THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” TUESDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2025

“THE SCOREBOARD”

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY MADISON	57	CANNELTON	37
COLUMBUS NORTH	64	COVENANT CHRISTIAN	49
CROTHERSVILLE	73	COLUMBUS CHRISTIAN	37
GIBSON SOUTHERN	81	PIKE CENTRAL	29
LOOGOOTEE	80	WASHINGTON CATHOLIC	11
PRINCETON	83	TECUMSEH	41
SOUTH NEWTON	72	DONOVAN (ILL.)	46

INDIANA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL SEMI-STATE PAIRINGS

NORTH

CLASS 4A AT FRANKFORT 
10 AM ET | G1: HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (26-0) VS. VALPARAISO (19-7) 
12 PM ET | G2: WARSAW COMMUNITY (24-1) VS. MCCUTCHEON (24-3) 
7:30 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER

CLASS 3A AT HUNTINGTON NORTH 
10 AM ET | G1: NORWELL (20-6) VS. DELTA (18-7)  
12 PM ET | G2: COLUMBIA CITY (23-4) VS. HIGHLAND (15-10) 
8 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER

CLASS 2A AT LOGANSPORT 
10 AM ET | G1: WHITKO (21-4) VS. EASTSIDE (26-1) 
12 PM ET | G2: SHERIDAN (25-1) VS. RENSSELAER CENTRAL (24-2) 
8 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER

CLASS 1A AT LAPORTE 
10 AM CT | G1: ELKHART CHISTIAN (21-5) VS. LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (23-4) 
12 PM CT | G2: NORTH MIAMI (16-10) VS. MARQUETTE CATHOLIC (22-4) 
7:30 PM CT | CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER

SOUTH

CLASS 4A AT SOUTHPORT 
10 AM ET | G1: PIKE (19-6) VS. BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (23-2) 
12 PM ET | G2: GIBSON SOUTHERN (21-6) VS. LAWRENCE NORTH (16-8) 
8 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER

CLASS 3A AT NEW ALBANY 
10 AM ET | G1: INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (18-9) VS. RONCALLI (17-8) 
12 PM ET | G2: GREENSBURG (25-0) VS. EVANSVILLE CENTRAL (23-4) 
8 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER

CLASS 2A AT JASPER 
10 AM ET | G1: PARKE HERITAGE (23-4) VS. SOUTH KNOX (25-2) 
12 PM ET | G2: BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (22-5) VS. HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (14-12) 
8 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER

CLASS 1A AT SHELBYVILLE 
10 AM ET | G1: SOUTH DECATUR (16-11) VS. BORDEN (20-5) 
12 PM ET | G2: ANDERSON PREPARATORY (18-9) VS. NORTHEAST DUBOIS (19-6) 
8 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER

INDIANA WRESTLING STATE FINALS

FRIDAY, FEB. 21, 2025
SESSION 1
1:30 PM ET – GATES OPEN 
2:30 PM ET – PARADE OF CHAMPIONS 
2:45 PM ET – PRESENTATION OF COLORS AND NATIONAL ANTHEM 
3 PM ET – FIRST ROUND WEIGHT CLASSES 106 – 144 
6 PM ET – FIRST ROUND WEIGHT CLASSES 150 – 285 

SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2025
SESSION 2
8 AM ET – GATES OPEN 
9 AM ET – QUARTERFINALS BEGIN WITH SEMIFINALS TO FOLLOW
FIELDHOUSE CLEARED OF ALL SPECTATORS FOLLOWING SEMIFINALS
SESSION 3 
3:30 PM ET – GATES OPEN 
4:30 PM ET – CONSOLATION MATCHES 
7 PM ET – INTRODUCTIONS OF STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PARTICIPANTS 
APPROX. 7:24 PM ET – PRESENTATION OF COLORS AND NATIONAL ANTHEM 
7:30 PM ET – STATE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES BEGIN

BRACKETS: HTTPS://WWW.TRACKWRESTLING.COM/PREDEFINEDTOURNAMENTS/MAINFRAME.JSP?NEWSESSION=FALSE&TIM=1739744144258&PAGENAME=%2FPREDEFINEDTOURNAMENTS%2FTOURNAMENTHUB.JSP&TWSESSIONID=SMYOATWYDO

INDIANA BOYS SWIMMING SECTIONALS

DATES
THURSDAY, FEB. 20, 2025 (SWIMMING PRELIMINARIES).
SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2025 (DIVING, CONSOLATIONS & FINALS IN SWIMMING EVENTS).

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

TOP 25 POLL

1 AUBURN 23-2

2 FLORIDA 22-3

3 DUKE 22-3

4 ALABAMA 21-4

5 HOUSTON 21-4

6 TENNESSEE 21-5

7 TEXAS A&M 20-5

8 IOWA STATE 20-5

9 TEXAS TECH 20-5

10 ST. JOHN’S 22-4

11 WISCONSIN 20-5

12 MICHIGAN 20-5

13 PURDUE 19-7

14 MICHIGAN STATE 20-5

15 MISSOURI 19-6

16 MARQUETTE 19-6

17 KENTUCKY 17-8

18 CLEMSON 21-5

19 ARIZONA 17-8

20 MARYLAND 20-6

21 MISSISSIPPI STATE 18-7

22 MEMPHIS 21-5

23 KANSAS 17-8

24 OLE MISS 19-7

25 LOUISVILLE 20-6

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

NEW MEXICO 117, SAINT MARY’S 63, UCLA 56, CREIGHTON 27, ILLINOIS 22, UCONN 20, GEORGE MASON 15, GONZAGA 14, HIGH POINT 1.

THE USA TODAY SPORTS TOP 25 MEN’S BASKETBALL POLL, WITH TEAM’S RECORDS THROUGH SUNDAY IN PARENTHESES, TOTAL POINTS BASED ON 25 FOR FIRST PLACE THROUGH ONE POINT FOR 25TH, RANKING IN LAST WEEK’S POLL AND FIRST-PLACE VOTES RECEIVED.

RANK	SCHOOL (RECORD)	POINTS	LAST WEEK’S RANK	FIRST-PLACE VOTES
1	AUBURN (23-2)	775	2	31
2	FLORIDA (22-3)	712	3	0
3	DUKE (22-3)	704	5	0
4	ALABAMA (21-4)	692	1	0
5	HOUSTON (21-4)	672	6	0
6	TENNESSEE (21-5)	605	4	0
7	TEXAS A&M (20-5)	570	9	0
8	IOWA STATE (20-5)	534	10	0
9	ST. JOHN’S (22-4)	501	8	0
10	TEXAS TECH (20-5)	488	12	0
11	WISCONSIN (20-5)	441	15	0
12	MICHIGAN (20-5)	413	17	0
13	MICHIGAN STATE (20-5)	407	11	0
14	PURDUE (19-7)	388	7	0
15	MARQUETTE (19-6)	284	16	0
16	MISSOURI (19-6)	272	22	0
17	CLEMSON (21-5)	267	19	0
18	ARIZONA (17-8)	223	13	0
19	MEMPHIS (21-5)	184	14	0
20	MARYLAND (20-6)	183	25	0
21	KENTUCKY (17-8)	162	18	0
22	LOUISVILLE (20-6)	109	27	0
23	MISSISSIPPI STATE (18-7)	106	26	0
24	SAINT MARY’S (23-4)	86	28	0
25	KANSAS (17-8)	69	20	0

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: MISSISSIPPI (19-7) 64; UCLA (19-7) 49; NEW MEXICO (22-4) 41; CREIGHTON (18-8) 37; GONZAGA (20-7) 15; CONNECTICUT (17-8) 11; ILLINOIS (17-9) 5; UC SAN DIEGO (22-4) 3; VCU (20-5) 2; GEORGE MASON (21-5) 1.

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES

#3 DUKE 80 VIRGINIA 62

#13 ARIZONA 74 BAYLOR 67

UTAH 74 KANSAS STATE 69

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

TOP 25 POLL

1 NOTRE DAME 22-2

2 TEXAS 26-2

3 UCLA 24-1

4 USC 23-2

5 UCONN 24-3

6 SOUTH CAROLINA 23-3

7 LSU 25-2

8 OHIO STATE 21-3

9 NORTH CAROLINA 23-4

10 TCU 24-3

11 DUKE 20-5

12 KANSAS STATE 24-3

13 NC STATE 20-5

14 KENTUCKY 20-4

15 TENNESSEE 19-6

16 OKLAHOMA 19-6

17 WEST VIRGINIA 20-5

18 ALABAMA 20-5

19 BAYLOR 22-5

20 GEORGIA TECH 21-5

21 MARYLAND 19-6

22 MICHIGAN STATE 19-6

23 CREIGHTON 21-4

24 OKLAHOMA STATE 20-5

25 ILLINOIS 21-5

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

CALIFORNIA 48, UTAH 43, LOUISVILLE 28, SOUTH DAKOTA ST. 17, FLORIDA ST. 16, RICHMOND 10, MICHIGAN 10, MISSISSIPPI 10, JAMES MADISON 2, VANDERBILT 2, HARVARD 1.

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES

#9 OHIO STATE 86 IOWA 78 OT

#18 WEST VIRGINIA 70 #14 KANSAS STATE 57

#1 NOTRE DAME 64 #13 DUKE 49

#17 MARYLAND 85 MICHIGAN 77

#21 ALABAMA 88 TEXAS A&M 49

NORTHWESTERN 69 RUTGERS 59

NBA SCOREBOARD

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

NHL SCOREBOARD

SWEDEN 2 USA 1

CANADA 5 FINLAND 3

TOP NATIONAL RELEASES/HEADLINES

BALANCED SCORING PROPELS NO. 19 ARIZONA PAST BAYLOR

Tobe Awaka scored 14 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, Henri Veesaar and Caleb Love added 13 points apiece and No. 19 Arizona hung on for a 74-67 victory over Baylor on Monday in Waco, Texas.

Anthony Dell’Orso contributed 11 points as the Wildcats (18-8, 12-3 Big 12) ended a two-game losing streak. Arizona swept the season series against Baylor, having posted an 81-70 victory on Jan. 14 in Tucson, Ariz.

Baylor (16-10, 8-7 Big 12) was led by VJ Edgecombe’s 24 points. Norchad Omier posted his 14th double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Jayden Nunn finished with 10 points. The Bears have alternated wins and losses over their past eight games.

Arizona took a 41-33 lead into halftime, having gone on a late 12-3 run. The Wildcats then had an 8-0 run early in the second half, establishing a 49-35 edge on a jumper by Awaka with 15:02 left. A few minutes later, Caleb Love had a thunderous one-handed slam for the Wildcats as they enjoyed a 53-39 lead with 12:49 left.

However, just as it seemed Arizona had taken control, Baylor stormed back with a 12-2 run. The Bears pulled within 55-51 on a jumper by Langston Love with 7:39 left.

Baylor stayed within striking distance, pulling within 68-65 on a running layup by Edgecombe with 39 seconds left. After Arizona’s Carter Bryant made a pair of free throws, Edgecombe sank another layup to keep it a one-possession game at 70-67 with 26.2 seconds left.

Arizona continued making its free throws, as Caleb Love knocked down two with 20.3 seconds left and KJ Lewis connected on two with 13 seconds left. Those were enough to overcome a second half that saw the Wildcats go 0-for-9 from 3-point range.

Arizona also got it done by winning the rebounding battle 37-31 and doubling Baylor in fastbreak points, 12-6.

COOPER FLAGG, NO. 3 DUKE CRUISE TO WIN OVER VIRGINIA

Cooper Flagg collected his seventh double-double of the season and No. 3 Duke rolled to an 80-62 victory over Virginia in Atlantic Coast Conference action on Monday in Charlottesville, Va.

Flagg had 17 points and a career-high 14 rebounds and fellow freshmen Kon Knueppel and Isaiah Evans each added 17 points as the Blue Devils (23-3, 15-1 ACC) won their third consecutive game and strengthened their grip on first place in the conference.

Evans sank 5 of 6 shots from behind the 3-point arc and Duke improved to 14-0 when scoring at least 80 points. The Blue Devils shot 52.5 percent from the field and outrebounded Virginia by an overwhelming 41-21 margin.

Andre Rohde and Dai Dai Ames each scored 15 points to lead the Cavaliers (13-13, 6-9), who had their three-game winning streak snapped and fell to 0-5 this season against ranked opponents. Isaac McKneely added 14 points.

The Blue Devils scored the first eight points of the second half to open up a 51-29 lead.

Duke’s advantage swelled to 60-35 on Flagg’s layup with 13:13 remaining.

The Blue Devils built their largest lead at 70-43 on Sion James’ dunk with 8:06 to play.

Duke improved to 8-1 in road games and Virginia fell to 9-6 at home.

The Cavaliers showed some fight early, as there were five lead changes in the first five minutes.

Virginia cooled off as the Blue Devils went on a 19-4 run. Evans scored Duke’s last nine points from 3-point range during that surge as the visitors built a 30-16 advantage with 7:17 left in the half.

Duke’s largest lead of the first half was 43-26 with 38 seconds left on a jumper by Flagg, who had 10 points and 11 rebounds at the break. The Blue Devils led 43-29 at halftime.

Duke forward Maliq Brown departed due to a shoulder injury 1:21 before halftime. The 6-foot-9 junior did not return, finishing with two points, two assists and one rebound in 10 minutes off the bench.

WISCONSIN AND MARYLAND SCORE MEN’S BASKETBALL WEEKLY HONORS

Player of the Week
John Tonje, Wisconsin
G – Grad. – 6-5 – North Omaha, Neb. – Omaha Central

• Paired 32 points, six rebounds, and three assists in leading the Badgers to a 94-84 win at Purdue

• Shot 10-for-15 from the floor, including 4-for-9 from three-point range, and 8-for-9 from the free throw line

• Including his 41 points vs. No. 9 Arizona, Tonje is the nation’s only player to post multiple 30-point games vs. top 10 opponents this season

• Claims third Player of the Week honor

• Last Wisconsin Player of the Week: John Tonje (November 25, 2024)

Freshman of the Week
Derik Queen, Maryland
C – 6-10 – Baltimore, Md. – Montverde

• Averaged 21.0 points on 15-for-20 shooting from the floor and 12-for-13 at the free throw line and 12.0 rebounds in a 2-0 week for Maryland

• Shot 9-for-11 from the field in a 24-point, 11-rebound performance in the 83-75 win at Nebraska

• Paired 18 points and 13 rebounds in a 101-75 victory over Iowa

• Earns his fifth Freshman of the Week award

• Last Maryland Freshman of the Week: Derik Queen (February 10, 2025)

EAGLES’ TERRY TABBED MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

MAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week

Jalen Terry, Senior, Guard, Eastern Michigan

Flint, Mich. (Beecher)

Eastern Michigan’s Jalen Terry put together an outstanding week for the Eagles, averaging 31.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 assists over the two games. Against Toledo, Feb. 15, Terry scored a career-high 38 points to go with eight rebounds and two assists. Terry remarkably converted his first 12 field goal attempts of the game, finishing an incredible 15-of-17 from the field, which included a 6-of-7 mark from three-point range. Terry is one of just four players nationally to record at least 38 points and eight rebounds in the 2025 calendar year. His 38-point outburst overshadowed his stellar showing at Ball State, Feb. 11, in which he produced 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists, becoming the first Eagle to post that stat line in MAC play since 2011.

