THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2023

INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE FINALS

SESSION 1

SATURDAY

GATES OPEN AT 9:30 AM ET

10:30 AM ET | CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

BETHANY CHRISTIAN (24-3) VS. LANESVILLE (27-2)

APPROX. 12:45 PM ET | CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

LAPEL (22-7) VS. FOREST PARK (25-3) 

SESSION 2

GATES OPEN AT 5 PM ET

6 PM ET | CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

FAIRFIELD (27-2) VS. CORYDON CENTRAL (27-2) 

APPROX. 8:15 PM ET | CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

FISHERS (26-2) VS. BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (26-3) 

INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL

ADAMS CENTRAL	72	LAKEWOOD PARK	46
ANDERSON	82	THRIVAL INDY ACADEMY	60
ARGOS	54	ELKHART CHRISTIAN	41
AUSTIN	84	CROTHERSVILLE	48
AVON	61	DANVILLE	49
BEN DAVIS	70	INDIANAPOLIS TECH	54
BENTON CENTRAL	61	LOGANSPORT	48
BLOOMFIELD	47	BARR-REEVE	39
BLOOMINGTON NORTH	68	NEW ALBANY	51
BLUE RIVER	80	FRANKTON	48
BORDEN	62	SALEM	41
BREMEN	35	CULVER	32
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL	66	ORLEANS	41
CALUMET	53	HIGHLAND	45
CARROLL (FLORA)	67	EASTERN (GREENTOWN)	39
CENTERVILLE	57	CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN	51
CENTRAL NOBLE	62	FAIRFIELD	36
CHESTERTON	64	GARY WEST	48
CLINTON CENTRAL	72	FRONTIER	69
CLINTON PRAIRIE	49	NORTH NEWTON	43
COVINGTON	58	CRAWFORDSVILLE	55
COWAN	75	SOUTHERN WELLS	52
CROWN POINT	76	LOWELL	30
DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN	45	HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (DYER)	35
EAST CENTRAL	48	GREENSBURG	44
EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL	84	GRIFFITH	57
EASTERN (PEKIN)	60	SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH)	40
EASTERN HANCOCK	74	HAGERSTOWN	24
EASTSIDE	47	CHURUBUSCO	24
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI	67	NORTHEAST DUBOIS	66	OT
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL	62	WASHINGTON	59
EVANSVILLE REITZ	83	EVANSVILLE BOSSE	67
FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA	59	COLUMBIA CITY	55	OT
FRANKFORT	61	DELPHI	56	OT
GARY 21ST CENTURY	76	HAMMOND NOLL	55
GOSHEN	66	JOHN GLENN	41
GREENCASTLE	44	NORTH MONTGOMERY	42
HAMMOND CENTRAL	64	VALPARAISO	59
HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE)	51	LEBANON	48
HERITAGE	49	MADISON-GRANT	44
HOBART	44	WHEELER	32
ILLIANA CHRISTIAN	54	HANOVER CENTRAL	50	2OT
INDIAN CREEK	50	SOUTH PUTNAM	37
INDIANAPOLIS RITTER	60	TRI-WEST	55
INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE	78	INDIANA DEAF	44
INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI	51	BREBEUF JESUIT	49
INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA	51	INDIANA MATH & SCIENCE	36
JAC-CEN-DEL	49	SOUTH RIPLEY	40
JAY COUNTY	44	BELLMONT	43
JEFFERSONVILLE	55	CASTLE	48
JENNINGS COUNTY	75	FRANKLIN	49
KNOX	47	TRITON	37
KOKOMO	72	HUNTINGTON NORTH	36
KOUTS	65	TRI-TWP.	30
LAPORTE	85	SOUTH BEND CLAY	45
LAVILLE	79	LIGHTHOUSE CPA	67
LAKE CENTRAL	75	MCCUTCHEON	46
LAKELAND CHRISTIAN	47	WHITKO	43
LAKELAND	56	ANGOLA	39
LEWIS CASS	44	LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC	34
LINTON-STOCKTON	75	EVANSVILLE CENTRAL	55
MACONAQUAH	80	ROCHESTER	31
MANCHESTER	51	MISSISSINEWA	40
MARION	85	FORT WAYNE SNIDER	75
MILAN	70	UNION COUNTY	50
MISHAWAKA MARIAN	58	TIPPECANOE VALLEY	53
MISHAWAKA	63	SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH	60	OT
MONROE CENTRAL	59	RANDOLPH SOUTHERN	44
MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE)	56	YORKTOWN	48
MUNCIE CENTRAL	59	NEW CASTLE	41
MUNSTER	68	WHITING	52
NEW PALESTINE	61	GREENWOOD	31
NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG)	62	OWEN VALLEY	47
NORTH DAVIESS	62	SULLIVAN	44
NORTH JUDSON	48	KANKAKEE VALLEY	47
NORTHWOOD	61	ELKHART	30
NORTHFIELD	65	TRI-CENTRAL	49
NORTHRIDGE	45	DEKALB	35
NORWELL	48	HOMESTEAD	46
OAK HILL	49	DELTA	41
PARK TUDOR	85	PROVIDENCE CRISTO REY	40
PENN	94	MERRILLVILLE	49
PLAINFIELD	54	CASCADE	36
PORTAGE	69	HAMMOND MORTON	43
PRAIRIE HEIGHTS	77	HAMILTON	33
RENSSELAER CENTRAL	68	WINAMAC	40
RISING SUN	72	MEDORA	29
ROCK CREEK ACADEMY	67	CLARKSVILLE	51
SCOTTSBURG	83	MITCHELL	47
SEEGER	65	NORTH VERMILLION	46
SEYMOUR	52	SILVER CREEK	32
SHOALS	53	WEST WASHINGTON	47
SOUTH ADAMS	50	EASTBROOK	44
SOUTH DECATUR	69	KNIGHTSTOWN	47
SOUTH NEWTON	56	ATTICA	18
SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE)	83	ANDERSON PREP ACADEMY	61
SOUTHWOOD	83	BLUFFTON	54
TAYLOR	74	ALEXANDRIA	43
TERRE HAUTE NORTH	54	EVANSVILLE NORTH	43
TRI-COUNTY	61	PIONEER	47
TRI	55	MORRISTOWN	28
TRITON CENTRAL	79	SPEEDWAY	67
WABASH	82	PERU	74	OT
WALDRON	71	SHERIDAN	53
WAPAHANI	65	SHENANDOAH	24
WARSAW	60	CARROLL (FORT WAYNE)	49
WAWASEE	62	EAST NOBLE	46
WES-DEL	46	ELWOOD	42
WEST LAFAYETTE	66	ROSSVILLE	46
WEST NOBLE	68	GARRETT	55
WESTVIEW	40	CONCORD	36
WHITELAND	59	BEECH GROVE	55

INDIANA BOYS STATE SWIMMING-FRIDAY

RESULTS: HTTPS://LIVE.IUNAT.IUPUI.EDU/

TOP MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES

#16 XAVIER 82 SETON HALL 60

ELSEWHERE:

COLORADO STATE 84 WYOMING 71

UNLV 54 AIR FORCE 53

NEVADA 60 FRESNO STATE 56

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/CBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230224

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD

#7 MARYLAND 76 #16 OHIO STATE 74

#15 VILLANOVA 67 PROVIDENCE 50

ELSEWHERE:

BUTLER 76 SETON HALL 64

ST. JOHN’S 61 GEORGETOWN 53

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/WCBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230224

NBA SCOREBOARD

NEW YORK 115 WASHINGTON 109

ATLANTA 136 CLEVELAND 119

MILWAUKEE 128 MIAMI 99

CHICAGO 131 BROOKLYN 87

CHARLOTTE 121 MINNESOTA 113

GOLDEN STATE 116 HOUSTON 101

PHOENIX 124 OKLAHOMA CITY 115

SACRAMENTO 176 LA CLIPPERS 175 2OT

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

NHL SCOREBOARD

TORONTO 2 MINNESOTA 1

BUFFALO 3 FLORIDA 1

MONTRÉAL 5 PHILADELPHIA 2

CAROLINA 4 OTTAWA 0

LOS ANGELES 3 NY ISLANDERS 2

COLORADO 5 WINNIPEG 1

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

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SPRING TRAINING

KANSAS CITY 6 TEXAS 5

SEATTLE 3 SAN DIEGO 2

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

TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES

NBA NEWS

KINGS OUTLAST CLIPPERS 176-175 IN DOUBLE OVERTIME

LOS ANGELES (AP) Malik Monk scored a career-high 45 points, De’Aaron Fox had the go-ahead basket and finished with 42 and the Sacramento Kings beat the Los Angeles Clippers 176-175 in double overtime in the second-highest scoring game in NBA history.

Detroit beat Denver 186-184 in triple overtime on Dec. 13, 1983, in the highest-scoring NBA game. The Kings are third on the scoring list with the 176 points and the Clippers fourth.

The Clippers had a 175-169 advantage with 1:57 remaining before the Kings scored the final seven points, including Fox’s jumper with 36.5 seconds remaining. The Clippers had the final shot, but missed Nico Batum missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The Kings overcame a 14-points deficit late in the fourth quarter and six-point deficits in both overtime periods.

The teams also combined for 44 3-pointers, tied for the most in a game in NBA history.

Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 44 points for Los Angeles and Paul George added 34.

Russell Westbrook started and made his Clippers debut after he cleared waivers Wednesday. He had 17 points, 14 assists and five rebounds in 39 minutes before fouling out with 1:49 remaining in the second overtime.

RALLY KINGS

Los Angeles had a 145-131 advantage with 4:25 remaining before the Kings rallied back to force overtime with a 22-8 run. Monk forced the extra session with a 3-pointer from the corner with 1.1 seconds remaining.

Sacramento’s key spurt late in regulation was 10 straight points that got it to 147-146 with 1:22 left.

The Clippers had a 162-156 lead with 3:04 remaining in the first overtime before the Kings scored six straight to even it. Monk hit a pair of free throws with 20.4 seconds left to tie it at 164. Los Angeles had a chance to win it, but Leonard was unable to put in a tip in at the buzzer.

LEONARD’S NIGHT

It is the sixth 40-point game in Leonard’s 10-year career and his second since joining the Clippers in the summer of 2019. He was 16 of 22 from the field, including six 3-pointers, in 46 minutes.

This was the first time in two years Leonard faced the Kings. He missed last year due to a knee injury and did not playing in the first two meetings this season.

TOUGH NIGHT

Sacramento center Domantas Sabonis played only 31 minutes after being in foul trouble most of the night. He picked up his four fouls in the first half and then drew his fifth with 6:46 remaining in the third quarter.

Sabonis, who got his seventh triple-double in Thursday night’s win over Portland, fouled out with 3:09 remaining in the first overtime. He finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.

TIP INS

Kings: Are 6-4 in the second game of back-to-backs. … Sacramento had a season high 18 steals. …. Keegan Murray had 15 points. … Chimezie Metu tied a season high with nine rebounds.

Clippers: Batum had 19 points, including five 3-pointers, on French Heritage night. A bobblehead of Batum with France’s flag was given to fans entering the arena. … Norman Powell had 24 points off the bench. … Ivica Zubac did not play due to a right calf strain.

UP NEXT

Kings: At Oklahoma City on Sunday.

Clippers: At Denver on Sunday.

RANDLE SCORES 46 AS KNICKS RALLY PAST WIZARDS 115-109

WASHINGTON (AP) Julius Randle answered Kristaps Porzingis’ early flurry, and by the time the New York standout was done, he’d matched his career high in scoring.

Randle also led the Knicks to an impressive comeback victory.

Randle finished with 46 points, and New York rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat the Washington Wizards 115-109 on Friday night.

“Just came out aggressive,” Randle said. “That time of the year, got to lock in.”

Jalen Brunson broke a 109-all tie with a bank shot in traffic with 42.1 seconds remaining, and the Knicks held on from there in a pulsating matchup between two teams coming out of the All-Star break in the thick of Eastern Conference playoff race – but in far different positions.

The Knicks, who are trying to finish high enough to avoid the play-in round, now lead Miami by 1 1/2 games for sixth place. The 10th-place Wizards would make the play-in if the season ended now, but their lead over Chicago fell to 1 1/2 games.

