Hedman’s shot with 8:36 left in the first. It was Maroon’s second of the season.

The Lightning controlled much of the action in the second, but they were shut out by Stalock and the cage. Hagel, Mikhail Sergachev and Nikita Kucherov each had a shot go off a post or the crossbar.

GOING AROUND

Richardson skipped the morning skate because he wasn’t feeling well. Coupled with Johnson’s illness, the coach said he planned to be careful with the players.

“If anybody feels like that, we’re going to try to keep them away from the team if we can,” Richardson said.

UP NEXT

Lightning: At the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night.

Blackhawks: At home against the Arizona Coyotes on Friday night.

FORSBERG MAKES 22 SAVES, SENATORS BEAT BLUE JACKETS 4-0

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) Anton Forsberg made 22 saves for his second NHL shutout, Tim Stutzle had a goal and an assist and the Ottawa Senators beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 on Tuesday night.

Derrick Brassard, Drake Batherson and Austin Watson also scored to help Ottawa improve to 18-17-3.

Stutzle rebounded after a poor first period.

“I was awful in the first, that’s for sure,” Stutzle said. “We just talked in the intermission that we’ve got to stick with it. We had a couple of bad turnovers here and there, especially our line, but we tried to stick with it, play better in the second period and the third period and I think everyone in here did a great job.”

The 20-year-old Stutzle has five goals in his last six games.

“Tim’s one of those guys who has confidence and makes plays that not a lot of players can make,” teammate Claude Giroux said. “Right now, he’s got confidence so we try to get him the puck and we try to get open for him.”

Joonas Korpisalo stopped 33 shots for Columbus. The Blue Jackets fell to 11-23-2 with their eighth straight road loss.

After a scoreless first period, four minor penalties in the second cost the Blue Jackets, with Ottawa scoring twice on the power play.

“We took four,” Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. “What do you expect is going to happen against a good power play? It’s just silly. They’re all penalties, every single one of them.”

Brassard opened the scoring with a power-play goal after he tipped Jake Sanderson’ shot. Stutzle made it 2-0, grabbing a rolling puck and beating Korpisalo. Batherson followed with Ottawa’s second power-play goal.

Watson scored short-handed into an empty net late in the third.

UP NEXT

Blue Jackets: Host Washington on Thursday night.

Senators: Host Seattle on Saturday night.

*******TOP INDIANA RELEASES********

PACERS BASKETBALL PREVIEW VS. PHILADELPHIA

To match their longest winning streak of the season, the Indiana Pacers will need to take down one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

Riding four straight victories, the Pacers (21-17) can avenge an early-season loss to the Philadelphia 76ers (22-14) on Wednesday at Wells Fargo Center.

Indiana enters the game coming off a 122-114 win on Monday against the Toronto Raptors. The Pacers have won six of their last seven games while the 76ers are 8-2 over their last 10.

The Pacers come into the game ranked sixth in the East while the 76ers are fifth.

Against the Raptors, the Pacers used a strong bench performance – outsourcing the visitors’ second unit 54-7 – and a late scoring burst to come away with the win.

Over the last seven games, the Pacers are shooting 49.2 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from 3-point range.

The Pacers continue to lead the NBA in fastbreak points per game at 18.3, rank third in bench scoring (41.3) and fourth in team assists (26.9).

Tyrese Haliburton still sits atop the NBA in assists per game (10.1 average) while standout rookie Bennedict Mathurin leads the league in both total points by a rookie and scoring by any bench player.

The Pacers also have the leader in 3-pointers made in Buddy Hield, who has drained 146.

Philadelphia comes into the game with back-to-back wins, including a 120-111 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday.

In December, the 76ers went 10-4 and had an eight-game winning streak.

76ers All-Star Joel Embiid has dominated again this season, averaging the second-most points per game in the league at 33.2 – the best among NBA centers and second overall behind Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (34.2). Embiid is also third among centers in assists at 4.6 per game and 11th in rebounds (9.8).

Embiid will go up against Pacers center Myles Turner, who ranks top-three in blocks per game and is putting up career numbers in points (16.7) and rebounds (7.8) this season.

76ers guard James Harden has put up big numbers despite playing just 21 games this season due to injuries. Harden is averaging 21.9 points, 11.1 assists and 6.2 rebounds across 38.1 minutes.

While the 76ers have two high-profile scorers, the team also plays solid defense. The 76ers average the second-fewest points per game allowed at 108.2 and have the second best defensive rating at 109.1. Additionally, they rank fourth in steals per game (8.3).

The 76ers can get it done from deep and at the charity stripe, shooting 38 percent as a team from 3-point (fifth) and 81.8 percent from the free throw line (third).

Projected Starters

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

76ers: G – Shake Milton, G – De’Anthony Melton, F – Matisse Thybulle, F – Tobias Harris, C – Joel Embiid

Injury Report

Pacers: Daniel Theis – out (right knee surgery), Kendall Brown – out (right tibia stress reaction)

76ers: None

Last Meeting

Oct. 24, 2022: The 76ers led by 18 points at halftime and never looked back in a 120-106 win over the Pacers at Wells Fargo Center.

Harden almost accomplished a triple-double in the game, totaling 29 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, while Embiid chipped in 26 points.

Four Pacers scored in double figures, led by 19 points and 10 assists by Haliburton. Jalen Smith (17 points, 10 rebounds) also achieved a double-double in the loss.

The game was won from beyond the arc, as the 76ers made 19 of 43 3-point attempts and the Pacers shot 12-for-44 from deep.

Overall, the Pacers shot 42.2 percent while the 76ers made 47.5 percent from the field.

Both teams moved to 1-3 when the final buzzer sounded.

Noteworthy

Philadelphia has won three straight over Indiana.

The Pacers and 76ers will play four times this season.

Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)

TV: Bally Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)

Tickets

The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, Jan. 6 at 7:00 PM ET.

INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL: INDIANA BASKETBALL GAME NOTES – GAME 14 AT IOWA

Opening Tip

• Indiana University continues its 123rd season of competition in men’s basketball and returns to conference play on the road against Iowa at 9 p.m. ET on Jan. 5 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game will be broadcast on FS1.

• The Hawkeyes, led by 13th-year head coach Fran McCaffery, enter the game with an 8-6 record and an 0-3 mark in B1G play. Iowa has lost three-straight games.

Game Information

Jan. 5, 2023 • 9 p.m. ET

Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500) • Iowa City, Iowa

TV: FS1 (Jason Benetti, Bill Raftery)

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

Series History: Indiana leads, 106-80

Last Meeting: IOWA 80, IU 77 on March 12, 2022 in Indianapolis

Series History

• Indiana leads the all-time series against Iowa by a tally of 106-80. The Hoosiers hold a 6-4 advantage over the Hawkeyes in the last 10 meetings dating back to the 2017 Big Ten Tournament.

• Iowa swept the two-game series last season, including an 80-77 victory in the 2022 Big Ten Tournament semifinal game on March 12. Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis tallied a 31-point, 10-rebound double-double in the loss.

Last Time Out

• Indiana toppled Kennesaw State in the final non-conference game of the regular season by a score of 69-55 on Dec. 23 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

• Sophomore guard Tamar Bates paced the Hoosiers with 19 points off the bench, while freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino scored a season-best 18 points to go along with seven assists.

• IU finished the non-conference schedule with a 9-2 record.

Off to the Races

• Sixth-year senior forward Race Thompson has scored 12.3 points and grabbed 9.5 rebounds per contest over Indiana’s last four games. He has shot 50.0% (20-of-40) from the field and 45.5% (5-of-11) from 3-point range during that stretch.

• In the three games Indiana has played without senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, Thompson has averaged 14.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks. The Plymouth, Minn., native has knocked down 18-of-28 (64.3%) from the floor in the three games.

Sharing the Rock

• Indiana ranks as the top Big Ten Conference team in assists, averaging 17.3 helpers per game. IU has been over 15 assists as a team in nine games this season. Four times the Hoosiers have topped 20 assists.

• Fifth-year senior guard Xavier Johnson (fourth) and freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino (sixth) both rank inside the top-10 in the B1G in assists per game.

• Indiana is 32nd in the NCAA with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.39.

Galloway in the Starting Rotation

• Junior guard Trey Galloway has started 15 games in his collegiate career. In those contests, the Hoosiers hold a record of 7-8, including a mark of 3-2 this season.

• Galloway averages 5.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists as a starter.

Scoop, There it is

• Sophomore guard Tamar Bates, nicknamed “Scoop”, is the first Hoosier off the bench and leads all second-unit players in minutes played this season (286), points per game (9.2), and total assists (20).

• Bates recorded career bests in points (22), made field goals (8), and assists (4) in the win over Jackson State on Nov. 25.

• The IMG Academy product scored 32 points off the bench on 6-of-11 (54.5%) shooting from the 3-point line against Nebraska (Dec. 7) and Arizona (Dec. 10).

• Bates became a father to his daughter, Leilani, on March 20, 2022, two days after his freshman season concluded.

Other Notables

• Senior Trayce Jackson-Davis blocked a career-high nine shots at Kansas on Dec. 17. The game marked his sixth with at least five blocks.

• His nine blocks were the second most by a Hoosier in a single game in program history, trailing only Steve Downing (10) against Michigan on Feb. 23, 1971.

• Jackson-Davis is one of 16 Big Ten players to have at least nine blocks in a game in the last 25 seasons. Nate Reuvers (Nov. 8, 2019) of Wisconsin was the last B1G player to have at least nine blocks in a game.

• Sixth-year senior forward Race Thompson had 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting with 11 rebounds and tied a career-high four blocks against Elon on Dec. 20.

• Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino had 17 points along with seven assists, two rebounds, and two steals against Elon.

• Freshman guard CJ Gunn scored a career-high 11 points, on 5-of-10 shooting as well as three rebounds, three assists, and two steals versus Elon.

• Sophomore center Logan Duncomb tallied 10 points, five rebounds, and two assists. His 10 points were a career-high against the Phoenix.

• Sophomore guard Tamar Bates led Indiana in scoring against Kennesaw State on Dec. 23 with 19 points.

• Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino had a career-high 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting against the Owls on Dec. 23.

• Hood-Schifino has scored in double figures in his last four games and has reached that mark in six of his last seven.

• Sixth-year senior forward Race Thompson ripped down 14 rebounds to tie his career-high (Feb. 12, 2022 at Michigan State) in the win over KSU on Dec. 23.

• Indiana charted seven-straight games from Nov. 18-Dec. 7 with at least five blocks. IU currently averages 5.9 blocks per game.

• Fifth-year senior forward Miller Kopp converted three-straight double-figure scoring outputs for this first time in his Indiana career with 21 points at Rutgers on Dec. 3, 13 points against Nebraska on Dec. 7, and 14 points against Arizona on Dec. 10.

• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis has swatted at least two shots in 28 of his last 45 games played.

• The Hoosier bench has outscored opponents 362-166.

• Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino improved his scoring output from 8.7 points per game in the month of November to 15.3 in December. He also improved his shooting numbers from 37.5% (24-of-64) in November to 48.4% (15-of-31) in December. Sophomore guard Tamar Bates also saw an uptick both his scoring from November to December, going from 7.7 points per game to 11.0.

• The Hoosiers have been ranked in each of the first 10 (including preseason) Associated Press Top-25 Polls, the longest streak to open a season for IU since the 2016-17 season.

BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL: BULLDOGS WELCOME DEPAUL TO HINKLE FIELDHOUSE WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Butler, coming off its most complete performance of the season with Sunday’s win over Georgetown, returns to Hinkle Fieldhouse for a Wednesday night tip against DePaul.

Butler (9-6, 1-3 BIG EAST) vs. DePaul (7-8, 1-3)

Wednesday, Jan. 4;  9PM

Hinkle Fieldhouse; Indianapolis, Ind.

FOLLOW ALONG:

TV: CBS Sports Network – Tom McCarthy & Steve Lappas

Radio: 1430AM – @MarkMinner & Nick Gardner (@n_gardner)

Varsity Network Radio App

SiriusXM 381, SXM App 971

THE SERIES: Butler Leads, 17-7

Streak: Butler, W5

At Hinkle: Butler Leads, 8-3

First Meeting: BU, 39-29, 1939

Last Meeting: Butler, 73-71, 2/15/22

Bulldogs vs. Blue Demons

• Butler owns a 16-2 advantage in the series with DePaul since joining the BIG EAST prior to the 2013-14 season.

• Butler is 8-1 against DePaul at Hinkle Fieldhouse since joining the BIG EAST, including eight consecutive wins.

• Butler has won five straight in the series.

• The teams first played in 1939, one of six match-ups prior to becoming BIG EAST foes.

The Bulldogs swept the season series with DePaul during the 2021-22 season as (then) freshman Simas Lukosius led Butler in scoring in both contests. Lukosius hit his final six shots, including a banked-in three-pointer with six seconds remaining, to net 19 at DePaul Feb. 15, 2022 in the Bulldogs’ 73-71 victory. It has since been topped, but the 19 points at the time served as Lukosius’s career-high. He scored 15 in the 63-59 win at Hinkle Fieldhouse Dec. 29, 2021. Chuck Harris and Jayden Taylor also posted double figures in both wins last season.

• The 80-51 win over Georgetown was the third-most lopsided win by Butler over a BIG EAST opponent since joining the conference in 2013-14 (89-56, at St. John’s, 2/6/16; and 79-46, at DePaul, 3/6/14).

