BOYS BASKETBALL SCORES
| ANGOLA | 78 | HAMILTON | 24 | |
| CENTERVILLE (OHIO) | 63 | NEW ALBANY | 35 | |
| EAST NOBLE | 68 | CHURUBUSCO | 28 | |
| FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK | 72 | MARQUETTE CATHOLIC | 50 | |
| HERITAGE CHRISTIAN | 54 | TRITON CENTRAL | 45 | |
| PIKE CENTRAL | 55 | GIBSON SOUTHERN | 48 | |
| TRI-TWP. | 53 | ATTICA | 12 | |
| TRI | 70 | WES-DEL | 43 | |
| UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS (KY.) | 66 | EVANSVILLE BOSSE | 59 | |
| BATESVILLE TOURNAMENT | ||||
| BATESVILLE | 58 | WALDRON | 49 | R1 |
| JENNINGS COUNTY | 77 | NORTH HARRISON | 54 | R1 |
| NORTH HARRISON | 69 | WALDRON | 57 | 3RD |
| JENNINGS COUNTY | 72 | BATESVILLE | 47 | 1ST |
| BISMARCK-HENNING (ILL.) TOURNAMENT | ||||
| INDIANA MATH & SCIENCE | 71 | HERITAGE (ILL.) | 31 | CON |
| INDIANA MATH & SCIENCE | TBA | TBA | ||
| CLAY CITY TOURNAMENT | ||||
| MITCHELL | 62 | NORTH VERMILLION | 43 | 7TH |
| NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) | 59 | RIVERTON PARKE | 49 | 5TH |
| TRI-WEST | 50 | OWEN VALLEY | 39 | 3RD |
| WHITELAND | 39 | CLAY CITY | 38 | 1ST |
| GREENWOOD TOURNAMENT | ||||
| BREBEUF JESUIT | 50 | GREENWOOD | 25 | R1 |
| EVANSVILLE HARRISON | 50 | YORKTOWN | 43 | R1 |
| YORKTOWN | 51 | GREENWOOD | 40 | 3RD |
| BREBEUF JESUIT | 57 | EVANSVILLE HARRISON | 47 | 1ST |
| HEBRON TOURNAMENT | ||||
| HEBRON | 41 | CULVER | 33 | 3RD |
| SOUTH BEND CAREER | 43 | TRI-COUNTY | 42 | 1ST |
| HIGHLAND TOURNAMENT | ||||
| HAMMOND MORTON | 47 | MORGAN TWP. | 46 | R1 |
| CALUMET | GRIFFITH | 1:00 PM | ||
| MORGAN TWP. | 66 | CALUMET | 36 | CON |
| HAMMOND MORTON | GRIFFITH | 8:30 PM | ||
| HOMESTEAD TOURNAMENT | ||||
| MUNSTER | 74 | SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH | 49 | POOL A |
| MISHAWAKA MARIAN | 48 | VALPARAISO | 46 | POOL B |
| HOMESTEAD | 67 | HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN | 45 | POOL A |
| FISHERS | 58 | FORT WAYNE DWENGER | 32 | POOL B |
| SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH | 61 | FORT WAYNE DWENGER | 47 | 7TH |
| MUNSTER | 60 | FISHERS | 55 | 5TH |
| VALPARAISO | 49 | HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN | 45 | 3RD |
| HOMESTEAD | 55 | MISHAWAKA MARIAN | 49 | OT | 1ST |
| HUNTINGTON NORTH TOURNAMENT | ||||
| HUNTINGTON NORTH | 49 | FORT WAYNE SNIDER | 48 | POOL A |
| NEW HAVEN | 68 | INDIANAPOLIS TECH | 49 | POOL B |
| MISHAWAKA | 66 | FORT WAYNE SNIDER | 57 | POOL A |
| MERRILLVILLE | 71 | NEW HAVEN | 47 | POOL B |
| MISHAWAKA | 48 | HUNTINGTON NORTH | 32 | POOL A |
| MERRILLVILLE | 46 | INDIANAPOLIS TECH | 40 | POOL B |
| INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI TOURNAMENT | ||||
| UNIVERSITY | 67 | INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI | 49 | R1 |
| MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) | 63 | FLOYD CENTRAL | 54 | R1 |
| FLOYD CENTRAL | 69 | INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI | 54 | 3RD |
| MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) | 65 | UNIVERSITY | 41 | 1ST |
| KANKAKEE (ILL.) TOURNAMENT | ||||
| KANKAKEE (ILL.) | 67 | LAFAYETTE JEFF | 52 | PLACE |
| KENTUCKY MOUNTAIN CLASSIC | ||||
| AVON | 63 | BETSY LAYNE (KY.) | 48 | |
| KOKOMO TOURNAMENT | ||||
| WARREN CENTRAL | 41 | GUERIN CATHOLIC | 40 | R1 |
| BROWNSBURG | 78 | COLUMBIA CITY | 37 | R1 |
| CENTER GROVE | 73 | SOUTH BEND RILEY | 62 | R1 |
| KOKOMO | 75 | FORT WAYNE LUERS | 48 | R1 |
| LAPORTE TOURNAMENT | ||||
| SOUTH BEND ADAMS | 66 | LOWELL | 31 | R1 |
| LAKE CENTRAL | 52 | TIPPECANOE VALLEY | 44 | R1 |
| TIPPECANOE VALLEY | 74 | LOWELL | 35 | CON |
| LAKE CENTRAL | 48 | SOUTH BEND ADAMS | 46 | SF |
| LEBANON TOURNAMENT | ||||
| PERRY MERIDIAN | 50 | EVANSVILLE NORTH | 36 | CON |
| INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN | 46 | MOORESVILLE | 41 | CON |
| NEW PALESTINE | 76 | GARY 21ST CENTURY | 57 | SF |
| LEBANON | 55 | MCCUTCHEON | 35 | SF |
| MOORESVILLE | 60 | EVANSVILLE NORTH | 50 | 7TH |
| PERRY MERIDIAN | 54 | INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN | 45 | 5TH |
| GARY 21ST CENTURY | 60 | MCCUTCHEON | 56 | 3RD |
| NEW PALESTINE | 59 | LEBANON | 48 | 1ST |
| MIAMI COUNTY INVITATIONAL | ||||
| MACONAQUAH | 92 | NORTH MIAMI | 51 | 3RD |
| PERU | 61 | CASTON | 34 | 1ST |
| MORRISTOWN TOURNAMENT | ||||
| NEW WASHINGTON | 65 | MORRISTOWN | 50 | 7TH |
| SOUTH RIPLEY | 74 | MILAN | 71 | 5TH |
| SOUTH DEARBORN | 45 | CASCADE | 37 | 3RD |
| COVENANT CHRISTIAN | 52 | INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD | 49 | 1ST |
| NORTH CENTRAL CLASSIC | ||||
| NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) | 69 | JEFFERSONVILLE | 57 | |
| PIKE | 70 | PARK TUDOR | 67 | |
| PLYMOUTH TOURNAMENT | ||||
| PLYMOUTH | 43 | KNOX | 27 | R1 |
| LEWIS CASS | 65 | JIMTOWN | 36 | R1 |
| KNOX | 54 | JIMTOWN | 47 | 3RD |
| PLYMOUTH | 44 | LEWIS CASS | 37 | 1ST |
| PROVISO WEST (ILL.) TOURNAMENT | ||||
| BOWMAN ACADEMY | ZION-BENTON (ILL.) | 12:00 PM | ||
| HAMMOND CENTRAL | 56 | FENWICK (ILL.) | 42 | 3RD |
| RICH CENTRAL (ILL.) TOURNAMENT | ||||
| HAMMOND NOLL | 64 | ST. FRANCIS DESALES (ILL.) | 45 | CON |
| SOUTH CENTRAL TOURNMENT | ||||
| WEST CENTRAL | 74 | OREGON-DAVIS | 61 | R1 |
| SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) | 46 | NORTH WHITE | 46 | R1 |
| NORTH WHITE | 54 | OREGON-DAVIS | 44 | 3RD |
| WEST CENTRAL | 44 | SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) | 43 | 1ST |
| SOUTHRIDGE TOURNAMENT | ||||
| EASTERN GREENE | 45 | NORTH KNOX | 27 | 5TH |
| SOUTHRIDGE | 52 | DANVILLE | 49 | 3RD |
| ORLEANS | 56 | SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH) | 40 | 1ST |
| WABASH COUNTY TOURNAMENT | ||||
| SOUTHWOOD | 64 | NORTHFIELD | 44 | 3RD |
| WABASH | 55 | MANCHESTER | 47 | 1ST |
| WABASH VALLEY TOURNAMENT | ||||
| ROBINSON (ILL.) | 36 | PARKE HERITAGE | 34 | CON |
| TERRE HAUTE NORTH | 47 | WEST VIGO | 29 | 5TH |
| TERRE HAUTE SOUTH | 62 | SULLIVAN | 52 | 3RD |
| LINTON-STOCKTON | 56 | BLOOMFIELD | 44 | 1ST |
GIRLS BASKETBALL SCORES
| BELLMONT | 58 | BLUFFTON | 20 | |
| BEN DAVIS | 53 | INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL | 42 | |
| BROWNSBURG | 59 | LAWRENCE NORTH | 52 | |
| COLUMBUS NORTH | 60 | TERRE HAUTE NORTH | 33 | |
| DANVILLE | 56 | GREENSBURG | 53 | |
| FLOYD CENTRAL | 44 | NORTH HARRISON | 36 | |
| FOREST PARK | 54 | CRAWFORD COUNTY | 26 | |
| FORT WAYNE WAYNE | 62 | MUNCIE CENTRAL | 54 | |
| JAY COUNTY | 63 | PENDLETON HEIGHTS | 50 | |
| NEW WASHINGTON | 54 | HAUSER | 51 | |
| OLDENBURG ACADEMY | 46 | WALDRON | 24 | |
| PENN | 50 | CARMEL | 43 | |
| PERRY CENTRAL | 52 | CLARKSVILLE | 44 | |
| PIKE | 58 | HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) | 44 | |
| PRINCETON | 53 | MITCHELL | 49 | |
| PROVIDENCE | 68 | INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA | 33 | |
| SPRINGS VALLEY | 54 | HANCOCK COUNTY (KY.) | 50 | |
| TRI-TWP. | 45 | ATTICA | 27 | |
| BISMARCK-HENNING (ILL.) TOURNAMENT | ||||
| NORTH VERMILLION | 40 | OAKWOOD (ILL.) | 35 | 5TH |
| BENTON CENTRAL | 82 | CISSNA PARK (ILL.) | 18 | 1ST |
| BOWMAN ACADEMY TOURNAMENT | ||||
| RIVER FOREST | 53 | GARY 21ST CENTURY | 20 | POOL A |
| EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL | 55 | CALUMET | 15 | POOL B |
| BOWMAN ACADEMY | 31 | GARY 21ST CENTURY | 17 | POOL A |
| CALUMET | 55 | LIGHTHOUSE CPA | 7 | POOL B |
| EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL | 80 | LIGHTHOUSE CPA | 7 | POOL B |
| RIVER FOREST | 39 | BOWMAN ACADEMY | 32 | POOL A |
| CAMBRIDGE CITY CLASSIC | ||||
| CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN | 45 | PHALEN ACADEMY | 25 | R1 |
| MILAN | 48 | MORRISTOWN | 43 | R1 |
| MORRISTOWN | PHALEN ACADEMY | 6:00 PM | ||
| MILAN | 36 | CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN | 30 | 1ST |
| CENTER GROVE TOURNAMENT | ||||
| CENTER GROVE | 57 | LINTON-STOCKTON | 24 | R1 |
| JEFFERSONVILLE | 70 | MCCUTCHEON | 36 | R1 |
| LINTON-STOCKTON | 43 | MCCUTCHEON | 33 | 3RD |
| CENTER GROVE | 64 | JEFFERSONVILLE | 41 | 1ST |
| EASTERN GREENE TOURNAMENT | ||||
| JASPER | 50 | EASTERN GREENE | 45 | POOL A |
| BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL | 56 | BLOOMFIELD | 28 | POOL B |
| LOOGOOTEE | 47 | MARTINSVILLE | 40 | POOL C |
| NORTH KNOX | 46 | OWEN VALLEY | 25 | POOL D |
| BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL | 38 | SOUTH KNOX | 20 | POOL B |
| JASPER | 43 | SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) | 28 | POOL A |
| NORTH KNOX | 34 | PAOLI | 30 | POOL D |
| TRINITY LUTHERAN | 47 | MARTINSVILLE | 22 | POOL C |
| EASTERN GREENE | 63 | SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) | 47 | POOL A |
| SOUTH KNOX | 62 | BLOOMFIELD | 33 | POOL B |
| TRINITY LUTHERAN | 46 | LOOGOOTEE | 33 | POOL C |
| PAOLI | 49 | OWEN VALLEY | 30 | POOL D |
| FREMONT TOURNAMENT | ||||
| JIMTOWN | 43 | STURGIS (MICH.) | 28 | 3RD |
| LAKE STATION | 60 | FREMONT | 39 | 1ST |
| GOSHEN CLASSIC | ||||
| DEKALB | 48 | MISHAWAKA | 32 | |
| GOSHEN | 55 | EAST NOBLE | 48 | OT |
| MISHAWAKA | 65 | EAST NOBLE | 48 | |
| GOSHEN | 53 | DEKALB | 40 | |
| HALL OF FAME TOURNAMENT | ||||
| BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE | 59 | MISHAWAKA MARIAN | 28 | R1 |
| NOBLESVILLE | 62 | EAST CENTRAL | 37 | R1 |
| EAST CENTRAL | 55 | MISHAWAKA MARIAN | 42 | 3RD |
| NOBLESVILLE | 69 | BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE | 67 | 2OT | 1ST |
| HAMMOND MORTON TOURNAMENT | ||||
| HAMMOND MORTON | 66 | GARY WEST | 21 | 5TH |
| THORNWOOD (ILL.) | 61 | HAMMOND NOLL | 40 | 3RD |
| DETROIT EDISON (MICH.) | 49 | NOTRE DAME ACADEMY (OHIO) | 29 | 1ST |
| MIAMI COUNTY INVITATIONAL | ||||
| NORTH MIAMI | 52 | MACONAQUAH | 35 | 3RD |
| CASTON | 51 | PERU | 47 | 1ST |
| NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) CLASSIC | ||||
| GIBSON SOUTHERN | 67 | AVON | 57 | |
| HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN | 77 | HENDERSON COUNTY (KY.) | 36 | |
| SPRINGSBORO (OHIO) | 40 | NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) | 32 | |
| NORTHRIDGE TOURNAMENT | ||||
| NORTHRIDGE | 62 | KNOX | 30 | POOL A |
| ANDREAN | 58 | SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH | 37 | POOL A |
| NORTHWOOD | 47 | RUSHVILLE | 45 | POOL B |
| MERRILLVILLE | 33 | FORT WAYNE DWENGER | 32 | POOL B |
| NORTHRIDGE | 46 | ANDREAN | 39 | POOL A |
| KNOX | 53 | SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH | 38 | POOL A |
| RUSHVILLE | 42 | FORT WAYNE DWENGER | 38 | POOL B |
| NORTHWOOD | 47 | MERRILLVILLE | 37 | POOL B |
| SPEEDWAY TOURNAMENT | ||||
| SPEEDWAY | 45 | TERRE HAUTE SOUTH | 38 | R1 |
| DECATUR CENTRAL | 65 | RISING SUN | 38 | R1 |
| TERRE HAUTE SOUTH | 46 | RISING SUN | 39 | 3RD |
| DECATUR CENTRAL | 60 | SPEEDWAY | 38 | 1ST |
| TRINE UNIVERSITY CLASSIC | ||||
| FORT WAYNE NORTH | 47 | WEST NOBLE | 40 | |
| LAKELAND | 49 | CONCORD | 27 | |
| TIPPECANOE VALLEY | 64 | WEST NOBLE | 19 | |
| FORT WAYNE NORTH | 48 | CONCORD | 45 | |
| FORT WAYNE NORTHROP | 77 | ELKHART | 34 | |
| LAKELAND | 58 | FORT WAYNE SOUTH | 24 | |
| FORT WAYNE NORTHROP | 67 | TIPPECANOE VALLEY | 32 | |
| ELKHART | 71 | FORT WAYNE SOUTH | 18 | |
| UNION CITY INVITATIONAL | ||||
| BLUE RIVER | 44 | ADAMS CENTRAL | 24 | R1 |
| UNION CITY | 44 | GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN | 22 | R1 |
| BLACKFORD | 62 | PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD | 32 | R1 |
| FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK | 47 | UNION COUNTY | 39 | R1 |
| ADAMS CENTRAL | 54 | GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN | 15 | CON |
| UNION COUNTY | 50 | PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD | 43 | CON |
| VINCENNES RIVET TOURNAMENT | ||||
| EVANSVILLE MATER DEI | 51 | VINCENNES RIVET | 27 | POOL B |
| EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL | 66 | CORYDON CENTRAL | 48 | POOL A |
| LANESVILLE | 59 | EVANSVILLE MATER DEI | 30 | POOL B |
| EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL | 59 | LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC | 45 | POOL A |
| TECUMSEH | 49 | VINCENNES RIVET | 41 | POOL B |
| CORYDON CENTRAL | 64 | LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC | 46 | POOL A |
| LANESVILLE | 52 | TECUMSEH | 25 | POOL B |
| WABASH COUNTY TOURNAMENT | ||||
| NORTHFIELD | 60 | MANCHESTER | 51 | 3RD |
| WABASH | 42 | SOUTHWOOD | 38 | 1ST |
| WARSAW TOURNAMENT | ||||
| WARSAW | 54 | KOKOMO | 39 | POOL A |
| COLUMBIA CITY | 59 | WINCHESTER | 45 | POOL B |
| CHESTERTON | 44 | KOKOMO | 38 | POOL A |
| SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON | 81 | WINCHESTER | 38 | POOL B |
| WARSAW | 60 | CHESTERTON | 47 | POOL A |
| SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON | 67 | COLUMBIA CITY | 50 | POOL B |
INDIANA WRESTLING SCORES: HTTPS://INDIANAMAT.COM/INDEX.PHP?/DUALRESULTS.HTML/
TOP 25 MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
#1 PURDUE 82 FLORIDA A&M 49
ELSEWHERE:
PROVIDENCE 72 BUTLER 52
INDIANA STATE 91 EVANSVILLE 63
ROBERT MORRIS 75 PURDUE FORT WAYNE 70
DRAKE 68 VALPARAISO 63
PENN STATE 60 DELAWARE STATE 46
OHIO STATE 90 ALABAMA A&M 59
NEBRASKA 66 IOWA 50
CENTRAL MICHIGAN 63 MICHIGAN 61
ALCORN STATE AT MINNESOTA CANCELLED
ILLINOIS 85 BETHUNE COOKMAN 52
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/CBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20221229
TOP 25 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
#1 SOUTH CAROLINA 76 TEXAS A&M 34
MICHIGAN STATE 83 #4 INDIANA 78
#5 NOTRE DAME 66 MIAMI FLORIDA 63
DUKE 72 #6 NORTH CAROLINA STATE 58
CLEMSON 64 #7 VIRGINIA TECH 59
#9 LSU 69 #24 ARKANSAS 45
#12 IOWA 83 PURDUE 68
FLORIDA STATE 78 #13 NORTH CAROLINA 71
#18 ARIZONA 84 ARIZONA STATE 66
#19 GONZAGA 77 PEPPERDINE 63
ELSEWHERE:
MISSOURI STATE 71 INDIANA STATE 62
PURDUE FORT WAYNE 52 ROBERT MORRIS 41
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 86 EVANSVILLE 77
ILLINOIS 79 WISCONSIN 63
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/WCBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20221229
COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL SCHEDULE
MINNESOTA 28 SYRACUSE 20
#13 FLORIDA STATE 35 OKLAHOMA 32
#12 WASHINGTON 27 #20 TEXAS 20
FRIDAY, DEC. 30
NO. 23 NC STATE VS. MARYLAND — DUKE’S MAYO BOWL (CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA) | 12 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 18 UCLA VS. PITT — SUN BOWL (EL PASO, TEXAS) | 2 P.M. | CBS
NO. 19 SOUTH CAROLINA VS. NO. 21 NOTRE DAME — GATOR BOWL (JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
OHIO VS. WYOMING — ARIZONA BOWL (TUCSON, ARIZONA) | 4:30 P.M.| BARSTOOL
NO. 6 TENNESSEE VS. NO. 7 CLEMSON — ORANGE BOWL (MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA) | 8 P.M. | ESPN
SATURDAY, DEC. 31
IOWA VS. KENTUCKY — MUSIC CITY BOWL (NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE) | 12 P.M. | ABC
NO. 5 ALABAMA VS. NO. 9 KANSAS STATE — SUGAR BOWL (NEW ORLEANS) | 12 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 2 MICHIGAN VS. NO. 3 TCU (CFP SEMIFINAL) — FIESTA BOWL (GLENDALE, ARIZONA) | 4 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 1 GEORGIA VS. NO. 4 OHIO STATE (CFP SEMIFINAL) — PEACH BOWL (ATLANTA) | 8 P.M. | ESPN
MONDAY, JAN. 2
NO. 22 MISSISSIPPI STATE VS. ILLINOIS — RELIAQUEST BOWL (TAMPA, FLORIDA) | 12 P.M. | ESPN2
NO. 17 LSU VS. PURDUE — CITRUS BOWL (ORLANDO, FLORIDA) | 1 P.M. | ABC
NO. 10 USC VS. NO. 16 TULANE — COTTON BOWL (ARLINGTON, TEXAS) | 1 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 8 UTAH VS. NO. 11 PENN STATE — ROSE BOWL (PASADENA, CALIFORNIA) | 5 P.M. | ESPN
SUNDAY, JAN. 8
FCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (FRISCO, TEXAS) | 2 P.M. | ABC
MONDAY, JAN. 9
CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA) | ESPN
NFL WEEK 17
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2022
DALLAS 27 TENNESSEE 13
BOX SCORE: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/FB/BOXSCORE.ASP?GAMECODE=20221229010&HOME=10&VIS=6&FINAL=TRUE
SUNDAY, JANUARY 01, 2023
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT ATLANTA FALCONS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
CHICAGO BEARS AT DETROIT LIONS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT HOUSTON TEXANS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
DENVER BRONCOS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT NEW YORK GIANTS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
CLEVELAND BROWNS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS 1:05P (PT) 4:05P FOX
NEW YORK JETS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 1:05P (PT) 4:05P FOX
MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS 3:25P (CT) 4:25P CBS
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 5:20P (PT) 8:20P NBC*
MONDAY, JANUARY 02, 2023
BUFFALO BILLS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (MON) 8:30P (ET) 8:30P ESPN/ABC
NBA
INDIANA 135 CLEVELAND 126
CHARLOTTE 121 OKLAHOMA CITY 113
BOSTON 116 LA CLIPPERS 110
MEMPHIS 119 TORONTO 106
SAN ANTONIO 122 NEW YORK 115
DALLAS 129 HOUSTON 114
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NBA/SCOREBOARD.ASP
NHL
BUFFALO 6 DETROIT 3
TAMPA BAY 2 NY RANGERS 1
FLORIDA 7 MONTRÉAL 2
OTTAWA 4 WASHINGTON 3
NY ISLANDERS 2 COLUMBUS 1
ST. LOUIS 3 CHICAGO 1
DALLAS 4 MINNESOTA 1
WINNIPEG 4 VANCOUVER 2
LOS ANGELES 5 COLORADO 4
ARIZONA 6 TORONTO 3
PHILADELPHIA 4 SAN JOSE 3
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NHL/SCOREBOARD.ASP
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES
PELÉ, BRAZIL’S MIGHTY KING OF ‘BEAUTIFUL GAME,’ HAS DIED
SAO PAULO (AP) Pele, the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died Thursday. He was 82.