Bradley Beal tied the game for Washington with a 3-pointer with 59.5 seconds remaining. Then Brunson drove into the lane, picked up his dribble and appeared to be stuck amid a group of players when he was able to flip the ball up off the glass and in.

“That was a big win for us,” Randle said. “We needed this, especially coming off the break. We know they’re a team that gets off to fast starts, so they did that and we responded.”

Porzingis missed a 3-pointer at the other end, and Randle found Mitchell Robinson for a layup that pushed New York’s lead to four with 11.2 seconds to go. Then Washington’s Kyle Kuzma stepped out of bounds while receiving an inbound pass, essentially sealing his team’s chances.

“They ramped up their defense a little bit,” Washington’s Monte Morris said. “Julius was balling. Feel like we could have gave him a couple more different looks at times. Just hitting him more, doubling him more a little bit. Any player in the league get it going like that, it’s hard to put out the fire.”

Porzingis and Kuzma scored 23 points apiece. Porzingis made all five of his 3-point attempts on his way to a 19-point first quarter, then didn’t attempt another shot until the fourth.

“They amped up the pressure, they started switching earlier with the pick-and-pops,” Porzingis said. “We have seen that before, of course, especially when we get going early in the game. I feel like we went away a little bit from that maybe two-man game with Brad.”

BIG RALLY

The Wizards led 57-38 in the second quarter, but New York came charging back behind Randle, whose dunk started a 12-2 run by the Knicks to close the half. Randle scored 11 points during that stretch, and Washington was up only 64-60 after two quarters.

“Once we got lost in the game and started getting some stops and the rebounding was good, and then the movement without the ball,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We got some easy buckets and then that got us going.”

Randle previously scored 46 points on March 7, 2022, at Sacramento.

TIP-INS

Knicks: Randle went 7 of 14 from 3-point range. … Immanuel Quickley scored 16 points and RJ Barrett had 14. … Robinson (right thumb) played for the first time since Jan. 18. He had 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Wizards: Beal scored 16 points and Delon Wright added 15.

UP NEXT

Knicks: Host New Orleans on Saturday night.

Wizards: At Chicago on Sunday.

HAWKS PULL AWAY IN 1ST HALF, ROUT CAVALIERS 136-119

ATLANTA (AP) The Atlanta Hawks returned from the All-Star break – and a coaching change – refreshed and motivated.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, playing on the second night of a back-to-back, couldn’t match Atlanta’s energy and drive.

Trae Young scored 34 points and the Hawks beat the Cavaliers 136-119 on Friday night in their first game under interim coach Joe Prunty.

Dejounte Murray had 15 of his 25 points in Atlanta’s high-scoring second period.

Darius Garland led the Cavaliers, who suffered their third straight loss, with 33 points. Donovan Mitchell had 19.

The Hawks played their first game since coach Nate McMillan was fired on Tuesday. The team had three practices, including a shootaround session on Friday morning, under Prunty, who had been McMillan’s lead assistant.

“Each night is a new experience, understanding a team that is fresh and newly motivated,” said Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who said that created a challenge for his players “being prepared to match that, and I don’t think we matched that enough. … We didn’t put up much resistance, especially in the first half.”

The Cavaliers lost to Denver 115-109 on Thursday night.

General manager Landry Fields said Wednesday that former Utah coach Quin Snyder is a candidate to replace McMillan. Snyder could be hired to take over the team this season.

Atlanta held its big lead of 32 points for the last time at 103-71 late in the third quarter before Cleveland pulled to within 13 points at 108-95 in the final period. Atlanta then reclaimed its momentum.

Murray missed his first five shots before making his next seven in the second period. The Hawks’ 49 points in the period were their most in any quarter this season. They led 81-57 at halftime, setting another season-high mark for points in an opening half.

“I think we were pushing the ball and playing fast and getting some 3s and getting some stops, too,” Young said. “It was a big effort tonight on the defensive end, for sure.”

Prunty said he worried his players would be rusty after the break and said “I was really impressed with our guys and how we started the game.”

BEY IMPRESSES

Saddiq Bey, acquired by Atlanta from Detroit on Feb. 9 as part of a three-team trade with Golden State, had 19 points while starting at power forward as a fill-in. John Collins (concussion protocol) did not play. The 6-foot-8 Bey, listed as a guard-forward, is thought to be best suited to play small forward but showed his versatility while filling in for Collins at power forward.

ROAD WOES

The Cavaliers, fourth in the Eastern Conference at 38-25, have good motivation to earn home-court advantage in the postseason. They fell to only 13-18 in road games to offset their 25-7 mark at home.

TIP-INS

Cavaliers: F Cedi Osman (lower back contusion) had 10 points in 17 minutes and G Ricky Rubio (knee management) logged 12 minutes, scoring 2 points after not playing in Thursday night’s game. … The Cavaliers also are being careful with F Danny Green, 35, in his ongoing recovery from left knee surgery. Green signed with the Cavaliers on Feb. 15 after being bought out by Houston and had three points in 11 minutes. Speaking of Green’s role in the postseason, coach J.B. Bickerstaff said before the game the goal is “to make sure he’s ready when we need him most.”

Hawks: G Bogdan Bogdanovic passed 5,000 career points while sinking back-to-back 3s early in the second period. It was part of a string of four consecutive Atlanta baskets by Bogdanovic, who had 10 points. …. Onyeka Okongwu recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. … Collins suffered the head injury in a collision with New York Knicks F Julius Randle on Feb. 15 in Atlanta’s last game before the All-Star break.

UP NEXT

Cavaliers: Host Toronto on Sunday.

Hawks: Host Brooklyn on Sunday.

GIANNIS EXITS EARLY WITH KNEE ISSUE; BUCKS RIP HEAT 128-99

MILWAUKEE (AP) The Milwaukee Bucks sure didn’t let Giannis Antetokounmpo’s early exit bother them Friday night as they rolled to their most-lopsided victory of the season.

Now they wait to learn whether they might have to continue playing without the two-time MVP

Antetokounmpo left late in the first quarter with a right knee issue to spoil his rapid recovery from a sprained wrist, but the Bucks still trounced the Miami Heat 128-99 for their 13th consecutive triumph.

“I haven’t gotten the full breakdown, but I’m pretty sure either on a a drive or on a screen or something like that, he knocked knees with somebody and just wasn’t able to return,” said Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer, who had no update beyond that.

Antetokounmpo was in the starting lineup just four days after heading to New York to have his right wrist examined.

“Sometimes you have to stop him from himself, being able to calm down and maybe even not play a couple of games, knowing that we’re No. 2 (in the East), knowing that we’re all right,” said Jrue Holiday, who had 24 points. “I know he doesn’t like it. He tries to play every single game, which I completely understand. I feel like I’m the same way.”

Antetokounmpo was on the floor late in the first quarter when the two-time MVP passed the ball and immediately motioned to the bench as the Bucks called a timeout to enable him to head to the locker room.

He had four points, four rebounds and four assists in just six minutes.

The Bucks still had no trouble extending the longest winning streak in the NBA this season. The Bucks pulled ahead for good four minutes into the game and rolled to their most lopsided victory of the season.

“It didn’t slow them down one bit when Giannis went out,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “They just put it in overdrive.”

Holiday shot 5 of 9 from 3-point range, had seven assists and five rebounds. He drew perhaps his biggest ovation of the night when the scoreboard video caught him joining the crowd singalong to the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” during a timeout late in the fourth quarter.

“That’s a classic song,” Holiday said. “And we were winning. So good vibes.”

Bobby Portis had 18 points and 11 rebounds in his return from a sprained right medial collateral ligament that caused him to miss 11 games. Brook Lopez had 17 points, Grayson Allen 16 and Khris Middleton 12.

“It was fun just to be out there, fun just to play the game I love to play,” Portis said.

Jimmy Butler scored 23, Bam Adebayo 18, Tyler Herro 14 and Caleb Martin 13 for the Heat, who shot just 9 of 40 on 3-point attempts.

TIP-INS

Heat: Kevin Love and Cody Zeller made their Heat debuts after signing with Miami during the All-Star break. Love, who had reached a buyout with the Cleveland Cavaliers, was in the starting lineup but went scoreless in his first game appearance in a month. He did have eight rebounds and four assists in 22 minutes. Zeller was playing his first game of the season and had 10 points in 16 minutes.

Bucks: Jae Crowder, acquired at the trade deadline, made his 2022-23 debut and had nine points in 16 minutes. Crowder hadn’t played at all for Phoenix this season as the Suns attempted to deal him. … Meyers Leonard, who signed a 10-day contract this week, had five points and six rebounds in 15 minutes while playing his first NBA game since January 2021. … Pat Connaughton (left calf soreness) and Wesley Matthews (right calf strain) didn’t play.

UP NEXT

Heat: At Charlotte on Saturday. The Heat are 2-1 against the Hornets this season with the home team winning each of the three games.

Bucks: Host Phoenix on Sunday in the first matchup of the season between the teams. The Bucks and Suns will face off again March 14 in Phoenix.

LAVINE, DEROZAN LEAD BULLS TO 131-87 ROUT OF NETS

CHICAGO (AP) Zach LaVine scored 32 points on 12-of-17 shooting and the Chicago Bulls drubbed the Brooklyn Nets 131-87 on Friday night to snap a six-game skid.

Chicago held Brooklyn to a season low in points; its previous worst was 92 in a loss to Boston in December. The Nets lost by their biggest margin this season, one point worse than a defeat by the Celtics on Feb. 1.

Nikola Vucevic and Andre Drummond each had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls. All-Star DeMar DeRozan and Patrick Williams each scored 17 points.

The Bulls, who moved within 1 1/2 games of 10th place and the final play-in spot in Eastern Conference, stormed ahead early and never slowed down.

“I think that’s what we have to do from here on out and throw everything at these last 22 games because we understand where we are,” LaVine said. “We have to put that type of energy into it.”

The Bulls opened a 101-51 lead early in the fourth quarter.

“I thought collectively as a group, the group was pretty connected on both ends with the way they played,” Chicago coach Billy Donovan said.

Cam Thomas came off the bench to lead the Nets with 22 points. Seth Curry had 19 and Mikal Bridges scored 13.

Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith are trying to integrate as starters for the Nets, who acquired them earlier this month in the trades of All-Stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

“We really have to be the hardest-playing team in the NBA,” Brooklyn coach Jacque Vaughn said. “When we don’t, this can happen.

“I’m going to continue to challenge our guys that this is unacceptable as a group. I want them to own it and respond.”

The Bulls scored the first 11 points, built a 34-point lead at the half and thoroughly dominated the sloppy and cold-shooting Nets in the first game for both teams since the All-Star break.

“I thought our effort to get out there and contest and challenge shots and try to make it difficult was good,” Donovan said. “I thought the group that started the game was really good.”

The Bulls outshot the Nets 56.8% to 37% from the floor, dominated in the paint and out-rebounded them 57-31. Brooklyn, which has lost three of four, committed 13 turnovers and Chicago had six steals to fuel a wave of fast breaks.

DeRozan started after missing last two games with right quadriceps strain and was able to rest down the stretch. He scored eight points for Team Giannis in the All-Star Game last Sunday.

The Bulls led 63-29 in at the half, holding Brooklyn to its lowest output in a half this season and its worst-scoring quarter, 11 points in the second.

BEVERLEY COMES HOME

Veteran point guard Patrick Beverley scored eight points in his Bulls debut. The Chicago native was signed on Tuesday to help solidify the position with Lonzo Ball out for the season because of lingering discomfort in his surgically repaired left knee, and Donovan chose to start him.

“I thought maybe we needed a different energy, try to switch things up,” Donovan said. “I thought our team needed a jolt, so to speak.”

Beverley is a three-time All-NBA Defensive Team selection. He averaged 6.4 points in 45 games for the Lakers this season before getting dealt to Orlando, which waived him.

VAUGHN IN CHARGE

It was Vaughn’s first game since the team gave him a multi-year contract extension on Tuesday. He took over early this season after the Nets fired Steve Nash.

TIP-INS

Nets: G Ben Simmons missed the game and will sit out at least one more with left knee soreness. Simmons had practiced the last two days, but Vaughn said the team decided to put him “in a strengthening phase” to avoid a reoccurrence.