• Butler held Georgetown to 28.8-percent shooting in Sunday’s win; it’s the third time since joining the BIG EAST that Butler has held a conference opponent under 30-percent shooting (vs. St. John’s, 1/27/18 and at Seton Hall, 1/25/17).

• It was the Bulldogs’ best defensive performance against any opponent since limiting Louisiana-Monroe to 23.3-percent shooting Dec. 28, 2019.

• Jayden Taylor led the Bulldogs with a career-high 24 points at Georgetown, featuring a career-best six three-pointers. Taylor had hit only three combined three-pointers in the team’s six December games.

• Butler’s 12 three-pointers at Georgetown were the second-best output of the season for the Bulldogs. Butler was a combined 7-for-42 from behind the arc in the previous three games.

• The Bulldogs are shooting 50 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range in home games this season.

• Butler is 9-0 this season when leading at halftime.

• Butler is 9-0 this season when scoring 70 or more points.

• Butler is 6-0 when out-rebounding its opponent.

• Butler has shot 50 percent or better from the field nine times already this season; the Bulldogs hit the 50-percent mark six times all of last season (31 games). In a similar fashion, Butler already has seven 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 committing only 12.4 fouls per game, which is third in the nation.

• Manny Bates has 35 blocks already this season, moving him just two away from tenth on Butler’s single-season list.

• Bates is 12th nationally with a 63.8 field goal percentage.

• Bates is 21st nationally in blocks per game at 2.3 per game.

• Bates, Taylor and Chuck Harris have each led the Bulldogs in scoring in at least four games so far this season (includes ties).

• Butler has placed all five starters in double figures three times this season, with the most recent coming at Cal Dec. 10.

• Butler’s 4.8 blocks per game are 39th nationally.

• After missing the first 11 games of the season, the duo of Jalen Thomas (pulmonary embolism) and Ali Ali (nasal surgery/concussion symptoms) is contributing a combined 13.0 points per game over the four games they have played. 

• Harris ranks third in the BIG EAST in free throw shooting (.867).

• Harris is now tied with Brandon Crone for 21st in Butler history in career three-pointers (118).

• Harris posted career-highs of 32 points and six three-pointers in the Dec. 3 win over Tennessee Tech.

• Bates led the Bulldogs with 22 points and 10 rebounds against Kansas State Nov. 30, his third double-double of the season.

• Bates is shooting 65.7 percent in BIG EAST play (23-for-35 in four games), good for fourth in the conference.

• 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.

• Hunter’s eight rebounds Sunday at Georgetown led the Bulldogs, his second time leading the team in boards this season.

• Hunter scored 11 points at Georgetown after registering only four combined points in the team’s three previous games.

• Including his seasons at Purdue, Hunter has 995 career points.

• Simas Lukosius has yet to commit a turnover in BIG EAST play (four games).

• Among active coaches with at least 10 seasons of NCAA Division I experience, Thad Matta’s .737 winning percentage ranks fourth (Few, Self, Calipari).

• Matta is 19-3 at Hinkle Fieldhouse as the head coach at Butler (2000-01 and the current 2021-22 seasons).

BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: #5 UCONN DEFEATS @BUTLERUWBB 80-47

INDIANAPOLIS – The UConn Huskies improved their overall record to 12-2 on Tuesday night after claiming an 80-47 victory over Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The setback moves Butler to 6-9 overall.

How It Happened

UConn opened the game on an 8-0 scoring run and would lead Butler 20-8 after the first quarter. Aaliyah Edwards scored 10 for the Huskies in the opening frame and Rachel McLimore would come up with the first five points for the Bulldogs.

Butler settled in offensively and outscored UConn 13-8 over the first five minutes of the second quarter to make the game 28-21. The Huskies however would end the first half on a 7-0 scoring run to take a 39-25 advantage into the locker room.

UConn shot 56 percent from the field in the first half, but made just one of their eight 3-point attempts. Butler however shot 42 percent from behind the arc, connecting on five of their 12 tries.

The Huskies came up with three steals in the opening three minutes of the second half to help them outscore Butler 13-2. They made their first six shots during that stretch which forced BU into calling two early timeouts.

UConn moved forward to outscore Butler 25-7 in the third. They limited BU to just two made field goals and the ‘Dawgs were off on all six of their 3-point attempts.

Shots started to fall for Butler in the fourth quarter. Tenley Dowell hit a 3-pointer and McLimore would add a pair from long range to help BU outscore UConn 9-6 at the media timeout. The Bulldogs posted 15 points over the final 10 minutes to take them to the final score of 80-47.

Stat of the Game

UConn used their size inside to score 52 points in the paint.

Inside the Box Score

– Rachel McLimore led Butler with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting

– Shay Frederick hit three 3-pointers for nine points while adding three rebounds

– Kelsy Taylor led BU with five rebounds, including three on the offensive glass

– Taylor was also the team leader in assists with three

– UConn had 24 assists on 34 made field goals

– All five Husky starters reached double figures

– Aaliyah Edwards scored a game-high 20 points

– Nika Muhl had 13 points six assists and four rebounds

– Jessica Carrothers, Jordan Meulemans, Abby Stoddard and Anna Mortag were inactive vs. UConn.

Up Next

Butler will play at Villanova on Sunday, Jan. 8. The 2 PM tip will stream on FloSports.com

IUPUI WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: JAGUARS TRAVELS TO PURDUE FORT WAYNE TO CONTINUE #HLWBB PLAY

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The IUPUI women’s basketball team is coming off a weekend sweep in Horizon League play with wins over Northern Kentucky and Wright State. The Jags continue Horizon League play when they travel to Purdue Fort Wayne on Wednesday with tipoff at 7:00 PM.

The Jags improved to 3-1 in conference after defeating Wright State on Sunday, 85-69. All five starters scored in double figures with Turner leading with 20 points and eight rebounds while Rachel Kent added 18 points and seven rebounds.

Senior Turner was named #HLWBB Player of the Week after averaging 19.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in the two IUPUI wins. She shot 76.2 percent (16-for-21) from the floor in the two games combined. The forward ranks fourth in the Horizon League in scoring and has consistently led the Jaguar offense, averaging 14.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game this season.

IUPUI has found success beyond the arc setting a Horizon League and IUPUI record with 17 three-point field goals in its 85-72 win over Northern Illinois. The Jags also hold the league’s best 36.2 percent from long range, averaging 8.8 threes per game. Perkins paces the way averaging 2.2 made three-pointers, going 26-for-69 (37.7 percent) from deep. Rachel Kent follows with 25 made threes with a 41.7 percent (25-for-60).

Purdue Fort Wayne enters the weekend 5-9 overall and 2-2 in the Horizon League. Amellia Bromenschenkel leads the Mastodons averaging 13.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. She also ranks third in the Horizon League in field goal percentage with 48.1 percent.

IUPUI and the Mastodons tip off at 7:00 PM on ESPN+. 

BALL STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL: COLEMAN, JACOBS BOTH SCORE OVER 20 AS CARDINALS EXTEND WINNING STREAK TO SIX GAMES

TOLEDO, Ohio – The Ball State men’s basketball team extended its winning streak to six games after a 90-83 road victory against Toledo on Tuesday. Jarron Coleman and Demarius Jacobs both finished the game with over 20 points.

The Cardinals improved to 10-4 overall and 1-0 in the Mid-American Conference, while the Rockets fell to 9-5 overall and 0-1 in the conference. Head Coach Michael Lewis picked up his first MAC win.

“I’m just really proud of them,” said Coach Lewis. “We had to score 90. There aren’t many days you’re going to outscore Toledo. Really proud of our effort. Guys had to make plays. Boogie (Jarron Coleman) showed that he was a veteran in the league and put us on his back for a stretch in the second half. The most exciting thing is, I still see a lot of growth. There were some things there, we gave up a 3 at the end. They can’t catch you if you don’t allow 3’s. This is a team that’s learning to win. They’re having a bunch of fun. We’re going to enjoy tonight, but tomorrow we have to turn our focus immediately to Akron.”

Coleman recorded a game-high 26 points and added two assists. Jacobs produced a career-high 25 points. He added two assists and two rebounds. Jaylin Sellers produced his second double-double of the season behind a 15-point effort and a game-high 10 rebounds. Mickey Pearson Jr. chipped in with nine rebounds. Basheer Jihad brought down a career-high eight rebounds along with his eight points.

After Toledo scored the game’s opening points, Ball State responded with a 21-9 run that ended with 12 minutes left in the half. The Cardinals opened the game shooting 75.0 percent from 3-point range and 69.2 percent from the field.

The Rockets answered with a 9-3 run to cut the Cardinal lead to 24-18 with 8:53 left in the first stanza. Ball State responded by outscoring Toledo 13-8 over the next 3:29 to extend the BSU lead to 37-26.

Toledo ended the half on an 11-3 run, but Ball State took a 40-37 lead into the break.

The Cardinals started the second half strong and went on a 9-0 run to extend the lead to 49-37 with 17:04 left in the game. Toledo came back and pulled within six, 59-53, with 11:03 on the clock, but Ball State stayed strong.

BSU was resilient and went on a 14-7 run and claimed a 73-60 lead with 7:53 left in regulation. The 13-point lead was the largest of the night. During the run, the Cardinals were perfect in all scoring categories; 5-for-5 form the field, 2-for-2 from 3-point range, and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. 

The Rockets came back with an 8-2 run and cut the deficit to 75-68. Toledo followed that run with an 8-3 run and pulled within two, 78-76.

The Cardinals were clutch from the free-throw line in the remaining 2:08. Ball State ended the game on a 12-7 run, where the team was a combined 10-for-10 from the charity stripe. Ball State won the MAC opener 90-83. After Toledo took a 2-0 lead early in the game, Ball State never surrendered the lead the remainder of the contest.

As a squad, the Cardinals finished the game shooting 85.0 percent from the free-throw line, 50.0 percent from 3-point range, and 52.5 percent from the field. Ball State was stout on the glass, as the Cardinals outrebounded the Rockets 41-21. BSU held a 12-3 advantage on the offensive glass.  Ball State outscored and shutout Toledo in second-chance points, 14-0.

RayJ Dennis led the Rockets with 21 points and a game-high six assists to go along with his team-high two steals. Dante Maddox Jr. posted a team-high nine rebounds as he added 16 points. JT Shumate ended the game with 15 points. Ra’Heim Moss finished with 11 points.

The Cardinals return to the friendly confines of Worthen Arena on Friday, Jan. 6, for the MAC home opener. Ball State and Akron will battle on CBS Sports Network with tip coming at 8:30 p.m.

BALL STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: OPENS MACTION AT HOME WEDNESDAY AGAINST BOWLING GREEN

Game 14 | Ball State (10-3) vs. Bowling Green (11-1)

Jan. 4 | Muncie, Ind. | Worthen Arena | 6:30 pm ET

Opening Tip:

– Ball State wrapped up non-conference action Friday, Dec. 30 with a 119-53 win over Chicago State to finish with a 10-3 mark. The Cardinals had one of the best offensive performances of the year against a Division I program versus the Cougars. Nationally, Ball State made 46 field goals which ranks first, dished out 33 assists which is good for second, scored 119 points which ranks third, shot 65 percent from the field for the 4th best and made 17 3-pointers which is the sixth most among their peers.

– The Cardinals also broke the program’s 3-point record in Worthen Arena with 17 against Chicago State last Friday, which was led by graduate senior Thelma Dis Agustsdottir who had a personal best seven behind the arc.  

– Ball State and Bowling Green have met a total of 71 times in program history with the Falcons leading the all-time series record, 46-25. In their last meeting, the Cardinals defeated the Falcons in Worthen Arena Feb. 5, 2022 by a score of 91-80.

– Ball State and Bowling Green’s first-ever meeting was in 1974-75, the Cardinals defeated the Falcons by a score of 58-52 in Terre Haute, Ind.

– Prior to the 2021 season, Ball State had won 10 meetings between the two programs.

– The 10-game winning streak against the Falcons ranked the first between Ball State and any other MAC school. The next team was Miami, Ball State had defeated them seven times in a row until the 2018-19 season.

– The Cardinals are 5-5 in their Mid-American Conference openers under 11th year head coach Brady Sallee and 1-1 when Ball State opens the league season against the Falcons.

Fast Facts:

– Redshirt senior Anna Clephane has 936 points for her career and only needs 64 points to become the 10th player under Brady Sallee to reach the 1,000 point milestone. Clephane is second on the team in scoring averaging 12.2 points per game.

 – Sophomore Marie Kiefer has proven to be a great defender for the Cardinals. She currently sits in 12th place all-time in blocked shots with 65 and so far has 17 total this season. Kiefer averages 1.4 blocks per contest.

– Graduate senior Thelma Dis Agustsdottir has found her rhythm behind the arc again as she currently leads the team with 38 three’s so far this season. Agustsdottir has 256 total 3-pointers for her career and sits in fourth place all-time. She needs 10 more to move up to third place which is currently being held by former Cardinal Jill Morrison (2013-17) with 266 3-pointers.

Return of the MAC:

– Under the direction of 11th-year head coach Brady Sallee, the Cardinals have had a wealth of success during MAC action. Sallee enters this conference season with 113-68 (.624) career MAC record. The Cardinals have punched their ticket straight to Cleveland in the MAC Tournament eight out of nine times under Sallee and have reached the championship game three times. Ball State earned a MAC West Division title in 2014-15 and has reached postseason play seven times including making it to the round of 16 at the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) in Sallee’s inaugural year.

