THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” FRIDAY MARCH 3, 2023

 INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SECTIONAL SEMI-FINAL’S FRIDAY

MUNSTER SECTIONAL

Hammond Morton (8-15) vs. Hammond Central (23-1)

Munster (23-2) at Lake Central (16-8)

CROWN POINT SECTIONAL

Chesterton (18-5) at Crown Point (15-8)

Hobart (12-11) vs. Valparaiso (12-13)

LAPORTE SECTIONAL

LaPorte (17-6) at Michigan City (17-6)

South Bend Riley (13-9) vs. Mishawaka (18-6)

ELKHART SECTIONAL

Goshen (11-11) vs. Penn (24-1)

Concord (11-10) vs. Northridge (14-10)

CARROLL SECTIONAL

Fort Wayne Northrop (4-18) vs. East Noble (4-19)

Fort Wayne Snider (3-20) vs. Fort Wayne North (14-9)

COLUMBIA CITY SECTIONAL

Fort Wayne South (4-19) vs. Fort Wayne Wayne (18-4)

Columbia City (13-10) at Homestead (18-7)

KOKOMO SECTIONAL

Kokomo (19-4) at Harrison (West Lafayette) (18-6)

McCutcheon (6-17) vs. Marion (15-8)

CARMEL SECTIONAL

Noblesville (17-6) vs. Westfield (16-7)

Zionsville (14-8) vs. Fishers (14-11)

MUNCIE SECTIONAL

New Palestine (21-2) vs. Pendleton Heights (8-16)

Mount Vernon (Fortville) (15-8) vs. Anderson (20-4)

WARREN CENTRAL SECTIONAL

Indianapolis Cathedral (17-5) at Warren Central (14-9)

Lawrence North (18-7) vs. Indianapolis Attucks (17-7)

PERRY MERIDIAN SECTIONAL

Pike (15-8) vs. Decatur Central (12-10)

Franklin Central (4-18) vs. Ben Davis (27-0)

PLAINFIELD SECTIONAL

Terre Haute North (15-9) vs. Brownsburg (18-4)

Plainfield (17-6) at Terre Haute South (15-10)

CENTER GROVE SECTIONAL

Bloomington South (16-8) at Center Grove (21-2)

Martinsville (9-13) vs. Bloomington North (16-5)

COLUMBUS NORTH SECTIONAL

Whiteland (9-14) vs. Shelbyville (10-13)

Columbus East (2-19) at Columbus North (15-8)

SEYMOUR SECTIONAL

Jeffersonville (13-8) vs. Jennings County (21-2)

Seymour (10-12) at New Albany (10-13)

NORTH SECTIONAL

Evansville Central (7-15) vs. Evansville Reitz (17-6)

Evansville North (8-15) at Jasper (13-10)

HANOVER CENTRAL SECTIONAL

River Forest (8-15) vs. Lake Station (20-3)

Hammond Noll (13-12) at Hanover Central (15-9)

KNOX SECTIONAL

Knox (13-9) at Culver Academy (14-8)

Bremen (2-20) vs. John Glenn (14-10)

JIMTOWN SECTIONAL

South Bend Washington (16-5) vs. Mishawaka Marian (23-2)

New Prairie (9-13) vs. South Bend St. Joseph (11-14)

NORTHWOOD SECTIONAL

Lakeland (16-7) vs. West Noble (20-3)

Fairfield (8-14) at NorthWood (22-2)

GARRETT SECTIONAL

Heritage (13-11) vs. Fort Wayne Dwenger (10-13)

Fort Wayne Concordia (17-6) vs. Woodlan (19-5)

FRANKFORT SECTIONAL

Twin Lakes (8-14) vs. Western (13-10)

Benton Central (17-7) vs. Rensselaer Central (19-5)

PERU SECTIONAL

Oak Hill (20-2) at Peru (15-7)

Maconaquah (16-7) vs. Norwell (21-3)

NEW CASTLE SECTIONAL

Hamilton Heights (8-14) vs. Delta (15-9)

Frankton (13-11) at New Castle (13-11)

DANVILLE SECTIONAL

Tri-West (11-12) vs. Crawfordsville (9-14)

Lebanon (15-8) at Danville (16-7)

NORTHVIEW SECTIONAL

Indian Creek (12-8) at Northview (9-15)

South Vermillion (9-15) vs. Edgewood (10-14)

SHORTRIDGE SECTIONAL

Guerin Catholic (15-8) vs. Brebeuf Jesuit (15-8)

Indianapolis Shortridge (11-11) at Indianapolis Chatard (14-9)

CHRISTEL HOUSE SECTIONAL

Indianapolis Ritter (10-12) vs. Indianapolis Washington (6-17)

Beech Grove (14-6) vs. Speedway (4-18)

GREENSBURG SECTIONAL

Batesville (16-6) vs. Franklin County (10-13)

Lawrenceburg (19-6) at Greensburg (18-6)

CHARLESTOWN SECTIONAL

Salem (1-21) vs. Corydon Central (19-5)

Scottsburg (18-5) vs. Silver Creek (12-11)

WASHINGTON SECTIONAL

Washington (11-11) at Heritage Hills (16-8)

Vincennes Lincoln (6-18) vs. North Daviess (21-5)

BOONVILLE SECTIONAL

Gibson Southern (11-12) at Boonville (12-11)

Evansville Memorial (14-8) vs. Evansville Mater Dei (13-10)

WHITING SECTIONAL

Andrean (6-16) vs. Gary 21st Century (18-5)

Bowman Academy (11-12) vs. Illiana Christian (18-5)

NORTH JUDSON SECTIONAL

South Central (Union Mills) (5-16) at North Judson (21-3)

South Bend Career (10-12) vs. LaVille (15-9)

WESTVIEW SECTIONAL

Eastside (9-13) at Westview (15-8)

Central Noble (17-6) vs. Prairie Heights (16-8)

ROCHESTER SECTIONAL

Wabash (16-6) vs. Winamac (9-15)

Rochester (11-9) at Lewis Cass (16-7)

SOUTH ADAMS SECTIONAL

Fort Wayne Luers (9-14) vs. Adams Central (19-5)

Manchester (18-5) vs. Fort Wayne Blackhawk (21-3)

DELPHI SECTIONAL

Delphi (12-11) at Clinton Prairie (15-9)

Covington (12-12) vs. Carroll (Flora) (20-4)

TAYLOR SECTIONAL

Elwood (8-16) at Taylor (18-5)

Madison-Grant (17-6) vs. Tipton (16-6)

MONROE CENTRAL SECTIONAL

Wes-Del (9-12) vs. Muncie Burris (9-14)

Lapel (12-12) vs. Wapahani (22-1)

SHENANDOAH SECTIONAL

Hagerstown (7-16) vs. Knightstown (10-11)

Union County (3-20) vs. Northeastern (19-5)

EASTERN HANCOCK SECTIONAL

Triton Central (16-6) vs. Indianapolis Riverside (9-10)

Indianapolis Scecina (15-6) at Eastern Hancock (19-6)

CASCADE SECTIONAL

Covenant Christian (14-9) vs. Park Tudor (14-8)

Cascade (7-16) at University (21-2)

SOUTHMONT SECTIONAL

South Putnam (11-10) vs. Parke Heritage (16-9)

North Putnam (15-9) vs. Riverton Parke (10-14)

SOUTH RIPLEY SECTIONAL

North Decatur (19-5) at South Ripley (11-12)

Hauser (11-12) vs. Milan (9-15)

SOUTHWESTERN SECTIONAL

Southwestern (Hanover) (20-3) at Henryville (17-6)

Brownstown Central (20-4) vs. Providence (19-4)

NORTH KNOX SECTIONAL

Eastern Greene (8-15) vs. South Knox (17-7)

Mitchell (7-17) vs. Linton-Stockton (24-1)

TELL CITY SECTIONAL

Perry Central (7-16) vs. North Posey (13-10)

Tell City (1-22) at Forest Park (7-17)

MORGAN TWP. SECTIONAL

Hammond Science & Tech (4-15) vs. Kouts (14-9)

DeMotte Christian (14-9) at Morgan Twp. (19-5)

TRITON SECTIONAL

Oregon-Davis (2-20) vs. Culver (11-12)

Argos (15-7) vs. Marquette Catholic (17-7)

HAMILTON SECTIONAL

Lakewood Park (9-13) vs. Lakeland Christian (18-5)

Elkhart Christian (7-15) vs. Bethany Christian (14-10)

WEST CENTRAL SECTIONAL

Tri-County (10-12) vs. Frontier (11-12)

North White (6-16) at West Central (9-14)

SOUTHWOOD SECTIONAL

Northfield (7-15) at Southwood (10-12)

Smith Academy (7-14) vs. Fort Wayne Canterbury (7-16)

FOUNTAIN CENTRAL SECTIONAL

North Vermillion (6-16) at Fountain Central (20-4)

Rossville (11-12) vs. Faith Christian (10-14)

TRI-CENTRAL SECTIONAL

Cowan (10-12) vs. Liberty Christian (13-9)

Daleville (10-11) at Tri-Central (7-17)

TRI SECTIONAL

Union (Modoc) (4-16) vs. Blue River (18-6)

Cambridge City Lincoln (10-12) vs. Seton Catholic (11-14)

WHITE RIVER VALLEY SECTIONAL

North Central (Farmersburg) (12-11) vs. Bloomington Lighthouse (16-7)

White River Valley (7-17) at Bloomfield (22-3)

INDIANA DEAF SECTIONAL

Indiana Math & Science (14-10) vs. Bethesda Christian (19-4)

Indianapolis Metropolitan (9-13) vs. Traders Point Christian (17-6)

LUTHERAN SECTIONAL

Indianapolis Lutheran (14-7) at Providence Cristo Rey (6-16)

Victory College Prep (3-18) vs. Greenwood Christian (18-6)

EDINBURGH SECTIONAL

Oldenburg Academy (6-15) vs. South Decatur (13-11)

Jac-Cen-Del (15-9) vs. Waldron (12-11)

WEST WASHINGTON SECTIONAL

South Central (Elizabeth) (14-9) vs. Borden (17-7)

Lanesville (1-20) vs. Rock Creek Academy (8-14)

NEW WASHINGTON SECTIONAL

Trinity Lutheran (6-16) at New Washington (11-13)

Crothersville (8-14) vs. Rising Sun (11-13)

LOOGOOTEE SECTIONAL

Barr-Reeve (12-11) at Loogootee (17-7)

Springs Valley (8-15) vs. Orleans (21-3)

WOOD MEMORIAL SECTIONAL

Tecumseh (8-14) vs. Evansville Christian (15-9)

Northeast Dubois (12-10) vs. Evansville Day (10-15)

TOP 25 MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD

# HOUSTON 83 WICHITA STATE 66

#4 UCLA 79 ARIZONA STATE 61

#5 PURDUE 63 WISCONSIN 61

MATT PAINTER POST GAME: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWxvU9MDojo

#8 ARIZONA 87 USC 81

ELSEWHERE:

INDIANA STATE 97 EVANSVILLE 58

MURRAY STATE 78 VALPARAISO 50

ILLINOIS 91 MICHIGAN 87 2OT

MINNESOTA 75 RUTGERS 74

NORTHERN KENTUCKY 81 OAKLAND 74

MILWAUKEE 87 WRIGHT STATE 70

YOUNGSTOWN STATE 71 DETROIT 66

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD:  HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/CBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230302

TOP 25 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD

WASHINGTON STATE 66 #3 UTAH 58

#6 STANFORD 76 OREGON 65

#17 MICHIGAN 63 PENN STATE 61

#18 NORTH CAROLINA 68 CLEMSON 58

#19 UCLA 73 #21 ARIZONA 59

#20 COLORADO 62 OREGON STATE 54

#24 MIDDLE TENNESSEE 72 NORTH TEXAS 45

ELSEWHERE:

PURDUE 57 WISCONSIN 55

MICHIGAN STATE 67 NEBRASKA 64

ILLINOIS 81 RUTGERS 55

PURDUE FORT WAYNE 73 IUPUI 69

ILLINOIS STATE 73 EVANSVILLE 56

MURRAY STATE 77 VALPARAISO 64

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/WCBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230302

NBA SCOREBOARD

SAN ANTONIO 110 INDIANA 99

WASHINGTON 119 TORONTO 108

DALLAS 133 PHILADELPHIA 126

GOLDEN STATE 115 LA CLIPPERS 91

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

NHL SCOREBOARD

BOSTON 7 BUFFALO 1

SEATTLE 5 DETROIT 4

NASHVILLE 2 FLORIDA 1

OTTAWA 5 NY RANGERS 3

PITTSBURGH 5 TAMPA BAY 4

DALLAS 5 CHICAGO 2

TORONTO 2 CALGARY 1

MINNESOTA 2 VANCOUVER 1

LOS ANGELES 3 MONTRÉAL 2

ST. LOUIS 6 SAN JOSE 3

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

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL – SPRING TRAINING

CLEVELAND 4 SAN FRANCISCO 3

KANSAS CITY 8 LA ANGELS 4

CHICAGO CUBS 6 OAKLAND 1

ARIZONA 5 LA DODGERS 5

TEXAS 7 MILWAUKEE 4

SEATTLE 5 SAN DIEGO 4

CHICAGO WHITE SOX 6 COLORADO 4

BOSTON 15 PHILADELPHIA 3

DETROIT 10 BALTIMORE 3

MIAMI 5 WASHINGTON 5

NY YANKEES 9 PITTSBURGH (SS) 1

HOUSTON 6 ST. LOUIS 0

MINNESOTA 4 TAMPA BAY 2

TORONTO 2 PITTSBURGH (SS) 2

ATLANTA 6 NY METS 2

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

TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES

NBA NEWS

LAKERS SAY LEBRON JAMES HAS TENDON INJURY, OUT 3 WEEKS

(AP) — LeBron James is expected to miss most of March with an injured tendon in his right foot, the Los Angeles Lakers said on Thursday.

If that timetable holds, the Lakers will have to find a way to stay in the playoff race without the league’s all-time scoring leader.

The Lakers did not disclose the full extent of the injury, saying it was a tendon issue and that he will be “reevaluated in approximately three weeks.” If James misses three more weeks, starting with Thursday, that would keep him out for at least 10 of the Lakers’ final 19 games.

James was hurt in the Lakers’ win at Dallas on Sunday. He has already missed two games with the injury, with the Lakers splitting those contests.

“In the short term, we’ll all have to pull in the same direction,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said after his team – without James and Anthony Davis – beat Oklahoma City 123-117 on Wednesday.

At 30-33, the Lakers are 11th in the Western Conference standings, one game from the No. 10 spot – and the last spot in the play-in round. They’re also just 2 1/2 games back of sixth place, and the final guaranteed playoff spot.

That’s good news, and so is what’s left for the Lakers on the schedule. Only seven of their final 19 games are against teams that currently have records over .500 – with several games against other teams jostling for position in the West postseason chase. The Lakers start a five-game homestand Friday against Minnesota.

James leads the Lakers in scoring at 29.5 points per game. He said at the All-Star break last month that the team’s closing stretch this season would be some of the most important games he has played – noting he didn’t want to miss the postseason for a second consecutive year.

The Lakers are 6-10 without him in the lineup this season, and 24-23 in games he has appeared.

If the timetable does not significantly change, this would be only the third time in James’ 20-year career that he misses at least 10 consecutive games. He missed a 20-game stretch late in the 2020-21 season with an ankle sprain, and a 17-game stretch in the 2018-19 season with a groin injury. Those stints both came since he joined the Lakers; he never had that long of an extended absence during his times with Cleveland or Miami.

James has logged nearly 65,000 minutes in regular-season and playoff games since entering the league – almost 20,000 more than any other player in that span.

KUZMA SCORES 30, WIZARDS BEAT RAPTORS TO EDGE CLOSER IN EAST

WASHINGTON (AP) Kyle Kuzma scored the game’s first 10 points and finished with 30, Kristaps Porzingis added 25 points, and the Washington Wizards beat the Toronto Raptors 119-108 on Thursday night in the opener of a two-game set between Eastern Conference playoff contenders.

Daniel Gafford scored 18 points and Delon Wright had a season-high 11 assists for the Wizards (30-32), who moved within percentage points of the ninth-place Raptors (31-33) in the East standings.

The Wizards have won two straight, having rallied past another East playoff contender at Atlanta on Tuesday night, and Kuzma hopes the team can find the consistency that has eluded it thus far.

“That remains to be seen,” he said. “We come in here and we say it every day, when we have a winning streak, that the tides are turning, and they don’t.”

O.G. Anunoby scored 26 points and Jakob Poeltl had 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Raptors, who had won five of their previous six games.

“We’ve got to be all five players dialed in for the whole possession on defense for more possessions of the game,” Poeltl said. “We just let up a little bit too much. Gave up runs to them that we just can’t allow.”

Washington beat Toronto at home in the regular season for the first time since Feb. 1, 2018, ending a six-game winning streak for the Raptors at Capital One Arena.

“We knew this team was going to be extremely aggressive and physical,” Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. “I thought we managed to play through a lot of that throughout the game.”

Kuzma essentially put the game away early in the fourth quarter when he found Corey Kispert for a 3, buried a step-back 3 of his own and drove for a layup to conclude a 12-2 run that made it 99-80. The Raptors made a late push but did not get closer than eight points.

The Wizards had a 59-50 lead at halftime that could have been bigger if not for a couple of lulls. Kuzma made two 3s and had an emphatic dunk during his game-opening burst, but Toronto responded with an 18-2 run. The Wizards went on a 12-2 run for a 50-36 lead in the second quarter; Toronto countered with a 10-0 flurry.

The Wizards had more explosiveness and outside shooting touch throughout, shooting 46.7% from 3-point range to the Raptors’ 27.3% and finishing with 16 fast-break points to the Raptors’ four.

The Wizards also had 30 assists on 43 field goals, including a lob well above the rim from Deni Avdija to Gafford for the second of his two alley-oop dunks in a 30-second span.

“In the locker room, he was asking, ‘Did I throw it too high?’ I was like, ‘No, it was perfect,’” Gafford said. “Just put that in my goodie bag of crazy dunks that I’ve had over my basketball career.”

Pascal Siakam had 13 points and 11 rebounds for Toronto. Scottie Barnes and Fred VanVleet had 14 points apiece, but VanVleet was 2 of 11 on 3-pointers.

“It feels like to me we just lacked some execution tonight in certain portions of the game,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. “We didn’t execute very well at all at the offensive end.”

TIP-INS

Raptors: This is the first of two five-game trips remaining for Toronto, which has only eight home games left. The Raptors are 20-13 at home and 11-20 on the road. … G Will Barton, waived by the Wizards on Feb. 21 and signed by the Raptors on Tuesday, played seven minutes and didn’t score.

Wizards: Bradley Beal had 15 points. … Corey Kispert finished with 10 points and two 3-pointers, becoming the first Wizard to make 100 3s in his first two seasons. … Wright started at point guard in place of Monte Morris (lower back), who had an epidural injection on Wednesday and missed his third straight game. … Washington signed F/C Jay Huff to a two-way contract. The 7-foot-1 Huff had been playing for the South Bay Lakers of the G League, averaging a league-leading 3.4 blocks per game. Huff was previously with the Wizards in the 2021 Summer League after going undrafted out of Virginia. … Washington has 13 home games left and only seven on the road, with no trips longer than one game.

UP NEXT

The teams conclude their two-game set at Washington on Saturday.

DONCIC SCORES 42, IRVING 40 AS MAVS OUTLAST 76ERS 133-126

DALLAS (AP) Kyrie Irving said after four losses in five games alongside Luka Doncic that he simply needed to join the party.

This was quite the shindig.

Doncic scored 42 points, Irving added 40 and the new All-Star pairing sparkled throughout the Dallas Mavericks’ 133-126 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night.

Doncic won a matchup of the NBA’s top two scorers as Joel Embiid finished with 35 points for the 76ers, who were playing a night after a win in Miami without their All-Star center.

Irving and Doncic became the first Dallas teammates to score at least 40 in the same game. They were just the fifth pair of players on the same team do it in regulation in 30 years.

“Luka was ready for the party,” Irving said. “I was ready for the party tonight. It was one of those games where we had some special performances. I’m just grateful that the work translated because it could have gone either way.”

They each had a 20-point first half while combining for 45, then combined to score 10 points in the first 102 seconds of the third quarter to start a 20-4 run for a 91-71 Dallas lead.

The 76ers scored the first 15 points of the fourth quarter to get within four with Embiid and James Harden watching from the bench, which brought Doncic back in the game earlier than planned.

The return of Doncic, who had 12 assists, got Irving going again with a three-point play and a deep 3-pointer before Doncic hit another long one for a 119-108 lead. They combined to go 13 of 21 from deep.

“They were tough with one wizard with the basketball in Luka,” Sixers forward Tobias Harris said. “Now they’ve got two of them out there. Those are tough matchups. They just picked us apart tonight.”

The franchise’s first pair of All-Star starters, who won for the second time in six games together since Irving arrived in the blockbuster trade with Brooklyn, got others involved, too.

Five other Mavericks hit 3-pointers as Dallas finished with a season-high 25 3s on 48 attempts (52%). Irving assisted on several of those and finished with six.

“Everybody they passed to made it,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers said. “You have nights like that, and they had a night like that tonight.”

Harden made his first 11 shots – five from the field, including three 3s and six free throws – while finishing the first half with 19 points and 10 assists.

The 10-time All-Star guard was limited to eight points and three assists after the break and had two of his six turnovers in the fourth quarter – on steals by Doncic and Irving – when Dallas was rebuilding its lead.

SCORING DISPLAY

Doncic and Irving pulled up for long 3s, with Doncic also beating Embiid with step-back shots after switches. Both scored around the basket as well, with Irving making several acrobatic layups.

“If I had to pay to watch someone play, it would be him for sure,” Doncic said of his fellow All-Star starter. “Because some of those moves are incredible.”

They were 28 of 44 from the field – each attempting 22 shots, with Doncic also going 9 of 11 on free throws. Dallas shot 55% and won despite Philadelphia being even better from the field at 58%.

TIP-INS

76ers: Tyrese Maxey scored 29 points. … Jalen McDaniels picked up three fouls in 14 seconds and four in less than a minute late in the third quarter. Two seconds after he and coach Doc Rivers complained about a call when he knocked the ball out of Doncic’s hands, McDaniels ran through a screen from Maxi Kleber for his fourth in the sequence and fifth overall.

Mavericks: Reggie Bullock (15 points) and Christian (10) were the other double-figure scorers. … Maxi Kleber and Tim Hardaway Jr. each went 2 of 4 from 3, with Kleber scoring nine and Hardaway eight.

UP NEXT

76ers: The third game of a five-game trip, and third game in four nights, at Milwaukee on Saturday.

Mavericks: Phoenix visits Sunday in the first meeting between Kevin Durant and Irving since both were traded by Brooklyn.

POOLE SCORES 34, WARRIORS CHARGE BACK AGAIN, BEAT CLIPPERS

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Even with starters Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins still on the sidelines, the Golden State Warriors are suddenly looking like a serious contender again.

No matter how far they might fall behind.

Jordan Poole scored 34 points, Klay Thompson had 19 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, and the defending champions used another big second-half surge to rally past the Los Angeles Clippers 115-91 on Thursday night for their fourth straight victory.

“I just feel there’s a grit that comes with defense that allows you to shake it off and keep playing,” coach Steve Kerr said of his team’s comebacks.

Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points and hit from deep to beat the buzzer that ended the second quarter, putting the cold-shooting Clippers ahead 56-45 at halftime.

Then the Warriors came charging back with a 42-point third quarter while holding the Clippers to 16 points in the period to lead 87-72 heading into the final 12 minutes. Golden State did the same thing with a comeback win against Portland on Tuesday night.

“They got up 11, but we were still right there because we were defending and taking care of the ball,” Draymond Green said. “To have those couple third quarters like we’ve had the last two games gives you something to build upon, you feel good about yourself and also understand what it takes coming out of the half.”

Green added 11 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in a physical battle all game between rivals fighting for playoff positioning in the Western Conference. Donte DiVincenzo struggled with his shot, going 2 for 10, but grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds.

Mason Plumlee had a season-best 20 rebounds and his 14 in the initial two quarters were the most of his career in any half. Eric Gordon made his first start in six games since joining the Clippers in a trade from Houston and scored 16 points in the team’s fourth straight defeat and sixth in eight.

Los Angeles finished just 9 of 43 on 3-pointers – missing 18 of 19 to begin the second half.

Gordon was 2 for 10 on 3s and Russell Westbrook missed all five of his tries while going 3 for 12 from the floor overall to score eight points with the Warriors sagging off him.

Green is certain it made Leonard think and Golden State’s defense keyed another win.

“We’re finding a really good space right now,” Poole said, “we’ve just got to keep it going.”

CURRY’S PROGRESS

Curry could return as soon as Sunday after scrimmaging for a third straight day.

“He’s getting close,” Kerr said.

Curry missed his 10th straight game with a left leg injury after getting hurt against Dallas on Feb. 4. Kerr credited the reigning NBA Finals MVP for his energy rehabbing the latest injury.

“He’s been working really hard. I think within days of the injury, he was on the bike and it was impressive just watching him on the bike, I mean, how hard he goes,” Kerr said. “He’s really amazing when it comes to his conditioning level and his commitment to keeping it high.”

TIP-INS

Clippers: Coach Tyronn Lue and Los Angeles came in with a game plan to get back in transition and limit turnovers – and the Clippers committed 16 that led to 29 Golden State points. … Marcus Morris Sr. (left elbow contusion) and Ivica Zubac (right calf soreness) sat out after coming into the game listed as questionable on the injury report. … Whether Leonard and George play Friday’s back-to-back was to be determined after the game. The Clippers have lost the last three and 8 of 11 in the second game while playing consecutive nights. … Of Westbrook’s addition, Lue said, “It’s going to take a little time just adjusting to playing a certain style of basketball.”