HCAC 2024-25 MEN’S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK, WEEK 15

Athlete of the Week:
Ken Walker (Snellville, Ga.) Earlham College | Guard | Sophmore – Ken Walker led the Quakers to a 1-1 week averaging 26.5 points per game. On Wednesday, Walker scored 31 points with three assists, two blocks and four rebounds in a win over Berea. He also tallied his 1,000th career point in just his 48th game played. In Saturday’s overtime battle, Walker led the Quakers with 22 points, seven assists, two rebounds and a block. Over his last seven games, Walker is averaging 28.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.


Notable Performances:

• Kenney Troutman (Indianapolis, Ind.) Anderson University | Guard | Junior – Kenney Troutman averaged 18 points and shot 47.1 percent from 3-point range as Anderson went 1-1 last week. In Wednesday’s win against Hanover, Troutman dropped 24 points, knocking down 6-of-10 (60 percent) shots from 3-point range and 8-of-12 (66.7 percent) shots from the floor.
• Bryce Riley (Bardstown, Ky.) Berea College | Guard | Junior – Bryce Riley, a junior from Bardstown, Kentucky, scored 26 points in the game against Anderson, contributing 4 assists and 3 rebounds. He effectively limited Anderson’s top player to just 12 points, leading his team to a 96-71 victory over Anderson.
• Luke Miller (Madison, Ind.) Hanover College | Senior – Luke Miller turned in a strong week for the Panthers averaging 17.0 ppg and 1.5 rebounds per game. He shot an impressive 52.6 percent from three-point and 45.8 percent from the floor. In the team’s contest with Anderson, Miller scored a career-high 28 points with eight made three-pointers.
• Bryant Smith (West Lafayette, Ind.) Manchester University | Guard | Senior – Smith had another excellent week, this time leading the Spartans to a 2-0 record while averaging 21.5 ppg, 5 rpg, and 5 apg. Smith dropped 27 points in a crucial game on Saturday against Earlham to lead the Spartans to an OT win. He finished the game with 27 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 0 turnovers. In the win over Bluffton, Smith shot 54% from the field while also being clutch on defense with 1 block and 2 steals.
• Joey Schmitz (Bargersville, Ind.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Guard | First Year – Schmitz was lights out from the floor this week as he led the Fightin’ Engineers to a 2-0 week with wins over Bluffton and Mount St. Joseph. The freshman standout averaged 19.0 points per game on 60% shooting from the floor and 73% shooting from behind the arc, and his six threes in Saturday’s wins puts him just two threes away from breaking the all-time HCAC record for threes made in a conference season (55).
• Hunter Penn (Versailles, Ky.) Transylvania University | Forward | Senior – In two conference games this week, Hunter Penn continued his dominance and averaged a double double over both games. In the midweek game against Franklin, Penn had 17 point shooting 53% from the field. Penn grabbed 11 rebounds on the day, with 7 rebounds coming on the offensive glass. In the Senior Day win against Mount St. Joseph, Penn totaled 17 points shooting 46% from the field and 75% from behind the arc. Penn also led the Pioneers in rebounds with 12. 

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

WOMEN’S TOP 25 ROUNDUP: NO. 8 OHIO STATE NEEDS OT TO BEAT IOWA

Jaloni Cambridge scored six of her 29 points in overtime and No. 8 Ohio State survived visiting Iowa’s fourth-quarter comeback to win 86-78 on Monday afternoon in Columbus, Ohio.

Cotie McMahon added 25 points and eight rebounds as the Buckeyes (22-3, 11-3 Big Ten) led by as many as 14, only for Lucy Olsen to guide Iowa back from a 12-point deficit in the final 1:22 of regulation.

After her Iowa teammate Aaliyah Guyton hit a 3-pointer, Olsen made three straight triples to chop the lead down. Sydney Affolter converted a three-point play and Olsen made two foul shots with three seconds left to tie the game at 74. Olsen finished with 27 points and seven assists for the Hawkeyes (18-8, 8-7).

Olsen briefly gave Iowa a 76-74 lead but Cambridge helped the Buckeyes get back in front for good. The freshman shot 11-for-14 from the foul line for the game, including 4-for-4 in overtime. Her sister Kennedy Cambridge provided 16 points.

No. 17 West Virginia 70, No. 12 Kansas State 57

JJ Quinerly netted 26 points, including 17 in the second half, to help the host Mountaineers pull away from the Wildcats in Morgantown, W.Va.

Jordan Harrison added 18 points, Jordan Thomas scored 11 and guard Kyah Watson tied a career high with 15 rebounds for West Virginia (21-5, 11-4 Big 12), which turned 21 K-State turnovers into 27 points.

Temira Poindexter scored 17 points and Zyanna Walker had 12 for Kansas State (24-4, 12-3), which has lost two of its last four games after a 22-2 start.

NCAA TOURNAMENT WOMEN’S BUBBLE WATCH: USF, IVY LEAGUE AND ATLANTIC-10 WITH KEY MATCHUPS THIS WEEKEND

There’s one month until the NCAA Tournament selection show and there are still many teams battling to get off the bubble and into the field.

South Florida (18-8) has won seven straight games, including a triple-overtime victory over Rice last week, to get into the at-large conversation if the Bulls don’t win the conference tournament. They face Charlotte and Memphis this week. Jose Fernandez’s team needed overtime to beat Charlotte the first time they met.

Bubble watch

George Mason at Saint Joseph’s, Sunday. Once again, two of the top teams in the Atlantic-10 meet with second place on the line. The Patriots have won 11 straight games and are 13-2 in the conference. The Hawks lost to first-place Richmond last Thursday and are 11-3 in the league.

Columbia at Princeton, Saturday. First place in the Ivy League will be at stake when the Lions visit the Tigers. The two teams are tied with one loss apiece after Columbia fell to Harvard on Sunday. The three teams are all in the hunt for NCAA Tournament bids. Harvard has the highest NET rating at 34. Columbia is at 42 and Princeton 49.

Key ratings

Belmont: The Bruins are 0-6 against top teams (Quadrant 1) this season, but two of those losses were close with a four-point defeat to Ohio State and a six-point one to Kentucky. They currently are tied for second in the Missouri Valley Conference after losing to Drake over the weekend and have a NET rating of 59.

Top 16 Reveal: The NCAA selection committee unveiled its top 16 teams Sunday to that point in the season and it didn’t take long for the reveal to get upended. UCLA, South Carolina, Texas and Notre Dame were the top four seeds in the committee’s mind. The Gamecocks were routed by UConn a few hours after the unveiling. The NCAA will have one more reveal on Feb. 27.

USC AND OHIO STATE CLAIM BIG TEN WEEKLY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AWARDS

Player of the Week
JuJu Watkins, USC
Sophomore – Guard – Los Angeles, Calif. – Sierra Canyon
• Paced USC to a pair of wins by averaging 27.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.0 blocks
• Dropped 38 points, 11 rebounds, eight blocks and five assists in the Trojans’ upset of No. 1 UCLA
• Her eight blocks were a new career high and tied for third-most in a game by a Trojan
• It was USC’s first win over an AP top-ranked opponent since 1983
• Put up 17 points, eight boards, six assists and a steal at Washington
• Earns the fifth Big Ten Player of the Week award of her career
• Last USC Player of the Week: JuJu Watkins (Jan. 13, 2025)

Big Ten Women’s Basketball Weekly Honor Roll
Lucy Olsen, IOWA: Added 29.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals during Iowa’s 2-0 week
Cotie McMahon, OSU: Notched a game-high 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting to lift Ohio State past Minnesota
Adalia McKenzie, ILL: Led Illinois in two victories behind 21.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals

Freshman of the Week
Ava Watson, Ohio State
Guard – Buford, Ga. – Buford
• Scored 16 points off the bench and recorded a pair of steals in 18 minutes of action against Minnesota
• Went 5-for-6 from the floor and a perfect 4-for-4 from behind the arc
• Collects her first Big Ten Freshman of the Week laurel
• Last Ohio State Freshman of the Week: Jaloni Cambridge (Jan. 20, 2025)

HCAC 2024-25 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK, WEEK 15

Grace Bezold (Covington, Ky.) Hanover College | Guard | Senior – Bezold led the Panthers to a 2-0 week as they defeated Franklin and Anderson. She finished the week averaging 30.5 ppg and 9.0 RPG. At Anderson, she netted 29 points and followed it up with a double-double on Saturday, scoring 32 points with 12 rebounds. 21 of her points came in the second half. Bezold scored the game-winner with a minute remaining against Franklin to propel them to the 83-81 victory.

Notable Performances:

• Victoria Detraz (Valparaiso, Ind.) Anderson University | Post | Sophomore – Victoria Detraz finished the week with averages of 9 points, 9 rebounds and 3.5 blocks. Detraz broke the single-season blocks record in Anderson’s D-III era. She recorded her 61st block of the season, topping the previous record of 59.
• Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic, Ohio) Bluffton University | Forward | Junior – Fenstermaker had two outstanding games for the Beavers, going 17-of-21 from the field for a ridiculous 81.0 percent shooting week. She averaged 21.0 PPG and 6.5 RPG. Fenstermaker had a career game on Saturday, hitting all eight of her field goal attempts and all seven of her free throws. Her 23 points were a career-high after her 19 points on Wednesday were just one shy of the previous high. She finished the week with four steals, three assists and three blocks.
• Jay Bright (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Earlham College | Guard | Senior – Jay Bright led the Quakers to a win over Manchester on Saturday with 28 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists. The senior went 3-for-3 from 3-point range and 10-of-14 on field goals. In Wednesday’s loss to Berea, Bright scored nine points with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Taylor Cooney (Greensburg, Ind.) Franklin College | Guard | Senior – Cooney averaged 15.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 61.9% from the floor in matchups against Hanover and Transylvania.
• Hailee Kline (Huntington, Ind.) Manchester University | Guard | Junior – Kline had an excellent week for the Spartans where she averaged 17.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, and 3.0 apg. Kline scored her career high against Earlham on Saturday where she dropped 24 points while grabbing 4 rebounds and dishing out 3 assists. Kline knocked down 4 three pointers and had 1 steal in a game where she was all over for the Spartans.
• Jamie Baum (Los Altos, Calif.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Guard | Senior – Baum averaged 20.0 points and 12.5 rebounds this week including a 24-point, 18-rebound outing on Wednesday against Mount St Joseph. Her 18 rebounds are tied for the 7th-most in school history in a single game. She also reached another career milestone on Senior Day as she passed 200 career assists in the win over Bluffton.
• Sierra Kemelgor (Crestwood, Ky.) Transylvania University | Guard | Junior – Sierra Kemelgor had a strong offensive performance in a victory against HCAC opponent, Franklin, scoring 17 points and 10 rebounds. Kemelgor shot 60% from the field over 31 minutes. In the senior day victory over Mount St. Joseph, Sierra continued to have a full stat sheet, with 8 points and 6 rebounds.

HOCKEY NEWS

SWEDEN EDGES FINAL-BOUND USA TO CAP 4 NATIONS GROUP PLAY

BOSTON — Jesper Bratt scored the game-winner as Sweden completed a first-period comeback and held on to defeat the United States 2-1 in the final round-robin game of the 4 Nations Face-Off on Monday night.

Gustav Nyquist also scored and Samuel Ersson made 31 saves (11 in the third period) for Sweden, which avoided a winless tournament run after losing its first two games in overtime.

Chris Kreider, who hails from nearby Boxford, Mass., scored just 35 seconds in for a U.S. squad that won its first two round-robin games to clinch a spot in Thursday’s one-game final against Canada. Team USA beat its archrival 3-1 Saturday in Montreal before the tournament shifted south.

Jake Oettinger stopped 21 shots for the Americans.

Both goaltenders made their tournament debuts.

The U.S. had a 32-23 advantage in shots. Both teams were 0-for-3 on the power play.

Both lineups were impacted by injury and illness, with the U.S. missing Auston Matthews, Charlie McAvoy and Matthew Tkachuk. Additionally, Brady Tkachuk crashed into the post after driving to the goal in the first period, returning for only two brief shifts in the opening frame before he was shut down.

Ersson started in place of the ill Linus Ullmark.

Kreider wasted little time impacting his tournament debut, scoring the opening goal as he buried diving defenseman Zach Werenski’s cross-crease pass after driving hard down the left side to the net.

Sweden tied the game at 13:39 of the first when Nyquist snuck a deflection of Erik Karlsson’s shot from the right wall through Oettinger five-hole.

Bratt flipped the score in Sweden’s favor for the first time with 55.1 seconds left in the first, taking William Nylander’s pass and firing a top-shelf wrister through a screen from the left circle.

Ersson helped keep the talented U.S. squad in check following the early marker against, making a key in-tight stop on Brock Nelson in the second period and getting help from the post several times. Jack Eichel rang the iron on a partial breakaway in the opening minute of the third.

The Swedish netminder also padded away a Nelson break-in with 6:31 left.

CANADA TOPS FINLAND, WILL FACE U.S. IN 4 NATIONS FINAL

BOSTON — Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals as Canada punched its ticket to the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game against the United States with a 5-3 win over Finland on Monday afternoon.

Canada, which lost to the U.S. on Saturday in Montreal, will try to exact revenge and win the title on Thursday night.

The Canadians led 3-0 after the first period — scoring twice in a 46-second span within the first five minutes — and held a 4-0 lead in the third before a three-goal rally from Finland.

Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby each recorded a goal and an assist, while Brayden Point also scored and Sam Reinhart had three assists for Canada.

Canada’s Jordan Binnington had 23 saves, including 12 in the second period.

Finland’s Mikael Granlund scored twice in a 23-second span to make it a one-goal game with 1:17 left in regulation after Esa Lindell broke the shutout bid.

Kevin Lankinen made nine saves on the first 13 Canadian shots before being relieved by Juuse Saros, who stopped all 14 shots he faced.