The standard-bearer of “the beautiful game” had undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021. The medical center where he had been hospitalized for the last month said he died of multiple organ failure as a result of the cancer.
“Pele changed everything. He transformed football into art, entertainment,” Neymar, a fellow Brazilian soccer star, said on Instagram. “Football and Brazil elevated their standing thanks to the King! He is gone, but his magic will endure. Pele is eternal!”
A funeral was planned for Monday and Tuesday, with his casket to be carried through the streets of Santos, the coastal city where his storied career began, before burial.
Widely regarded as one of soccer’s greatest players, Pele spent nearly two decades enchanting fans and dazzling opponents as the game’s most prolific scorer with Brazilian club Santos and the Brazil national team.
His grace, athleticism and mesmerizing moves transfixed players and fans. He orchestrated a fast, fluid style that revolutionized the sport – a samba-like flair that personified his country’s elegance on the field.
He carried Brazil to soccer’s heights and became a global ambassador for his sport in a journey that began on the streets of Sao Paulo state, where he would kick a sock stuffed with newspapers or rags.
In the conversation about soccer’s greatest players, only the late Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are mentioned alongside Pele.
Different sources, counting different sets of games, list Pele’s goal totals anywhere between 650 (league matches) and 1,281 (all senior matches, some against low-level competition.)
The player who would be dubbed “The King” was introduced to the world at 17 at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, the youngest player ever at the tournament. He was carried off the field on teammates’ shoulders after scoring two goals in Brazil’s 5-2 victory over the host country in the final.
Injury limited him to just two games when Brazil retained the world title in 1962, but Pele was the emblem of his country’s World Cup triumph of 1970 in Mexico. He scored in the final and set up Carlos Alberto with a nonchalant pass for the last goal in a 4-1 victory over Italy.
The image of Pele in a bright, yellow Brazil jersey, with the No. 10 stamped on the back, remains alive with soccer fans everywhere. As does his trademark goal celebration – a leap with a right fist thrust high above his head.
Pele’s fame was such that in 1967 factions of a civil war in Nigeria agreed to a brief cease-fire so he could play an exhibition match in the country. He was knighted by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in 1997. When he visited Washington to help popularize the game in North America, it was the U.S. president who stuck out his hand first.
“My name is Ronald Reagan, I’m the president of the United States of America,” the host said to his visitor. “But you don’t need to introduce yourself because everyone knows who Pele is.”
Pele was Brazil’s first modern Black national hero but rarely spoke about racism in a country where the rich and powerful tend to hail from the white minority.
Opposing fans taunted Pele with monkey chants at home and all over the world.
“He said that he would never play if he had to stop every time he heard those chants,” said Angelica Basthi, one of Pele’s biographers. “He is key for Black people’s pride in Brazil, but never wanted to be a flagbearer.”
Pele’s life after soccer took many forms. He was a politician — Brazil’s Extraordinary Minister for Sport — a wealthy businessman, and an ambassador for UNESCO and the United Nations.
He had roles in movies, soap operas and even composed songs and recorded CDs of popular Brazilian music.
As his health deteriorated, his travels and appearances became less frequent. He was often seen in a wheelchair during his final years and did not attend a ceremony to unveil a statue of him representing Brazil’s 1970 World Cup team. Pele spent his 80th birthday isolated with a few family members at a beach home.
Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, in the small city of Tres Coracoes in the interior of Minas Gerais state on Oct. 23, 1940, Pele grew up shining shoes to buy his modest soccer gear.
Pele’s talent drew attention when he was 11, and a local professional player brought him to Santos’ youth squads. It didn’t take long for him to make it to the senior squad.
Despite his youth and 5-foot-8 frame, he scored against grown men with the same ease he displayed against friends back home. He debuted with the Brazilian club at 16 in 1956, and the club quickly gained worldwide recognition.
The name Pele came from him mispronouncing the name of a player called Bile.
He went to the 1958 World Cup as a reserve but became a key player for his country’s championship team. His first goal, in which he flicked the ball over the head of a defender and raced around him to volley it home, was voted as one of the best in World Cup history.
The 1966 World Cup in England – won by the hosts – was a bitter one for Pele, by then already considered the world’s top player. Brazil was knocked out in the group stage and Pele, angry at the rough treatment, swore it was his last World Cup.
He changed his mind and was rejuvenated in the 1970 World Cup. In a game against England, he struck a header for a certain score, but the great goalkeeper Gordon Banks flipped the ball over the bar in an astonishing move. Pele likened the save – one of the best in World Cup history – to a “salmon climbing up a waterfall.” Later, he scored the opening goal in the final against Italy, his last World Cup match.
In all, Pele played 114 matches with Brazil, scoring a record 95 goals, including 77 in official matches.
His run with Santos stretched over three decades until he went into semi-retirement after the 1972 season. Wealthy European clubs tried to sign him, but the Brazilian government intervened to keep him from being sold, declaring him a national treasure.
On the field, Pele’s energy, vision and imagination drove a gifted Brazilian national team with a fast, fluid style of play that exemplified “O Jogo Bonito” — Portuguese for “The Beautiful Game.” His 1977 autobiography, “My Life and the Beautiful Game,” made the phrase part of soccer’s lexicon.
In 1975, he joined the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League. Although 34 and past his prime, Pele gave soccer a higher profile in North America. He led the Cosmos to the 1977 league title and scored 64 goals in three seasons.
Pele ended his career on Oct. 1, 1977, in an exhibition between the Cosmos and Santos before a crowd in New Jersey of some 77,000. He played half the game with each club. Among the dignitaries on hand was perhaps the only other athlete whose renown spanned the globe – Muhammad Ali.
Pele would endure difficult times in his personal life, especially when his son Edinho was arrested on drug-related charges. Pele had two daughters out of wedlock and five children from his first two marriages, to Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi and Assiria Seixas Lemos. He later married businesswoman Marcia Cibele Aoki.
PRESCOTT HAS 2 TD PASSES, COWBOYS TOP BANGED-UP TITANS 27-13
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys know they have some things to clean up. Starting a two-game road swing to wrap up the regular season with a victory is all that matters.
Prescott threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns to Dalton Schultz and the Cowboys beat the banged-up and resting Tennessee Titans 27-13 on Thursday night for their sixth win in seven games.
The Cowboys (12-4) posted their first back-to-back 12-win seasons since 1994 and 1995, when Dallas won the last of its five Super Bowl titles. Fans were chanting “Let’s go Cowboys!” throughout the game.
“This was a game we needed to get, and we got it done,” Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said. “Whether we get any style points (or not), that’s OK. We’re still at 12 wins.”
The Cowboys still need to finish the regular season by winning at Washington with Philadelphia (13-2) losing out for a chance at a second straight NFC East title. Otherwise, they will be locked into the No. 5 seed in the NFC.
Ezekiel Elliott had a a 1-yard touchdown run, his ninth straight game with a rushing TD. That made him the fifth player with such a streak since 2000, joining Shaun Alexander (2005), Priest Holmes (11 in 2002), Jonathan Taylor in 2021 and LaDainian Tomlinson (18 between 2004-05).
The Titans (7-9) lost their sixth straight hours after placing quarterback Ryan Tannehill on injured reserve, ending his season unless they reach the AFC championship. They have 22 players on injured reserve and lead the NFL using at least 83 different players.
This game was meaningless for Tennessee in the standings, with next week’s regular-season finale at Jacksonville deciding the AFC South title. So the Titans scratched seven starters, not counting two others put on IR with Tannehill. Those watching included Derrick Henry, the NFL’s second-leading rusher.
“I’m sure that everybody expected us to just lay down,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said. “I know that we didn’t do that.”
The Titans gave Joshua Dobbs, signed Dec. 21 off Detroit’s practice squad, his first NFL start instead of rookie Malik Willis, their third-round pick in April. The former University of Tennessee star played his last college game on this field, a 2016 Music City Bowl win over Nebraska for a very long wait between starts.
“Oh man, it was a long time, that’s for sure,” Dobbs said. “It definitely was a long time. A lot of working out and you’re like, `Dang, I don’t even know.'”
Dobbs had more yards passing by halftime than Willis managed in any of his first three starts. Dobbs finished with 232 yards and the first TD pass of his career, a 7-yarder to Robert Woods, that pulled the Titans within 17-13 late in the third.
The Cowboys scored the final 10 points. Prescott capped a 75-yard drive with his second TD pass to Schultz for a 24-13 lead early in the fourth. Brett Maher added his second field goal for the final margin.
Dallas led only 10-6 at halftime thanks to three turnovers, including two interceptions off Prescott by two-time All-Pro safety Kevin Byard that set up field goals by Randy Bullock. That gave Prescott a career-high 14 picks, tying him with now-benched Raiders quarterback Derek Carr for most in the NFL.
That’s despite Prescott missing five games with a broken thumb. The Dallas quarterback has been picked off in six consecutive games for the first time in his career.
“Whether it’s off your guy’s hands or whether I throw it behind the receiver and the cornerback makes the play, they’re all frustrating and somehow or another they’ve got to stop,” Prescott said.
Prescott took advantage of the ailing Titans defense, finding CeeDee Lamb for 11 catches for 100 yards. Lamb also became only the third Cowboys player with 100 catches in a season, joining Michael Irvin (111 in 1995) and Jason Witten (110 in 2012).
When undrafted rookie cornerback Tre Avery was flagged for grabbing Michael Gallup on third-and-19, Prescott threw a 6-yard TD pass to Schultz on the next play midway through the third for a 17-6 lead.
PENALTY DISCREPANCY
The Titans were penalized 10 times for a season-high 124 yards, three on defensive pass interference flags for 74 yards. Dallas was flagged three times for 35 yards, and Vrabel made clear he thought an official missed a pass interference when Titans rookie Treylon Burks was held.
“I think his left arm got grabbed,” Vrabel said. “Same guy, all those 50-yard pass interference penalties didn’t see it the same way on our sidelines. I don’t know what to tell you.”
INJURIES
Dallas center Tyler Biadasz hurt his right ankle when Titans defensive end DeMarcus Walker rolled up on his leg late in the third quarter. That forced Connor McGovern to slide over from left guard, Tyler Smith from left tackle to guard with Jason Peters coming in for Smith. Biadasz did not return.
Titans defensive back Andrew Adams hurt his right knee on Schultz’s second TD catch and was carted to the locker room. Titans cornerback Davontae Harris hurt a hamstring early.
UP NEXT
Dallas wraps up the regular season at Washington.
The Titans visit Jacksonville trying to beat the odds and win a third straight AFC South title.
NO. 12 WASHINGTON HOLDS OFF NO. 21 TEXAS 27-20 IN ALAMO BOWL
SAN ANTONIO (AP) Michael Penix, Jr. threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns and No. 12 Washington held off No. 21 Texas 27-20 on Thursday night in the Valero Alamo Bowl.
Texas scored 10 late points, pulling within seven on Bert Auburn’s 26-yard field goal with 1:40 remaining, then failed on an onside kick try. The Longhorns (8-5) stopped the Huskies (11-2) on the ensuing possession and took over on their own 16 with 32 seconds and got to the Washington 40 on the final play of the game.
Penix finished the season with 4,641 yards passing to break the 20-year-old Washington season mark of 4,458 set by Cody Pickett.
Penix led back-to-back scoring drives of 75 and 90 yards in the second half to stretch the Huskies’ lead to 17. He was 32 of 55, completed passes to eight receivers, and connected with Taj Davis and Jalen McMillan for scores.
Texas had cut a 10-point halftime deficit to 13-10 on 34-yard pass play from Quinn Ewers to Jonathon Brooks on the opening possession of the second half.
Texas was without star running back Bijon Robinson, and rushed for just 51 yards. Robinson, who led the Longhorns with 1,580 yards and 18 TDs, skipped the game to prepare for the NFL draft.
Washington, which lost out on tiebreakers for a spot in the Pac-12 championship game after a 7-2 league mark, finished on a seven-game winning streak with its second straight bowl victory.
Texas was in its first bowl game under second-year coach Steve Sarkisian.
OPTING OUT
In addition to Robinson, Texas senior running back Roschon Johnson and senior linebacker DeMarvion Overshown opted out to prepare for the NFL draft. No Washington players opted out.
REDEMPTION AT THE ALAMO
The Huskies are 1-1 in the Alamo Bowl. In 2011, Washington – coached by current Texas coach Sarkisian – lost to Baylor 67-56 in the highest-scoring edition of the game.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Texas, which traveled 90 miles from Austin, saw its winning streak in San Antonio come to an end. The Longhorns, playing in their third Alamo Bowl in the last four years, beat Colorado 55-23 in 2020 and Utah 38-10 in 2019.
TRAVIS, NO. 13 FLORIDA STATE BEAT OKLAHOMA IN CHEEZ-IT BOWL
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) After rebuilding Florida State’s program over the past few years, coach Mike Norvell will take a moment to savor the No. 13 Seminoles’ 35-32 victory over Oklahoma in the Cheez-It Bowl. Then, he said, it’s time to get back to work.
“I know what we had to come through as a program,” Norvell said. “It was hard. And we know what’s ahead. And it’s going to be work. There’s no limits to what we can accomplish, and I’m going to push them until we get to ultimately where I know we can go.”
Jordan Travis threw for 418 yards and two touchdowns Thursday night to lead Florida State to its 10th win of the season in a game that saw 1,083 total yards of offense and four second-half lead changes.
Johnny Wilson made a one-handed grab for a 58-yard gain to set up Ryan Fitzgerald’s 32-yard field goal with 55 seconds left. The Seminoles (10-3) held on, sacking quarterback Dillon Gabriel on the Sooners’ comeback bid.
Jovante Barnes tied it at 32 for Oklahoma (6-7) with 3:37 left on a 12-yard run. That was after Travis fired a 17-yard pass to tight end Markeston Douglas in the end zone to put the Seminoles up 32-25 midway through the fourth. The Seminoles had gotten the ball off an Oklahoma fumble.
Treshaun Ward’s 1-yard rushing touchdown late in the third quarter gave the Seminoles an 18-17 lead – their first advantage since leading 3-0 in the opening quarter. Travis converted two third downs to guide Florida’s State 94 yards on the 15-play drive.
The Sooners went up 25-18 with 13:22 left on 25-yard run by freshman Gavin Sawchuk and a successful 2-point conversion.
Florida State needed just two minutes to go 75 yards to tie it at 25, with Ward taking the ball 38 yards into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game.
Florida State won its first bowl since the 2017 season, and its first under Norvell.
Travis, who has already announced his intention to return to the team for the 2023 season, became the 11th player in program history to pass for 3,000-plus yards in a season.
Travis also had seven carries for 50 yards rushing. He said despite his big game, he has more in him.
“We’re not done yet,” Travis said. “This is just the beginning. We have another chapter. This is the end of the chapter this year, but we still have a lot to do. I have a lot of plans for next year, a lot of goals. I can’t wait.
Treshaun Ward had 81 yards on 10 carries for Florida State, and Wilson had a season-high 202 yards on eight catches.
The Seminoles won their final five games of the regular season, scoring at least 38 points in all of them. Florida State was 5-3 in conference play with its first winning season since 2017, which also was Jimbo Fisher’s last year coaching the team before taking the head coaching job at Texas A&M.
Oklahoma, making its 24th straight bowl appearance, lost its first bowl game since the 2019 season.
It was a disappointing end to a disappointing season for the storied program that is looking to establish its post-Lincoln Riley identity after he took Southern California’s coaching job after last season.
“A challenging season, but I know the type of men that we have in that locker room,” said Oklahoma’s first-year coach Brent Venables, “and for me, that’s what I hang my hat on in regards to, we’ll be fine.”
Oklahoma won its first three games but lost three of its final four, missing the Big 12 title game for the second straight season.
Gabriel, a transfer from UCF, completed 14 of 24 passes for 243 yards and one TD. He also had a rushing score in the second quarter.
“I want to do whatever it takes for this team to win,” Gabriel said. “Obviously, it’s a little frustrating when it doesn’t happen.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Florida State: The Seminoles were successful in getting pressure on Brooks in passing situations, recording six sacks.
Oklahoma: Despite missing four starting offensive linemen, the Sooners had 253 total yards of rushing.
TEXAS TECH DENIES OLE MISS CLAIM OF RACIAL SLUR DURING BOWL
HOUSTON (AP) Texas Tech on Thursday denied claims by Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin that a Red Raiders player spit on one of his players and possibly used a racial slur in the Texas Bowl.
A scrum between the teams came after Ole Miss’ Dayton Wade fumbled in the fourth quarter Wednesday night and Texas Tech recovered. There was pushing and shoving between players and Ole Miss player Jordan Watkins was given a personal foul penalty.
After the game, which Ole Miss lost 42-25, Kiffin said the penalty should have been on Texas Tech senior linebacker Dimitri Moore instead of Watkins. Both players wear No. 11.
Kiffin said after the game that Watkins wasn’t in the fight, and that Moore was fighting Ole Miss lineman Jayden Williams and that “everybody knew” because Texas Tech coaches were yelling at their own player.
“There was a racial slur involved, that’s not the point of what we’re talking about, (it’s) about the spitting part,” Kiffin said. “I brought our own 71 (Williams) up to the officials, right or wrong, you see him crying? He’s not crying not because he got spit on, it’s because something was said.”
When asked to clarify if a Texas Tech player used a racial slur toward one of his players, Kiffin said he wasn’t sure.
“I’m not going to, because I did not hear it, (I’m not going to) say that that happened for sure that he gave a racial slur to our player,” Kiffin said. “I was told that that was said in that (incident) but I did not hear that. So that would obviously be a giant issue.”
Moore and Williams are both Black.
“We are disappointed an opposing head coach decided to insinuate serious allegations that are false and irresponsible,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said in a statement released by the school Thursday. “I have discussed these allegations with Dimitri Moore, and he disputed the two claims that were brought forth against him.”
Moore, in an accompanying statement, said the allegations were untrue.
“I can’t state strongly enough that these accusations are false. It is disappointing to have my final game as a collegiate student-athlete overshadowed by the false accusations that were stated last night,” Moore said. “Since I have arrived at Texas Tech, I have strived to represent my teammates, this coaching staff and most importantly, my family, in the highest manner.”
Kiffin said he got so upset during the game because he didn’t believe it was fair that his player got a penalty that he thinks clearly should have been on someone else.
“I’m going to defend our players when a kid spits on them and is accused to a national audience that it’s him,” Kiffin said. “So, Jordan has to deal with this.”
McGuire was not asked about the incident after the game, but Kiffin said he spoke with him about the spitting after the game.
“If you actually watch over there one of them’s kind of laughing because he got off,” Kiffin said. “He’s screaming at the player, they’re losing their mind on him … I talked to their head coach afterwards, he was like: `Crazy officiating out there.’ I go: `Yeah that was really bad on that one that your guy spit and our guy got the penalty.’ He was like: `Yeah, I know.'”
AP SOURCE: BIG TEN’S WARREN CANDIDATE FOR BEARS PRESIDENT
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren has spoken to the Chicago Bears about the vacancy at the top of the organization and is a candidate to become the team’s next president and CEO, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because neither the Bears nor the conference or Warren were making the discussions public.
Warren’s resume includes multiple stops in the NFL and the Bears are searching for a president to replace the retiring Ted Phillips.
“We have not set a timeline for announcing Ted Phillip’s successor,” the team said. “Our search team has cast a wide net, spoken to many outstanding candidates and looks forward to introducing our next President and CEO at the process’s conclusion.”
The Big Ten released a statement, saying Warren “regularly receives unique opportunities and request for his expertise from leaders across a variety of industries, ranging from professional sports ownership groups to private equity firms.”
The statement said Warren remained focused on the Big Ten, its 14 member schools and more than 10,000 athletes.
Warren has spoken with several professional teams going through transitions at the top, including the Denver Broncos, Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves during his tenure as Big Ten commissioner, the person familiar with the situation told AP.
Warren became the first Black commissioner of a Power Five conference when the Big Ten hired him in June 2019 out of the Minnesota Vikings’ front office to replace the retiring Jim Delany.
Warren drew sharp criticism early in his tenure when the league called off the 2020 fall football season because of the pandemic. The Big Ten reversed course five weeks later and played an abbreviated schedule after receiving guarantees that athletes could be tested for the virus every day and that there would be screening protocols for virus-related heart ailments for those who tested positive.
There have also been some big wins for the Big Ten in recent months
In July, the Big Ten announced Southern California and UCLA will join the conference in 2024, giving it a coast-to-coast footprint. A month later, the conference landed about $7 billion in media rights deals with FOX, CBS and NBC to share the rights to football and basketball games. The contracts go into effect in 2023 and expire in 2030.
Warren worked in the NFL for 20 years, doing stints with the St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions before settling in with Minnesota in 2005. He was the Vikings’ chief operating officer from 2015 to 2019.