Warriors: The Warriors won their in their fifth consecutive at home vs. the Clippers. … F Andrew Wiggins sat out a sixth consecutive game while dealing with a family matter. … Golden State signed G Lester Quinones to a 10-day contract and assigned him to G League Santa Cruz.

UP NEXT

Clippers: Visit Sacramento on Friday night for a road-road back-to-back.

Warriors: Host the Pelicans on Friday night to complete the home-home back-to-back.

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

DAVIS FALLS SHORT IN BID TO BREAK MARAVICH’S SCORING MARK

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) Antoine Davis outscored them all – except for “Pistol” Pete.

Detroit Mercy’s star guard finished four points shy of surpassing Pete Maravich as the NCAA career scoring leader on Thursday night, scoring 22 in a gritty 71-66 loss to Youngstown State in the Horizon League tournament.

Davis came in needing 26 points to break Maravich’s hallowed mark of 3,667 points that stood for over 50 years. But after picking up his fourth foul with 3:36 left, the slender 6-foot-1 guard, who was trapped and double-teamed for much of his 38 minutes by the top-seeded Penguins, couldn’t drive as effectively to the basket.

With Maravich’s record still within reach, Davis missed four 3-pointers – one of them a wide-open look – in the final two minutes of an intense game.

While disappointed with the loss and falling short of Maravich, Davis felt pride afterward.

“It’s really special,” he said, leaning against a wall outside Detroit Mercy’s locker room. “Maybe in 20 or 25 years somebody is going to be doing the same thing that I did, chase that record, maybe even sooner than that.

“It’s just a special feeling. I don’t take any of this for granted at all. I’m thankful for this. Blessed. I still feel like I’m the best scorer of my generation. Nobody can take that from me.”

After the final buzzer, tempers briefly flared after Youngtown State’s Dwyane Cohill, who had guarded Davis for much of the game, appeared to say something to the two-time conference player of the year.

Davis then had to be restrained as debris was thrown at him from the student section inside Beeghly Center.

Unless Detroit Mercy gets an unlikely postseason bid, Davis finishes with 3,664 points in five seasons. Maravich amassed his record in just three years while playing for his dad, Press, and he did it before there was a 3-point line or shot clock.

Davis would welcome another shot at history.

“I would love to play in the CBI, NIT, something,” he said. “Not even for the record, just to go out on a better note.”

From the outset, it was obvious Youngstown State was determined not to let Davis break the record on its floor. The Penguins ran double teams and trapped Davis, who was held to 15 points earlier this season in a loss to YSU.

“That’s the respect I deserve,” he said. “I’m the best scorer in the league, so I don’t look at it as unfair or anything like that.”

Wearing a protective mask to protect a broken nose sustained earlier this season at Cincinnati, Davis started slowly in front of a sellout crowd and missed his first four shots before dropping an off-balance jumper from the top of the key.

Davis finished 7 of 26 from the field, including 4 of 16 on 3-pointers.

Just weeks after LeBron James went past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s career scoring leader, Davis just missed his chance to top Maravich, the Hall of Famer his father had him study while learning to play as a kid.

Davis had already set several NCAA records, including consecutive games in double figures (143) and 3-pointers (584). He leads Division I with 159 3s this season, four from breaking Stephen Curry’s record of 162 in a season (2007-08).

Standing next to his son, Detroit Mercy coach Mike Davis recalled the unique journey they took together.

“He worked really hard over the years and he’s done some things that should blow people away,” the elder Davis said. “People thought there was no way he could get close to Maravich and he got close.

“He could have had it down to 17 in the last game, but he had some shots that he gave up to his teammates. I couldn’t be more proud of the player that he is and everything he has added to the program and school. It’s been beautiful to see.”

Unlike Davis, who was granted a fifth year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Maravich didn’t play as a freshman – it wasn’t allowed at the time – and there was also no 3-point line or shot clock, placing a premium on every possession.

It’s mind-boggling to consider that Maravich, who died in 1988 at age 40 after suffering a heart attack while playing in a pickup game, averaged 44.2 points without taking or making a single 3-pointer.

But it also should be noted that Maravich attempted 3,166 shots while Davis came in with 2,961.

Davis admitted the record was impossible to ignore.

“I knew it was within reach and it was possible to get there,” he said. “The double teams kind of threw me off my rhythm. I should have been able to adjust and play my game, but I still feel like we played as hard as we could.”

SHEAD, SASSER LEAD NO. 1 HOUSTON PAST WICHITA STATE 83-66

HOUSTON (AP) Jamal Shead scored a career-high 25 points, Marcus Sasser added 22 and No. 1 Houston defeated Wichita State 83-66 on Thursday night.

Shead shot 10 of 17 from the field. The junior was 4 of 8 on 3-pointers.

“My teammates told me to be aggressive,” Shead said. “They were just being confident in me, giving me confidence in myself. That really helped.”

Sasser tied the school career record for most 3-pointers set by Robert McKiver with 261. He also scored at least 20 points for the sixth straight game, and chants of “Sasser” filled the Fertitta Center after it was over.

“Just all the love in Houston,” Sasser, who played his last home game on senior night. “They’ve been giving me love since I was a freshman, and they are still doing it to this day. I just can’t thank the Houston community enough.”

Jarace Walker had 13 points and nine rebounds for Houston (28-2, 16-1 American Athletic Conference). The Cougars shot 47%, including 9 of 25 on 3s, in winning their 10th straight game.

“The guys didn’t have the right mindset to start the game where Wichita State did,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. “They came out here to play, our guys came out here for a memorial service. Fellas, we have a game. Once we got rolling in the second half, we were good.”

Houston forced 20 turnovers, which it converted into 17 points.

“They did a good job,” Wichita State coach Isaac Brown said of the Cougars. “They ambushed the low post. They pressure you hard. They did a good job of turning us over. Twenty turnovers are way too many.”

Craig Porter Jr. had 17 points and seven rebounds, Jaron Pierre Jr. added 16 points and Kenny Pohto had 12 for Wichita State (15-14, 8-9).

The Shockers lost despite shooting 65% (24 of 37) from the field. They were worse at the foul line, making only 12 of 21 (57%).

Leading 37-35, Houston extended it to a 12-point lead on a dunk by Roberts, capping a 13-3 run with 13½ minutes left.

Wichita State countered with an 8-0 burst to close within four on two free throws by James Rojas with 11 minutes left, but got no closer.

The Shockers scored 10 straight points to open a 22-14 lead midway through the first half. Houston led 33-31 at the break.

BIG PICTURE Wichita State: The Shockers shot a season-high 72% (13 of 18) from the field in the first half. … Wichita State fell to 2-9 all-time against AP No. 1-ranked teams.

Houston: The Cougars won their fourth straight over Wichita State. … Outrebounded the Shockers 26-23, including an 11-3 advantage in offensive boards. CUTTING DOWN THE NETS Following the game, Houston cut down the nets to celebrate its fourth regular season AAC championship in five seasons. The Cougars clinched the title Saturday at East Carolina.

“I don’t know how many conference championships we’ve won, but that’s our first goal every year,” Sampson said. “We want to win the conference, and number two, we want to make the NCAA Tournament. Those are our two major goals. I don’t take those things for granted.” UP NEXT Wichita State: Hosts South Florida on Sunday in its regular-season finale. Houston: Plays at Memphis on Sunday to end the regular season.

JAQUEZ JR. SCORES 26 AS NO. 4 UCLA BEATS ARIZONA STATE 79-61

LOS ANGELES (AP) Jaime Jaquez Jr. helped keep UCLA afloat in the first half of Thursday night’s game against Arizona State.

In the second half, his teammates helped pick up the slack.

Jaquez scored 19 of his 26 points in the first half of the fourth-ranked Bruins’ 79-61 victory over the Sun Devils at Pauley Pavilion.

“We got down and I was upset myself. I knew that I don’t have many games left, so I’m gonna go down swinging,” Jaquez said. “My teammates were able to find me in open spots. I was trying to do everything I could just to put our team back into the game.”

Jaylen Clark scored all 15 of his points in the second half and Tyger Campbell scored nine of his 16 after halftime as the Bruins (26-4, 17-2 Pac-12) pulled away in the second half for their ninth straight win.

“When you get to March, you’ve just got to win and get some rest. You have to move on quickly, the most important thing is the next game,” coach Mick Cronin said.

UCLA has clinched the regular-season Pac-12 championship, but has aspirations for a top seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, preferably in the West Region. It faces a huge test on Saturday when it hosts No. 8 Arizona, which dealt the Bruins a 58-52 loss in the first meeting on Jan. 21.

Cronin, though, is trying to avoid bracketology talk.

“I’m not going to get into it. I really would like to be in the West and for my team to be treated the way they deserve to be treated. That’s all I’ll say,” he said.

Jaquez scored 15 of UCLA’s first 19 points. He started 6 of 8 from the field while the rest of the team was 1 for 11.

UCLA trailed for much of the first half before they rallied. It went on an 11-4 run the last 2:25 of the first half to take a 36-32 lead at halftime.

DJ Horne had 13 points and Warren Washington added 12 for the Sun Devils (20-10, 11-8).

“We ran out of gas a little bit in the second half. They wore us down,” Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley said. “They offensive rebounded well early in the game and then we fixed it for awhile and then it resurfaced again.”

The Bruins led 38-34 less than a minute into the second half before they broke things open with a 12-3 run that included five points by Campbell and four from Clark.

UCLA, at one point, extended its lead to 20 (73-53) with four minutes remaining.

BIG PICTURE

Arizona State: The Sun Devils were unable to ride the momentum of last Saturday’s win at No. 7 Arizona when Desmond Cambridge Jr. made a halfcourt shot at the buzzer. They will need some help if they hope to secure a top-four seed and first-round bye in the conference tournament.

“How many teams in the country do you think could go on the road at Arizona Saturday and win and then go on the road at UCLA and win the next game. Not many,” Hurley said. “We felt like this was a free swing really to come in here against a team that was undefeated at home and one of the best teams in the country. We played well for a half but it wasn’t enough against a team like this.”

UCLA: Cronin was worried if his team would let down its guard mentally after clinching the regular-season title last Sunday. For most of the first half it looked as if his fears were going to be realized, until his team was able to shake off a slow start.

UP NEXT

Arizona State: Remain in Los Angeles to face Southern California on Saturday.

UCLA: Hosts No. 8 Arizona on Saturday.

ILLINOIS HOLDS OFF MICHIGAN 91-87 IN DOUBLE OVERTIME

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) Matthew Mayer scored 24 points, Terrence Shannon Jr. added 21 and Illinois held off Michigan 91-87 in double overtime on Thursday night.

Mayer opened the second overtime with a 3-pointer and a layup and the Fighting Illini (20-10, 11-8 Big Ten Conference) never trailed again.

Mayer made 8 of 20 shots with four 3-pointers and added seven rebounds. Shannon sank only 4 of 14 shots – missing all five of his 3-point attempts – but he made 13 of 16 free throws, including 3 of 4 in the final 10 seconds to preserve the win. He also snagged seven rebounds and had four assists. Ty Rodgers pitched in with 14 points and seven boards off the bench, while RJ Melendez scored 10 of his 12 in the second half.

Hunter Dickinson finished with 31 points and a career-high 16 rebounds to lead the Wolverines (17-13, 11-8). The 7-foot-1 junior has 12 double-doubles this season. Kobe Bufkin added 23 points and six rebounds. Jett Howard, the son of Michigan coach Juwan Howard, contributed 15 points and five boards before fouling out.

Michigan scored the first six points of the game and held the lead until a Dain Dainja layup and a dunk by Sencire Harris put Illinois on top 29-27 with 2:12 left in the half. Rodgers’ dunk with 15 seconds remaining gave the Fighting Illini a 33-31 advantage at halftime.

Illinois built a nine-point leads three times in the first 9:30 of the second half. Michigan used a 7-0 run, capped by Howard’s 3-pointer with 47 seconds left, to tie the game at 70 and force overtime. Illinois scored the final seven points of the extra five-minute period – five by Shannon – to force a second overtime tied at 81.

Mayer grabbed a rebound and hit a 3-pointer, followed a missed 3-pointer by Bufkin with a layup, and Illinois took an 86-81 lead with 3:43 left and never trailed again.

The Fighting Illini shot 42% overall, 28% from distance (5 of 18) and made 26 of 34 free throws. Michigan shot 44%, made 8 of 21 from distance (38%) and hit 17 of 24 attempts at the foul line.

UP NEXT

Michigan: The Wolverines close out the regular season at No. 15 Indiana on Sunday.

Illinois: The Fighting Illini end the regular season at No. 5 Purdue on Sunday.

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NO. 20 COLORADO WOMEN OUST OREGON STATE IN PAC-12 TOURNEY

LAS VEGAS (AP) Frida Formann scored 16 points to lead 20th-ranked Colorado to a 62-54 victory over Oregon State in the quarterfinal round of the Pac-12 Conference Tournament on Thursday night.

Formann made 4 of 9 shots with two 3-pointers for the third-seeded Buffaloes (23-7), who advance to play No. 7 seed Washington State in the semifinals on Friday after the Cougars upset No. 2 seed Utah 66-58 earlier in the day. Aaronette Vonleh added 15 points and Jaylyn Sherrod pitched in with 12 points and seven rebounds.

Adlee Blacklock scored 12 points to top the Beavers (13-18). Reserves AJ Marotte and Timea Gardiner added 10 points apiece.

Formann had 10 points in the first half and Marotte scored eight for Oregon State as the two teams played to a 33-all tie at halftime.

Vonleh had 10 points in the third quarter as Colorado upped its lead to 51-41. Vonleh hit all four of her shots, while her teammates made just 1 of 12 attempts. The Buffaloes were able to take the lead by holding the Beavers to 4-of-11 shooting (36.4%).

Raegan Beers’ layup with 7:57 left to play pulled Oregon State within 52-45. Charlotte Whittaker answered with back-to-back buckets and Colorado cruised to the finish.

Colorado shot only 38% overall, made just 4 of 14 from distance (28.6%), but sank 16 of 24 at the free-throw line. Oregon State shot 40% overall but made half of its 18 3-pointers. The Beavers made 3 of 4 foul shots.

NO. 19 UCLA WOMEN BEAT NO. 21 ARIZONA IN PAC-12 TOURNEY

LAS VEGAS (AP) Emily Bessoir had 18 points and 13 rebounds for her first career double-double, Charisma Osborne also scored 18 points and No. 19 UCLA beat No. 21 Arizona 73-59 on Thursday in the Pac-12 Tournament.

UCLA, a No. 5 seed, advances to the semifinals on Friday after handing Arizona its first three-game skid of the season.

Londynn Jones made her only 3-pointer with 5:18 left in the third quarter to put UCLA ahead 47-35 and the Bruins led by double figures the rest of the way. Arizona only made two field goals in the third quarter – both in the opening three minutes.

Bessoir made two 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter and Gina Conti added another 3 to give UCLA a 17-point lead with 7:30 left. The Bruins didn’t make another field goal but connected on 11 of 12 free throws to secure it.

Senior Camryn Brown added a career-high nine points with six rebounds and four assists for UCLA (24-8). Kiki Rice also scored nine points and dished out seven assists. The Bruins outrebounded Arizona 46-27 for a 17-4 advantage in second-chance points.

Bessoir was coming off a 17-point, five 3-pointer performance in an overtime victory over Arizona State in a tournament opener.

Shaina Pellington, Lauren Fields and Jade Loville each scored 10 points for Arizona (21-9). Cate Reese struggled from the floor, going 0 for 6 from the field, but she went 9 of 10 at the free-throw line and grabbed nine rebounds.

NFL NEWS

JALEN CARTER, TOP NFL PROSPECT, POSTS BOND IN FATAL CRASH

(AP) — Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter returned to the NFL scouting combine on Thursday after turning himself in to Athens police Wednesday night and posting a combined bond of $4,000 on charges of reckless driving and racing in relation to a fatal crash that killed a teammate and team staffer.

Carter, originally projected as one of the top players in next month’s NFL draft, could lose millions of dollars if he drops from the top of the first round because of his alleged connection to the Jan. 15 crash that killed teammate Devin Willock and a recruiting staffer, 24-year-old Chandler LeCroy.

Police allege in an arrest warrant that Carter was racing his 2021 Jeep Trackhawk against the 2021 Ford Expedition driven by LeCroy at the time of the crash. Willock was a passenger in the SUV LeCroy was driving.

Carter turned himself in at 11:33 p.m. and was released at 11:49 p.m., according to Athens-Clarke County jail records. He posted bond of $2,500 on the racing charge and $1,500 on the reckless driving charge.

Carter issued a statement on Twitter after the warrant was made public Wednesday, saying he expects to be “fully exonerated.”

He said he intends “to make certain that the complete and accurate truth is presented. There is no question in my mind that when all of the facts are known that I will be fully exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing.”

The combine in Indianapolis has been abuzz with talk of Carter’s charges.

“All I can do is pray for him,” Georgia defensive back Christopher Smith said.

And NFL teams will be seeking more information.

“We’ll track that, obviously,” said Washington Commanders general manager Martin Mayhew on Wednesday.

“We have a company we work with on background investigations. We’ll work with that company. We have very thorough analysis of these guys’ background, especially criminal activity or criminal behavior or things like that. I don’t know what happened with him. I’m not saying he did anything wrong. But we’ll know what happened with him. We’ll find out.”

Carter has been projected to be drafted as high as No. 1. In 2022, Georgia defensive end Travon Walker earned a $41.65 million contract from Jacksonville as the No. 1 overall pick. The No. 10 pick, Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson, earned a $22.6 million deal with the New York Jets. The No. 20 pick, Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett, landed a $15.3 million contract from the Steelers.

“I think the character is really important but I think you have to go into it with the understanding these are typically teenage kids,” Mayhew said. “If they made a mistake as a teenager and we condemn every single guy that did that, that’s on us. You’ve got to weigh everything and evaluate everything in the whole person and that’s the way I look at it.

“I don’t know all the details of it. It certainly is a challenge for him and something that needs to be explained, thoroughly explained and something that needs to be investigated in terms of is this the first time it has happened.”

As much as the situation could impact Carter’s professional future, the loss of life in the crash overshadows it all, Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said.

“First of all, that was a horrible tragedy,” DeCosta said. “Let me say that. Secondly, I don’t know a whole lot about the situation. … I wouldn’t want to comment on the specifics about how that would affect somebody’s draft status, because there’s a lot more information and I’m not privy to that. I might be by the time the draft rolls around. It was a horrible thing that happened down there and I feel horrible for the families, the parents involved. I have children and it’s a horrible thing. That’s what I’d say about that.”

The crash occurred just hours after the Bulldogs celebrated their second straight national championship with a parade and ceremony.

According to the arrest warrant, LeCroy and Carter were operating their vehicles “in a manner consistent with racing” after leaving downtown Athens at about 2:30 a.m.

The warrant says evidence shows the vehicles switched lanes, drove in the center turn lane, drove in opposite lanes, overtook other motorists and drove at high rates of speed “in an apparent attempt to outdistance each other.”

PANTHERS FOUNDER, FORMER OWNER JERRY RICHARDSON DIES AT 86

CHARLOTTE, N.C (AP) Jerry Richardson, the Carolina Panthers founder and for years one of the NFL’s most influential owners until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. He was 86.

Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement.

Richardson became the first former NFL player to own a team since Chicago’s George Halas when he landed the expansion Panthers in 1993.

A former teammate of Johnny Unitas who caught a touchdown pass in the Baltimore Colts’ victory over the New York Giants in the 1959 NFL championship game, Richardson only spent two years in the NFL before venturing into the restaurant business. He used his championship bonus money to open the first Hardee’s in Spartanburg, South Carolina – close to where he had attended Wofford College.

He went on to make his fortune in the restaurant business, becoming chief executive officer of Flagstar, the sixth-largest food service company in the country at the time.

The Spring Hope, North Carolina, native spent years trying to persuade the NFL to put a team in the Carolinas, ultimately succeeding through a relatively original concept of funding a new stadium through the sales of permanent seat licenses.

“Jerry Richardson’s contributions to professional football in the Carolinas are historic,” current Panthers owner David Tepper and his wife Nicole said in a statement. “With the arrival of the Panthers in 1995, he changed the landscape of sports in the region and gave the NFL fans here a team to call their own.”

Richardson said in 2018 his greatest mission in life was bringing the NFL to the Carolinas.

The Panthers began play in 1995 and Richardson quickly built Carolina into one of the league’s model franchises, while becoming a powerful figure in the NFL. Richardson served on several high-level owners committees, playing a key role in labor negotiations with the players’ union.

But Richardson’s reputation took a tremendous hit when he announced he was selling the Panthers on Dec. 17, 2017, – the same day Sports Illustrated reported that four former Panthers employees received significant monetary settlements due to inappropriate sexually suggestive language and actions by Richardson. It was also reported he used a racial slur directed toward a team scout.

He sold the team to Tepper, a hedge fund owner, in May 2018 for a then-NFL record $2.27 billion. The following month the NFL fined Richardson $2.75 million for alleged workplace misconduct.

Richardson never addressed the allegations against him publicly.

After purchasing the Panthers, Tepper said he was “contractually obligated” to keep the statue of Richardson, flanked by two panthers, outside of the downtown Charlotte stadium that Richardson built.

But in June 2020, the Panthers removed the statue, saying they were concerned there may be attempts to take the statue down due to protests and unrest following the death of George Floyd.

The team said that “moving the statue is in the interest of public safety.” It has never returned.

Although Richardson once promised the Panthers would win a Super Bowl “within 10 years” of beginning play in 1995, they never did. The team reached the Super Bowl in the 2003 and 2015 seasons, but lost both times.

The lack of consistency was a source of irritation for Richardson, as Carolina failed to put together back-to-back winning seasons during his 23 seasons as owner despite hiring four coaches: Dom Capers, George Seifert, John Fox and Ron Rivera.

“I will always be grateful to him for the opportunity to coach the Carolina Panthers & for his patient, steadfast leadership during 7 seasons,” Rivera said on social media.

Richardson was well liked by his players.

Former tight end Greg Olsen posted a four-minute video on Twitter, saying when Richardson learned his unborn son had a serious heart defect he insisted on flying his family to Boston Medical Center in his own personal jet so they could receive the best medical advice.

Olsen and his wife Kara later named the child Trent “Jerry” Olsen after Richardson.

“We got love from a man that was my employer, my boss, not a close personal friend at the time,” Olsen said. “And he went above and beyond to bring comfort to a family at its toughest time.”

Quarterback Jake Delhomme, who led the Panthers to their first Super Bowl in the 2003 season, recalls getting a phone call from Richardson a couple of days after enduring he endured a disastrous four-turnover performance in a 33-13 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals in the 2008 playoffs.

“He calls and says, ‘Jake, the sun came out today at my house, did it come out at yours?,’” Delhomme told The Associated Press on Thursday. “I said, ‘Yes sir, it did.’ He said, ‘that’s a good thing – everything will be OK.’ And then he hung up the phone.”

When linebacker Thomas Davis retired in 2021, he thanked Richardson for believing in him and keeping him on the roster despite having suffered three torn ACLs in the same knee.

Conservative by nature, Richardson once cautioned Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton against getting tattoos and piercings after drafting the quarterback No. 1 overall in 2011 for fear it would impact his image.

He also had a policy where fans weren’t allowed to remove their shirts during games.

And during Richardson’s tenure as owner he always made sure the NFL logo – instead of his team’s – was at midfield of Bank of America Stadium.

Richardson’s tenure was marred by off-field issues.

He fired both his sons – Mark, the team president, and Jon, the director of stadium operations – following a sibling squabble at the stadium in front of other employees while he was recovering from a heart transplant in 2009. It was expected at the time one of the boys might inherit the team, but that never happened. Jon Richardson died of cancer in 2013.

In 2000, wide receiver Rae Carruth, a former first-round draft pick, was convicted on a murder conspiracy charge in connection with the drive-by shooting death of his pregnant girlfriend. Carruth was imprisoned for 16 years.

And in 2014 star defensive end Greg Hardy was placed on a commissioner’s exempt list after he was accused of allegedly throwing his girlfriend on to furniture and threatening to kill her. Prosecutors dismissed domestic violence charges against Hardy after they said the accuser in the case couldn’t be found.

Richardson is survived by his wife, Rosalind, son Mark and daughter Ashley Richardson Allen.

NHL NEWS

BRUINS ROUT SABRES 7-1, BECOME FASTEST TEAM TO 100 POINTS

BOSTON (AP) David Pastrnak had a goal and two assists just a few hours after signing a new contract and the surging Boston Bruins became the fastest team in NHL history to reach 100 points by beating the Buffalo Sabres 7-1 on Thursday night.

Jakub Lauko scored twice, Dmitry Orlov added a goal and two assists and Jeremy Swayman stopped 26 shots as the Bruins overcame the loss of Brad Marchand to a lower body injury to win their ninth straight.

Boston improved to 48-8-5 in its 61st game, besting the Montreal team from 1976-77 that reached 100 points in 62 games when there were regulation ties and no extra points for overtime or shootout victories. The Bruins have seven points for overtime and shootout victories in their 101 points.

Pavel Zacha, Patrice Bergeron and Connor Clifton added goals for Boston.

“It’s been really amazing to watch them want to be great,” coach Jim Montgomery said.

Casey Mittelstadt scored for Buffalo and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 35 shots But his unusual tripping penalty led to Orlov’s power-play goal and turned the game as the Sabres dropped their second straight.

The victory capped an eventful day for the Bruins. They acquired Tyler Bertuzzi from Detroit and inked Pastrnak to an eight-year, $90 million extension.

“Probably took a little longer than we hoped for, but we finally got across the finish line,” Boston president Cam Neely said. “We’re thrilled to have him for another eight years.”