Scouting Bowling Green:

– The Falcons own the second-best record in MAC history. Heading into the 2022-23 conference opener, BGSU has an all-time record of 434-255 (.630) in MAC regular-season games, for the second-highest winning percentage of all league institutions. BG also has the second-most conference wins of all 12 programs.

– BGSU leads the all-time series with all 11 MAC foes, making the Falcons the only team in the league with a winning record against every other school. BG also has the most overall victories and highest overall winning pct. of any league institution.

-BGSU has outscored the opponent in the first quarter in 10 of the 12 games to date, and the Falcons have led by double digits six times after the opening quarter.

– Elissa Brett averages 12.6 points per game and leads the Falcons in scoring. Nyla Hampton isn’t too far behind Brett and scores 12.5 points per contest. Rounding out the double digit scoring is Morgan Sharps who averages 10.8 points per game.

NOTRE DAME MEN’S BASKETBALL: IRISH LOSE LEAD IN FINAL TWO MINUTES, FALL 70-63 AT BC

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The Notre Dame men’s basketball squad (8-7, 0-4) led for the first 37:19 of the game but couldn’t exercise its current ACC demons, as Boston College (8-6, 2-1) closed on a 17-4 run to take it 70-63. The Irish, which have been in all four ACC contests, have now lost three of them (Syracuse, Florida State and Boston College) by a small combined margin of just nine points.

Dane Goodwin, who has achieved great success against the Eagles over the last two years, continued that trend tonight with 16 points. He has now scored 83 points in his last five games against BC, averaging 16.6 points in that span. Goodwin battled an illness and still scored 15 of his points in the first half and finished 6-of-12 overall and 3-of-5 from three. Furthermore, Goodwin has now scored 42 points over the last three games.

Freshman JJ Starling got back on track with a co-team-high 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting and a 3-for-6 clip from three. Graduate guard Cormac Ryan scored nine points in the second half to finish with 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting.

How It Happened

It was the Dane and JJ show in the first half as the duo scored 27 of the team’s 38 first half points. Goodwin poured in 15 on 6-of-7 shooting, which included a perfect 3-for-3 start from three. Meanwhile, Starling notched 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including a pair of threes.

Notre Dame started 4-for-4 from the field to jump out to a 10-2 lead three minutes into the game. However, a subsequent 1-of-7 shooting stretch allowed Boston College to creep back into striking distance.

Goodwin was in double figures by the 10:24 mark while Starling got there at 4:22. Boston College kept it close with a hot shooting stretch to end the half, connecting on eight of their last nine.

The Irish led 38-34 at the midway point. ND shot 15-of-31 (48 percent) compared to BC’s 15-of-25 (60 percent). Also important to note, the Irish didn’t turn the ball over until 5:06 remaining in the half and only recorded two turnovers in the first.

Wertz connected on back-to-back three-pointers to open the second half, giving the Irish a double-digit lead at 44-34. The Eagles responded with a 6-0 run as the Irish offense stalled momentarily with no field goals for a six-minute stretch. Yet, the ND offense collected five BC fouls in a span of a minute and in turn caused a near four-minute Eagles scoring drought.

Ryan got the offense back on a track with a good cut to the basket and that was followed by a big Hammond three-pointer which ultimately gave the Irish a 50-43 lead at the 9:44 media.

Yet, Boston College chipped away and tied it at 52-all with 5:49 remaining. Then, Starling answered in a major way on the offensive end, connecting on a three. Next possession down, Ryan answered with a huge three, halting the Eagles momentum momentarily, up 58-53.

The Eagles cut it back to one, and that’s when Ryan answered the call again, driving to the basket for a reverse layup and a 61-58 lead.

Yet, Boston College wouldn’t go away and at 1:43 they claimed their first lead of the game at 62-61. Notre Dame went 0-3 on its next three possessions and the Eagles closed the game on a 17-4 scoring spree.

Up Next

The Fighting Irish will make a trip to Chapel Hill to challenge North Carolina in a Saturday morning showdown. Tip will be at 11:30 a.m. ET on ESPN2.

INDIANA STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL: SYCAMORES LOOK TO STAY PERFECT IN VALLEY PLAY WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT ILLINOIS STATE

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State plays its second straight Valley road game Wednesday night when the Sycamores tip off against Illinois State at 8 p.m. ET from CEFCU Arena in Normal, Ill.

The Sycamores will be looking to remain unbeaten in Valley play this season on Wednesday. At 4-0, ISU has continued its best start to Valley play since 2014-15 when the team started off 5-0. Indiana State still sits alone atop the Valley standings as the only remaining unblemished team in league play.

With an overall mark of 11-4 and Valley record of 4-0 so far this season, the Sycamores have already matched last season’s number of overall and Valley wins. ISU finished last year at 11-20 overall and 4-14 in conference play.

In Sunday afternoon’s 68-50 win at Valparaiso, transfer Cade McKnight posted his first double-double in a Sycamore uniform with an Indiana State career-high 13 points and 11 rebounds. The Sycamores opened the game on a 6-0 run and did not trail at any point in the game en route to their second straight win.

After posting a career-high 21 points on 8-of-8 shooting against Evansville Dec. 29, Julian Larry made his second straight start Sunday at Valpo and put up 11 points alongside a tied career-high six assists. In conference play this season, Larry is averaging 9.5 points per game and 3.5 assists per game with just two turnovers. He ranks second in the Valley with a 2.44 assist-to-turnover ratio and is the only Valley player to shoot 100 percent from the field with seven or more attempts against a Division I opponent this season.

The Sycamores lead the Valley in scoring (81.20ppg), field goal percentage (47.6%), scoring margin (+11.13), assists per game (16.07), and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.30). Additionally, ISU ranks in the top five of the Valley in 3-point field goal percentage, 3-pointers made, rebounds, free throw percentage, steals, and turnover margin.

Indiana State’s leading scorer Courvoisier McCauley is the only Valley player with multiple 30-point outings this season and he is one of eight Valley players with five or more 20-point outings. He paces all Sycamore scorers with 16.9 points per game this season. McCauley extended his double-digit scoring streak to eight games Sunday afternoon and made it three straight games with three triples. He has connected for at least one 3-pointer in each game this season and has hit three or more in nine games this season.

SERIES HISTORY

Wednesday will be the 131st meeting all-time between Indiana State and Illinois State, and the Sycamores trail 61-69 in the overall series dating back to 1914. ISU is 19-43 against the Redbirds on the road and will be looking for its 20th win in Normal.

The Sycamores won five of six against the Redbirds from Feb. 20, 2019 to Feb. 12, 2022, but have since dropped the last two meetings, and in the last 10 matchups, the series is tied 5-5.

Indiana State and Illinois State faced each other three times last season. Their first meeting of the year on Feb. 12, 2022 would turn out to be Indiana State’s last win of the season, 60-57 at home, and the Sycamores dropped their regular season finale to the Redbirds on the road, 86-66, before falling again to the Redbirds in the first round of Arch Madness, 58-53, on March 3, 2022.

LAST GAME AGAINST THE REDBIRDS

Indiana State saw its season come to a close in the first round of the MVC Tournament, falling to Illinois State 58-53 inside the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The Sycamores led by as many as 10 points at 43-33 with 11:45 left in the second half but hit a cold streak late as the Redbirds ended the game on a 25-10 run. ILS was able to hold the Sycamores without a field goal in the final 3:44 of action.

ISU had opportunities late to close the gap but missed free throws proved to be costly. All-MVC player Antonio Reeves was held in check in the first half, scoring just four points. Reeves was able to get things going in the final 20 minutes shooting 5-of-8 from the field, including a pair of fast break dunks off of ISU turnovers to finish with 15 points to lead the Redbirds.

Kailex Stephens reached double-digits for the 15th time this season and the sixth-straight game as he led the Sycamores with 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting to go with seven rebounds. Zach Hobbs matched Stephens with a team-high 12 points, coming off the bench to hit four 3-pointers. Julian Larry led ISU with eight rebounds to go with four points as the defensive specialist held Reeves to 7-for-15 shooting.

The loss extended the Sycamore losing streak to six games, the longest losing streak of the season. The Sycamores closed out the season with an 11-20 record and 27-39 all-time in the MVC Tournament. ISU failed to make it to the quarterfinal round for the first time since 2019. ISU made seven treys to tie a school season record of 270 treys in a season.

ILLINOIS STATE AT A GLANCE

Illinois State was picked to finish 10th in the Valley preseason poll and currently sits at 1-3 in league play with its lone win coming against Belmont at home.

The Redbirds are coming off back-to-back Valley losses, falling to UIC on the road and then to UNI at home to close out 2022.

Illinois State is led in scoring by Kendall Lewis and Darius Burford with 11.9 and 10.3 points per game, respectively. Lewis also leads the Redbirds on the boards with 7.1 rebounds per game, and Seneca Knight is contributing 9.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.

The Redbirds rank ninth in the country in free throw percentage, making 79.1 percent of their free tries.

Kendall Lewis is one of just seven players in NCAA Division I this season to have at least 19 assists, 15 blocks, and 24 steals, while scoring 170+ points.

Malachi Poindexter is one of four student-athletes in the country to be perfect on his free throw tries this season with at least 17 makes and attempts.

LAST TIME OUT

The Indiana State Sycamores opened the 2023 calendar year with a 68-50 win against Valparaiso Sunday afternoon on the road behind a double-double effort from Cade McKnight who posted a Sycamore career-high 13 points and 11 rebounds en route to Indiana’s State’s second straight double-digit Valley win.

After starting the game off on a 6-0 run, the Sycamores did not trail the Beacons at any point in the game. Indiana State went on its biggest run of the day in the second half, scoring 13 straight points for a game-high 22-point lead at 16:38 in the frame.

Valpo cut its deficit to three points with 6:10 to go in the first half, but Indiana State responded with an 8-0 run to go back up by 11 at 2:27. McKnight pulled in a defensive rebound and went down to knock down a triple with 56 second left in the half to send Indiana State into halftime with a 36-24 lead.

That McKnight triple in the last minute of the first half would go on to spark a 13-0 run that ran over into the second half and was capped by back-to-back McCauley triples for a 46-24 lead at 16:38. Meanwhile, from 6:23 in the first half to 15:43 in the second, the Beacons shot 0-of-15 from the field.

Valpo would knock down five straight free throws to start closing in on its deficit and later came as close as 12 points of the Sycamores at 60-48 with 3:01 remaining, but McKnight ripped away an offensive rebound and drew an and-1 on the putback, completing the three-point play to put the Sycamores back up by 15 points. Cooper Neese closed things out with a pair of free throws and a triple in the last 1:13.

Cooper Neese led the Sycamores with 16 points in the game, pushing his double-digit scoring streak to four games. He shot 5-of-5 from the charity stripe and has not missed a free throw since the second half against Northern Illinois on Dec. 22. With 13 points in the game, Courvoisier McCauley extended his double-digit scoring streak to eight games and made it three straight games with three triples. He has connected for at least one 3-pointer in each game this season and has hit three or more in nine games this season. Julian Larry made his second straight start and posted 11 points for back-to-back double-digit scoring efforts. He also tied his career-high of six assists.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: MASTODONS AND JAGUARS MEET FOR FIRST GAME OF 2023

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball will kick off 2023 with a Wednesday (Jan. 4) game against in-state foe IUPUI at the Gates Sports Center.

Game Day Information

Who: IUPUI Jaguars

When: Wednesday, January 4 | 7 PM

Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center

Live Stats: Link

Watch: ESPN+

Tickets: Link

Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | IUPUI | Horizon League

Know Your Foe

IUPUI is 7-6 with a 3-1 start to the Horizon League season. The Jaguars are riding a three-game winning streak, including a 68-65 win over Northern Kentucky and an 85-69 victory over Wright State. IUPUI has a trio of double-digit scorers: Jazmyn Turner, Destiny Perkins and Rachel Kent.Turner is efficiently scoring 14.4 points on 60.5 percent in just 21.3 minutes per game.

The Series

IUPUI leads the all-time series 23-12 dating back to 1980. The Jaguars have won the last nine on-court meetings, with the Mastodons’ last win being a forfeit in 2021. The last on-court win was a 78-73 win in 2014.

In The Wins…

In the Mastodons’ wins this year, Amellia Bromenschenkel is recording 19.6 points and 6.6 rebounds with a 61.2 percent shooting clip and a 52.0 percent 3-point shooting percentage. She is also averaging 2.0 steals, 1.6 assists and 0.8 blocks per game in those games.

Recent Stats

In the last five games…

• Amellia Bromenschenkel is averaging 13.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, shooting 42.2 percent from the floor

• Shayla Sellers is averaging 8.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game with a 92.8 percent from the free throw line.

• Jazzlyn Linbo is averaging 4.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting 71.4 percent from the floor.

New Year New Abby!

Abbigail Stephens had a career-high 14 points against Horizon League preseason favorite Youngstown State on New Year’s Eve.

A New First

Amellia Bromenschenkel recorded the second double-double of her career against No. 15 Maryland (Dec. 21). She scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and did not record a turnover. She is the first-ever Mastodon to record a double-double against a Power Five team.