Warren played a big role in their construction of U.S. Bank Stadium, which opened in 2016. The Bears see it as a model for their potential new home in suburban Arlington Heights, Ill., if their purchase of a 326-acre property is completed and if they decide to move there.
IBRAHIM POWERS MINNESOTA PAST SYRACUSE IN PINSTRIPE BOWL
NEW YORK (AP) Mohamed Ibrahim rushed for 71 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown and became Minnesota’s all-time rushing leader in the Golden Gophers’ 28-20 win over Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Thursday.
Ibrahim, who missed virtually all of last year with a ruptured Achilles, closed out a solid career in dramatic fashion. After getting injured in the 2021 season opener against Ohio State, Ibrahim returned for a sixth season and finished his career with 4,668 yards and 53 rushing touchdowns in 40 games since joining the Golden Gophers as a two-star recruit from Baltimore.
“He’s the ultimate overachiever, period,” Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said. “There’s nothing you can tell him that he can’t do and that goes back to his recruiting process. I bet you there’s a lot of people that would like Mohamed Ibrahim on their team. There could be a lot of NFL teams that would like him on their team.”
Ibrahim broke the school record held by Darrell Thompson (4,654 yards from 1986-89) on a 10-yard gain with about 2 1/2 minutes left in the first half. Before breaking the record, Ibrahim scored a gritty 4-yard run with 13:39 remaining in the half before sitting out the final periods. The TD gave him 20 and moved him past Gary Russell (19 in 2005) for the most single-season TDs in school history.
“It’s not something that I circled,” Ibrahim said of the records. “I just took it week by week, just doing my job, executing the game plan and one game lead up to another and it just adds up.”
Ibrahim also set a school record for rushing attempts (320) and finished with the fifth-most rushing TDs in Big Ten history.
“He is a great back,” said Syracuse linebacker Marlowe Wax, who competed against Ibrahim in high school. “So I’m happy to see that he is still doing good things One of the best backs in the nation. I’m just ready to see what he is going to do at the next level.”
Trey Potts replaced Ibrahim in the backfield and had 27 yards on 10 carries. Daniel Jackson hauled in a pair of TD passes – a 20-yard reception in the second and a 25-yard grab in the final minute of the third.
Athan Kaliakmanis started at QB for Minnesota (9-4) and completed 7 of 9 passes for 80 yards before being helped off the field with an injury. Tanner Morgan made his first appearance since Nov. 5 and completed 4 of 7 passes for 58 yards.
Syracuse (7-6) ended what was a promising season on a down note, playing without star running back Sean Tucker, who declared for the NFL draft on Dec. 17. Syracuse’s offense totaled 477 yards but struggled at times as the Orange lost six of their final seven games after a 6-0 start elevated them to No. 14 in The Associated Press Top 25 Poll.
“The loss definitely does hurt, but we have to remember that we did some great things this year,” Wax said.
LeQuint Allen replaced Tucker and finished with 103 yards on 16 carries.
Garret Shrader faced constant pressure and completed 32 of 51 passes for 329 yards. He ran for both of Syracuse’s TDs, and also overthrew receivers at times.
Ibrahim opened the scoring and nearly took a tackler with him up the middle with 13:39 left in the second quarter for a 7-0 lead. After Kaliakmanis was injured, Jackson made a leaping catch in the right corner of the end zone seven minutes later.
Shrader’s run moved Syracuse within 14-7 by halftime, and a 40-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt made it 14-10 early in the third. The Golden Gophers took a 21-10 lead when Coleman Bryson stepped in front of a pass intended for Oronde Gadsden II and returned the interception 70 yards.
Jackson’s second TD put Minnesota up 28-13 with 38 seconds left in the third. Syracuse caught a break when Allen lost a fumble, but it was negated due to Minnesota having 12 men on the field. Shrader scrambled from eight yards out with 2 1/2 minutes remaining.
UNLIKELY MVP
Bryson appeared in his fourth career game due to injuries in the secondary and besides getting his first career interception, the freshman defensive back totaled seven tackles.
“I looked up at the screen actually and I couldn’t believe it,” Bryson said. “What’s crazy though I got beat on that route like three or four times in the season.”
It also was Minnesota’s first interception return for a TD in a bowl game and Bryson became the first defensive player to win MVP honors since the game debuted in 2010.
UP NEXT
Syracuse: The replacement for Tucker will become a major storyline ahead of the season opener against Colgate on Sept. 2.
Minnesota: Whoever Ibrahim’s successor is in the backfield will open the season Aug. 31 against Nebraska. The Gophers also will face powerhouses Michigan and Ohio State in the same season for the first time since 2015.
LAMELO BALL HAS 27 POINTS TO HELP HORNETS BEAT THUNDER
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) LaMelo Ball had 27 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-113 on Thursday night for just their third victory in the last 14 games.
P.J. Washington added 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting and Charlotte got a promising effort from rookie center Mark Williams with career highs of 17 points and 13 rebounds to go along with two blocks.
Mason Plumlee added 14 points and nine rebounds for the Hornets. They outscored the Thunder 18-10 in the final 4:14 to break open a tie game.
“I’m just taking what the defense gives me,” said Ball, who was 5 of 10 from 3-point range and is shooting 38.5% from the beyond the arc since returning from a sprained ankle.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 28 points for Oklahoma City. Luguentz Dort added 22 and Josh Giddey had 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Thunder had won four of their last five.
The 7-foot Williams gave the Hornets a promising look into their future.
The 15th overall pick in the draft out of Duke has spent the majority of the season in the G League and recovering from an ankle injury. He’d never crested double digits in points or rebounds in his previous five NBA games, but made a big impression in front of Hornets fans in his first home game.
“It felt great,” said Williams, who was 7 of 7 from the floor. “I’m playing to my strengths – running the floor, setting screens and protecting the rim, rebounding. … just doing all the winning things and trying to provide the team a little boost.”
Hornets coach Steve Clifford chose to use Williams as his backup center over Nick Richards.
“That means a lot and I want to show it was the right decision,” Williams said.
Said Clifford: “He has the basic background to be a very effective NBA player – he protects the rim, he’s smart, he’s good with coverages. He has to work on his screening and rolling. For somebody like ‘Melo, Gordon (Hayward) or Terry (Rozier), if they get a good pick with a solid roll, we’re going to get a good shot. It’s an important part of the NBA game.”
Clifford said the Williams “showed what he’s capable of” but now wants to see if he can do it on a consistent basis.
“What it gets back to in this league is you have to do it three or four times a week and you have to do it against different types of players and different types of coverages,” Clifford said.
The Hornets, who returned home after a six-game trip, shot 72.7% in the first quarter and led the entire first half until Mike Muscala hit down a corner 3 at the buzzer to give the Thunder its first lead of the game at halftime, 60-57.
With the game tied at 103, Ball hit a floater in the lane to put the Hornets up for good and Washington knocked down a 3 off a dish from Rozier. Rozier added two free throws and Plumlee tipped in a rebound to make it 112-103 with 1:35 remaining.
Ball put the game away with a 3-pointer from the wing and a lookahead pass to Rozier.
“They had 66 points in the paint tonight,” said Thunder coach Mike Daigneault. “A lot of why we’ve had some success lately, defensively especially, has been because of our ability to protect the paint. And we certainly didn’t do that well enough.”
TIP INS
Thunder: Were outrebounded 52-41. … Tre Mann had 17 points off the bench.
Hornets: Shot 54.8% from the field. … Kelly Oubre Jr. returned to action after missing a game with a left hand sprain but left early after getting hit in the hand. He played 14 minutes.
UP NEXT
Thunder: Host Philadelphia on Saturday night.
Hornets: Host Brooklyn on Saturday night.
TATUM, BROWN SCORE 29 EACH AND CELTICS BEAT CLIPPERS 116-110
BOSTON (AP) Even from atop the NBA standings, the Boston Celtics remember the losses.
Three weeks after absorbing their worst one of the season in Los Angeles, the Celtics turned back the Clippers in Boston 116-110 on Thursday night, getting 29 points apiece from Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
“We definitely wanted to play better than we played last time,” Brown said. “Those guys beat us up pretty bad in L.A. So we wanted to change the narrative tonight on our home floor and come out and get a win.”
The Celtics (26-10) have the league’s best record, but things didn’t go so well on a West Coast road trip earlier this month. After losing to the Warriors in an NBA Finals rematch, Boston went down to Los Angeles and got pummeled by the Clippers.
The 113-93 defeat was their biggest of the season, and it was the first time this year they were held under 100 points. The back-to-back losses also kicked off a slump in which they lost five of six; they are 25-5 over the rest of the season.
“None of us enjoyed what happened in L.A.,” said assistant coach Damon Stoudamire, who was filling in for interim coach Joe Mazzulla while he recovers from a corneal abrasion. “We’re all very prideful. So I knew they were going to come back and have an edge to them.”
Tatum grabbed 11 rebounds, Marcus Smart had 17 points and nine assists, and Grant Williams added 11 points and 10 boards for Boston, which won its fourth straight game. Derrick White scored 15 points and had two blocked shots, one of them on Paul George’s attempted layup with 33 seconds left and Boston leading by three.
Brown hit two free throws down the stretch and Tatum made one to ice it.
Kawhi Leonard scored 26 for the Clippers, George had 24 points and Ivica Zubac had 13 points and 11 rebounds. Los Angeles had won four of its last five games, sweeping a back-to-back against Detroit and Toronto earlier this week.
Boston led 112-102 with under 3 minutes left before the Clippers scored eight of the next nine points, making it 113-110 on Leonard’s pullup jumper in the lane with about a minute left.
But White came from the weak side to block George the next time down, and then Brown and Tatum each grabbed an offensive rebound to run out most of the last 30 seconds.
The Celtics (26-10) opened their seven-game homestand with three straight losses but won their last four to retain the best record in the league.
“Losing three games in a row, it was humbling,” Stoudamire said. “And I think that we knew we had to have better performance the next few games. The guys responded.”
Boston led by as many as 13 in the second quarter and 11 at the half, but Reggie Jackson and George hit back-to-back 3-pointers to open the third. The Celtics led 67-62 when Marcus Morris Sr. sank a 3, and then Zubac made a turnaround hook shot in the lane to tie it.
By the end of the quarter, the Clippers led 85-84.
SHOOTING
With his first 3-pointer of the night, Tatum moved ahead of Antoine Walker and into second on the Celtics’ career list. Tatum finished with three in the game and now has (941) in his career. Paul Pierce is first, with 1,823.
Brown was 0 for 8 from 3 point range.
SUBBING IN
Mazzulla missed his second straight game with a corneal abrasion that he sustained during a pickup game. Stoudamire, who also filled in for Tuesday’s victory over the Rockets, said Mazzulla is expected back when the road trip begins on Sunday.
“Coach undefeated,” Smart said when he passed Stoudamire in the interview room.
UP NEXT
Clippers: Wrap up a five-game road trip on Saturday in Indiana.
Celtics: Begin a four-game road trip at Denver on Sunday.
MORANT HAS CAREER-HIGH 17 ASSISTS, GRIZZLIES ROUT RAPTORS
TORONTO (AP) Ja Morant had a career-high 17 assists and scored 19 points and the Memphis Grizzlies won for the first time in three games, beating the struggling Toronto Raptors 119-106 on Thursday night.
Dillon Brooks scored 25 points, Desmond Bane had 16 before fouling out and Steven Adams had 14 points and 17 rebounds. Memphis recorded a season-high 37 assists and won its third straight north of the border after losing its previous seven trips to Canada.
“It’s super impressive,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said about Morant’s 17 assists. “Tons of credit to Ja. It just sets a tone for us. His unselfishness, we talk about that all the time.”
Pascal Siakam had 25 points and 10 rebounds for Toronto before fouling out, extending his career-best streak with 25 or more to six. Gary Trent Jr. scored 20 points and O.G. Anunoby had 16 as Toronto’s home losing streak reached five. The Raptors have lost eight of 10 overall.
“That’s pretty unacceptable with the effort we gave,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. “We’ve got to get focused and connected and get serious about playing harder.”
The Grizzlies came in having lost four of five, but beat Toronto by outscoring the Raptors 70-50 on points in the paint.
“If we’re clicking like this, a lot of teams can’t beat us,” Brooks said.
Morant shot 9 for 19 and had a pair of eye-popping dunks in his first career game in Toronto. He missed last season’s road game against the Raptors because of a sprained left knee, while the two previous meetings were played outside Canada because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cheered in the pre-game introductions, Morant drew gasps and cheers from the crowd with his only basket of the second quarter, using a pump fake to evade Anunoby at the 3-point line before exploding to the rim for a two-handed slam.
“I think they’ve been watching what’s all over the internet of him flying around, dunking on guys, putting on a show,” Brooks said of the welcome Morant received from Toronto fans. “They were ready to watch and he didn’t disappoint.”
Morant reached his assist mark by racking up seven in the third quarter.
“He’s able to get three, four guys on him and find us for 3s, find us for dump offs,” Brooks said. “He’s a one-in-a-generation talent.”
Siakam and Nurse got technical fouls after Siakam shoved Brooks following a defensive foul by Brooks late in the fourth.
Raptors guard Fred VanVleet was not available because of continued soreness in his lower back, the same injury that knocked him out a home loss to the Clippers on Tuesday night.
TIP-INS
Grizzlies: Adams had eight rebounds in the first quarter. . Brooks was born and raised in nearby Mississauga. . Morant reached his previous high of 14 assists four times, most recently Nov. 27 at New York.
Raptors: Anunoby, Siakam, Barnes, Juancho Hernangomez and rookie Christian Koloko started, Toronto’s 18th different lineup in 35 games. . Shot 6 for 20 in the second quarter. … Following the game, Toronto waived F Justin Champagnie.
SHARE MORE, WIN MORE
Memphis is 13-1 this season when recording more assists than its opponent.
BAD START, BETTER FINISH
Toronto’s Scottie Barnes missed his first seven shot attempts and didn’t score in the first half but made seven of his final 11 attempts. He finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
“Just got to be more aggressive from the start,” Nurse said.
UP NEXT
Grizzlies: Host New Orleans on Saturday night.
Raptors: Host Phoenix on Friday night.
SPURS OVERCOME RANDLE’S 41, HAND KNICKS FIFTH STRAIGHT LOSS
SAN ANTONIO (AP) Julius Randle bullied San Antonio, but the Spurs never backed down.
Keldon Johnson scored 30 points and the Spurs overcame a season-high 41 from Randle to beat New York 122-115 on Thursday night, handing the Knicks their fifth straight loss.
“One of the key points to winning was just being physical because they are a really physical team,” San Antonio guard Romeo Langford said. “You’ve to praise Keldon, Stanley (Johnson) and Jeremy (Sochan) for carrying the load against Randle tonight. I felt like they were very physical, they were fouling, but at least they weren’t making it easy for him. That just carried over for everybody else to be physical.”
Langford added a career-high 23 points for the Spurs, who were without injured starter Devin Vassell. Tre Jones added 13 points and Sochan had 12.
Immanuel Quickley had a career-high 36 points for the Knicks while starting in place of injured point guard Jalen Brunson.
“We didn’t play well,” New York coach Tom Thibodeau said. “The numbers, when you don’t win, don’t mean anything to me.”
New York only led briefly after blowing a nine-point lead with 33 seconds left in regulation in an overtime loss to Luka Doncic and Dallas on Tuesday.
San Antonio maintained its lead by outscoring New York 62-42 in the paint and shooting 51% from the field.
Johnson shot 11 for 21 and had two blocked shots while playing 32 minutes despite getting into early foul trouble. He sat the rest of the first quarter after picking up two fouls in the opening two minutes.
“A lot of guys, if they get two quick ones, they are out for the game no matter what,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “They come in and they’re not aggressive and it just kind of plays with their head. He showed some good maturity by staying in it and playing at both ends of the court even though he had those quick fouls.”
Randle’s 3-pointer midway through the first quarter gave the Knicks their largest lead of the game at 23-18. The Spurs would reclaim the lead 2 1/2 minutes later and would never trail again.
“We scored 115 points, that’s enough,” Thibodeau said. “We talk about what goes into winning: defense, rebounding and low turnovers. That puts you in position to win. Everyone is capable of playing defense, everyone is capable of rebounding, everyone is capable of taking care of the ball. So, when you’re down players, your margin of error is smaller, but the intensity, if you do those other things, if we do those things as a team, we can beat anybody.”
After Doug McDermott made a 3-pointer, Johnson hit consecutive 3s to give the Spurs their largest lead at 90-73 with 3 1/2 minutes remaining.
San Antonio finished 11 for 28 on 3-pointers.
TIP-INS
Knicks: Randle was kneed in the stomach by Mitchell Robinson in the fourth quarter as the New York teammates battled for a rebound. Randle remained on the court for about a minute before rising and remaining in the game. . New York concludes a three-game trip to Texas on Saturday in Houston. . Brunson missed his second straight game with a sore right hip.
Spurs: Langford’s previous career high was 19 points against Miami on Dec. 10. Langford entered Thursday averaging a career-best 5.9 points, the highest of his four-year career.
NOT AGAIN
Popovich promised there would not be a repeat of Doncic’s historic outing against the Knicks when San Antonio hosts Dallas on New Year’s Eve.
Well, he jokingly assured it wouldn’t happen again.
Doncic had 60 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists as Dallas rallied to beat New York 126-121 in overtime Tuesday.
“We are holding Luka under 50,” Popovich said, playfully slapping his palm on the table. “Quote.”
Popovich normally dismisses any questions about the performance of another team or individual, but he praised the Mavericks guard.
“In our lives, there’s always something that (makes) you say, `I can’t believe that happened,'” Popovich said. “That was one of them for sure. It was incredible. I was thinking about it, Doncic had 60 (points), 20 (21 rebounds) and 10 (assists), so 90. Has anyone ever had 90 in a stat like that?”
UP NEXT
Knicks: At Houston on Saturday.
Spurs: Host Dallas on Saturday.
DONCIC HAS ANOTHER TRIPLE-DOUBLE, MAVS BEAT ROCKETS 129-114
DALLAS (AP) Luka Doncic followed his 60-point triple-double two nights earlier with 35 points in his NBA-best eighth triple-double of the season, and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Houston Rockets 129-114 on Thursday night.
Doncic, who recorded the NBA’s first game with 60 points and 21 rebounds to go with 10 rebounds on Tuesday against the New York Knicks, had 12 rebounds and 13 assists in 34 minutes as Dallas ran its winning streak to a season-best five games. He clinched the triple-double with his 10th assist with 5:37 remaining in the third quarter, giving him consecutive triple-doubles twice this season.
Christian Wood, acquired from Houston last summer, had 21 points, hitting 5 of 8 3-pointers, and four blocks for the Mavericks, who led by as many as 25 points. Dwight Powell added a season-high 19 points off the bench, hitting all eight of his shots, and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 18.
“I thought this was a great team win,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “We didn’t have to rely on Luka.”
Doncic has scored an NBA-record 95 points in the consecutive triple-doubles.
Jalen Green scored 23 points, Kevin Porter Jr. 17 and Jabari Smith Jr. 16 for the Rockets, who lost for the seventh time in eight games.
Doncic scored 21 first-half points in 18 minutes thanks to a 35-footer at the buzzer after Dallas inbounded from the baseline with 1.5 seconds left. The Mavs led 65-51.
“It’s always been his passing that has been the thing that has really separated him from everybody else, but now he’s adding the scoring to the passing, which makes him just a nightmare to defend and prepare for,” said Rockets coach Stephen Silas, who was a Dallas assistant during Doncic’s first two seasons.
AIR-RAID OFFENSE
The Mavericks scored a season-high 25 fast-break points.
“Normally we have zero. Or two,” Kidd said after a handful of Doncic’s assists came on long-distance inbound passes from the baseline, beginning with a touchdown-like strike to Davis Bertans late in the first quarter.
“For whatever reason, Davis is one of his favorite wide . tight-ends receivers who tends to outrun the coverage,” Kidd said. “I think he set the tone for us in a funny way.”
“Our guards, Luka especially, are looking ahead and trusting that we are going to run under some of those Hail Mary’s,” Powell said.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
With the Mavericks comfortably ahead late, the American Airlines Center crowd cheered wildly when Houston’s Boban Marjanovic, who was in the Wood trade after playing three seasons for Dallas, reported in for the first time. The fans cheered even more when Marjanovic hit a turnaround jumper en route to seven points to match his season high.
Before the game, the popular big man crossed the midcourt line at the scorer’s table to throw candy to some Mavericks front office personnel and was playfully pushed back toward Houston’s end by Bertans.
SEE YA REAL SOON
The Rockets and Mavericks will meet for the third time in 11 days next Monday at Houston.
TIP-INS
Rockets: Green and Porter combined to hit 5 of 7 behind the arc. The rest of the team was 0 for 10. . Smith scored 14 in the first quarter, hitting 6 of 7 shots.
Mavericks: The 2021-22 Western Conference finalists are four games above .500 for the first time this season. . Doncic received his ninth technical foul this season, one of those having been rescinded.
UP NEXT
Rockets: Will host the Knicks on Saturday.
Mavericks: Will begin a two-game Texas road trip on Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs.
NBA SUSPENDS 11 PLAYERS FROM MAGIC-PISTONS SCUFFLE
NEW YORK (AP) Detroit guard Killian Hayes and Orlando’s Moritz Wagner were each given multi-game suspensions for their roles in a scuffle, while the NBA suspended eight Magic players one game apiece Thursday for leaving the bench area during an altercation.
Hayes, who struck Wagner in the back of the head, was given a three-game suspension without pay. Wagner was banned two games and the Pistons’ Hamidou Diallo was suspended one game by NBA executive vice president Joe Dumars – the former Pistons star player and executive.
The fallout from the game in Detroit on Wednesday night was so large that the suspensions of the Magic players will be staggered so they have enough available players to play their next game.
Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton, Gary Harris, Kevon Harris, Admiral Schofield, Franz Wagner, Mo Bamba and Wendell Carter Jr. were all suspended one game.
Wagner hip-checked Hayes into the Detroit bench to begin the altercation. Hayes got up and hit him in the back, and Wagner appeared to briefly be knocked out. Magic players then rushed off their bench area in concern for their teammate.
Anthony, Bamba, Carter Hampton and Gary Harris will serve their suspensions Friday against Washington. Kevon Harris, Schofield and Franz Wagner will be suspended for Orlando’s following game Jan. 4 in Oklahoma City
The 11 suspensions will result in just over $500,000 in forfeited salary. Hayes will lose the most, about $121,000.