Pastrnak drew the odd penalty against Luukkonen in the second period and then assisted on the ensuing goal. He scored his 43rd goal into an empty net in Boston’s five-goal third period that also saw him earn his 40th assist.

Bertuzzi, called a good “sandpaper” guy by Montgomery, will help fill the roles of fellow wingers Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno. Hall was placed on long-term injured reserve and Foligno regular IR.

Last week, GM Don Sweeney picked up Orlov and Garnet Hathaway in a deal with Washington. Orlov has three goals and five assists in four games since the trade.

A lengthy absence by Marchand would hurt Boston, however. He took a big hit in the second period and didn’t return for the third.

“We think he’s going to be all right,” Montgomery said.

The Sabres, who lost top-line forward Alex Tuch (lower body) last week, again played without banged-up top defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. He was was placed on injured reserve, retroactive to Friday, opening a roster spot for defenseman Riley Stillman, acquired Monday from Vancouver.

Stillman made an immediate impression, recording five hits in a scoreless first period.

And it remained deadlocked until Luukkonen was called for tripping as Pastrnak tried to beat him while skating in alone.

“It was an unfortunate call,” coach Dan Granato said. “Obviously, the referees thought it was a trip. Luukky came out and played the puck, but that’s what happens. You’re going to have challenges like that, but obviously it was a momentum swing.”

Orlov scored on a one-timer on the ensuing 4-on-3 and Lauko knocked in a fat rebound 1:26 later to make it 2-0.

Buffalo, in a scramble for one of the last playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, couldn’t recover.

NOTES: Sweeney said Hall and Foligno are unlikely to return before the end of the regular season. … Bertuzzi was expected to arrive in Boston late Thursday. … Sweeney doesn’t anticipate making another deal before Friday’s trade deadline. … The Sabres sent F Anders Bjork to Chicago for future considerations. … The Bruins recognized Buffalo firefighter Jason Arno during a first period timeout. Arno died in a fire Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Sabres: Host Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Bruins: Host the New York Rangers on Saturday.

SENATORS BEAT RANGERS 5-3 TO SPOIL PATRICK KANE’S DEBUT

NEW YORK (AP) The night was supposed to belong to Patrick Kane but it was former Ranger Derick Brassard who ultimately claimed the Manhattan spotlight for the surging Ottawa Senators .

Claude Giroux broke a tie early in the third period and Brassard scored twice in his 1,000th career game as the Senators beat New York 5-3 on Thursday night to spoil Kane’s Rangers debut.

“I just came in and tried to play hard,” said the 35-year-old Brassard, who played parts of four seasons for the Rangers, where he was a fan favorite and helped New York reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 2014. ”I’m going to remember this for the rest of my life. It was awesome.”

The Rangers led 3-2 entering the third after Vladimir Tarasenko scored a highlight-reel goal late in the second, but Ottawa scored twice in a two-minute span, then held on for its fourth straight victory.

Brassard tied it at 1:35 with his 11th of the season off an assist from Giroux, who beat netminder Jaroslav Halak for his 26th goal at 3:26 to put Ottawa ahead to stay.

Shane Pinto and Tim Stutzle (empty net) also scored for Ottawa, and Cam Talbot made 29 saves. The vaunted Rangers power play was scoreless in four extra-man attempts including a five-minute charging major and game misconduct assessed to Senators forward Austin Watson at 12:49 of the first period.

“Cam was solid,” Senators coach D.J. Smith said. ”He was our best penalty killer back there.”

Talbot denied Kane with a pad save with five minutes left in the third to preserve the win as the Rangers lost for only the second time in their last eight home games. The Rangers are still 24-8-4 since Dec. 5.

Ottawa has entered the playoff race with an 11-3-1 surge since losing at home to Winnipeg on Jan. 21.

“Our best players have stepped up and taken their play to another level,” Brassard added. ”Our commitment to check and defend and work has been everything. That’s why we are having success.”

Tarasenko go-ahead goal was dramatic as he skated in on Talbot before faking left and then backhanding the puck into the net on the goaltender’s opposite side at 14:54.

Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba also scored for the Rangers, who couldn’t find any offense after Tarasenko’s goal. The Senators outshot the Rangers 12-6 in the third when they scored three times.

“When you play a game of hockey for 60 minutes, you got to do more stuff than just make the real nice passes,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. “We’ve got to reset some pucks, we got to get better forechecking, more pressure.”

Kreider opened the scoring with a short-handed goal at 6:31 of the first, bursting in on Talbot before flipping a high backhand into the net for his 27th goal. The goal was the 256th of Kreider’s career, tying him with Camille Henry for sixth on the franchise list.

The Rangers went quiet late in the game on a night when Kane made his debut following his acquisition from Chicago, where he won the Stanley Cup three times.

Kane heard loud cheers when he skated out for the pregame warmups as fans cluttered rows on the New York side of the arena for a glimpse of the newest player wearing his customary No. 88. Kane was impressed with his Madison Square Garden reception.

“I didn’t really know what it was going to be like until I got out there,” said Kane, who played 16 seasons for Chicago, where the raucous United Center was home. “Warmups, the pregame introduction, it’s pretty cool. It’s an amazing place to play.”

Kane and his reunited Blackhawks teammate Panarin were the last two off the ice as Kane heard the roar of the crowd again before yet another thunderous ovation during starting lineup introductions.

Kane skated on right wing with Panarin and Trocheck at center but overall had a quiet game for the Rangers, registering only four shots and no points. He added that he expects to rediscover the chemistry he and Panarin shared in their two seasons together with the Blackhawks.

“I don’t think it’s something that’s going to happen overnight,” Kane said. “But we’ll find it.”

NOTES: The Rangers played with five defenseman as they were again without the injured Ryan Lindgren. K’Andre Miller served the second of a three-game suspension for spitting toward Los Angeles defenseman Drew Doughty last Sunday … Defenseman Jakob Chychruyn made his debut for the Senators after he was acquired from Arizona on Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Senators: Host Columbus on Saturday night.

Rangers: At Boston on Saturday.

QUICK GOES TO VEGAS; BRUINS GET BERTUZZI BEFORE NHL DEADLINE

(AP) — Jonathan Quick is on the move again, back to the Pacific Division to solve the Vegas Golden Knights’ latest goaltending quandary.

Vegas acquired Quick from Columbus on Thursday, less than 36 hours after the Los Angeles Kings traded the two-time Stanley Cup-winning goaltender and 2014 playoff MVP to the Blue Jackets.

After losing All-Star starter Logan Thompson to an injury, the Golden Knights sent a 2025 seventh-round pick and journeyman netminder Michael Hutchinson to complete the deal with Columbus, which retained half of Quick’s salary. General manager Kelly McCrimmon doesn’t expect injuries to Thompson or Laurent Brossoit to be long term but inquired and make this trade to have a safety net in the 37-year-old Quick.

“(Quick has) He’s had a tougher year and needs a change,” McCrimmon said at a news conference in Las Vegas. “We’re all about what lies ahead. … I think he’s going to come in and give us really good goaltending.”

Another playoff-bound team in the Western Conference upgraded at forward, with Edmonton getting Nick Bjugstad from Arizona. The Coyotes got a 2023 third-round pick and prospect Michael Kesselring for Bjugstad and minor-leaguer Cam Dineen.

“Definitely a team I was hoping I was getting the call about,” Bjugstad said. “Can’t wait to join the boys and try to help this team win a Stanley Cup.”

Bjugstad going off the market and Quick getting dealt again leaves Philadelphia winger James van Riemsdyk and Anaheim defenseman John Klingberg as the top players left to be traded before the 3 p.m. EST Friday deadline.

Chicago’s Max Domi was dealt to Dallas on the forward’s 28th birthday. The move was announced after the Stars’ 5-2 victory – and after Domi was scratched for what the Blackhawks said was “roster management.”

“We’re excited to add a player of Max’s caliber to our lineup,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said in a release. “His offense this season speaks for itself, but he’ll also provide energy, grit and a veteran presence as we continue our push to the postseason.”

Dallas also got minor league goaltender Dylan Wells from Chicago for veteran goaltender Anton Khudobin and a 2025 second-round pick.

In by far the busiest two-week stretch leading up to the deadline over the past decade, teams have made 43 trades involving 85 players – including Quick twice and counting the contracts of Shea Weber and Jakub Voracek – and 54 draft picks, leaving slim pickings for what’s usually a frantic final day.

“I haven’t seen anything like it at all,” Boston Bruins president Cam Neely said. “I think everybody is looking at their clubs and saying, ‘We have a chance.’ And we’re no different, obviously, with the season we’ve had.”

Neely’s NHL-leading Bruins got the action going Thursday by acquiring winger Tyler Bertuzzi from Detroit for a top-10 protected first-round pick in 2024 and a fourth-rounder in 2025, the latest move by a Stanley Cup contender to keep pace in the loaded East. The Red Wings are retaining half of Bertuzzi’s salary for the rest of the season.

Bruins coach Jim Montgomery called Bertuzzi an excellent player and a “great complementary winger.”

“He’s someone that understands how to win,” Montgomery said, citing Bertuzzi’s success in junior hockey and as playoff MVP when Grand Rapids won the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup in 2017. “He goes hard to hard areas. He’s a great net-front guy, 5 on 5, power play. He’s got a lot of sandpaper to him.”

Bertuzzi is a 28-year-old pending free agent winger who gives Boston depth up front and insurance for injured winger Taylor Hall. The team put Hall on long-term injured reserve, ruling him out until late March.

Enter Bertuzzi, who has himself been limited by injuries this season. He has 14 points in 29 games.

Bertuzzi, who drew headlines in 2020 for being one of very few unvaccinated players in hockey, has remained a mainstay in the league. He has 88 goals and 114 assists in 305 regular-season games and has yet to reach the playoffs in the NHL.

That will almost certainly change next month. The Bruins are on pace for 64 wins and 135 points, which would be the best regular season in hockey history with records in each of those categories.

Four years since the Lightning tied the league record for wins and got swept in the first round of the playoffs, the Bruins aren’t standing pat. They got defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway from Washington last week – a deal that made them bigger and tougher in advance of a rough road through the East.

It got rougher in recent days.

Metropolitan Division-leading Carolina acquired defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and winger Jesse Puljujarvi, the New York Rangers traded for three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane, the Islanders got depth forward Pierre Engvall, Tampa Bay gave up five picks for 25-year-old forward Tanner Jeannot, Pittsburgh shuffled its roster to bring in Mikael Gralund and Toronto continued a roster makeover that has added up to six new players joining the Maple Leafs. Even Ottawa, five points out of a playoff spot, made a big splash by getting Jakob Chychrun from Arizona.

Entering Thursday, the Red Wings are tied in the standings with the Senators, but general manager Steve Yzerman is opting to sell rather than buy. Before moving on from Bertuzzi, he traded defenseman Filip Hronek to Vancouver in a deal that got his team a first-round pick.

Detroit also took care of some internal business Wednesday, signing captain Dylan Larkin to a $69.6 million, eight-year extension to keep the three-time All-Star center in the fold through 2031. Boston did the same Thursday with MVP candidate David Pastrnak, inking him to an eight-year deal worth $90 million – the sixth-most lucrative contract in NHL history.

Before trading Bjugstad to Edmonton, Arizona got a sixth-round pick to take Voracek’s contract from the Blue Jackets and can use his $8.25 million cap hit through next season to avoid dipping below the salary floor, while Columbus gets some financial flexibility. His career is likely over because of concussions.

Chicago also got Anders Bjork from Buffalo for future considerations, and St. Louis re-signed Sammy Blais to a $1 million, one-year extension. The Blues reacquired Blais in the trade that sent Vladimir Tarasenko to the Rangers, who now have a lineup with the prolific Russian winger and Kane, who made his debut at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.

STARS ACQUIRE FORWARD MAX DOMI IN TRADE WITH BLACKHAWKS

CHICAGO (AP) The Dallas Stars acquired Max Domi in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night on the forward’s 28th birthday.

The move was announced after Dallas’ 5-2 victory at Chicago. Domi was scratched for what the Blackhawks said was “roster management.”

The NHL trade deadline is Friday.

“We’re excited to add a player of Max’s caliber to our lineup,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said in a release. “His offense this season speaks for itself, but he’ll also provide energy, grit and a veteran presence as we continue our push to the postseason.”

The addition of Domi gives Dallas another veteran forward as it angles for playoff positioning. The Stars (33-16-13) are on top of the Western Conference, one point better than the idle Vegas Golden Knights.

Dallas also got minor league goaltender Dylan Wells from Chicago for veteran goaltender Anton Khudobin and a 2025 second-round pick.

The lowly Blackhawks (21-35-5) continue to lean into their tanking strategy, hoping for a chance to take Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick in the draft.

Longtime star Patrick Kane, forwards Domi and Sam Lafferty and defensemen Jake McCabe and Jack Johnson have been traded away by Chicago since Sunday.

The Blackhawks also made two minor deals on Thursday. They acquired Maxim Golod from Anaheim for Dylan Sikura in a swap of minor league forwards, and they got forward Anders Bjork from Buffalo in exchange for future considerations.

Domi had a team-best 18 goals and 31 assists in 60 games with Chicago. He had two goals and an assist in a 4-3 victory at Dallas last week.

Domi, the son of former NHL forward Tie Domi, signed a $3 million, one-year contract with the Blackhawks in July.

The 36-year-old Khudobin was likely included for salary cap purposes. He hasn’t appeared in an NHL game this season. The Blackhawks said he would report to Rockford of the American Hockey League.

The Stars assigned Wells and loaned forwards Fredrik Karlstrom and Fredrik Olofsson and goaltender Matt Murray to the AHL’s Texas Stars.

TOP INDIANA NEWS RELEASES

INDIANA PACERS BASKETBALL

The Indiana Pacers hit a road bump in the Lone Star State on Thursday.

After a tight first half where the visitors led most of the way, the San Antonio Spurs outscored the Pacers 31-16 in the third quarter before hanging on for a 110-99 win over the Blue & Gold at AT&T Center.

With the win, the Spurs (16-47)  swept the Pacers (28-36) in the season series for the first time since the 2016-2017 season.

Five Spurs scored in double figures in the game, with Jeremy Sochan leading the way with 22 points and 13 rebounds while Zach Collins, Malaki Branham, Devonte’ Graham and Devin Vassell recorded 18 points each.

Buddy Hield topped the Pacers’ box score with 27 points on 12-for-17 shooting while Chirs Duarte supplied 18 points and nine rebounds off the bench and Myles Turner had 14 points, four assists and three blocks.

The Spurs outscored the Pacers 62-58 in the paint and outrebounded the Blue & Gold 50-42. Each squad shot just north of 45 percent in the game.

Indiana is now three games back from the final Play-in Tournament spot and the Spurs have the second-worst record in the Western Conference.

“I don’t think we respected them,” Duarte said after the game. “This is the NBA and everybody is good – that’s why they’re in the league. I don’t think we respected them and they hit us in the mouth.”

Both teams announced significant personnel developments before the game.

Minutes before tipoff, Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton was ruled out with a sore right calf. In his place, George Hill got the start – his first for the Blue & Gold since May 1, 2016.

On the other side, Tre Jones and Vassell, who both started against the Pacers in October were cleared to play after missing multiple games. However, longtime Spurs head coach Gregg Popvich didn’t take to the sidelines due to a non-COVID illness and the Spurs’ leading scorer, Keldon Johnson, was ruled out with a left foot sprain.

The Pacers and Spurs tied eight times in the first half, with the Blue & Gold maintaining the edge at 54-52 by intermission.

Hield made his first five shots for 11 points and Turner hit his first two attempts while also converting a pair of free throws for seven points to put the Pacers up 20-17 with 5:31 left in the first quarter. Hield would go on to post 13 points in the first 12 minutes.

In the final 3:49 of the opening frame, the Pacers went on a 9-2 run behind four different scorers to take a 29-21 lead going into the second quarter.

The Pacers shot 52 percent while limiting the Spurs to 37 percent – including no made 3-pointers – in the first quarter.

After the Spurs made it a one-possession game thanks to a 9-2 run midway through the second quarter, the Pacers responded with eight unanswered points, with two baskets each by Hill and Duarte, to go up 44-33 with 6:54 left in the half.

The Spurs again answered though – this time with a 13-2 scoring spree on five points by Collins and four by Vassell and Sochan each to tie it at 46 with 2:38 on the clock.

A mini 6-0 run by the Pacers in the waning minutes helped the Blue & Gold stay up by two points going into the locker room.

Out of the break, the Spurs came out on fire while the Pacers struggled to score.

San Antonio scored 11 unanswered points to start the third quarter, led by seven points by Graham, before a 3-pointer by Hill stopped the Pacers’ bleeding at 63-57 with 8:41 on the clock. Indiana missed seven of its first eight shots in the second half.

Sochan then scored 10 straight points for his team before Vassell put up eight consecutive points of his own to push the Spurs lead to 79-68 with 2:14 left in the third quarter.

A 7-2 run for the Spurs in the last 2:14 of the third quarter helped them maintain the double-digit lead at 83-70 going into the final frame.

Vassell and Sochan each dropped 10 points for the Spurs in the third quarter. The Pacers shot just 31.8 percent in the period.

Down the stretch, the Spurs had an answer for nearly every Pacers basket.

The closest the Pacers got to the lead was nine points in the fourth quarter with a minute left.

“I just thought we didn’t play as a team,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. “That was the big thing. We didn’t move it. We had some very bad turnovers. They got going with shotmaking. Vassell got hot and they had other guys that played  very well and very aggressively. Give them a lot of credit.”

Indiana will conclude its four-game road trip at the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.

Stat of the Night

In the third quarter, the Pacers were outscored 31-16. The 16 points are the second-fewest the Pacers have scored in a third quarter this season.

Inside the Numbers

– The Pacers starters only accounted for three of the 16 points scored by the Blue & Gold in the third quarter.

– After making two 3-pointers in the first half, the Spurs drained eight from deep in the second half.

– Indiana had 23 total assists in the game to San Atonio’s 31 dimes.

– T.J. McConnell matched a season-high four steals for the Pacers.

– Duarte’s nine rebounds matched his career-high.

– New Pacer Jordan Nwora (10 points) scored in double figures for a third straight game.

– Souchan recorded his first career double-double.

– San Antonio’s largest lead in the game was 18 points.

– Three of the Pacers starters scored seven points or fewer.

You Can Quote Me On That

“We really needed to be tied together as a group much better than we were tonight to beat a team that played as desperate(ly) as they did.” – Carlisle after the loss

“I thought Chris Duarte had a terrific game tonight. He was aggressive, he moved it, defensively he was very good for most of the game. And that was a bright spot in the game. It’s been tough for him, but today he got a little bit of an earlier opportunity and took advantage of it just by really playing the right way.” – Carlisle on Duarte’s performance

“We didn’t respect them enough. We needed to come in and approach it like the same way we approached Dallas, the same way (we) approached Orlando. We need to have that respect, have that grit and have that fight(ing) attitude.” – Hield on the team underestimating the Spurs

“We can’t go out and play a game like we did against Dallas and then come out here and lay an egg like this. It’s disappointing for sure. We have some growing up to do.” – McConnell on the loss

Noteworthy

— Multiple Pacers players, coaches and staff members wore sweatshirts in honor of David Benner before, during and after the game against the Spurs.

– Turner is one block away from tying Rik Smits for the second-most blocks by an individual in Pacers franchise history. His three blocks on Thursday puts him at 1,110 career blocks. Jermaine O’Neal currently owns the overall record at 1,245.

– Indiana has put out 20 different starting lineups this season.

–Thursday’s matchup was the 100th meeting between the Pacers and Spurs. The Spurs lead the all-time series 57-43.

– Indiana high school hoops legend and former Indiana University star Romeo Langford, a New Albany native, missed the game for the Spurs due to a thigh injury.

– The Spurs’ Blake Wesley, a South Bend native who played one season at Notre Dame, played on Hill’s AAU team in his younger years. They swapped jerseys after the game.

Tickets

After a four-game road trip, the Pacers will return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, March 6 at 7:00 PM ET.

INDIANA BASEBALL

BASEBALL GAMEDAY: AT LECLAIR CLASSIC

GREENVILLE, N.C. – For the second time in three seasons, the Indiana baseball program will travel to Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium for the LeClair Classic. The four-team event is hosted by East Carolona and will feature the Hoosiers, Georgetown and Long Beach State.

Indiana and host East Carolina will play the second game on the opening day of the event, with Georgetown scheduled for Saturday and Long Beach State on Sunday.

Gameday Info

Friday, March 3, 2023

IU: Ben Seiler, LHP, Sr.+

ECU: Trey Yesavage, RHP, So.

Live Video: es.pn/3ERiblN

Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio

Live Stats: bit.ly/IUStatbroadcast

Saturday, March 4, 2023

IU: Luke Sinnard, RHP, So.

GU: Andrew Williams, LHP, So.

Live Video: None

Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio

Live Stats: bit.ly/IUStatbroadcast

Sunday, March 5, 2023

IU: Seti Manase, RHP, Jr.

LBSU: Nico Zeglin, RHP, Gr.

Quick Hitters

Indiana has history with all three teams at the LeClair Classic , an even it participated in during the 2020 season. Indiana’s first opponent, East Carolina, was first on the IU schedule in 1959.

Indiana placed four student-athletes on the All-Big Ten Freshman Team in 2022 and redshirt-junior Matthew Ellis was named third-team All-B1G by the conference coaches.

Freshman Carter Mathison and redshirt-senior Matthew Ellis each hit home runs on opening weekend to bring their career totals to 20 and 19, respectively, for the Cream and Crimson.

Mathison has played in 67 career games and has 65 career RBIs over that span to go along with his 20 home runs. MORE ON PAGE 7

Senior Hunter Jessee carries a 23-game reached base streak into the week, which dates back to the 2022 season, and marks a career long for the left-handed hitter.

Jessee posted his second career multi home run game versus Miami (Ohio) with a first inning home run to right field and a seventh inning shot to the opposite field.

Indiana’s pitching staff posted a program record 600 strikeouts in 2022. That mark ranks No. 2 in Big Ten history, behind Iowa’s 602 punchouts in 2022, as well.

Head coach Jeff Mercer became the eighth IU skipper to reach 100 victories in the cream and crimson with a series finale win at Auburn on February 19, 2023.

Scouting the Opponent

East Carolina with a 5-2 record coming off a loss at Duke on Tuesday. The Pirates swept a two-game weekend series with North Carolina prior to dropping the midweek contest at Duke.

As a team, ECU is hitting .273 with 27 of 66 hits going for extra bases. Jacob Starling leads the team with a .400 average, 11 RBIs and a .531 on-base percentage. The pitching staff owns a 5.20 ERA, with Zach Root’s 1.17 ERA leading all qualifying pitchers. He has eight strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings of work and owns a 1-0 record with one save on the season.

Georgetown is 6-2 overall with a 4-1 record at neutral sites and a 2-1 mark in true road games. Four every day starters are hitting above .300 and their two starters that have started two games each own ERAs under 2.00.

Long Beach State enters with a 4-3 overall record and a team ERA of 4.16. All three starting rotation pitchers own an ERA under 3.00, while Eddie Saldivar and Rocco Peppi each own a .423 average to lead the squad..

Series Notes

Indiana is 6-4 all-time against the 2023 LeClair Classic field, with a 2-1 record versus East Carolina, 1-0 mark against Georgetown and a 3-3 ledger versus Long Beach State.

This will be the second time that Indiana has compete at the LeClair Classic, the last during the 2020 season when it posted a 2-1 record. At the 2020 event, Indiana beat East Carolina, 11-5, to open the event and then took a 5-1 decision over High Point in the second game. Ole Miss defeated IU, 9-5, in the finale for both teams.

The only meeting between Indiana and Georgetown came on Feb. 21, 2009, in Tampa, Florida in the second game of that season.

The Hoosiers and Dirtbags met in back-to-back seasons in 2014 and 2015. IU traveled to California in 2014, before LBSU returned the trip in May 2015 during IU’s Big Ten open weekend.

The first meeting even with East Carolina came in a season-opening tournament at Camp Lejeune in 1959, where the Hoosiers won a 2-1 game over the Pirates.

INDIANA WBB

TOP SEEDED HOOSIERS TO FACE 9-SEED MICHIGAN STATE IN BIG TEN TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Top seed Indiana will face 9-seed Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal at Target Center on Friday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 12:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network.

ABOUT THE SPARTANS

Michigan State has won five of its last six including a 67-64 victory over Nebraska in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. All-Big Ten honorable mentions in graduate student guard Kamaria McDaniels leads the way with 13.7 points per game while sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh adds 12.3 points per outing.

SERIES HISTORY

Michigan State leads 49-32

LAST MEETING

12/29/22 – L, 78-83 (East Lansing, Mich.)

NOTES

In 28 years competing in the postseason tournament, the Hoosiers are 22-29 overall and ninth year head coach Teri Moren holds a record of 7-9. The Hoosiers have won one tournament championship in 2002 and are coming off its second championship game appearance in 2022. Indiana holds 1-2 record against the Spartans in tournament action and last met in the 2021 tournament in Indianapolis where the No. 2 Hoosiers fell to the No. 7 Spartans, 69-61.

Head coach Teri Moren was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year while senior forward Mackenzie Holmes was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year as six Hoosiers pulled in All-Big Ten awards. Moren becomes the first coach in program history to repeat as the Big Ten Coach of the Year, an honor she also picked up in 2016. Holmes becomes the first player in program history to win the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award. Holmes (unanimous) and graduate student guard Grace Berger were first team selections while junior guard Chloe Moore-McNeil earned second team honors from the media and honorable mention from the coaches and joined Holmes on the All-Defensive team. Junior guard Sydney Parrish earned All-Big Ten honorable mention honors while freshman guard Yarden Garzon joined her on the All-Big Ten honorable mention team and was on the five-member All-Freshman team. Senior guard Sara Scalia was given the nod on the honorable mention team by the media. Moore-McNeil was the team’s sportsmanship award honoree.