Bulls: G Goran Dragic sat out his third game with a left knee injury.

UP NEXT

Nets: At Atlanta on Sunday.

Bulls: Host Washington on Sunday.

LAMELO BALL HELPS HORNETS BEAT TIMBERWOLVES 121-113

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) LaMelo Ball had 32 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and the dagger 3-pointer down the stretch to lead the Charlotte Hornets past the Minnesota Timberwolves 121-113 on Friday night.

Gordon Hayward added a season-high 27 points and 13 rebounds and P.J. Washington had in 20 points for the Hornets. They won their third straight overall and stopped a seven-game road skid, handing the Timberwolves yet another setback against an opponent buried in the standings.

“We’ve got a whole lot of talent on the team. Everybody can score. Everybody can shoot,” said Ball, who bested Minnesota All-Star Anthony Edwards in this battle of two of the top three picks in the 2020 draft. Edwards had 29 points and eight rebounds, bringing the Wolves to life in the fourth quarter and on the verge of avoiding a second damaging loss to the lottery-bound Hornets.

But after Edwards hit a spin-dribble jumper on Ball for a 104-102 lead with 6:41 left, Ball answered with a step-back 3-pointer to put Charlotte back in front.

Hayward’s tip-in with 2:11 remaining gave the Hornets a 112-109 advantage. With 1:21 to go, Hayward passed up his own shot in the paint and dished to the top of the key for Ball’s fifth 3-pointer of the game and a 117-111 lead.

“He certainly isn’t afraid of any moment. It’s been fun to watch him develop over these last three years,” Hayward said.

Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Mike Conley scored 15 points and Nickiel Alexander-Walker added 13 points for the Wolves, who were lacking focus and foul-happy on defense and watched the Hornets go 25 for 28 from the free-throw line.

“We’re capable of doing it. That’s why it’s more disappointing than anything,” Conley said. “We’ve just got to stop gambling, stop reaching, stop giving them opportunities at the free-throw line.”

Kelly Oubre Jr. returned for the Hornets from a 24-game absence with his recovery from left hand surgery complete. Oubre, one of three 20-points-per-game scorers on the squad, had eight points in 23 minutes off the bench.

“We had some timely buckets for sure,” Hayward said, “but more than anything we got the stops when we needed them, which has kind of been a problem for us all year.”

Same for the Wolves, who had a lot more riding on this. They emerged from their break in seventh place in the Western Conference, with just two fewer wins than the fourth-place Clippers and only two fewer losses than the 13th-place Lakers in this absurdly crowded race for the playoffs.

The Wolves have only seven of their last 20 games at home, the fewest left in the league, with a daunting majority of their remaining schedule against teams currently above the postseason cut. That might not hurt them, though. They’re 5-8 against the five worst teams in the NBA: Houston, San Antonio, Detroit, Charlotte and Orlando.

The Hornets, who beat the Wolves 110-108 at home on Nov. 25, shot 56% from the field in the first half for a 72-64 lead.

“Defense, I think that’s the main thing we need to be able to bank on,” Edwards said. “Every night we need to know that our defense is going to be there.”

TOWNS STILL DOWN

Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns was sidelined for the 41st straight game with a calf strain, an injury that still lacks a clear timetable for his return.

“He’s definitely in the final stages. He’s itching to play,” coach Chris Finch said. “I don’t think that it’s a question of anything like going off path right now.”

TIP-INS

Hornets: Ball set a career best with his fifth straight double-double. His season highs are 33 points and 12 rebounds. … The Hornets improved to 9-25 on the road.

Timberwolves: Naz Reid had 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench. … Backup PF Taurean Prince was out for personal reasons.

UP NEXT

Hornets: Host Miami on Saturday night, starting a four-game homestand.

Timberwolves: Play at Golden State on Sunday night, starting a four-game trip to face each of the four California teams. They play at home again in 10 days.

THOMPSON SCORES 42 POINTS, WARRIORS BEAT ROCKETS 116-101

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Only last week ahead of the All-Star break did Klay Thompson even receive medical clearance to play on back-to-back nights, 13 months after his return from a more than 2 1/2-year absence recovering from knee and Achilles surgeries.

He is flourishing again as he defiantly promised he would.

Thompson scored 42 points and matched his season high with 12 3-pointers, leading the undermanned Golden State Warriors past the Houston Rockets 116-101 on Friday night.

“I don’t like to talk about vintage me or am I my old self?” Thompson said. “I just think I’m being myself and I was capable of these things in the past and as long as my wrists still work, my feet work, I’ll forever be able to shoot the rock.”

It was Thompson’s third career game with 12 or more 3s – NBA career 3-point leader Stephen Curry has done so twice, and Thompson let him know it.

“It was one of those nights I had the hot hand,” he said. “It felt great, I can’t lie to you all.”

Donte DiVincenzo added 15 points as the Warriors hung tough in the second game of a road-home back-to-back following a 124-111 loss at the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night. Jordan Poole’s 38-footer beat the halftime buzzer to put Golden State ahead 66-49 at the break, and he scored 15.

KJ Martin had 22 points and eight rebounds, TyTy Washington Jr. scored 15 and Jae’Sean Tate 14 for the NBA-worst Rockets (13-46), who lost their eighth straight and fifth in a row on the road.

Thompson shot 12 for 19 – all of his made shots coming from long range – and helped Golden State get rolling beginning the second on a 18-5 burst to build a 44-31 lead. Two off his career best for 3-pointers and four points shy of his season high, Thompson sat down for good to a roaring ovation with 1:41 remaining.

“He was brilliant tonight and it’s just so great to see him now at the point where he can do this,” said coach Steve Kerr, who challenged Thompson to be a better rebounder. “I’m really happy for Klay, he’s put in the work. I really loved the fact he got seven rebounds.”

The Warriors had lost two straight and four of five, but won their sixth of seven at home.

Kevon Looney grabbed 13 rebounds for his fifth straight game with at least that many. He had been the first to do so in four consecutive games since Andrew Bogut in 2014.

Draymond Green had been listed as probable with a bruised right knee but didn’t play, leaving the defending champions down three starters with Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins also missing. Green is likely to return Sunday.

Curry, the reigning NBA Finals MVP, has sat out the past seven games with a left leg injury after getting hurt against Dallas on Feb. 4 in a collision while defending McKinley Wright IV as he drove to the basket. Wright’s knee hit Curry’s shin. An MRI exam showed partial tears to his superior tibiofibular ligament and interosseous membrane in his left leg. He also had a bruise.

Rookie Patrick Baldwin Jr. added 11 points with three 3s. The Warriors’ nine straight victories in the series marks their longest winning streak ever against Houston.

HEALING PASTOR

Longtime Warriors and 49ers team pastor Earl Smith is healing from being hit by an Uber driver while attending the All-Star Game in Utah. His left hand is in a soft cast and he’s wearing a walking boot on his right foot.

“I’m doing better,” Smith said by text to the AP. “I would appreciate all the positive prayers. Thank you.”

TIP-INS

Rockets: Houston limited its first-half turnovers to four and committed just seven for the game to Golden State’s 19 that led to 24 Rockets points. … Houston hasn’t beaten the Warriors since a 135-105 win on Feb. 20, 2020, and has dropped five in a row on the Warriors’ home floor. … The Rockets are 7-32 vs. the Western Conference, including 2-20 away from Houston.

Warriors: Golden State missed scoring at least 122 points in a seventh straight home game. … Wiggins missed his third straight game while dealing with a family matter. Kerr isn’t sure when Wiggins will return. … The Warriors had scored at least 120 points in each of the previous three meetings with the Rockets. … Golden State played its 13th set of back-to-backs.

UP NEXT

Rockets: At Portland on Sunday night having lost the two previous matchups this season.

Warriors: Host the Timberwolves on Sunday night.

DEVIN BOOKER SCORES 25 POINTS, SUNS BEAT THUNDER 124-115

PHOENIX (AP) The Phoenix Suns are still looking forward to the debut of recently acquired superstar Kevin Durant.

While they wait, Devin Booker isn’t a bad backup plan.

Booker scored 25 points, Chris Paul added 16 and the Phoenix Suns beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 124-115 on Friday night.

Booker’s had his own injury problems this season, missing chunks of time with hamstring and groin issues. He got back on the floor a few weeks ago and looks back to his old high-scoring self.

“I feel great,” Booker said. “I’m trying to get wind all the way back. Games like this are important for that. When you have injuries to the lower half of your body, you can’t really condition.”

Surging Phoenix has won 12 of 16.

Terrence Ross made a 3-pointer at the third quarter buzzer to put the Suns up 94-87. Phoenix led the rest of the way and Booker’s 3-pointer with two minutes left gave the Suns an 11-point lead.

It also gave the three-time All-Star 1,052 career 3-pointers, which broke Steve Nash’s franchise record.

Isaiah Joe led Oklahoma City with a career-high 28 points. The third-year guard shot 11 of 17, including 6 of 12 from 3-point range. Jalen Williams added 22 points.

“Teammates were finding me, I was in the right position, knocking down shots,” Joe said.

The Suns are still awaiting the debut of Durant, who was dealt to the desert by the Brooklyn Nets just before the trade deadline. Durant is recovering from a sprained MCL in his right knee but is expected to return soon.

The Thunder also were without a key piece – All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed the game with right ankle soreness.

“I thought our offense kept us in the game tonight,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “We had a hard time getting a handle in them defensively. They did a really good job attacking.”

Even without Durant, the Suns showed impressive depth. Josh Okogie scored 15 points, Deandre Ayton added 14 points and 11 rebounds and Cam Payne scored 14 points off the bench in his return from a foot injury.

“He brought a level of juice tonight that we needed,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “The shot making, the quick attacking to the paint and then defensively, I thought he was a pest.”

Okogie scored 15 points as the Suns took a 65-60 halftime lead. Joe had 21 points for the Thunder before the break on 8-of-11 shooting, going 5 of 8 from 3-point range.

DURANT CLOSE

Durant appears close to making his Suns debut.

The 13-time All-Star played in a scrimmage on Thursday at the team’s facility and Williams said the veteran’s body responded well. He was also working out on the court before Friday’s game.

Durant was dealt to the Suns two weeks ago in a blockbuster deal that sent Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four first-round picks back to the Nets.

WAINRIGHT SIGNS DEAL

Forward Ish Wainright signed a multi-year contract before the game.

The backup has emerged as a useful piece in the Suns rotation this season, averaging 4.3 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. The muscular 6-foot-5, 235-pounder played basketball and a year of football in college at Baylor.

Wainright had 10 points against the Thunder.

TIP-INS

Thunder: F Dario Saric returned to Phoenix for the first time since he was traded to Oklahoma City. He was a key part of the rotation when the Suns made the Finals in 2021. The Suns honored Saric with a highlight montage during a timeout in the first quarter.

Suns: Payne was available for just the third time since mid-December. He’s been battling a foot injury. The backup point guard hit his first 3-pointer of the night, earning a big roar from the home crowd. … G Landry Shamet (right foot soreness) was not available. … Hosted a 57th straight sellout crowd.

UP NEXT

Thunder: Host Sacramento on Sunday.

Suns: At to Milwaukee on Sunday.

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS

TEMPERS FLARE AT FINISH AS NO. 16 XAVIER ROUTS SETON HALL

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Souley Boum and Colby Jones gave No. 16 Xavier a much-needed victory in a game that ended ugly.

Boum scored 23 points, Jones had 19 and the two combined on a decisive run early in the second half in leading the Musketeers to an 82-60 win over Seton Hall on Friday night.

With a few seconds remaining, players from both teams came together in front of the scorer’s table after Boum and Seton Hall freshman guard Jaquan Sanders started jawing. Coaches and teammates did their best to separate the two, but for a moment it appeared things would escalate.

Seton Hall coach Shaheen Holloway was unhappy about a 3-pointer Boum attempted with Xavier ahead 82-57 with 22 seconds to play. Holloway waved his arms and would not shake hands with Xavier coach Sean Miller after the game.

Boum and Sanders were given technical fouls. Seton Hall forward KC Ndefo, who had fouled out, was ejected for leaving the bench.