ROSEN, BINNINGTON SPARK BLUES TO 3-1 WIN OVER BLACKHAWKS
ST. LOUIS (AP) Calle Rosen scored unassisted and Jordan Binnington stopped 21 shots to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 3-1 victory over the struggling Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.
Rosen’s goal in the second period snapped a 1-all tie and gave St. Louis victories in both its games against Chicago this season. The Blues won 5-2 in Chicago on Nov. 16.
An injury to Torey Krug moved Rosen back into the lineup. Rosen was a healthy scratch in 17 games this season,
“It’s fun to play again,” Rosen said. “I’ve been skating a lot and trying to keep in shape, so to say. It’s fun to play.”
Josh Leivo and Brendon Saad also scored for St. Louis. Patrick Kane scored for Chicago.
St. Louis is 9-0-2 in its last 11 games against the Blackhawks, the longest point streak against Chicago in franchise history. St. Louis has outscored the Blackhawks 38-18. The Blues have also won five straight against Chicago.
The Blackhawks have won just two games since last facing the Blues in November. Chicago is 1-10-0 its last 11 games and 2-17-1 its last 20.
“The guys have to keep their heads up and not get frustrated, otherwise it’ll get harder,” Chicago coach Luke Richardson said. “We’ve got to push through and one of these days we’ll get a good bounce and it leads to a win.”
Binnington improved to 6-0-1 in seven games against Chicago.
“I didn’t know that,” Binnington said. “But it’s good. They’ve got some good players over there. If you give them some chances, they can play. We found a way to get the job done tonight.”
Rosen scored the only goal in the second period. An errant pass by Chicago’s Boris Katchouk went right to Rosen, who was at the top of the slot. Rosen snapped a shot past goalie Alex Stalock, who finished with 26 saves, for a 2-1 lead at 8:40. Rosen has points in three straight games.
Blues coach Craig Berube said Rosen is making the most of his opportunity to play.
“He’s got a pretty good skill set. He’s got feet and hands that are NHL for sure,” Berube said. “I think the more we give him minutes and give him more confidence, he’s gonna keep growing and playing better.”
Richardson said you don’t say much to the player after a mistake like that. You let his teammates handle it.
“The players were really good on the bench just rallying around him and telling him to have a good shift the next time he’s out there,” Richardson said. “It’s hard to shake those off as a player but you have to. “
Each team scored in the first period.
The Blues went up 1-0 when Leivo lifted a tap-in high at 3:12. A power-play goal by Chicago’s Kane at 9:13 tied it 1-1. Kane snapped a wrist shot from the left circle that sailed through traffic. Kane has 68 points (27 goals, 41 assists) in 71 games against St. Louis.
Binnington had a big save on a breakaway by Taylor Raddysh with seconds showing in the period to keep the score tied.
Saad’s empty net goal came at 19:49.
ICE CHIPS
LW Pavel Buchnevich played in his 100th game with the Blues. … The Blues have recalled D Tyler Tucker from the AHL Springfield Thunderbirds. … Blues prospect Jimmy Snuggerud, the 2022 first-round draft pick, scored two goals for Team USA in a 5-1 win over Switzerland on Thursday in the world junior hockey championship. He has three goals in three games. Team USA plays Finland on New Year’s Eve.
INJURIES
Blues: RW Vladimir Tarasenko (illness) is day to day. … D Torey Krug (lower-body injury) out for at least six weeks.
UP NEXT
Blackhawks At Columbus on Saturday.
Blues: Host Minnesota on Saturday.
OKPOSO SCORES 3 TIMES AS SABRES BEAT RED WINGS 6-3
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Kyle Okposo scored three times, Casey Mittelstadt had two goals and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Detroit Red Wings 6-3 on Thursday night for their fifth straight victory.
Jeff Skinner also scored for Buffalo, and Owen Power, Zemgus Girgensons and JJ Peterka each had two assists. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 28 saves and won his third straight start.
The Sabres had not practiced for a week. The Buffalo-area is recovering from a blizzard that killed at least 40 people.
Okposo “is a guy that has embedded himself and his family in this community,” Sabres coach Don Granato said. “This is life and lots of people in life and death situations, lots of families, too many lost loved ones, too many felt the pain of this storm that went through, and to have a guy like (Okposo) that loves this community score three I felt was appropriate.”
Dominik Kubalik scored two goals for Detroit, which lost for the seventh time in nine games. Jordan Oesterle also scored, and Magnus Hellberg made 29 stops.
“You can’t give them easy offense,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “In the second, we literally had three pucks on our stick that ended up in the slot on their stick and that was just too easy for them.”
Buffalo grabbed control with four goals in the second period, opening a 5-0 lead. Okposo had two of the goals, beating Hellberg at 11:21 and 14:02.
Okposo sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 3:38 left, No. 6 on the season. It was the captain’s first hat trick since Feb. 7, 2016, when he played for the New York Islanders.
“He’s been here for me personally through my whole ride here and anytime we get to see him get rewarded like that and have a big night, it’s awesome,” Mittelstadt said.
Mittelstadt put Buffalo ahead to stay with 4:28 left in the first. He tapped the puck past Hellberg after a slap shot from Peterka went off the skate of Red Wings defenseman Jake Walman and right to Mittelstadt.
“I’m very happy for (Mittelstadt) to be rewarded,” Granato said. “There was timing and sense and feel and obviously finish that led to those (goals), and we needed that.”
Skinner made it 2-0 when he intercepted a pass from Filip Hronek and snapped in a shot for his 17th goal.
Kubalik got his goals 1:48 apart in the third period, the latter on the power play at 4:23. Oesterle cut the Sabres’ lead to 5-3 at 7:11.
“Scoring always feels good but with the end result, it’s not nice, so it’s nothing to be happy about,” Kubalik said.
HUSSO SICK
Red Wings goalie Ville Husso did not dress against Buffalo because of an illness. Alex Nedeljkovic backed up Hellberg.
SABRES DEFENSE RESTORED
Sabres defensemen Power and Jacob Bryson returned to the lineup. Power missed the past three games after he sustained a lower-body injury in an off-ice pregame warmup activity Dec. 15. Bryson last played Dec. 13 and missed three games with a lower-body injury. To make room for Power, Buffalo placed defenseman Lawrence Pilut on waivers to send him to Rochester of the AHL.
UP NEXT
Red Wings: Host Ottawa on Saturday.
Sabres: Visit Boston on Saturday.
PAGEAU, BARZAL LEAD ISLANDERS PAST STRUGGLING BLUE JACKETS
NEW YORK (AP) Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Mathew Barzal scored in the second period, and the New York Islanders beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 on Thursday night.
Ilya Sorokin finished with 20 saves as the Islanders won their third straight game.
“That’s the way we want to play, be hard to play against,” Pageau said. “When you play well defensively, I always thought that creates offense. … Every team has good players, it’s the NHL, the best league in the world. You can’t take any team lightly. They are a hard-working team, well-coached. I thought we did what we had to do to win that game.”
The Blue Jackets dropped their seventh straight game and lost for the 10th time in 12 games overall. Emil Bemstrom scored the lone Columbus goal and Joonas Korpisalo made 34 saves.
Pageau opened the scoring at 7:12 of the second, displaying his two-way prowess with intelligent plays at both ends of the ice. He intercepted a drop pass in the defensive zone and then buried a loose puck that trickled past Korpisalo.
“There’s a lot of little things that he does that maybe don’t get noticed, they sure do by his teammates and by the coaching staff,” Islanders coach Lane Lambert said. “Just a responsible guy that is taking the challenge of playing against the other team’s top lines every night, relishes that and does a real good job with it.”
The Islanders improved to 14-4-0 when scoring the first goal and 12-6 while playing at UBS arena this season.
Barzal connected on the power play at 16:39 of the second. Pageau prevented the Blue Jackets from clearing the zone and Brock Nelson delivered a cross-ice pass to set up Barzal.
“We did what we needed to do before a big trip,” Islanders captain Anders Lee said.
Marcus Bjork fired a shot from the point that deflected off Bemstrom in the final minute of play, spoiling Sorokin’s shutout bid.
“We didn’t generate much tonight,” Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. “I don’t think some of our top guys had good nights. Give them credit, they take away your time and space, they are good at what they do.”
WORTH NOTING
Ross Johnston dressed for the Islanders for the first time since Nov. 29 with six regulars out of the lineup.
POWER PLAY DROUGHT SNAPPED
The Islanders went 1 for 3 on the power play, snapping a streak of 27 straight attempts without a power-play goal.
MILESTONE GAME
Islanders forward Casey Cizikas skated in his 700th game. The 31-year-old forward has spent his entire 12-year career with New York.
UP NEXT
Islanders: Visit the Seattle Kraken on Sunday, beginning a four-game West Coast road trip.
Blue Jackets: Host the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.
TOP INDIANA RELEASES
GAME REWIND: PACERS 135, CAVALIERS 126
While it’s still just December, Thursday night’s sold-out game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse between the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers had all the intensity and energy of a matchup in May.
The Pacers (19-17) had their best shooting night of the year in a 135-126 win over the Cavs (22-14) in front of a packed house in Indianapolis. The win snaps a five-game losing streak for the Pacers against the Cavs and knots the season series at 1-1.
Indiana, now sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, has won four of its last five games.
Trailing by a single point, the Pacers went on a 12-2 run from 5:38 to 3:07 in the fourth quarter. The Cavs were able to make it a one-possession game with 94 seconds left, but forward Aaron Nesmith’s layup through contact and ensuing rebound and free throws gave the Blue & Gold some breathing room.
Indiana made all six of its free throw attempts in the final 44 seconds to secure the win.
The loudest cheers of the night came off a posterizing dunk by Nesmith with 4:26 left in the game over 6-9 Cavs center Jarrett Allen.
Overall, the Pacers shot 56.5 percent from the field, including making 19 of 31 3-point attempts (61.3 percent).
Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton had 29 points on 10-for-19 shooting (6-for-8 3-point) to go along with nine assists while Buddy Hield hit five 3-pointers en route to 25 points. Rookie Bennedict Mathurin scored 23 points off the bench, Nesmith had 22 points and Myles Turner had 14 points to go along with 12 rebounds and six blocks.
“When you do the little things right, and when you put your effort into the game, the game rewards you,” Turner said after the win. “ I’m a big believer in that. I think that’s what this group has done. Everybody comes in on their off-days, everybody’s in the weight room, everybody’s putting extra shots up after practice … those may be little things, but that stuff matters.”
All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell led the visitors with 28 points, point guard Darius Garland had 18 and Allen had 19 points and 14 rebounds. The Cavs shot 52 percent and made 12 3-pointers.
On top of his strong offensive outing, Nesmith was praised for his defensive work and recent play by his teammates.
“It’s the most fun I’ve had playing basketball in a very long time,” Nesmith said after the win. “You know, it’s just a great group of guys. I love everybody on this team. We all love each other and cheer for each other’s success. It’s just it’s been a super fun year.”
Indiana’s 135 points are especially notable because the Cavs have the No. 1 net defense and are giving up the fewest points per game of any team at 105.5. The 135 points are the most given up by the Cavs this season.
The Pacers had their best shooting night of the season against the top-ranked defense, shooting 56.5 percent from the field and 61.3 percent from 3-point.
The Cavs won the battle inside against the Pacers, outrebounding the Blue & Gold 44-32 and outscoring them 72-48 in the paint.
In the first half there were 11 lead changes and six ties between the two teams. Both teams shot at a high clip, as the Pacers made 24 of 45 (53.3 percent) attempts and the Cavs hit 28 of 50 (56 percent) in the first 24 minutes.
The Pacers came out firing, as Hield – who leads the NBA in 3-pointers made this season – caught the opening tip won by Turner, spun around and made one from deep three seconds into the game.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, Hield’s 3-pointer was the fastest 3-point make in the play-by-play era (since 1996-97) and beats Pacers legend Reggie Miller’s 3-point make at 11:56 of the first quarter on March 5, 2000, against the Warriors.
Out of a timeout with 6:20 left in the first quarter, trailing 16-15, Turner threw down a dunk off a feed from Haliburton before scoring on a putback layup to give the Blue & Gold the lead back.
After trading the lead three more times, the Cavs went on a 12-6 run in the final 2:16 to lead 34-29 at the end of the opening frame.
Mathurin was red-hot to start the second quarter, hitting a 3-pointer, converting an and-one and then scoring back-to-back baskets to put the Blue & Gold back ahead at 47-43 with 7:24 left in the half.
In the final 2:38 of the half, the Cavaliers went on a 10-5 run. At the buzzer, Nesmith got a layup to go through contact for the Pacers to cut it to 68-64.
The Pacers shot 13-for-20 (9-for-14 3-point) in the third quarter to take a three-point lead into the final 12 minutes, with Haliburton accounting for 14 points in the period.
Following a score by the Cavs’ Evan Mobley out of intermission, Nesmith and Hield each made 3-pointers to retie the game at 70 two minutes into the third quarter.
Hield then made two more 3-pointers to give the Pacers the lead back at 76-73, but the Cavs answered with a 9-0 run behind four different scorers to go back up 82-76.
Haliburton then showed his range, hitting three straight 3-pointers to give the Blue & Gold a 96-93 lead with 2:35 left in the third quarter.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was given two technical fouls with 1:29 on the clock after arguing a non-call with referees and exited the game and assistant Lloyd Pierce took over head coaching duties on the floor.
After Haliburton made his fourth 3-pointer of the third quarter, the Pacers led 99-96 going into the final frame.
Two minutes into the fourth quarter, the Cavs scored 10 unanswered points – behind four different scorers – prompting a Pacers timeout with the Blue & Gold down 106-99.
With five minutes left, the teams were tied at 119.
From there, the Pacers came up clutch in the final ticks.
“They’re a very resilient group,” Pierce said. “.. I think whatever we give them from a coaching standpoint, they take it and they try and apply it and I think that’s what happened in the fourth quarter.”
The Pacers will conclude their 2022 portion of the schedule against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday before hosting the Toronto Raptors on Monday.
Inside the Numbers
– The Cavs gave up a season-high 135 points to the Pacers.
– Haliburton has scored 20 or more points in a game 20 times this season.
– Turner’s six blocks are the most by him in a game this season. He is currently ranked third in the NBA for blocks per game at 2.2.
— Turner now has 10 double-doubles this season.
– The Pacers are 10-2 when shooting 50 percent or better.
– Hield has made five or more 3-pointers 13 times this season. He has made multiple 3-pointers in each of the last 13 games.
– Seven of the eight Cavs players finished in double-digit scoring.
– The Pacers have come back to win nine times this season when trailing by 10 or more points at any point.
Stat of the Night
Indiana had its best overall and 3-point shooting night of the season against the No. 1 net defense in the NBA, shooting 56.5 percent from the field and 61.3 percent from 3-point.
You Can Quote Me On That
“(Nesmith) is the ultimate team guy. He plays the role that a lot of guys in the NBA are afraid to play.” – Pierce on Nesmith
“A lot of guys don’t like to do the dirty work, but you know somebody has to do it. When you have someone who enjoys doing the dirty work like me, I think that helps the team win games. So I’m gonna continue to do it. I enjoy doing it.” – Nesmith on his playing style
“That’s just Buddy being Buddy. The one tonight was crazy off the tip – I’ve never seen that before. He puts a lot of work into his shot. To see it fall is effortless.” – Turner on Hield’s recent stretch of hot shooting
“It was amazing. It was probably the best dunk I’ve ever seen in person. It was a much-needed play at that moment. Man, just a big-time play from him. We watched it in the back and dudes were excited. I’m going to watch that a bunch tonight, that’s for sure.” – Haliburton on Nesmith’s poster dunk
“Buddy had a lot of threes and Tyrese had a lot of threes and we were able to feed off that. The crowd as well, I’m gonna give credit to the crowd. I felt like they were there the whole game and pretty much helped us to close the game.” – Mathurin on scoring 135 against Cleveland’s tough defense
Noteworthy
Haliburton leads the league in assists (348), Hield leads the NBA in 3-pointers made (137) and Mathurin has the most bench points of any player (603) this season.
The Pacers lead the all-time series over the Cavs 106-99
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
Tickets
The Pacers close out 2022 by hosting Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and the Los Angeles Clippers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 3:00 PM ET.
HOLMES CAREER-HIGH NOT ENOUGH AS NO. 4 IU FALLS AT MICHIGAN STATE
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Senior forward Mackenzie Holmes set a new career-high 32 points and had her fourth double-double of the season, but No. 4 Indiana came up short at Michigan State, 83-78, on Thursday afternoon.
KEY MOMENTS
Indiana (12-1, 2-1 B1G) exchanged buckets with Michigan State in the first and were all tied, 10-10, at the media timeout. With under five minutes left to play, Michigan State went on an 8-0 run to take a 19-12 lead. Senior forward Mackenzie Holmes would cut the lead to four after an and one bucket.
MSU (9-5, 1-2 B1G) would lead as much as nine before IU called a timeout. Holmes would jumpstart another 6-0 run cutting the Spartan’s lead down to two, 23-21. With 8:47 left to play in the half, the Hoosiers kept it tight as they alternated buckets, but the Spartans would have a 35-33 heading into the locker room.
In the third, the Hoosiers continued to battle back hitting five of their last seven shots with a 11-3 run. Freshman guard Yarden Garzon would complete the run on an and one play, 52-48.
Garzon would continue her spark in the fourth scoring back-to-back in the paint. Holmes would follow it up with an and one play to tie the ball game, 58-58.
Holmes scored nine points in the fourth, but MSU would extend the lead, 67-60, with another a 7-0 run with over four minutes to play.
Garzon’s three with 26.1 seconds on the clock kept it a one-possession game, but the Spartans would seal the game in the bonus in the remaining seconds.
NOTABLE
Holmes set a new career-high with a game-high 32 points and 12 rebounds. It marked her first 30/10 double-double of her career and first for the program since Jill Champan had 30 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Wisconsin on Jan. 24, 2022.
Holmes moves into 15th place in all-time scoring with 1,476 career points, surpassing Lisa Furlin (1,451).
Holmes also leads the team in double-doubles this season with four and recorded the 14 double-double of her career, which moves her into 12th place all-time in career double-doubles.
The Gorham, Maine native also recorded her 76th double figure scoring game of her career.
Garzon added 17 points and six assists while two others also scored in double digits including junior guard Chloe Moore-McNeil (11 points, seven assists) and junior guard Sydney Parrish (10 points).
Moore-McNeil added a team-high seven assists and a team-high three steals.
The Hoosiers shot 58.5 percent from the floor in the effort, its second-best clip from the floor this season but made a season-low three 3-pointers.
On the day, IU committed 21 turnovers which led to 28 Michigan State points.
Indiana suffers its first loss of the season at Michigan State and has not won in the Breslin Center since 2018.
QUOTABLE
Indiana head coach Teri Moren
“Well we are disappointed. I felt like we dug ourselves a little hole there in the first half and fought our way back to pull within striking distance at halftime. Obviously, second half we tied it up and then we went down and I think gave up a 3-point play and lost the momentum again. Give our kids credit, they fought hard. The 21 turnovers certainly was a problem for us today, didn’t take care of the ball as well as we needed to do. We knew the press was coming but we didn’t handle ourselves. A lot of little things that when you try to do some things different defensively and try to change it up defensively and then we just had some really tough luck. Whether the ball got tipped or it was on the floor and we couldn’t get too it, just some tough luck scenarios also in there but give our kids credit they fought to the bitter end. I’m disappointed but Michigan State deserved to win this game today.”
UP NEXT
The 2023 calendar year tips on January 1 when Indiana welcomes Nebraska. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.
MIDLANDS CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS THROUGH SESSIONS I AND II
Ken Kraft Midlands Championships
After day one of the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships, Jacob Moran (125), Derek Gilcher (157) and Nick Willham (197) remain in the tournament.
Session III and IV will take place tomorrow with Session III starting at noon and Session IV at 7:05 p.m. (ET).
Indiana Results through Session I and II
Jacob Moran – 125 lbs.
R32: Markel Baker (George Mason) def. Jacob Moran (IU): Dec. 3-0
Cons. 1: Jacob Moran (IU) def. Patrick McCormick (Virginia): Dec. 6-2
Cons. 2: Jacob Moran (IU) def. Colton Drousias (West Virginia): MD, 13-5
Cons. 3: Jacob Moran (IU) def. Spencer Moore (North Carolina): SV-1, 4-2
Michael Spangler – 125 lbs.
R32: Dean Peterson (Rutgers) def. Michael Spangler (IU): MD, 9-0
Cons. 1: Michael Spangler (IU) advanced on bye
Cons. 2: Nick Kayal (Princeton) def. Michael Spangler (IU): Dec. 7-6
Blaine Frazier – 133 lbs.
R64: Blaine Frazier (IU) advanced on bye
R32: Marcel Lopez (Unattached-SIUE) def. Blaine Frazier (IU): Dec. 7-1
Cons. 1: Blaine Frazier (IU) advanced on bye
Cons. 2: Patrick Phillips (Franklin & Marshall) def. Blaine Frazier (IU): TF, 19-0
Isaac Thornton – 133 lbs.
R64: Isaac Thornton (IU) advanced on bye
R32: Taylor Lamont (Wisconsin) def. Isaac Thornton (IU): MD, 12-4
Cons. 1: Isaac Thornton (IU) advanced on bye
Cons. 2: Nathaniel Genobana (Northern Illinois) def. Isaac Thornton (IU): Dec. 7-6
Cayden Rooks – 141 lbs.
R64: Felix Lettini (Wisconsin) def. No. 29 Cayden Rooks (IU): Fall (7:32)
Cons. 1: Matt Ryan (Buffalo) advances on Medical Forfeit from Rooks
Cole Rhemrev – 141 lbs.
R64: Cole Rhemrev advanced on bye
R32: Cole Rhemrev (IU) def. Shawn Nonaka (George Mason): Dec. 9-4
R16: No. 1 Cole Matthews (Pittsburgh) def. Cole Rhemrev (IU): MD, 11-3
Cons. 4: Javion Jones (Northern Illinois) def. Cole Rhemrev (IU): Dec. 6-4
Graham Rooks – 149 lbs.