Four players are averaging double figures for the Hoosiers, behind 22.5 points from Holmes. Berger and Parrish each add 12.4 points per game while Garzon adds 11.3 points per game.

Indiana and Michigan State played just once this season in late December. The Hoosiers suffered their first loss of the season in East Lansing on Dec. 29, 83-78. Senior forward Mackenzie Holmes dropped a then career-high 32 points and 12 rebounds. While the Hoosiers shot 58.5 percent, they were forced into a season-high 21 turnovers in the loss.

UP NEXT

The winner of Friday’s game advances to the Big Ten Tournament semifinal on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET.

INDIANA MBB

JACKSON-DAVIS NAMED TO OSCAR ROBERTSON TROPHY LATE SEASON WATCH LIST

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis was named to the 2022-23 Oscar Robertson Trophy Late Season Watch List, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) announced on Thursday. 

Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year Oscar Robertson. It is the nation’s oldest award and the only one named after a former player.

Jackson-Davis leads Indiana in scoring (20.3 points per game), rebounds (11.1), and blocked shots (2.8). He is tied for the team lead with 103 assists this season. He is currently on pace to be the program’s first 20-point-per-game scorer since Eric Gordon (20.9) in 2007-08. His rebounding numbers have not been produced by a Hoosier since Steve Downing (15.1) in 1971-72.

TJD ranks third in the Big Ten Conference in scoring, second in rebounds, first in blocks, second in double-doubles, and ninth in assists. He is fourth in field goal percentage and third in made free throws this season.

Over the last 25 years of basketball only Jackson-Davis (Jan. 2023), Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O’Neal have averaged at least 23.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game in a calendar month (min. 5 games) in Division I basketball or the NBA.

TJD became the fifth player in Big Ten history to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds earlier this season, joining Joe Barry Carroll (Purdue), Ethan Happ (Wisconsin), Greg Kelser (Michigan State), and Herb Williams (Ohio State).

Jackson-Davis and Zach Edey (Purdue) are the only high-major players to average at least 20.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game this season.

Heading into the final game of the regular season, Jackson-Davis holds the school records for both career rebounds (1,093) and career blocked shots (252). He ranks fourth in career scoring (2,136) and career double-doubles (48).

USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy Late Season Watch List

Armando Bacot, North Carolina

Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy

Kendric Davis, Memphis

Zach Edey, Purdue

Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana

Jaime Jacquez Jr., UCLA

Tyler Kolek, Marquette

Brandon Miller, Alabama

Kris Murray, Iowa

Jalen Pickett, Penn State

Marcus Sasser, Houston

Drew Timme, Gonzaga

Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky

Azuolas Tubelis, Arizona

Jalen Wilson, Kansas

INDIANA WRESTLING

INDIANA WRESTLING TO COMPETE IN BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ANN ARBOR

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. ––––– The postseason has arrived for Indiana Wrestling with the Big Ten Championships taking place on March 4 & 5 in Ann Arbor, Mich.

PRE-SEEDS ANNOUNCED:

-At the start of the week, the Big Ten Conference announced the pre-seeds for this weekend’s Big Ten Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich. at Crisler Arena.

-Barring any changes at Friday’s scheduled coaches meeting to discuss seeding, these announced placements are indicative of the bracket for each weight class.

-Indiana’s ten tournament entries earned the following pre-seeds. No. 13 Jacob Moran (125), No. 11 Henry Porter (133), No. 13 Cayden Rooks (141), No. 7 Graham Rooks (149), No. 10 Derek Gilcher (157), No. 11 Nick South (165), No. 6 DJ Washington (174), No. 13 Clayton Fielden (184), No. 10 Nick Willham (197) and No. 8 Jacob Bullock (285).

-The action will get underway on Saturday, March 4 at 10 a.m. for Session I, followed by Session II at 5:30 p.m. that evening.

-Sunday, March 5 will feature Session III at 1 p.m. and Session IV at 4:30 p.m. the same day.

TOURNAMENT ALLOCATIONS:

-The NCAA also recently announced the number of allocation spots available to clinch at each conference championships for each weight class.

-For the Big Ten, the wrestlers who finish in the top nine at 125-149 and 184-285 lbs. will get automatic bids to the NCAA Championships, as well as the top-ten finishers at 157 lbs., the top-eight finishers at 165 lbs. and the top-seven finishers at 174 lbs.

-Any grappler who does not wrestle out to one of those spots will need to be selected as an at-large bid to compete in the NCAA Championships.

BUILDING ON LAST YEAR:

-Last year’s Big Ten Championships weren’t the Hoosiers’ best. Indiana finished 14th at the 2022 Championships.

-The Hoosiers are looking to vastly improve from last year’s showing, just like they did in the dual season. Indiana improved from 3-8 in 2021-22 to 8-5 in duals in 2022-23.

-Indiana returns eight participants from last year’s championships. The only new members to the lineup are freshman Henry Porter who replaced three-time national qualifier Brock Hudkins at 133 lbs., and Army transfer Clayton Fielden who starts at 184 lbs.

-Additionally, last year DJ Washington wrestled at 184 lbs. and Nick South was at 174 lbs., each bumped down a weight class this season.

-A number of Indiana starters have significantly improved their individual records from last season.

-Graham Rooks has gone from 12-12 to 25-6, Derek Gilcher has improved from 9-7 to 22-10, DJ Washington is up to 21-4 this year, after a 13-9 year last season and Jacob Bullock went from 11-11 to 18-4.

LOOKING TO TULSA:

-Indiana has its sights set on putting its most qualifiers into the NCAA Championships field in recent memory.

-In 2022, Indiana had two qualifiers in Washington and Hudkins. In 2021, Washington and both Rooks brothers qualified.

-Indiana had five guys ranked in the latest NCAA Coaches Rankings in Porter, Graham Rooks, Gilcher, Washington and Bullock.

-If all five of them qualified, Indiana would have its most qualifiers since 2013.

-The NCAA Championships will be from March 16-18 in Tulsa, Okla. at the BOK Center.

PURDUE MBB

OUTRIGHT BIG TEN CHAMPIONS! Boilermakers Outlast Badgers to Win Outright Title

MADISON, Wis. — Zach Edey didn’t want to know whether Purdue already had clinched the Big Ten outright regular-season title before the end of his team’s game with Wisconsin.

Edey’s coach couldn’t resist finding out.

“I wish I could lie to you, but I asked,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said after the fifth-ranked Boilermakers’ 63-61 victory over Wisconsin on Thursday night. “I’m nosy that way.”

Purdue (25-5, 14-5) had sealed the crown earlier in the evening by virtue of Illinois’ 91-87 double-overtime victory over Michigan. That game concluded late in the first half of the Purdue-Wisconsin matchup.

But there was still plenty at stake in this game as Purdue sought to make its case for a No. 1 seed and Wisconsin (16-13, 8-11) attempted to boost its postseason credentials.

Edey also intended to make sure Purdue didn’t back into this title, which explains why he didn’t want anyone to tell him the Illinois-Michigan result.

“I wouldn’t have wanted to win the Big Ten like that, so I was just trying to keep that out of my mind,” said Edey, who had 17 points and 19 rebounds.

Neither team led by more than three points for the final 12 minutes. That made the loss that much tougher to take for Wisconsin, which has played in 21 of the last 22 NCAA Tournaments but may need to make a deep Big Ten Tournament run to get there this season.

“We’ve been playing well enough to win and we just haven’t been able to get it done,” Wisconsin forward Tyler Wahl said.

Edey’s presence made the difference.

The 7-foot-4 center and national player of the year candidate helped Purdue outrebound Wisconsin 37-23 and outscore the Badgers 30-18 in the paint. Edey also helped limit Wahl and 7-footer Steven Crowl to a total of seven points, well below their combined season average of 22.8 heading into the game.

In the eighth and final lead change of the second half, Edey made both ends of a one-and-one to put Purdue ahead 58-57 with 1:45 left. Edey had been 1 of 6 from the line before sinking those two.

“After the way I started at the line, I knew there were going to be opportunities at the end of the game,” Edey said. “I knew there were going to be big opportunities. So I kind of tried to focus on that.”

Wisconsin’s Chucky Hepburn missed a baseline jumper with 1:15 remaining, but Purdue’s Ethan Morton misfired on a 3-pointer with 47 seconds remaining.

The Badgers called a timeout and got the ball to Max Klesmit, who missed a driving layup attempt as the Kohl Center crowd pleaded for a foul call.

“I was just trying to get to the rim, get in the paint and make a play,” said Klesmit, who scored a season-high 19 points for a second straight game. “I probably should have come to a two-foot stop and controlled myself, but I went off one and missed it.”

Purdue then stayed ahead and won by converting its free throws. Purdue went 9 of 10 on foul shots in the final 3:45 after going 2 of 8 up to that point.

Wisconsin had the ball while trailing by three on a couple of occasions in the final 10 seconds, but both times Purdue fouled before the Badgers could attempt a tying 3-pointer.

Morton made just one of two free throws with four seconds left, giving Wisconsin one last shot with the score 63-61. Klesmit had just gotten past midcourt when he attempted a potential winning 3-point attempt that fell well short of the basket.

BIG PICTURE

Purdue: The Boilermakers still aren’t playing nearly as well as they were when they had the No. 1 ranking, but they deserve credit for winning on the road against a desperate team. Painter shook up his lineup as Brandon Newman made his first start of the season and Mason Gillis made his second Big Ten start of the year.

Wisconsin: The Badgers won a share of the Big Ten title last year because of an uncanny knack for winning close games, but they haven’t been as fortunate this time. This tough loss came four nights after a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of regulation led to an overtime loss at Michigan.

(Postgame Notes)

Purdue improved to 25-5 overall and 14-5 in the Big Ten Conference with a 63-61 win at Wisconsin on Thursday night.

With the victory, Purdue clinched the outright Big Ten Championship for the first time since 2017. The Boilermakers have now won three Big Ten titles in the last seven years and are the Big Ten’s all-time leader with 25 regular-season championships.

Purdue has now won 25 regular-season games for the seventh time in school history and for the second straight season. It marks the second time in school history that Purdue has won 25 regular-season games in consecutive seasons (2017, 2018).

It marks the 10th time in 18 seasons that Matt Painter has won 25 games at Purdue.

The victory gave Purdue 10 quad-1 wins and 15 quad-1 and 2 victories.

Purdue is 17-5 this season against KenPom top-100 teams, the second-most wins in the country (Kansas – 20).

Purdue’s six all-time wins in the Kohl Center are tied with Michigan State for the most opponent victories in the building.

Purdue went just 1-of-6 from the free throw line in the first half, but went 10-of-12 in the second half, including 5-of-6 in the final minute to put the game away.

Purdue has won 21 straight games when shooting a higher field goal percentage than its opponent. The Boilermakers shot 50.0 percent from the field, including 20-of-29 (.690) from inside the 3-point line.

Zach Edey recorded his 23rd double-double of the season with 17 points, 19 rebounds, 3 assists and a blocked shot. He is one of five players nationally to put up a stat line like that this season.

Edey now has 641 points and 379 rebounds on the season. No Big Ten player has reached those numbers in a season in the last 30 years. He needs 57 rebounds to tie Caleb Swanigan’s (2016-17) single-season record of 436 rebounds.

Edey moved into ninth place on the school’s career rebounds list (788) and has scored in double-figures in 46 straight games – the nation’s longest streak.

Fletcher Loyer scored 13 points to give him 356 points this season, now the eighth most by a freshman in school history.

Braden Smith now has 294 points, 133 rebounds and 127 assists on the season. He needs six points to make him and Fletcher Loyer just the fourth set of freshman teammates in school history with 300 points each.

PURDUE WBB

SMITH’S BUZZER BEATER SENDS BOILERS TO QUARTERS

MINNEAPOLIS – Jayla Smith called game with a game-winning 3-pointer with 4.1 seconds to play to complete the second largest comeback in Big Ten Tournament history, as the seventh-seeded Purdue women’s basketball team erased an 18-point deficit to beat 10th-seeded Wisconsin, 57-55, at the Target Center on Thursday night.

After Wisconsin (11-20) made a triple to take a 1-point lead with 10.2 seconds left, Madison Layden inbounded the ball to Jeanae Terry who kicked out across the court to a wide open Smith on the left wing. The 2021 Indiana Miss Basketball, who had made just six 3-pointers in Big Ten play this year,  drained the game winner to improve Purdue to 19-9 on the year and give the Boilermakers their Big Ten record 46th tournament victory.

Purdue rallied from a double-digit deficit for the first time since 2021 against Florida State. It was the largest comeback since Purdue overcame an 16-point gap against Michigan in 2018.

Smith finished with six points on the night with another 3-pointer earlier in the fourth, finishing with her fourth multi-triple game of the season.

Abbey Ellis paced Purdue with 19 points with 12 points coming in the second half. The Australian played a key role in sparking the comeback in the second half. Cassidy Hardin knocked down a pair of triples to join Ellis in double figures with 10 points.

Purdue finished the game shooting 38.2% over and went 6-of-22 from behind the arc. After starting the game missing their first eight shots, the Boilermakers closed hitting 21 of 47 attempts from the field for a 44.7% clip.

Jeanae Terry continued her all-around season to finish with six points, eight rebounds six assists and five steals. It was Terry’s 18th game with at least five rebounds and assists.

A lid was on the rim over the first 15 minutes of the game, as Purdue went 7-for-27 in the first half and gave up 13 points on 13 giveaways. Wisconsin’s Ronnie Porter hit a 3-pointer with 4:27 to play in the second quarter to cap a 10-1 run that extended the lead to 18-points. Purdue started its comeback at that point.

The Boilermakers closed the first half on a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to single digits at the break.

Out of the break, the Boilermakers continued to trim into the gap with a 17-11 edge in the third. Ellis totaled seven of her points in the frame to bring Purdue within three heading into the fourth. Purdue forced nine turnovers in the third.

Following a four-point run by the Badgers to start the fourth, Terry and Ava Learn counted to bring Purdue back within three points with six minutes to play. The Boilermakers held Wisconsin without a field goal for 2:51 in the middle of the fourth to go on a 12-2 run. Smith nailed her first 3-pointer with 4:56 to play to make it a one-point game, before Ellis finished a traditional 3-point play to give Purdue its first lead with 3:15 left.

Hardin made a pair at the line at the 2:30 mark to extend the lead to four points, before Wisconsin pulled within two on a layup on the next possession.

Purdue led 54-52 as both sides forced turnovers and missed shots until the 10-second mark when Maty Wilke made a corner three to put Wisconsin up 55-54. Head coach Katie Gearlds advanced the ball on a timeout and set up the game-wining play that fell to Smith to connect on the clutch final shot.

NOTES

• Purdue leads the all-time series with Wisconsin 55-22, with a 6-1 mark in the Big Ten Tournament. 

• Cassidy Hardin evened Danielle Campbell’s Purdue appearances record with her 140th game played.

• Ava Learn provided a key impact off the bench to finish with six points and five rebounds in 13 minutes of action, including a key block on the Wisconsin possession prior to Purdue’s first lead.

• The Boilermakers improved to 17-0 on the year when holding an opponent to 65 points or fewer.

• Purdue shot an even 50% (14-28) over the final 20 minutes.

• Despite surrendering 24 turnovers, Purdue gave up just 18 points on the giveaways.

• Jayla Smith was shooting 23.7% from distance on the season entering Thursday’s game.

UP NEXT

The Boilermakers head into the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 2020 when they square off with second-seeded Iowa on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. (ET). The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

PURDUE BASEBALL

BASEBALL HOSTS AKRON IN RETURN TO HOLLY SPRINGS

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Akron (3-4, 15-41 in 2022) vs. Purdue (5-3, 29-21 in 2022)

4-Game Series / Friday to Sunday, March 3 to 5

Ting Stadium / Holly Springs, N.C.

Series Opener: Friday, March 3 at 1 p.m. ET

Doubleheader: Saturday, March 4 1 p.m.

Series Finale: Sunday, March 5 at 1 p.m. ET

All-Time Series: Akron leads 1-0

Previous Meeting: Akron 4, Purdue 3 (March 1997 in Jacksonville, Fla.)

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS

Friday: Khal Stephen (So, RHP) vs. Akron’s Sammy Tortorella (Jr, LHP)

Saturday Game 1: Jonathan Blackwell (Jr, LHP) vs. Akron’s Spencer Atkins (Jr, RHP)

Saturday Game 2: Kyle Iwinski (Jr, RHP) vs. TBA for Akron’s Anthony Fett (Jr, LHP)

Sunday: TBA for Purdue vs. Akron’s Joe Roth (Fr, RHP)

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. – Purdue baseball closes out is stretch of three consecutive four-game series to open the season with a return to the Carolinas for another full weekend, hosting Akron at Ting Stadium.

First pitch Friday has been moved up to 1 p.m. ET due storms in the forecast for the late afternoon and evening. That makes three 1 p.m. starts this weekend, including Saturday’s doubleheader and Sunday’s series finale. Admission is free for all three days of action in Ting Park.

After splitting its four-game series with NJIT in Holly Springs last weekend, the Boilermakers are 9-2 at Ting Stadium since last year. Five of those victories have come in walk-off fashion.

Purdue is giving Kyle Iwinski an opportunity to move into the starting rotation this weekend. The newcomer from Northwest Indiana has pitched 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball over his first three appearances as a Boilermaker, registering eight strikeouts vs. six hits and two walks. He gave Purdue a chance to rally in the series finale vs. NJIT with four innings of one-run work. Iwinski was a workhorse in the rotation during his final two seasons at Kankakee Community College, pitching 71 1/3 innings in 2021 and 67 innings in 2022.

Purdue’s bullpen pitched well at Ting Stadium last weekend but was tasked with covering 21 of the series’ 36 innings.

HIGH & LOWS OF THE NJIT SERIES

• Purdue with RISP: .316 (12-for-38)

• Purdue with a Runner on 3rd & Less than 2 Outs: Scored the run in 7 of 9 opportunities

• Successfully Advanced a Base Runner in a Plate Appearance: 49%

• 2-Out RBI: 9 – including 5 from Evan Albrecht

• Purdue racked up 41 strikeouts in 36 innings (10.25 K/9, nearly doubling the 5.18 mark vs Holy Cross)

• Strikeout-to-Walk ratio improved drastically from 1.06 vs Holy Cross to 2.56 vs NJIT

• Purdue pitchers squashed potential big innings – NJIT with runners on: .197, with RISP: .167, with runner on 3rd & less than 2 outs: scored run in 2 of 9 opportunities, with 2 outs: .179, 2-out RBI: 3

• Purdue’s bullpen excelled: 2.57 ERA, .215 B/Avg, 24 strikeouts vs. 8 walks in 21 innings

—

• Purdue was 4-for-37 vs. lefthanded pitching

• Purdue starting pitchers were on the mound for only 15 of the 36 innings

• NJIT had a 15-8 advantage in XBH and .504 to .344 edge in slugging percentage

• Purdue committed 8 errors

FAMILIAR FACE IN FIRESTONE

• Similar to NJIT, Akron is also playing its first 11 games of the season in the North Carolina. The Zips split a four-game series at Western Carolina during the opening weekend and remained in the state after dropping two of three at Elon to close out February.

• Zionsville native and former Boilermaker Jack Firestone homered in each of the first three games of the season for Akron as part of a 7-for-11 start at the plate. He made a pair of starts in the outfield during Purdue’s eight-game road trip in North Carolina early last season. Since 2020, Firestone is set to become the third former Boilermaker to take the field against Purdue after opting to transfer. That’s a situation likely to become more commonplace across college baseball in the coming years as player movement has increased with the relaxed regulations on transfers.

STRIKEOUTS SPIKE IN WEEKEND #2

• After registering just 19 punchouts in 33 innings during the season-opening series vs. Holy Cross, Purdue’s pitching staff returned to the form that led to team records for strikeouts (479) and strikeouts per nine innings (9.57) last year. The Boilermakers had 15 strikeouts Sunday, 28 over the final two games of the series and 41 Ks in 36 innings in the series. Purdue reached the 40-K mark in a four-game series for just the fifth time since 2001.

• Sunday, Carter Doorn struck out five of the 10 batters he faced, joining Calvin Schapira and Iwinski with five Ks in the game. Doorn joined Khal Stephen (twice) and CJ Backer as active Boilermakers to record at least five strikeouts while punching out at least half the batters he faced. However, Purdue has accomplished that feat a dozen times since the opening weekend of the 2021 campaign.

BUTLER BASEBALL

#1 LSU TO HOST BUTLER AND CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE

INDIANAPOLIS – The Bulldogs will face the top team in the nation this weekend along with the preseason favorites in the NEC. Games against #1 LSU are set for Friday and Monday night at 6:30 PM. BU will take on CCSU Friday at 1 PM and Saturday at 6:30. Games against LSU will stream on SEC Network+.

Weekend Schedule

Friday, March 3 – 1 PM vs. Central Connecticut State

Friday, March 3 – 6:30 PM vs. LSU

Saturday, March 4 – 6:30 PM vs. CCSU

Monday, March 6 – 6:30 PM vs. LSU

Projected Starters

LHP Cory Bosecker vs. LHP Dominic Niman

LHP Cole Graverson vs. TBD

RHP Alex Voss vs. LHP Jake Neuman

TBD vs. TBD

Scouting #1 LSU                                                                                                  

The Tigers are the top team in the country heading into the weekend with a 6-1 overall record. LSU swept Western Michigan over opening weekend and added an 18-4 win to their resume on Feb. 21 with a home win over Southern. The second weekend of the regular season took LSU to the Round Rock Classic in Texas. The Tigers won 7-3 over Kansas State, 16-4 over Sam Houston and 3-0 over Texas. Iowa handed LSU their first loss with a 12-4 victory. Dylan Crews leads LSU with a .519 batting average. He has three doubles and a home run in 27 at-bats. He is also the team leader in runs scored with 13.

Scouting Central Connecticut State                                                   

The Blue Devils will open the season against Butler on March 3. Their scheduled season opener against Massachusetts on Feb. 26 was postponed. CCSU took the top spot in the 2023 Northeast Conference Preseason Poll. They had six first-place votes to finish ahead of LIU and FDU. Head coach Charlie Hickey is back for his 25th season at CCSU. The Blue Devils went 29-18 overall last year and had seven players earn All-NEC honors. Four of the seven return including Luke Garofalo and Anthony Mozzicato.

Reached Base Streak                                                                           

Jake DeFries and Xavier Carter have reached base safely in all eight games for the Bulldogs. DeFries has six hits this season to go along with seven walks. He has also been hit by a pitch this season. Carter ranks second on the team with a .308 batting average. He has eight hits over eight games and has walked eight times to raise his on-base percentage to .514.

Heavy Hitters                                                                                         

Joey Urban, Xavier Carter and Scott Jones are all hitting over .300 heading into the weekend. Urban is the BU team leader in average (.371), slugging percentage (.829), hits (13), RBI (10), doubles (3), and home runs (3). He leads the BIG EAST in RBI (10), total bases (29) and slugging percentage (.829).

Going, Going Gone                                                                                             

Three Bulldogs have hit home runs over the first eight games of the 2023 campaign. Joey Urban leads the team with three, Lukas Galdoni and Jake DeFries each have one. Urban homered in the season opener and added another long ball in the final game vs. Fairleigh Dickinson. His third homer came in the final game at Campbell. DeFries homered in game three vs. FDU and Galdoni homered in the first game vs. Campbell.

BIG EAST Rankings

Butler leads the BIG EAST in base on balls (51), stolen bases (10) and triples (5). The Bulldogs rank second in scoring (7.1) and third in both on-base percentage (.383) and runs (57).

Up Next                                                                                                                 

Butler will play at Mississippi Valley State on Wednesday, March 8. The game will feature a 3 PM start time. The Bulldogs will move through Cape Girardeau, Mo. to face SEMO next weekend and the Butler home opener will follow that series with BU hosting Northwestern on March 18-19.

IUPUI WBB

JAGUARS TRIPPED UP IN #HLWBB CHAMPIONSHIPS QUARTERFINALS

INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI basketball team fell victim to an upset as a hot shooting No. 6 Purdue Fort Wayne squad came in the Jungle and tripped up the Jaguars, 73-69. Purdue Fort Wayne connected on 13 threes and shot 53 percent for the game to offset monster efforts from IUPUI’s Jazmyn Turner and Destiny Perkins.

Turner hit 10-of-15 shots and had a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds and Perkins had 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists in her final collegiate game. However, it wasn’t quite enough as the Jaguars were relegated to playing catch-up for much of the night against the Mastodons.

After scoring the game’s opening five points on a Natalie Andersen jumper and an Ali Berg three, the Jaguars struggled to get stops as the visiting Mastodons unleashed an onslaught from deep. Purdue Fort Wayne (14-18) responded with a 20-4 burst, fueled by four treys to build an 11-point lead.

IUPUI held Purdue Fort Wayne scoreless for more than four minutes to start the second quarter and took a brief 21-20 lead on a Rachel Kent trey, but the Mastodons fired back to rebuild a 38-30 lead by halftime. The Jaguars held Purdue Fort Wayne scoreless for more than five-and-a-half minutes to start the third stanza to get within two before the ‘Dons fired back with five straight to take a seven-point lead. The lead grew to 11 before IUPUI began chipping away once again.

Perkins tied the score at 63 all with 3:10 to play when she drained a wing three after grabbing an offensive board, but the guests regained the lead at the foul line with 2:36 to play. IUPUI got a key stop with 1:50 left, but Perkins had her pocket picked after grabbing the defensive board and Amelia Bromenschenkel dropped in an easy layup to push the lead out to four. The Jaguars closed within three, but the guests made enough free throws down the stretch to stave off the Jags.