Boum said Pirates players were acting tough in the closing seconds and his team was not going to stand for it.

“Just two teams getting after it,” Boum said after Xavier (21-8, 13-5 Big East) won for the second time in five games. “Those (guys) act like they’re tough and all that. But I’m not going for that. This team is not going for that. We’re not going to let nobody punk us on or off the court.”

Miller said he didn’t know what happened at the end and he was just happy to get a win. He downplayed the Holloway brushoff.

“I don’t have problems with any coaches,” Miller said.

Holloway apologized for the way the game ended.

“That should never happen. As the head coach, I take full responsibility for that. My guys gotta do better, I gotta do better, it will never happen again,” Holloway said, adding his team got beat in all phases and no one played well enough to be interviewed.

Adam Kunkel added 13 points for the Musketeers, who played without second-leading scorer and top rebounder Zach Freemantle for the seventh straight game.

Freemantle is making progress and Miller hopes he will be ready for the Big East Tournament.

Dre Davis scored 13 points off the bench to lead Seton Hall (16-13, 9-9). Sanders equaled his career high with 11. The Pirates played without point guard Kadary Richmond, sidelined by a back injury.

After both teams struggled for the opening eight minutes, Xavier took the lead for good with a 24-7 spurt. Kunkel ignited the surge with a desperation 3-pointer as the shot clock expired and Boum added eight of his 13 first-half points and three assists.

Trailing 40-21 at halftime, Seton Hall threatened to make it a game in the opening minutes of the second half by starting with a 12-1 run to pull to 41-33 on Femi Odukale’s basket inside.

Boum hit a 3 to start the decisive Xavier spurt and Jones followed with a three-point play and two free throws in helping the Musketeers open a 53-33 lead. It only got worse for the Pirates after that.

“We had an answer,” Boum said. “We ain’t got time to give a team momentum like that. That first four minutes was 12-1. We can’t do that, especially on the path that we are on. But I’m glad we handled it. We bounced back, we took the punches and we did what we’re supposed to.”

BIG PICTURE

Xavier: The Musketeers broke a three-way tie for second place in the Big East, moving a half-game ahead of Creighton and Providence. With two regular-season games remaining, they are 1 1/2 behind Marquette, which has three games left. Xavier has clearly done enough to make the NCAA Tournament, but the team needs Freemantle back. Seton Hall made its brief comeback when it got the ball inside.

Seton Hall: The sixth-place Pirates have lost four of five, putting their NCAA Tournament hopes in serious jeopardy.

UP NEXT

Xavier: Plays at No. 20 Providence on Wednesday.

Seton Hall: Will host Villanova on Tuesday.

KERMIT DAVIS IS OUT AS OLE MISS MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) Mississippi coach Kermit Davis’s tenure is over, his team mired in a four-game losing streak and in last place in the Southeastern Conference standings.

Ole Miss Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Keith Carter said Friday the school and Davis “have mutually agreed to part ways effective immediately.”

Davis has gone 74-79 in five seasons at Ole Miss, which is 10-18 and 2-13 in SEC games.

“We thank Coach Davis for his dedication to the Ole Miss basketball program and our student-athletes,” Carter said in a statement. “No one wanted to bring a title home to Mississippi more than him, and we appreciate the passion for that goal that he shared with our team every day.”

Assistant coach Win Case will serve as acting head coach for the rest of the season.

Davis began his Ole Miss tenure by leading the Rebels to a 20-13 record and NCAA Tournament berth in the 2018-19 season and earning SEC coach of the year honors. Ole Miss made the NIT in 2021.

Before Ole Miss, Davis was at Middle Tennessee State, and is still its winningest coach.

His Division I career record as a head coach is 477-316, and he led Ole Miss, MTSU and Idaho to NCAA Tournament berths.

“My family and I are extremely thankful for the opportunity to lead the Ole Miss men’s basketball program the past five years,” Davis said, calling Oxford “a special place to live and work.”

Carter said a national search has started.

“As we have seen in the past, Ole Miss basketball is capable of competing for and winning championships, and we are determined to find the right leader to help us reach our greatest potential,” he said. “Over the last 15 years, we have invested in the sport as much as any school in the country.

“That commitment, the passion of Rebel Nation and the opportunity to be a part of this great university makes our head coaching position a job that will attract top candidates.”

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NO. 7 TERRAPINS WIN 6TH STRAIGHT, DOWN NO. 16 BUCKEYES 76-74

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Abby Meyers matched her season high by scoring 24 points and No. 7 Maryland finished the regular season on a six-game winning streak with a 76-74 victory over No. 16 Ohio State on Friday night.

Lavender Briggs’ 3-pointer was part of an 8-0 run midway through the fourth quarter that gave the Terrapins (24-5, 15-3 Big Ten) a 73-69 lead.

Maryland then held off a late push from Ohio State (23-6, 12-6), which tied it at 73 with over three minutes left.

Meyers made a layup with 2:45 remaining to help Maryland regain the lead – an advantage the Terrapins wouldn’t relinquish as both teams went scoreless for the next two-plus minutes. Meyers missed a free throw, but made her second to make it a 76-74 lead with 11 seconds left.

Rikki Harris missed a pair of free throws with 10 seconds to go and the Buckeyes’ final shot went in after the buzzer had already signaled the finish.

“We practice all the time, 5 seconds left, this is where we get back to our fundamentals,” said Meyers, who tied a season high with 11 field goals and added six rebounds and three steals. “Switching defense, high hands, don’t foul, make them make the really great play. We were able to win by a little bit and that’s all that matters.”

Meyers felt she was playing in the most fun game of her basketball career when she headed to Maryland’s sideline with her legs aching.

“Five seconds left and they had it out of bounds, and I come running and both my calves are just cramping,” Meyers said.

Cramps subdued, Meyers and the Terrapins had other plans as they beat Ohio State for the second time this season.

Brinae Alexander and Diamond Miller added 16 points apiece for the Terrapins, who had already earned a double bye in next week’s Big Ten Tournament.

“That felt like a game that you would see in (the) postseason here in March,” Maryland coach Brenda Frese said. “The mentality of being able to make one more play and just so many elements there of like Ohio State wanting redemption in our game and the emotions of that and being senior night.

“But I just thought just getting one more stop, and just you’ve seen how much we’ve grown as a team.”

Cotie McMahon led the Buckeyes with 20 points, while Taylor Mikesell added 18, Taylor Thierry 16 and Rebeka Mikulasikova 13.

The Terrapins, who led 38-33 at the break, shot 52% in the first half to Ohio State’s 48%.

“I thought both teams played really hard and competed at a high level,” Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff said. “I’m disappointed for our team that when you put that much into it and our competitive spirit was terrific, our togetherness, all the intangibles were great. They just made one more play than we did.”

THE FINAL SEQUENCE

Thierry missed the final jump shot that counted and McMahon tipped it in after the buzzer and review, and the Terrapins’ defense hung on just long enough to secure their seventh win against ranked teams this season.

“I think it’s obviously hard anytime you’re on the road, and they really started driving us and drawing a lot of fouls,” Frese said. “They’ve gained so much confidence defensively because when we needed to get some of those late game stops, we were able to get it.”

BIG PICTURE

Maryland: After holding the country’s top scoring offense to 68 points in their win Tuesday over Iowa, the Terrapins defense had few answers for Ohio State. They allowed the Buckeyes to shoot 46% from the field, but kept them scoreless long enough to claim the win.

Ohio State: The Buckeyes will enter the conference tournament having lost one of their final three. They closed the regular season 4-6 in their final 10 games after starting the season 19-0, a program record.

UP NEXT

Maryland: Meyers and the Terrapins will have either the No. 2 or 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.

Ohio State: The Buckeyes will have the No. 4 seed and a double bye in the conference tournament, which begins Wednesday.

IN NIL-ERA FIRST, NCAA GIVES MIAMI PROBATION FOR VIOLATION

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) Miami was placed on probation for one year on Friday after the school and the NCAA said women’s basketball coaches inadvertently helped arrange impermissible contact between a booster and two players who signed with the Hurricanes.

It’s first time the NCAA has announced a penalty related to an investigation into name, image and likeness deals – NIL, as they are called.

The NCAA probed the actions of booster John Ruiz, who has signed several Miami athletes to NIL deals. Among them are women’s basketball players Haley and Hanna Cavinder, who transferred to Miami after meeting with Ruiz – though the Cavinders told the NCAA the meeting had nothing to do with their decision to play for the Hurricanes.

The NCAA and Miami worked through a “negotiated resolution” to end the saga, but the NCAA wanted the Hurricanes to agree to more sanctions than what were ultimately handed down – saying it was “troubled” by “the absence of a disassociation of the involved booster.” The NCAA said the violation stemmed from Miami coach Katie Meier having helped facilitate a meeting between the Cavinders and Ruiz, unaware that he was a booster.

“Boosters are involved with prospects and student-athletes in ways the NCAA membership has never seen or encountered,” the NCAA said. “In that way, addressing impermissible booster conduct is critical, and the disassociation penalty presents an effective penalty available to the (committee on infractions).”

Meier will not have to miss any more games; she served a three-game suspension to start the season in anticipation of the NCAA’s ruling.

The NCAA never named Ruiz in its ruling Friday, but referenced an April 13 tweet posted by a booster that included a photo of him and two recruits. On that date, Ruiz posted a photo of himself with the Cavinder twins after a dinner at his home.

“These girls decided where to go, no one else did it for them,” Ruiz tweeted Friday.

The Cavinders, who have an enormous social media following and several NIL deals, signed their letter of intent about a week after the dinner. They are not subject to any sanctions. Both are in their first season with the Hurricanes after transferring from Fresno State.

“Although the parties asserted that a disassociation penalty would be inappropriate based on an impermissible meal and an impermissible contact, today’s new NIL-related environment represents a new day,” the NCAA said.

Meier said Friday in a statement distributed by the university that she has led programs “with integrity” and has been “a collaborative partner with the NCAA.”

“Collegiate athletics is in transformation, and any inadvertent mistake I made was prior to a full understanding of implemented guardrails and the clarification issued by the NCAA in May,” Meier said.

The NCAA said it started an investigation in May, and interviewed Ruiz in June. But the NCAA cannot order Miami to disassociate itself from Ruiz based on a meeting that occurred before rules were changed last year.

“The (committee on infractions) will strongly consider disassociation penalties in future cases involving NIL-adjacent conduct,” the NCAA said.

Miami agreed to various other minor sanctions, such as a small fine – $5,000, plus 1% of the women’s basketball budget, which the school does not release as a private institution – and a slight reduction in what’s allowed in recruiting.

“The sanctions that we ultimately agreed to, to bring this to a close, are not (commensurate) with the violation or its intent,” Miami said in a statement. “Coach Meier is an outstanding coach, role model, teacher … and we stand fully behind her, her program and our ongoing departmental compliance efforts.”

The Cavinders became stars of the NIL phenomenon as soon as it became an option for college athletes on July 1, 2021. Boost Mobile signed them immediately, touting that move with a giant advertisement in New York’s Times Square. Many other deals soon followed.

Meier is Miami’s all-time leader in women’s basketball wins with 338, not including the three games the Hurricanes won without her this season – the NCAA says those cannot be included in her record. She is a past Associated Press coach of the year and a past USA Basketball coach of the year and is a member of the Miami Sports Hall of Fame and the Hall of Honor at Duke, her alma mater.

NFL NEWS

CHIEFS PROMOTE NAGY TO OLD JOB AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Kansas City Chiefs promoted Matt Nagy to offensive coordinator to replace the departed Eric Bieniemy on Friday, giving him the job he held before departing Andy Reid’s staff for an opportunity as the head coach in Chicago.

Nagy spent two seasons directing the Chiefs’ offense with Alex Smith at quarterback. He then spent four seasons with the Bears, going 34-31 in the regular season and winning the NFC North in 2018, before he was fired after a 6-11 season in 2021. He returned to the Chiefs as their quarterbacks coach.

Bieniemy had been the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator the past five seasons, but was passed over numerous times for head coachings jobs. The perception has been that Reid had the majority of the say in Kansas City’s offense.

Partly in response to that, Bieniemy left Kansas City after its win over the Eagles in the Super Bowl to take the offensive coordinator job in Washington, where he will have more responsibility and call the offensive plays.