R64: No. 28 Graham Rooks (IU) def. Vince Mannella (Penn): Dec. 5-2
R32: No. 28 Graham Rooks (IU) def. Anthony Cheloni (Northern Illinois): SV-1, 4-2
R16: Caleb Tyus (SIUE) def. No. 28 Graham Rooks (IU): Dec. 6-5
Cons. 4: No. 28 Graham Rooks (IU) def. Caine Tyus (SIUE): MD, 13-0
Cons. 5: Nate Higley (GMU) def. No. 28 Graham Rooks (IU): Fall (4:58)
Derek Gilcher – 157 lbs.
R64: Derek Gilcher (IU) def. Caleb Dowling (West Virginia): SV-1, 3-1
R32: Derek Gilcher (IU) def. Alejandro Herrerra-Rondon (Oklahoma): Dec. 3-0
R16: Derek Gilcher (IU) def. Anthony Gibson (Northern Illinois): Dec. 5-3
Quarterfinal: No. 16 Garrett Model (Wisconsin) def. Derek Gilcher (IU): Dec. 4-2
Zack Rotkvich – 157 lbs.
R64: Zack Rotkvich (IU) advanced on bye
R32: Loranzo Rajaonarivel (George Mason) def. Zack Rotkvich (IU): Dec. 10-3
Cons. 1: Trevor Tarsi (Harvard) def. Zack Rotvkich (IU): MD, 11-1
Tyler Lillard – 165 lbs.
R64: Tyler Lillard (IU) advanced on bye
R32: Tyler Lillard (IU) def. Lucas Revano (Penn): Dec. 5-2
R16: Peyton Hall (West Virginia) def. Tyler Lillard (IU): Dec. 6-3
Cons. 4: Chandler Ammaker (Central Michigan) def. Tyler Lillard (IU): Dec. 6-3
Robert Major – 165 lbs.
R64: Mason Spears (Brown) def. Robert Major (IU): SV-1, 2-0
Cons. 1: Robert Major (IU) def. Tate Geiser (Cleveland State): Dec. 7-4
Cons. 2: Harrison Trahan (Brown) def. Robert Major (IU): Dec. 5-2
Clayton Fielden – 165 lbs.
R64: Clayton Fielden (IU) advanced on bye
R32: Josh Kim (Harvard) def. Clayton Fielden (IU): MD, 14-6
Cons. 1: Jake Evans (Northern Illinois) def. Clayton Fielden (IU): Dec. 3-2
Isiah Levitz – 174 lbs.
R32: Luca Augustine (Pittsburgh) def. Isiah Levitz (IU): TF, 17-2
R16: Michael Kestler (Penn) def. Isiah Levitz (IU): Fall (3:27)
Nick Willham – 197 lbs.
R32: Nick Willham (IU) def. Joseph Braunagel (Illinois): MD, 13-4
R16: John Crawford (Franklin & Marshall) def. Nick Willham (IU): Dec. 3-2
Cons. 2: Nick Willham (IU) def. Jonathan List (George Mason): Dec. 8-2
Cons. 3: Nick Willham (IU) def. Mike Doggett (Harvard): MD, 12-1
Gabe Sollars (Unattached) – 197 lbs.
R32: Andrew Davison (Northwestern) def. Gabe Sollars (Unattached – IU): Dec. 5-2
Cons. 1: Gabe Sollars (Unattached – IU) advanced on bye
Cons. 2: Gabe Sollars (Unattached – IU) def. Anthony Perrine (Cleveland State): Dec. 4-3
Cons. 3: Eli Shereen (Buffalo) def. Gabe Sollars (Unattached – IU): Dec. 5-2
#1 PURDUE WRAPS UP UNBEATEN NON-CONFERENCE SEASON WITH ROUT OF FLORIDA A&M
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Purdue guard Brandon Newman gave himself a lift with his defense.
“My defense gave me energy and put me in a better position,” the junior reserve said.
Newman scored 18 points to lead No. 1 Purdue to an 82-49 victory against Florida A&M on Thursday.
Newman went 7 for 13 from the field, including 3 for 6 from 3-point range. He also had a career-high five blocked shots to go along with four rebounds.
“When you are playing well as a team defensively you get more energy,” Purdue center Zach Edey said. “He’s out there blocking shots and looking like LeBron (James) chasing guys down.”
Purdue coach Matt Painter said Newman’s shooting and defense were big.
“He’s a weapon from an offensive standpoint,” he said. “He’s got to get comfortable in games and take what comes his way. When he starts forcing things, he puts himself in binds.”
After missing Purdue’s previous game due to illness, Edey had 14 points and a team-high 10 rebounds in 22 minutes. Also scoring in double figures for Purdue (13-0) was Trey Kaufman-Renn with 11 and Caleb Furst with 10.
Dimingus Stevens and Jordan Tillmon each had eight points for the Rattlers (2-9).
After leading 42-29 at halftime, the Boilermakers dominated the second half. Purdue’s largest lead was 41 points at 80-39.
“There wasn’t a particular halftime message,” Edey said. “They were making shots that we wanted them to take. … It was just keep playing defensively and keep rebounding.”
The Rattlers shot just 23.1% in the second half. The Boilermakers committed just seven turnovers compared to 13 for the Rattlers.
BIG PICTURE
Florida A&M: The Rattlers played a No. 1 team for the second time in the program history, also losing to No. 1 Duke in the 1999 NCAA Tournament. Duke went on to win the NCAA title. It was Florida A&M’s third consecutive loss.
Purdue: The Boilermakers remained one of three unbeaten men’s teams in major college basketball, along with UConn and New Mexico. Purdue is 2-0 in the Big Ten.
“Competition is going to get harder and teams are going to know what to scout,” Purdue’s Mason Gillis said. “There are going to be closer games down toward the end. We’ll find out who can play under pressure.”
(Postgame Notes)
Purdue improved to 13-0 with an 82-49 victory over Florida A&M in its final non-conference game of the season, in front of the 49th straight sellout at Mackey Arena.
The win gave Purdue an 11-0 non-conference record and ran its regular-season, non-conference winning streak to a nation’s-best 24 games. Purdue is the only school in America to have posted unbeaten regular-season, non-conference records the last two seasons.
The 13-0 start is the third-most wins to start a season without a loss behind just 2009-10 (14-0) and 1993-94 (14-0).
Purdue’s 13-game win streak is the third longest of the Matt Painter era.
Purdue won its 10th straight game in the month of December.
Purdue has won 45 straight games when scoring 80 or more points.
Since the start of last season, Purdue is now 42-8 (.840), the fifth-most wins in the country during that span.
Over the last two seasons, Purdue is now 25-1 before the calendar flips to January.
Purdue’s 30 wins in the 2022 calendar year (30-7) are tied for the most in a calendar year in school history (2010 – 30).
Purdue has held 25 straight opponents under 75 points, the third-longest streak in America (North Texas, Houston).
Purdue has held two straight opponents under 55 points for the first time since Dec. 4 (Virginia) and Dec. 8, 2019 (Northwestern).
Purdue had eight runs of 6-0 or longer.
Purdue has yet to trail this year by double-figures and over the last seven games, Purdue has trailed for a total of 23 minutes, 3 seconds (of a possible 285 minutes).
With seven turnovers tonight, Purdue has had single-digit turnovers in six of its 13 games this year, including two straight. They have had 10 or fewer turnovers in three straight games.
Brandon Newman scored a season-high 18 points with four rebounds and a career-high five blocked shots. The five blocks are the most for a guard in school history. Purdue is now 23-3 during his career when he makes two or more 3-pointers in a game.
Zach Edey recorded his 10th double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, going 4-of-5 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free throw line. In all 12 games that he has played in, he has been analytically the KenPom Game MVP. It was Edey’s 22nd career double-double (Purdue is 20-2 in his career when he records a double-double).
Trey Kaufman-Renn scored 11 points with six rebounds and two assists in just 20 minutes, going 4-of-6 from the field. Over the last two games, Kaufman-Renn has 35 points, eight rebounds and four assists in 46 minutes, going 12-of-16 from the field.
Caleb Furst had 10 points, six rebounds and one assist. When Furst scores in double-figures during his career, Purdue is 11-0.
Purdue’s big three post players of Edey, Kaufman-Renn and Furst combined for 35 points, 22 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots, shooting 12-of-15 from the field.
PURDUE DROPS ROAD CONTEST AT #12/10 IOWA
IOWA CITY, Iowa – A first half deficit proved too much for the Purdue women’s basketball team to overcome, as the Boilermakers fell to No. 12/10 Iowa on the road, 83-68, on Wednesday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The Boilermakers (10-3, 1-2) outscored the Hawkeyes (11-2, 3-0) 45-39 over the final 20 minutes. Lasha Petree scored 16 of her 18 points in the second half, as the Boilermakers knocked down six second-half 3-pointers. Despite the uptick in the final two periods by Purdue, the first half saw Iowa build up a 24-point lead that was insurmountable.
Petree notched her fifth game this season with more than 20 points, finishing with 22 on the night to pace Purdue. Cassidy Hardin and Caitlyn Harper joined the fifth-year senior in double figures with 10 each.
Purdue shot 34.7% from the field and went 9-of-31 (29%) from distance. The Boilermakers were 9-of-11 at the line, with Petree accounting for seven of those makes.
Iowa won the rebounding battle 48-37. Both teams hauled down 11 offensive rebounds. Purdue tallied seven second-chance points to the Hawkeyes’ 13.
The Hawkeyes were led by Caitlin Clark with 24 points and McKenna Warnock with 19 points. Iowa shot 47.5% from the field and connected on 11 of its 27 3-point attempts (40.7%).
Purdue took an early 7-3 lead in the first quarter with five points from Harper. After the Hawkeyes took a 10-7 lead, Madison Layden connected on a long-distance triple to even the score with 3:19 to play in the first. Iowa closed the frame on a 10-2 run.
In the second, Purdue went 4-of-18 from the field as Iowa extended its lead to 44-23. Layden and Petree accounted for all of Purdue’s 11 points in the frame. The Boilermakers committed just five giveaways in the opening 20 minutes.
The Boilermakers rallied in the third quarter, going on an 11-1 run that trimmed the gap to 12 points midway through the period. Hardin, Petree and Harper all connected outside shots on the run. As Purdue shot 8-of-17 in the third, the Boilermakers held Iowa to just 4-of-13 shooting.
After Iowa extended its lead to 20 early in the fourth, Petree went on a personal 5-0 run. Iowa withstood any Purdue rally by making 10 of its 14 free throw attempts in the final period.
NOTES
• Purdue leads the all-time series with Iowa 40-37.
• The Boilermakers flipped 15 Iowa turnovers into 15 points, while giving up just eight points on 12 giveaways.
• Madison Layden made her return after missing the last two games. The Kokomo, Ind., native tallied eight points, one rebound and an assist.
• Cassidy Hardin knocked down a pair of 3-pointers. She pulled within one of Stephanie White’s 183 career 3-pointers for eighth in program history.
• Petree went scoreless in the first period before notching her 22 points over the final 30 minutes.
• Jeanae Terry recorded her 10th game this season with at least five rebounds and five assists, finishing with eight and seven, respectively.
PROVIDENCE TOPS BUTLER THURSDAY NIGHT AT HINKLE
Providence used a strong first half to ultimately take a 72-52 win over Butler Thursday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
With the result, Butler is now 8-6 on the season and 0-3 in BIG EAST play, while Providence improves to 11-3 (3-0 BIG EAST).
KEY STAT: Providence countered an early Butler lead with a 25-3 run, taking a 32-12 lead with 7:15 remaining in the first half. Providence built a 46-18 halftime lead, which was the Friars’ largest advantage of the first half.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
Devin Carter led the Friars with 21 points, hitting nine of his 16 attempts from the field. Fourteen of his points came in the opening 12:45 of the contest.
Ed Croswell (15) and Jared Bynum (11) also reached double figures for Providence.
Providence shot 45 percent from the field, including a 57-percent clip in the first half.
The Bulldogs shot 35 percent from the field, and hit only two of their 16 three-point attempts.
Jalen Thomas and Manny Bates led the Bulldogs with 12 points apiece; Chuck Harris added 10 points.
Thomas and Ali Ali (nine) each posted season-highs in scoring, playing in their respective third games of the season.
Providence held a 44-29 rebounding advantage.
OF NOTE:
The teams will play again Jan. 25 in Rhode Island.
Manny Bates entered the game 16th nationally in blocks per game at 2.5 per game. He had three blocks Thursday night.
Butler had seven blocks in the contest, their second-most in a game this season.
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs will ring in the new year in the nation’s capital, meeting Georgetown Sunday afternoon. The 6:30 p.m. tip will air on FS1. Butler returns home to Hinkle Fieldhouse Wednesday, Jan. 4 to host DePaul.
JAGS HOST #HLWBB FOES NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND WRIGHT STATE
INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI women’s basketball team welcomes Northern Kentucky (Dec. 30) and Wright State (Jan. 1) to the Jungle as they kick off the new year with Horizon League play. Both games will tipoff at 2:00 PM.
The Jaguars entered the short holiday break on a high noted shooting a school-record and Horizon League record 17 threes to seal the win over Northern Illinois last Wednesday afternoon, 85-72. Rachel Kent led IUPUI with a career-high tying 24 points, shooting 7-for-10 from beyond the arc while Destiny Perkins made six three-point field goals and totaled 20 points while Jazmyn Turner scored a career-high 22.
IUPUI has continuously found success beyond the arc with the record setting 17 threes and the league’s best 36.2 percent from long range, averaging 9.2 threes per game. Perkins paces the way with 24 made three-pointers, going 24-for-60 (40.0 percent) from deep. Kent follows with 21 made threes while Ali Berg adds 15.
The Jags resume Horizon League play after a brief break, IUPUI is 1-1 in league play. Perkins posted a career-high 28 points against Green Bay, averaging 21.5 points across the first two conference contests for the Jags. Perkins run the point for IUPUI, averaging 13.8 points and holds the second-best assists per game average in the Horizon League with 4.2. Turner adds 13.4 points per game and Kent adds 11.1.
Northern Kentucky enters the weekend 8-4 and are currently riding a five-game win streak. The Norse defeated Horizon League rival Wright State Wednesday evening, 73-50. Lindsey Duvall led the way with a double-double of 25 points and 13 rebounds. It marked her eighth of the season and her sixth straight as well dating back to December 2.
Wright State enters the weekend 1-12 overall and 0-3 in conference. Two players scored in double figures for the Raiders in the loss to NKU, led by Bryce Nixon with 11 points and Kacee Baumhower totaled 10 points with four rebounds.
Both games will tipoff at 2:00 PM on ESPN+.
NOTRE DAME WINS SOUTH FLORIDA NAIL-BITER, 66-63
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — It looked like it was going to be easy, but anyone familiar with ACC basketball knows it never is.
On Thursday, No. 5 Notre Dame (11-1, 2-0) played its second conference game of the 2022-23 season against a scrappy Miami (7-6, 0-2) team, pulling out a 66-63 victory.
Thanks in part to an 11-0 blue and gold run, it was 21-8 in favor of the Irish with 2:44 to play in the first quarter. The Hurricanes posted a mini run of their own, but it was still 41-31 Notre Dame at the break.
The Hurricanes were anything but finished.
Miami came out in the second half and outscored Notre Dame 22-12 in Q3, forcing nine turnovers along the way. Sophomore Hurricane guard Lashae Dwyer gave Irish star Olivia Miles all kinds of trouble, limiting what was a dominant first half from the already-two-time ACC Player of the Week this year. Miami forward Destiny Harden — a veteran who has seen this Irish team before — finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, and she likely would’ve added to those stats if not for foul trouble.
“I thought their defensive energy and intensity really bothered us in the third quarter,” said Niele Ivey, Karen & Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach.
It was a defensive stop that ultimately won the contest for the Irish, as the Hurricanes lobbed up three-pointer after three-pointer in the final minute in an effort to tie the game at 66. They missed all four of them, and Notre Dame walked away with a second ACC win on the year.
Miles spent the majority of the evening on triple-double watch once again, amassing 10 points, five rebounds and six assists in the first half. She finished with 12, eight and nine, respectively.
In total, four Notre Dame women finished with 10+ points. Sonia Citron did so for the 11th consecutive game. Maddy Westbeld had flirted with a double-double all season, and she finally notched one (15 points, 11 rebounds). The junior shooting forward had three blocks on the night, and she entered the game tied for fourth in the conference with 1.8 blocks per contest.
“I think it was important for us to start out locked in,” Westbeld said after the game. “It should’ve started on the defensive end, but I just got going on the offensive end. They were leaving me open in the first quarter, so I took advantage of that.”
The aforementioned turnovers were a big issue on the day. Notre Dame finished with a total of 22, and the Hurricanes scored 19 points as a result of them. The Irish entered Thursday night surrendering an average of 12.5 points off turnovers each time they have taken the floor.
Notre Dame now heads back to South Bend to prepare for a New Year’s Day showdown against Boston College (11-4, 1-1). This will be the Eagles’ first game since Dec. 22, and Notre Dame is 26-9 all-time against them. Sunday’s game tips off at 12:00 p.m. ET on the ACC Network.
GAME 14 PREVIEW: #14/16 HURRICANES STORM INTO TOWN ON FRIDAY
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – After a win in their final non-conference tune-up, the Notre Dame men’s basketball team (8-5, 0-2) receive a major opportunity and challenge in No. 14/16 Miami (12-1, 3-0). The Hurricanes storm into town on Friday, Dec. 30, in a matinee matchup starting at 2 p.m. ET inside Purcell Pavilion. Jay Atler and Malcolm Huckaby have the call on the ACC Network, while Tony Simeone leads the broadcast on the Notre Dame Radio Network.
*Due to the Notre Dame football team playing in the Gator Bowl on December 30, the men’s basketball radio broadcast against Miami will be on 96.1 The Ton
BREY VS MIAMI + RANKED TEAMS
The overall series might be just about even with the Irish having a slight edge, 13-12, but Coach Brey has definitely found success against Miami during his tenure at ND. Brey is 9-5 against the Hurricanes and is currently riding a four-match win streak. A win Friday would mark the longest win streak in the series which started back in 1986.
The game will be no easy feat, with Miami boasting a No. 14 national ranking and a 12-1 record. The Hurricanes are led by Junior guard Isaiah Wong who is averaging 17.2 ppg.
Notre Dame is 3-5 at home against ranked teams over the last 3 seasons. This year they have knocked off No. 20 Michigan State. Last season, all ND fans remember the upset over No. 10 Kentucky.
Overall, Coach Brey is 70-122 against ranked opposition. A win Friday would mark his second-ranked win on the year which hasn’t been achieved since the 2016-17 season (when ND earned 4 ranked wins).
“THAT WAS MARCUS HAMMOND”
The Hammond breakout game was Dec. 27 vs Jacksonville when he poured in a team-best 15 points in the win. He shot 6-of-11 from the field and 3-of-7 from deep, taking control of the Irish offense and pushing the tempo.
“That was Marcus Hammond,” said Coach Brey. “He’s a scorer. He’s really gifted. Coach Slo spent some time with him; I think he was thinking too much. He’s really gifted. Man, he’s played a lot of basketball and I’m thrilled for him. He deserved that.”
JJ TAKING OFF
Starling is riding a season-best five straight games in double figures, averaging a team-best 14.4 ppg in that span.
One of the main differences — in what was an Achilles heel at the beginning of the season is now a strong point as of late – that’s JJ’s three-point shooting. He’s 8-of-17 from beyond the arc over the last 5 games aka 47.1 percent.
Last game out, JJ scored all 11 of his points in the 2nd half vs. Jacksonville on Jan. 27. More impressively, he impacted the game elsewhere, grabbing a season-high 8 rebounds.
“JJ is getting better,” Brey said. “And more comfortable, in a good rhythm. He’s improved defensively. He’s moving the ball and playing. I’m excited about where he’s at. He has just been really good. To shake off a tough 1st half and say, ‘I’m going to keep playing.’ When he can square his shoulders and we get some cutters and we move and he can turn a corner, we don’t have anybody like that. He’s the guy.”
JJ almost singlehandedly won the Irish the game at Florida State on Dec. 21 – recording his 2nd 20-point performance of the season. Starling went on a 6-0 run to end the game to pull the Irish within one, giving them an opportunity to win with 6 seconds left.
DEFENSE SHOWS UP AGAINST J-VILLE
On Dec. 27, the Irish defense had its best game of the season, holding Jacksonville to 43 points in the 59-43 win. Not only was it the fewest points allowed all season, but also the fewest allowed since the 2014-15 season when Notre Dame defeated Chicago State 90-42.
Furthermore, ND forced a season-high 17 turnovers.
#PROTECTPURCELL
Last season, the Irish went 14-1 inside Purcell Pavilion, and this year they are off to an 8-2 start which includes a ranked win over No. 20 Michigan State. Thus, they are 22-3 at home over their last 25 home games.
SEVEN-MAN ROTATION
As of Christmas Day, Notre Dame was one of only six Power-Five teams with seven or fewer players recording double-digit minutes per game. Miami was the only team with six players among the aforementioned. Interestingly to note, three of the six teams were from the ACC.
NOTRE NOTABLES
The Irish currently rank in the top-10 in three different statistical categories. Their highest ranking – 1st in fouls per game – only committing 11.6. That has been a Coach Brey staple. In the last 12 years, Notre Dame has only failed to finish among the top 10 in least amount of personal fouls committed just once. They have also led the country in least amount of personal fouls five times.
Next, they rank 2nd in the country in turnovers per game, only surrendering 9.1.
Furthermore, if the Irish can get to the free-throw line in late-game situations, look out. They rank 7th in free-throw percentage, converting 79.7 percent from the stripe – leads the ACC as well. Goodwin, Ryan and Laszewski are all shooting above .850 from the stripe.
THREAT FROM THREE
Notre Dame has recorded double-digit three-pointers in 4 of the last 7 games, and in two of the contests they didn’t reach it – Boston U and Florida State – they connected on nine. Over that 7-game stretch, they’ve knocked down 68 three-pointers (9.7 per game) which leads all Power-Five schools since Nov. 30. When looking at all D-I schools, it ranks 11th.
Overall on the season, they are averaging 8.9 three’s per game, which would crack the program’s all-time top-10. The program record is 9.7 set by the 19-20 squad.
Now, the big reason for that – the squad’s big three who are all shooting above 40 percent. The trio all rank in the top-10 in the ACC in three-point field goal percentage.