Purdue Fort Wayne hit 13-of-23 (56.5 percent) from three as Audra Emmerson made 6-of-7 for her 18 points. Bromenschenkel also closed with 18 and Shayla Sellers finished with 12 points. The usually sharpshooting Jaguars finished at 6-of-24 (25 percent) from three and did the bulk of their damage inside, scoring 38 points in the paint. The Jags also won the glass 38-24 and scored 19 second chance points, but shot just 43.3 percent for the game.

IUPUI will now wait to see if a postseason tournament comes knocking as the Jaguars sit at 17-13 at this juncture.

BALL STATE MBB

BALL STATE HOSTS TOLEDO FOR REGULAR SEASON FINALE

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men’s basketball team returns to the friendly confines of Worthen Arena for the final game of the regular season as Toledo makes the trip to Muncie. The Cardinals (20-10, 11-6 MAC) and the Rockets (24-6, 15-2 MAC) are scheduled for a 6 p.m. tip on CBS Sports Network. The game will be the annual Muncie Out and is sponsored by Indiana Michigan Power.

Prior to Friday’s contest we will recognize our seniors for Senior Day.

All BSU students in The Nest and receive a free hot dog, a slice of pizza, a fountain drink, or a beer. Arrive early, cheer loud, and enjoy responsibly.

Muncie Out is an annual tradition that dates back to 2016. Parking is free, hot dogs are $1 each, and tickets start at just $10.

Head Coach Michael Lewis is the first, first-year head coach to produce a seven-game winning streak. Ball State started 16-7 overall, which is the best start since the 1999-2000 season. The 19-7 start is the best start since the Cardinals started 1997-98 with a 21-7 record. He is the second coach in BSU history to win the regular season opener and the MAC opener in their first season as a head coach. He joins Rick Majerus in achieving the feat. Ball State has won 20 games for just the 13th time in program history.

Last Time Out

Ball State dropped a tough on the road against Akron, 87-83. Jalen Windham led the Cardinals with a career-high 19 points. He added three rebounds and three assists. Basheer Jihad produced a career-high 17 points to go along with three boards. Demarius Jacobs closed out the double-digit scorers with 16 points. Jacobs tied for a game-high two steals. Jacobs and Luke Bumbalough tied for a game-high four assists. Payton Sparks led the team with nine rebounds and added one block with eight points. Jaylin Sellers tied for a game-high two steals to go along with nine points, six rebounds, and one block.

Boogie on Down

Jarron Coleman is averaging a team-high 14.5 points per game. He leads the team with 68 made 3-pointers and is shooting 36.2 percent from behind the arc. He leads the team with 110 assists and second on the squad in steals with 40. Coleman has added 10 blocks. He has compiled five games of 20 or more points. Earlier this season, Coleman recorded his 1,000th career point.

Sensational Sellers

Sellers is second on the team with 13.7 points per game. He is shooting 47.7 percent from 3-point range, which leads the team. He is averaging 3.7 rebounds per game. He has produced a field-goal percentage of 49.8 on the season. Sellers has collected 24 assists, 20 steals, and 16 blocks. He has notched six games with 20 or more points for the season.

Spark Plug

Sparks leads the team with 8.7 rebounds per game, which is tied for 48th in the country and fourth in the conference. His 3.21 offensive rebounds per contest have him tied for 30th in the nation and third in the MAC. He is third on the team averaging 12.6 points per game. He is shooting 59.3 percent from the field, which leads the team. He has nine double-doubles on the season, which is tied for 56th in the country and is third in the MAC. He is third on the team with 57 assists, second on the team with 25 blocks, and has added 14 steals.

Spreading the Love

The Cardinals have four players averaging double-digit points. Demarius Jacobs rounds out the double-digit scorers with 12.2 points a contest. He has a team-high 35 blocks, which is tied for 120th in the NCAA and is second in the MAC. His 1.17 blocks per contest is tied for 139th in the nation and is second in the conference. He is second on the team in assists with 101 and leads the team in steals with 41. He is averaging 3.9 boards per contest. Pearson is second on the squad with 5.5 rebounds per contest and is averaging 7.8 points a game. Pearson is shooting 50.0 percent from the field.

Taking Advantage at the Free-Throw Line

As a team, the Cardinals are averaging 24.1 free throws per game, which is tied for third in the NCAA and leads the MAC. Ball State is averaging 16.5 free-throws made per contest, which is 19th in the nation and is best in the conference. Sparks is 13th in the nation with 205 free-throw attempts, which is second in the MAC.

Effective Shooting

The Cardinals are currently shooting 47.1 percent from the field, which is 41st in the NCAA and is second in the MAC. Ball State has been effective from behind the arc with a combined 37.6 percent from 3-point range, which is tied for 25th in the country and is second in the MAC.

Series History with Toledo

The Cardinals and Rockets have met 103 times. Toledo comes into Friday’s game with a 53-50 series advantage. Ball State won the matchup earlier this season in Toledo, 90-83. The Cardinals are 31-17 at home against the Rockets and are 24-8 inside Worthen Arena.

Scouting the Rockets

In the matchup earlier this season, RayJ Dennis led the Rockets with 21 points and a game-high six assists to go along with his team-high two steals. Dante Maddox Jr. posted a team-high nine rebounds as he added 16 points. JT Shumate ended the game with 15 points. Ra’Heim Moss finished with 11 points. As a team, Toledo is tied for sixth in the NCAA with a field-goal percentage of 49.4. The Rockets are second in the NCAA with a scoring offense with 85.7 points per game. With an assist to turnover ratio of 1.56, UT is eighth in the NCAA. Dennis leads the with 19.0 points per game. He as an assist to turnover ratio of 3.09, which is eighth in the NCAA. His 176 assists are ninth in the country. Dennis is second on the squad with 44 steals. He is averaging 4.4 rebounds per game and has six blocks. Shumate is second on the team with 16.7 points per game and is second on the team with 4.8 boards a contest. Shumate has a team-best 36 blocks. He has added 44 assists and 20 steals. Setric Millner Jr. paces the team with 5.8 boards per game and is averaging 16.0 points per game. He has 53 assists, 32 steals, and nine blocks. Maddox closes out the double-digit scorers with 11.4 a contest. He is averaging 4.0 rebounds per game, has 60 assists, 31 steals, and five blocks. Moss has a team-best 45 steals.

NOTRE DAME BASEBALL

SERIES PREVIEW: UAB

Irish Travel to UAB

This will be the fifth matchup between the Irish and Blazers this weekend as Notre Dame preps for their third three-game series on the road.

The first-ever matchup between UAB and Notre Dame was March, 12, 2011 in Conway, South Carolina. Notre Dame took home the win 3-0 against UAB and led the series 1-0 before the most recent series at UAB.

The Irish now lead the overall series 3-1 with their last matchup in 2020.

The Irish opened up their 2020 season on the road as they traveled to Birmingham in mid-February to take on the Blazers in a three-game series at UAB.

Notre Dame would take game one of the series 4-2 and after falling 7-10 in game two, the Irish would close the series with a 9-3 win over the Blazers.

The Blazers enter the weekend 3-5 win after winning the series 2-1 against Murray State last weekend and are most recently coming off a close mid-week loss after falling 8-7 on the road to Troy on Tuesday.

Notre Dame Wins First Series of the Year at UNCG

The Notre Dame baseball team won their first series of the 2023 season after taking down UNCG on the road.

Carter Putz led the way for the Irish,  batting .400 on the weekend, finishing with four hits and three runs.

The Irish took home game one on Friday, Feb. 17 in a 6-5 win after Danny Neri stepped up to the plate and homered to right field. After an even ballgame at 4-4 heading into the top of the ninth, Neri’s homerun scored Putz and added two more runs to the board.

Jack Findlay’s three strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth closed out Notre Dame’s game one win.

Despite falling 12-0 to UNCG on Saturday, the Irish responded with a game three win 7-4 over Sunday to take the series.

The Irish struck first as grad students Zack Prajzner and Brooks Coetzee got the Notre Dame offense rolling. Coetzee recorded an RBI single to send Prajzner home and put the Irish on the board. Notre Dame held the Spartans scoreless the first three innings and led 1-0 to start the fourth.

Notre Dame scored another four runs in the top of the fourth with runs from Prajzner, Putz, Penney, and Martinez.

Bedford, who got the win for Notre Dame on Sunday, dominated at the hill for the Irish. He threw four strikeouts over three innings and allowed no runs and only one hit.

Irish Open Campaign at Lipscomb

The Notre Dame baseball team took on the Lipscomb Bisons for just the second time in program history Feb. 17-19 in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Irish fell 5-4 in game one despite scoring two runs in the top of the ninth to close the gap within one.

Norte Dame bounced back in game two, defeating the Bison 8-4 after a big seven-run inning in the top of the seventh.

Despite taking home game two, the Irish struggled to connect at the plate and fell in game three 4-2, falling to 1-2 to start the 2023 season.

With only 10 hits as a team on the weekend, TJ Williams and Jack Penney both hit their first home runs of the 2023 season.

Freshmen Rory Fox and David Lally Jr. made their debuts on the mound on Sunday, as well as graduate transfers Carter Bosch and Blake Hely who pitched in an Irish uniform for the first time. 

Lethal Lineup is Back for 2022

Coming off the most successful season in almost 20 years, a strong portion of the 2022 leadership returns as seven graduate students are back for another year with the Irish, four of which were every day starters.

Graduate students Carter Putz, Zack Prajzner, Jack Zyska, and Brooks Coetzee all return to the field for the Irish.

Putz started all 58 games and was a big piece of Notre Dame’s success last season. He also led the team in hits (81) and runs (55) and was second on the squad in doubles (13)  and batting average (.339).

Putz’s 81 hits were the most hits in a single season since 2013 when World Series Champion Trey Mancini had 89 hits on the year.

Prajzner returns to the Irish after starting all 58 games and setting career highs in runs, hits, doubles, home runs and RBIs last season. He was also fourth on the team in hits and runs as he finished with 44 runs and 58 hits.

Prajzner was named to the 2022 Statesboro Regional All-Tournament Team after hitting the game-tying home run in the 6-4 win over No. 22 Georgia Southern to advance to the Statesboro Regional Championship.

Both Putz and Prajzner were also recognized by Perfect Game as two of the top 50 seniors in the country heading into the 2023 season.

Zyska made 38 starts on the season and was a big piece of the Super Regional win over No. 1 Tennessee as he hit one of four home runs in the 8-6 win over the Volunteers in game one and set a career-high four hits against Tennessee in game two.

He finished with 34 runs, 45 hits, 12 doubles, 13 home runs, and seven stolen bases.

Coetzee started all 58 games and had a big year with the Irish as he set career highs in runs (42), hits (59), home runs (12), and RBI (43).

He finished second on the team in home runs and was one of three Irish players to hit double-digit home runs last season as the Irish set the program record for home runs in a single season with 79 homers.

Findlay, Tyrell, and Mercer Return

While the Irish lost main starters John Bertrand and Austin Temple, the Irish return Freshman All-American LHP Jack Findlay.

Findlay capped off his freshman season as a pivotal piece of Notre Dame’s postseason success. He made 20 appearances, including eight starts, but was recognized as a big-time closer for the Irish.

Findlay led the Irish in ERA and saves, was second in wins and third on the team in innings pitched after finishing the 2022 season with a 2.17 ERA, 54 strikeouts, and 6-2 record with four saves through 49.2 innings.

Findlay was named a 2022 Perfect Game Second Team Freshman All-American and a 2022 Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

At the beginning of this year, Findlay was also recognized by Perfect Game as one of the top 50 sophomores in the country.

Graduate student Aidan Tyrell also returns to the mound for Notre Dame.

Tyrell made 26 appearances and had five starts for the Irish as he finished the year with a 3.75 ERA, 37 strikeouts, and a 5-2 record with two saves through 48.0 innings pitched.

Tyrell won his first three starts of the season after allowing just one run in 16.0 innings pitched and had a string of four and five-straight appearances out of the bullpen without allowing a run.

Graduate student Will Mercer returns for his fifth season after making 13 appearances and 3 starts in 2022.

Mercer finished his senior year with a 4.18 ERA and a 2-1 record with one save through 23.2 innings pitched along with 24 strikeouts. He tossed a season-best 3.2 innings pitched and did not allow a run against #5 Texas A&M at the College World Series.

Newcomers

The Irish also have 14 newcomers, featuring 10 freshmen and four grad transfers.

Blake Hely is a graduate transfer that joined the Irish this fall after spending four years at Davidson.

He was another Notre Dame player recognized by Perfect Game this year as one of the top 50 impact transfers in the nation. Hely was a weekend starter for the Wildcats, appearing in and starting 15 games with a 3.80 ERA and a 9-2 record after leading Davidson in 2022 with 85.1 innings pitched.

Hely was also named Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year, Atlantic 10 First Team, and ABCA All-Atlantic Region Team this past season.

Hely held opponents to a .207 batting average, led the A-10 with 6.86 hits allowed per nine innings and was second in the league with 97 strikeouts.

Graduate transfers Vincent Martinez (C) and Justin Moore (RHP) joined the Irish this fall after each of them spent four years at Stanford.

RHP Carter Bosch is another graduate transfer who joins the Irish  from Georgetown.

David Lally Jr., of Grand Blanc, Michigan, is predicted to be a force on the mound as he helped guide his high school to a 2021 State Championship, is a two-time Collegiate Baseball First Team All-American and was recognized this year as one of the top 100 freshmen in the country by Perfect Game. 

Season to Remember in 2022

Notre Dames run at the College World Series came to a close on June 21, 2022 after a 5-1 loss to Texas A&M in the Bracket 1 elimination game.

The Fighting Irish finished the season with a 41-17 overall record after making the program’s third trip to Omaha for the College World Series.

The Irish reached the Super Regional round in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history and were the only ACC team that advanced to Omaha after four ACC squads were in the Super Regionals last year.

They eclipsed the 40-win plateau for the first time since 2006 and knocked off the No. 1 overall seed Tennessee in the Super Regionals.

Heading into the contest, Tennessee was 37-3 at home  and had won 11-straight games.

The Irish hit four home runs in the win, the most home runs Tennessee had allowed all season.

The Irish handed Tennessee their first loss at home in the postseason since 2001.

Left-handed pitcher John Michael Bertrand, infielder/right-handed pitcher Jack Brannigan and left-handed pitcher Jack Findlay all earned All-American honors.

Bertrand was named a second team All-American by the NCBWA, Brannigan was named to the third team by Perfect Game and Findlay was a second team freshman All-American from Perfect Game.

It was Bertrand’s third postseason All-American honor this year (Collegiate Baseball & CoSIDA), Findlay’s second of the season (Collegiate Baseball) and Brannigan earned his first of the season.

Bertrand was also named the NCBWA District Five Player of the Year, ABCA All-Region First Team, and was named the Statesboro Regional Most Outstanding Player as he helped pave the way on the Irish’s run to the College World Series

NOTRE DAME SB

SERIES PREVIEW: IRISH AT #12/14 DUKE

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball team opens Atlantic Coast Conference action this weekend as the Fighting Irish head to Durham, North Carolina for a three-game series with the Duke Blue Devils. Duke enters the weekend ranked in the top 15 of all four national polls, and as high as eighth in Softball America’s latest poll. Notre Dame enters the weekend having won five-straight games and are 10-4 on the season.

This weekend’s action will take place Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday’s finale starting at noon all at Duke Softball Stadium. All games will be broadcasted on the ACC Network Extra, as well as live stats available. Links for these services are on the Notre Dame softball schedule page.

The Irish found a variety of ways to win over the weekend in Florida. After falling behind 7-1 to UT Martin in the first game of the weekend, the Irish scored seven unanswered to earn the 8-7 win. Notre Dame didn’t allow a run over 14 innings Saturday for a pair of wins. The weekend finished with another come-from-behind win, this time over FIU, and led from wire-to-wire for the weekend finale with Dartmouth.

Notre Dame’s offense hits for a .313 team average with a .456 slugging percentage. Freshman Mickey Winchell leads the team with a .394 average with 13 singles. Jane Kronenberger has a .367 average with four extra-base hits and has driven in nine. Graduate infielder Lexi Orozco leads the team with 12 RBI and three home runs, scoring nine runs in the process.

Payton Tidd leads the Irish in the circle. The graduate student worked a team-best 41.0 innings and owns a 2.22 ERA. She’s thrown in eight games with a complete game, striking out 39 hitters. Shannon Becker has seven starts, appearing in a team-high 11 games. She’s thrown in 36.1 innings, striking out 32 hitters. Micaela Kastor owns the team’s best ERA at 0.76. She’s appeared in eight games, throwing 18.1 innings striking out 16 hitters. She’s limited opponents to a .188 average against, earning a 2-0 record with a save.

Duke enters as one of the hottest teams in the country, winning 12-straight games. The Blue Devils have earned three ranked wins in that time, finishing the ESPN Clearwater Invitational with wins over No. 4 Arkansas (7-4), No. 20 UCF (4-3 10 innings) and No. 25 Michigan (6-3). Last time out, Duke took both games of a doubleheader with NC Central Wednesday evening.

The Blue Devil offense hits for a .324 average, with nine hitting over .300 and four above the .400 plateau. D’Auna Jennings leads the team with a .422 average in 17 games and adds a team-best six stolen bases. Deja Davis and Gisele Tapia each hit .405 in 42 at bats. Davis has scored 18 runs with three stolen bases. Claire Davidson and Kelly Torres each have hit three home runs, driving in 14 and 10, respectively. Tapia leads the team with 16 runs driven in this season.

Three pitchers have logged more than 25 innings in the circle this season. Freshman Cassidy Curd owns a 0.55 ERA, earning a 5-0 mark in eight games. She’s thrown 25.1 innings, allowing just 10 hits striking out 38 and limiting opponents to a .118 average against. Jala Wright adds a team-high 35.2 innings, earning a 2.36 ERA. She’s thrown in a team-best 11 games, scattering 26 hits and striking out 40. Claire Davidson adds a 2.69 ERA with a 3-1 record. She’s started six of her seven appearances, throwing 26.0 innings. She’s struck out 14 and holds opponents to a .240 average against.

INDIANA STATE WBB

WILLIAMS’ CAREER NIGHT, STRONG SHOOTING SEND SYCAMORES PAST BRADLEY

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Del’Janae Williams scored a career-high 30 points Thursday evening and Chelsea Cain tied her season-high with 21, leading Indiana State to an 87-71 win over Bradley inside Hulman Center.

Williams also led the Sycamores with eight rebounds and five assists, becoming the first Sycamore to score 30 points in a game since 2014. Anna McKendree finished with 12 points, all coming off 3-pointers, while Indiana State shot better than 50 percent both overall and from 3-point range.

Both teams shot the ball well in the first half, but it was Bradley who took the lead into the locker room off the strength of 10 first-half 3-pointers. Indiana State dictated the tempo in the second half, though, as the Sycamores went on a 22-2 run spanning parts of the third and fourth quarters to put the game out of hand. Indiana State set season-best marks in most offensive statistics on the way to their seventh win at home this season.

First Half

McKendree opened the scoring with a 3-pointer in what became a back-and-forth first quarter. Bradley took a 12-8 lead midway through, but consecutive baskets from Williams, Caitlin Anderson and Cain put the Trees right back in front. Bella Finnegan hit a 3-pointer on the fastbreak, and Hattie Westerfeld scored Indiana State’s last four points, as the Sycamores and Braves went to the second quarter even at 23-apiece.

Westerfeld gave the Sycamores the lead moments into the second quarter but Bradley went on an 11-2 run to go in front 34-27. The visitors pushed their lead to eight at 37-29 following a 3-pointer, but Williams hit a pair of treys and Cain added a basket as the Trees trimmed their deficit. The Sycamores cut it to a one-point game following an Anderson layup, but Bradley hit a half-court shot at the buzzer to take a 45-41 lead into the intermission.

Second Half

After a back-and-forth start to the third, Indiana State took full control midway through. 3-pointers by Williams and McKendree made it a one-point game, and the Sycamores tied it at 57 following a basket by Cain. Williams followed that with a 3-pointer to put the Trees ahead for good, and Indiana State closed the quarter on a 12-2 run. Williams scored Indiana State’s last five points of the quarter, as the Sycamores took a 67-59 lead into the fourth.

Indiana State’s momentum carried over into the final frame, as consecutive baskets from Cain and Alona Blackwell started a 10-0 run to begin the fourth. McKendree and Williams added 3-pointers during the run, with another 3-pointer for the latter pushing the Sycamore lead to 21 at 81-60. Williams scored her 30th point of the night on a free throw midway through, as the Sycamores cruised through the fourth on the way to their 11th win of the season.

Inside the Numbers

Indiana State shot better than 50 percent both overall (33-for-64, 51.6) and from 3-point range (12-for-23, 52.2).

Indiana State took full advantage of Bradley’s turnovers, as the Sycamores scored a season-high 32 points off 19 Bradley miscues.

Indiana State dominated the interior, finishing with 36 points in the paint and a plus-10 advantage on the glass (36-26).

The 12 3-pointers for Indiana State were a season-high and marked just the third time this season that Indiana State hit 10-plus treys in a game.

Indiana State’s 87 points and 33 field goals were both season-highs. The Sycamores improved to 3-0 this season when scoring 80-plus points and have made exactly 33 field goals in each of those three games.

News & Notes

Del’Janae Williams became the first Sycamore since Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir to score 30 points in a game. Abdul-Qaadir had 32 at Loyola Chicago on Feb. 2, 2014.

Del’Janae Williams (30) and Chelsea Cain (21) became the second pair of Sycamore teammates with 20-plus points in a game this season. Anna McKendree (23) and Natalia Lalic (22) accomplished the feat against Central Michigan.

Indiana State matched its overall win total and surpassed its conference win total from last season with Thursday’s win. The Sycamores had 11 wins and five conference wins last season.

Indiana State’s seven wins at Hulman Center this season is the Sycamores’ most home wins in a season since the 2015-16 season.

Head coach Chad Killinger moved into eighth place in program history with 22 wins at Indiana State, passing Vicki Hall.

Up Next

Indiana State closes out the regular season Saturday at 1 p.m. against Illinois State. The Sycamores will recognize their graduating class of Sommer Pitzer, Adrian Folks, Natalia Lalic, Florence Tshimanga, Hattie Westerfeld, Anna McKendree, Caitlin Anderson and Del’Janae Williams prior to the game.

INDIANA STATE MBB

SYCAMORES SET MVC TOURNAMENT RECORD, ROLL PAST EVANSVILLE TO ADVANCE TO QUARTERFINALS

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The fifth-seeded Indiana State Sycamores made history Thursday afternoon as they recorded the largest margin of victory ever in the history of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament with a 97-58 win over No. 12 Evansville in the first round of Arch Madness inside the Enterprise Center.

With the win, the Sycamores earned a rematch with No. 4 Belmont, who received a first-round bye in the tournament. Indiana State will face the Bruins in the quarterfinals Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Freshman Robbie Avila paced all scorers in the game with 21 points on a 7-of-9 shooting clip and a 6-of-6 mark at the free throw line. Cooper Neese added 19 points, also shooting 7-of-9 from the field including 5-of-6 from three, alongside a game-high eight boards in the game. This duo combined for 30 of Indiana State’s 46 first-half points.

Xavier Bledson posted 14 points off the bench with 12 of those points coming in the second half. Indiana State dished out a program second-best 29 assists on 38 baskets and was led by Trenton Gibson with eight assists.

Indiana State quickly jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the game and never looked back. The Sycamores never allowed Evansville to lead in the game, and by 13:42 in the opening frame, had pushed their lead to 10 on Cameron Henry’s second triple of the game that made it 17-7. That lead hit 18 points at 27-9 on back-to-back Neese triples with 10:34 to go in the first half. Avila closed out the scoring in the first half with a layup to make it 46-28, and he led all scorers with 16 points in the half.

The Sycamore lead reached 20 points early in the second half on another Neese trey, and Zach Hobbs later sparked a 13-0 Indiana State run that was capped by back-to-back triples from Xavier Bledson to make it 77-43 with 7:39 remaining the in the second half. Jayson Kent and Kailex Stephens checked in and made it on the scoresheet to push ISU’s lead to 39 points at 89-50 with 3:16 to go. St. Louis native Rob Martin scored his fifth basket of the season in the closing minutes, and Stephens closed out the scoring on the night with another bucket in the last minute.

Inside the Numbers

The Sycamores shot a season second-best 58.5 percent from the field in the game and 100 percent (8-of-8) from the charity stripe for the first time since Feb. 23, 2022 when they shot 5-of-5 against UNI.

Indiana State hit 13 3-pointers in the game and improved to 10-1 when six or more players hit a 3-pointer in a game and 11-1 when making 10 or more 3-pointers as a team.

The Sycamores outrebounded Evansville 43-27 with their most rebounds in a game against a DI opponent since having 44 against Alabama A&M Dec. 18, 2021.

ISU’s 43 bench points are the most in a game against a DI opponent this season. Along with Xavier Bledson’s 14 points off the bench, Cade McKnight added 10 points.

News & Notes

Thursday’s win marks head coach Josh Schertz’s first MVC Tournament win and improves ISU’s tournament record to 28-39 all-time. It also gives ISU 21 wins for the first time since 2014.

This 39-point win was the widest victory margin by a team in MVC Tournament history, eclipsing the previous mark of 30 twice by: Wichita State, 107, Southern Illinois 77 in 1984; and Drake 79, Illinois State 49 in 2008 (Championship Game).

This marked the first time since 2019 that the No. 5 seed won its first game in the MVC Tournament. Indiana State was the first-ever five seed to win the tournament in 2001.

ISU’s 29 assists mark an all-time program second-best behind the program record of 34 set in 1983 against West Texas State. It’s also the most by a team in the MVC Tournament since Illinois State dished out 31 against Southern Illinois Feb. 28, 1998.

ISU’s 97 points are the second-most in a regulation MVC Tournament game within the 33 years the tournament has been held in St. Louis, behind Creighton’s 99 points against Evansville March 3, 2012.