NHL NEWS

NYLANDER SCORES IN OVERTIME AS MAPLE LEAFS BEAT WILD 2-1

TORONTO (AP) William Nylander scored 1:05 into overtime, and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Minnesota Wild 2-1 on Friday night.

David Kampf also scored for Toronto (36-15-8), and Ilya Samsonov made 24 saves. Nylander added an assist to give him 70 points on the season.

The Maple Leafs improved to 6-8 in OT this season after starting an ugly 1-6. That forced coach Sheldon Keefe to tweak his approach in 3-on-3 by putting a defensive forward out to take the initial faceoff.

“Overtime was an issue for us,” Keefe said. “We changed our strategy a little bit in terms of how we started, how we deploy the guys. The luck has gone our way a little bit in terms of getting us more time with the puck.

“It’s given more opportunities for players like Will to make plays like that.”

Minnesota (32-21-6) had won four in a row, including a 2-0 victory at Columbus on Thursday. Brandon Duhaime scored for the Wild, and Filip Gustavsson made 22 stops.

“We liked everything about our game tonight – except missing one point,” Minnesota coach Dean Evason said.

The Leafs are set to head out on a five-game road trip that includes their annual swing through Western Canada. They won’t play again at Scotiabank Arena again until March 11.

“We’re going to be in a lot of those games down the stretch and in the playoffs,” Toronto defenseman Mark Giordano said of Friday’s razor-thin margin. “You gotta take what’s there and not force it, not get frustrated.”

Nylander stripped Frederick Gaudreau off the puck in the Minnesota zone and then dangled around Wild forward Matt Boldy before beating Gustavsson for his 33rd goal of the season.

“I knew there was a forward there,” Nylander said. “Just tried to take it to the net. I saw that he was kind of flat-footed.

“It was gonna be hard if I came with some speed.”

The Wild opened the scoring on a strange first-period sequence. Duhaime’s centering pass went off Toronto’s Calle Jarnkrok and sneaked by Samsonov for his seventh.

The Leafs responded before the period was over. Kampf got his sixth from in tight off a Nylander setup from behind the net.

Playing their first game against an opponent in a postseason spot at the start of play since Feb. 1 against Boston, the Leafs got a power play in the second, but came up empty.

The Leafs’ fifth-ranked man advantage got another opportunity with under eight minutes left in the third, but Gustavsson stopped a Nylander one-timer.

The Wild then got their first power play with less than four minutes remaining in regulation, only to have Samsonov and Toronto’s penalty killers hold firm.

MURRAY POISED TO RETURN

Keefe said before the game that goaltender Matt Murray (ankle) is expected to join the team at practice Saturday. The 28-year-old Murray hasn’t played since getting pulled Jan. 17 after allowing four goals on eight shots in a 5-4 overtime victory against Florida.

UP NEXT

Wild: Host Columbus on Sunday.

Maple Leafs: Visit Seattle on Sunday.

ANDERSON MAKES 53 SAVES, SKINNER POWERS SABRES PAST PANTHERS

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) Jeff Skinner scored twice and Craig Anderson made 53 saves against his former team to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-1 win over the Florida Panthers on Friday night.

The 41-year-old Anderson spent three seasons with the Panthers (2006-09) and still maintains a home a few miles north of their arena. He helped Buffalo get to 64 points and pull into a three-way tie for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with Detroit and Florida.

The Sabres have not been to the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2011 – the longest drought in the NHL.

“The mind just shut off and you worry about the next shot,” said Anderson, who made 26 saves in the third period.

“Whatever the shot clock got to, it got to. That is about as good a game as I have played in a while. I was good mentally as in being sharp and in the moment. And that is tough to do. This was a night where I did.”

Buffalo also got a power-play goal from Alex Tuch, and Tage Thompson had three assists.

Carter Verhaeghe scored his 31st of the season for the Panthers – who were playing without their two top centers in Aleksander Barkov and Sam Bennett due to injuries. Sergei Bobrovsky made 32 saves in the loss.

Buffalo, coming off an overtime win at Tampa Bay on Thursday night, took the lead at 3:51 of the second period when Skinner found himself alone at the right side of the net and scored on a pass from Thompson.

The Sabres made it 2-0 on Tuch’s goal, which came two minutes after Buffalo had a goal taken off the board due to video review showing Tuch was offside.

Florida finally got one past Anderson at 8:24 of the third period as Verhaeghe took a cross-ice pass from Anthony Duclair and fired a shot from the right circle.

“This was a huge home game and it is really disappointing to have the first two periods like that,” Verhaeghe said. “We’re in a playoff push and there is nothing we can do about it now. We have to be ready moving forward.”

Skinner got his second of the night and 24th of the season about two minutes later to give his team some breathing room again with a tough-angle shot from the goal line to beat Bobrovsky.

“I was pretty upset with them a couple games ago in between periods and said the only thing that matters now is grit and compete and pride,” Buffalo coach Don Granato said. “They take that to heart. This is a team with a lot of love for each other and what they’re doing and where we’re at in our community in Buffalo and they’ll fight for it. It’s nice to see.”

NOTES: For the first time this season, the Panthers had Duclair in their lineup. He had been out since having Achilles tendon surgery in July. . With Barkov and Bennett out, Florida recalled Grigori Denisenko and Zac Dalpe from its AHL team in Charlotte. Denisenko had been sent to Charlotte on Wednesday to help clear cap space for Duclair. . Florida goalie Spencer Knight will be away from the team for an undetermined amount of time after entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. . The Panthers also placed Givani Smith on long-term injured reserve after he was struck in the face by a puck Monday against Anaheim. . The Sabres made Rasmus Asplund, Jacob Bryson and Eric Comrie healthy scratches.

UP NEXT

Sabres: Host the Washington Capitals on Sunday afternoon.

Panthers: Visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night.

YLONEN, ALLEN LEAD CANADIENS OVER FLYERS 5-2

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Jesse Ylonen had a goal and an assist for his first career multipoint game, Jake Allen made 24 saves and the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2 on Friday night.

Chris Tierney, David Savard, Josh Anderson and Nick Suzuki also scored for Montreal, which followed up Tuesday’s impressive win over New Jersey with another solid performance.

“It was one of our best games of the year,” Anderson said. “We were really balanced tonight and it showed. When everybody’s in the right spot, it’s easy to play like that. It just looked like everybody was connected.”

Owen Tippett and Ivan Provorov scored for Philadelphia, which has lost seven of nine since the All-Star break. Carter Hart made 26 saves.

The game pitted two of the Eastern Conference’s worst teams, but the Canadiens looked like Stanley Cup contenders against Philadelphia.

“As a group, we were sluggish,” Flyers coach John Tortorella said.

Montreal skated circles around the Flyers in a dominating first period that ended with the home team being booed off the ice. The rest of the game pretty much followed that pattern.

“I think we were very organized for the whole game,” Ylonen said. “We played a very mature game, and even when we got the lead, we still kept doing the same thing, keeping it simple. So I think it was very good.”

The Canadiens peppered Hart during a power play early in the first, with Philadelphia’s goalie making strong saves on slap shots from Mike Hoffman and Rafael Harvey-Pinard to keep the game scoreless. But Montreal kept up the pressure and netted a pair of goals in the final 2:10 of the period to go in front 2-0.

Savard opened the scoring by shooting under Hart’s right arm from close range after a pretty chip pass from Hoffman set him up perfectly. Tierney gave the Canadiens a two-goal lead with 5 seconds left in the first. Michael Pezzetta won a battle behind the net and fed the puck in front to a wide-open Pezzetta.

“That’s a kick in the teeth,” Tortorella said.

Suzuki scored the only goal of the second on a power play for his team-leading 45th point. Montreal got the man-advantage when the Flyers’ Wade Allison received an instigation minor and 10-minute misconduct in addition to a fighting major for his scrap with Alex Belzile. It took just 19 seconds for the Canadiens to take advantage when Suzuki’s pass to the front of the net deflected off defenseman Provorov’s stick and high over Hart.

“We made plays that were there,” Anderson said. “We didn’t really force much. And we still played a smart game, too, when we needed to get it in and forecheck.”

Tippett gave the Flyers some life with a wrister that whizzed past Allen just 9 seconds into the third, but Ylonen answered with his first of the season on a deflection 6 1/2 minutes into the period.

The Canadiens pulled within two points of the Flyers, who have 56. Only Columbus, with 41 points, has less in the conference.

“I just think we were off tonight,” Philadelphia’s Scott Laughton said. “That wasn’t how we play. They played with the puck. We watched. Didn’t move our feet. They made us pay.”

NOTES: Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Brandon Graham pounded the drum the home club uses to get the fans cheering at the start of the contest. … Philadelphia leading scorer Travis Konecny (upper body) missed his second straight game. … Montreal forwards Joel Armia and Kirby Dach both sat out with illnesses. … Philadelphia dropped to 11-15-3 at home, while Montreal improved to 11-15-3 on the road.

UP NEXT

Canadiens: Play the second of a back-to-back at Ottawa on Saturday night.

Flyers: Play the second of a back-to-back at New Jersey on Saturday night.

RAANTA BLANKS SENATORS AS HURRICANES WIN 5TH STRAIGHT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Antti Raanta made 32 saves for his third shutout in 21 appearances this season, and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Ottawa Senators 4-0 on Friday night.

Brent Burns, Seth Jarvis, Martin Necas and Brady Skjei scored in Carolina’s fifth straight win and 12th in 13 games overall. Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho each had two assists.

“It’s nice when you get a good game and you feel you did your part,” said Raanta, who has won in five consecutive outings.

The Senators were blanked for the second time this season, and they went back-to-back games without a team point for the first time in more than a month. Those games were against the NHL’s top two teams, losing 3-1 at Boston on Monday.

Senators goalie Cam Talbot, who returned after a nine-game absence with a lower-body injury, stopped 26 shots.

Raanta has secured a team point in a franchise-record 14 consecutive decisions (12-0-2).

“He was, in my opinion, the best player on the ice,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said.

Ottawa peppered Raanta with 25 total shots across the last two periods.

“Second and third periods, (we) played hard and had lots of chances but their goalie was really good,” Senators coach D.J. Smith said.

The Burns goal was unconventional, with Jarvis cradled in the goal after he was pushed into Talbot. The shot from Burns whizzed past Jarvis’ head 3:48 into the first period for his 12th of the season.

“I was so scared to look up,” Jarvis said. “I didn’t know what was going on. I was in the net. I knew the play was still going on.”

Then Jarvis got his 13th goal at 6:29, handling the puck in front of the net before beating Talbot.

Carolina outshot Ottawa 12-1 in the first 10 minutes.

“It enabled us to kind of have an iffy rest of the game,” Brind’Amour said.

Necas increased the Hurricanes’ lead with 7:26 left, shortly after Carolina killed off Ottawa’s fifth power play of the game. Skjei scored into an empty net with 3:30 remaining.

The Hurricanes began the second period by finishing a penalty kill and then committed three penalties in the first nine minutes of the period. But Ottawa came up empty, even with some time with a 5-on-3 advantage.

“Guys were doing an amazing job there taking those backdoor passes away,” Raanta said. “When they had the shot, I was able to see it.”

The Senators arrived with the league’s fourth-best power play but couldn’t solve the Hurricanes, who have gone three straight games without allowing a power-play goal.

“The 5-on-3, we’ve got to find a way to score,” Smith said. “If you score there, you got them on their heels.”

FRIEND TO FOE

Former Carolina prospect Julien Gauthier played his second game with the Senators after a trade from the New York Rangers. He had Ottawa’s best scoring chance in the first period on a breakaway stopped by Raanta.

Gauthier has not registered a point in four career games versus the Hurricanes.

WORTH NOTING

The Hurricanes, who were without a power play for the first time this season Tuesday vs. St. Louis, had a first-period chance. … Ottawa had a restored blue line as defensemen Jake Sanderson and Nick Holden were back on the ice after missing five and four games, respectively, with injuries. … The teams will meet twice more, with both those games in April.

UP NEXT

Senators: Saturday night at Montreal.

Hurricanes: Saturday night vs. Anaheim to end a five-game homestand.