Goodwin – .455 – 4th in the ACC
Ryan – .429 – 6th in the ACC
Laszewski – .404 – 10th in the ACC
*Hammond – coming along at .412
SYCAMORES REMAIN PERFECT IN VALLEY PLAY BEHIND LARRY’S CAREER OUTING
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Julian Larry shot lights out Thursday night and led the Sycamores with a career-high 21 points as Indiana State defeated Evansville 91-63 at the Hulman Center to remain perfect in Missouri Valley Conference play.
The Sycamores (10-4, 3-0 MVC) opened the game on a 13-0 run, shooting 5-of-5 from the field and forcing three Evansville turnovers during that span. ISU did not allow an Evansville bucket until 16:37 in the first half.
Larry hit back-to-back layups to push ISU’s lead to 20-4 at 14:14, and the lead hit 16 points again with a Courvoisier McCauley layup at 9:45. The Aces cut their deficit down to 10 points at 28-18 with 4:19 left in the first half, but Cooper Neese later took advantage of an Evansville technical foul and knocked down a pair of free throws to get in double digits on the scoresheet and make it 32-20 at 1:06.
Zach Hobbs nailed a triple in the closing seconds of the opening frame to send the Sycamores into the halftime break with a 39-22 lead.
Indiana State was a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line in the first half and held Evansville to zero percent (0-for-3) from three in the frame.
McCauley hit back-to-back threes early in the second half to extend the lead to 47-24, and Neese stayed perfect at the free throw line with an and-1 at 15:37. Larry got up for a slam dunk just seconds later to surpass his previous career-high and later added to that career-high with a pair of treys, putting the Sycamores up 65-31at 12:18.
Evansville went on a 7-0 run to cut its deficit down to 76-51 at 4:39, but after that Masen Miller hit a triple before assisting a Kailex Stephens layup to make it 82-51 at 3:38. Miller would later close out the scoring for Indiana State in the game with his second trey of the night at 1:22.
Inside the Numbers
The Sycamores outshot the Aces 48.3 percent to 38.1 percent in the game and knocked down 13 3-pointers compared to Evansville’s three.
ISU went 20-for-22 (90.9 percent) from the free throw line while the Aces were 12-for-20 from the line.
The Aces won the battle on the boards, outrebounding the Sycamores 43-32 including 16 offensive boards.
ISU committed just seven turnovers while dishing out 19 assists. The Sycamores forced 16 Evansville turnovers and scored 26 points off those miscues.
News & Notes
The Sycamores are 3-0 in Valley play for the first time since 2014-15 when they started off 5-0 in league action.
Thursday night is the first time Indiana State has beat a Valley team by 25 or more points since beating Loyola by 29 points Feb. 5, 2020.
Junior guard Julian Larry made his first start of the season and 49th career start as a Sycamore Thursday. He shot a perfect 100 percent across the board and assisted or scored each of ISU’s first four baskets in the game. Larry finished his night with a career-high 21 points on 8-of-8 shooting with three triples, and he dished out four assists with two steals and no turnovers.
Cooper Neese put up 13 points with a perfect 6-of-6 mark from the charity stripe. He also made it four straight games with a 3-pointer alongside two assists and a steal.
Courvoisier McCauley has connected for at least one 3-pointer in all 14 games this season, and with three triples tonight, he has made three or more in eight games this year. He finished his night with 13 points for his seventh consecutive game in double figures and pulled down six rebounds.
Jayson Kent was the fourth Sycamore in double digits with 10 points off two triples and a 4-of-4 mark from the free throw line.
Trenton Gibson also pulled down six boards with seven points and a steal.
All 13 active Indiana State players saw the floor in the game, and 12 of those 13 Sycamores scored. The only player who did not score was Rob Martin, and he had three assists in 7:47 of action.
Up Next
The Sycamores head out on the road to ring in the New Year as they face Valparaiso Sunday, Jan. 1 at 2 p.m. ET.
COMEBACK EFFORT FALLS SHORT FOR SYCAMORES IN MVC OPENER
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Bella Finnegan recorded season-highs of 14 points and five rebounds Thursday evening, but visiting Missouri State escaped Hulman Center with a 71-62 win over Indiana State.
Chelsea Cain added 12 points and seven rebounds, her third double-figure scoring game in the last four, while Anna McKendree, Adrian Folks and Caitlin Anderson scored eight points each. Mya Glanton had six points and a season-high 11 rebounds for the Sycamores.
Indiana State struggled from the field offensively, allowing Missouri State to take an early double-digit lead. The Sycamores took advantage of their trips to the free throw line in the first half, cutting the deficit to one, and later took the lead in the third quarter. A 14-1 run in the third quarter proved crucial for Missouri State, and despite cutting the deficit to three late in the fourth, the Sycamores were unable to fully recover.
First Half
Cain scored Indiana State’s first points with a layup off a missed 3-pointer, but Missouri State controlled most of the opening quarter. Indiana State’s inability to hit shots allowed the visitors to jump out to a double-digit lead early on. The Sycamores made just two shots in the first quarter, as Missouri State led 16-7 after the opening period.
Indiana State got to the free throw line 11 times in the second quarter, which allowed the Sycamores to claw their way back into the game. A pair of free throws by Glanton and jumper by Cain gave Indiana State its first lead of the contests with just over two minutes to play in the half, and McKendree tacked on a 3-pointer to give the Sycamores their largest lead of the half at 25-23. A late 3-pointer for Missouri State sent the teams to the intermission with Indiana State trailing 26-25.
Second Half
Missouri State pushed its lead up to four points early in the third with a 3-pointer, but Cain kept the Sycamores within reach with eight points in the period. A layup by Anderson followed by a three-point play for Cain put Indiana State back in front midway through the quarter, with Anderson added a fastbreak layup to give the Sycamores their largest lead of the game at 39-36. Aided by a questionable intentional foul call, Missouri State went on a 14-1 run late in the quarter to go back in front by 10 at 50-40. 3-pointers for McKendree and Finnegan inside the final 30 seconds helped Indiana State get within 52-46 heading into the fourth.
Del’Janae Williams opened the fourth quarter with a layup to cut the deficit down to four, but Missouri State answered with a 3-pointer and later pushed its lead up to nine at 57-48. Finnegan caught fire with nine points in the final frame, including a 3-pointer to cut the Sycamore deficit to 59-55 midway through. Glanton added a free throw later on to get Indiana State within three at 63-60, but Missouri State’s ability to convert from the free throw line late allowed the Bears to squeak past the Sycamores.
Inside the Numbers
Indiana State finished with 15 offensive rebounds for the second straight game. The Sycamores turned that into 14 second chance points.
Bella Finnegan’s 14 points and five rebounds were both season highs.
Indiana State was within one possession late despite shooting a season-low 29.8 percent from the field.
30 of Indiana State’s 62 points came from the bench, with three reserves scoring eight or more points (Bella Finnegan 14, Caitlin Anderson 8, Adrian Folks 8).
News & Notes
Thursday’s loss was the first time since the 2019-20 season that the Sycamores dropped their MVC opener.
Indiana State dropped to 18-22 in MVC/Gateway Conference openers.
Mya Glanton’s 11 rebounds were the most in a game by a Sycamore this season. Glanton was also the last Sycamore to record double-digit rebounds in a game, doing so in the MVC Tournament against Evansville last season.
Thursday’s game marked the first time this season that Indiana State played fewer than 11 players. Nine Sycamores saw the floor against Missouri State.
Up Next
Indiana State has a quick turnaround before facing Southern Illinois Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.
MASTODON WBB HANDS ROBERT MORRIS FIRST HOME LOSS OF THE SEASON
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball team handed Robert Morris its first home loss of the season on Thursday (Dec. 29), as they took down the Colonials 52-41 in the UPMC Events Center.
RMU’s 41 points is its lowest offensive output of the season, one point less than the 42-point effort at West Virginia.
The Mastodons were led by Amellia Bromenschenkel, who recorded her second 20-point performance in a row. She was just one rebound shy of making it two-straight double-doubles. She finished with 21 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Bromenschenkel led an early charge to put the Colonials on their heels. She scored the first eight points by making her first four shots. It put the ‘Dons up 8-0 and forced RMU to burn an early timeout.
The second quarter was a defensive battle for the first six minutes, with just one layup going in for each team. A quick 6-0 run for the ‘Dons put them up 19-10, but RMU finished the quarter on a 10-3 push to hold a two-point deficit heading into the locker room.
The ‘Dons held RMU to 1-for-6 from the 3-point line in the opening 20 minutes, but the Colonials held the ‘Dons to 1-for-9 to mitigate any runs.
Robert Morris took its first lead of the game at the 5:36 mark in the third quarter when Mackenzie Amalia netted a triple. From this point, the two squads traded punches until Bromenschenkel punctuated the third quarter with a step-back 3-pointer as time expired. This put the ‘Dons up four.
After the Colonials started the fourth with a layup, Bromenschenkel went on a 5-0 run of her own to force RMU into a timeout. This propelled her over the 20-point mark for the fifth time this season. The run that Bromenschenkel started ballooned to 8-0 with a layup from Jazzlyn Linbo and free throw from Destinee Marshall. This put the game out of reach for Robert Morris, as the Colonials only got two buckets in the final six minutes.
The ‘Dons out-rebounded the Colonials 37-35 and out-scored RMU 34-18 in the paint. The Mastodons held RMU to a dismal 26.0 percent from the floor and 18.2 percent from the 3-point line. They also forced the Colonials into 18 turnovers. Purdue Fort Wayne led for 36:49.
Robert Morris’ Phoenix Gedeon finished with an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double.
The Mastodons improve to 4-8 on the year and start Horizon League play 2-1. Robert Morris falls to 7-5, 1-2 Horizon. The Mastodons will round out 2022 with a New Year’s Eve date at preseason Horizon League favorite Youngstown State.
MASTODONS DROP ROAD CONTEST AT ROBERT MORRIS
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Ra Kpedi grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds (nine on the offensive glass) on Thursday (Dec. 29) for the Purdue Fort Wayne men’s basketball team but it came in a losing effort at Robert Morris 75-70 in Horizon League play.
The Mastodons controlled the glass, holding a 42-32 advantage in rebounds. That included a 15-8 edge on the offensive end. But Purdue Fort Wayne converted those 15 offensive boards into only six second chance points.
The contest featured four lead changes and seven ties. Robert Morris extended their three-point halftime advantage to nine at 58-49 with 11:23 left. The ‘Dons responded with a 10-2 run to make it a one possession game. Anthony Roberts tied the game up at 63 with 4:50 left on a free throw. Purdue Fort Wayne would never take the lead in the second half as the ‘Dons had just one field goal in the final six minutes, missing nine straight field goal attempts in the stretch. The ‘Dons also had to contend with Robert Morris’ Enoch Cheeks’ game-high 24 points.
Jarred Godfrey led the ‘Dons with 20 points and five assists. He was 8-of-8 from the free throw line. It is his 29th career game with 20 points. It is also his fourth career game making eight or more free throws without a miss.
Kpedi’s nine offensive rebounds were also a career best. Quinton Morton-Robertson added 13 points. Anthony Roberts pitched in 11 points.
Robert Morris shot 45.8 percent (27-of-59). The ‘Dons made 22-of-57 (38.6 percent).
The Colonials move to 7-7 (2-1 Horizon League). The ‘Dons are now 9-5 (1-2 Horizon League). Purdue Fort Wayne is back in action on Saturday (Dec. 31) at Youngstown State.
LATE SIU RUN TRIPS-UP ACES IN MVC OPENER
EVANSVILLE – Holding a lead for much of the contest, a late run tripped up the University of Evansville women’s basketball team in an 86-77 loss to Southern Illinois in the Aces first game in 11 days on Thursday evening inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse in Evansville.
Leading the way for the Aces was fifth-year guard Myia Clark, who tallied a game-high 25 points, scoring nearly half her total at the free-throw line. Also finishing in double-figures was graduate guard Anna Newman with 17 points on an efficient 6-of-8 night from the field. The Salukis were powered by Ashley Jones, who’s 23 points led five SIU players in double-figures.
After an early spell with the Salukis in front, Evansville stormed back with a 12-5 run to jump in front, 13-12. As the half waned, Newman drove to the basket and pushed UE’s lead to three at 22-19 after the first quarter.
Following a back-and-forth first five minutes of the second period, the Aces pushed their lead to its largest point of the opening half on a layup by redshirt junior Barbora Tomancova, going in front, 30-23. Over the final four minutes of the half, SIU mounted a run, getting within one at the half.
SIU opened the second half by grabbing the lead in a third quarter that was marked in the early portions by a pair of lead changes. After an SIU free throw cut the UE lead to just one at 39-38, the Aces proceeded to go on an 11-1 run to grab what would be its largest lead of the game at 50-39 with 5:14 remaining in the third. Over the course of the final five minutes of the quarter, SIU mounted a comeback, closing its deficit to 57-55 with a three just before the quarter buzzer.
In the final 10 minutes, Evansville struggled to hold off the surging Salukis. SIU continued what would be a 25-7 run, taking the lead and stretching it to seven with seven minutes remaining. The Aces would close back within a possession twice in the quarter, but SIU held on to its lead and grabbed the 86-77 win.
Evansville is back in action on Saturday against Missouri State at 1 PM inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse as the Aces celebrate New Year’s Eve.
MEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS AT INDIANA STATE
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Freshman Gabe Spinelli scored a career-high 10 points on Thursday with the University of Evansville men’s basketball team dropping a 91-63 game to Indiana State at the Hulman Center.
Spinelli was 5-for-9 from the field on the way to his first collegiate double-digit game. Leading UE was Kenny Strawbridge Jr. who recorded 21 points. He hit 8 of his 19 attempts. Marvin Coleman II played all 40 minutes and picked up a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
“They (Indiana State) punched us in the mouth at the start and really set the tone” UE head coach David Ragland said. “We were able to close the gap to 10 points but were not able to sustain it. Give Indiana State credit – they got the job done.”
Indiana State was on fire out of the gate as they drained their first five shots on the way to a 13-0 lead. Three of those attempts were from long range. UE had three turnovers in the opening moments before Marvin Coleman II got the Aces on the board. The lead for ISU reached 20-4 at the 14:14 mark.
Over the next 13 minutes, Evansville was able to work its way back into the fold. The defense held the Sycamores to 6-of-22 from the field while closing the gap to just ten points at 30-20 with 1:26 remaining in the period. In their efforts to close even more, a foul on the UE bench turned the tides as ISU outscored the Aces by a 9-2 margin in the final segment on their way to a 39-22 halftime lead.
Gabe Spinelli set his career scoring high with 10 in the first half alone while Antoine Smith Jr. had five rebounds in the period.
After Kenny Strawbridge Jr. opened the second-half scoring, Indiana State responded with eight in a row as they opened a 47-24 lead with three minutes gone in the final stanza. Their pinpoint shooting continued as the advantage reached 34 points (65-31) with 11:14 showing on the clock.
Evansville would close within 25 points in the final 10 minutes but ISU finished the day with the 91-63 victory. ISU shot 48.3% in the game while holding UE to 38.1%.
On Sunday, UE opens the New Year at 1 p.m. against Murray State at the Ford Center. For the first, the Aces will wear black jerseys. Fans are encouraged to join UE in wearing black to the game.
POLAKOVICH DOMINATES IN 86-81 VICTORY
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball senior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) dominated and led the Screaming Eagles to an 86-81 victory over Southeast Missouri State University Thursday evening to open Ohio Valley Conference action at Screaming Eagles Arena. The Eagles, who are 6-0 at home this season, go to 8-6 overall and 1-0 in the OVC, while the Redhawks are 5-9, 0-1 OVC.
Polakovich overpowered SEMO in the lane tonight, posting 27 points and grabbing 26 rebounds in the victory. The senior, who also had a career-high five assists, was 11-of-18 from the field and five-of-nine from the stripe, while swiping 11 offensive and 15 defensive rebounds off the glass.
The 26 rebounds were one short of the USI single-game record (27 by Aaron Nelson versus Kentucky State University December 7, 2013) and is the first 20-20 game by an Eagle since Emmanuel Little had 29 points, 21 rebounds versus Missouri University of Science & Technology January 18, 2018.
The 20-20 outing also is the first in the OVC since Austin Peay State University’s Terry Taylor (26 points and 23 rebounds versus Belmont University) and the University of Tennessee-Martin’s Quintin Dove (26 points and 20 rebounds versus Southern Illinois University Edwardsville) posted those numbers in the 2019-20 season. Polakovich’s 26 rebounds also is the most in an OVC contest since before the 2002-03 campaign.
USI and SEMO started slowly, combining for only 35 percent from the field (14-40), before the Eagles exploded on a 15-0 run to build a 19-point advantage, 39-20. Senior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) sparked the surge with a steal and slam with 4:10 to play.
USI would go five-of-six from the field during the run, including three-of-four from beyond the arc, and was led by 10-point explosion by graduate forward Trevor Lakes (Lebanon, Ohio). Lakes scored all 10 of his first half points in the 2:24 surge.
Polakovich owned the glass during the first 20 minutes with 13 boards (five offensive, 8 defensive) and was only two points away from his fourth double-double of the season.
The Eagles flew out of the locker room to start the second half and extended the margin to a game-high 23 points, 52-29, when freshman guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana) connected on a three-pointer with 17:43 to play. SEMO would start to chip away at the USI lead from that point, cutting the margin to nine points, 61-52, with 10:37 remaining on a 23-9 run.
USI pushed the lead back to double-digits for the next nine minutes before SEMO made one last push. The Redhawks would get as close as five points, 83-78, with 24 second to play before Swope and Lakes added a trio of free throws to shut the door on an 86-81 victory.
In the scoring column, Polakovich’s 27 points were followed by Swope’s 18 points and Lakes’ 11 points. Swope was four-of-12 from the field, including a three-pointer, and nine-of-11 from the stripe, while dishing a season-high nine assists.
Next Up 2022-23:
USI goes on the road for the first time in the OVC when it visits Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. The games will be streamed on ESPN+ in addition to being heard on ESPN 97.7FM (http://listentotheref.com) and 95.7FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com).
The Panthers are 5-9 overall and 1-0 in the OVC after posting a 55-54 victory over Lindenwood University this evening at home. EIU was led in tonight action by junior guard Kinyon Hodges, who had 15 points.
The Eagles lead the all-time series, 2-1, winning the last two regular season matchups in the 1980s. USI defeated the Panthers on the road, 72-70, in 1980-81, and at home, 81-78, in the 1982-83 season. EIU took the first ever meeting, 79-67 in the 1978 NCAA II Great Lakes Regional.
USI also captured a road exhibition game, 95-92, in the 2017-18 season.
USI WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WINS IN OVC DEBUT
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball added another chapter to a historic first season as an NCAA Division I program Thursday, debuting in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 68-54 win against Southeast Missouri State University.
The win moved USI’s record to 7-5 overall this season and 1-0 to begin conference play. With the loss, SEMO dropped to 5-7 on the season and 0-1 in the OVC.
Inside the first minute of the contest, sophomore guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana) got USI on the scoreboard first with a triple from the wing against SEMO’s 1-3-1 defense, tallying USI’s first points in OVC play. A minute later, junior forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana) capitalized on a three-point play to give USI an early 5-0 lead.
Southern Indiana was able to jump out to a 13-2 lead midway through the first quarter, as Southeast Missouri switched around zone defenses. The offensive end cooled off a little bit in the back half of the first period, as USI carried a 15-8 lead to the second quarter.
Shafford continued to feel it from outside the arc in the second quarter, connecting on another pair of triples. At the 6:29 mark in the second, Shafford used a ball fake to create an opening to knock down her fourth three of the first half and push USI’s lead to a dozen, 24-12. With 3:32 remaining until halftime, Raley was on the receiving end of an assist from Shafford, as Raley beat the shot clock with a layup to give a 26-15 advantage.
Following the layup by Raley, Southeast Missouri went on a 9-0 run over the next two minutes, cutting the score down to 26-24 USI. With 30 seconds left until the break, Screaming Eagles junior guard Lexie Green (Indianapolis, Indiana) canned a corner three-pointer to snap the Redhawks’ scoring run to give USI a 29-24 lead. Southern Indiana went into the intermission ahead 30-24.
At halftime, Shafford led USI with 14 points while Raley totaled eight first-half points for the Screaming Eagles.
Inside the first minute to begin the third quarter, SEMO cut down USI’s lead to two, 30-28. Once again, USI responded with a three-pointer from senior guard Tori Handley (Jeffersonville, Indiana). The next few minutes were competitive, going back and forth. With 6:12 left in the third, Handley splashed home another triple to extend USI’s lead back to nine, 42-33.
The Screaming Eagles’ advantage remained at nine, 53-44, with 1:39 remaining in the third quarter after successful trips to the free-throw line for USI senior forward Hannah Haithcock (Washington Courthouse, Ohio). Haithcock joined Raley and Shafford in double figures by the end of the third. USI took a 53-47 lead to the fourth quarter.
Graduate forward Ashlynn Brown (Perrysburg, Ohio) made two layups within the first couple of minutes of the fourth quarter to push USI ahead 57-47. The Redhawks kept battling, bringing the deficit down to single digits with under five minutes remaining.
The Screaming Eagles continued to keep the Redhawks at bay, holding a 62-52 lead with 2:11 left. USI put the finishing touches on the win with points late by Shafford, Brown, and Raley.
For the game, USI shot for 40 percent (22-55) from the field with eight three-pointers. USI outrebounded SEMO 39-36 and had 16 assists to only six assists for SEMO. USI recorded 27 points off turnovers and 24 points in the paint.
Shafford led all scorers with 16 points in the game, hitting four of her six total makes from outside. She also pulled down six rebounds. Haithcock posted 15 points and seven rebounds. The reigning OVC co-Player of the Week is two points away from 1,000 career points. Raley posted 13 points and eight rebounds for USI.
The Redhawks were 16-for-49 from the floor for 32.7 percent in the game. Southeast Missouri made three triples and went 19-for-26 at the charity stripe. Freshman guard Alecia Doyle led the Redhawks with 14 points while sophomore guard Jaliyah Green had 12 points.
The opening week of the OVC season will continue Saturday for the Screaming Eagles, as USI will travel to Eastern Illinois University for a 1 p.m. contest.