With a tied career-high five triples in the game, Cooper Neese moves into fourth place on ISU’s all-time list of career 3-pointers with 217. He tied a season-high 19 points in his fourth-straight double-figure scoring game. Neese has scored in double figures in eight of his last 11 games and has hit two or more treys in seven of those 11 games.

Robbie Avila’s game-high 21 points put him one point shy of tying Jake Odum for the fifth-most points by a freshman in ISU’s program history.

ISU’s leading scorer and MVC Newcomer of the Year Courvoisier McCauley was held to zero points (0-of-6 FG, 0-of-5 3FG) for the first time this season.

Up Next

The No. 5 Sycamores will face No. 4 Belmont in the MVC Tournament Quarterfinals Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

INDIANA STATE BASEBALL

INDIANA STATE CONTINUES SEASON-OPENING ROAD TRIP WITH THREE-GAME SERIES AT KENTUCKY

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State baseball continues on the road as the Sycamores get set to embark on a nine-day road trip to Kentucky, Southeast Missouri State, and Memphis starting with a three-game series in Lexington, Ky.

The Sycamores will open the road trip with a three-game set against the Wildcats at Kentucky Proud Park as Indiana State makes its first trip to UK since the 2009 season. Friday’s opener is set for a 4 p.m. start, while Saturday and Sunday will both feature 1 p.m. first pitches. All three games will be streamed live on the SEC Network Plus.

ISU continues its season-opening road trip to start 2023 as the Sycamores first 16 games will occur away from the friendly confines of Bob Warn Field. ISU opened up the year competing at the Snowbird Baseball Classic against Iowa, Quinnipiac, Florida Gulf Coast and Northeastern, while also making a trip to Miami (Fla.) for a midweek contest.

The Sycamores enter the weekend series against the Wildcats on a four-game skid after falling at then No. 22-ranked Miami, while dropping a three-game set against Northeastern this past weekend in Port Charlotte. ISU fell in the midweek, 9-3, while dropping the three games against the Huskies, 9-5, 15-10, and 8-7 (11).

Randal Diaz was the top Indiana State hitter over the weekend series against Northeastern as the sophomore broke out of an early slump. The Toa Alta, Puerto Rico native hit .556 from the plate with five hits and two triples, while driving in two RBI. He posted a .714 on-base percentage over the three-game set adding two walks while getting hit by three pitches.

Mike Sears, Alex Marx, Adam Pottinger, and Seth Gergely all homered against the Huskies to provide the power bats for ISU as the Sycamores hit .286 in the series.

The Sycamore pitching staff enters the weekend posting a 7.54 ERA on the season and has a 69:28 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Brayden Lybarger (1.93 ERA), Cameron Holycross (3.00 ERA), and Aaron Moss (3.86 ERA) have all stood out on the mound early in the 2023 season, while Matt Jachec and Zach Davidson have both posted multiple starts on the season.

Indiana State’s defense has been strong early in the season with the Sycamores entering the week 16th overall in the NCAA and leading the Missouri Valley Conference with a .989 fielding percentage. The Sycamores posted a four-game errorless streak this season.

Kentucky Wildcats

Kentucky enters the weekend with a 6-2 record following their midweek 15-1 win over Morehead State. The Wildcats have won both of their weekend series to start the season taking two of three over Elon and Wright State, while adding a midweek win over Evansville. Kentucky is 4-1 overall at home this season with their lone loss coming this past Saturday against Wright State.

Emilien Pitre (.448) is Kentucky’s leader at the plate through the first eight games of the season. The sophomore infielder is one of three Kentucky players hitting above .300 on the season joining Jackson Gray (.417) and Devin Burkes (.375). Burkes leads the Wildcats with two home runs and 16 RBI while adding seven doubles. Overall, Kentucky is hitting .325 from the plate as a team with 21 doubles, two triples, and five home runs.

The Wildcats’ pitching staff has posted a 2.79 ERA on the season with 17 different pitchers seeing time on the mound. Zack Lee (2-0) and Travis Smith (2-0) both have posted multiple wins on the season, while Kentucky has posted an 87:22 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Kentucky is scheduled to line up against four Missouri Valley teams in the 2023 season. The Wildcats already topped Evansville on February 21, 6-3, in a midweek contest in Lexington. UK will host Indiana State on March 3-5, Murray State on March 7, and Southern Illinois on March 10-12 to complete their schedule against the Valley this season.

Indiana State – Kentucky History

Kentucky leads the all-time series, 6-4, against Indiana State dating back to the first matchup between the programs in 1980. The Wildcats enter the weekend on a three-game winning streak against the Sycamores after sweeping a weekend series back in 2009. All 10 games in the series have been played in Lexington. Indiana State took both their midweek games against UK back in 2003 winning 9-0, and 7-3 against the Wildcats.

INDIANA STATE SB

SYCAMORES HEADING TO KENTUCKY FOR COLONEL CLASSIC

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State softball continues tournament play and will be in Richmond, Kentucky this weekend for the Colonel Classic hosted by Eastern Kentucky University from March 3-5 at Gertrude Hood Field.

The Sycamores will play five games across the weekend in Richmond, beginning on Friday night against Dayton with first pitch set for 7:30 p.m. ET. ISU will then take on Dayton at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon and end the day with a 5:30 matchup against Eastern Kentucky. On Sunday, the Sycamores will face Ohio and Eastern Kentucky, with games at 10:30 a.m. ET and 1:00 p.m. ET, respectively.

Last Time Out

Indiana State went 2-3 at the Easton Bama Bash last weekend in Tuscaloosa. The Sycamores defeated Kennesaw State twice, a 1-0 win in 10 innings on Friday and a 10-1 win in five innings on Saturday which included a nine-run third inning by the ISU offense. Lexi Benko threw all 10 shutout Innings against the Owls in Friday’s win. Isabella Henning had a 3-3 game with a home run against No. 7 ranked Alabama. In Sunday’s weekend finale, Lauren Sackett struck out a career-high nine hitters against Southeastern Louisiana.

Sycamore Standouts

TeAnn Bringle had a career day in the Sycamore’s 10-1 win over Kennesaw State on February 25, going 3-4 with a pair of doubles while driving in four runs.

Olivia Patton had seven hits over the weekend at the Easton Bama Bash, extending her hitting streak to seven games which dates back to February 19 against Chattanooga.

Kennedy Shade had a pair of multi-hit games at the Easton Bama Bash, continuing her strong start at the plate in 2023 where she is hitting .409 early on in the season.

Isabella Henning leads Indiana State with a .467 average to start the season. She had seven hits at the Easton Bama Bash, including a 3-3 game against Alabama which helped place her on the All-Tournament Team.

Lexi Benko is 2-0 on the season with a team best 1.09 ERA after another strong weekend in Tuscaloosa which included a 10 inning complete game shutout against Kennesaw State where she struck out eight. Benko was also named to the Easton Bama Bash All-Tournament Team.

Cassi Newbanks picked up her first win of the season, throwing four innings and allowing just one run in a run-rule win over Kennesaw State. She also threw a complete game in the weekend opener, allowing just one run and striking out four in a losing effort.

Lauren Sackett leads the ISU pitching staff with 25 strikeouts, picking up a career-high nine in Sunday’s loss to Southeastern Louisiana.

Scouting the Opponents – Dayton

5-5 record in 2023.

Picked fourth in A-10 preseason poll.

Coached by Cara Clark-LaPlaca who is in her 16th season at UD.

Already the program’s winningest coach, Clark-LaPlaca earned her 350th win at Dayton with a 11-3 win over Villanova on February 19.

Sophomore Emma Schutter leads the Flyers with a .438 average, collecting 14 hits and stealing five bases through 10 games.

Freshman Izzy Kemp has been Dayton’s top pitcher, entering the weekend with a 1.44 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 24.1 innings.

Sycamores lead the all-time series 8-1 over the Flyers, with the most recent matchup coming in 2018 at the Chattanooga Challenge where Indiana State won 4-3.

Scouting the Opponents – Eastern Kentucky

10-5 record in 2023. Faced two MVC opponents, defeating Valparaiso 9-2 while falling to Evansville 10-5.

Coached by Jane Worthington who is in her 31st season at EKU. Worthington is the program’s only head coach in its history. She has won 780 games in her career.

Switched conferences in 2023, moving from the Ohio Valley Conference to the Atlantic Sun where the Colonels were picked 12th in the preseason poll.

Redshirt Junior Vianna Barron is batting .423 this season, collecting 22 hits including 10 for extra bases. Barron has four home runs, five doubles and a triple with 18 RBI.

Sophomore pitcher Lauren Narvaez has thrown 50.2 innings this season, compiling a 4-3 record with a 4.56 ERA. Freshman pitcher Brooke Davis has a team-best 3.20 ERA in five appearances.

The Colonels have been active on the base paths, stealing 27 bases in 15 games.

All-time series tied 2-2. The last matchup came in 2011 at the Magic City Classic in Birmingham, Alabama where the Colonels won 9-3.

Scouting the Opponents – Ohio

3-9 record in 2023.

Program is led by first-year head coach Jenna Hall.

Bobcats were selected third in the MAC preseason coaches’ poll.

Freshman Belle Hummel leads the team in average (.389), hits (14) and steals (5).

Junior Annalia Paoli leads the offense with three home runs and 11 RBI.

In the circle, OU is led by Skipp Miller who enters the weekend with a 2.10 ERA and 24 strikeouts in eight appearances.

ISU leads the all-time series 3-2 over the Bobcats. The two programs last met in 2020 at the Chattanooga Challenge where OU won 10-7.

Up Next

Indiana State will play in the University of Memphis Tournament from March 10-12 where they will face Memphis, Pittsburgh and North Alabama.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE WBB

‘DONS MARCH ON TO SEMIFINALS WITH 73-69 WIN OVER RIVAL IUPUI

INDIANAPOLIS – Sixth-seeded Purdue Fort Wayne matched a season high with 13 3-pointers in a 73-69 victory at third-seeded IUPUI on Thursday evening (March 2) in the 2023 Barbasol Horizon League Women’s Basketball Quarterfinal.

The win moves the Mastodons to the semifinals of a league tournament for the first time since making the final four of the Summit League Championship in 2012-13.

The ‘Dons will play top-seeded Green Bay on Monday (March 6) at noon at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

The first half was the Audra Emmerson show. The sophomore from nearby Fishers, Indiana had 15 points on five 3-pointers in the first half. 

The ‘Dons went up 20-9 in the first quarter thanks to a 12-2 run. An extended cold streak from the ‘Dons into the second quarter saw IUPUI go up 21-20. Then the ‘Dons warmed up again, scoring the next 11 points. Emmerson had two 3-pointers in this stretch. Emmerson closed the half on a 3-pointer with four seconds left to give the Mastodons a 38-30 lead at the break.

The start of the second half was not as smooth as the finish to the first. IUPUI out-scored the ‘Dons 6-0 over the first 5:31 of the third quarter as the ‘Dons committed six turnovers.  It has been said basketball is a game of runs, and Thursday proved that. The ‘Dons used an 11-2 run to go up 49-38 and force an IUPUI timeout with 1:45 left in the third.

IUPUI did not go away and tied it at 63 with 3:10 left. The next possession proved to be the most pivotal of the game. Aubrey Stupp was fouled with one second left on the shot clock. She made both free throws to put the ‘Dons up 65-63 with 2:36 left. A steal by Destinee Marshall on the other end gave the ‘Dons a chance to go up two possessions. For a moment, it looked that wouldn’t be the case when Amellia Bromenschenkel missed a 3-pointer. She took one step to her right to get back on defense and then decided to try to knock the ball away from IUPUI’s Destiny Perkins who grabbed the rebound. Bromenschenkel was successful. She surprised Perkins and walked in for an easy layup to put the ‘Dons up 67-63 with 1:40 left. 37 seconds later it was Bromenschenkel again with a layup to make it a six-point lead. The ‘Dons held on from there.

Emmerson added one 3-pointer in the second half to finish with a career-high six treys for 18 points. Bromenschenkel also had 18 while Shayla Sellers totaled 12. It was the All-League duo of Bromenschenkel and Sellers doing work in the fourth quarter. Bromenschenkel scored 11 in the final frame and Sellers had seven points on 3-of-3 shooting.

The ‘Dons finished the game shooting a season-best 53.1 percent (26-of-49) from the floor. IUPUI was limited to 43.3 percent (26-of-60) and 6-of-24 from three.

The win is the Mastodons’ first in Indianapolis over IUPUI since 2011.

IUPUI falls to 17-13. The ‘Dons improve to 14-18.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE BASEBALL

MASTODONS TO FACE NO. 5 WAKE FOREST, BALL STATE AND CORNELL THIS WEEKEND

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Mastodon baseball team heads to Winston-Salem, N.C. this weekend for four games hosted by Wake Forest. The ‘Dons will face the No. 5 Demon Deacons on Friday. NOTE THE ADJUST SCHEDULE BELOW DUE TO PREDICTED RAIN ON FRIDAY

Game Day Information

When:

Friday, March 3 | 1:30 p.m. | vs. No. 5 Wake Forest | Watch (ACCNX)

Saturday, March 4 | 10 a.m. | vs. Cornell

Saturday, March 4 | 1:30 p.m. | vs. Ball State

Sunday, March 5 | 9 a.m. | vs. Ball State

Where: David F. Couch Ballpark | Winston-Salem, N.C.

Series History: The ‘Dons have never played Cornell. The only previous meeting with Wake Forest came in 1979 when the ‘Dons fall 7-3 in Winston-Salem. The ‘Dons are 2-18 against Ball State.

Weather: Friday: High of 64, rain | Saturday: High of 64, clear | Sunday: High of 65, clear

Probable Starters:

Purdue Fort Wayne: TBD

Opponents:  TBD

Scouting the Cardinals (4-4): Ball State went 3-1 last week at the Swig and Swine classic, earning wins over Merrimack, Rutgers and Canisius.

Scouting the Demon Deacons (10-0): Wake Forest is undefeated on the season, playing nine of their 10 games at home. They own a pair of wins over Horizon League foe Youngstown State (9-3 and 18-3) this season.Scouting the Big Red (0-3): Cornell is looking for their first win of the season after being swept at James Madison last weekend. Nathan Waugh leads the offense with a 1.205 OPS. The Big Red went 11-25 last season.

Record Within Striking Distance: The 2023 season is Justin Miller’s fifth as a Mastodon. Miller owns 185 career strikeouts, the second most in program history for a career. He will look to pass Jason Horvath (2001-04) for the most in program history this season. Horvath recorded 210 strikeouts.

Justin Time:Justin Miller has yet to allow a run in 3.2 innings of work this season.

Welcome to the ‘Dons:Caileb Johnson has made a quick impact on the Mastodons. The junior college transfer from Carl Sandburg CC leads the squad in OPS at 1.030 thanks to six extra base hits on the year. This includes a home run. He is hitting .333.

Just Get On Base:Ben Higgins and Caileb Johnson enter the weekend with a current seven-game on-base streak.

We Play The Hits:Jarrett Bickel leads the team in hitting at .344. He has a team-best 11 hits on the season.

Up Next: The ‘Dons will head to Indiana on Wednesday, March 8th to play the Hoosiers.

EVANSVILLE WBB

COLD-SHOOTING SPELLS TRIP UP ACES IN LOSS TO LEAGUE-LEADING REDBIRDS

EVANSVILLE – In a game that the Aces stayed in with tenacity and an unwillingness to quit, the University of Evansville women’s basketball team was done in by cold-shooting spells in a 73-56 loss to Illinois State on Thursday evening inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.

The Aces were led by a pair of double-figure scorers on the night with senior guard/forward Abby Feit tallying 14 points and sophomore guard Elly Morgan tying a season-best with 12 points. For the Redbirds, Paige Robinson (26 points) and Deanna Wilson combined for 49 points to help lead the visitors to the win.

Both sides struggled to get into a rhythm offensively in the opening period with the Redbirds shooting just 4-11 (36.4%) and Evansville hitting just 18.8% (3-16) from the field. The Aces owned a 5-4 lead with just over six minutes left in the first quarter, but the Redbirds responded with an 8-2 run over the rest of the frame to grab a 12-7 lead after 10 minutes of action.

A polar opposite second quarter saw both sides combine for 49 points in the period. Evansville scored four-straight points out of the quarter break to close within one of the visitors, but another answer from Illinois State gave the Redbirds a 10-point lead at the break.

The lead would balloon as large as 20 for Illinois State late in the third, but the Aces again showed their resiliency. A strong open to the fourth quarter saw Evansville chip its way within 13 at 62-49 on a pair of free throws from fifth-year guard A’Niah Griffin with less than three minutes into the final period. As was true much of the evening, Illinois State would again muster a response after Evansville’s challenge holding its lead in double figures en route to the 73-56 win for the Redbirds.

In the game, Evansville was limited to just 29.2% shooting from the floor, while Illinois State hit 42.9% of its attempts from the field.

The Aces will close the regular season and celebrate Senior Day at 1 PM on Saturday afternoon as Evansville plays host to Bradley inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse. As part of Fan Appreciation Day, all tickets to Saturday’s game are free.

EVANSVILLE MBB

MEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON COMES TO AN END IN ST. LOUIS

ST. LOUIS – Freshman Chris Moncrief scored a career-high nine points and Kenny Strawbridge Jr. added 12 points in Thursday’s Arch Madness opener against Indiana State.  Highlighted by a 51-point second half, the Sycamores won by a final of 97-58 inside Enterprise Center.

“I thought we had a good gameplan.  Give credit to Indiana State for how they played and how focused they were,” UE head coach David Ragland said.  “We played them a few times this season coming off losing streaks and that added some fuel for them.  Indiana State fought to the end and our guys did too.”

“Life is a journey and this is a chapter of it.  I told our group to take their experiences from this year and learn from it.  In order to succeed, you need to learn how to fail.  We have good guys who got better every single day and really brought it.”

Strawbridge led the Purple Aces with 12 points and five rebounds.  Moncrief, Yacine Toumi and Gabe Spinelli added nine points apiece.  For Moncrief, it was a career-high, surpassing his previous mark of six points.

Indiana State recorded the first seven points of the game with Toumi getting UE on the scoreboard with a free throw.  The Sycamores extended the lead to 12-3 before Evansville got closer with a basket from Preston Phillips to make it a 14-7 contest.  ISU responded with a 5-0 spurt to take a 19-7 advantage at the 13-minute mark.

Toumi hit another basket that made it a 19-9 score just over a minute later while ISU answered once again with eight points in a row to hold a 27-9 lead.  The Sycamores led by as many as 19 points (44-25) in the opening period before a Chris Moncrief 3-pointer cut the halftime deficit to 46-28.

In the opening moments of the second half, ISU pushed the lead to 20 points while Preston Phillips converted a triple to get closer at 53-36.  Up by a score of 58-40, Indiana State took control with a 31-10 run to go up 89-50. They picked up the victory by the same deficit.  ISU shot 58.5% in the game with UE wrapping up the game at 33.3%.

Robbie Avila led the Sycamores with a game-high 21 points.  Cooper Neese tallied 19.

VALPO WBB

BROWN EXPLODES FOR BIG SECOND HALF; BEACONS FALL TO MURRAY STATE

Senior Olivia Brown (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) posted the highest-scoring half by a Valpo women’s basketball player in over five years on Thursday evening at the ARC, scoring 22 points in the second half, but it wouldn’t be enough to push the Beacons’ comeback effort over the hump, as visiting Murray State came away with a 77-64 win.

How It Happened

Valpo shot just 26.1% from the field in the opening half as the Racers led from the jump. An 8-0 MSU run midway through the first quarter accounted for most of its 21-10 lead at the end of the opening period.

The Racers led by as many as 21 points in the second quarter before entering halftime up 36-18.

While the Murray State lead reached as many as 24 points in the third quarter, Brown helped Valpo keep pace by scoring 12 points in the third quarter alone, as the Racers’ lead was 60-40 with 10 minutes to play.

Valpo came out with a strong 9-0 run to open the fourth quarter, buoyed by holding MSU scoreless on each of its first five trips of the period. On the offensive end, freshman Ali Saunders (Depauw, Ind./North Harrison) had a 3-pointer and a pair of driving layups during that stretch, while junior Leah Earnest (Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) went coast-to-coast following a defensive rebound as well as the Beacons were within 60-49 with 6:49 to play.

Murray State extended its lead back out to 17 points, but Valpo had one more push ready to go. Brown scored seven points in a four-possession stretch spanning 1:42 to try to slice into the Racers’ advantage, and when Earnest connected on a triple with 2:30 to play, the Beacons had cut the lead to 73-61. But Valpo would get no closer than that 12-point margin the rest of the way.

Inside the Game

After being held scoreless in the first half, Brown exploded for 12 points in the third quarter and 10 in the final period for a 22-point second half on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor.

It is the highest-scoring half for a Valpo player since Meredith Hamlet scored 23 in the first half against IU Northwest on Dec. 15, 2017.

It is the fourth time this season a Beacon has scored 14 or more points in the second half after going into halftime scoreless.

Brown has scored double digits in a single period five times this year and is the second Valpo player to do so multiple times in the same game this year, joining Saunders, who did so in the first quarter and in overtime early in the season versus UAB.

Brown is the first Valpo player to score in double digits in both quarters of a half since Shay Frederick did so in the third and fourth quarters against UNI on Jan. 8, 2021.

Brown finished just two points off her career high in the scoring column.

Not to be outdone, Saunders had a 20-point night on 8-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, as well. The freshman scored 10 points in each half en route to her second-highest scoring output of the season.

It is the first time since Jan. 31, 2021 against Missouri State that Valpo has had two players finish with 20 or more points — Caitlin Morrison and Carie Weinman scored 20 apiece on that occasion.

Brown and Saunders were the only Beacons to finish in double figures, however, as Earnest was next on the scoring list with seven points. The junior also paced Valpo with five rebounds.

Saunders tied for game-high honors with three steals to match her season best.

After shooting just 26.1% from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, the Beacons rebounded to hit at a 59.3% clip in the final 20 minutes to finish at 44% for the game.

Valpo’s 46 second-half points matched its second half against Southern Miss for the team’s highest-scoring half of the season.

The Beacons also shot a season-best 92.9% (13-of-14) from the foul line.

Postgame Press Conference With Head Coach Mary Evans

Next Up

Valpo (7-21, 5-14 MVC) closes the regular season on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. against MVC co-leader Belmont. It will be Senior Day at the ARC, as the Beacons will honor players Ilysse Pitts and Maya Dunson, as well as three other members of the program, prior to the game.

INDIANAPOLIS MBB

UINDY OUSTS QUINCY, SURVIVES DOUBLE OT IN GLVC QUARTERS

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The No. 7 and top-seeded UIndy men’s basketball team (26-3) survived a double-overtime scare from eighth-seeded Quincy (14-15) in the GLVC Quarterfinals on Thursday, pulling out a 79-77 victory.

The triumph matches the program’s single season wins record, which ties the 1963-64 team with 26.

Reigning GLVC Player of the Year Kendrick Tchoua was dominant all afternoon, finishing with 23 points and 13 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Quincy ended the second half on a 6-0 run to force OT following a free throw from Tchoua put the Hounds up by six with 3:13 left to play. Josiah Tynes finally ended the scoring drought early in the first extra session, sinking a pullup in the corner.

Leading late once again with a layup from Jesse Bingham, QU’s Jamaurie Coakley knotted the game at 68 apiece with four seconds left. A three-quarters heave from Jakobie Robinson nearly ended the game at the buzzer, but the attempt fell just short.

Neither team could pull away in the second overtime period until Bingham and Robinson each converted an old-fashioned 3-point play to give the Greyhounds a 77-73 lead with 90 seconds left. Ben Nicoson, who drilled a pair of 3-pointers on Thursday, swished two free throws late to seal the victory.

UIndy played strong defensively all afternoon, forcing 18 turnovers and a 33.3 field goal percentage. It was the Hawks, however, that capitalized on the indiscretions, outscoring the Hounds, 28-15, off turnovers.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

– Robinson secured a season-best 11 rebounds in the win, adding 10 points for his third double-double of the season.

– Tchoua set new career-highs in both free throws made and attempts, sinking a smooth 13-of-14 from the charity stripe.

– The Greyhounds scraped 24 points off the bench, with Jarvis Walker accounting for exactly half of the total.

– The team grabbed 47 boards on Thursday, its third-highest mark of the season and most in program history during the GLVC Championship Tournament. Julian Steinfeld tallied eight in 16+ minutes off the bench.

– UIndy led for more than 43 minutes, as Quincy was ahead for just 49 seconds. Thirteen of those seconds were in the final 30 minutes.

MORE NOTES

Tchoua also tied the program’s single-game record in the GLVC tourney with 13 boards, matching his first-round total last season against Missouri S&T … Steinfeld also grabbed 13 rebounds in the league title game last season … the Hounds improve to 25-14 in the all-time series against the Hawks … UIndy advances to its third straight GLVC semifinal, all under head coach Paul Corsaro.

UP NEXT

UIndy now advances to its third consecutive GLVC semifinal and awaits the winner of Rockhurst and Missouri-St. Louis. The Greyhounds will tip on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET from Hyland Arena against either the Hawks or Tritons.

INDIANAPOLIS WBB

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL OPENS POSTSEASON PLAY WITH MISSOURI S&T IN GLVC QUARTERFINAL

INDIANAPOLIS – Postseason play has arrived for the UIndy women’s basketball team, who is set to battle Missouri S&T on Friday in the GLVC Championship Tournament quarterfinals. Action is set to tipoff at 7 p.m. ET from Hyland Arena in St. Charles, Mo.

The winner between the Greyhounds and Miners will then battle the winner of top-seeded Drury and No. 8 seed Quincy on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET in the semifinals. From there, the championship game will be played at 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.