Ace Amellia

In the three-game stretch from December 2-8, Amellia Bromenschenkel recorded at least eight points, six rebounds, two steals, one block and one assist. In that time, she was 13-of-27 (48.1 percent) from the floor. In her career, she has seven games where she records at least one point, rebound, steal, block and assist.

Money Millie

Here’s how Amellia Bromenschenkel’s stats stack up in the Horizon League:

48.1 FG%: 3rd

13.9 points per game: 5th

5.4 rebounds per game: 13th

1.6 3FG per game: 9th

0.8 blocks per game: 8th

1.4 steals per game: 13th

30.1 minutes per game: 8th

Linbo Limbo

Jazzlyn Linbo is second in the Horizon League with 19 blocks.

Familiar Five

Purdue Fort Wayne has had the same starting five in all 14 games: Amellia Bromenschenkel, Ryin Ott, Shayla Sellers, Jazzlyn Linbo and Destinee Marshall.

Last Time Out

The Mastodons fell to Horizon League preseason favorite Youngstown State 60-44. Abbigail Stephens scored a career-high 14 points.

Coming Up

Purdue Fort Wayne will hit the road to play Cleveland State on Friday (Jan. 6). The Vikings are led by Preseason Player of the Year Destiny Leo, who has been named Player of the Week twice this season.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S GOLF: MASTODON WOMEN’S GOLF ANNOUNCES SPRING SCHEDULE

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne women’s golf head coach Jim Earle has announced the schedule for his team for the 2023 spring season.

The Mastodons will play their first golf of the calendar year at the Utah Tech Zupas Trailblazer Invitational on February 13-14 in Hurricane, Utah. Then the ‘Dons will head to the other side of the country to play in the Bright’s Creek Women’s Intercollegiate in Mill Spring, North Carolina (Feb. 25-26). That event will be hosted by Gardner-Webb.

March will feature a pair of tournaments, the first of which being Rollins’ Peggy Kirk Bell Invitational (March 13-14) in Orlando, Florida. The ‘Dons will then play in a familiar event on March 21-22: the Nevel Meade Collegiate hosted by Horizon League foe Cleveland State.

To start up April, the Mastodons will play in the Indiana State Invitational hosted by the in-state Sycamores in Terre Haute, Indiana. With 20 days of preparation, Purdue Fort Wayne will compete for the Horizon League Championship at the Las Colinas Course at the Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.

The Mastodons finished the fall season on a high note, with Anna Olafsdottir and Arny Dagsdottir tying for ninth at the Dayton Fall Invitational.

EVANSVILLE MEN’S BASKETBALL: FIRST TRIP OF 2023 TAKES ACES TO MISSOURI STATE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Looking for its first Missouri Valley Conference win of the season, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team travels to Missouri State on Wednesday evening. Tip is set for 7 p.m. CT with the Purple Aces Radio Network and ESPN+ having the coverage.

Last Time Out

– Murray State jumped out to a 23-1 lead on New Year’s Day as they defeated the Purple Aces by a final of 78-61 at the Ford Center

– The Racers held a 41-21 halftime lead before UE got within 12 points in the final 20 minutes

– Marvin Coleman II led Evansville with 13 points while Gabe Spinelli reset his career scoring mark with 12 points

Double Digits Again

– Gabe Spinelli’s strong play continued against Murray State as he reset his scoring high with 12 points

– This came on the heels of a 10-point game at Indiana State on Dec. 28

– Over the last two games, Spinelli has averaged 11 PPG while connecting on 9 of his 16 field goal tries

– He hauled in his top total of four rebounds against the Racers

– His performance continued a nice turnaround that has seen him record 6.4 PPG over the last nine outings

– Spinelli’s shooting has also improved in that time as he is 26-of-49 (53.1%)

Team Leader

– Marvin Coleman II scored a team-high 13 points versus Murray State on the way to his fourth double digit scoring effort in the last five games

– Coleman is averaging 13.6 PPG in the last five games including his first double-double at UE with 14 points and 10 boards at Indiana State

– Prior to his recent streak, Coleman was averaging 5.4 points but has seen his average rise to 8.1

– Three days after scoring a career-high 18 points against Campbell, he led the Aces with 17 points at Ball State

– In the win over Campbell, he set career-highs in scoring (18 points), field goals (7), triples (4) and minutes (38:20)

– Coleman entered the Campbell game hitting just two of his first 22 3-point tries but is 10-for-24 in the last five outings

Scouting the Opponent

– Opening the calendar year with a 52-49 win over preseason MVC favorites Drake, Missouri State enters Wednesday’s game with a 7-7 record and sit at 3-1 in the league

– MSU defeated UIC to open its Valley schedule and earned a win at Northern Iowa on Dec. 28

– Chance Moore leads the Bears with 12.6 points per game

– A 50.4% shooter from the floor, Moore has connected on 41.4% of his attempts from outside

– Kendle Moore is just behind him with 8.1 points per game

– Donovan Clay is the top rebounder for the Bears, hauling in 5.9 per game

SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL: EAGLES BACK IN ACTION VERSUS MOREHEAD, SIUE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball returns to action in the Ohio Valley Conference with a visit to Morehead State University Thursday and by hosting Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Saturday. Tipoff Thursday at Morehead is slated for 6 p.m. (CST), while Saturday’s home game with SIUE is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start.

USI (8-7, 1-1 OVC) is coming off a 1-1 start in conference play after posting an 86-81 win over Southeast Missouri State University and a road loss at Eastern Illinois University, 91-80. The win over SEMO takes USI’s 2022-23 home record to a perfect 7-0.

The Eagles, who have won five of their last seven games, have four players averaging in double-digits and are led by senior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) with 13.5 points per game. He is followed by graduate forward Trevor Lakes (Lebanon, Indiana) and sophomore guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana) with 13.0 points and 11.6 points per outing, respectively.

Senior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) rounds out the double-digit scorers with 11.5 points per outing and is posting a team-best 11.1 rebounds per game.

Morehead is 8-7, 1-1 OVC, after splitting its start of OVC play. The Morehead Eagles started conference action with an 83-75 victory over Tennessee State University before falling 64-57 to the University of Tennessee Martin.

Senior guard Mark Freeman leads Morehead with 13.2 points per game, while graduate forward Alex Gross follows with 11.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per contest.

Thursday’s matchup between USI and Morehead will be the first ever meeting between the two programs.

The SIUE Cougars are 10-5 overall and 1-1 in the OVC after splitting its start in OVC play. SIUE won at Tennessee Tech University, 64-51, before falling at SEMO, 82-73.

SIUE is led in 2022-23 by sophomore guard Ray’Sean Taylor, who is posting 14.3 points per game, and sophomore forward DeeJuan Pruitt with 11.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per outing.

In the series, SIUE won the last meeting between the two programs when both were members of the GLVC, but USI has won three of the last four. USI has split the last 10 meetings with SIUE but is 15-5 against the Cougars in the last 20 games. The Eagles have the longest winning streak in the series, winning 13-straight games between the 1997-98 and the 2003-04 seasons.

The game will be streaming on ESPN+ in addition to being heard on ESPN 97.7FM (http://listentotheref.com) and 95.7FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com).

Change to the USI Basketball Schedule

USI has had a change to the tipoff time of the January 12 home game with the University of Arkansas Little Rock at Screaming Eagles Arena. Tipoff has been moved to 8 p.m. due to the game airing live on ESPNU.

SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER: DALY ENTERS NAME FOR THE 2023 NWSL DRAFT

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer graduate defender Mia Rose Daly (Haiku, Hawaii) has registered for the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League Draft.

The NWSL is a professional women’s soccer league at the top of the United States league system. The draft will take place on Thursday, January 12, starting at 5 p.m. CT.

The current list of players registered for the 2023 NWSL Draft can be found here.

“There are so many great players in the draft, many of whom I have played with in my soccer career, and it’s just a privilege to be on the same list as them,” Daly said. “To have my name seen by the teams and coaches of one of the best women’s soccer leagues in the world is an honor.”

“I am just so excited, seeing my name on the physical player draft list feels like a dream.”

Daly was a graduate transfer to USI ahead of the 2022 season. She started all 16 matches she appeared in for the Screaming Eagles, playing a total of 1,396 minutes and every minute in 12 matches last season.

Daly helped lead USI’s defense to seven shutouts and 0.82 goals against average, both second-best in the Ohio Valley Conference. Offensively, Daly recorded three shots and scored her only goal of the season in Southern Indiana’s first-round match against Lindenwood University in the OVC Championship Tournament.

The Haiku, Hawaii native came to USI after starting her collegiate career at Long Island University before finishing her undergrad at St. Francis College (N.Y.).

For her entire collegiate career, Daly started 73 of 77 matches appeared in, playing over 6,337 total minutes with two career goals scored.

Daly grew up in Hawaii playing club soccer with Po’okela Soccer Club, along with Rush Hawaii where she was a member of the state championship teams in 2017 and 2018.

“The NWSL registration process was relatively easy, submitting my information, soccer resume, highlight video, photos, and coaches to contact, which I gladly put Coach (Eric) Schoenstein’s name,” Daly said. “Coach Schoenstein has been one of my biggest support systems in this process and this past season at USI and is one of the best coaches I’ve ever had.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity, and I know that no matter what happens, I will be pursuing playing professional soccer wherever I can, no matter what country,” Daly added. “It’s been my dream since I was a kid to play professionally, and it is my plan to achieve that dream.”

In order to be eligible for the 2023 NWSL Draft, a player must:

Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or a foreign national who is currently or was enrolled at a university in the United States during the 2022-23 academic year;

Be an individual who has exhausted, lost, or renounced their remaining collegiate eligibility during the 2022 calendar year, including high school graduates choosing to forego;

Be at least 18 years old on or before January 1, 2023;

Not be under a current professional contract, nor have previously signed a contract to play soccer professionally.

Coverage of the NWSL Draft presented by Ally will begin on CBS Sports Network from 6 to 7 p.m. ET. The draft will then stream live on Paramount+ and CBS Sports HQ, the free 24/7 streaming sports news network, from 7 to 11 p.m. ET.  Additional coverage can be found at nwslsoccer.com.

VALPO WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: VALPO WOMEN BACK AT HOME THURSDAY TO HOST EVANSVILLE

Valparaiso (2-8, 0-2 MVC)

Game #11 – Jan. 5, 2023 – 6 p.m.

Evansville (5-5, 0-2 MVC)

Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) – Valparaiso, Ind.

Next Up in Valpo Basketball: For the first time in nearly a full month, the Valpo women’s basketball team will step on its home court at the ARC for a game as the Beacons continue MVC play on home Thursday evening against Evansville.

Previously: Facing a road test against a Murray State team which entered the day with the best overall record in the Valley at 8-2, the Valpo women’s basketball team acquitted itself well on Sunday, sticking with the Racers through three quarters before the hosts pulled away in the fourth period for a 67-48 victory. For the second straight game, it was Olivia Brown pacing the Beacons’ offense, as the senior finished with 15 points, including three 3-pointers.

Following Valpo Basketball: Streaming Video: ESPN+

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 50-76. 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: Valpo leads the all-time series over Evansville 14-9, including an 8-4 mark on its home floor of the ARC. The Beacons have claimed each of the last four meetings between the two programs, including a season sweep last season, winning 74-62 at the ARC and 75-70 in overtime in Evansville. Olivia Brown averaged 17.5 points/game on 64.7% shooting over those two victories, including matching her high in the Valpo uniform with 21 points in the home victory over the Purple Aces.

@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 Murray State

– Valpo trailed the Racers 17-11 at the end of the first quarter and were within 32-28 at intermission.

– The Beacons fell behind by 10 in the third quarter, but were able to erase all but one point off that deficit and went into the fourth trailing just 46-43.

– Valpo went without a field goal for over eight minutes to start the fourth quarter as the Racers pulled away.

– Sunday’s game was Valpo’s second consecutive road game against a top-100 NET team to open up the MVC schedule.

– While the Racers shot at a 50% clip for the game, the second-best mark by a Valpo opponent this season, the Beacons forced a total of 16 MSU turnovers, 9 of which were steals — both just one off the respective season bests.

– Valpo was limited to 34.6% shooting for the game, but was at 42.1% through three quarters to be within three points with 10 minutes to play.

– A relatively clean game, Valpo attempted just nine free throws — a season low — and sent MSU to the stripe just 10 times — the lowest for a Valpo opponent this season.

– Olivia Brown paced the Beacons for a second straight game, knocking down three 3-pointes on her way to 15 points. The senior is averaging 15.5 points/game over her last four outings after averaging just 5.3 points/game in the previous three games.

– Brown was the lone Valpo player in double figures on Sunday, as Earnest was next-best with eight points. The junior grabbed 10 rebounds as well, her fifth double-digit effort on the glass this season.

…at Belmont

– Olivia Brown hit four first-half 3-pointers and Ava Interrante three, combining for 21 first-half points as Valpo trailed 44-30 at intermission.

– The Beacons cut the deficit to single digits at 48-40 with 4:11 to play in the third quarter.

– Valpo was called for fouls on its next six defensive possessions, allowing Belmont to go 10-of-11 from the foul line over that span as the Bruins scored 12 of the quarter’s final 17 points to lead 60-45 with 10 minutes to play.

– The Beacons dropped their MVC opener for the fifth time in six seasons in the conference. Notably, all but one of those defeats have come on the road.

– Valpo went 11-of-27 from 3-point range on Friday night, the third time this year it has hit double digits from deep and matching its season high of 11 triples, previously reached against Bowling Green.