KINGS USE 3-GOAL SECOND PERIOD TO POWER PAST ISLANDERS 3-2

NEW YORK (AP) Phillip Danault, Arthur Kaliyev and Gabriel Vilardi scored in the second period and the Los Angeles Kings ended a two-game skid by defeating the New York Islanders 3-2 on Friday night.

Jonathan Quick made 16 saves for his 370th career victory, moving into 19th place on the NHL’s all-time list. Quick also surpassed Tom Barrasso for the third-most wins by a U.S.-born goaltender, trailing only John Vanbiesbrouck (374) and Ryan Miller (391).

“I immediately think of all the great teams I’ve been a part of,” Quick said. “Teammates, coaches – everyone had some influence on those wins. … The guys that are at the top of the list were unbelievable goaltenders for a long time, just to kind of be in a category with them is an honor and humbling.”

Noah Dobson and Adam Pelech scored, and Ilya Sorokin finished with 25 saves but the Islanders’ two-game winning streak ended as they fight for a playoff spot in a tightly contested Eastern Conference wild-card race.

The Kings scored their three goals in a span of 5:34 to take a 3-0 lead.

“We started to shoot the puck,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said, citing that as a key reason the game tilted in Los Angeles’ direction.

“The shot pulls people out of position,” he added. “I didn’t think we did enough of that in the third period. We held onto pucks, killed time, played on the outside, but there’s still opportunities to go to the goaltenders’ pads and we didn’t do it. But that was the momentum swing early in the game.”

Danault opened the scoring when he put home a rebound at 6:40 of the second frame after Viktor Arvidsson hammered a slap shot that Sorokin failed to swallow up. Mikey Anderson also assisted on the play.

Los Angeles took advantage of Sebastian Aho’s neutral zone miscue to double its lead 1:25 after Danault’s goal. Rasmus Kupari gained control of the puck misplayed by Aho and beautifully fed Kaliyev for the easy one-time finish.

“There are games when if you make a mistake, it ends up in the back of your net,” Islanders coach Lane Lambert said. “It’s that simple, and that’s what happened tonight on a couple of occasions.”

Vilardi notched his 18th of the season at 12:14 to cap the Kings’ assertive stretch. The 23-year-old forward launched a one-timer that sailed past the blocker of Sorokin.

Dobson helped the Islanders trim their deficit to two when he tallied a power-play goal at 16:34 of the second. On the previous shift, Kyle Palmieri’s individual effort allowed the Islanders to maintain possession in the offensive zone and eventually led to Sean Walker’s penalty.

The Kings outshot the Islanders 24-13 through the first 40 minutes.

Pelech pulled the Islanders to within one goal when he tossed a backhand shot to the top of the crease that deflected off Kings defenseman Matt Roy and past Quick at 15:23 of the third period. Matt Martin extended his point streak to four games with an assist on the play.

“I thought we played better tonight with a lead,” Danault said. “We were playing on our toes more than our heels.”

The teams will meet again in Southern California on March 14 to close out their season series.

IRON MAN

Zach Parise extended his consecutive games played streak to 145 games, making it the 19th-longest active streak in the NHL. Since joining the Islanders in October 2021, he has played in all 144 games with them.

UP NEXT

Islanders: Visit the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday.

Kings: Visit the New York Rangers on Sunday.

AVALANCHE BLITZ JETS EARLY, WIN 5-1 FOR 4TH STRAIGHT

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) Nathan MacKinnon scored 19 seconds in and the Colorado Avalanche got four goals on their first five shots Friday night in a 5-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets that extended their winning streak to four games.

MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and J.T. Compher each had a goal and an assist. Bowen Byram and Matt Nieto also scored for the Avalanche (32-19-5), who are 5-0-1 in their past six games and 12-2-2 in their last 16.

“We were rested and we got some good practice in this week,” said Compher, whose team last played at home Sunday in a 6-5 overtime victory against Edmonton.

“We were ready right from the puck drop and continued it for 60 minutes tonight.”

Alexandar Georgiev made 26 saves for Colorado, which has also won four straight on the road.

“Scored timely goals and played smart,” Georgiev said. “Managed to score some more in the second (period), and the third we shut them down completely.”

Mason Appleton had the goal for the Jets (35-23-1), who are 1-4-0 in their past five games.

Connor Hellebuyck stopped 21 of the 26 shots he faced in the opener of Winnipeg’s three-game homestand before he was replaced by David Rittich to start the third period. Rittich made 10 saves.

Earlier in the week, Jets coach Rick Bowness said this matchup against Winnipeg’s surging division rivals was the “most important game of the year.”

“Well, we were asleep to start the game. No question,” Bowness said. “So you talk to the players and get their opinion. We were clearly asleep.”

The Avalanche led 4-1 after the first and 5-1 following the second.

“From the first shift, you saw, obviously, they capitalized on their chances,” Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon said. “They were quicker to pucks. They were physical. We got humbled tonight.”

MacKinnon put Colorado ahead with his 20th goal of the season on a breakaway. It was the fastest game-opening goal by the Avalanche since MacKinnon scored 11 seconds in on Oct. 13, 2018.

“You want to give credit to them, they’re a really good hockey team, but we didn’t help ourselves tonight,” Appleton said. “We’re a really good hockey team when we want to be. We were not that tonight.”

Winnipeg tied it at 3:12 on the power play when Appleton tipped in Nate Schmidt’s drive from the point.

Rantanen made it 2-1 just 80 seconds later with his 37th of the season. He was followed by Compher three minutes later, and Byram bumped it to 4-1 at 10:58.

The Jets had their second power play in the final two minutes of the period, but didn’t get a shot on net.

Winnipeg changed its defensive pairings to start the second, but Nieto went to the front of the net and tapped in a pass from Compher to make it 5-1 at 10:59.

Colorado was 0 for 3 on the power play and Winnipeg went 1 for 5.

“Some time off this week to get some practice time in and some rest time, so that benefited us early in the game,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said.

“And then some really good discipline, structurally sound, made them earn all their chances. I thought we did a nice job on the defending side of it, moved the puck pretty efficiently tonight, so it turned out to be a pretty good performance for our group.”

PILING UP POINTS

MacKinnon has 14 points in a six-game point streak, including six goals. Compher has eight points in three games (two goals, six assists).

UP NEXT

Avalanche: Host the Calgary Flames on Saturday night.

Jets: Host the New York Islanders on Sunday.

MLB NEWS

PADRES SLUGGER MACHADO DRAWS FIRST PITCH CLOCK VIOLATION

(AP) — Tick, tock, Manny Machado. Better watch that pitch clock.

Baseball’s new timing device made its big league debut Friday during a limited schedule of spring training openers and wouldn’t you know it, it was Machado, the San Diego Padres’ All-Star slugger, not a pitcher, who was called for the first violation.

Machado found out the hard way that the pitch clock works both ways. He wasn’t fully in the batter’s box and facing Seattle Mariners left-hander Robbie Ray as the 15-second clock wound under 8 seconds in the bottom of the first inning in Peoria, Arizona. Umpire Ryan Blakney called time and signaled strike one against Machado, who finished second in last season’s NL MVP race.

Machado was hardly fazed. He singled on a 2-1 pitch and then collected another single his second time up.

Machado, who batted between fellow superstars Xander Bogaerts and Juan Soto, laughed about it afterward.

“Going into the record books, at least. That’s a good one. Not bad,” Machado said. “I might just be 0-1 if I can get two hits every game.”

If Major League Baseball was looking for immediate results from the new rules designed to improve pace of play, including the pitch clock, it got them. The Mariners won 3-2 in 2 hours, 29 minutes, which is fast for any game, spring or regular season. In nearby Surprise, the Kansas City Royals beat the Texas Rangers 6-5 in 2:33.

Padres manager Bob Melvin said he walked over to MLB officials Morgan Sword and Mike Hill afterward and said: “If this is going to be the pace of these games, I’m OK with it.”

The game “felt really fast at the beginning. Guys were looking at the clock, Manny makes history with the first infraction in major league history, another feather in his cap,” Melvin quipped. “During the course of this game we acclimated a little bit. So far, so good.”

With the pitch clock, players will have 30 seconds to resume play between batters. Between pitches, pitchers have 15 seconds with nobody on and 20 seconds if there is a baserunner. The pitcher must start his delivery before the clock expires. After a pitch, the clock starts again when the pitcher has the ball back, the catcher and batter are in the circle around home plate, and play is otherwise ready to resume.

Batters must be in the box and alert to the pitcher with at least 8 seconds on the clock. Batters can call time once per plate appearance, stopping the countdown.

When a pitcher doesn’t throw a pitch in time, the penalty is an automatic ball. When a batter isn’t ready in time, it’s an automatic strike.

“That time came by quick,” Machado said. “It’s definitely something we’re going to have to get used to. It kind of takes away your routine, being up there and zoning in before the pitch. The umpire gave me a little warning – `Hey, you got two seconds’ – but I was already late when I got in there.”

“You got 30 seconds and you got to be ready by eight. Forget about walk-up songs for real,” he added with a laugh. “It’s going to be interesting. I always tap the umpire for respect. Those things will start going out of the way.”

Batters can’t leave the box between pitches, “which I don’t mind,” Machado added. “You can just keep a foot in the box and gather yourself again.”

“Getting to the box is where it’s going to speed up guys,” Machado said. “Even pitchers, if you’re down 2-0 how are you going to catch a break and lock yourself back in without getting penalized? It’s the same thing going up there when you’re hitting.

“It’s going to be an interesting year. It’s going to be fun. Who knows where this leads? There’s going to be a lot of strategy that goes into this.”

Machado will play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, which won’t have a pitch clock.

“I’m going to take my time,” he said.

Padres starter Nick Martinez added that the clock will make things “a little tricky. Got to find some areas that I can save some time so I can get some time when I need it.”

Martinez said the clock will affect how pitches are called.

“Today the way to alleviate the pressure was having the PitchCom with me,” he said. “For the majority of the time (Luis Campusano) was calling the game but if I had a pitch that kind of stood out for me I just pressed it. I didn’t wait for him to call it, I was like `I want this one.’ I did it a few times. There are times when I like to slow the game down, so that’ll be interesting.”

Melvin said pitchers and batters will have to adjust as spring training moves along, especially those who go to the WBC and then return to MLB’s new rules.

“The one thing, guys are going to get a little bit tired working at this pace,” Melvin said. “Whether it’s starters, relievers throwing a lot of pitches, there’s going to be an endurance factor with this as well.”

RANGERS-ROYALS

Texas left-hander John King was called for a pitch clock violation in the bottom of the fifth, changing the count from 1-2 to 2-2. Umpire supervisor Mike Everitt was in the press box watching to see how the umpires were implementing the new rules as well as how the clock operators were doing. “That is a big job,” Everitt said.

MORE PITCH CLOCK MUSINGS

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he’s looking forward to the pitch clock when the Bronx Bombers open their spring schedule Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, Florida. The Yankees have had Triple-A umpires working the plate during simulated games.

“I think these last few days, grateful for the umpires that have come out here and helped us out in that regard,” he said. “I think it has been really valuable. It’s sparked more conversation around it, but now to get to start applying it in games obviously will serve us well. It’s important to get going.”

BIGGER BASES

Machado said the new bases, which are now 18-square inches, up from 15 inches, “weren’t too bad. I like the big base. They’ve got to be a little more consistent with how they were last year, the firmness, the grip of it. I definitely like the new ones with the bigger size.”

MEN’S GOLF

SUH LEADS, KIRK FIRES A 62 IN 2ND ROUND OF HONDA CLASSIC

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) There have been about 7,200 rounds played at the Honda Classic since it moved to PGA National 17 years ago.

Only two of those were better than the one turned in Friday by Chris Kirk.

Kirk shot an 8-under 62 in the second round, moving him to 9 under for the week and one shot behind Justin Suh (64) at the tournament’s midway point. Kirk had an eagle and six birdies, hitting 16 greens and taking advantage of no wind blowing in the morning – very rare for PGA National.

“Usually we’re playing for 15-, 20-plus yards of hurt going into the wind shots, and 15, 20 yards of help on downwind shots,” Kirk said. “It’s really difficult to get those just right when it’s really windy. But today there was hardly a breath most of the round, and so it became a little bit more target practice.”