McDavid netted an opening unassisted goal at 4:13, intercepting a pass at the blue line before twirling around in the left circle and firing off a wrist shot across the grain and inside the far post.

The Canadians doubled their lead at 4:59. Reinhart bumped the puck forward from the blue line, sending MacKinnon down the right side to bury a snapper.

Point made it 3-0 Canada at 13:02, burying the rebound of a Travis Sanheim shot from the left circle that Lankinen stopped. McDavid started the play with an odd-man rush and a cross-ice pass to the defenseman joining the play.

Canada continued to run away early in the second period, extending its lead to 4-0 at 5:03. After Crosby’s forecheck forced a turnover, the captain dished a perfect pass to MacKinnon from the corner to the bottom of the left circle.

Binnington made several important saves during the middle frame, stuffing Joel Armia on the doorstep at 15:25. The lone power play ensued for Finland, with Mikko Rantanen stopped on a one-timer from the right circle before Kaapo Kakko’s net-front redirect was denied.

Finland got on the board with 6:41 left as Lindell slotted home a wrist shot, picking the puck up from Artturi Lehkonen at the bottom of the right dot.

Granlund scored back-to-back goals with Saros pulled at 18:20 and 18:43, respectively, with the first a one-timer off a Patrik Laine feed.

Crosby added an empty-net insurance goal from center ice at 19:04.

BASEBALL NEWS

DEVERS INSISTS HE’S THE RED SOX’S THIRD BASEMAN EVEN WITH BREGMAN NOW ON THE TEAM

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The Red Sox’s ballyhooed signing of Alex Bregman was met with considerable resistance Monday when Rafael Devers said he wouldn’t cede third base.

Devers, a three-time All-Star, has played the hot corner for Boston since 2017 and himself received a major deal just two years ago.

“Third base is my position,” Devers said through an interpreter. “It’s what I play. I don’t know what their plans are. We had a conversation. I made it clear on what my desires were. Whatever happens from here, I don’t know.”

When asked if he would be willing to become a designated hitter, without waiting for his interpreter to relay the question, Devers said, “No.”

The Red Sox signed Bregman on Saturday to a three-year, $120 million contract that includes a $5 million signing bonus. A two-time All-Star, Bregman has hit more than 20 home runs each of the past three seasons.

Landing Bregman was a key, the Red Sox hoped, to ending a stretch in which Boston has missed the playoffs five of the past six years.

Devers signed an 11-year, $331 million contract in January 2021 and has been even more productive in recent seasons than Bregman. Devers hit 28 homers and drove in 83 runs last season despite playing just 138 games because of an assortment of injuries. The year before, he had 33 homers and 100 RBIs while playing in 153 games.

That production and the financial investment by the Red Sox could give Devers some leverage in his push to stay at third.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora noted that Devers “was very vocal last year” about how the club needed to improve.

“The decisions that are going to be made here about roster construction and about what we’re going to do in the future, we’re going to make sure we have the best team possible out there,” Cora said. “(Devers) has a lot of pride. We know that. He feels like he’s a third baseman. He’s going to work out as a third baseman and then we’ll make decisions accordingly.

“I think here it’s not about Bregman or Devers or Cora. It’s about the Red Sox. Whatever decision we make is for the benefit of the team.”

Cora said Bregman could wind up at second or third base and Devers at third or DH.

“There’s competition here,” Cora said. “I think flexibility and versatility are huge for us.”

ANGELS STAR MIKE TROUT MOVING FROM CENTER TO RIGHT FIELD IN HOPES OF STAYING MORE HEALTHY

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels oft-injured star Mike Trout is moving from center to right field in hopes of better preserving his health.

The three-time AL MVP played in 82 or fewer games in three of the past four seasons while dealing with an assortment of injuries. That doesn’t include the 53 games he played in 2020 because that season was shortened to 60 games because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trout approached the club about the position switch.

“I kind of threw everything on the table as in what’s best for me bodywise to keep me on the field,” he said Monday. “I came to the conclusion that I’m going to go to right field. I’ll try it out and see where it goes.”

Trout said there could be situations where he plays center field, but his focus will be on learning his new spot.

“I knew it was coming, but I’ve just got to get used to it,” Trout said. “I just want to be on the field.”

He also could see time at designated hitter and maybe get more off days.

“I’ve just got to be honest with them on how I feel,” Trout said. “They obviously will try to give me days off, but I want to be out there.”

He declined changing outfield spots three years ago when it was offered under then-manager Joe Maddon.

“Just look at my last couple of years,” Trout said. “I want to preserve the legs and go out there and run some balls down in right.”

Trout played just 29 games last season because of surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

He missed all but 36 games of the 2021 season with a strained calf, and Trout was out for several weeks in 2022 with a back injury. Trout then broke a bone in his hand in 2023, missing all but one game after July 3.

Maybe by making the move to right, the Angels will get more out of Trout, who dominated the league in his first decade in the majors and now makes more than $37 million. In his most recent MVP season in 2019, Trout batted .291 with 45 home runs and 104 RBIs.

A’S MANAGER MARK KOTSAY AGREES TO A DEAL THAT COULD KEEP HIM WITH THE TEAM THROUGH 2029

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Manager Mark Kotsay helped the Athletics navigate a difficult three seasons while the franchise lost a lot of games, built a young roster and dealt with an emotional departure from Oakland.

Now he gets the chance to lead during potentially happier times.

Kotsay and the Athletics announced Monday that they’ve agreed to a contract extension through the 2028 season that includes a club option for 2029. The deal coincided with the team’s first full-squad workout of spring training, and dozens of players and coaches were in attendance for the manager’s news conference.

“I’m very humbled right now,” Kotsay said. “Outside of the day I married my wife, I think this is going to go down as one of the best days of my life. The opportunity has been given to me to lead this group forward.

“When I started this journey in 2022, as a manager, all I wanted was the chance to keep moving this forward and see this through.”

The 49-year-old Kotsay is in his fourth season with the Athletics and has led the team through a period of upheaval that’s included a move from Oakland to Sacramento, California, where they will play at a minor league stadium for the next few seasons. The eventual plan is to end up in Las Vegas.

The A’s had a 69-93 record last season, which was a 19-win improvement over a 112-loss season in 2023. The team appears to be on the rise with a young lineup that includes Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, Lawrence Butler and JJ Bleday.

Butler posed the first question of the news conference, cracking a joke by asking Kotsay how he felt about “all this talent being handed to you, where you don’t really have to do too much.”

Kotsay and the players laughed, but it’s true that optimism is high. The team is eyeing a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020 after having a 32-32 record following the All-Star break last season.

Rooker finalized a $60 million, five-year deal with the A’s during the offseason while right-hander Luis Severino inked a $67 million, three-year contract, signaling that the normally frugal franchise was willing to open its wallet as it tries to compete in the AL West.

General manager David Forst said Kotsay’s steady hand through the team’s bittersweet final homestand in Oakland was one of many reasons he was pleased to give the manager an extension.

“I’m just so proud to have him represent our organization, be the face of this franchise to the public and deal with whatever comes in the next few years and into Vegas,” Forst said. “I’m so confident that Mark is the right guy. I’m thrilled he committed to being here.”

Kotsay originally had a three-year contract covering 2022-24 and in November 2023 the team exercised his 2025 option. Now the manager and former big league outfielder — who played for the Athletics from 2004-07 — has some job security as the team starts its tenure in Sacramento.

COLLEGE BASEBALL NEWS

MICHIGAN STATE, NORTHWESTERN, PURDUE EARN WEEKLY HONORS

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Logan Sutter, Purdue
Sr. — INF/DH — Loomis, Calif. — Folsom Lake JC

• Compiled a .571/.667/1.000 slash to lead Purdue to a sweep of Stephen F. Austin in Sugar Land, Texas and a 4-0 start to the season
• Went 8-for-14 at the plate, collecting six runs, eight RBI and 14 total bases
• Safely hit in all four games, homering in the season opener and driving in the game-winning run in game two of the series
• Played a different position all three days — first base on Friday, third base on Saturday and DH on Sunday
• Last Boilermaker chosen Player of the Week: Connor Caskenette on April 29, 2024

PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Joseph Dzierwa, Michigan State
Jr. — LHP — Haskins, Ohio — Otsego

• Kicked started Michigan State’s season with six innings of one-hit ball in a 2-0 win over Western Michigan at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary, N.C.
• Fanned the first seven batters he faced, finishing with a career-high 11 strikeouts to earn the win
• Threw a perfect game through 4.2 innings, retiring first 14 batters faced
• The 2024 All-Big Ten Second Team selection collects his first Big Ten weekly accolade
• Last Spartan named Pitcher of the Week: Harrison Cook on May 1, 2023

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Matthew Kouser, Northwestern
Fr. — RHP — Haddonfield, N.J. — St. Augustine Prep

• Won his first collegiate start, a 4-3 decision at Long Beach State on Feb. 16
• Over six innings of work, held LBSU to one earned run, two hits, and a .105 batting average
• Helped Northwestern to its first opening series win since 2008
• The 6-foot-5 right-hander receives his first Big Ten certificate
• Last Wildcat tabbed Freshman of the Week: Sean Sullivan on March 16, 2022

MAC ANNOUNCES FIRST BASEBALL WEEKLY AWARDS

MAC Baseball Player of the Week

Jack Poist, Akron

Senior, Hoover, Ala. (Spain Park | Berry College)

The Zips opened the 2025 at Radford where they took the series from the Highlanders series and were led offensively by Jack Poist.

On the week, Poist slashed .417/.750/.611 with five hits in 12 at-bats, drawing five walks, driving in six runs and coming around to score six times as well. He also went a perfect 2-for-2 on stolen bases.

Jack wasted no time getting back into the groove of things as he started the season with a grand slam to help the Zips take down the Highlanders 12-11 in the season opener. Walking three times while coming around to score as many times, Jack added a stolen base to his name in game 1.

He’d add two hits in game two, one of them a double, while increasing his RBI and run total with one each.

The final game of the series with the Highlanders saw Poist go 2-fo-3 with two runs, two walks one RBI and one stolen base.

MAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week

RJ Shunck, Toledo

Junior, Swanton, Ohio (Evergreen)

Shunck started and pitched five shutout innings, earning the win in Toledo’s 5-3 win at No. 12 Oregon on Saturday. The lefty allowed no walks, hit batters or wild pitches. Additionally, Shunck did not allow an extra-base hit.

The junior opened his start by retiring 15-of-19 batters faced, including the first 10 Oregon hitters. Shunck stranded two runners each in the fourth and fifth innings to keep the game scoreless at the time.

The 5-3 victory was Toledo’s highest-ranked win in program history and was the program’s first ranked-opponent victory since 2015.

COLLEGE SOFTBALL

IOWA, NEBRASKA, RUTGERS AND OREGON EARN BIG TEN SOFTBALL WEEKLY AWARDS

Co-Player of the Week 
Hannah Lindsay, Iowa 
Sr. – C – Surprise, Ariz. – Shadow Ridge – Major: Health Studies  

• Posted a .667 batting average across the Hawkeyes’ 4-0 weekend that featured three run-rule victories 
• In 12 at bats, Lindsay had three home runs, eight hits and 16 RBI  
• Against Texas A&M Commerce on Friday, Lindsay was perfect at the plate with four RBI and two walks, bringing in all four runs for the Hawkeyes in the game 
• Against Abilene Christian on Saturday, Lindsay went 2-for-4 with two three-run home runs and a career-high six RBI. It was her second multi-home run game of her career 
• Lindsay set or matched career highs in runs scored, hits and RBI on the weekend  
• Last Iowa Player of the Week: Nia Carter (April 10, 2023) 

Co-Player of the Week 
Ava Kuszak, Nebraska 
Jr. – INF – Broomfield, Colo. – Holy Family HS – Major: Animal Science  

• Went 9-for-14 with six home runs in five games as Nebraska went 5-0 at the Troy Cox Classic 
• Kuszak averaged 1.8 hits, 1.2 home runs, 2.0 runs and 2.6 RBI per game in 14 at bats and 19 plate appearances 
• In addition to her .643 batting average, Kuszak posted a .684 on-base percentage and a 1.929 slugging percentage 
• Kuszak homered in four of Nebraska’s five games, including tying the Nebraska and Big Ten record with three home runs as part of a 4-for-4 day against Montana on Sunday 
• Set career highs against the Griz with four hits, three home runs, four runs and six RBI 
• Kuszak opened the tournament by going 2-for-5 with two home runs, two walks, three runs and four RBI in pair of games against Texas A&M Corpus-Christi and host New Mexico State 
• On day two, Kuszak went 3-for-5 with a homer, two walks, three runs and three RBI in wins over Montana and Northern Colorado 
• Last Nebraska Player of the Week: Sydney Gray (May 6, 2024) 

Co-Pitcher of the Week 
Jordy Bahl, Nebraska 
Jr. – RHP – Papillion, Neb. – Papillion-La Vista – Major: Child, Youth and Family Studies  

• Went 2-0 in her two starts in the circle, tossing 10.0 scoreless innings and allowing two hits while striking out 13  
• Threw a 5.0-inning no-hitter, striking out five and not allowing a ball to leave the infield  
• It was Bahl’s first no-hitter as a Husker and fourth of her career 
• Last Nebraska Pitcher of the Week: Brianna Copeland (Feb. 19, 2024) 

Co-Pitcher of the Week 
Ella Harrison, Rutgers 
Fr. – RHP – Clarence, N.Y. – Clarence – Major: Undeclared  

• Collected three complete game victories at the Lion Invitation last week for a 1.00 ERA with 26 strikeouts over 21.0 innings pitched 
• Held opponents to a .195 batting average and three earned runs 
• Earned her first victory as a Scarlet Knight as Rutgers beat SIUE, 9-3, allowed one earned run on six hits while fanning eight in her first collegiate victory 
• Tossed nine strikeouts and no earned runs in a 2-1 victory against Abilene Christian, holding the Wildcats to four hits, none for extra bases 
• Harrison made it three consecutive complete-game victories in a 4-2 win over East Texas A&M, tallying nine strikeouts for the second-straight game 
• Last Rutgers Pitcher of the Week: Mattie Boyd (April 8, 2024) 

Freshman of the Week  
Stefini Ma’ake 
INF/OF – San Diego, Calif. – Academy of Our Lady Peace – Major: Undeclared  

• Hit four home runs and drove in 11 runs to lead Oregon to a 5-1 record at the Littlewood Classic, hosted by Arizona State and Grand Canyon 
• In two games on Saturday, Ma’ake hit three home runs and had seven RBI 
• In the first game against Utah Valley, Ma’ake drove in four runs with one home run in the Ducks’ 7-1 win 
• In the second game against Grand Canyon, Ma’ake’s solo shot in the fourth inning broke a scoreless tie and her two-run shot in the sixth doubled Oregon’s lead to 4-0, which was the eventual final score 
• She hit .438 for the weekend with a slugging percentage of 1.250 
• Last Oregon Freshman of the Week: Emma Cox (Feb. 10, 2025) 

TOP INDIANA RELEASES/HEADLINES

INDIANA BASEBALL

WEEKEND FINALE SLIPS AWAY

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Despite a pair of late chances to win the game in the eighth and ninth inning, the Indiana Baseball team (0-4) couldn’t find its first win of the season. The Hoosiers fell 13-12 (F/10) to UNLV on Monday (Feb. 17) afternoon at Surprise Stadium, the second extra-innings defeat of the young season.