– The Beacons’ 40.7% 3-point percentage was their second-best of the season as well.

– Leading the charge from deep was Brown, who went 6-of-8 from the 3-point line for her team-best 18 points. The six triples tied her career high and set a high for her time at Valpo.

– Brown also moved into Valpo’s single-game record book, as her .750 3-point percentage is tied for seventh-best in program history with a minimum of seven attempts.

– Ava Interrante made her presence felt from deep as well, setting a career best as she went 4-of-6 from downtown. The junior ended the night with 14 points — one off her career high set last time out.

– Ali Saunders ended up in double figures as well, closing strong to finish with 10 points — her sixth time in double digits this season. The rookie also matched her season high with five assists.

– After Belmont shot 51.4% from the field and 8-of-13 from 3-point range in the first half, the Beacons’ defense held the Bruins to 37.5% shooting and 0-of-6 from deep in the second half.

– Valpo committed 22 turnovers on Friday to just 14 for Belmont, as the Bruins enjoyed a 20-8 advantage in points off turnovers.

…looking ahead

– The back end of this home weekend sees Valpo host Indiana State on Saturday afternoon.

– The Beacons then make a quick mid-week trip to Chicago to take on UIC Jan. 11.

…at the ARC

– Thursday’s game is the sixth of 15 home games this season for Valpo and the first home MVC game.

– The Beacons are 1-4 at home so far this year and went 6-7 in home games last season.

@UEAthletics_WBB

– Evansville enters Thursday’s game at 5-5 overall. The Purple Aces fell at home to Southern Illinois and Missouri State to open the MVC slate after going 5-3 in preconference action.

– Abby Feit was named Preseason All-MVC and UE was chosen ninth in the preseason poll.

– Feit leads the Purple Aces, averaging 13.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, while Myia Clark is averaging 13.2 points/game and hitting at a 41.5% clip from 3-point range.

VALPO MEN’S BASKETBALL: VALPO TO TANGLE WITH UNI ON WEDNESDAY AT THE ARC

UNI (6-8, 2-2 MVC)

at Valparaiso (6-9, 0-4 MVC)

Game No. 16 – Wednesday, Jan. 4, 6 p.m. CT

Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) – Valparaiso, Ind.

Next Up in Valpo Basketball: The Valparaiso University men’s basketball team will play its second straight home game on Wednesday night at the Athletics-Recreation Center as UNI comes to town for a 6 p.m. tip. With an always-challenging trip to Bradley looming next, Valpo will look to defend its home floor against a UNI team that has split its first four Missouri Valley Conference contests. This rounds out a rare home-heavy stretch as it marks Valpo’s sixth home game in its last eight outings, but four of the next six will be away from the ARC.

Last Time Out: Valpo will look to bounce back after starting the 2023 calendar year with a 68-50 setback to Indiana State on Sunday afternoon at the ARC. The Beacons held the Sycamores in check from 3-point territory (6-of-21, 28.6 percent), but made just three of their own 22 3-point attempts (13.6 percent) in a game that saw the guests take control with a 10-0 run to start the second half. Ben Krikke shared game high honors and paced the team with 16 points, while Kobe King tallied 13.

Following the Beacons: Television – ESPN+ – Todd Ickow (play-by-play) and Jamie Stangel (analyst) 

Radio – 95.1 FM, WVUR, ValpoAthletics.com, TuneIn Radio App – Zach Collins (play-by-play)

Twitter updates – @ValpoBasketball

Links for video, audio and live stats will be available at ValpoAthletics.com.

Head Coach Matt Lottich: Matt Lottich (103-105) is in his seventh season as the head coach of the men’s basketball program in 2022-2023. Twice during his tenure, Valpo has upset Top-25 opponents, defeating Drake and Rhode Island at the ARC. Valpo has four wins over AP Top 25 teams in program history, and two have come under Lottich. In 2019-2020, Valpo became the first team in the history of Arch Madness, the annual Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in St. Louis, to reach the title game after playing in the opening round by winning three games in three days. Lottich, hired as the 22nd head coach of the Valpo men’s basketball program in April 2016, graduated from Stanford University in 2004 and New Trier High School (Illinois) in 2000.

Series Notes: Valpo is just 5-29 all-time against UNI including an 83-80 overtime victory on Jan. 19 of last season in the most recent matchup between the two teams. That reversed a 92-65 loss in Cedar Falls just two weeks prior, marking the first time Valpo beat a team that it had lost to by 27 or more earlier in the season since 1953-1954. The Panthers have won seven of the 10 matchups since Valpo joined The Valley.  

Among Conference & National Leaders

Valpo has the top two players in the MVC in terms of field goals made and two of the top 30 nationally. Ben Krikke leads the MVC and ranks 10th in the nation with 111 made field goals, while Kobe King ranks second in the conference and 28th nationally with 99.

Valpo is one of two teams in the country with two players in the top 30 nationally in terms of field goals made, joining Marshall.

Krikke and King also represent two of the league’s top six players in terms of scoring average. Krikke’s 17.9 points per game rank fourth in The Valley with King not far behind at 17.1.

Valpo is the only team in the conference with two players who rank in the top 10 in the league in scoring average.

Defending Long Distance

Prior to Dec. 6, opponents had shot 33 percent or better from 3-point distance against Valpo in seven straight games. Now, the Beacons have held opponents below 33 percent in six straight contests.

On Dec. 18, Elon made just three of its 27 3-point tries, good for just 11.1 percent. That represented Valpo’s best effort in terms of 3-point defense since Feb. 23 of last season vs. Drake (10 percent).

On Dec. 21, the Beacons held Stonehill to 6-of-25 (24 percent) from long range, the first time Valpo has held the opposition to 25 percent or worse from 3 in consecutive games since Nov. 28, 2018 (at UNLV) and Dec. 2, 2018 (vs. UC Riverside).

The trend continued on Dec. 29 at Drake, when the Bulldogs made just three of their 14 3-point attempts, finishing at 21.4 percent. It remained intact on Jan. 1, when Indiana State shot just 28.6 percent (6-of-21) from long range.

Over the last five games, Valpo is holding the opposition to 26-of-118 (22 percent) from 3.

Over the season’s first nine games, Valpo held the opponent to below 33 percent from 3 just once, and now that has occurred in six straight contests.

Double Figure Streak

The only player in the Missouri Valley Conference who has scored in double figures in each of his team’s games this season is Kobe King, who has scored 10+ in 15 straight.

Bradley’s Rienk Mast is the only other MVC player who has been in double figures in every game he has played, and Mast has appeared in only nine contests.

King has scored in double figures in 34 of his 38 games in a Valpo uniform.

The former Wisconsin Mr. Basketball has scored 15 points or more in 11 of his 15 games this season. He has five 20-point outputs this year and has scored 15 or more points in 21 of his 37 games with the Beacons.

King is up to 39 career double-figure scoring efforts including his tenure at Wisconsin.

At the end of last season, King became Valpo’s second All-Newcomer Team choice since joining the league and first since Bakari Evelyn in 2017-18.

He appeared on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays after a three-quarter court buzzer-beater on Dec. 11 vs. Charlotte, a play that ranked No. 9 on the popular countdown that evening.

Kobe Approaching A Thousand

Kobe King has scored 963 career points, just 37 points away from reaching the 1,000-career point milestone.

King has scored 577 with the Brown & Gold after registering 386 over his three seasons at Wisconsin.

If he reaches the milestone, King would become the second Valpo player to do so this season. Ben Krikke achieved the feat in the Nov. 13 home-opening victory over Western Michigan.

Prior to this year, the last Valpo player to join that esteemed group was current graduate assistant Tevonn Walker exactly five years prior to Krikke’s milestone – Nov. 13, 2017 vs. Trinity Christian.

Krikke on the All-Time Scoring List  

Ben Krikke cracked the top 20 on Valpo’s all-time scoring list when he scored the first basket of the game on Dec. 18 vs. Elon.

Krikke enters the Jan. 4 game vs. UNI with 1,243 career points after recently surpassing Lance Barker (1991-1995; 1,196) for 20th in the Valpo record book.

Darryl Ashby is 19th at 1,247, meaning Krikke is just four points away from moving up another place. Chuck Kriston (1960-63) is 18th at 1,287.

Krikke also reached a milestone on Dec. 6 vs. Trinity Christian when he played his 100th collegiate game.

Ringing in the New Year: The Jan. 1 game vs. Indiana State marked the first time Valpo has played on New Year’s Day since 2011, when head coach Homer Drew’s team fell 76-59 at Butler to open Horizon League play. Prior to that, Valpo hadn’t played on New Year’s Day since 1945, a 56-53 win over Hamline in Buffalo, N.Y. Valpo hadn’t played a home game on New Year’s Day since 1942.

U OF I WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: HILL NAMED GLVC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

INDIANAPOLIS – University of Indianapolis senior guard/forward Sadie Hill has been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week in women’s basketball, it was announced by the league office on Tuesday.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Sadie Hill, Indianapolis

Sr. | G/F | Indianapolis, Ind.

Major: Criminal Justice

Team Results: 65-62 (OT) W at Ferris State (12/31)

Tallied a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds in overtime road win at regional foe Ferris State, which is receiving votes in the WBCA poll

Shot 30 percent (3-of-10) from the field, 50% (1-of-2) from three, and 68% (13-of-19) from the foul line

Added two assists and two steals

Earns first career Player of the Week Award

Last Greyhounds’ Player of the Week: Emma Benoit (3/4/19)

SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:

INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/

EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/

WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/

FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/

ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/

ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index

TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index

BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/

DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/

HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/

MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/

HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/

OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx

ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index

IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/

IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/

IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/

PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/

INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx

GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/

ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/

GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/

HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php

TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/

VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index

SPORTS EXTRA

*******NFL STANDINGS*******

American Football Conference
	W	L	T	Pct	GB	PF	PA	Home	Road	vs. Conf	vs. Div	Streak
xy-Kansas City Chiefs	13	3	0	.813	0.0	465	356	7 – 1 – 0	6 – 2 – 0	8 – 3 – 0	5 – 0 – 0	4 W
xy-Buffalo Bills	12	3	0	.800	0.0	420	263	6 – 1 – 0	6 – 2 – 0	8 – 2 – 0	3 – 2 – 0	6 W
x-Cincinnati Bengals	11	4	0	.733	0.0	391	306	5 – 1 – 0	6 – 3 – 0	7 – 3 – 0	2 – 3 – 0	7 W
Jacksonville Jaguars	8	8	0	.500	0.0	384	334	4 – 3 – 0	4 – 5 – 0	7 – 4 – 0	3 – 2 – 0	4 W
x-Los Angeles Chargers	10	6	0	.625	0.0	363	353	5 – 3 – 0	5 – 3 – 0	7 – 4 – 0	2 – 3 – 0	4 W
x-Baltimore Ravens	10	6	0	.625	0.0	334	288	5 – 3 – 0	5 – 3 – 0	6 – 5 – 0	3 – 2 – 0	1 L
New England Patriots	8	8	0	.500	0.0	341	312	4 – 4 – 0	4 – 4 – 0	6 – 5 – 0	3 – 2 – 0	1 W
Miami Dolphins	8	8	0	.500	2.0	386	393	5 – 2 – 0	3 – 6 – 0	6 – 5 – 0	2 – 3 – 0	5 L
Pittsburgh Steelers	8	8	0	.500	2.0	280	332	3 – 4 – 0	5 – 4 – 0	4 – 7 – 0	2 – 3 – 0	3 W
New York Jets	7	9	0	.438	3.0	290	305	3 – 5 – 0	4 – 4 – 0	5 – 6 – 0	2 – 3 – 0	5 L
Tennessee Titans	7	9	0	.438	3.0	282	339	3 – 5 – 0	4 – 4 – 0	5 – 6 – 0	3 – 2 – 0	6 L
Cleveland Browns	7	9	0	.438	3.0	347	353	4 – 4 – 0	3 – 5 – 0	4 – 7 – 0	3 – 2 – 0	1 W
Las Vegas Raiders	6	10	0	.375	4.0	382	387	4 – 3 – 0	2 – 7 – 0	5 – 6 – 0	3 – 2 – 0	2 L
Indianapolis Colts	4	11	1	.281	5.5	258	395	2 – 5 – 0	2 – 6 – 1	4 – 6 – 1	1 – 3 – 1	6 L
Denver Broncos	4	12	0	.250	6.0	256	331	3 – 4 – 0	1 – 8 – 0	2 – 9 – 0	0 – 5 – 0	2 L
Houston Texans	2	13	1	.156	7.5	257	389	0 – 7 – 1	2 – 6 – 0	2 – 8 – 1	2 – 2 – 1	1 L
National Football Conference
	W	L	T	Pct	GB	PF	PA	Home	Road	vs. Conf	vs. Div	Streak
x-Philadelphia Eagles	13	3	0	.813	0.0	455	328	6 – 2 – 0	7 – 1 – 0	8 – 3 – 0	3 – 2 – 0	2 L
xy-San Francisco 49ers	12	4	0	.750	0.0	412	264	7 – 1 – 0	5 – 3 – 0	9 – 2 – 0	5 – 0 – 0	9 W
xy-Minnesota Vikings	12	4	0	.750	0.0	395	414	8 – 1 – 0	4 – 3 – 0	7 – 4 – 0	3 – 2 – 0	1 L
xy-Tampa Bay Buccaneers	8	8	0	.500	0.0	296	328	5 – 4 – 0	3 – 4 – 0	8 – 3 – 0	4 – 1 – 0	2 W
x-Dallas Cowboys	12	4	0	.750	0.0	461	316	8 – 1 – 0	4 – 3 – 0	8 – 3 – 0	4 – 1 – 0	2 W
x-New York Giants	9	6	1	.594	0.0	349	349	5 – 3 – 1	4 – 3 – 0	4 – 6 – 1	1 – 3 – 1	1 W
Seattle Seahawks	8	8	0	.500	0.0	388	385	4 – 4 – 0	4 – 4 – 0	5 – 6 – 0	3 – 2 – 0	1 W
Detroit Lions	8	8	0	.500	1.5	433	411	5 – 4 – 0	3 – 4 – 0	6 – 5 – 0	4 – 1 – 0	1 W
Green Bay Packers	8	8	0	.500	1.5	354	351	5 – 3 – 0	3 – 5 – 0	6 – 5 – 0	3 – 2 – 0	4 W
Washington Commanders	7	8	1	.469	2.0	295	337	3 – 5 – 0	4 – 3 – 1	4 – 6 – 1	1 – 3 – 1	3 L
New Orleans Saints	7	9	0	.438	2.5	323	335	4 – 4 – 0	3 – 5 – 0	5 – 6 – 0	2 – 3 – 0	3 W
Carolina Panthers	6	10	0	.375	3.5	337	367	5 – 4 – 0	1 – 6 – 0	5 – 6 – 0	3 – 2 – 0	1 L
Atlanta Falcons	6	10	0	.375	3.5	335	369	5 – 3 – 0	1 – 7 – 0	5 – 6 – 0	1 – 4 – 0	1 W
Los Angeles Rams	5	11	0	.313	4.5	291	365	4 – 5 – 0	1 – 6 – 0	3 – 8 – 0	1 – 4 – 0	1 L
Arizona Cardinals	4	12	0	.250	5.5	327	411	1 – 8 – 0	3 – 4 – 0	3 – 8 – 0	1 – 4 – 0	6 L
Chicago Bears	3	13	0	.188	6.5	313	434	2 – 6 – 0	1 – 7 – 0	1 – 10 – 0	0 – 5 – 0	9 L