UIndy and Missouri S&T split the regular season head-to-head battle going into the contest on Friday evening. Back on Jan. 12 at Nicoson Hall, the Miners used a huge fourth quarter to escape the Circle City with a 72-67 victory. The two programs met again recently in the regular season finale which saw the Hounds easily win by a final of 73-57.

MARIAN WBB

MARIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TO HOST FLORIDA MEMORIAL IN NAIA TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND

KANSAS CITY –  The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has officially announced the teams and bracket for the 2023 NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championship Opening Round. The 64-team bracket will begin with the first and second rounds at host sites across the country on March 7-8. The 2023 NAIA second round winners will meet up in Sioux City, Iowa, at the NAIA National Championship final site presented by Bomgaars and Sterling. The 42nd annual championship takes place at the Tyson Events Center from March 13-18.

The Marian women’s basketball team will host the Indianapolis Region in the Naismith Bracket, and will be the top seed in the region as they host the NAIA First and Second Round for the third consecutive year. Marian is one of the four No. 3 seeds in the bracket, and will take on No. 14 Florida Memorial in the NAIA Tournament First Round. On the other half of the bracket, the Knights will welcome Texas A&M Texarkana as the No. 6 seed, who will take the No. 11 seed Grand View.

THE GAME

In the Naismith Bracket, the Knights will be the No. 3 seed and will take on the No. 14 seed Florida Memorial University in the First Round. Marian enters with a 26-5 overall record, earning the automatic bid from the Crossroads League as the Crossroads League Regular Season Runner-Up. Marian was also the runner-up in the Crossroads League Tournament. Florida Memorial enters the NAIA Tournament with a 24-5 overall record, earning the automatic berth as the Sun Conference Regular Season Champion. The Lions were also the Sun Conference Tournament Champions, and are in the NAIA Tournament for the first time since 2011.

The Knights are 2-0 all-time against FMU, having last played in November of 2018.

TEXARKANA VS GRAND VIEW

The winner of Marian and Florida Memorial will take on either No. 6 Texas A&M Texarkana or No. 11 Grand View. Texarkana enters the NAIA Tournament with an impressive 28-1 overall record, sweeping both the Red River Athletic Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships. Texarkana is making their first ever appearance in the NAIA Tournament, and will carry a 25-game winning streak into Indianapolis.

They will take on Grand View, who enters play with a 21-6 overall record. The Vikings finished third in the Heart of America Conference, earning an at-large to the tournament as they will play in their 10th NAIA National Championship field.

Marian has never played Texarkana, and is 2-0 all-time against Grand View. The Knights last played Grand View in the 2021 NAIA Opening Round, with their 92-69 win clinching the Knights right to go to Sioux City.

WHERE TO WATCH

Fans can watch each game of the NAIA First and Second Round on the ISC Sports Network, which will be the official streaming site of the Indianapolis Bracket. The live stream is pay-per-view and costs $9.99 per game. Twitter and Instagram updates will be posted to @MUKnights as well throughout the opening round. The live stream is run by the ISC Sports Network.

TICKETS

Tickets will be sold in person at the gate for each game, and session passes start at $10. Children ages five and under will be admitted free of charge. Tickets can be purchased with either cash or credit card.

Marian will take on Florida Memorial at 5 PM on March 7 in the NAIA Tournament First Round, with Texarkana and Grand View scheduled to tip at 7:15 PM, or 30 minutes following the conclusion of Marian’s game. The NAIA Second Round will tip at 7 PM in the PE Center on March 8.

MARIAN MBB

MARIAN HEADED TO OSKALOOSA, IOWA, FOR NAIA TOURNAMENT FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has officially announced the 64-team field and pairings for the 2023 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship. The tournament will begin with the 2023 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship First & Second Rounds, presented by Ballogy, on March 7 at host sites throughout the country.

The Marian men’s basketball team earned their sixth consecutive trip to the NAIA National Tournament, and will be the No. 9 seed in the Oskaloosa Region of the Cramer Quadrant. Marian’s opponent will be the No. 8 seed Rio Grande, while the other side of the bracket will feature the host and No. 1 seed William Penn taking on No. 16 seed St. Xavier.

THE GAME

Marian will enter the NAIA First and Second Rounds with a 21-9 overall record, having finished fourth in the Crossroads League. Marian is an at-large in the field, making their 10th overall appearnace in the NAIA Tournament. The Knights carry a 12-7 record in the NAIA National Tournament. The Knights opponent will be the No. 8 seed Rio Grande, who enters the NAIA Tournament as the winner of the River States Conference with a 24-6 record. Rio Grande is making their ninth overall NAIA Tournament appearance, and their first since 2021.

The Knights already own a win over Rio Grande this season, having defeated the Red Storm on December 30 in southeast Ohio by a 67-63 score. Josh Bryan led the Knights with 20 points in the win, as Marian erased a halftime deficit and put up 43 second half points to take the win.

THE OTHER GAME

The host William Penn is the No. 1 seed on the other half of the bracket, and they will take on No. 16 seed St. Xavier. William Penn was the Heart of American Regular Season and Tournament Champion, and hold a 28-3 overall record as they make their 13th NAIA Tournament appearance. St. Xavier earned an at-large bid to the tournament, and will be making their first trip to the NAIA Tournament since 2016. St. Xavier is 5-13 all-time in the NAIA Tournament.

Marian defeated St. Xavier in their season opener 92-64 and is 2-1 all-time against the Cougars, while the Knights are 1-1 against William Penn having not played since 2011.

MARIAN BASEBALL

DAVENPORT’S HEROICS LEAD TO MARIAN WALK-OFF IN GAME TWO AGAINST GOSHEN

INDIANAPOLIS – The Marian baseball team picked up their first Crossroads League win of the season on Thursday night, walking-off a 7-6 game two against Goshen College to save a split on the afternoon. The Knights went 1-1 on the day to Goshen, moving to 7-7 overall on the season.

GAME 1 | Marian 2-7 Goshen

Walks hurt the Marian pitching staff in the first two innings, as Chris Adams struggled to find the strike zone in the first two innings. Adams was able to work around two walks in the first inning with a double play and strikeout helping his cause, but in the second the second-year player was lifted after recording one out for Daniel Brenneman. Adams would allow one run before exiting, while Brenneman limited the damage to just two scores as he managed his way out of the inning. Marian had a chance to break their shutout in the home half of the inning as they walked the bases loaded, but grounded out without managing to add a run to the board.

Brenneman kept the Maple Leafs to minimal offense as he settled into the game, stranding a hit in the third inning while in the fourth cutting what could have been a big inning to just one score as the Knights committed two errors in the frame. Trailing 3-0 going into the bottom of the fifth, Marian finally broke the shutout as Kameron Salazar was hit by a pitch in the second at bat of the inning. Needing just two pitches to make an impact, Trey Heidlage found a fastball and launched his second home run of the season, going deep to left field for two runs. Marian was unable to keep the offense rolling after the home run however, ending the fifth trailing 3-2.

Marian’s comeback would come to a halt after the fifth inning, as Goshen padded their lead in the sixth inning, spraying five doubles into the outfield off of Brenneman and Christian Lopez. The hit parade brought home four runs, allowing the Maple Leafs to take a commanding 7-2 lead. The runs would prove to be enough, as Marian managed just three base runners in the final 12 outs of the game, with one coming on a ninth inning single from Caden Mason. Without the offensive support, Marian would take the game one defeat by a 7-2 count.

Heidlage had two of Marian’s three hits in the loss, with Mason tacking on the other. Adams suffered the loss for Marian throwing 1.1 innings. Brenneman would allow four runs with three earned in four innings of work, with Lopez allowing the other run in his five batters faced. Jayson Cottrell held Goshen scoreless for the final three innings, as the redshirt freshman went three hitless innings in his 2023 pitching debut. Cotrell allowed one walk and struckout three batters in his time on the mound.

GAME 2 | Marian 7-6 Goshen

Goshen didn’t wait long in the second game to start their offense, getting a lead-off home run from Peyton Smith off Joe Nelan on the second pitch of the game. Nelan would pick up three quick outs after giving up the long ball, and got instant run support as his offense plated two runs in the home half. Jackson Hogg picked up an RBI single to tie the game in the bottom of the frame, while JJ Rivera reached on a fielder’s choice to record an RBI and score his fellow outfielder.

The 2-1 lead was short-lived, as Goshen responded with two runs on three hits against Nelan in the top of the second inning to jump back on top. The back and forth scoring trend continued in the home half of the second, with Marian going to work offensively by driving in three runs. A Caden Mason double started the action, with the sophomore scoring two batters later on an RBI single from Heidlage. A error would help bring home Salazar, and a ground out from Dion Wintjes scored another unearned run to provide Marian with a 5-3 lead.

Pitching picked up after the high-scoring start, with Nelan and AJ Lenn each tossing a scoreless third inning. Nelan would yield a run in the fourth as Goshen found an two-out RBI single, cutting the Knights’ lead to a single run. Marian would hold their lead until the fifth inning, when Goshen got to reliever Michael Mates. Mates issued a walk and single, with a sacrifice fly driving in the tying run. Goshen then scored the go-ahead run on a balk, pushing in front 6-5 before the inning’s end.

Marian was unable to add to their score in both the fifth and sixth, entering the bottom of the seventh trailing 6-5 after Taylor Soper did his part to keep it a one-run game. Down to their final three outs, Heidlage woke up the Knights with a lead-off double, stretching a sure-fire single into the two-base hit. Hogg needed just one pitch to tie the game as he singled down the line, and one batter later Marian had runners on first and second base after Wintjes reached on a dropped fly ball in the outfield. With two runners on, Bryce Davneport delivered the game-winning hit, ripping an 0-1 pitch into left field to find the walk-off RBI single.

The 7-6 win was the Knights first of the Crossroads League season, as Marian out-hit Goshen 10-8 in the win. Heidlage and Hogg each had two hits in the win, while Davenport’s only hit of the day stood for the walk-off. Soper claimed his first win of the season on the mound, pitching a scoreless sixth and seventh inning as he scattered a hit while earning two strikeouts.

SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:

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

EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/

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

FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/

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

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

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

BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/

DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/

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

MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SPORTS EXTRA

NBA STANDINGS

Eastern Conference
	W	L	Pct	Conf GB	Home	Road	Div	Conf	Last 10	Streak
1 Milwaukee	45	17	.726	—	27-5	18-12	8-4	26-13	10-0	16 W
2 Boston	45	18	.714	0.5	25-7	20-11	9-2	28-13	8-2	1 W
3 Philadelphia	40	22	.645	5.0	24-10	16-12	7-6	23-15	6-4	1 L
4 Cleveland	39	26	.600	7.5	26-7	13-19	11-3	23-13	6-4	1 L
5 New York	37	27	.578	9.0	19-15	18-12	7-8	26-16	9-1	7 W
6 Brooklyn	34	28	.548	11.0	18-12	16-16	6-8	24-17	2-8	4 L
7 Miami	33	30	.524	12.5	19-11	14-19	7-4	16-20	4-6	1 L
8 Atlanta	31	31	.500	14.0	17-13	14-18	5-6	19-20	5-5	1 L
9 Toronto	31	33	.484	15.0	20-13	11-20	4-9	19-21	7-3	1 L
10 Washington	30	32	.484	15.0	15-13	15-19	7-3	17-19	6-4	2 W
11 Chicago	29	34	.460	16.5	18-13	11-21	6-7	23-21	3-7	1 W
12 Indiana	28	36	.438	18.0	18-15	10-21	4-5	19-18	3-7	1 L
13 Orlando	26	37	.413	19.5	15-16	11-21	3-8	13-27	5-5	1 L
14 Charlotte	20	44	.313	26.0	11-19	9-25	7-8	11-29	5-5	1 L
15 Detroit	15	48	.238	30.5	8-23	7-25	0-10	6-31	1-9	6 L
Western Conference
	W	L	Pct	Conf GB	Home	Road	Div	Conf	Last 10	Streak
1 Denver	44	19	.698	—	28-4	16-15	10-5	31-12	7-3	2 W
2 Memphis	38	23	.623	5.0	26-5	12-18	7-2	20-16	6-4	3 W
3 Sacramento	36	25	.590	7.0	18-12	18-13	6-6	24-13	7-3	4 W
4 Phoenix	34	29	.540	10.0	21-10	13-19	9-1	22-15	7-3	1 W
5 Golden State	33	30	.524	11.0	26-7	7-23	5-7	21-15	6-4	4 W
6 Dallas	33	31	.516	11.5	21-12	12-19	8-2	24-17	5-5	1 W
7 LA Clippers	33	32	.508	12.0	15-15	18-17	6-6	19-20	4-6	4 L
8 Minnesota	32	32	.500	12.5	20-14	12-18	8-7	23-20	4-6	1 W
9 Utah	31	32	.492	13.0	20-13	11-19	5-6	21-19	4-6	1 L
10 New Orleans	31	32	.492	13.0	20-11	11-21	7-4	20-15	5-5	1 W
11 LA Lakers	30	33	.476	14.0	15-14	15-19	3-9	17-21	5-5	1 W
12 Portland	29	33	.468	14.5	17-15	12-18	5-8	21-19	3-7	2 L
13 Oklahoma City	28	34	.452	15.5	17-15	11-19	5-7	15-22	3-7	5 L
14 San Antonio	16	47	.254	28.0	10-21	6-26	2-8	6-32	2-8	2 W
15 Houston	13	49	.210	30.5	8-22	5-27	1-9	7-35	0-10	11 L

Eight teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs. 

X – Clinched Playoff Spot,  Y – Clinched Division,  Z – Clinched Conference

NHL STANDINGS

Eastern Conference
	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	ROW	GF	GA	Home	Road	L10
1 Boston Bruins	61	48	8	5	101	46	233	130	25-2-3	23-6-2	9-1-0
2 Carolina Hurricanes	59	39	12	8	86	36	200	154	21-7-2	18-5-6	7-3-0
3 New Jersey Devils	60	40	15	5	85	39	215	162	18-11-2	22-4-3	7-2-1
4 Toronto Maple Leafs	62	38	16	8	84	38	211	164	23-6-4	15-10-4	7-3-0
5 Tampa Bay Lightning	61	37	19	5	79	35	217	185	22-5-4	15-14-1	4-3-3
6 New York Rangers	62	35	18	9	79	32	207	175	17-11-4	18-7-5	5-4-1
7 Pittsburgh Penguins	61	31	21	9	71	30	200	195	16-9-4	15-12-5	5-5-0
8 New York Islanders	64	31	25	8	70	31	184	176	18-11-3	13-14-5	4-3-3
9 Buffalo Sabres	60	31	25	4	66	30	224	215	12-16-2	19-9-2	5-5-0
10 Ottawa Senators	61	31	26	4	66	29	194	191	18-12-2	13-14-2	7-2-1
11 Florida Panthers	63	30	27	6	66	28	215	216	16-10-3	14-17-3	5-5-0
12 Washington Capitals	63	30	27	6	66	29	191	189	15-13-3	15-14-3	3-7-0
13 Detroit Red Wings	61	28	24	9	65	26	186	201	15-12-4	13-12-5	5-4-1
14 Philadelphia Flyers	62	23	28	11	57	22	163	205	11-15-4	12-13-7	2-6-2
15 Montreal Canadiens	61	26	31	4	56	22	168	218	14-15-1	12-16-3	6-4-0
16 Columbus Blue Jackets	61	20	35	6	46	19	159	225	13-18-2	7-17-4	5-3-2
Western Conference
	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	ROW	GF	GA	Home	Road	L10
1 Dallas Stars	62	33	16	13	79	30	204	163	16-8-8	17-8-5	4-3-3
2 Vegas Golden Knights	61	36	19	6	78	33	195	171	19-13-1	17-6-5	7-1-2
3 Los Angeles Kings	63	35	20	8	78	29	214	213	18-9-2	17-11-6	7-2-1
4 Minnesota Wild	62	35	21	6	76	28	179	168	21-10-2	14-11-4	7-1-2
5 Seattle Kraken	61	34	21	6	74	34	213	196	15-12-3	19-9-3	5-4-1
6 Colorado Avalanche	59	34	20	5	73	30	190	164	16-10-4	18-10-1	7-2-1
7 Edmonton Oilers	62	33	21	8	74	33	237	206	15-12-5	18-9-3	4-3-3
8 Winnipeg Jets	61	35	24	2	72	34	187	165	20-10-1	15-14-1	4-5-1
9 Calgary Flames	62	27	22	13	67	26	194	193	15-12-3	12-10-10	3-4-3
10 Nashville Predators	59	30	23	6	66	27	172	175	16-11-3	14-12-3	6-4-0
11 St. Louis Blues	61	27	29	5	59	24	189	223	13-14-4	14-15-1	4-4-2
12 Vancouver Canucks	61	24	32	5	53	21	205	242	11-17-1	13-15-4	4-5-1
13 Arizona Coyotes	61	21	31	9	51	18	166	216	14-10-2	7-21-7	4-3-3
14 San Jose Sharks	62	18	32	12	48	17	183	232	6-17-8	12-15-4	2-7-1
15 Anaheim Ducks	62	20	34	8	48	17	158	255	10-16-2	10-18-6	3-5-2
16 Chicago Blackhawks	61	21	35	5	47	19	152	222	12-17-3	9-18-2	5-5-0

Last updated Mar. 3, 1:37 ET

Eight teams in each conference qualify for the divisional playoff format.  The top three teams from each division make up the first six spots.   The two remaining teams with the highest points, regardless of division, qualify for the final two wild card spots.  

X – Clinched Playoff Spot, Y – Clinched Division, Z – Clinched Conference

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

1953       Braves owner Lou Perini, citing territorial privilege due to their minor league club’s location, blocks the Browns’ attempt to move to Milwaukee from St. Louis. Fifteen days later, he will move his major league club from Boston to the Midwestern city.

1959       The winning entry in the Giants’ Name-the-Park contest is Candlestick Park, reflecting the shape of the rocks in the area known as Candlestick Point. Initially called Bay View Stadium, the ballpark will be the first stadium built entirely of reinforced concrete.

1967       The American League permits the White Sox to use a partially designated hitter in spring training. With the home club’s permission, each team will use a designated pinch-hitter twice in the same game.

1969       The Washington Post reports the Global League has failed to reach an agreement with any television network. The lack of a TV deal appears to have derailed the reality of the proposed third major league.

1984       Peter Ueberroth is elected baseball’s sixth commissioner, replacing Bowie Kuhn as the major league’s top executive. The former L.A. Olympic president will take office on October 1 and will receive compensation of $450,000, an amount that is nearly double his predecessor’s salary.

1987       Danny Kaye, who helped lead an investment group that bought the Mariners in 1976, dies of heart failure. The 74-year-old entertainer was a life-long fan of the Dodgers, recording a hit tune entitled The D-O-D-G-E-R-S Song, which detailed a fictitious encounter with the rivals Giants during the actual 1962 pennant race.

1988       Upset by a practical joke played by teammate Jesse Orosco, Dodger slugger Kirk Gibson walks out of camp for a day. The southpaw reliever had put eyeblack on Gibson’s cap.

1997       In a controversial deal, the Yankees sign a ten-year contract with Adidas. The licensing agreement with the popular sportswear company puts team owner George Steinbrenner at odds with the baseball establishment.

2006       Jae-Weong Seo and Chan Ho Park combine to blank Taiwan in the inaugural World Baseball Classic opening game, 2-0. The first game of the 16-nation tournament, featuring the duel between the two South Korean hurlers, is played before a disappointing crowd of only 5,193 fans at Tokyo Dome.

2008       Noah Lowry throws 24 pitches before a batter takes a swing in the Giants’ 6-4 Cactus League exhibition loss to Texas. The 28-year-old right-hander, who issues nine bases-on-balls to the first 12 Rangers he faces, goes through the entire once without recording an official at-bat, thanks to a combination of walks and sacrifice flies.

2012       The Padres sign Cameron Maybin to a five-year contract extension. The new undisclosed deal for the 24-year-old outfielder is reportedly worth $25 million for five years, with another $7 million possible during an option year in 2017.

2015       Major League Baseball introduces its new pace of play initiatives, designed to make the games shorter in duration, during five exhibition contests played in Arizona and Florida. The new rules planned to be slowly introduced before the implementation of penalties include having batters keep one foot in the batter’s box after taking a pitch and using a clock to make innings start more punctually.

2016       Experts announce they have verified the legitimacy of seven identical Ty Cobb cards from the printing period of 1909 to 1911, bringing the total number known to exist to 22. The treasure, which features a picture of the ‘Georgia Peach’ on the front, with the words ‘Ty Cobb – King of the Smoking Tobacco World’ on the back, was found in a paper bag mixed in with trash by relatives, who were cleaning the dilapidated house that belonged to their great-grandfather.

BASEBALL’S BEST

GROVER ALEXANDER BIOGRAPHY

It seems strange that one can look back at a Hall of Fame pitcher’s career that includes three-hundred seventy-three wins and still come away with a thought of what if? Yet, such is the case when one looks back at the career of Grover Cleveland Alexander. Despite putting up numbers that rivaled the two legendary hurlers of his day, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson, it has often been the opinion of some that Alexander could have done more. It is thought that, due to war service and his battle against personal demons, he lost his chance to surpass his rival’s career win marks and perhaps even eclipse Cy Young’s all-time victory total of five-hundred eleven.

Born in Elba, Nebraska on February 26, 1887, Alexander developed his strength as a youth husking corn on his father’s farm. Later, while working digging postholes for the phone company, he also played ball on the side and gained notice for his pitching ability . He was signed by Galesburg (Illinois) of the Illinois-Missouri League, and was 15-8 half way through the season when his suffered his first case of misfortune. While running from first to second, Alexander was struck in the head by the shortstop’s throw to first to complete a double play. The blow rendered him unconscious and after recovering he was left with blurred vision. Galesburg, withholding his ailment, sold him to Indianapolis of the American Association who, after finding out about his vision, then shipped him to Syracuse of the New York State League. Finally, over time his vision cleared up and he responded with a fine 29-14 record for Syracuse in 1910.

The National League’s Phillies purchased Alexander in 1911 and he had a remarkable rookie big league season, winning twenty-eight games, striking out two-hundred twenty-seven batters (a National League rookie record that stood for seventy-three years) and topped the loop with seven shutouts. He followed up with seasons of nineteen and twenty-two wins respectively, led the league in strikeouts (one-hundred ninety-five) in 1912, and shutouts again in 1913 with nine. Alexander’s shutout totals were even more impressive because in Philadelphia he pitched in the hitter friendly Baker Bowl. Following a twenty-seven win campaign in 1914, he began a run of three seasons that put him in the class of the contemporary greats of his time, Mathewson and Johnson. From 1915-17 Alexander reeled off three consecutive thirty win seasons (31,33, 30) led the league in ERA with microscopic figures of 1.22, 1.55 and 1.83, and topped the National League (NL) in shutouts (twelve, a still held Major League record sixteen, and eight). He worked tirelessly averaging three-hundred eighty-four innings pitched, while twice pitching two complete games in one day, winning both times. He helped the Phillies reach the World Series in 1915, winning their only game as Philadelphia lost to Boston.

Alexander came at the batter with an easy sidearm motion and excellent control of his fastball and curve. “He looked like he was hardly working at all, like he was throwing batting practice,” is how one teammate described him. Although he was known for an excellent curveball, (Alexander himself once said “The main thing with me is my curves”), Hall of Fame pitcher Burleigh Grimes described his fast ball as “kicking in about three inches on a right-handed batter.” Why then would the Phillies trade a pitcher with so much talent coming off such great seasons? Philadelphia shipped Alexander to the Chicago Cubs before the 1918 season suspecting their star pitcher would join the war effort. Their suspicions proved correct as Alexander shortly after the start of the season joined the Army. During the one year he served he engaged, and was witness to, some heavy combat and he returned home a changed man who became withdrawn. He became an alcoholic and suffered bouts of epilepsy.

Despite his ailments, Alexander remained a fine pitcher and gave the Cubs some fine seasons from 1919-25, winning twenty games twice (twenty-seven in 1920 and twenty-two in 1923), leading the league in ERA twice (1.72 in1919 and 1.91 in 1920), and was the Alex of old — walking just thirty batters in three-hundred five innings pitched in 1923. Halfway through the 1926 season the Cubs (wary of his constant drinking) traded him to the Cardinals. Although his best years were behind him, Alexander pitched well and contributed to St. Louis’ first pennant winning year. That put the aging, ailing Alexander on the big stage in the World Series against the Babe Ruth / Lou Gehrig led Yankees. However, Alex wasn’t one to be intimidated and he twice knotted the Series for the Cardinals winning Game 2 and Game 6. He then took a seat in the St. Louis bullpen thinking full well his Series work was complete, only to soon find out he would be needed, and would end up being associated with one of the most often told World Series stories that is legend to this day.

The Cardinals led Game 7 of the 1926 World Series 3-2, with two out, in the seventh inning when Redbird pitcher Jesse Haines developed a finger blister and walked three straight hitters. St. Louis Manager Rogers Hornsby was forced to make a pitching change and to everyone’s surprise signaled for Grove Cleveland Alexander to come in and face powerful hitting rookie Yankee second baseman Tony Lazzeri. Legend has it the Alex entered the game either recovering from a hangover or simply having been woken up from a bullpen nap. While neither of them has ever been proven true, the record shows Alexander calmly took on the task and was up to it. Surviving a 1-1 pitch mistake (Lazzeri pulled one foul deep down the leftfield line) the crafty veteran snapped off a curveball to fan Tony, strand three runners, and escape danger. Alex then retired the Yankees in order in the eighth and got their first two hitters in the ninth. That left Babe Ruth as the last New York hope. Pitching carefully, Alexander went to a full count on the Babe before just missing and walking him. To everyone’s surprise Ruth tried to steal second and was thrown out making the Cardinals 1926 World Champions.