IU climbed out to a three-run lead thanks to a pinch hit home run from redshirt sophomore Joey Brenczewski. From there, it was all catch up for head coach Jeff Mercer’s squad. The Hoosiers would tie the game at 7-all in the seventh and 9-all in the ninth but never found a winning run. IU scored three in the bottom of the tenth inning but fell a run short from the victory.

The Rebels hung crooked numbers in the third, fourth, ninth and tenth innings in the win. UNLV bookended its weekend against IU with a grand slam in the first inning of Friday’s game and the tenth inning of Monday’s contest. Both home runs ultimately decided each contest between the two sides.

Pitching coach Dustin Glant called on the services of nine different pitchers to eat the innings in the fourth game of the weekend. Junior left-handed reliever Anthony Gubitosi found the most success with three innings of shutout ball. He struck out a pair and allowed just one hit. Redshirt senior Matthew Bohnert (L, 0-1) was tagged with the loss.

Freshman first baseman Jake Hanley continued his hot weekend at the plate. He provided the first three-hit game of his career and extended his hitting streak to four games to begin the year. Brenczewski, Dickerson and junior outfielder Devin Taylor each had three RBIs. Sophomore outfielder Andrew Wiggins reached three times with a trio of walks.

13 different position players appeared in the game. Freshman infielder Will Moore collected the first hit of his career with a double down the left field line in the sixth inning. The Hoosiers left 10 runners on base and finished 6-for-36 on the weekend with runners in scoring position.

Scoring Recap

Bottom Second

With a pair of runners on, head coach Jeff Mercer turned to Joey Brenczewski in an early pinch-hitting opportunity. The redshirt sophomore rewarded him with a three-run home run to take the lead.

Indiana 3, UNLV 0

Top Third

UNLV quickly responded with four runs to retake the lead. Gunnar Myro singled to begin the frame. He advanced to second on a wild pitch before Chase Gallegos brought him home on a double. Cooper Sheff responded with a triple to bring home Gallegos and Paul Myro IV to take the lead. Sheff scored on a RBI groundout from JP Hefft to make it four runs.

UNLV 4, Indiana 3

Top Fourth

The Rebels added three more in the fourth. Elijah Rodriguez singled to load the bases. IU needed just one more strike but hit Hefft with a pitch to bring home a run. Dean Toigo singled just in front of the right fielder to bring home two more.

UNLV 7, Indiana 3

Bottom Fourth

IU responded swiftly in the bottom half of the frame. Andrew Wiggins and Jake Stadler both walked around a single from Jake Hanley. Devin Taylor got his big hit of the weekend, clearing the bases with a triple down the right field line.

UNLV 7, Indiana 6

Bottom Seventh

Tyler Cerny tied the game in the seventh when he scored on a balk.

Indiana 7, UNLV 7

Top Ninth

Pinch hitter Michael Cruz gave the Rebels the lead back in the ninth. He drove a fastball through the shift on the right side. With the outfielders playing deep, both runners scored.

UNLV 9, Indiana 7

Bottom Ninth

The Hoosiers answered right back in the ninth. Hanley singled through the right side to score Wiggins. Will Moore drove in Korbyn Dickerson on an RBI groundout to the second baseman. Taylor had a chance to win the game but flied out to the left fielder with runners on first and second.

Indiana 9, UNLV 9

Top Tenth

UNLV bookended its weekend against IU with another grand slam. Hefft smoked a breaking ball high in the zone over the bullpen in left field to give UNLV the four-run advantage.

UNLV 13, Indiana 9

Bottom Tenth

Dickerson hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the tenth. But it was too little, too late for the Hoosiers.

UNLV 13, Indiana 12

Top Hoosier Performers

#20 Dickerson, Korbyn

2-5, 3 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI

#34 Hanley, Jake

3-6, 2 R, 1 RBI

#16 Gubitosi, Anthony

3.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K

Inside the Box Score

• The Hoosiers had 10 hits, their first double-digit hit output of the season.

• IU batters struck out 14 times in comparison to 13 walks.

• Jake Hanley and Korbyn Dickerson had multi-hit days.

• Three different players had three RBIs.

• 22 of the 34 players IU traveled played in Monday’s game.

Notes to Know

• Jake Hanley extended his hitting streak to four games to begin his first campaign in Bloomington. He’s the first IU true freshman with a hit in each of his four starts since Tyler Cerny (5 starts – 2023) two years ago.

• Korbyn Dickerson hit the first home run of his college career against UNLV. He also set a career high with three RBIs. It was the second multi-hit day of his season and the third of his career.

• Andrew Wiggins walked four times in Monday’s contest. He’s the first IU player with four walks in a single game since Nick Mitchell vs. Belmont (March 17, 2024) last season.

• The Hoosiers used nine pitchers on Monday afternoon. It was the most the team has used in one game since throwing 11 guys in a 12-inning affair at Ball State last season.

Up Next

The Hoosiers are currently scheduled for a home-opening contest against Purdue Fort Wayne on Wednesday (Feb. 19). The game is set to be streamed on B1G+ and can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.

PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL

#13 PURDUE HEADS TO #14 MICHIGAN STATE FOR KEY BIG TEN BATTLE

GAMEDAY INFORMATION — GAME 27

[13] Purdue (19-7, 11-4) vs. [14] Michigan State (20-5, 11-3)

Tuesday, February 18, 2025 | 7 p.m. ET

East Lansing, Michigan | Breslin Center (14,797)

TELEVISION: Peacock (Noah Eagle, Robbie Hummel, Caroline Pineda

RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)

ABOUT GAMEDAY

• The No. 13 Purdue men’s basketball team looks to snap a two-game losing skid, but it won’t be easy as it heads to No. 14-ranked Michigan State for a key Big Ten contest late in the season. The two teams are looking up at Michigan (11-2 Big Ten) in the Big Ten race and a win will move the victor into second place in the chase for the regular-season championship. With just five games remaining for the Boilermakers, a win will help in the race for their third straight Big Ten title and put the Boilermakers in strong shape for one of four double-byes in the Big Ten Tournament.

THE NOTES TO KNOW

• NCAA NET: 13th

• Quad-1: 6-6 | Quad 2: 8-1 | Quad 3: 1-0 | Quad 4: 4-0

• KenPom: 10th | Off. Efficiency: 7th | Def. Efficiency: 39th

• Associated Press: 13th

• USA Today Coaches Poll: 14th

• Strength of Schedule (KenPom): 5th

QUAD SUCCESS: Purdue’s 14 quad-1 and quad-2 wins combined are the third-most nationally (Auburn – 17; Alabama – 15). Purdue’s eight quad-2 wins are tied for the most nationally with New Mexico.

WE SHALL CALL IT A DOZEN: Purdue is looking for Big Ten win No. 12 on the season for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons. No other Big Ten program currently has more than six 12-win seasons.

• Purdue is looking for its 20th win of the season for the 15th time under Matt Painter. Painter has won at least 20 games 15 previous times in his 21 years as a collegiate head coach.

THE CALENDAR YEAR: Since the turn of the calendar to 2025, Purdue ranks 4th in efficiency (behind Houston, Auburn, Duke) via BartTorvik.com. Purdue is fourth in offensive efficiency (128.0) and 16th in defensive efficiency (94.5).

WINNING vs. THE TOP 25: In the last four seasons, Purdue has defeated teams ranked No. 1 (Arizona), No. 2 (Alabama), No. 4 (Marquette), No. 5 (Villanova), No. 6 (Wisconsin, Tennessee, Gonzaga), No. 7 (Tennessee), No. 8 (Duke), No. 9 (Illinois), No. 12 (Illinois), No. 13 (Oregon, Illinois), No. 16 (Ohio State), No. 17 (Illinois), No. 18 (North Carolina, Gonzaga), No. 20 (Utah State), No. 21 (Michigan), No. 23 (Ole Miss), No. 24 (Ohio State) and No. 25 (Texas).

ANOTHER RANKED BATTLE: Purdue will play its third straight game against a nationally-ranked team on Tuesday night vs. Michigan State. It will mark the 10th game this season against a ranked team. Since the start of last season, Purdue is 14-6 against nationally-ranked teams.

• The school record for most games against ranked teams is 12, set during the 2011-12 and 2018-19 seasons.

ON THE LEADER BOARD: Purdue’s offense has clicked in Big Ten play, shooting at least 50.0 percent from the field in 10 of 15 contests. Purdue leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage, steals per game and opponent turnovers per game, while ranking third in scoring offense and second in scoring defense.

KENPOM LEADERS:Braden Smith (3rd) and Trey Kaufman-Renn (6th) are the only teammates nationally to rank in the top 10 for the KenPom National Player of the Year race. In the KenPom POY race, only three times have teammates finished in the top six (2022 Gonzaga – Drew Timme, Chet Holmgren; 2020 Kansas – Devon Dotson, Udoka Azubuike; 2018 Villanova – Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges). The duo ranks 1-2 in KenPom’s Big Ten player rankings.

WINNING AT 80: Despite Saturday’s loss, Purdue is 105-4 since the 2017-18 season when scoring at least 80 points (Northwestern, 12-1-23; Notre Dame, 12-15-18; Virginia Tech, 11-18-18).

• Purdue has won 83 of its last 85 games when scoring 80 points.

TWO ALL-AMERICANS: Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn have legit shots to become All-Americans this season, becoming the first Purdue duo to be named All-American in the same season since JaJuan Johnson (consensus 1st team) and E’Twaun Moore (3rd NABC) in 2011. Purdue has never had a pair of unanimous All-Americans (all voting services) in the same season.

COMPLETE GAME NOTES: https://purduesports.com/documents/2025/2/17/GAME27_Purdue_Game_Notes.pdf

COACH PAINTER PREVIEWS MSU: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TWTVybs-90

PURDUE WOMEN’S GOLF

PURDUE’S UNDER-PAR FINAL ROUND HIGHLIGHTED BY SUGIYAMA’S 67

SARASOTA, Fla. – Purdue Women’s Golf finished the Spartan Sun Coast Invitational strong, firing a 3-under 285 as a team for the third-best final round at Palm Aire Country Club on Monday. Senior Momo Sugiyama led the way, carding a bogey-free 67 (-5) that matched the best round of her career.

Despite shaving 15 and 17 strokes, respectively, off their opening two rounds, the Boilermakers (+23) finished in 13th place due to the difficult Sunday. Purdue made 15 birdies through the first 36 holes of the tournament before draining 20 during Monday’s final round. Only No. 22 Michigan State (-12) and No. 25 Ohio State (-4) recorded better final rounds than the Boilermakers, as the two ended the 54-hole tournament at 4-under par. The Spartans claimed the team title thanks to the fifth player tiebreaker.

Sugiyama’s career day featured five birdies and 13 pars, including a trio of birdies on par 5s. Following three pars to start her morning, the senior made consecutive birdies to begin the front side. She added another birdie at the par-5 eighth to return to the back nine at 3-under. Closing out her round, Sugiyama made back-to-back birdies again to tie her best round as a Boilermaker. She ended the tournament at 5-over, good for 30th alongside teammates Jasmine Kahler and Lauren Timpf. The low round was Sugiyama’s 11th round in the 60s as a Boilermaker, the eighth player in program history to reach that mark. The Australian also became the 10th Boilermaker to record multiple rounds of 67-or-better over her Purdue career.

After pacing Purdue through the first two rounds, Kahler and Timpf carded 73s (+1) to tie Sugiyama on the final leaderboard. Kahler matched Sugiyama with a team-high five birdies, but a double bogey on her final hole prevented the sophomore from posting an under-par round. Timpf made four birdies of her own, but like Kahler, a big number stopped her from reaching red figures. After a triple bogey on the par-4 third, Timpf finished strong by going 2-under on her last 11 holes.

Samantha Brown used four birdies to combat four bogeys on her way to an even-par 72, her best round of the tournament. The freshman’s final round was highlighted by three birdies through the first six holes on the front side. She birdied the par-5 first before back-to-back birdies on the par-3 fifth and the par-4 sixth. Her 72 was a four-stroke improvement from her opening two rounds.

Up next, Purdue returns to the Briar’s Creek Invitational on Johns Island, South Carolina (March 10-11).

BOILERMAKERS

T30. Momo Sugiyama: 76-78-67—221 (+5)

T30. Jasmine Kahler: 73-75-73—221 (+5)

T30. Lauren Timpf: 75-73-73—221 (+5)

T51. Samantha Brown: 76-76-72—224 (+8)

T72. Natasha Kiel: 76-80-75—231 (+15)

TEAM LEADERBOARD

1. #22 Michigan State: 297-287-276—860 (-4)*

2. #25 Ohio State: 285-291-284—860 (-4)

3. Oklahoma: 285-289-287—861 (-3)

4. College of Charleston: 285-292-288—865 (+1)

5. Michigan: 292-290-287—869 (+5)

6. Georgia Southern: 293-288-289—870 (+6)

7. Maryland: 300-287-285—872 (+8)

8. Illinois: 290-293-291—874 (+10)

T9. Kent State: 289-294-294—877 (+13)

T9. Kentucky: 299-292-286—877 (+13)

11. #24 Oklahoma State: 301-290-289—880 (+16)

12. Notre Dame: 291-297-294—882 (+18)

13. Purdue: 300-302-285—887 (+23)

14. Grand Valley State: 299-304-300—903 (+39)

15. FIU: 310-304-292—906 (+42)

*Won tournament via tiebreaker

NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

NOTRE DAME RETURNS TO NO. 1 IN AP POLL

Notre Dame is back on top of the women’s college basketball world.

On Monday, the Irish nabbed the top spot in the AP Poll for the first time since Jan. 21, 2019. It is also the first time Notre Dame has reached the top of the poll under Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey. Notre Dame has now been ranked in the AP Poll for 72 consecutive weeks, the third longest active streak in the nation.