*******NBA STANDINGS*******

Eastern Conference
	W	L	Pct	Conf GB	Home	Road	Div	Conf	Last 10	Streak
1 Boston	26	12	.684	—	15-5	11-7	4-0	15-8	5-5	2 L
2 Brooklyn	25	12	.676	0.5	13-5	12-7	5-2	19-6	10-0	12 W
3 Milwaukee	24	13	.649	1.5	16-4	8-9	4-3	12-9	4-6	1 W
4 Cleveland	24	14	.632	2.0	17-4	7-10	7-3	17-8	7-3	2 W
5 Philadelphia	22	14	.611	3.0	15-5	7-9	4-3	14-9	8-2	2 W
6 Indiana	21	17	.553	5.0	13-7	8-10	2-2	15-8	7-3	4 W
7 Miami	20	18	.526	6.0	11-8	8-10	5-1	8-11	7-3	2 W
8 New York	20	18	.526	6.0	9-10	11-8	1-4	12-9	5-5	2 W
9 Atlanta	17	20	.459	8.5	11-8	6-12	4-3	13-14	3-7	4 L
10 Washington	17	22	.436	9.5	10-7	7-15	4-3	10-14	6-4	1 L
11 Chicago	16	21	.432	9.5	9-9	7-12	4-3	14-11	5-5	2 L
12 Toronto	16	21	.432	9.5	11-8	5-13	2-7	11-14	3-7	1 L
13 Orlando	13	24	.351	12.5	9-11	4-13	2-5	7-18	6-4	3 L
14 Charlotte	10	28	.263	16.0	5-13	5-15	3-6	4-18	3-7	2 L
15 Detroit	10	30	.250	17.0	5-13	5-17	0-6	4-18	2-8	1 L
Western Conference
	W	L	Pct	Conf GB	Home	Road	Div	Conf	Last 10	Streak
1 Denver	24	13	.649	—	14-3	10-10	7-3	18-9	7-3	1 L
2 Memphis	23	13	.639	0.5	15-3	8-10	4-2	11-10	6-4	3 W
3 New Orleans	23	14	.622	1.0	16-4	7-10	6-2	15-9	5-5	2 L
4 Dallas	22	16	.579	2.5	15-5	7-11	5-2	16-6	8-2	7 W
5 Sacramento	20	16	.556	3.5	11-7	9-9	4-4	9-8	6-4	1 W
6 LA Clippers	21	18	.538	4.0	11-8	10-10	3-4	11-11	5-5	3 L
7 Portland	19	17	.528	4.5	9-6	10-11	4-5	13-12	5-5	1 W
8 Phoenix	20	18	.526	4.5	14-5	6-13	7-0	17-10	4-6	3 L
9 Golden State	20	18	.526	4.5	17-2	3-16	4-3	12-8	6-4	5 W
10 Utah	19	21	.475	6.5	12-7	7-14	3-4	15-13	3-7	5 L
11 Minnesota	17	21	.447	7.5	10-9	7-12	5-4	10-13	4-6	1 W
12 Oklahoma City	16	21	.432	8.0	11-9	5-12	3-6	9-12	5-5	1 W
13 LA Lakers	16	21	.432	8.0	8-8	8-13	0-7	7-13	5-5	2 W
14 San Antonio	12	25	.324	12.0	7-12	5-12	2-5	5-20	3-7	2 L
15 Houston	10	27	.270	14.0	6-12	4-15	1-7	5-19	1-9	4 L

******NHL STANDINGS******

Eastern Conference
	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	ROW	GF	GA	Home	Road	L10
1 Boston Bruins	37	29	4	4	62	27	140	83	19-0-3	10-4-1	7-0-3
2 Carolina Hurricanes	38	25	7	6	56	22	121	99	12-3-1	13-4-5	9-1-0
3 Toronto Maple Leafs	38	23	8	7	53	23	130	100	13-2-4	10-6-3	6-3-1
4 Tampa Bay Lightning	36	24	11	1	49	23	130	103	15-4-1	9-7-0	8-2-0
5 New Jersey Devils	37	23	11	3	49	23	124	97	10-9-2	13-2-1	2-6-2
6 New York Rangers	39	21	12	6	48	20	127	108	9-7-4	12-5-2	7-2-1
7 Washington Capitals	40	21	13	6	48	21	131	113	12-5-3	9-8-3	7-1-2
8 New York Islanders	39	22	15	2	46	22	126	106	12-6-0	10-9-2	5-3-2
9 Pittsburgh Penguins	37	19	12	6	44	18	122	111	10-4-4	9-8-2	4-4-2
10 Buffalo Sabres	36	19	15	2	40	18	143	122	8-8-2	11-7-0	7-2-1
11 Detroit Red Wings	35	16	12	7	39	15	110	117	9-6-3	7-6-4	3-5-2
12 Ottawa Senators	38	18	17	3	39	17	116	116	11-8-1	7-9-2	6-3-1
13 Florida Panthers	39	17	18	4	38	16	129	134	10-6-3	7-12-1	4-6-0
14 Philadelphia Flyers	38	14	17	7	35	14	102	125	7-9-1	7-8-6	5-4-1
15 Montreal Canadiens	38	15	20	3	33	11	103	144	7-9-0	8-11-3	1-8-1
16 Columbus Blue Jackets	36	11	23	2	24	11	94	142	9-11-1	2-12-1	2-8-0
Western Conference
	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	ROW	GF	GA	Home	Road	L10
1 Vegas Golden Knights	40	26	12	2	54	23	134	113	11-9-0	15-3-2	6-3-1
2 Dallas Stars	39	23	10	6	52	23	139	107	11-4-3	12-6-3	7-2-1
3 Los Angeles Kings	41	22	13	6	50	18	135	140	12-6-2	10-7-4	7-2-1
4 Winnipeg Jets	38	24	13	1	49	24	121	97	14-6-0	10-7-1	6-4-0
5 Seattle Kraken	36	20	12	4	44	20	126	117	10-8-2	10-4-2	5-4-1
6 Minnesota Wild	36	21	13	2	44	18	116	102	11-7-1	10-6-1	8-2-0
7 Calgary Flames	39	18	14	7	43	17	119	118	11-7-2	7-7-5	5-3-2
8 Edmonton Oilers	39	20	17	2	42	20	138	132	9-11-1	11-6-1	4-4-2
9 Colorado Avalanche	36	19	14	3	41	16	107	104	9-7-3	10-7-0	5-4-1
10 St. Louis Blues	38	18	17	3	39	15	120	140	7-8-2	11-9-1	6-2-2
11 Nashville Predators	36	16	14	6	38	14	100	110	9-6-3	7-8-3	4-3-3
12 Vancouver Canucks	37	16	18	3	35	14	126	144	7-10-1	9-8-2	4-6-0
13 Arizona Coyotes	36	13	18	5	31	12	105	133	7-3-2	6-15-3	4-5-1
14 San Jose Sharks	39	12	20	7	31	11	120	146	4-10-6	8-10-1	4-4-2
15 Anaheim Ducks	38	10	24	4	24	7	88	158	6-10-1	4-14-3	3-6-1
16 Chicago Blackhawks	37	8	25	4	20	8	80	141	5-14-2	3-11-2	1-9-0

*******FOOTBALL HISTORY*******

January 4, 1883 – The Ontario Rugby Football Union formed. You may ask Hey isn’t this a place for football history? Yes it is my friends and this Rugby Club from Ontario was the forerunner of the Canadian Football League.

January 4, 1942 – Polo Grounds, New York City – At the 4th NFL All Star Game in a series where the NFL champs would play against the best players from the rest of the League, the Bears faced a group led by Slingin’ Sammy Baugh and Frank Filchok of Washington and Green Bay’s Don Hutson. This game occurred less than a month after the attack on Pearl Harbor and was a distraction for the fans who were focussed on the War effort. The Chicago Bears showed why they were so good as they defeated the NFL All-Stars, 35-24 in a game filled with fights on the field and snowball fights in the stands per the story by ESPN.com.

January 4, 1970 – Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland – The Kansas City Chiefs met their rivals the Oakland Raiders in the 1969 AFL Championship game.The Chiefs defense came to play and made it tough sledding for the Raiders all game as they forced 4 interceptions of Oakland passes. KC earned the right to advance onto the Big Game in a 17-7 victory over the home team.

January 4, 1970 – Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota – Meanwhile at the NFL Championship game to see who would face the Chiefs, it was the Minnesota Vikings who outlasted the Cleveland Browns, 27-7.

January 4, 1976 – Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA – The AFC Championship games of the 1970’s had two pretty common teams playing in it. Can you believe there was only one game for the Lamat Hunt Trophy in the decade of the ‘70’s where neither the Steelers nor the Raiders were a participant? Well in the Conference Title game of the 1975 season it was one of three times in the decade that the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders squared off against each other. This time around it was the Steelers who outlasted the Raiders, 16-10. Pro-Football-Reference gives us the data that Franco Harris and John Stalworth scored to help the Steel City advance to the Super Bowl.

January 4, 1986 – Anaheim, California – Los Angeles Rams running back Eric Dickerson scored twice as he pounded the turf for an NFL postseason record of 248 yards in 20-0 Rams win over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC divisional playoff.

January 4, 1999 – College Football, 1st BCS National Championship, Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, AZ: #1 Tennessee beats #2 Florida State, 23-16, at 28th Fiesta Bowl

January 4, 2000 – A day after accepting the head coaching position with the New York Jets franchise, Bill Belichick resigns the Jets position and then later accepts the New England Patriots head job.

January 4, 2000 – Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans – The 2nd BCS National Championship game held was under the guise of the Allstate Sugar Bowl. It matched up two pretty good offensive teams against each other. #1 Florida State would face the #2 Virginia Tech squad. The Seminoles had their great Wide Receiver Peter Warrick and company while the Hokies placed an interesting red-shirt freshman under center named Michael Vick per the AllstateSugarBowl.org site. There were plenty of offensive fireworks as advertised. Warrick helped the Seminoles jump out early to a 28-7 lead in the first half. But Vick spearheaded the Hokies to a great comeback that actually put Virginia Tech ahead 29-28 at the end of the third quarter. Then Warrick and Florida State gave their final push that handed them the game. FSU outlasted VT 46-29 in an exciting game!

January 4, 2004 – Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans -The 6th BCS National Championship once again took place at the Sugar Bowl as the top two teams in the rankings met once again. The second ranked LSU Tigers were the opponents for the #1 Oklahoma Sooners per the AllstateSugarBowl.org site. Even the coaches in this game were interesting as the schemes of OU’s Bob Stoops would face the strategies of Nick Saban. The Sooners went into the game as a 6 point favorite, Oklahoma’s offense which was tops in the land averaged an astounding 45.2 points coming into the game and that Sooners was the nation’s third-best overall defensive team, giving up an average of a mere 255.7 yards a game. The Tigers fielded two All-America selections in the contest but Oklahoma looked like an All-star team when they rolled out 7 young men that received the All-America honors including Heisman winner Jason White. On paper no wonder the Sooners were favored, but there is a reason why they still play the games. LSU came out and played as a complete cohesive unit in the ultimate team sport. The Tigers defense stifled White and the Sooners offense most of the evening, limiting them to a mere 152 yards and two TDs. Saban’s offense responded when it needed to most, including right after the Sooners scored when they had great field position after a blocked punt. It was LSU in a 21-14 upset of Oklahoma at the 70th Sugar Bowl for the National Title.