Suh had four consecutive birdies on holes 8 through 11, rolling in putts from 5, 15, 25 and 30 feet in that span, to post a 36-hole total of 10-under 130.

“I think we’ve been trending in the right direction,” Suh said. “Every week I’ve been improving and just certain spots, and I think it’s gratifying just to see the progressive work pay off.”

There was no shortage of players taking dead aim. Ryan Gerard (63) and Ben Taylor (65) were tied for third at 8 under. Ben Martin (64), Eric Cole (66) and Brice Garnett (64) were all another shot back.

“Anything around here around that par or below, you can’t be too upset about,” said U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson, who celebrated his 47th birthday with a 67 to get to 5 under for the week.

Gerard was a Monday qualifier. This is only his second PGA Tour event as a pro, and his first made cut.

“I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else,” Gerard said. “This is my dream ever since I was a little kid, just playing PGA Tour events. I’m still on the road there, not officially made it yet, but I just really enjoy playing golf. I love everything about it. I love the competition. I love challenging myself. I love playing against the best players and seeing how I stack up.”

Shane Lowry shot his second consecutive 68, highlighted by a 57-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th – his ball staying on-line even after rolling over another player’s coin on its way to the hole.

Two players on the cut line couldn’t finish the final hole of their second rounds because of darkness. Brett Drewitt had 112 yards remaining after two shots on the par-5 18th; Pierceson Coody did not play the par-4 9th. Par or better will get them both to the weekend; bogey or worse will keep them from making the cut.

They were scheduled to resume their rounds Saturday morning.

DIVOTS: The only sub-62 rounds at the Honda since it moved to PGA National came from Brian Harman (2012) and Matt Jones (2021). Tiger Woods had a final-round 62 in 2012 at PGA National and finished tied for second, two shots back of Rory McIlroy. … Kyle Stanley hit his tee shot on the par-3 15th into the water, took a drop, then holed out with a wedge from 95 yards for par. … Jhonattan Vegas tapped in for birdie on 18 and made the cut on the number at 1-over 141. … Defending champion Sepp Straka had two birdies and 16 pars Friday. He’s 3 under. … Joseph Bramlett and Billy Horschel both shot 65 on Thursday to be in a tie for the lead; both shot 73 on Friday.

TOP INDIANA NEWS RELEASES

INDIANA PACERS

GAME PREVIEW: PACERS AT MAGIC

If the first game out of the All-Star break was any indication, the Indiana Pacers are coming into the final stretch of the 2022-2023 season fully revved up.

The Pacers (26-35) will need to put a 142-138 overtime loss to the first-place Boston Celtics in the rearview mirror as they commence a four-game road trip when they take on the Orlando Magic (25-35) on Saturday at Amway Center.

The Pacers are 2-1 against the Magic this season, with neither team dropping a home game. Indiana currently sits 12th in the Eastern Conference and the Magic are 13th.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Track the Latest Standings, Remaining Schedules, and More >>

While Orlando finished 2-1 against Indiana last season, the Blue & Gold have won 12 of their last 16 regular season meetings over the Magic and 28 of the last 36 overall.

The game will feature the two frontrunners for the 2023 Rookie of the Year award.

Bennedict Mathurin, the No. 6 overall pick in 2022 from the University of Arizona, is averaging 17.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists for the Pacers. For the Magic, Paolo Banchero, the No. 1 overall pick from Duke University, is averaging 19.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists.

In the Boston game, which had 22 lead changes, Indiana had a pair of chances to go up in the waning seconds of regulation but couldn’t get a game-winner to go. In overtime, the Celtics made five of seven shots from the field and seven of eight free throw attempts to get the edge.

“The level of battle and the level of fight was tremendous,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said after the game.

Against the Celtics on Thursday, Pacers center Myles Turner matched his career high by scoring 40 points, to go along with 10 rebounds, while point guard Tyrese Haliburton – fresh off his first All-Star Game appearance – had 22 points and 14 assists. Off the bench, Mathurin scored 19 points while pulling down seven boards and dishing out four dimes.

The Magic also played on Thursday, coming out with a 108-106 win over the Detroit Pistons (15-45) — the last-place team in the East.

Six players scored in double figures for the Magic in the victory, led by 21 points from Franz Wagner, 14 points and 14 rebounds by Wendell Carter Jr. and 11 points, six rebounds and six assists by Banchero.

A player that gave the Pacers some trouble in prior games this season is no longer with the Magic.

In the final regular season matchup, the Magic will be without 7-foot center Mo Bamba, as he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers prior to the deadline. While Orlando acquired Patrick Beverley in the trade, which involved four teams, the team bought out his contract before he ever took the floor.

Bamba had 21 points and nine rebounds in the first matchup between the Pacers and Magic and 15 points and four rebounds in the second, playing 33 minutes in both contests. In the third game between the two teams, he played just 12 minutes and recorded four points.

Going into Thursday’s games, both teams had clean bills of health, as neither team had a player listed as injured.

Projected Starters

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

Magic: G – Markelle Fultz, G – Gary Harris, F – Franz Wagner, F – Paolo Banchero, C – Wendell Carter Jr.

Injury Report

Pacers: None

Magic: None

Last Meeting

Jan. 25, 2023: The Pacers couldn’t overcome a 17-point first quarter deficit  in a 126-120 loss to the Magic at Amway Center.

Mathurin recorded a game-high 26 points while Banchero scored 23 for the Magic.

The Magic made 16 of 25 shots in the first quarter to take an early 46-29 lead before the Pacers narrowed the margin to 73-68 by halftime. The 46 points are the most given up by the Pacers in a first quarter this season.

While the Magic led 111-94 with eight minutes left in the game, the Pacers chipped away and got it to within four points with 19 seconds left.

However, a comeback wasn’t in the cards.

After Mathurin, Turner had 22 points and 13 rebounds and Buddy Hield scored 21 points on six made 3-pointers. Gary Harris was second in scoring for the Magic with 22 points and five players total scored in double figures on the winning team.

From the field, the Magic shot 56.1 percent overall and 53.6 percent from 3-point range while the Pacers shot 48.2 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from deep.

Noteworthy

• Starting Magic guard Gary Harris attended Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers and was Mr. Indiana Mr. Basketball in 2012.
• The Pacers have a 70-52 record all-time against the Magic.
• Turner has 1,102 career blocks for the Pacers entering the game. He is nine blocks away from tying Rik Smits for the second-most all-time in Pacers history. Jermaine O’Neal (1,245) owns the franchise record.

Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)

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

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

Tickets

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. Find Tickets >>

INDY FUEL

FUEL LOSE 4-1 TO WALLEYE ON FRIDAY

INDIANAPOLIS– The Fuel hosted the Walleye for the first time in the 2022-23 season after two games against them in Toledo where they went 1-1. If Indy won tonight, they would have tied for second place in the division with the Walleye, but ultimately fell 4-1.

1ST PERIOD

Things got off to a slow start with a few good chances for the Walleye and a rare delay of game penalty for Chad Yetman at 5:34. 

The Walleye took back-to-back tripping penalties that they were able to kill off before time expired on the period and both teams headed to the locker room with no goals. 

At the end of the first period, the Fuel were outshooting the Walleye 13-9.

2ND PERIOD

Almost two minutes into the second period, Toledo’s Chays Ruddy took their third penalty of the game for hooking. 

At 5:48 of the middle frame, Gordie Green scored for the Walleye to make it 1-0. Quickly after, Indy’s Chase Lang took a hooking call. 

Three minutes after their first goal, Brett McKenzie added another for the Walleye to make it 2-0. Less than a minute after that, Brandon Hawkins, who had an assist on Toledo’s first goal, made it 3-0. 

Both teams alternated taking penalties until the second was over. The Walleye took an interference penalty with just six seconds left in the middle frame, giving the Fuel the advantage when the third began. 

3RD PERIOD

Lang went to the box for the third time in the game for goalie interference at 3:44 but it was killed off. At 13:13 in the third, Toledo’s Trenton Bliss added another goal to make it 4-0 for the Walleye. Hawkins claimed another assist on that goal.

At 13:58, Yetman got the Fuel on the board to make it 4-1 and avoid the shutout with the help of Alex Wideman and Kirill Chaika. A few late-game penalties for the Fuel stunted their chances to make a comeback and ultimately there wasn’t enough time for them.

INDY ELEVEN

In coordination with U.S. Soccer, Indy Eleven has announced the date and kickoff time for its opening match in the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, set to take place against Michigan Stars FC on Wednesday, April 5. Kickoff for the Second Round affair at IUPUI Carroll Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m. ET.

Tickets for the contest are now available for purchase at indyeleven.com/tickets:

• 2023 Indy Eleven Season Ticket Members and any fan who bought a ticket for either of the Eleven’s first two regular season home matches on Saturday, April 1 (vs. Las Vegas Lights FC) or Saturday, April 8 (vs. Oakland Roots SC) can purchase tickets for the Open Cup Second Round match for just $5.
  
  
  • A dedicated purchase link will be distributed to these fans via the email address linked to their Season Ticket Member account or single-game ticket purchase.
• Tickets for all other attendees will cost $11.
• All assigned seats will be the same price regardless of section, with separate tickets being sold for the Brickyard Battalion supporters section behind the West Goal.

Last week, U.S. Soccer announced the 24 Division II and 22 Division III pro teams that will enter the club national championship tournament in the Second Round. Those squad will join 14 First Round winners in a Second Round that will feature 30 matches across the country between April 4-6.

Click here for the full listing of Second Round fixtures at ussoccer.com.

usopencup.com is the official website of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Fans can also follow the competition on Twitter and Instagram @OpenCup and Facebook @OfficialOpenCup.

INDIANA TRACK AND FIELD

PURCELL WINS PENTATHLON, STONE VICTORIOUS IN POLE VAULT ON OPENING DAY OF BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

GENEVA, Ohio – A day for the ages from Hope Purcell and an incredible battle won by Nathan Stone sparked a tremendous effort from the Hoosiers on the opening day of the 2023 Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Purcell, competing in her first Pentathlon in two years, used a brilliant all-around performance including marks of 8.55 (60mH), 1.70m (High Jump), 11.10m (Shot Put), 5.92m (Long Jump) and 2:20.19 (800m) to win the Big Ten title.

She became the first Hoosier since 1990 (DeDee Nathan) to win the Pentathlon title at the Big Ten Championships and just the third athlete in program history to accomplish the feat. Her personal best, which she set by 200+ points, now sits No. 2 in the school’s history.

The Lancaster, Ohio native closed the Pentathlon with an 11-second personal best in the 800 meters to finish off her title in the event before jumping back to the runway to finish 7th in the open Long Jump, adding 12 points in total to the team effort on Friday evening.

Stone engaged in a back-and-forth affair with the Big Ten leader from Michigan State, Tyler Stephenson. The Spartan beat him at the beginning of February but was bested Friday afternoon as Stone picked up the fourth Big Ten title of his career.

The Indianapolis, Ind. native made consecutive attempts at 5.25m, 5.35m and 5.45. After missing his opening try at 5.45m, Stephenson pushed the bar to 5.55m. Neither athlete could clear at the new bar, rewarding the title back to Stone for clearing at 5.35m.

IU has won four of the last five Big Ten Indoor titles in the Men’s Pole Vault with Stone taking gold in 2021 and 2023. Tyler Carrel was fifth in the event, providing the Hoosiers with 14 team points to open the day.

The Hoosiers qualified three through to the finals of the Mile with Dustin Horter and Austin Haskett earning big Q’s for the men and Maddie Dalton winning her heat for the women.

Antonio Laidler earned spots in the finals of both the 60 meters and 200 meters. Christopher Grant will join him in the blocks of the 60 meters after running a season’s best of 6.72 in Friday’s prelims. Grant’s time also moves him into a tie for fourth in program history.

Alyssa Robinson earned the final lane in tomorrow’s final of the 200 meters, lowering her personal best and No. 3 time in program history to 23.82.

IU had to dig for everything it could in the 800 meters with both the men and women running in extremely-competitive heats.

Camden Marshall (1:47.47) and Keefer Soehngen (1:48.53) both ran personal bests and the No. 3 and No. 5 times respectively in school history to qualify out of the first heat. Nick Couyoumjian (1:50.67) was the first man out of the final in the half-mile.