The top-ranked Irish are led by the best backcourt in the country in Sonia Citron, Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles. The three guards have combined for a total of 1258 points, 381 rebounds, 303 assists and 168 steals. Those marks are 59.8 percent, 36.1 percent, 68.1 percent and 60.0 percent of Notre Dame’s totals this season, respectively.

Additionally, Hidalgo ranks second nationally with 25.2 points and 4.1 steals per game, while Miles is pacing the ACC and ranks sixth in the country with 6.3 assists per contest. She is shooting 53.1 percent from the floor, which leads all ACC guards.

The Irish head back out to the court on Monday night, playing host to No. 11 Duke (20-5, 11-2) in a battle of two of the top three teams in the ACC standings. Monday’s game will air on ESPN and tips off at 6 p.m. Notre Dame is 18-4 all-time against Duke and 6-1 at home.

NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S GOLF

IRISH WRAP UP SUNCOAST INVITATIONAL

SARASOTA, Fla. — The Irish women’s golf team rounded out play at the 2025 Spartan Suncoast Invitational Monday afternoon with a 12th-place finish behind 882 (+18) points. Montgomery Ferreira led the team with a 13th-place finish and was even through three rounds with 216(E) points. The senior also recorded a three-round best score of 70(-2) when the team opened competition Sunday morning.

Additionally, freshman Bridget Wilkie recorded a 71(-1) in the first round of the invitational before finishing in 37th with a score of 222(+6).

In the second round Sunday afternoon, Maddy Bante led the team with a score of 72(E) and tied fellow classmate Wilkie with a three-round score of 222(+6).

Alex Lapple finished 66th overall with a score of 227(+11) while Faustine Errecade finished with a score of 231(+15).

NOTRE DAME SWIMMING

IRISH SET FOR 2025 ACC CHAMPIONSHIPS

GREENSBORO, N.C. — It’s championship season for Notre Dame swimming and diving as the group heads to the Greensboro Aquatic Center this week for the 2025 ACC Championships, one of the fastest meets on American soil. The meet runs Feb. 18-22.

Notre Dame has several swims to watch, most notably from freshman Carli Cronk. The rookie from San Antonio has already broken the Irish record in the 400 IM (4:07.63) and sits at No. 4 all-time in the 200 fly (1:55.28). She is the sixth seed in the 400 IM and the 12th seed in the 200 fly.

Senior Jess Geriane is poised for a breakout year after nearly breaking the school record in the 50 free at the Tim Welsh Classic with a time of 22.29. Also a sprint backstroker, Geriane has an outside chance of making finals in the 100 back.

Seniors Madelyn Christman and Maggie Graves made the NCAA Championships last year and will look to punch their tickets again this year in the backstroke and distance freestyle events, respectively.

In the diving well, juniors Grace Courtney and Ben Nguyen each have a chance at a medal in their events. Courtney is the No. 5 seed in the 3-meter and just posted the best platform performance of her career at the Badger Invite last weekend. Nguyen was the bronze medalist in the platform last year and will look to make the podium again.

BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL

BUTLER PUTS WINNING STREAK ON THE LINE TUESDAY NIGHT AT XAVIER

The Bulldogs, winners of three straight, travel to Cincinnati for a Tuesday night match-up with Xavier. This is the first meeting between the two programs this season as Butler has already played every other BIG EAST opponent at least once and has concluded the home-and-home regular season series with five BIG EAST rivals.

Butler (12-13, 5-9 BIG EAST) at Xavier (16-10, 8-7)

Tuesday, Feb. 18 • 8PM

Cintas Center • Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: Peacock • Paul Burmeister & Austin Rivers

Butler Basketball Live (Audio) with @MarkMinner & Nick Gardner (@n_gardner): Varsity Network App, SiriusXM 386, XM App 976 & TuneIn

• Butler enters the game off a 97-86 win over Georgetown Saturday; the 97 points were a season-high. Butler is 8-0 this season when scoring 80 or more points, including all five of their BIG EAST wins.

• Pierre Brooks II led the Bulldogs with a career-high 30 points against Georgetown; he went 10-for-13 from the field and made all eight of his free throws. The 24th point of the day for Brooks was the 1,000th of his career.

• Brooks and Finley Bizjack accounted for 28 of Butler’s first 31 points Saturday against Georgetown (in the first 14:19 of the game).

• Butler went 28-for-35 (80 percent) from the free throw line against Georgetown; the 28 makes were the most by Butler in exactly eight years (when the team made 29 in a Feb. 15, 2017 win over St. John’s). Butler’s season average of 16.8 made free throws per game is 28th nationally, but the Bulldogs had combined to make just 27 free throws in the three games prior to Georgetown.

• The Bulldogs shot 57.7 percent from the field against Georgetown, the team’s second-best performance this season. Butler made 12 of its final 15 attempts in the first half and then followed that up by shooting 67 percent from the field in the second half.

• The Bulldogs are shooting 50.2 percent from the field over the last eight games, including shooting 50 percent or better in five of those games — all wins.   

• Butler is shooting 31-for-63 (49 percent) from three-point range over the team’s last three games; on the season, Butler is shooting 37.7 percent from behind the arc (25th nationally).

• Butler has led at the half in 10 of the team’s 14 BIG EAST games (and was tied in one of the other four games).

• Butler is committing only 14.1 fouls per game, which is the 17th-fewest nationally.

• The Bulldogs’ two most recent opponents — Providence and Georgetown — combined to attempt 70 three-point shots. Butler is allowing opponents to shoot only 30.6 percent from three-point range, a defensive effort that is second in the BIG EAST and 38th nationally.

• Georgetown held a 39-36 rebounding advantage over Butler Saturday; it was the first time in the last eight games that the Bulldogs had been out-rebounded (Butler held the edge in five of those seven games and the teams were even on the boards in the other two games).

• Jahmyl Telfort scored 12 points Saturday against Georgetown, his 100th career game in double figures.

• Bizjack is shooting 21-for-39 (54 percent) from three-point range over the last seven games; he is averaging 14.4 points per game during that stretch.

• Patrick McCaffery is shooting 12-for-20 (60 percent) from three-point range over his last five games: he has hit at least one three-pointer in 31 consecutive games (which includes every game this season and the final six games of Iowa’s 2023-24 season). McCaffery has 17 games this season with multiple made three-pointers.

• Landon Moore tied his season-high with 13 points against Georgetown Saturday, and tied his career-high with six rebounds.

• The Bulldogs defeated Northwestern and No. 25 Mississippi State in taking the Arizona Tip-Off title over Thanksgiving.

BIG in the BIG EAST

• In BIG EAST games only, Butler now boasts the conference’s highest-scoring offense (75.7 points per game) and the best shooting offense (hitting 47.4 percent of attempts from the field).

• Butler’s three-point percentage defense in BIG EAST games only also leads the conference as Bulldog opponents are hitting only 31 percent of their attempts from behind the arc.

Connection Points

• Thad Matta served as the head coach at Xavier for three seasons (2001-04) following his initial season as the head coach at Butler. Sean Miller was on his Xavier staff and took over the program when Matta left for Ohio State in 2004.

• Matta and Miller were both assistants on the coaching staff at Miami (Ohio) for the 1996-97 season.

• Both Matta and Miller are in their second head coaching stint at their respective school.

• Butler assistant coach Mike Pegues was on Chris Mack’s Xavier staff for six seasons (2012-18).

Musing on the Musketeers

• Xavier is 16-10 on the season, including 8-7 in BIG EAST play.

• Zach Freemantle leads the team with 17.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Ryan Conwell adds 15.5 points per game.

• The Musketeers shoot 38.6 percent from three-point range, which is 12th nationally.

• Xavier also is among the nation’s leaders in free throw percentage (79.0 percent, 11th) and free throws made per game (17.2; 17th).

• Xavier’s offense is fueled by an average of 15.7 fast break points per game, which ranks tenth in the nation.

The Series with Xavier

• The first meeting between Butler and Xavier came in 1937; of current BIG EAST teams, only Butler’s series with Creighton dates back earlier (1933)

• The two programs have been rivals in three different conferences: the Midwestern Collegiate Conference, the Atlantic 10 for a single season in 2012-13, and in the BIG EAST since the 2013-14 campaign when both programs, along with Creighton, joined the league.

Series:  Xavier Leads, 48-27

Streak: Xavier, W1

In Cincinnati: Xavier Leads, 27-5

First Meeting: Jan. 16, 1937; Xavier, 28-26 (at XU)

Last Meeting: March 13, 2024; Xavier, 76-72 (at MSG)

BALL STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL

MEN’S BASKETBALL RIDING THREE-GAME WINNING STREAK INTO TUESDAY NIGHT GAME AT TOLEDO

The Ball State men’s basketball team rides a three-game winning streak into a game at Toledo at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night.

The matchup will be streamed on ESPN+, while Mick Tidrow and David Eha handle the radio broadcast on WMUN 1340AM – 92.5FM.

Toledo leads the head-to-head series with the Cardinals 56-50 including a 34-16 advantage in home games. The Rockets won the first matchup of the season between the two teams 93-75 on Jan. 18 in Muncie.

Ball State (13-12, 6-6 Mid-American Conference) is set to play in its first road game in two weeks after taking three straight at home, most recently topping Northern Illinois 89-83 in overtime on Saturday afternoon.

Toledo (15-10, 8-4 MAC) dropped games at Miami (92-80) last Tuesday and at Eastern Michigan (80-73) on Saturday after winning five in a row. The Rockets are third in the league standings after being projected to finish fourth in the preseason poll.

Toledo paces the MAC in fewest turnovers per game (9.4, No. 11 in NCAA Division I) and fouls per game (15.6). The Rockets have the second-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the conference (1.45).

Sophomore forward Javan Simmons averages a league-best 2.9 offensive rebounds per game, while sophomore guard Sonny Wilson’s 52.4 percent shooting from the field is the best among MAC qualifiers. Wilson (15.7 points per game) and fellow sophomore guard Sam Lewis (15.4) are sixth and ninth in the league in scoring, respectively.

Ball State will next return home to host Buffalo at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.

THREE STRAIGHT THRILLERS: Ball State beat Southern Miss by one point on Feb. 8 (77-76) before claiming overtime victories over Eastern Michigan (86-84) on Tuesday and Northern Illinois (89-83) on Saturday of last week.

The men’s basketball team last played back-to-back overtime games in late January of 2018 at Kent State and vs Akron. The most recent time Ball State has won two straight games that both went to overtime was in 2017 when the Cardinals won 81-72 at Northern Illinois on Feb. 14 and 109-100 at Central Michigan on Feb. 18.

GORO-THREE-TO: Junior guard Juanse Gorosito put up a season-best 24 points, making 5 of 8 3-pointers, in Ball State’s 89-83 overtime win over Northern Illinois on Saturday afternoon.

Gorosito has now made multiple triples in 17 games this season and ranks fourth in the conference in 3-pointers made (62) and second in shooting percentage (41.3) from distance among those who’ve made at least two per game.

LOVING THE LINE: The Cardinals had season-bests in both free throws made (34) and attempted (50) on Saturday vs NIU.

The previous season highs for Ball State at the line occurred on Nov. 16 against Indiana State when the Cardinals went 33-for-46 on free throws.

FATT WITH THE FLUSH: Junior guard Jermahri Hill had a highlight reel game-winning two-hand slam dunk with 2.8 seconds on the clock in Ball State’s 86-84 overtime win over Eastern Michigan last Tuesday night at Worthen Arena.

Hill took the ball coast-to-coast for the jam which was featured as the No. 6 play on SportsCenter’s Top 10 segment. The Bessemer, Ala., native led the Cardinals with 21 points, eight rebounds and a season-best seven assists.

TRIO OF 1,000 POINT SCORERS: Jeremiah Hernandez became the third Ball State men’s basketball player of the season to amass 1,000 career points when he hit the milestone early in the second half last Tuesday night.

Payton Sparks secured his 1,000th point on New Year’s Eve before Mickey Pearson Jr., hit the mark on Feb. 8.

MOVING UP THE RECORD BOOK: Sparks (725 career rebounds at Ball State) is seven away from from moving into the Top 10 in the Ball State record book.

Mike Readnour (732) is currently 10th, while Franko House (741) is also in striking distance for Sparks at 9th.

CARDIAC CARDS: Ball State’s 86-84 win on Tuesday night was its fifth of the season by four points or fewer and second straight.

The Cardinals also had thrilling wins vs Southern Miss last Saturday (77-76), at Central Michigan (82-80), Bellarmine (86-82) and vs Eastern Kentucky (63-61) earlier in the schedule.

HUGE NIGHT FOR HERNANDEZ: Jeremiah Hernandez scored a season-best 18 points in Ball State’s 86-84 win over Eastern Michigan on Tuesday.

The graduate student out of Chicago’s previous season-best was 15 points at Central Michigan. Hernandez is currently fifth on the team in scoring at 8.0 points per game.

BIG GAME FOR MICKEY: Pearson Jr., scored a season-best 21 points, including 19 in the second half, in Ball State’s win over Southern Miss on Feb. 8.

The forward reached the 1,000 career points mark in the second half after securing his 500th rebound at Ball State in the first half.

PAYTON POUNDING THE GLASS: Sparks pulled down 14 rebounds along with putting up a career-high 27 points in the Jan. 28 win at Buffalo.

The Winchester, Ind., native leads the league in rebounding in conference games (9.6 per game) while ranking second overall (7.7). Sparks is the 10th Ball State men’s basketball player in program history to reach 1,000 career points and 700 career rebounds for the Cardinals.

GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE FREE THROW LINE: Sparks (178) and  Hill (173) are first and second in the league in free throw attempts, respectively.

The two also go 1-2 in the conference in free throws made, with 115 for Hill and 111 for Sparks. Sparks ranks No. 17 nationally in free throw attempts, while Hill is No. 21 in NCAA Division I.

GETTING TO THE LINE: The Cardinals pace the Mid-American Conference in both free throw attempts per game (27.0) and free throws made per game (18.7) through the season’s first 25 games.

Ball State ranks No. 4 and No. 8 in those categories in NCAA Division I, respectively. The total tallies (675 attempts and 468 makes) outpace the next-closest MAC team (Toledo) by 134 attempts and 70 makes.

HOME STATE HEROES: Brittain-Watts (2019), Zane Doughty, Joey Hart and Mason Jones (2023) were each named Indiana High School All-Stars, while three more Cardinals also had ties to the state before arriving in Muncie.

Ball State has the second-most players from Indiana high schools among Indiana-based Division I teams behind Purdue.

WORLD FLYERS: The 2024-25 Ball State roster consists of student-athletes from three different countries in addition to the United States of America.