January 4, 2005 – Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardens -The Sooners would be back as a participant in the 7th BCS National Championship in the Orange Bowl. This time Bob Stoops and company would enter as the second ranked team in the country and would play against a Pete Carroll coached #1 Southern California team.The Orange Bowl site promotes the game as the battle of Award Winners as 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart faced off against 2003 Heisman Trophy winner Jason White. The posting goes on to say that the Orange Bowl hosted its 18th National Championship, six of which have included Oklahoma. The contest wasn’t even close as the Trojans jumped out to a 28-8 lead at the half and never looked back as they triumphed 55-19 to win the BCS Title. Leinart threw five touchdown passes in the game. But that is not the end of this story… A few years after the game was played in June of 2010, the BCS according to the Conquestchronicles.com website, under the guidance of NCAA findings of USC’s “lack of institutional control” stripped the Title from the Trojans. The investigation of college football’s governing board found that running back Reggie Bush was ineligible for violation of NCAA rules which in essence disqualified Southern Cal in games that Bush played. Bush also had to vacate his 2005 Heisman Trophy. The BCS said in a statement the 2004 national title will remain vacant. One team besides the Sooners that were upset about this matter was the Auburn Tigers who with a perfect 13-0 season in the rugged SEC were not chosen to play in the big game.

January 4, 2006 – the Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California – There may have been another national title stripped too because of the NCAA findings with the Trojans. But USC fell in the 8th BCS National Championship to Vince Young and #2 Texas who defeated #1 Southern Cal, 41-38, at 92nd Rose Bowl. Texas won the National Championship but boy was it a classic battle. In fact some folks such as SBNation.com call it the greatest National Championship game ever! And they may be right! This game had all the drama, the star power and great coaching that made it an instant classic! Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, the aforementioned Vince Young highlight a couple of legendary college rosters for the contest. The game was also significant as it was the last one called by broadcaster Keith Jackson, who is probably the greatest college football play-by-play man of all time. Young became a collegiate legend on this big stage as he went 30-of-40 passing for 267 yards, plus 19 runs for 200 yards and three scores. He really took the Longhorns and put them on his shoulder to propel them back into the game from a 38-26 deficit with 6:42 to play. Then one of the greatest plays occurred. With a mere 26 ticks of the clock remaining and down by 5, Texas faced a fourth and 5 from the USC 8 yard line. Young took the shotgun snap and dropped back to pass. All of a sudden he saw daylight and dashed around the right end to trot into the endzone for the go-ahead winning score! The Texas Longhorns of Coach Mack Brown would become the National Champs!

January 4, 2010 – The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl – Boise State was facing Texas Christian University in the first BCS Bowl game played between two non-BCS teams, as well as the first BCS bowl game where both teams were undefeated heading into the game. The Broncos squad was led by QB Kellen Moore and Running back Doug Martin while the Horned Frogs had Andy Dalton under center per ESPN.com. Boise State won the game when Doug Martin got a two-yard touchdown with 7:21 left in the fourth quarter to make it 17–10.

HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAYS FOR JANUARY 4

January 4, 1925 – Connellsville, Pennsylvania – Notre Dame’s legendary Quarterback Johnny Lujack was born. The NFF has a great bio on Johnny L. John Lujack was Heisman Trophy winner Angelo Bertelli’s replacement at quarterback when the signal caller was called to fight in the US military during World War II. Johnny led Notre Dame to important victories over Army 26-0 and Iowa Preflight 14-13, to secure the 1943 national championship. After serving in the War effort overseas himself Lujack returned under center for the Irish in 1946-47. Notre Dame went 17-0-1 in that period and won two national championships. Lujack was unanimous All- America both seasons and won the Heisman himself in 1947. Johnny was an excellent defender as well, this was demonstrated in 1946, when he tackled Doc Blanchard, cutting off a sure Army touchdown, in a game that ended 0-0. The National Football Foundation voters selected Johnny Lujack for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1960. Johnny’s gridiron glory did not stop after college. Lujack played for Chicago Bears and George Halas from 1948 to 1951. The pinnacle of his pro career came 1948 against the Chicago Cardinals he tossed six touchdown passes!

January 4, 1930 – Grand River, Ohio – The winningest coach in NFL history, Don Shula was born. According to his bio on the ProFootballHOF.com website, Shula served 33 seasons as a head coach of NFL teams. His coaching career started off in Baltimore with the Colts where he led the Blue Horseshoe to seven straight winning seasons including a trip to Super Bowl III against the Joe Namath-led Jets. Before the 1970 season the great coach moved to take over the reigns of the Miami Dolphins. There he continued to win and even guided the team to consecutive Super Bowl victories in the VII and VIII editions of the game. All in all he coached 6 teams in the game to win the Lombardi Trophy in his 33 years of coaching. The pinnacle of his career was the 1972 Dolphins who went a perfect 17-0 and were crowned Champs, so far the only team since the merger to accomplish the feat. At the 1997 enshrinement ceremonies in Canton Don Shula was welcomed into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

******BASEBALL HISTORY******

1898       After the death of Charles H. Byrne, team secretary Charles Ebbets replaces the one-third owner as president of the Bridegrooms (Dodgers). The team’s former office boy and future owner will also manage the Brooklyn nine for the last 110 games of the season, finishing tenth in the 12-team National League circuit.

1902       Bill Dineen, who has averaged nearly 18 wins over the past two seasons for the National League’s Beaneaters (Braves), signs with the year-old Boston Americans (Red Sox). The 24-year-old right-hander, known as ‘Big Bill,’ will win 20 or more contests for the next three years for the crosstown rivals in the upstart American League.

1904       The Highlanders reveal plans to play their Sunday home games at Long Island’s Ridgewood Park. In March, the National Commission’s chairman August Herrman will announce the club cannot play there due to the proximity of the ballpark to Brooklyn, the home of the National League’s Superbas.

1932       After leading the Toledo Mud Hens to their first-ever pennant, Casey Stengel returns to majors when the minor league team goes bankrupt, becoming a coach for the Dodgers. The ‘Old Perfessor’ will get his first big league managerial opportunity when Brooklyn names him to replace Max Carey, dismissed before the 1934 season starts.

1936       The Red Sox get center fielder Doc Cramer and utility infielder Eric McNair from the A’s for right-hander Henry Johnson, middle infielder Al Niemiec, and $75,000. The deal completes the December 10th trade for Jimmie Foxx, who will hit .320 during his seven seasons with Boston.

1942       With 78% of the vote, Rogers Hornsby becomes the 14th player selected to the Hall of Fame. Former Cubs’ first baseman Frank Chance (58%) and southpaw Rube Waddell (54%) are not elected this year, but both will be voted in by the Old Timers Committee in 1946.

1943       Due to World War II, Commissioner Landis mandates teams to conduct spring training close to home. Except for the Cardinals and the Browns, who may stay in-state to train in Missouri, big-league camps must operate north of the Potomac and Ohio Rivers, staying east of the Mississippi River.

1957       The Dodgers become the first team to purchase an aircraft, buying a 44-passenger Convair 440 two-engine airplane for $700,000. From 1949 through 1957, the team had flown in a 20-seat DC-3, a gift from Bud Holman, who won the plane from Eastern Airlines in a crap game, according to legend, and gave it to team owner Walter O’Malley.

2002       The Twins name Ron Gardenhire, a 44-year-old Twins coach, to replace long-time manager Tom Kelly, who piloted the team to world championships in 1987 and 1991 during his 16-year tenure in the dugout. Initially given a two-year pact, the former part-time Mets infielder will compile a 1,068–1,039 record as the team’s skipper over 13 seasons.

2002       The Cardinals announce the team has agreed to a three-year, $27 million deal with their ace Matt Morris (22-8, 3.16 ERA). The 27-year-old right-hander, who missed all of the 1999 season due to elbow surgery, finished third in the Cy Young balloting last season.

2002       The Indians sign 18-year-old Matthew Haynes, a participant in the major league’s first-ever Australian Baseball Academy. The Tribe believes the 6′-3″, 185-pound right-hander, considered one of the best sixty players from Down Under, will become a starting pitcher in the major leagues.

2002       Tony Tavares, citing he is tired of losing, resigns as the president of the Angels. The 52-year-old executive, who until today also was the chairman of the NHL’s Mighty Ducks, assumed the baseball post after Disney bought the team from Jackie Autry in 1996.

2004       Five-time batting champ Wade Boggs, who receives 92% of the record number of the 516 votes cast, becomes the 41st player elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The Baseball Writers also give the nod to former Cubs’ second baseman Ryne Sandberg, the 1984 National League MVP.

2007       Jake Peavy is arrested at the Mobile Regional Airport on his way to begin a goodwill tour of the Dominican Republic with other big-league players. The 25-year-old Padres pitcher is charged with disorderly conduct and taken to the Mobile County Metro Jail after refusing to move his ticketed doubled-park car outside the terminal building.

2008       Hideo Nomo, who hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2005, signs a minor-league pact with the Royals. The 39-year-old Japanese right-hander, who tossed no-hitters for the Dodgers and the Red Sox, has been invited to spring training by the club.

2008       The city of Chicago approves the Cubs’ proposal to add 70 ‘bullpen box seats’ and additional signage at Wrigley Field. The 93 year-old ballpark, due to its landmark status, needed permission from the Department of Planning and Development to make the changes.

2010       “Just another Halo victory!” – RORY MARKAS, Angels announcer’s signature line. Rory Markas, recently named to be the Angels’ lead play-by-play television announcer, dies unexpectedly at home. The popular 54-year-old broadcaster, who also spent parts of 11 seasons in the Brewers booth before starting his eight-year tenure with Los Angeles, was well-known for his signature line, “Just another Halo victory!”.

2011       David Price is selected this season’s recipient of the Warren Spahn Award, a recognition given annually to the best left-handed major league pitcher in Major League Baseball by the Oklahoma Sports Museum. The Rays’ 25-year-old All-Star southpaw compiled a 19-6 record along with an ERA of 2.72 for the AL East champs.

2012       Joe Torre resigns as MLB’s executive vice president for baseball operations, a position he has held since last February, to become part of a group interested in purchasing the Dodgers from Frank McCourt. The former L.A. skipper, who managed the team from 2008-2010, is partnering with real estate developer Rick Caruso, who is heading up the ownership bid.

2013       Brett Myers signs a one-year, $7 million contract to become part of the Indians’ starting rotation behind Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez. The 32-year-old right-hander, who has started 249 major league contests during the first 11 years of his career, appeared in 70 games, all as a reliever, for the Astros and White Sox last season.

******SPORTS IN NUMBERS*******

4 – 50 – 29 – 00 – 33 – 53 – 30 – 52 – 23 – 9

January 4, 1942 – The seven time National League batting champion Rogers Hornsby became the 14th player selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Hornsby wore multiple numbers on his jersey over his career but the one he put on most often was the Number 4 of the St Louis Cardinals.

The Number 4 is for Adrian Dantley who on January 4, 1984 while with the Utah Jazz, tied Wilt Chamberlain’s record for the most free throws scored in an NBA game hitting on 28 of 29 from the line propelling the Jazz to a 116-111 victory over the Rockets.

The Number 50 is for the man they called the Admiral, David Robinson. On January 4, 1986 while playing for Navy the stalwart big man blocked an NCAA record 14 shots as the Midshipmen knocked off UNC Wilmington 76-61. Robinson also had 14 rebounds while scoring 21 points.

The Number 29 is for stud running back Eric Dickerson who on January 4, 1986 set an NFL post season record of 248 yards as he led the LA Rams to a 20-0 voctory over the Dallas Cowboys.