VALIANT VALPO EFFORT FALLS SHORT AS MVC PRESEASON FAVORITE DRAKE ESCAPES WITH HOME WIN
The Valparaiso University men’s basketball team led at halftime and twice rallied from down double figures to create late drama, but Missouri Valley Conference preseason favorite Drake escaped with a 68-63 home win on Thursday night at the Knapp Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Ben Krikke paced the team with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting in a game Valpo led 26-24 through 20 minutes.
How It Happened
Valpo jumped out to a 7-2 lead with Krikke and Kobe King accounting for the early scoring. The Bulldogs scored the next five to level the score at seven. Krikke did pick up two early fouls, his second coming at the 15:39 mark of the first half.
The Beacons built up a four-point lead when Quinton Green drained a 3 at the 7:18 mark to make it 21-17. Drake’s Garrett Sturtz had a 3-point play late in the half to trim a five-point lead to two at 26-24. Krikke picked up an offensive foul for his third in the closing seconds of the half.
Fifth-year senior Nick Edwards drained a 3 with 16:37 left in the second half to lift Valpo’s lead to five at 35-30.
The hosts responded to the Edwards basket with a 13-0 run, transforming a five-point Valpo lead to an eight-point disparity with 13:03 on the clock.
Joe Hedstrom knocked down a 3 to stem the tide with 12:44 remaining. Drake boasted its first double-figure lead of the day at 48-38. Krikke got in on the 3-point act to make it 48-41.
Hedstrom hit his second 3 of the contest to make it 52-46 with 8:48 to go, and Valpo forced a Drake timeout when King slammed home a fastbreak dunk with 7:43 left to cut what had been a 10-point lead to four at 54-50.
The Bulldogs scored seven straight coming out of that timeout to up the lead back to 11 at 61-50.
The Beacons trailed by 10 with 56 seconds left, yet still did not go away. Edwards scored and missed a free throw on a potential 3-point play, but King had a putback on the free throw miss and was fouled, completing a 3-point play of his own. Then Edwards came up with a steal and cut the lead to four after a made free throw with 31 seconds left.
Drake missed the front end of a one-and-one, then Barrett had a tip-in layup on a missed 3 to shrink the lead to two at 65-63 with 14 seconds to go. Drake made three free throws down the stretch and held on for a 68-63 win.
Inside the Game
Krikke scored 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, his 12th game this season in double figures.
Edwards once again stuffed the stat sheet, accruing 11 points to go along with six rebounds, six assists and a season-high five steals.
Edwards became the first Valpo player with five steals in a game since Connor Barrett on Jan. 9, 2021 vs. Missouri State.
Edwards has six assists or more, six rebounds or more and two steals or more in each of his last three games.
King finished with 14 points, scoring in double figures for the 14th straight game.
Valpo held Drake to just 21.4 percent (3-of-14) from 3-point distance, the third straight game Valpo has limited the opponent to below 25 percent from long range.
The defense thrived in the first half, holding Drake to just 25.9 percent shooting (7-of-27) including 0-of-5 from 3.
Drake’s Darnell Brodie led all scorers with 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting, while Sturtz had a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Up Next
Valpo (6-8, 0-3) will host Indiana State on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Athletics-Recreation Center, a New Year’s Day matinee.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
NFL STANDINGS
| AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PCT | GB | PF | PA | HOME | ROAD | VS. CONF | VS. DIV | STREAK | |
| XY-BUFFALO BILLS | 12 | 3 | 0 | .800 | 0.0 | 420 | 263 | 6 – 1 – 0 | 6 – 2 – 0 | 8 – 2 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 6 W |
| XY-KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | 12 | 3 | 0 | .800 | 0.0 | 438 | 332 | 6 – 1 – 0 | 6 – 2 – 0 | 7 – 3 – 0 | 4 – 0 – 0 | 3 W |
| X-CINCINNATI BENGALS | 11 | 4 | 0 | .733 | 0.0 | 391 | 306 | 5 – 1 – 0 | 6 – 3 – 0 | 7 – 3 – 0 | 2 – 3 – 0 | 7 W |
| JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | 7 | 8 | 0 | .467 | 0.0 | 353 | 331 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 3 – 5 – 0 | 6 – 4 – 0 | 2 – 2 – 0 | 3 W |
| X-BALTIMORE RAVENS | 10 | 5 | 0 | .667 | 0.0 | 321 | 272 | 5 – 2 – 0 | 5 – 3 – 0 | 6 – 4 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 1 W |
| X-LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | 9 | 6 | 0 | .600 | 0.0 | 332 | 343 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 5 – 3 – 0 | 7 – 4 – 0 | 2 – 3 – 0 | 3 W |
| MIAMI DOLPHINS | 8 | 7 | 0 | .533 | 0.0 | 365 | 370 | 5 – 2 – 0 | 3 – 5 – 0 | 6 – 4 – 0 | 2 – 2 – 0 | 4 L |
| NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | 7 | 8 | 0 | .467 | 2.0 | 318 | 291 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 5 – 5 – 0 | 2 – 2 – 0 | 2 L |
| NEW YORK JETS | 7 | 8 | 0 | .467 | 2.0 | 284 | 282 | 3 – 5 – 0 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 5 – 6 – 0 | 2 – 3 – 0 | 4 L |
| PITTSBURGH STEELERS | 7 | 8 | 0 | .467 | 2.0 | 264 | 319 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 3 – 7 – 0 | 1 – 3 – 0 | 2 W |
| TENNESSEE TITANS | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2.5 | 282 | 339 | 3 – 5 – 0 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 5 – 6 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 6 L |
| LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | 6 | 9 | 0 | .400 | 3.0 | 348 | 350 | 4 – 2 – 0 | 2 – 7 – 0 | 5 – 6 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 1 L |
| CLEVELAND BROWNS | 6 | 9 | 0 | .400 | 3.0 | 323 | 343 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 2 – 5 – 0 | 4 – 7 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 1 L |
| INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | 4 | 10 | 1 | .300 | 4.5 | 248 | 357 | 2 – 5 – 0 | 2 – 5 – 1 | 4 – 6 – 1 | 1 – 3 – 1 | 5 L |
| DENVER BRONCOS | 4 | 11 | 0 | .267 | 5.0 | 232 | 304 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 1 – 7 – 0 | 2 – 8 – 0 | 0 – 4 – 0 | 1 L |
| HOUSTON TEXANS | 2 | 12 | 1 | .167 | 6.5 | 254 | 358 | 0 – 6 – 1 | 2 – 6 – 0 | 2 – 7 – 1 | 2 – 1 – 1 | 1 W |
| NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||
| W | L | T | PCT | GB | PF | PA | HOME | ROAD | VS. CONF | VS. DIV | STREAK | |
| X-PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | 13 | 2 | 0 | .867 | 0.0 | 445 | 308 | 6 – 1 – 0 | 7 – 1 – 0 | 8 – 2 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 1 L |
| XY-MINNESOTA VIKINGS | 12 | 3 | 0 | .800 | 0.0 | 378 | 373 | 8 – 1 – 0 | 4 – 2 – 0 | 7 – 3 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 2 W |
| XY-SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | 11 | 4 | 0 | .733 | 0.0 | 375 | 230 | 7 – 1 – 0 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 9 – 2 – 0 | 5 – 0 – 0 | 8 W |
| TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | 7 | 8 | 0 | .467 | 0.0 | 266 | 304 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 7 – 3 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 1 W |
| X-DALLAS COWBOYS | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 0.0 | 461 | 316 | 8 – 1 – 0 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 8 – 3 – 0 | 4 – 1 – 0 | 2 W |
| NEW YORK GIANTS | 8 | 6 | 1 | .567 | 0.0 | 311 | 339 | 4 – 3 – 1 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 4 – 6 – 1 | 1 – 3 – 1 | 1 L |
| WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | 7 | 7 | 1 | .500 | 0.0 | 285 | 313 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 4 – 3 – 1 | 4 – 6 – 1 | 1 – 3 – 1 | 2 L |
| SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | 7 | 8 | 0 | .467 | 1.5 | 365 | 379 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 5 – 6 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 3 L |
| DETROIT LIONS | 7 | 8 | 0 | .467 | 1.5 | 392 | 401 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 5 – 5 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 1 L |
| GREEN BAY PACKERS | 7 | 8 | 0 | .467 | 1.5 | 313 | 334 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 3 – 5 – 0 | 5 – 5 – 0 | 2 – 2 – 0 | 3 W |
| CAROLINA PANTHERS | 6 | 9 | 0 | .400 | 2.5 | 313 | 337 | 5 – 4 – 0 | 1 – 5 – 0 | 5 – 5 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 1 W |
| NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | 6 | 9 | 0 | .400 | 2.5 | 303 | 325 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 2 – 5 – 0 | 4 – 6 – 0 | 2 – 3 – 0 | 2 W |
| LOS ANGELES RAMS | 5 | 10 | 0 | .333 | 3.5 | 281 | 334 | 4 – 5 – 0 | 1 – 5 – 0 | 3 – 8 – 0 | 1 – 4 – 0 | 1 W |
| ATLANTA FALCONS | 5 | 10 | 0 | .333 | 3.5 | 315 | 350 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 1 – 7 – 0 | 4 – 6 – 0 | 1 – 4 – 0 | 4 L |
| ARIZONA CARDINALS | 4 | 11 | 0 | .267 | 4.5 | 308 | 391 | 1 – 8 – 0 | 3 – 3 – 0 | 3 – 7 – 0 | 1 – 4 – 0 | 5 L |
| CHICAGO BEARS | 3 | 12 | 0 | .200 | 5.5 | 303 | 393 | 2 – 6 – 0 | 1 – 6 – 0 | 1 – 9 – 0 | 0 – 4 – 0 | 8 L |
NBA STANDINGS
| EASTERN CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | CONF GB | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF | LAST 10 | STREAK | |||
| 1 BOSTON | 26 | 10 | .722 | — | 15-5 | 11-5 | 4-0 | 15-8 | 5-5 | 4 W | ||
| 2 BROOKLYN | 23 | 12 | .657 | 2.5 | 12-5 | 11-7 | 5-2 | 18-6 | 10-0 | 10 W | ||
| 3 MILWAUKEE | 22 | 12 | .647 | 3.0 | 14-3 | 8-9 | 4-3 | 11-8 | 4-6 | 4 L | ||
| 4 CLEVELAND | 22 | 14 | .611 | 4.0 | 16-4 | 6-10 | 5-3 | 15-8 | 6-4 | 3 L | ||
| 5 PHILADELPHIA | 20 | 13 | .606 | 4.5 | 14-5 | 6-8 | 4-3 | 14-9 | 8-2 | 1 L | ||
| 6 INDIANA | 19 | 17 | .528 | 7.0 | 11-7 | 8-10 | 2-2 | 14-8 | 5-5 | 2 W | ||
| 7 MIAMI | 18 | 17 | .514 | 7.5 | 11-8 | 6-9 | 5-1 | 8-11 | 7-3 | 2 W | ||
| 8 NEW YORK | 18 | 18 | .500 | 8.0 | 8-10 | 10-8 | 1-4 | 12-9 | 5-5 | 5 L | ||
| 9 ATLANTA | 17 | 18 | .486 | 8.5 | 11-7 | 6-11 | 4-3 | 13-14 | 4-6 | 2 L | ||
| 10 CHICAGO | 15 | 19 | .441 | 10.0 | 8-8 | 7-11 | 3-1 | 13-9 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 11 TORONTO | 15 | 20 | .429 | 10.5 | 10-8 | 5-12 | 2-7 | 11-13 | 2-8 | 2 L | ||
| 12 WASHINGTON | 15 | 21 | .417 | 11.0 | 10-7 | 5-14 | 3-3 | 8-13 | 4-6 | 3 W | ||
| 13 ORLANDO | 13 | 23 | .361 | 13.0 | 9-10 | 4-13 | 2-4 | 7-17 | 7-3 | 2 L | ||
| 14 CHARLOTTE | 10 | 26 | .278 | 16.0 | 5-11 | 5-15 | 3-6 | 4-17 | 3-7 | 1 W | ||
| 15 DETROIT | 9 | 28 | .243 | 17.5 | 5-13 | 4-15 | 0-5 | 4-17 | 2-8 | 1 W | ||
| WESTERN CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | CONF GB | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF | LAST 10 | STREAK | |||
| 1 NEW ORLEANS | 22 | 12 | .647 | — | 15-4 | 7-8 | 6-1 | 15-8 | 6-4 | 4 W | ||
| 2 DENVER | 22 | 12 | .647 | — | 12-3 | 10-9 | 7-2 | 18-8 | 8-2 | 1 L | ||
| 3 MEMPHIS | 21 | 13 | .618 | 1.0 | 13-3 | 8-10 | 3-2 | 9-10 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| 4 LA CLIPPERS | 21 | 16 | .568 | 2.5 | 11-7 | 10-9 | 3-4 | 11-11 | 7-3 | 1 L | ||
| 5 DALLAS | 20 | 16 | .556 | 3.0 | 15-5 | 5-11 | 3-2 | 14-6 | 7-3 | 5 W | ||
| 6 PHOENIX | 20 | 16 | .556 | 3.0 | 14-5 | 6-11 | 7-0 | 17-10 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| 7 SACRAMENTO | 18 | 15 | .545 | 3.5 | 10-7 | 8-8 | 4-4 | 7-7 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 8 PORTLAND | 18 | 16 | .529 | 4.0 | 8-6 | 10-10 | 4-5 | 13-11 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 9 UTAH | 19 | 18 | .514 | 4.5 | 12-5 | 7-13 | 3-4 | 15-11 | 4-6 | 2 L | ||
| 10 GOLDEN STATE | 18 | 18 | .500 | 5.0 | 15-2 | 3-16 | 4-3 | 11-8 | 5-5 | 3 W | ||
| 11 MINNESOTA | 16 | 19 | .457 | 6.5 | 9-8 | 7-11 | 4-4 | 9-13 | 3-7 | 4 L | ||
| 12 OKLAHOMA CITY | 15 | 20 | .429 | 7.5 | 10-8 | 5-12 | 3-6 | 9-12 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| 13 LA LAKERS | 14 | 21 | .400 | 8.5 | 8-8 | 6-13 | 0-7 | 7-13 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| 14 SAN ANTONIO | 12 | 23 | .343 | 10.5 | 7-11 | 5-11 | 2-4 | 5-19 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 15 HOUSTON | 10 | 25 | .286 | 12.5 | 6-10 | 4-15 | 1-6 | 5-18 | 3-7 | 2 L |
NHL STANDINGS
| EASTERN CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | ROW | GF | GA | HOME | ROAD | L10 | ||
| 1 BOSTON BRUINS | 35 | 28 | 4 | 3 | 59 | 26 | 135 | 78 | 18-0-2 | 10-4-1 | 7-1-2 | |
| 2 CAROLINA HURRICANES | 35 | 23 | 6 | 6 | 52 | 21 | 109 | 90 | 11-3-1 | 12-3-5 | 9-0-1 | |
| 3 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS | 36 | 22 | 8 | 6 | 50 | 22 | 119 | 92 | 13-2-3 | 9-6-3 | 7-3-0 | |
| 4 NEW JERSEY DEVILS | 35 | 22 | 11 | 2 | 46 | 22 | 116 | 90 | 10-9-1 | 12-2-1 | 2-7-1 | |
| 5 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING | 34 | 22 | 11 | 1 | 45 | 21 | 121 | 99 | 14-4-1 | 8-7-0 | 7-3-0 | |
| 6 WASHINGTON CAPITALS | 38 | 20 | 13 | 5 | 45 | 20 | 118 | 106 | 11-5-2 | 9-8-3 | 8-1-1 | |
| 7 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS | 35 | 19 | 10 | 6 | 44 | 18 | 119 | 105 | 10-3-4 | 9-7-2 | 6-2-2 | |
| 8 NEW YORK ISLANDERS | 37 | 21 | 14 | 2 | 44 | 21 | 119 | 100 | 12-6-0 | 9-8-2 | 5-3-2 | |
| 9 NEW YORK RANGERS | 37 | 19 | 12 | 6 | 44 | 18 | 117 | 102 | 8-7-4 | 11-5-2 | 7-2-1 | |
| 10 DETROIT RED WINGS | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 37 | 14 | 106 | 115 | 8-6-3 | 7-6-4 | 3-5-2 | |
| 11 BUFFALO SABRES | 33 | 17 | 14 | 2 | 36 | 16 | 133 | 112 | 8-8-2 | 9-6-0 | 7-2-1 | |
| 12 FLORIDA PANTHERS | 36 | 16 | 16 | 4 | 36 | 15 | 121 | 122 | 9-5-3 | 7-11-1 | 4-6-0 | |
| 13 OTTAWA SENATORS | 35 | 16 | 16 | 3 | 35 | 15 | 107 | 111 | 9-8-1 | 7-8-2 | 6-2-2 | |
| 14 MONTREAL CANADIENS | 36 | 15 | 18 | 3 | 33 | 11 | 98 | 129 | 7-9-0 | 8-9-3 | 2-7-1 | |
| 15 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS | 36 | 12 | 17 | 7 | 31 | 12 | 94 | 122 | 7-9-1 | 5-8-6 | 3-5-2 | |
| 16 COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS | 34 | 10 | 22 | 2 | 22 | 10 | 90 | 137 | 8-11-1 | 2-11-1 | 2-8-0 | |
| WESTERN CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | ROW | GF | GA | HOME | ROAD | L10 | ||
| 1 DALLAS STARS | 37 | 22 | 9 | 6 | 50 | 22 | 132 | 102 | 10-4-3 | 12-5-3 | 7-2-1 | |
| 2 VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS | 38 | 24 | 12 | 2 | 50 | 21 | 126 | 107 | 10-9-0 | 14-3-2 | 5-4-1 | |
| 3 LOS ANGELES KINGS | 39 | 21 | 12 | 6 | 48 | 17 | 130 | 134 | 11-5-2 | 10-7-4 | 7-1-2 | |
| 4 WINNIPEG JETS | 36 | 22 | 13 | 1 | 45 | 22 | 116 | 94 | 13-6-0 | 9-7-1 | 4-6-0 | |
| 5 MINNESOTA WILD | 35 | 20 | 13 | 2 | 42 | 17 | 111 | 100 | 11-7-1 | 9-6-1 | 7-3-0 | |
| 6 CALGARY FLAMES | 37 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 41 | 16 | 114 | 113 | 10-7-2 | 7-6-5 | 4-2-4 | |
| 7 COLORADO AVALANCHE | 34 | 19 | 12 | 3 | 41 | 16 | 103 | 95 | 9-5-3 | 10-7-0 | 6-2-2 | |
| 8 SEATTLE KRAKEN | 33 | 18 | 11 | 4 | 40 | 18 | 115 | 107 | 9-7-2 | 9-4-2 | 3-6-1 | |
| 9 EDMONTON OILERS | 36 | 19 | 15 | 2 | 40 | 19 | 128 | 123 | 9-9-1 | 10-6-1 | 5-3-2 | |
| 10 ST. LOUIS BLUES | 36 | 17 | 16 | 3 | 37 | 15 | 112 | 130 | 7-7-2 | 10-9-1 | 5-2-3 | |
| 11 VANCOUVER CANUCKS | 35 | 16 | 16 | 3 | 35 | 14 | 122 | 135 | 7-9-1 | 9-7-2 | 6-4-0 | |
| 12 NASHVILLE PREDATORS | 33 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 33 | 12 | 84 | 101 | 8-6-3 | 6-8-2 | 2-5-3 | |
| 13 ARIZONA COYOTES | 34 | 13 | 16 | 5 | 31 | 12 | 99 | 123 | 7-3-2 | 6-13-3 | 6-3-1 | |
| 14 SAN JOSE SHARKS | 37 | 11 | 19 | 7 | 29 | 10 | 113 | 139 | 4-10-6 | 7-9-1 | 3-4-3 | |
| 15 ANAHEIM DUCKS | 36 | 10 | 22 | 4 | 24 | 7 | 86 | 148 | 6-8-1 | 4-14-3 | 4-5-1 | |
| 16 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS | 34 | 8 | 22 | 4 | 20 | 8 | 76 | 128 | 5-12-2 | 3-10-2 | 1-9-0 |
FOOTBALL HISTORY
December 30, 1956 – Yankee Stadium, New York – The NFL’s 1956 Championship game, New York Giants won the franchises fourth League title after they crushed the Chicago Bears, 47-7. The Pro-Football Reference.com site informs us that the Giants scoring was paced by two TD passes by QB Charlie Conerly while Alex Webster rushed for two others to aid in the New York victory.
December 30, 1962 – Yankee Stadium, New York – The Giants also participated in the 1962 NFL Championship game per a Bleacher Report story. Their opponents were the Green Bay Packers who were playing in their third straight League finale. Kicker Jerry Kramer booted 3 successful field goals to fuel the scoring as Green Bay defeated the NY Giants, 16-7.Ray Nitschke of Packers was selected as the game’s Most Valuable Player.
December 30, 1973 – Miami Orange Bowl – The AFC Championship had the Dolphins hosting the Oakland Raiders. The Miami squad became the first team to play in 3 consecutive Super Bowls as they knocked off the Raiders, 27-10 powered by 3 touchdown runs by Larry Csonka according to a barstoolsports.com article.
December 30, 1973 – Texas Stadium, Irving – The NFC Championship game also had a final score of 27-10. The Pro-Football-Reference.com site shows that Bobby Brown had a 63 yard scoop and score to help seal the Super Bowl invitation for the Minnesota Vikings as they beat the Dallas Cowboys to earn the right to play in the big game.
December 30, 2002 – A CBSSports.com story tells us that the 2002 Season concluded with an All Time NFL season record of 25 overtime games.
Now for some Onthisday.com Quick hitter headlines:
December 30, 2008 – NFL head coach Mike Shanahan is fired by the Denver Broncos
December 30, 2013 – NFL head coach Mike Shanahan is fired by the Washington Redskins
December 30, 2016 – 83rd Orange Bowl: #10 Florida State beats #6 Michigan, 33-32
December 30, 2017 – 84th Orange Bowl: #6 Wisconsin beats #11 Miami (Florida), 34-24
December 30, 2018 – Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes during KC Chiefs’ 35-3 win over Oakland Raiders became only the 2nd quarterback in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns. Both milestones were reached on a 3rd quarter 89-yard TD pass to Demarcus Robinson per the Onthisday.com website.