Gorosito (Argentina), Hendriks (Canada) and Jurica Zagorsak (Croatia) are international Cardinals this season. Interestingly, Juanse, Ben and Jurica were born on different continents, so Ball State has student-athletes from North America, South America and Europe on the team.

TRANSFERS FROM ALL OVER: Each of Ball State’s seven student-athletes who have transferred into the program have come from different college basketball conferences.

BALL STATE SWIMMING

MEN’S S&D OPEN MVC CHAMPIONSHIPS AT MIAMI

MUNCIE, Ind. – After months of training, the Ball State men’s swimming and diving program put all its preparation to the test this week at the Miami Aquatic Center for the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Championships.
 
Action in the four-day meet hosted by Miami begins Wednesday (Feb. 19) with a pair of relay swims. Individual action gets underway Thursday (Feb. 20) and runs through Saturday (Feb. 22).
 
Live results will be available on meet mobile, while links for video coverage will be provided on the official championship website: https://mvc-sports.com/tournaments/?id=23

AT THE 2024 MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS

As a team, the Cardinals placed fifth overall with 414 points. Over the course of the four-day event, the Cardinals won medals in seven events, while setting 10 program records.

In individual competition, Ball State captured gold in the 100 and 200 breaststroke and bronze in the 50 freestyle.

Senior Ethan Pheifer and junior Jacob Siewers made immense contributions to the Cardinals’ relay efforts, making up half of the bronze-placing 200 (1:18.88) and silver-placing 400 freestyle (2:57.16) teams.  These final times top the program in each respective event.

Pheifer joined the effort in the 400 medley relay to help secure a silver medal for Ball State on day two, clocking in at 3:10.53 and claiming the top time in program history.

At the conclusion of day one, The Cardinals finished with a program record in the 800 freestyle relay (6:36.72), placing fourth in the event. Siewers made the most of his opportunity as leadoff, beating his own program record in the 200 free with a time of 1:37.05.

Among other top times set at the championships, Malcolm Slater set a then-program record in the 500 freestyle (4:28.38) as he topped the consolation heat on day two.

2024-2025 PROGRAM RECORDS

While program records tend to come fast and furious at the MVC Championships, the Cardinals have already set one program record this season.

At the Miami Invitational, Slater bested his own 500 freestyle record, which he set at the 2024 MAC Championships, as he placed second with a time of 4:27.61.

IN THE MVC RANKINGS

In the latest NCAA Division I Top Time Rankings as compiled by CollegeSwimming.com, the Cardinals have 12 student-athletes ranked in scoring position in their respective events heading into the MVC Championships. 

Men’s Swimmers Currently Ranked in the MVC Top 16

50 Freestyle: 15th – Jacob Siewers (20.56) / 16th – Ethan Pheifer (20.66)

100 Freestyle: 11th – Jacob Siewers (44.68)

200 Freestyle: 6th – Jacob Siewers (1:38.04)

500 Freestyle: 3rd – Malcolm Slater (4:27.61) / 8th – Alexander Eddy (4:33.04) / 9th – Tommy Brunner (4:33.80) 

1000 Freestyle: 1st – Tommy Brunner (9:25.77) / 6th – Malcolm Slater (9:31.78)  / 11th – Seth Blossom (9:43.79)  

1650 Freestyle: 2nd – Malcolm Slater (15:44.50) / 3rd – Tommy Brunner (15:45.80) / 7th – Alexander Eddy (15:58.21) / 8th – Seth Blossom (16:05.49)

100 Backstroke: T-9th – Ethan Pheifer (49.25)

200 Backstroke: N/A

100 Breaststroke: 7th – Aidan Biddle (55.17) / 8th – Michael Burns (55.21) / 16th – Cutter Shipman (56.11)

200 Breaststroke: 8th – Cutter Shipman (2:02.00) / 9th – Aidan Biddle (2:02.09) / 14th – Michael Burns (2:03.60)

100 Butterfly: N/A

200 Butterfly: 11th – Michael Mitsynskyy (1:50.99) / 13th – AJ Friend (1:51.98) /14th – Luke Pryor (1:52.09)

200 IM: T-14th – Michael Burns (1:51.81) 

400 IM: 11th – Tommy Brunner (4:01.98)

200 Freestyle Relay: 4th – Ball State (1:21.10)

400 Freestyle Relay: 4th – Ball State (2:59.82)

800 Freestyle Relay: 4th – Ball State (6:44.95)

200 Medley Relay: 5th – Ball State (1:29.67)

400 Medley Relay: 5th – Ball State (3:17.48)

FROM THE DIVING BOARDS:

Junior Porter Brovont currently leads the Cardinals on both the 1M (307.60) and 3M (331.75) boards.

Ball State Divers Top Results in 2024-25

Porter Brovont (Jr.) – 307.60* on 1M / 331.75* on 3M

Mitchell Mauck (Fr.) – 243.20 on 1M / 292.75 on 3M

NCAA Zone Diving Qualifying Marks: 300 on 1M / 320 on 3M

MVC AWARD WINNERS:

So far this season, the Cardinals have already claimed three Missouri Valley Conference weekly award with freshman AJ Friend being named the MVC Men’s Freshman of the Week twice and junior Porter Brovont earning MVC Diver of the Week honors once.

Swimming Award Winners:

10/16/2024 – AJ Friend MVC Freshman of the Week

10/23/2024 – AJ Friend MVC Freshman of the Week

Diving Award Winners:

10/23/2024 – Porter Brovont MVC Diver of the Week

EVENT WINNERS:

As a squad, the Cardinals have chalked up 21 individual event wins and four relay victories so far this season.

2024-25 Men’s Individual Event Winners (21)

7 – Malcolm Slater (So.)

     Oct. 12 vs. UIC: 200 Freestyle (1:41.42) / 500 Freestyle (4:41.59)

     Oct. 18 at Miami: 500 Freestyle (4:36.99) / 1000 Freestyle (9:38.82)

     Nov. 23 at Bellarmine: 500 Freestyle (4:41.30) / 1000 Freestyle (9:36.95)

     Dec. 7 at Miami Invitational: 1650 Freestyle (15.44.50)

3 – AJ Friend (Fr.)

     Oct. 12 vs. UIC: 50 Freestyle (21.43) / 100 Butterfly (51.38)

     Oct. 18 at Miami: 50 Freestyle (21.33)

2 – Porter Brovont (Jr.)

      Oct. 18 at Miami: 1M Diving (267.75) / 3M Diving (285.95)

2 – Tommy Brunner (So.)

     Jan. 10 vs. UIndy and SIU: 1000 Freestyle (9:25.77)

     Jan. 26 at Butler Invitational: 1650 Freestyle (15:57.72)

2 – Ethan Pheifer (Sr.)

      Oct. 12 vs. UIC: 100 Backstroke (52.08)

      Jan. 26 at Butler Invitational: 50 Freestyle (21.32)

2 – Jacob Siewers (Jr.)

      Oct. 12 vs. UIC: 100 Freestyle (46.84)

      Nov. 23 at Bellarmine: 100 Freestyle (46.59)

1 – Logan Ayres (Jr.)

      Jan. 26 at Butler Invitational: 200 Backstroke (1:55.59)

1 – Aidan Biddle (So.)

      Jan. 26 at Butler Invitational: 100 Breaststroke (55.55)

1 – Nathan Harper (Fr.)

      Jan. 26 at Butler Invitational: 200 IM (1:55.17)

  2024-25 Men’s Relay Winners (4)

2 – 400 Freestyle Relay

      Oct. 12 vs. UIC: Friend, Young, Clarkston, Siewers (3:08.05)

      Nov. 23 at Bellarmine: Clarkston, Friend, Perkowski, Siewers (3:07.99)

1 – 200 Medley Relay

      Jan. 26 at Butler Invitational: Pheifer, Biddle, Friend, Siewers (1:31.37)

1- 800 Freestyle Relay

     Jan. 26 at Butler Invitational: Slater, Mitsynskyy, Perkowski, Siewers (6:51.69)

INDIANA STATE BASEBALL

SYCAMORES CONTINUE ROAD TRIP WITH MIDWEEK SERIES AT FLORIDA GULF COAST

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Fresh off opening weekend in Gastonia, the Indiana State baseball team continues its season-opening road trip this week with a two-game series at Florida Gulf Coast over Tuesday and Wednesday evening in Fort Myers, Fla. Both games are set for 6:30 p.m. start times with Wednesday’s game scheduled to be streamed live on ESPN+. Live stats for both contests will be available on FGCUAthletics.com.

The Sycamores are 2-1 after the opening week series against Wagner College in Gastonia, N.C. The Seahawks connected on a ninth-inning walk-off home run to claim Friday’s season-opener with the 3-2 win. Indiana State rebounded to claim the second game of Friday’s doubleheader, 16-6, before slugging their way to a Sycamores’ record 36 runs in the series finale in winning 36-6 to secure the series win.

Indiana State’s bats came to life over the opening weekend as the Sycamores hit .381 as a team with eight players hitting at least .375 from the plate, including four that hit .500-plus over the first three games of the season.

Thomas Emerich connected at a team-best .583 clip from the plate with team-highs in hits (7), runs (8), and doubles (4), while adding four RBIs. Jeremy Martinez (.545) added three doubles and a home run over his first 11 collegiate at-bats, while Carter Beck added his first home run of the season on his way to reaching base nine times over the first three games.

Nick Sutherlin hit .500 from the plate over two starts at third base added two doubles and a home run while driving in six RBIs. Carlos Pena added his first two home runs of the season, while Jorge Cartagena hit .375 with a team-high eight RBIs to highlight the Sycamores’ offensive onslaught against the Seahawks.

The Indiana State pitching staff stayed under control over the weekend posting a combined 4.39 ERA over 26.2 innings on the mound. Ryan Karst, Grant Parson, and Ty Brooks drew the first three starts of the year combining to post a 2.08 ERA over 13.0 innings while posting a 13:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

The Sycamores’ bullpen was solid as well highlighted by three shutout innings from Max McEwen on Friday afternoon including five strikeouts, while Carson Seeman added 2.2 innings in relief. Overall, six different Indiana State relievers posted 0.00 ERAs over the series against the Seahawks while combining for nine strikeouts.

Indiana State continues the road for their season-opening 19-day road trip that will include 11 games across five locations and two states. The Sycamores opened the year in Gastonia, N.C., before heading to Fort Myers, Fla. for the two-game set against FGCU. This upcoming weekend the Sycamores will take on Northeastern in Port Charlotte, Fla., before wrapping up their Sunshine State trip in Daytona Beach on Tuesday, February 25, at Bethune-Cookman. Indiana State closes out the 2,968.6-mile journey at the LeClair Classic at East Carolina over February 28-March 2 in Greenville, N.C.

The Sycamores entered the season receiving votes from the NCBWA Division I preseason poll and are projected to once again play one of the toughest schedules across the country. Indiana State entered 2025 projected with another Top 50 RPI schedule according to WarrenNolan.com with the 25th-best nonconference schedule including midweek games against Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, and Purdue.

New faces continue to abound in the Indiana State lineup and on the mound as 21 different players made their first starts or Sycamore debuts over the weekend series. The list includes newcomers and everyday starters Carter Beck (CF), Eli Gipson (3B/SS) and Weston Fulk (DH), while returners Carlos Pena (1B) and Keegan Garis (LF) also were penciled in the lineup in all three contests.

Scouting Florida Gulf Coast

Florida Gulf Coast dropped the weekend series against Fairfield University to open the 2025 season in Swanson Stadium. The Eagles took the opening game of the series on Friday, 9-1, before falling in the final two contests 6-4 and 11-10 (10) to fall to 1-2 overall in the early portion of the 2025 season.

FGCU was picked second overall in the 2025 Atlantic Sun preseason baseball poll as voted on by the league’s head coaches. The Eagles received two first-place votes coming off a season where they posted a 30-26 record, 20-10 in conference play. Four players were named to the ASUN Preseason All-Conference team led by pitcher Justin Henschel, catcher Mac Moise, first baseman Robert Moya, and outfielder Evan Dempsey.

Florida Gulf Coast hit .276 as a team over the opening three-game series paced by Aidan Corn’s .615 batting average from the plate. Corn posted a team-high eight hits over his 13 at-bats and added a double to highlight his opening weekend. Robert Moya (.375), Mac Moise (.364), and Javier Gorostola (.308) also hit above the .300 line with the trio combining to hit three of FGCU’s four home runs over the weekend.

The Eagles’ pitching staff posted a 4.82 ERA over 28.0 innings on the mound with Justin Henschel, Levent Eldem, and Chase Kriebel drawing the weekend starts. Overall, 13 different pitchers drew time on the mound recording a 30:12 strikeout-to-walk ratio while allowing Fairfield to hit .265 from the plate.

Series History

Indiana State and Florida Gulf Coast played their inaugural game back on March 9, 2021, and have lined up against each other three times in their respective histories. The Sycamores have won all three contests against the Eagles, including taking last year’s 5-2 win in North Port, Fla. at CoolTodayField.

Highlighting last year’s game, Luis Hernandez drove in three RBIs and five Indiana State pitchers combined to hold the high-powered FGCU offense to just five hits and one earned run as the Sycamores topped the Eagles, 5-2. Cole Gilley recorded the win on the mound with a 3.1-inning relief stint, while Zach Davidson posted his first save of the season with a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.

The 2025 season marks the third consecutive season the Sycamores and Eagles have lined up against each other and first time since 2021, Indiana State will make the trip to Swanson Stadium.

Against the Atlantic Sun Conference

Indiana state is 58-24 all-time against the current iteration of the Atlantic Sun Conference. The Sycamores have lined up against Austin Peay 46 times over the years with a 29-17 record against the Governors, with 12 contests and a 10-2 record against Eastern Kentucky.

EVANSVILLE WOMEN’S GOLF

ACES WIN ASU SPRING CLASSIC

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Led by Kate Petrova’s top finish, the University of Evansville women’s golf team took top honors at the ASU Spring Classic on Monday at Arrowhead Country Club.

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Final Results

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Evansville saw four players finish in the top seven in the final individual standings to take the team championship by 16 strokes.  Originally set to be a 54-hole tournament, the event was shortened to 36 holes.
 
After recording a 1-under 71 to open the tournament, Petrova carded a 4-over 76 to finish with a 147.  Her total gave her the individual victory by five strokes over a second-place tie.  One of those who tied for the runner-up position was Mallory Russell.  Rounds of 73 and 79 gave her a 152 for the weekend.
 