Alexander had one more twenty win season in him (twenty-one in 1927) and won a respectable sixteen in 1928. The Cardinals released him in 1929, after he went 9-8, and he then returned to the Phillies in 1930 but did not win a game in his last Major League season. He then played some semipro ball, but the drinking and epilepsy had taken its toll and he soon left baseball completely. He finished tied with Christy Mathewson for third in career wins, second to Walter Johnson in all-time shutouts with ninety, led the league in ERA four times, and in strikeouts six seasons. He won the NL Pitching Triple Crown (wins, strikeouts, ERA) three times, and was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1938. At one point in the 1940’s, he was an attraction at a New York Circus where he would answer patron’s questions about his career, mostly about the famous strikeout of Lazzeri. He returned to Nebraska in 1950 where he died on November 4. In 1953, a film was made about Grover Cleveland Alexander’s life (‘The Winning Team’) and he became a ballplayer not only named for a U.S. President, but one that was portrayed by one, as future Chief Executive Ronald Reagan landed the role.

BASEBALL YEAR IN REVIEW

YEAR IN REVIEW : 1902 AMERICAN LEAGUE

Off the field…

The National Bureau of the Census was established and later became part of the Department of Commerce, a federal executive department that was charged with promoting U.S. economic development and technological advancement. Among its tasks was the taking of censuses, promotion of American business at home and abroad, establishing standard weights and measures, and issuing patents and registering trademarks.

In the American League…

The Milwaukee Brewers moved before the 1902 season started and became the St. Louis Browns, where they would play until 1953. In 1954, the franchise moved and became the modern-day Baltimore Orioles.

In July, the Baltimore Orioles were forced to forfeit a game to St. Louis and their team to the league. With only five players available for the line-up, the American League’s front office borrowed back-up players from several other teams and maintained the franchise for the remainder of the season.

In the National League…

The Cincinnati Reds thrashed the Philadelphia Phillies 24-2 on May 13, 1902, with each of the nine starters collecting 2-or-more hits.

Pittsburgh Pirate Honus Wagner committed “Grand Larceny” after stealing second, third and home during the second game of an August 13th doubleheader against the Boston Braves. Amazingly, it wasn’t the first time as Wagner had originally accomplished the feat in 1899.

Around the League…

The 1902 Major League Baseball season began on April 17, and concluded on October 5. Each team played the other seven teams in their league twenty times, for a 140-game season.

Former editor of the Louisville Commercial, Harry Pulliam was elected as the President of the National League. His reputation for honesty and businesslike approach to baseball helped forge a peace between the American and National Leagues that resulted in the “National Agreement” that governed baseball through 1920. In February of 1909 Pulliam began showing signs of mental illness and eventually suffered a nervous breakdown. Later that year he committed suicide by shooting himself in his room at the New York Athletic Club.

FOOTBALL HISTORY

March 3, 1950 – National-American Football League reverts back to calling itself the NFL after 3 months. According to Wikipedia when the NFL absorbed the All American Football Conference (AAFC) on December 9, 1949 the 13 teams were realigned into the American and National conferences, which lasted for three seasons. The merged league briefly flirted with the name “National-American Football League”, but restored the name “National Football League” a few months later on March 3, 1950. This was the second time the NFL changed its name, the first was in 1922 when the American Professional Football Association (APFA), a mere two years after its founding, did a switcharoo to become the National Football League.

March 3, 1960 – At a special AFL meeting in Oakland, The “allocation” draft was formulated to stock Oakland club according to the Raiders.com. The issue at hand was that Oakland was a late replacement franchise for the Twin Cities franchise that resigned after the initial AFL draft due to the NFL announcing a new Vikings franchise in the metro area of St. Paul and Minneapolis. In that round of AFL meetings kicked off at the Leamington Hotel in Oakland. It was determined that 14 players who were originally selected by Minneapolis-St. Paul in the AFL draft, and were “signed by fellow AFL clubs for Oakland,” would transfer to the newly-minted franchise per the Raiders Exposure website.

HOF BIRTHDAYS

March 3, 1890 – South Orange, New Jersey – The brilliant Yale Quarterback from 1909 to 1911, Art Howe arrived into the world. Click his name for more info including a photo.

March 3, 1917 – Hendersonville, Tennessee – Vanderbilt University’s stud Center from 1935 through the 1937 season, Carl Hinkle was born. More on this anchor of the Vandy line is found by clicking his name.

March 3, 1952 – Warren, Ohio – Randy Gradishar the great Ohio State Buckeye linebacker from 1971 to 1973 was born. The Football Foundation’s website bio on Gradishar claims he was All-America in 1972 and held the unanimous distinction in 1973 of the honor. Gradishar was Academic All-America in 1973 and was elected to the GTE Academic Hall of Fame in 1992. The NFF chose the collegiate gridiron achievements worthy of archiving with legends when in 1998 they inducted Randy Gradishar into the College Football Hall of Fame. After school he made the Denver Broncos team and played 10 years with the franchise making the Pro Bowl seven times.

March 3, 1962 – Wrightsville, Georgia – The outstanding running back from the University of Georgia Bulldogs of the early 1980’s, Herschel Walker celebrates his day of birth. In Herschel’s three years at Georgia and was unanimous All-America every year per the NFF. When he left after his junior year, he owned 41 school records, 16 Southeastern Conference records, and 11 NCAA records. As a freshman in 1980, he led Georgia to a 12-0 record and the national championship. In 33 regular-season games he scored 55 touchdowns, and rushed for 5,259 yards (an average of 159 a game. In his this and final year of 1982, Walker finally won the Heisman Trophy. The College Football Hall of Fame threw its doors wide open to accept the college football legacy of Herschel Walker into its fold in 1999.

March 3, 1967 – Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Clarkston Hines the nifty wide receiver of 1986 through 1989 from Duke University celebrated his entrance into this life. The NFF says Clarkston was a two time All-American and is the only player in ACC history to lead the league in receiving yards three consecutive seasons. When he ended his collegiate career Hines held the ACC record for career touchdown receptions with 38. Clarkston Hines was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in the year 2010.

SPORTS IN NUMBERS

20 – 26 – 27 – 22

March 3, 1951 – Bill Mikvy, Number 20 of the Temple University Owls scored an NCAA basketball record of 73 pts on one game

March 3, 1953 – Boston Braves, who own Milwaukee minor league franchise, block St Louis Browns attempt to shift their franchise to Milwaukee

March 3, 1968 – Jean Béliveau, Number 26 of the Montreal Canadians becomes 2nd NHL skater to score 1,000 points in his pro career.

March 3, 1968 – In a blockbuster trade, Toronto Maple Leafs send future Hockey Hall of Fame left wing Number 27, Frank Mahovlich to the rival Detroit Red Wings

March 3, 1981 – The New York Islander’s Mike Bossy, Number 22 scored his 9th & final hat trick of season when he posted 4 goals

TV FRIDAY

NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES – MEN’S	TIME ET	TV
BIG SOUTH QUARTERFINAL: UNC ASHEVILLE VS. /CHARLESTON SOUTHERN	12:00PM	ESPN+
MVC QUARTERFINAL: BRADLEY VS. UNI/VALPARAISO	1:00PM	ESPN+
BIG SOUTH QUARTERFINAL: USC UPSTATE VS. GARDNER-WEBB	2:00PM	ESPN+
CAA FIRST ROUND: HAMPTON VS. MONMOUTH	2:00PM	FLOHOOPS
MVC QUARTERFINAL: BELMONT VS. INDIANA STATE/EVANSVILLE	3:30PM	ESPN+
SOCON FIRST ROUND: MERCER VS. THE CITADEL	5:00PM	ESPN+
AKRON AT KENT STATE	6:00PM	ESPNU
TOLEDO AT BALL STATE	6:00PM	CBSSN
BIG SOUTH QUARTERFINAL: LONGWOOD VS. CAMPBELL	6:00PM	ESPN+
DAYTON AT SAINT LOUIS	7:00PM	ESPN2
MVC QUARTERFINAL: DRAKE VS. MURRAY STATE/ILLINOIS STATE	7:00PM	ESPN+
SUMMIT LEAGUE FIRST ROUND: DENVER VS. NORTH DAKOTA	7:00PM	ESPN+
CENTRAL MICHIGAN AT WESTERN MICHIGAN	7:00PM	ESPN3
MIAMI (OH) AT BUFFALO	7:00PM	ESPN+
EAST CAROLINA AT TULANE	7:00PM	ESPN+
SOCON FIRST ROUND: CHATTANOOGA VS. VMI	7:30PM	ESPN+
ABILENE CHRISTIAN AT SAM HOUSTON	7:30PM	ESPN+
OVC SEMIFINAL: MOREHEAD STATE VS. TBD	8:00PM	ESPNU
BOWLING GREEN AT OHIO	8:00PM	CBSSN
EASTERN MICHIGAN AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS	8:00PM	ESPN3
BIG SOUTH QUARTERFINAL: RADFORD VS. WINTHROP	8:00PM	ESPN+
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN AT UTAH VALLEY	8:00PM	ESPN+
WCC SECOND ROUND: BYU VS. PORTLAND/SAN DIEGO	9:00PM	WCCN
CALIFORNIA BAPTIST AT SOUTHERN UTAH	9:00PM	ESPN+
GRAND CANYON AT UTAH TECH	9:00PM	ESPN+
MVC QUARTERFINAL: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS VS. MISSOURI STATE/UIC	9:30PM	ESPN+
SUMMIT LEAGUE FIRST ROUND: KANSAS CITY VS. OMAHA	9:30PM	ESPN+
UTA AT SEATTLE U	10:00PM	ESPN+
OVC SEMIFINAL: TENNESSEE TECH VS. TBD	10:30PM	ESPNU
NEW MEXICO AT COLORADO STATE	11:00PM	FS1
WCC SECOND ROUND: SAN FRANCISCO VS. PACIFIC/PEPPERDINE	11:30PM	WCCN
GOLF	TIME ET	TV
PGA: ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL	2:00PM	GOLF
MLB SPRING TRAINING	TIME ET	TV
WASHINGTON VS NY METS	1:10PM	MLBN
CHI. CUBS VS SAN DIEGO	8:40PM	MLBN
MOTORSPORTS	TIME ET	TV
NASCAR TRUCK: VICTORIA’S VOICE FOUNDATION 200	9:00PM	FS1
NBA REGULAR SEASON GAMES	TIME ET	TV
ORLANDO AT CHARLOTTE	7:00PM	BALLY SPORTS
PORTLAND AT ATLANTA	7:30PM	ROOT SPORTS BALLY SPORTS
BROOKLYN AT BOSTON	7:30PM	ESPN YES NBCS-BOS
NEW YORK AT MIAMI	8:00PM	MSGW BALLY SPORTS
PHOENIX AT CHICAGO	8:00PM	NBATV ALT BALLY SPORTS
UTAH AT OKLAHOMA CITY	8:00PM	ATTSN-RM BALLY SPORTS
MEMPHIS AT DENVER	10:00PM	ESPN BALLY SPORTS ALT
NEW ORLEANS AT GOLDEN STATE	10:00PM	BALLY SPORTS NBCS-BAY
LA CLIPPERS AT SACRAMENTO	10:00PM	BALLY SPORTS NBCS-CA
MINNESOTA AT LA LAKERS	10:30PM	BALLY SPORTS SPECTRUM
NHL REGULAR SEASON GAMES	TIME ET	TV
SEATTLE AT COLUMBUS	7:00PM	ROOT SPORTS BALLY SPORTS
WINNIPEG AT EDMONTON	9:00PM	SPORTSNET
CAROLINA AT ARIZONA	9:30PM	BALLY SPORTS
MONTRÉAL AT ANAHEIM	10:00PM	BALLY SPORTS SPORTSNET
NEW JERSEY AT VEGAS	10:30PM	MSGSN ATTSN-RM
SOCCER MATCHES	TIME ET	TV
BUNDESLIGA: BORUSSIA DORTMUND VS RB LEIPZIG	2:30PM	ESPN+
SERIE A: NAPOLI VS LAZIO	2:45PM	CBSSN
LA LIGA: REAL SOCIEDAD VS CÁDIZ	3:00PM	ESPN+
LIGUE 1: NICE VS AUXERRE	3:00PM	BEIN SPORTS
LIGA MX: NECAXA VS TIGRES UANL	8:05PM	TUDN
LIGA MX: TIJUANA VS ATLAS	10:05PM	FS2

TV SATURDAY

NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES – MEN’S	TIME ET	TV
ALABAMA AT TEXAS A&M	12:00PM	CBS
SETON HALL AT PROVIDENCE	12:00PM	FOX
OHIO STATE AT MICHIGAN STATE	12:00PM	ESPN
IOWA STATE AT BAYLOR	12:00PM	ESPN2
PENN AT PRINCETON	12:00PM	ESPNEWS
SOCON QUARTERFINAL: FURMAN VS. MERCER/THE CITADEL	12:00PM	–
BIG SOUTH SEMIFINAL	12:00PM	ESPN+
CAA SECOND ROUND: WILLIAM & MARY VS. ELON	12:00PM	FLOSPORTS
GEORGE MASON AT RICHMOND	12:30PM	USA
SUN BELT QUARTERFINAL: SOUTHERN MISS VS. SOUTH ALABAMA/APP STATE	12:30PM	ESPN+
GEORGIA AT SOUTH CAROLINA	1:00PM	SECN
UAB AT CHARLOTTE	1:00PM	STADIUM
ST. JOHN’S AT MARQUETTE	2:00PM	FOX
KENTUCKY AT ARKANSAS	2:00PM	CBS
TENNESSEE AT AUBURN	2:00PM	ESPN
LOUISVILLE AT VIRGINIA	2:00PM	ESPN2
DUQUESNE AT FORDHAM	2:00PM	SNY
MOUNT ST. MARY’S AT MANHATTAN	2:00PM	ESPN3
SIENA AT SAINT PETER’S	2:00PM	ESPN3
BIG SOUTH SEMIFINAL	2:00PM	ESPN+
COLUMBIA AT CORNELL	2:00PM	ESPN+
HARVARD AT DARTMOUTH	2:00PM	ESPN+
LOYOLA CHICAGO AT LA SALLE	2:00PM	ESPN+
KANSAS STATE AT WEST VIRGINIA	2:00PM	ESPN+
YALE AT BROWN	2:00PM	ESPN+
ST. BONAVENTURE AT UMASS	2:30PM	USA
GEORGIA TECH AT BOSTON COLLEGE	2:30PM	ESPNU
SOCON QUARTERFINAL: WESTERN CAROLINA VS. ETSU	2:30PM	–
CAA SECOND ROUND: DREXEL VS. HAMPTON/MONMOUTH	2:30PM	FLOSPORTS
WKU AT NORTH TEXAS	3:00PM	STADIUM
FIU AT RICE	3:00PM	ESPN+
FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT LOUISIANA TECH	3:00PM	ESPN+
TCU AT OKLAHOMA	3:00PM	ESPN+
SUN BELT QUARTERFINAL: JAMES MADISON VS. TBD	3:00PM	ESPN+
OLE MISS AT MISSOURI	3:30PM	SECN
MVC SEMIFINA	3:30PM	CBSSN
NIAGARA AT CANISIUS	3:30PM	ESPN3
STANFORD AT OREGON	4:00PM	CBS
KANSAS AT TEXAS	4:00PM	ESPN
FLORIDA STATE AT VIRGINIA TECH	4:00PM	ESPN2
LONG BEACH STATE AT UC DAVIS	4:00PM	SPECTRUM
SAN JOSE STATE AT AIR FORCE	4:00PM	ALT
MIDDLE TENNESSEE AT UTEP	4:00PM	ESPN+
FLORIDA A&M AT BETHUNE-COOKMAN	4:00PM	YOUTUBE
VCU AT GEORGE WASHINGTON	4:30PM	USA
TEXAS SOUTHERN AT PRAIRIE VIEW A&M	4:30PM	–
WAKE FOREST AT SYRACUSE	5:00PM	ACCN
UNLV AT NEVADA	5:00PM	–
UTAH AT COLORADO	5:30PM	PAC12N
OKLAHOMA STATE AT TEXAS TECH	6:00PM	ESPN2
LSU AT FLORIDA	6:00PM	SECN
PITT AT MIAMI (FL)	6:00PM	ACCN
MVC SEMIFINAL	6:00PM	CBSSN
NEC SEMIFINAL	6:00PM	SNY
SOCON QUARTERFINAL: SAMFORD VS. CHATTANOOGA/VMI	6:00PM	–
SUN BELT QUARTERFINAL: MARSHALL VS. TBD	6:00PM	ESPN+
CAA SECOND ROUND: NORTH CAROLINA A&T VS. STONY BROOK	6:00PM	FLOSPORTS
DUKE AT NORTH CAROLINA	6:30PM	ESPN
ALCORN STATE AT UAPB	6:30PM	–
ALABAMA STATE AT GRAMBLING STATE	6:30PM	–
BUTLER AT XAVIER	7:00PM	FS1
SUMMIT LEAGUE QUARTERFINAL: ORAL ROBERTS VS. DENVER/NORTH DAKOTA	7:00PM	–
CHICAGO STATE AT FRESNO STATE	7:00PM	–
QUINNIPIAC AT MARIST	7:00PM	ESPN3
IONA AT RIDER	7:00PM	ESPN+
JACKSON STATE AT MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE	7:00PM	YOUTUBE
UCONN VS. VILLANOVA	7:30PM	FOX
BIG SKY FIRST ROUND: #9 VS. #10	7:30PM	ESPN+
OVC CHAMPIONSHIP	8:00PM	ESPN2
NOTRE DAME AT CLEMSON	8:00PM	ACCN
DAVIDSON AT RHODE ISLAND	8:00PM	CBSSN
CALIFORNIA AT OREGON STATE	8:00PM	PAC12N
NEC SEMIFINAL	8:00PM	SNY
MISSISSIPPI STATE AT VANDERBILT	8:30PM	SECN
SOCON QUARTERFINAL: UNCG VS. WOFFORD	8:30PM	–
SUN BELT QUARTERFINAL: LOUISIANA VS. #7/#10	8:30PM	ESPN+
CAA SECOND ROUND: DELAWARE VS. NORTHEASTERN	8:30PM	FLOSPORTS
CREIGHTON AT DEPAUL	9:00PM	FS1
HAWAI’I AT UC SANTA BARBARA	9:00PM	ESPNU
BOISE STATE AT UTAH STATE	9:00PM	STADIUM
CSU BAKERSFIELD AT UC IRVINE	9:00PM	ESPN+
UC SAN DIEGO AT CAL STATE FULLERTON	9:00PM	ESPN+
ALABAMA A&M AT SOUTHERN	9:00PM	–
SUMMIT LEAGUE QUARTERFINAL: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE VS. KANSAS CITY/OMAHA	9:30PM	–
ARIZONA AT UCLA	10:00PM	ESPN
WCC QUARTERFINAL: LOYOLA MARYMOUNT VS. TBD	10:00PM	ESPN2
WYOMING AT SAN DIEGO STATE	10:00PM	CBSSN
BIG SKY FIRST ROUND: #7 VS. #8	10:00PM	ESPN+
UC RIVERSIDE AT CAL POLY	10:00PM	ESPN+
ARIZONA STATE AT USC	11:00PM	FS1
COLLEGE BASKETBALL – WOMEN’S	TIME ET	TV
ATLANTIC 10 TOURNAMENT	11:00AM	CBSSN
ACC TOURNAMENT	12:00PM	ACCN
ATLANTIC 10 TOURNAMENT	1:30PM	CBSSN
ACC TOURNAMENT	2:30PM	ACCN
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT	2:30PM	BTN
SEC TOURNAMENT	4:30PM	ESPNU
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT	4:45PM	BTN
SEC TOURNAMENT	6:45PM	ESPNU
GOLF	TIME ET	TV
PGA: ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL	12:30PM	GOLF
MLB SPRING TRAINING	TIME ET	TV
NY METS VS MIAMI	1:10PM	MLBN
LOS ANGELES VS KANSAS CITY	8:05PM	MLBN
MOTORSPORTS	TIME ET	TV
XFINITY: ALSCO UNIFORMS 300 AT LAS VEGAS	4:30PM	FS1
NBA REGULAR SEASON GAMES	TIME ET	TV
TORONTO AT WASHINGTON	5:00PM	SPORTSNET NBCS-WSH
DETROIT AT CLEVELAND	7:30PM	BALLY SPORTS
ATLANTA AT MIAMI	8:00PM	BALLY SPORTS
HOUSTON AT SAN ANTONIO	8:00PM	ATTSN-SW BALLY SPORTS
PHILADELPHIA AT MILWAUKEE	8:30PM	BALLY SPORTS NBCS-PHI
MINNESOTA AT SACRAMENTO	10:00PM	BALLY SPORTS NBCS-CA
NHL REGULAR SEASON GAMES	TIME ET	TV
TAMPA BAY AT BUFFALO	12:30PM	BALLY SPORTS MSG-BUF
DETROIT AT NY ISLANDERS	12:30PM	BALLY SPORTS MSGSN
NY RANGERS AT BOSTON	1:00PM	ABC ESPN+
COLORADO AT DALLAS	3:30PM	ABC ESPN+
WASHINGTON AT SAN JOSE	6:00PM	NBCS-WSH NBCS-CA
PITTSBURGH AT FLORIDA	6:00PM	BALLY SPORTS ATTSN-PIT
TORONTO AT VANCOUVER	7:00PM	NHLN SPORTSNET
EDMONTON AT WINNIPEG	7:00PM	SPORTSNET
COLUMBUS AT OTTAWA	7:00PM	BALLY SPORTS SPORTSNET
NASHVILLE AT CHICAGO	8:00PM	BALLY SPORTS NBCS-CHI
MINNESOTA AT CALGARY	10:00PM	BALLY SPORTS SPORTSNET
ST. LOUIS AT LOS ANGELES	10:30PM	BALLY SPORTS
SOCCER MATCHES	TIME ET	TV
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: MANCHESTER CITY VS NEWCASTLE UNITED	7:30AM	USA
LA LIGA: GETAFE VS GIRONA	8:00AM	ESPN+
SERIE A: MONZA VS EMPOLI	9:00AM	PARAMOUNT+
BUNDESLIGA: BOCHUM VS SCHALKE 04	9:30AM	ESPN+
BUNDESLIGA: UNION BERLIN VS KÖLN	9:30AM	ESPN+
BUNDESLIGA: MAINZ 05 VS HOFFENHEIM	9:30AM	ESPN+
BUNDESLIGA: BORUSSIA M’GLADBACH VS FREIBURG	9:30AM	ESPN+
BUNDESLIGA: AUGSBURG VS WERDER BREMEN	9:30AM	ESPN+
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS VS TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR	10:00AM	USA
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: ARSENAL VS AFC BOURNEMOUTH	10:00AM	PEACOCK
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: ASTON VILLA VS CRYSTAL PALACE	10:00AM	PEACOCK
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION VS WEST HAM UNITED	10:00AM	PEACOCK
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: CHELSEA VS LEEDS UNITED	10:00AM	PEACOCK
LA LIGA: ALMERÍA VS VILLARREAL	10:15AM	ESPN+
LIGUE 1: LENS VS LILLE	11:00AM	BEIN SPORTS
SERIE A: ATALANTA VS UDINESE	12:00PM	PARAMOUNT+
BUNDESLIGA: STUTTGART VS BAYERN MÜNCHEN	12:30PM	ESPN+
LA LIGA: MALLORCA VS ELCHE	12:30PM	ESPN+
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: SOUTHAMPTON VS LEICESTER CITY	12:30PM	NBC
SERIE A: FIORENTINA VS MILAN	2:45PM	PARAMOUNT+
LA LIGA: ATLÉTICO MADRID VS SEVILLA	3:00PM	ESPN+
ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: GIMNASIA LA PLATA VS COLÓN	3:00PM	PARAMOUNT+
ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: PLATENSE VS CENTRAL CÓRDOBA SDE	3:00PM	PARAMOUNT+
LIGUE 1: PSG VS NANTES	3:00PM	BEIN SPORTS
MLS: LOS ANGELES FC VS PORTLAND TIMBERS	4:30PM	FOX
ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: LANÚS VS RIVER PLATE	5:15PM	PARAMOUNT+
LIGA MX: LEÓN VS ATLÉTICO SAN LUIS	6:00PM	TUDN
ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: NEWELL’S OLD BOYS VS BARRACAS CENTRAL	7:30PM	PARAMOUNT+
ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: ATLÉTICO TUCUMÁN VS BANFIELD	7:30PM	PARAMOUNT+
MLS: NEW ENGLAND VS HOUSTON DYNAMO	7:30PM	MLS PASS
MLS: NEW YORK RB VS NASHVILLE SC	7:30PM	MLS PASS
MLS: COLUMBUS CREW VS DC UNITED	7:30PM	MLS PASS
MLS: INTER MIAMI VS PHILADELPHIA UNION	7:30PM	MLS PASS
MLS: ATLANTA UNITED VS TORONTO FC	7:30PM	MLS PASS
LIGA MX: AMÉRICA VS PACHUCA	8:05PM	UNIVISION
MLS: CHICAGO FIRE VS NEW YORK CITY	8:30PM	MLS PASS
MLS: DALLAS VS LA GALAXY	8:30PM	MLS PASS
MLS: ST. LOUIS CITY VS CHARLOTTE	8:30PM	MLS PASS
MLS: AUSTIN VS CF MONTRÉAL	8:30PM	MLS PASS
MLS: COLORADO RAPIDS VS SPORTING KC	9:30PM	MLS PASS
LIGA MX: GUADALAJARA VS SANTOS LAGUNA	10:05PM	PEACOCK
MLS: SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC VS REAL SALT LAKE	10:30PM	MLS PASS
MLS: SJ EARTHQUAKES VS VANCOUVER WHITECAPS	10:30PM	MLS PASS
XFL	TIME ET	TV
SEATTLE AT VEGAS	7:00PM	FX