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 30
December 30, 1938 – The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s bio on Ron Wolf tells how he was born in New Freedom, Pennsylvania and attended the University of Oklahoma. Wolf has one of the top front office resumes in NFL history per a ProFootballHOF.com article. Ron helped to build the Oakland Raiders teams that went on to win nine divisional titles, played in 8 conference championships and 3 Super Bowls. He also took over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their inaugural season and was also responsible for the rebuilding of the Green Bay Packers of the 1990s and 200’s that went to back to back Super Bowls and won Super Bowl XXXI. Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Ron Wolf as a contributor in 2015’s class.
December 30, 1941 – Houston, Texas – The super athletic running back of the Oregon Ducks Mel Renfro was born. Yes Mel was an offensive weapon in college and not roaming the secondary like he did on the other side of the ball as a pro in Dallas. We will get to that in a moment, but for now lets learn about his collegiate days. Renfro according to the footballfoundation.org website led Oregon in rushing and scoring throughout his three seasons of 1961 through 1963. After the 1962 season he was voted as a Consensus First Team All- America player. The College Football hall of Fame held the doors open wide to welcome Mel Renfro to their fold of legends in 1986. Renfro became the second pick of the 1964 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys who selected him to play defensive back. For the next 14 seasons Mel played either corner of safety on the Cowboys defense and also acted as a return man for much of his career as he accumulated over 2200 kick return yards over his tenure. Renfro made the Pro Bowl in each of his first ten seasons in the League. Mel Renfro was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
December 30, 1953 – Oakridge, Tennessee – Chet Moeller the Safety from the US Naval Academy celebrated his birth. Chet was one of the most awarded Navy players of all time per the NFF. The Midshipman DB was a unanimous All-America in 1975 , was named an AP Player of the Week and received the Ernie Davis Award at the Coaches All-America Game. Moeller was a finalist for the NCAA Today’s Top Five, earned a second team NCAA Academic All-America and he was given the Naval Academy’s Athletic Association Sword. He registered 275 tackles during his career at Navy. The National Football Foundation selected Chet Moeller into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
December 30, 1966 – Sharon, Pennsylvania – Westminster College’s famed Quarterback Joe Micchia was born. Footballfoundation.org says that Joe received second Team All-American honors in 1988 and then followed that up in 1989 as a First Team All America selection. Micchia led Westminster to back-to-back undefeated seasons en route to consecutive NAIA Division II national championships. His record as a starter with the Westminster Titans was an amazing 31-0 as he was the school’s first-ever 4,000-yard passer and had 68 career TD passes with 32 of them occurring in one season. The NFF voters sent Joe Micchia into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
December 30, 1972 – Lebanon, Pennsylvania – The Great Nittany Lions QB Kerry Collins celebrates his birth. After the 1994 season Kerry received consensus First Team All-America honors and he broke nine single-season school records the year. The NFF states that Collins led the nation in passing efficiency in 1994 with a 172.9 rating which is the fourth best all-time. Kerry Collins had no trouble finding his way into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018. Collins became the Carolina Panthers, first-ever draft pick when they selected him as the fifth overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft. The two-time Pro Bowl selection played 17 years in the NFL with the Panthers, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts.
BASEBALL HISTORY
1925 The Giants deal two pitchers, southpaw Jack Bentley and right-hander Wayland Dean, to the Phillies for righty hurler Jimmy Ring. Philadelphia’s new pitchers post a 0-3 record for their new team, with Ring compiling a mediocre 11-10 mark for New York before being included in the off-season blockbuster trade, swapping Rogers Hornsby and Frankie Frisch from St. Louis to the Big Apple for one season.
1926 The Chicago Tribune reports the 1917 Tigers had thrown a four-game early September series to the eventual world champion White Sox at Comiskey Park, helping Chicago win the pennant by ten games over the Red Sox. After a three-day hearing, Commissioner Judge Landis clears all the accused, ruling a lack of evidence except for players paying another team for winning.
1935 Dodger left-hander Sanford Braun is born in Brooklyn. In his 12-year career, the southpaw will compile a winning percentage of .655 (165-87), whiff 300 batters or more in three seasons, and fanning 18 to set a major league mark for Ks in a single game, and will become better known as Sandy Koufax.
1943 In a trade of the Babes in Pennsylvania, the Phillies send first baseman Babe Dahlgren to the Pirates for catcher Babe Phelps and cash. As a Yankee infielder in 1939, Dahlgren replaced Lou Gehrig after the ‘Iron Horse’ had played in a major-league record of 2,130 consecutive games.
2002 Citing this season will probably be his last, forty-year-old Roger Clemens (13-6, 4.35) agrees to a $10.1 million, one-year deal with the Yankees. The 19-year veteran, who has won the Cy Young Award six times, is seven victories shy of 300.
2004 Project Club Clemente will send aid, originally destined for Nicaragua in memory of the anniversary of Roberto Clemente’s tragic flight 32 years ago, to the earthquake and tsunami victims in Southern Asia. Roberto Clemente, Jr., who, with the organization’s help, collected two tons of supplies and raised nearly $20,000 to reenact his father’s unfinished mission, decides to postpone the ceremonial flight and divert the relief to help those in desperate need right now.
2008 Chris Snyder remains a Diamondback after agreeing to a reported three-year deal worth $14.5 million. The 27-year-old catcher becomes the latest individual to sign a multi-year contract with Arizona as the team attempts to develop a group of core players who will stay and play together for the long term.
SPORTS IN NUMBERS
9 – 12 – 6 – 11 – 8 – 99 – 7 – 12
December 29, 1945 – Montreal right wing Number 9, Maurice Richard scored twice in the Canadiens’ 5-4 loss to the Chicago Black Hawks and in doing so, recorded his 100th NHL career goal. This feat was reached in just 145 games, then fastest in NHL history. It has been since broken by Number , Mike Bossy, 100 goals in 129 games
December 29, 1955 – NHL officials wear new vertically striped black-and-white sweaters for the first time in Montreal Canadiens’ 5-2 win over Toronto Maple Leafs
December 29, 1968 – AFL Championship, Shea Stadium, NYC: New York Jets beat Oakland Raiders 27-23; Jets Number 12, QB Joe Namath 3 TD passes sparks Jets to win
December 29, 1970 – Ballon d’Or: Bayern Munich striker Number 9, Gerd Müller wins award for best European football player ahead of West Ham United defender Number 6, Bobby Moore and Cagliari forward Number 11, Luigi Riva
December 29, 1981 – Ballon d’Or: German 1-2-3 with Bayern Munich forward Number 11, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge taking title of Europe’s best football player for the 2nd straight year; beats teammate Number 8, Paul Breitner and Barcelona midfielder Number 8, Bernd Schuster
December 29, 1984 – Number 99, Wayne Gretzky of Edmonton scored his NHL career 32nd hat trick and adds 3 assists in Edmonton’s 6-3 win over Detroit Red Wings for his 100th point in just 35 games; 2nd fastest in history – recorded 100 points in 34 games in 1983
December 29, 1987 – Ballon d’Or: Milan’s Dutch midfielder Number 10, Ruud Gullit wins best football player in Europe award ahead of Number 10, Paulo Futre (Porto/Atlético Madrid) and Real Madrid striker Number 7, Emilio Butragueño
December 29, 1989 – Wayne Gretzky and Martina Navratilova, named athletes of decade by the Associated Press
December 29, 2007 – New England Patriots Number 12, Quarterback, Tom Brady set a then-NFL record, throwing his 50th TD pass, and the New England Patriots become the first team in NFL history to finish the regular season 16-0
TV FRIDAY
| COLLEGE BASKETBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| NORTH CAROLINA AT PITT | 12:00PM | ACCN |
| MIAMI (FL) AT NOTRE DAME | 2:00PM | ACCN |
| MANHATTAN AT SAINT PETER’S | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| BUCKNELL AT HOLY CROSS | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NAVY AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NC STATE AT CLEMSON | 4:00PM | ACCN |
| SIENA AT QUINNIPIAC | 4:00PM | ESPN3 |
| BUFFALO AT MICHIGAN STATE | 6:00PM | BTN |
| LEHIGH AT ARMY WEST POINT | 6:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MORGAN STATE AT HARTFORD | 6:00PM | – |
| AMERICAN AT LAFAYETTE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA AT VANDERBILT | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| EASTERN MICHIGAN AT SOUTH CAROLINA | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| CHICAGO STATE AT OHIO | 7:00PM | ESPN3 |
| CONCORD AT AKRON | 7:00PM | ESPN3 |
| MARIST AT FAIRFIELD | 7:00PM | ESPN3 |
| RIDER AT CANISIUS | 7:00PM | ESPN3 |
| MOUNT ST. MARY’S AT NIAGARA | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NORTH ALABAMA AT JACKSONVILLE STATE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| STETSON AT LIPSCOMB | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| COLGATE AT LOYOLA MARYLAND | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| COPPIN STATE AT RUTGERS | 8:00PM | BTN |
| NORTH DAKOTA STATE AT NORTH DAKOTA | 8:00PM | ESPN3 |
| NEW ORLEANS AT HOUSTON CHRISTIAN | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| WESTERN MICHIGAN AT WISCONSIN | 8:00PM | BTN+ |
| USC AT WASHINGTON | 10:00PM | ESPN2 |
| UCLA AT WASHINGTON STATE | 11:00PM | PAC12 |
| COLLEGE FOOTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| DUKE’S MAYO BOWL: (25) NC STATE VS. MARYLAND | 12:00PM | ESPN |
| TONY THE TIGER SUN BOWL: PITT VS. (18) UCLA | 2:00PM | CBS |
| TAXSLAYER GATOR BOWL: (20) SOUTH CAROLINA VS. (19) NOTRE DAME | 3:30PM | ESPN |
| BARSTOOL SPORTS ARIZONA BOWL: OHIO VS. WYOMING | 4:30PM | BARSTOOL |
| CAPITAL ONE ORANGE BOWL: (6) TENNESSEE VS. (10) CLEMSON | 8:00PM | ESPN |
| NBA REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| WASHINGTON AT ORLANDO | 7:00PM | NBCS-WSH BALLY SPORTS |
| LA LAKERS AT ATLANTA | 7:30PM | NBATV BALLY SPORTS SPORTSNET |
| PHOENIX AT TORONTO | 7:30PM | SPORTSNET BALLY SPORTS |
| DETROIT AT CHICAGO | 8:00PM | BALLY SPORTS NBCS-CHI |
| MINNESOTA AT MILWAUKEE | 8:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| PHILADELPHIA AT NEW ORLEANS | 8:30PM | NBCS-PHI BALLY SPORTS |
| MIAMI AT DENVER | 9:00PM | BALLY SPORTS ALT |
| PORTLAND AT GOLDEN STATE | 10:00PM | NBATV ROOT SPORTS NBCS-BAY |
| UTAH AT SACRAMENTO | 10:00PM | ATTSN-RM NBCS-CA |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| NASHVILLE AT ANAHEIM | 5:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| NEW JERSEY AT PITTSBURGH | 7:00PM | MSGSN ATTSN-PIT |
| FLORIDA AT CAROLINA | 7:30PM | ESPN+ HULU |
| EDMONTON AT SEATTLE | 10:00PM | ESPN+ HULU |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| LA LIGA: GETAFE VS MALLORCA | 11:00AM | ESPN+ |
| LA LIGA: CÁDIZ VS ALMERÍA | 1:15PM | ESPN+ |
| LA LIGA: CELTA DE VIGO VS SEVILLA | 1:15PM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: WEST HAM UNITED VS BRENTFORD | 2:45PM | USA |
| ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: LIVERPOOL VS LEICESTER CITY | 3:00PM | PEACOCK |
| LA LIGA: REAL VALLADOLID VS REAL MADRID | 3:30PM | ESPN+ |
TV SATURDAY
| COLLEGE BASKETBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| LOUISVILLE AT KENTUCKY | 12:00PM | CBS |
| UCONN AT XAVIER | 12:00PM | FOX |
| ST. JOHN’S AT SETON HALL | 12:00PM | FS1 |
| VIRGINIA AT GEORGIA TECH | 12:00PM | ACCN |
| TEXAS TECH AT TCU | 12:00PM | ESPNU |
| STONY BROOK AT NORTHEASTERN | 12:00PM | CBSSN |
| VIRGINIA TECH AT WAKE FOREST | 12:00PM | ACCN |
| CHARLESTON AT TOWSON | 12:00PM | NBCS-WSH |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE AT UALBANY | 12:00PM | ESPN3 |
| CENTENARY (NJ) AT FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON | 12:00PM | NEC |
| MILWAUKEE AT DETROIT MERCY | 12:00PM | ESPN+ |
| YALE AT COLUMBIA | 12:00PM | ESPN+ |
| FLORIDA STATE AT DUKE | 1:00PM | ESPN2 |
| BINGHAMTON AT BRYANT | 1:00PM | ESPN3 |
| MERRIMACK AT WAGNER | 1:00PM | NEC |
| SACRED HEART AT LIU | 1:00PM | NEC |
| ST. FRANCIS BROOKLYN AT CENTRAL CONNECTICUT | 1:00PM | NEC |
| ETSU AT VMI | 1:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SAMFORD AT THE CITADEL | 1:00PM | ESPN+ |
| RHODE ISLAND AT DUQUESNE | 1:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SAINT LOUIS AT SAINT JOSEPH’S | 1:00PM | ESPN+ |
| JACKSONVILLE AT FGCU | 1:00PM | ESPN+ |
| GREEN BAY AT OAKLAND | 1:00PM | ESPN+ |
| HARVARD AT PRINCETON | 1:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NORTH CAROLINA A&T AT HOFSTRA | 1:00PM | FLOSPORTS |
| OKLAHOMA STATE AT KANSAS | 2:00PM | CBS |
| ARIZONA AT ARIZONA STATE | 2:00PM | FOX |
| MARQUETTE AT VILLANOVA | 2:00PM | FS1 |
| BAYLOR AT IOWA STATE | 2:00PM | ESPNU |
| BOSTON COLLEGE AT SYRACUSE | 2:00PM | ACCN |
| FRESNO STATE AT UTAH STATE | 2:00PM | CBSSN |
| UIC AT BRADLEY | 2:00PM | MVC TV |
| RICHMOND AT GEORGE MASON | 2:00PM | MASN2 |
| LA SALLE AT VCU | 2:00PM | MASN |
| NEVADA AT AIR FORCE | 2:00PM | ALTITUDE2 |
| UMASS LOWELL AT NJIT | 2:00PM | ESPN3 |
| UCF AT HOUSTON | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| DAYTON AT DAVIDSON | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UMASS AT ST. BONAVENTURE | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| AUSTIN PEAY AT NORTH FLORIDA | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| CENTRAL ARKANSAS AT KENNESAW STATE | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| TEXAS AT OKLAHOMA | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| GARDNER-WEBB AT HIGH POINT | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| LONGWOOD AT CAMPBELL | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| PRESBYTERIAN AT RADFORD | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UNC ASHEVILLE AT WINTHROP | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NORTHERN KENTUCKY AT IUPUI | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| LOUISIANA TECH AT CHARLOTTE | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| CHATTANOOGA AT MERCER | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UNCG AT WOFFORD | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| STEPHEN F. AUSTIN AT UTA | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SOUTH ALABAMA AT GEORGIA STATE | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| LOUISIANA AT OLD DOMINION | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| JAMES MADISON AT MARSHALL | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT COASTAL CAROLINA | 2:00PM | ESPN+ |
| WILLIAM & MARY AT DREXEL | 2:00PM | FLOSPORTS |
| ELON AT DELAWARE | 2:00PM | FLOSPORTS |
| HAMPTON AT UNCW | 2:00PM | FLOSPORTS |
| RICE AT UTEP | 2:00PM | CUSATV |
| KANSAS CITY AT OMAHA | 2:00PM | – |
| WESTERN ILLINOIS AT SOUTH DAKOTA | 2:00PM | – |
| PURDUE FORT WAYNE AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE | 2:45PM | ESPN+ |
| UNI AT ILLINOIS STATE | 3:00PM | – |
| ORAL ROBERTS AT DENVER | 3:00PM | ALT |
| ST. THOMAS AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE | 3:00PM | – |
| APP STATE AT SOUTHERN MISS | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SIUE AT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ULM AT ARKANSAS STATE | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UTRGV AT SOUTHERN UTAH | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| CLEVELAND STATE AT ROBERT MORRIS | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| USC UPSTATE AT CHARLESTON SOUTHERN | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI AT NORTHWESTERN STATE | 3:30PM | ESPN+ |
| SAN DIEGO STATE AT UNLV | 4:00PM | CBS |
| NEW MEXICO AT WYOMING | 4:00PM | FS1 |
| WKU AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE | 4:00PM | CBSSN |
| UTAH AT STANFORD | 4:00PM | PAC12 |
| UC IRVINE AT CSU BAKERSFIELD | 4:00PM | SPECTRUM |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON AT LOYOLA CHICAGO | 4:00PM | NBCS-CHI |
| SAN JOSE STATE AT COLORADO STATE | 4:00PM | – |
| STONEHILL AT SAINT FRANCIS U | 4:00PM | NEC |
| FURMAN AT WESTERN CAROLINA | 4:00PM | ESPN+ |
| TARLETON AT ABILENE CHRISTIAN | 4:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UTAH TECH AT UTAH VALLEY | 4:00PM | ESPN+ |
| QUEENS AT EASTERN KENTUCKY | 4:00PM | ESPN+ |
| EAST CAROLINA AT WICHITA STATE | 4:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NORTHERN ARIZONA AT WEBER STATE | 4:00PM | ESPN+ |
| EASTERN WASHINGTON AT MONTANA STATE | 4:00PM | ESPN+ |
| IDAHO AT MONTANA | 4:00PM | ESPN+ |
| FIU AT NORTH TEXAS | 4:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UTSA AT UAB | 4:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MOREHEAD STATE AT UT MARTIN | 4:30PM | ESPN+ |
| LITTLE ROCK AT TENNESSEE STATE | 4:30PM | ESPN+ |
| SOUTHERN INDIANA AT EASTERN ILLINOIS | 4:30PM | ESPN+ |
| TENNESSEE TECH AT LINDENWOOD | 4:30PM | ESPN+ |
| PEPPERDINE AT GONZAGA | 5:00PM | – |
| LOYOLA MARYMOUNT AT PACIFIC | 5:00PM | WCC |
| TROY AT TEXAS STATE | 5:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MCNEESE AT LAMAR | 5:00PM | ESPN+ |
| PORTLAND STATE AT SACRAMENTO STATE | 5:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UIW AT A&M-COMMERCE | 5:30PM | ESPN+ |
| COLORADO AT CALIFORNIA | 6:00PM | PAC12 |
| UC RIVERSIDE AT LONG BEACH STATE | 6:00PM | SPECTRUM |
| SAM HOUSTON AT NM STATE | 6:00PM | – |
| CALIFORNIA BAPTIST AT SEATTLE U | 6:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SAINT MARY’S AT SANTA CLARA | 7:00PM | NBCS-BAY |
| UC SAN DIEGO AT UC SANTA BARBARA | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| WEST VIRGINIA AT KANSAS STATE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| OREGON STATE AT OREGON | 8:00PM | PAC12 |
| NORTHERN COLORADO AT IDAHO STATE | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| PORTLAND AT BYU | 9:00PM | BYUTV |
| CSUN AT CAL STATE FULLERTON | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| CAL POLY AT HAWAI’I | 10:00PM | SPECTRUM |
| COLLEGE FOOTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| TRANSPERFECT MUSIC CITY BOWL: IOWA VS. KENTUCKY | 12:00PM | ABC |
| ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL: (5) ALABAMA VS. (11) KANSAS STATE | 12:00PM | ESPN |
| FIESTA BOWL: (3) TCU VS. (2) MICHIGAN | 4:00PM | ESPN |
| CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL: (4) OHIO STATE VS. (1) GEORGIA | 8:00PM | ESPN |
| NBA REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| LA CLIPPERS AT INDIANA | 3:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| BROOKLYN AT CHARLOTTE | 7:00PM | YES BALLY SPORTS |
| CLEVELAND AT CHICAGO | 7:00PM | NBCS-CHI BALLY SPORTS |
| NEW YORK AT HOUSTON | 7:00PM | MSG ATTSN-SW |
| DALLAS AT SAN ANTONIO | 7:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| NEW ORLEANS AT MEMPHIS | 8:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| DETROIT AT MINNESOTA | 8:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| PHILADELPHIA AT OKLAHOMA CITY | 8:00PM | NBCS-PHI BALLY SPORTS |
| MIAMI AT UTAH | 9:00PM | BALLY SPORTS ATTSN-RM |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| BUFFALO AT BOSTON | 1:00PM | MSG-BUF NESN |
| CHICAGO AT COLUMBUS | 1:00PM | NBCS-CHI BALLY SPORTS |
| NASHVILLE AT VEGAS | 3:00PM | BALLY SPORTS ATTSN-RM |
| PHILADELPHIA AT LOS ANGELES | 4:00PM | NBCS-PHI BALLY SPORTS |
| MONTRÉAL AT WASHINGTON | 4:00PM | SPORTSNET NBCS-WSH |
| ARIZONA AT TAMPA BAY | 5:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| MINNESOTA AT ST. LOUIS | 6:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| OTTAWA AT DETROIT | 7:00PM | SPORTSNET BALLY SPORTS |
| TORONTO AT COLORADO | 7:00PM | SPORTSNET ALT |
| SAN JOSE AT DALLAS | 8:00PM | NBCS-CA BALLY SPORTS |
| VANCOUVER AT CALGARY | 10:00PM | SPORTSNET |
| WINNIPEG AT EDMONTON | 10:00PM | SPORTSNET |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS VS MANCHESTER UNITED | 7:30AM | USA |
| LA LIGA: BARCELONA VS ESPANYOL | 8:00AM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: NEWCASTLE UNITED VS LEEDS UNITED | 10:00AM | USA |
| ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: MANCHESTER CITY VS EVERTON | 10:00AM | PEACOCK |
| ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: FULHAM VS SOUTHAMPTON | 10:00AM | PEACOCK |
| ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: AFC BOURNEMOUTH VS CRYSTAL PALACE | 10:00AM | PEACOCK |
| LA LIGA: VILLARREAL VS VALENCIA | 10:15AM | ESPN+ |
| LA LIGA: REAL SOCIEDAD VS OSASUNA | 10:15AM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION VS ARSENAL | 12:30PM | NBC |