Louise Standtke was third on the team and fifth on the final leaderboard.  After opening the event with a 79, Standtke lowered her score to a 74 in the final 18 holes to finish with a 153.  With a 2-round score of 156, Elizabeth Mercer finished in 7^th place.  She also showed a nice improvement between rounds, lowering her total from an 80 to a 76 in the final round.  Jane Grankina posted identical rounds of 84 to complete the tournament with a 168.  She tied for 37^th.
 
The dominant effort by the Purple Aces saw them pace the field by ten strokes following the opening round.  Their 303 led Alabama State heading into the final 18.  UE wrapped up the second round with a 305, pulling away for the victory over the Hornets.

VALPO MEN’S BASKETBALL

ALL WRIGHT MAKES IT BACK-TO-BACK VALLEY FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK HONORS, FIVE TOTAL THIS SEASON

Valparaiso University men’s basketball guard All Wright (Durango, Mexico / Link Year) was named the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Week on Monday, repeating as the league’s honoree for that award for the second straight week and league-most fifth time this season. This marked the sixth time a member of the program has won the award this season and the team’s 12th MVC Freshman of the Week Award since head coach Roger Powell Jr. arrived at Valpo prior to the 2023-24 season.

Wright averaged 18.5 points per game over two games this week, going 9-for-9 at the free-throw line over the two contests. He has scored 17 points or more in five of his last six games including both games this week. He had a 20-point effort in Wednesday’s 101-86 victory over Belmont at the ARC.

For the season, Wright is averaging 14.6 points per game in league play, narrowly behind Evansville’s Gabriel Pozzato at 14.7 points per game for the league lead among rookies. Pozzato missed six league games with an injury, while Wright has appeared in every MVC contest.

The Beacons will be back in action against Missouri State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Athletics-Recreation Center.

UINDY MEN’S LAX

HOUNDS RANKED EIGHTH AHEAD OF MATCHUP AT LENOIR-RHYNE

BALTIMORE – The UIndy men’s lacrosse team rose one spot to No. 8 in the latest USILA national coaches poll, released Monday afternoon. The most recent poll sets up a top-8 matchup with Lenoir-Rhyne this weekend, as the Bears are ranked fourth.

The Greyhounds dominated Lake Erie on Saturday, using an all-around performance in the 13-3 win.

The national poll is riddled with South Region representatives, including Tampa, Limestone, and Wingate all ranked in the top five. Rollins is also ranked seventh just ahead of UIndy, while Maryville (9) and Lewis (13) also rep the GLVC in the top 20.

UINDY WOMEN’S LAX

HOUNDS SLIDE ONE SPOT IN NATIONAL POLL AHEAD OF FIRST GAME

SPARKS, Md. – The UIndy women’s lacrosse team slid one spot to No. 12 in the latest IWLCA national rankings, released Monday. The Greyhounds open their season this Friday against sixth-ranked Regis at Key Stadium.

Defending national champion Tampa tops the poll, with Pace and Adelphi rounding out the top three. Along with Regis, Maryville (7) and Grand Valley (10) appear as Midwest Region representatives.

The Greyhounds return IWLCA All-America Second Team selection Olivia Bladon, along with reigning GLVC Freshman of the Year Amanda Hurry. Joining Bladon and Hurry among USA Lacrosse Magazine preseason All-Americans are Malaena Michielin and Sage Da Silva.

Head coach Peyton Romig is in her second season.

UINDY SOFTBALL

EADS NAMED GLVC SOFTBALL WEEKLY AWARD WINNER

INDIANAPOLIS – University of Indianapolis freshman pitcher Cheyenne Eads was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Softball Pitcher of the Week, it was announced by the league office Monday.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Cheyenne Eads, UIndy

Fr. | RHP | Shelbyville, Ind.

Major: Biology

Team Results: W 14-0 at Wheeling, W 11-2 at Wheeling (2/13) | W 6-0 at West Liberty, W 2-0 at West Liberty (2/14)

Tossed 12.0 innings in two appearances allowing zero earned runs

Posted a 0.58 WHIP, while striking out 23 batters

Highlighted by a no-hitter against Wheeling, giving up just one walk and fanning 12 batters

Pitched seven shutout frames in a three-hit shutout to win her second game of the week

Earns first career Pitcher of the Week Award

Last Greyhounds’ Pitcher of the Week: Kenzee Smith (4/29/24)

UINDY BASEBALL

UINDY SECURES BOTH GLVC BASEBALL WEEKLY AWARDS

INDIANAPOLIS – UIndy senior shortstop Easton Good and redshirt-junior pitcher Diego Cardenas have been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) weekly award winners in baseball, it was announced by the league office Monday.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Easton Good, #5 Indianapolis

Sr. | SS | Kokomo, Ind.

Major: Business Administration

Team Results: W 6-0 vs. Lake Erie (2/14) | W 11-9, W 12-4 (6 inn.) vs. Lake Erie (2/15)

Batted .667 (6-for-9) with three walks in three games, posting a .750 on-base percentage

Ripped two home runs and one triple for a 1.556 slugging percentage

Drove in 10 runs and scored six

Went 4-for-4 on stolen base attempts

Highlighted by performance in final game of series, going 3-for-3 with two homers, six RBI, and two stolen bases, including a grand slam

Earns third career Player of the Week Award (2/17/25, 3/18/24)

Last Greyhounds’ Player of the Week: Easton Good (3/18/24)

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Diego Cardenas, #5 Indianapolis

R-Jr. | RHP | South Bend, Ind.

Major: Environmental Sustainability

Team Results: W 6-0 vs. Lake Erie (2/14) | W 11-9, W 12-4 (6 inn.) vs. Lake Erie (2/15)

Started first game against Lake Erie, tossing 6.2 shutout innings

Allowed just two hits and two walks, while striking out 10 batters

Recorded second double-digit strikeout performance of his career

Earns first career Pitcher of the Week Award

Last Greyhounds’ Pitcher of the Week: Brady Ware (4/10/23)

MARION WRESTLING

WRESTLING EARNS 14 ALL-WHAC HONORS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.  – The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) released its conference honors for men’s wrestling in conjunction with the conference tournament on Saturday, Feb. 15. All ‘of the year’ honors are selected via a vote by head coaches.

Marian wrestling earned 14 total All-WHAC honors on Saturday, earning six All-Conference Team awards, seven academic team honors, and one Champion of Character honor.

Elliott Rodgers headlined the group as he was named First Team All-WHAC, doing so after winning the 157 championship at the WHAC Meet on Saturday. Landon Bertsch, Jordan Fulks, Braden Getz, Clay Guenin, and Marlin Williams each finished as runner-ups in their respective weight classes, earning All-WHAC Second Team.

Jeff Dunasky Jr. received a pair of honors, representing the Knights as their Champions of Character nominee while also being named on the WHAC Academic Team. Members of the Champion of Character Team best exemplifies the five core character values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.

Joining Dunasky on the All-WHAC Academic Team were Zach Wilson, Peter Sells, Jared Brown, Dylan McKelvey, Logan Richardson, and Isaac Richardson. To be nominated for the academic honor team, an athlete must be a sophomore or above in academic standing with cumulative 3.25 GPA and in attendance at nominating school for one full year.

The NAIA Qualifier release will be announced on Tuesday, February 25, with the brackets to be announced on Friday, February 28.

MARIAN TRACK

NINA MARINKOVIC NAMED CL FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the league’s top individual performances from February 10 through 16. Sports Information Directors from the league institutions nominate student-athletes for the awards and vote on each week’s winners.

This past weekend Nina Marinkovic competed and scored in four field events for Marian during its team title at the CL Indoor Championships. On her way to scoring the most points on the women’s side Marinkovic won the pentathlon hitting an A standard with a mark of 3381 and also hit a B standard in the High Jump portion with a mark of 1.66m. She also won the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.80 while she took fifth in the high jump(1.60m), and the long jump(5.35m).

The Knights are back in action as they travel to Gainesville, Fla. to compete in the NAIA Indoor National Championship starting on February 27th.

MATERNA, RIOS NAMED CROSSROADS LEAGUE ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Jackson, Mich. – Following Marian’s lopsided Crossroads League Championship over the weekend, the Crossroads League award the men’s track and field team with the final indoor field and track athlete of the week honors. Eric Materna brought home the Track Athlete of the Week award, while Christian Rios was dubbed the Field Athlete of the Week.

Materna was the top scorer on the men’s side of the CL Indoor Championships, leading Marian to the team title with wins in the 200, 400 and 600 meters. Materna hit the A-standard in the 400 and the B in the 600. The honor of athlete of the week is the first in Materna’s career.

Rios helped Marian to a dominant team title at the Crossroads League Championships by winning his individual events in the weight throw and shot put. The senior hit the NAIA A-standard in each event and posted his best-ever mark in the shot put at 17.09 meters. The senior was the most outstanding male field athlete, and earned his third conference athlete of the week award of the season.

Marian competes at the NAIA Championships next weekend in Gainesville, Florida. A qualifier release will be announced later this week.

INDIANA SMALL COLLEGE WEB 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”

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

Feb. 18

1924 — Theresa Weld Blanchard wins her sixth and final U.S. figure skating championship. Sherwin Badger captures his fifth straight and final men’s title.

1928 — Sonja Henie, 15, becomes the youngest Olympic figure skating champion. She easily beats Fritzi Burger of Austria and Beatrix Loughran of the U.S.

1932 — Sonja Henie wins her sixth straight world title.

1951 — Manhattan District Attorney Frank Hogan orders the arrest of three City College basketball players on bribery charges and two professional gamblers and two intermediaries in a game-fixing scandal involving college teams across the country.

1961 — Bob Pettit of St. Louis scores a career-high 57 points in a 141-138 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

1964 — Wilt Chamberlain scores 52 points against Detroit, his second consecutive 50-point game.

1972 — Randy Smith of Buffalo plays the first of what would become 906 consecutive games, an NBA record which took more than 11 full seasons to accomplish.

1981 — Edmonton’s Wayne Gretzky scores five goals and adds two assists to lead the Oilers over the St. Louis Blues 9-2.

1986 — San Antonio’s Alvin Robertson records the second quadruple-double in NBA history, with 20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals in the Spurs’ 120-114 win over Phoenix.

1990 — Dale Earnhardt blows a tire with one mile remaining in the Daytona 500, giving Derrike Cope the biggest upset in stock car racing history.

1992 — Italy’s Alberto Tomba wins the giant slalom in Albertville, France, to become the first Alpine skier to win the same event at two Winter Olympics.

1995 — Utah guard John Stockton becomes the first NBA player with 10,000 assists in a 108-98 victory over the Boston Celtics.

2001 — Dale Earnhardt, the greatest stock car star of his era, is killed in a crash on the last turn of the last lap of the Daytona 500 as he tries to protect Michael Waltrip’s victory.

2006 — Shani Davis becomes the first black athlete to win an individual gold medal in the Winter Olympics, capturing the 1,000-meter speedskating race. Joey Cheek makes it a 1-2 American finish, adding a silver to his victory in the 500 at the Turin Games.

2010 — Evan Lysacek becomes the first U.S. man to win the Olympic gold medal since Brian Boitano in 1988, shocking everyone with an upset of defending champion Evgeni Plushenko.

2012 — Shenneika Smith’s 3-pointer from the wing with 8 seconds left lifts St. John’s to a 57-56 win over No. 2 Connecticut, ending the Huskies’ 99-game home court winning streak. It’s the Huskies’ first home loss to an unranked opponent in nearly 19 years.

2013 — Brittney Griner scores 25 points, including the 3,000th of her career, to help No. 1 Baylor rally past third-ranked Connecticut 76-70.

2017 — Mikaela Shiffrin wins a third straight slalom title at the world championships to retain her unbeaten record at major events.

2022 – Johannes Thingnes Bø of Norway wins his 4th biathlon gold medal of the Beijing Winter Olympics when he takes out the men’s mass start.

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Feb. 19

1928 — Canada wins the gold medal in ice hockey at the Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Canada, represented by the 1926 Toronto University team, receives a bye to the final round. The Canadians beat Sweden 11-0, Britain 14-0 and Switzerland 13-0.

1955 — Bernie Geoffrion of the Montreal Canadiens scores five goals in a 10-2 victory over the New York Rangers.

1977 — Rod Gilbert of the New York Rangers gets his 1,000th career point with a goal in a 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders.

1982 — Atlanta’s 127-122 four-overtime win over Seattle equals the fourth-longest game in NBA history and the second-longest since the institution of the 24-second clock.

1984 — Phil and Steve Mahre of the United States become the first brothers to finish 1-2 in an Olympic event, the men’s slalom, at the Winter Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. The Soviet Union beats Czechoslovakia 2-0 to win the gold medal in hockey.

1984 — Cale Yarborough sweeps into the lead two turns before the finish to win the Daytona 500. He becomes the second driver to win consecutive Daytona 500s; Richard Petty was the other.

1993 — Wendel Suckow edges two-time world champion Georg Hackl of Germany by 0.106 seconds to capture the first world luge championship medal of any kind for the United States.

1994 — Speedskater Bonnie Blair wins the fourth gold of her Olympic career with her third consecutive 500-meter victory.

2002 — In Salt Lake City, bobsledders Jill Bakken and Vonetta Flowers give the United States 21 medals in the Winter Games. Flowers becomes the first black athlete in history to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.

2005 — Lindsay Kennedy becomes the first woman to play in a Major Indoor Soccer League game. Kennedy, a St. Louis forward, participates in the final 76 seconds of Milwaukee’s 7-3 win over the Steamers at Savvis Center.

2005 — Schreiner ends its NCAA-record losing streak at 83 games, beating Sul Ross State 75-69 in a women’s basketball game. It’s the Division III Mountaineers first win since Jan. 17, 2002, when they also beat Sul Ross.

2012 — American star Hannah Kearney’s all-discipline record for consecutive FIS World Cup victories ends at 16 with a semifinal loss in a dual moguls event at Naeba, Japan. Kearney’s streak began in Lake Placid, N.Y., on Jan. 22, 2011.

2012 — Steven Holcomb and brakeman Steve Langton win the two-man bobsled in Lake Placid, N.Y., the first time the U.S. captures this event at the world championships.

2014 — Norway wins the first Olympic mixed relay in biathlon at the Sochi Games and Ole Einar Bjoerndalen becomes the most decorated Winter Olympian ever with 13 medals. Ted Ligety wins the giant slalom with a dominating performance, becoming the first American man to win two Olympic gold medals in Alpine skiing.

2017 — Laura Dahlmeier wins the world title in the women’s 12.5-kilometer mass start, becoming the first to win five gold medals at a single biathlon world championship.

2017 — Anthony Davis scores 52 points, 10 more than Wilt Chamberlain’s All-Star record that had stood for 55 years. The Western Conference beats the Eastern Conference 192-182 in the highest-scoring game in league history.