January 4, 1992 – Boston Celtic’s Number 00, Robert Parish became the 5th player in NBA history to register 2,000 career blocks during Celtics’ 100-96 loss at Minnesota – others Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Number 33), Mark Eaton (Number 53), Wayne Tree Rollins (Number 30) and George Johnson (Number 52)

January 4, 2001 – Washington Wizards forward Number 23, Michael Jordan became the 4th player in NBA history to score 30,000 career points; hits a free throw in 2nd quarter of an 89-83 win against his old team, the Chicago Bulls

January 4, 2018 – Liverpool and Egyptian forward Number 9, Mohamed Salah was named as the African Football Player of the Year

*******TV WEDNESDAY********

NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES	TIME ET	TV
CHARLESTON AT NORTH CAROLINA A&T	5:00PM	CBSSN
GOUCHER AT MORGAN STATE	6:00PM	–
VILLANOVA AT GEORGETOWN	6:30PM	FS1
AUBURN AT GEORGIA	6:30PM	SECN
IOWA STATE AT OKLAHOMA	7:00PM	ESPN2
PENN STATE AT MICHIGAN	7:00PM	BTN
TEXAS A&M AT FLORIDA	7:00PM	ESPNU
DUKE AT NC STATE	7:00PM	ACCN
LOYOLA CHICAGO AT DAVIDSON	7:00PM	CBSSN
MIAMI (FL) AT GEORGIA TECH	7:00PM	ACCN
FORDHAM AT RHODE ISLAND	7:00PM	–
SAINT JOSEPH’S AT DAYTON	7:00PM	SPECTRUM-OH
VCU AT DUQUESNE	7:00PM	ESPN+
GEORGE MASON AT ST. BONAVENTURE	7:00PM	ESPN+
GEORGE WASHINGTON AT RICHMOND	7:00PM	ESPN+
TEMPLE AT SOUTH FLORIDA	7:00PM	ESPN+
TULSA AT TULANE	7:00PM	ESPN+
UCF AT EAST CAROLINA	7:00PM	ESPN+
GARDNER-WEBB AT CAMPBELL	7:00PM	ESPN+
LONGWOOD AT CHARLESTON SOUTHERN	7:00PM	ESPN+
PRESBYTERIAN AT WINTHROP	7:00PM	ESPN+
UNC ASHEVILLE AT HIGH POINT	7:00PM	ESPN+
USC UPSTATE AT RADFORD	7:00PM	ESPN+
CHATTANOOGA AT UNCG	7:00PM	ESPN+
THE CITADEL AT FURMAN	7:00PM	ESPN+
WESTERN CAROLINA AT ETSU	7:00PM	ESPN+
WOFFORD AT MERCER	7:00PM	ESPN+
UNI AT VALPARAISO	7:00PM	ESPN+
UNCW AT ELON	7:00PM	FLOSPORTS
PENN STATE WILKES-BARRE AT NORFOLK STATE	7:00PM	–
SAINT LOUIS AT UMASS	7:30PM	NESN
VMI AT SAMFORD	7:30PM	ESPN+
NM STATE AT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN	7:30PM	ESPN+
INDIANA STATE AT ILLINOIS STATE	8:00PM	ESPN+
BRADLEY AT MURRAY STATE	8:00PM	ESPN+
BELMONT AT UIC	8:00PM	ESPN+
DRAKE AT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS	8:00PM	ESPN+
EVANSVILLE AT MISSOURI STATE	8:00PM	ESPN+
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE AT ALABAMA A&M	8:00PM	YOUTUBE
UCONN AT PROVIDENCE	8:30PM	FS1
MISSOURI AT ARKANSAS	8:30PM	SECN
LINDENWOOD AT LITTLE ROCK	8:30PM	ESPN+
GRAMBLING STATE AT TEXAS SOUTHERN	8:30PM	YOUTUBE
SOUTHERN AT PRAIRIE VIEW A&M	8:30PM	–
TCU AT BAYLOR	9:00PM	ESPN2
ILLINOIS AT NORTHWESTERN	9:00PM	BTN
CLEMSON AT VIRGINIA TECH	9:00PM	ESPNU
DEPAUL AT BUTLER	9:00PM	CBSSN
WAKE FOREST AT NORTH CAROLINA	9:00PM	ACCN
COLORADO STATE AT NEVADA	10:30PM	FS1
NBA REGULAR SEASON GAMES	TIME ET	TV
MEMPHIS AT CHARLOTTE	7:00PM	BALLY SPORTS
PHOENIX AT CLEVELAND	7:00PM	BALLY SPORTS
OKLAHOMA CITY AT ORLANDO	7:00PM	BALLY SPORTS
INDIANA AT PHILADELPHIA	7:00PM	BALLY SPORTS NBCS-PHI
MILWAUKEE AT TORONTO	7:30PM	ESPN
SAN ANTONIO AT NEW YORK	7:30PM	BALLY SPORTS MSG
BROOKLYN AT CHICAGO	8:00PM	BALLY SPORTS NBCS-CHI
PORTLAND AT MINNESOTA	8:00PM	BALLY SPORTS ROOT SPORTS
HOUSTON AT NEW ORLEANS	8:00PM	BALLY SPORTS ATTSN-SW
MIAMI AT LA LAKERS	10:00PM	ESPN
DETROIT AT GOLDEN STATE	10:00PM	BALLY SPORTS NBCS-BAY
ATLANTA AT SACRAMENTO	10:00PM	BALLY SPORTS NBCS-CA
NHL REGULAR SEASON GAMES	TIME ET	TV
NEW JERSEY AT DETROIT	7:00PM	TNT
TAMPA BAY AT MINNESOTA	9:30PM	TNT
DALLAS AT ANAHEIM	10:00PM	BALLY SPORTS
SOCCER MATCHES	TIME ET	TV
SERIE A: SALERNITANA VS MILAN	6:30AM	PARAMOUNT+
SERIE A: SASSUOLO VS SAMPDORIA	6:30AM	PARAMOUNT+
SERIE A: SPEZIA VS ATALANTA	8:30AM	PARAMOUNT+
SERIE A: TORINO VS HELLAS VERONA	8:30AM	PARAMOUNT+
SERIE A: ROMA VS BOLOGNA	10:30AM	PARAMOUNT+
SERIE A: LECCE VS LAZIO	10:30AM	PARAMOUNT+
SERIE A: CREMONESE VS JUVENTUS	12:30PM	PARAMOUNT+
SERIE A: FIORENTINA VS MONZA	12:30PM	PARAMOUNT+
COPA DEL REY: UD LOGROÑÉS VS REAL SOCIEDAD	1:00PM	ESPN+
COPA DEL REY: LINARES DEPORTIVO VS SEVILLA	1:00PM	ESPN+
COPA DEL REY: PONTEVEDRA VS MALLORCA	1:00PM	ESPN+
COPA DEL REY: REAL OVIEDO VS ATLÉTICO MADRID	2:00PM	ESPN+
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: SOUTHAMPTON VS NOTTINGHAM FOREST	2:30PM	PEACOCK
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: LEEDS UNITED VS WEST HAM UNITED	2:45PM	PEACOCK
SERIE A: INTERNAZIONALE VS NAPOLI	2:45PM	PARAMOUNT+
SERIE A: UDINESE VS EMPOLI	2:45PM	PARAMOUNT+
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: CRYSTAL PALACE VS TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR	3:00PM	USA
COPA DEL REY: INTERCITY VS BARCELONA	3:00PM	ESPN+
COPA DEL REY: DEPORTIVO ALAVÉS VS REAL VALLADOLID	3:00PM	ESPN+

TV THURSDAY

NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES	TIME ET	TV
FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON AT ST. FRANCIS BROOKLYN	1:00PM	NEC
MAINE AT UMASS LOWELL	6:00PM	ESPN+
MARYLAND AT RUTGERS	6:30PM	BTN
QUEENS AT BELLARMINE	6:30PM	ESPN+
COASTAL CAROLINA AT APP STATE	6:30PM	ESPN+
SMU AT HOUSTON	7:00PM	ESPN2
PURDUE AT OHIO STATE	7:00PM	FS1
BRYANT AT VERMONT	7:00PM	ESPNU
TENNESSEE STATE AT SIUE	7:00PM	ESPNEWS
DREXEL AT TOWSON	7:00PM	CBSSN
LIU AT CENTRAL CONNECTICUT	7:00PM	NEC
SACRED HEART AT MERRIMACK	7:00PM	NEC
WAGNER AT STONEHILL	7:00PM	NEC
SOUTHERN INDIANA AT MOREHEAD STATE	7:00PM	ESPN+
ARMY WEST POINT AT LOYOLA MARYLAND	7:00PM	ESPN+
AMERICAN AT HOLY CROSS	7:00PM	ESPN+
LEHIGH AT BUCKNELL	7:00PM	ESPN+
NAVY AT COLGATE	7:00PM	ESPN+
GREEN BAY AT PURDUE FORT WAYNE	7:00PM	ESPN+
MILWAUKEE AT CLEVELAND STATE	7:00PM	ESPN+
ROBERT MORRIS AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE	7:00PM	ESPN+
UAB AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC	7:00PM	ESPN+
CHARLOTTE AT FIU	7:00PM	ESPN+
UALBANY AT UMBC	7:00PM	ESPN+
NEW HAMPSHIRE AT BINGHAMTON	7:00PM	ESPN+
JACKSONVILLE AT STETSON	7:00PM	ESPN+
JACKSONVILLE STATE AT LIBERTY	7:00PM	ESPN+
KENNESAW STATE AT NORTH FLORIDA	7:00PM	ESPN+
MARSHALL AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN	7:00PM	ESPN+
OLD DOMINION AT TROY	7:00PM	ESPN+
TEXAS STATE AT JAMES MADISON	7:00PM	ESPN+
HOFSTRA AT HAMPTON	7:00PM	FLOSPORTS
NORTHEASTERN AT WILLIAM & MARY	7:00PM	FLOSPORTS
STONY BROOK AT MONMOUTH	7:00PM	FLOSPORTS
LAFAYETTE AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY	7:00PM	ESPN+
GRAND CANYON AT SAM HOUSTON	7:30PM	ESPN+
GEORGIA STATE AT ULM	7:30PM	ESPN+
SEATTLE U AT UTRGV	7:30PM	ESPN+
WASHINGTON STATE AT ARIZONA STATE	8:00PM	PAC12
SOUTH DAKOTA AT NORTH DAKOTA	8:00PM	–
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE	8:00PM	–
ARKANSAS STATE AT SOUTH ALABAMA	8:00PM	ESPN+
SOUTHERN MISS AT LOUISIANA	8:00PM	ESPN+
SOUTHERN UTAH AT TARLETON	8:00PM	ESPN+
UTAH VALLEY AT UTA	8:00PM	ESPN+
LAMAR AT NEW ORLEANS	8:00PM	ESPN+
LOUISIANA TECH AT RICE	8:00PM	ESPN+
MIDDLE TENNESSEE AT UTSA	8:00PM	ESPN+
MONTANA STATE AT NORTHERN COLORADO	8:00PM	ESPN+
MONTANA AT NORTHERN ARIZONA	8:00PM	ESPN+
NORTH ALABAMA AT LIPSCOMB	8:00PM	ESPN+
FGCU AT AUSTIN PEAY	8:00PM	ESPN+
EASTERN KENTUCKY AT CENTRAL ARKANSAS	8:00PM	ESPN+
DENVER AT ST. THOMAS	8:00PM	–
NORTHWESTERN STATE AT MCNEESE	8:30PM	ESPN+
UIW AT A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI	8:30PM	ESPN+
HOUSTON CHRISTIAN AT SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA	8:30PM	ESPN+
EASTERN ILLINOIS AT TENNESSEE TECH	8:30PM	ESPN+
OREGON AT COLORADO	9:00PM	ESPN2/U
CINCINNATI AT WICHITA STATE	9:00PM	ESPN2/U
INDIANA AT IOWA	9:00PM	FS1
NORTH TEXAS AT WKU	9:00PM	CBSSN
UC IRVINE AT UC DAVIS	9:00PM	ESPN+
PORTLAND STATE AT EASTERN WASHINGTON	9:00PM	ESPN+
SACRAMENTO STATE AT IDAHO	9:00PM	ESPN+
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AT UT MARTIN	9:00PM	ESPN+
NICHOLLS AT A&M-COMMERCE	9:00PM	ESPN+
USC AT UCLA	9:30PM	ESPN
OREGON STATE AT UTAH	10:00PM	PAC12
SANTA CLARA AT PEPPERDINE	10:00PM	STADIUM
PACIFIC AT SAN DIEGO	10:00PM	WCC
UTAH TECH AT CALIFORNIA BAPTIST	10:00PM	ESPN+
CAL POLY AT CSU BAKERSFIELD	10:00PM	ESPN+
CAL STATE FULLERTON AT UC RIVERSIDE	10:00PM	ESPN+
HAWAI’I AT UC SAN DIEGO	10:00PM	ESPN+
LONG BEACH STATE AT CSUN	10:00PM	ESPN+
GONZAGA AT SAN FRANCISCO	11:00PM	ESPN2
BYU AT LOYOLA MARYMOUNT	11:00PM	ESPNU
WASHINGTON AT ARIZONA	11:00PM	FS1
GOLF	TIME ET	TV
PGA TOUR: SENTRY TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS	6:00PM	GOLF
NBA REGULAR SEASON GAMES	TIME ET	TV
MEMPHIS AT ORLANDO	7:00PM	BALLY SPORTS
BOSTON AT DALLAS	7:30PM	TNT
UTAH AT HOUSTON	8:00PM	ATTSN-RM ATTSN-SW
LA CLIPPERS AT DENVER	10:00PM	TNT
NHL REGULAR SEASON GAMES	TIME ET	TV
ARIZONA AT PHILADELPHIA	7:00PM	BALLY SPORTS NBCS-PHI
NY RANGERS AT MONTRÉAL	7:00PM	MSG SPORTSNET
NASHVILLE AT CAROLINA	7:00PM	BALLY SPORTS
SEATTLE AT TORONTO	7:00PM	ROOT SPORTS SPORTSNET
ST. LOUIS AT NEW JERSEY	7:00PM	BALLY SPORTS
WASHINGTON AT COLUMBUS	7:00PM	ESPN
NY ISLANDERS AT EDMONTON	9:00PM	MSGSN2 SPORTSNET
COLORADO AT VANCOUVER	10:00PM	ALT SPORTSNET
PITTSBURGH AT VEGAS	10:00PM	ATTSN-PIT ATTSN-RM
BOSTON AT LOS ANGELES	10:30PM	NESN BALLY SPORTS
SOCCER MATCHES	TIME ET	TV
COPA DEL REY: IBIZA ISLAS PITIUSAS VS REAL BETIS	10:00AM	ESPN+
COPA DEL REY: GIMNÀSTIC TARRAGONA VS OSASUNA	10:00AM	ESPN+
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: CHELSEA VS MANCHESTER CITY	3:00PM	PEACOCK