2021 – In a softening of 4-year WADA ban on Russia from all international sport, Russia to compete under acronym “ROC” after name of the Russian Olympic Committee.

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Feb. 20

1887 — The International Association, the first minor league baseball association, is organized in Pittsburgh.

1951 — The college point-shaving scandal prompts Long Island University to drop basketball and all other intercollegiate sports. LIU revives basketball in 1957.

1971 — En route to a record 76-goal season, Boston’s Phil Esposito becomes the first player to score his 50th goal in February, but the Bruins lose to the Los Angeles Kings 5-4.

1972 — Larry Brown of the Denver Rockets sets ABA records for assists in a game (23), half (18) and quarter (10) during a 146-123 home win over the Pittsburgh Condors.

1974 — Gordie Howe, the NHL’s career scoring leader, comes out of retirement and signs a $1 million, four-year contract to play with the Houston Aeros of the WHA and sons Mark and Marty.

1976 — Muhammad Ali beats Jean-Pierre Coopman with a fifth-round knockout at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in Puerto Rico to defend his world heavyweight title.

1988 — In Calgary, Alberta, Brian Boitano of the U.S. wins the Olympic figure skating gold medal on a technical merit tiebreaker and nearly flawless free skate.

1993 — Julio Cesar Chavez records a fifth-round TKO over Greg Haugen in a WBC super lightweight title bout before a record crowd of 130,000 at Mexico City’s Aztec Stadium.

1998 — Tara Lipinski, 15, becomes the youngest Olympic figure skating champion, beating fellow teen and U.S. teammate Michelle Kwan to take the gold. Lipinski is two months younger than Sonja Henie was in her 1928 victory.

2006 — Tanith Belbin and partner Ben Agosto end the U.S. medals drought in Olympic ice dance competition with a silver. The last to do so were Colleen O’Connor and James Millns, who won bronze in 1976.

2009 — Lindsey Van of the U.S. becomes the first female ski jumping world champion. Women’s ski jumping makes its debut at this year’s Nordic world championships in the Czech Republic. Todd Lodwick wins the opening Nordic combined event to give the U.S. two golds in one day. Before Van’s victory, the U.S. had not won a gold at a Nordic worlds since 2003 when Johnny Spillane took a Nordic combined sprint.

2010 — Switzerland’s Simon Ammann wins the large hill at the Vancouver Games to become the first ski jumper with four individual Olympic titles.

2011 — Trevor Bayne, 20, wins the Daytona 500, NASCAR’s biggest race, in only his second Sprint Cup start.

2011 — Kobe Bryant wins his record-tying fourth All-Star game MVP award, scoring 37 points before his hometown fans and leading the West past the East 148-143.

2016 — Lindsey Vonn clinches a record 20th World Cup crystal globe title and surpasses Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark. It’s Vonn’s record eighth downhill title. Stenmark won 19 globes between 1975 and 1984.

2021 – Australian Open Women’s Tennis: Naomi Osaka of Japan wins her 4th major and second Australian title; beats American Jennifer Brady 6-4, 6-3.

2022 – Hannah Green of Australia becomes first woman to win a mix-gender golf tournament over 72 holes; closes with 5-under 66 for a 4-stroke win in TPS Murray River on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

1943    New York entrepreneur William D. Cox purchases the bankrupt Phillies from the National League. In November, the 33-year-old new owner will be banned from baseball by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis when he admits to making some “sentimental” bets on his team during the season.

1944    After getting permission from his parents and high school principal, 15-year-old Joe Nuxhall, a Hamilton, Ohio native, signs a contract with the Reds a day after playing in a high school basketball game. The not-so-old “Ol’ Left-hander” will become the youngest player to appear in a major league game, tossing two-thirds of an inning for Cincinnati in June, 49 days before his sixteenth birthday.

1954    In their first significant trade since moving from St. Louis, the Orioles, formerly known as the Browns, exchange outfielders with the Senators, sending Roy Sievers to Washington for Gil Conan. Sievers will spend five solid seasons in the nation’s capital, making the All-Star squad twice, and Conan, playing less than two seasons in Baltimore, compiles a .266 batting average with three home runs, appearing in 155 games.

1960    Walter O’Malley buys the land just north of downtown Los Angeles as a new ballpark site for his transplanted Brooklyn club. The Dodger owner paid a reported $494,000 for the property at Chavez Ravine, believed to be worth $92,000 at the time.

1967    During a nationally televised celebrity charity softball game at Dodger Stadium, hard-throwing Eddie Feigner strikes out six consecutive big leaguers, including five future Hall of Famers. The 39-year-old right-hander’s victims include Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Harmon Killebrew, Roberto Clemente, and Maury Wills.

1998    Eleven days shy of his 84th birthday, long-time baseball announcer Harry Caray dies as a result of complications from a heart attack and brain damage suffered while having Valentine’s Day dinner with his wife, Dutchie. The colorful “Mayor of Rush Street” started his career in 1945 with the Cardinals, doing play-by-play for the A’s, White Sox, and the Cubs during his 52 years in the broadcast booth.

1999    The Blue Jays trade Roger Clemens to the Yankees for Graeme Lloyd, Homer Bush, and David Wells, the author of a perfect game in May. In his first tenure with the Bronx Bombers, the Rocket will post a 77-36 (.681) record, compiling an ERA of 3.99 during five seasons with New York.

2005    The Venezuelan authorities, during a daring eight-hour police raid, free Ugueth Urbina’s mother, Maura Villarreal, who spent five months of captivity surrounded by explosives to keep her from escaping from her imprisonment in a mountain camp. The kidnappers had demanded a $6 million ransom from the Tigers’ relief pitcher for his mom’s release.

2009    After considering playing for Atlanta, a location closer to his family, Ken Griffey Jr. agrees to a one-year deal with the Seattle Mariners. The 39-year-old outfielder joins a list of superstars, Babe Ruth (Boston), Willie Mays (New York), and Hank Aaron (Milwaukee), to choose the city where they played with their first team as the place to end their major league career.

2009    The demolition of the last remaining piece of Shea Stadium, the ramp to section 5, occurred at 11:25 a.m., marking the end of the New York venue where the Mets played for 44 years. The old ballpark’s footprint will become a parking lot for the team’s new home, the $800-million Citi Field, opening in April.

2011    The Orioles officially announce the signing of Vladimir Guerrero after the 36-year-old passed his physical. The team’s new everyday designated hitter, who batted .300 with 29 homers and 115 RBIs with the American League Champion Rangers last season, agrees to a one-year, $8 million deal to play in Baltimore.

2011    Garrett Wittels goes 0-for-4 against Southeastern Louisiana, leaving the Florida International University junior two games short of Robin Ventura’s Division 1 record of hitting in 58 consecutive games, established by the future major leaguer in 1987. The overall NCAA mark is 60 straight games, set by Damian Costantino, playing for Division III Salve Regina from 2001-03.

NUMBERS IN SPORTS

43 – 22 – 99

February 18, 1909 – The Boston Red Sox traded away their legendary pitcher, Cy Young who was 41 at the time mind you, to the Cleveland Naps franchise. Who are the Naps you may ask well they were the city of Cleveland’s American League MLB team from 1903 to 1914. They were briefly renamed the Cleveland Molly Maguires in 1911 before returning to the Naps. In 1915 the franchise again rebranded themselves as the Cleveland Indians until after the 2021 season their name was once again revised to the Cleveland Guardians. The name Naps was derived from their manager Larry Lejoie whose God given first name was Napoleon, thus the team adopted the shortened “Nap” portion for their moniker.

February 18, 1919 – Cy Denneny of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators scored a league record 52nd goal of his career in just the midst of his second season. We are not quite sure if he ever wore a number on his sweater or not as records are non-revealing.

February 18, 1944 – The youngest MLB player ever signed to a contract took place. 15-year-old Joe Nuxhall was inked by the Cincinnati Reds to play baseball just one day after playing in a high school basketball game. His debut in the big leagues with the club would not occur until later that year when he wore Number 43 that season.

February 18, 1962 – The Daytona 500’s fourth running the man with a name that even sounds fast, Fireball Roberts dominated the event, leading 144 of the 200 laps and drove his black Number 22 Pontiac

February 18, 1981 –  Another Wayne Gretzky record setting moment arises as the star 20 year old forward of the Edmonton Oilers tallied his fifth career NHL hattrick, becoming the first skater to ever do that. In the game against the St Louis Blues Number 99 scored 5 goals and two assists to lead the Oilers to a dominant 

FOOTBALL HISTORY

February 18, 1994 – According to the OnthisDay.com the Shreveport Pirates joined the Canadian Football League as the fourth US-based team. Unfortunately the team folded one year later in 1995.

February 18, 1893 – Alexandria, Minnesota – The awesome Army Football Center John McEwan claimed his birth date. John McEwan was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in1962 after the National Football Foundation tallied their votes.

February 18, 1895 – Laurium, Michigan – The legendary University of Notre Dame fullback George Gipp was born. See more about this legend by clicking on his name.

February 18, 1926 – Washington, D.C. – Len Ford the Defensive End from Michigan University was born. Ford first played professionally with the All American Football Conference’s Los Angeles Dons as a two way end. He was loved by quarterbacks on offense as he routinely hauled in leaping one hand grabs and was a big target at 6’-4” and 245 pounds according to the Pro Football hall of Fame. His specialty was on the defensive side of the ball though. When the AAFC disbanded, a former team of the defunct league, the Cleveland Browns, grabbed Len quickly in a special draft in the NFL. The Browns as a matter of fact changed their whole defensive thought process after acquiring Ford because of his awesome pass rushing skills, in essence creating the 4-3 defensive scheme. Len’s dominance really shined bright in the 1954 NFL Championship game against the Lions, when Ford  picked off two passes in the 56-10 route. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Len Ford at the 1976 festivities in Canton.

February 18, 1931 – San Francisco, California – Bob St. Clair was an outstanding tackle from the University of Tulsa. The 6’-9” 273 pound giant of a man found himself as being the third round pick of his hometown 49ers in the 1953 NFL Draft per the ProFootballHOF.com. Bob played 11 seasons in San Francisco named first- or second-team All-NFL nine times and was selected to play in five Pro Bowls. Bob St. Clair happily admired his bronze bust in 1990 when the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined him in their museum.

February 18, 1944 – Pat Bowlen attended Oklahoma and he ended up being one of the most successful NFL franchise owners in League History as his Denver Broncos teams had 21 winning seasons in the 30 years he ran the club per the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The  Broncos teams that Bowlen owned sold out 400 straight home games! The franchise has won three Super Bowls – XXXII, XXXIII and 50. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Pat Bowlen as a contributor in 2019.  

February 18, 1947 – Newport News, Virginia – The stellar Purdue University halfback Leroy Keyes arrived into this life. The FootballFoundation.org tells us that Keyes got his first big play in college on the defensive side of the ball when as a sophomore against Notre Dame he picked off a fumble in midair and ran 95 yards to score. The 1968 season he was a fulltime offensive running back and he had games where he rushed for 225 yards on 21 carries against Illinois; two touchdowns running and one passing against Notre Dame. But who could forget his three touchdowns in the fourth quarter as Purdue came from 11 points down to beat Indiana 38-35 during that 1968 season!  Leroy Keyes was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990 after the National Football Foundation tallied their votes.

February 18, 1962 – Crowley, Texas – Gary Reasons the outstanding linebacker from Northwestern State University celebrated his day of birth. The National Football Foundation shares that Reasons set school records with 172 tackles in a season and 394 tackles in his career. He made 24 tackles in a game against McNeese State. Northwestern State honored Gary by retiring his number 34 jersey at the end of his collegiate career. Gary Reasons received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

February 18, 1963 – Norman, Oklahoma – The fine quarterback of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Chuck Long was born. The NFF says that Long was able to play in five bowl games. How is that, you ask? Well in 1982 he got in for two plays in the Rose Bowl but since it was such a small amount of playing time, the NCAA did not count it as an eligible season. In 1984, he set a national record by completing 22 consecutive passes against Indiana. In 1984, he led the nation in pass completion percentage, .661. The National Football Foundation selected Chuck Long for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

TV SPORTS TUESDAY

MEN’S NCAA BASKETBALL	TIME ET	TV
Villanova vs. UConn	6:30pm	FS1
Jacksonville at FGCU	6:30pm	ESPN+
Austin Peay at Bellarmine	6:30pm	ESPN+
Miami (OH) at Eastern Michigan	6:30pm	ESPN+
Oklahoma at Florida	7:00pm	ESPN2
Texas A&M at Mississippi State	7:00pm	SECN
Syracuse at Pitt	7:00pm	ACCN
Loyola Chicago at Davidson	7:00pm	CBSSN
Lipscomb at Eastern Kentucky	7:00pm	ESPN+
Purdue at Michigan State	7:00pm	Peacock
Central Arkansas at Queens	7:00pm	ESPN+
North Florida at Stetson	7:00pm	ESPN+
West Georgia at North Alabama	7:00pm	ESPN+
Northern Illinois at Akron	7:00pm	ESPN+
Western Michigan at Buffalo	7:00pm	ESPN+
Kent State at Bowling Green	7:00pm	ESPN+
Ball State at Toledo	7:00pm	ESPN+
Central Michigan at Ohio	7:00pm	ESPN+
Butler at Xavier	8:00pm	Peacock
Texas Tech at TCU	8:00pm	ESPN+
Colorado at Iowa State	8:00pm	ESPN+
Illinois at Wisconsin	8:30pm	FS1
Air Force at Wyoming	8:30pm	MWN
Tennessee State at UT Martin	8:30pm	ESPN+
Houston at Arizona State	9:00pm	ESPN
Kansas at BYU	9:00pm	ESPN2
South Carolina at LSU	9:00pm	SECN
Virginia Tech at Boston College	9:00pm	ACCN
Seton Hall at Marquette	9:00pm	CBSSN
Nevada at Colorado State	9:00pm	MWN
Minnesota at UCLA	10:30pm	FS1
Fresno State at San Diego State	11:00pm	CBSSN
SOCCER	TIME ET	TV
UEFA Champions League: Milan vs Feyenoord	12:45pm	Paramount+
UEFA Champions League: Atalanta vs Club Brugge	3:00pm	Paramount+
UEFA Champions League: Benfica vs Monaco	3:00pm	Paramount+
UEFA Champions League: Bayern München vs Celtic	3:00pm	Paramount+
CONCACAF Champions Cup: Sporting KC vs Inter Miami	8:00pm	FS2 fuboTV
CONCACAF Champions Cup: Colorado Rapids vs Los Angeles FC	10:00pm	FS2 fuboTV