Maddie Russin needed a four-second personal best and the No. 3 mark in school history (2:05.97) to earn her spot in the finals of the 800 meters tomorrow.

Jessica Mercier earned hardware in the Pole Vault, clearing a season’s best 4.19m/13-9 to win Bronze and score the Hoosiers six points.

Sean Mockler picked up fifth place in the Weight Throw with a toss of 21.50m/70-6.5.

Jake Gebhardt (14:08.65) and Sarah Schmitt (16:08.70) used strong closes to earn runner-up finishes at 5000 meters.

Schmitt was beaten out by Penn State’s Faith DeMars by just over a second with Gebhardt finishing just behind Jackson Sharp of Wisconsin.

The Hoosiers scored big in the Women’s Long Jump with 14 points produced by three athletes. Hope Purcell, following five events in the Pentathlon, came back to jump 5.96m/19-6.75 for seventh. Paola Fernandez-Sola jumped 6.26m/20-6.5 on her final attempt to leave with silver while Serena Bolden earned fifth through a mark of 5.98m/19-7.5.

IU’s Distance Medley Relay teams provided fifth (Men) and sixth (Women) place finishes respectively to end the opening day of competition.

Behind 14 points in the Long Jump, 10 points in the Pentathlon, eight points in the 5K, six points in the Pole Vault and three in the DMR, IU’s women lead the team race after six events.

The Hoosiers sit second on the men’s side with 30 points including 14 from the Pole Vault. IU is scheduled to have 16 point-scoring opportunities for the women with 17 scheduled for the men on Saturday afternoon.

IU hasn’t won a Big Ten Indoor Championship on the women’s side since 2000. The men last won in 2020.

Tomorrow’s action begins at 11:30 AM with Grayson Rolen in the High Jump.

Big Ten Indoor Championships: February 24
Event	Athletes: Mark
Pentathlon	1. Hope Purcell: 4109 | Personal Best, No. 2 School History
Pentathlon: 60mH	2. Hope Purcell: 8.55 (1006)
Pentathlon: High Jump	4. Hope Purcell: 1.70m/5-7 (855)
Pentathlon: Shot Put	8. Hope Purcell: 11.10m/36-5 (602)
Pentathlon: Long Jump	2. Hope Purcell: 5.92m/19-5.25 (825)
Pentathlon: 800 Meters	10. Hope Purcell: 2:20.19 (821) | Personal Best
Pole Vault (M)	1. Nathan Stone: 5.45m/17-10.5 | Personal Best, No. 6 School History 5. Tyler Carrel: 5.15m/16-10.75 10. Riley Johnston: 5.05m/16-6.75
Mile (M): Trials	4. Dustin Horter: 4:04.93 | Advances to Finals (Q) 14. Austin Haskett: 4:13.41 | Advances to Finals (Q)
Long Jump (M)	12. Robert Blue: 7.09m/23-3.25 14. Alex Smith: 7.05m/23-1.75
Mile (W): Trials	7. Katelyn Winton: 4:48.28 | Personal Best 12. Maddie Dalton: 4:52.59 | Advances to Finals (Q)
400 Meters (M): Trials	16. Shaton Vaughn: 47.87 DNF. Micah Camble
400 Meters (W): Trials	23. Kaylee Lane: 57.52
60 Meters (M): Trials	3. Christopher Grant: 6.72 | Advances to Finals (Q), Tied No. 4 in School History 8, Antonio Laidler: 6.75 | Advances to Finals (q)
800 Meters (M): Trials	2. Camden Marshall: 1:47.47 | Personal Best, No. 3 School History, Advances to Finals (Q) 4. Keefer Soehngen: 1:48.53 | Personal Best, No. 5 School History, Advances to Finals (q) 9. Nick Couyoumjian: 1:50.67
800 Meters (W): Trials	6. Maddie Russin: 2:05.97 | Personal Best, No. 3 School History
60mH (M): Trials	16. John Colquitt: 8.39
Pole Vault (W)	3. Jessica Mercier: 4.19m/13-9 | No. 6 School History
Weight Throw (M)	5. Sean Mockler: 21.50m/70-6.5 10. Noah Koch: 20.10m/65-11.5
600 Meters (M): Trials	7. Parker Raymond: 1:17.40 | Personal Best, No. 3 School History, Advances to Finals (Q) 14. Nico Colchico: 1:20.03
600 Meters (W): Trials	10. Elizabeth Stanhope: 1:31.74
200 Meters (M): Trials	8. Antonio Laidler: 21.24 | Advances to Finals (q)
200 Meters (W): Trials	8. Alyssa Robinson: 23.82 | Personal Best, No. 3 School History, Advance to Finals (q)
Long Jump (W)	2. Paola Fernandez-Sola: 6.26m/20-6.5 5. Serena Bolden: 5.98m/19-7.5 7. Hope Purcell: 5.96m/19-6.75
5000 Meters (M)	2. Jake Gebhardt: 14:08.65 15. Skylar Stidam: 14:39.39
Weight Throw (W)	17. Makayla Hunter: 17.32m/56-10
5000 Meters (W)	2. Sarah Schmitt: 16:08.70 | Personal Best, No. 5 School History
DMR (M)	5. Indiana: 9:41.06 – Dustin Horter, Shaton Vaughn, Nick Couyoumjian, Austin Haskett
DMR (W)	6. Indiana: 11:19.04 – Maddie Dalton, Kaylee Lane, Elizabeth Stanhope, Jenna Barker

Advanced to Finals:
Men
• Dustin Horter (Mile)
• Austin Haskett (Mile)
• Christopher Grant (60m)
• Antonio Laidler (60m)
• Antonio Laidler (200m)
• Parker Raymond (600m)
• Keefer Soehngen (800m)
• Camden Marshall (800m)

Women
• Alyssa Robinson (200m)
• Maddie Russin (800m)
• Maddie Dalton (Mile)

Point Scorers (Day 1):
Men
• Nathan Stone: Pole Vault (10)
• Jake Gebhardt: 5000m (8)
• Sean Mockler: Weight Throw (4)
• Distance Medley Relay (4)
• Tyler Carrel: Pole Vault (4)

Women
• Hope Purcell: Pentathlon (10)
• Serena Bolden: Long Jump (8)
• Sarah Schmitt: 5000m (8)
• Jessica Mercier: Pole Vault (6)
• Serena Bolden: Long Jump (4)
• Distance Medley Relay (3)
• Hope Purcell: Long Jump (2)

Team Standings (Men): 6 of 18 Events Completed
1. Wisconsin (45)
2. Indiana (30)
3. Michigan State (20)
4. Iowa (19)
5. Nebraska (16.5)

Team Standings (Women)
1. Indiana (41)
2. Wisconsin (34)
3. Iowa (22)
3. Michigan (22)
5. Penn State (21.5)

INDIANA SWIMMING

INDIANA TAKES LEAD AT BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Indiana is in first place with one day left to go at the 2023 Big Ten Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships.

IU men’s swimming and diving had a massive performance on Friday (Feb. 24) to turn a nine-point deficit into a 106-point lead after three nights at the conference meet inside Canham Natatorium. The Hoosiers have 1,030.5 points to second-place Ohio State’s 924.5.

“It was just a fantastic day for the Hoosiers,” IU head swimming coach Ray Looze said. ” We had a great preliminary session. It was as close to perfect as you can get with just a couple misses. I thought we did a good job tonight. It’s always hard to have a good night where you move up in points when you really stuck the morning, but I thought we held serve well.

“Again, we’re finishing great, like in the 100 back, 3-meter, into the relay. Just having that momentum is huge. The score just completely, from the 100 breaststroke on, changed remarkably. We have to have a really good prelim tomorrow to shut the door.”

Indiana totaled nine medals including three Big Ten Championships, one in each discipline, on Friday. Junior Brendan Burns won the 100-yard butterfly, redshirt senior Andrew Capobianco won on the 3-meter springboard and IU came out victorious in the 200-yard freestyle.

Burns captured his 15th-career Big Ten title while winning his second-consecutive 100-yard backstroke gold as well as IU’s sixth consecutive conference championship in the event. The junior posted a pool record and an NCAA A cut 44.65 to win his first individual title this year. Burns will look to defend his 200 back and 200 fly titles on Saturday after he became the first athlete to win both at the same Big Ten Championships in last year’s meet.

Capobianco and sophomore Quinn Henninger had a phenomenal battle on the 3-meter springboard that saw the veteran capture his fifth-career Big Ten diving title. Henninger made his move in round four, executing a 5156B for 93.60 points. Then, he put the pressure on Capobianco with a 96.90 in the final round. Capobianco, a model of consistency, posted marks of 86.70, 71.40, 84.00, 77.40 and 85.80 in the first five rounds to put himself in position to challenge in round six. Needing a 79.45 to tie, Capobianco threw down a 109C to tally a 95.00-point score and a masterful 500.30 total.

“The team really showed up today!” IU head diving coach Drew Johansen said. “I want to give a shoutout to our swim and dive parents. We had the largest prelim crowd I have ever seen in 30-plus years of coaching. It was an electric atmosphere for IU all day today thanks to our parents and fans.

“Andrew gave us another hall-of-fame performance to remember, and I am so happy for him. Quinn, Carson (Tyler), Maxwell (Weinrich), William (Jansen) and Dash (Glasberg) showed us that IU diving will be in good hands when Andrew moves into the pro ranks.”

Capobianco’s score is IU’s fourth over 500 in the 3-meter dive, his second. He previously went 505.20 to win the 2021 NCAA title. Henninger’s silver-medal score of 484.75 surpassed his career-best 467.75 set at the same competition a year ago.

“We have one more day and six men ready to go on platform,” Johansen added. “I have no doubt they will leave it all in the pool tomorrow.”

Indiana set another pool record to win the 200-yard freestyle relay. The quartet of senior Van Mathias (19.04 split), junior Gavin Wight (19.09) and sophomores Finn Brooks (19.04) and Rafael Miroslaw (19.12) improved on their NCAA A cut from midseason, going 1:16.29. Brooks, the lone newcomer to the group that finished on the podium at the 2022 NCAA Championships, posted IU’s best split in the third leg.

In two events, Indiana finished athletes finished in the silver and bronze medal positions simultaneously. Junior Tomer Frankel and Brooks kicked off the evening with that sort of result in the 100-yard butterfly after Frankel threw down an NCAA A cut 44.66 and Brooks followed with a career-best 45.49. In the 100-yard breaststroke, Mathias (51.32) and sophomore Josh Matheny (51.50) placed second and third as well. Mathias’ time was an NCAA A cut, while Matheny was a tenth of a second short.

Despite beating the time that won him the 200-yard freestyle, Miroslaw settled for a bronze medal this time. However, his 1:32.10 eclipsed the pool record by four hundredths of a second.

TEAM SCORES
Indiana – 1,030.5
Ohio State – 924.5
Michigan – 806
Wisconsin – 665.5
Minnesota – 516
Purdue – 483
Penn State – 407.5
Northwestern – 392   

RESULTS
100 BUTTERFLY
2. Tomer Frankel – 44.66 (Silver, NCAA A Cut)
3. Finn Brooks – 45.49 (Bronze, NCAA B Cut, Career Best)

400 IM
4. Mikey Calvillo – 3:44.25 (NCAA B Cut, Career Best)
11. Maxwell Reich – 3:46.80 (NCAA B Cut, Career Best)
19. Tristan DeWitt – 3:48.21 (NCAA B Cut)

200 FREESTYLE
3. Rafael Miroslaw – 1:32.10 (Bronze, NCAA B Cut)
7. Tomer Frankel – 1:34.84 (NCAA B Cut)
11. Kai Van Westering – 1:35.89 (NCAA B Cut, Career Best)
15. Warren Briggs – 1:36.98
24. Jack Franzman – 1:38.67

100 BREASTSTROKE
2. Van Mathias – 51.32 (Silver, NCAA A Cut, Career Best)
3. Josh Matheny – 51.50 (Bronze, NCAA B Cut, Career Best)
5. Jassen Yep – 52.10 (NCAA B Cut)
9. Maxwell Reich – 52.85 (NCAA B Cut)

100 BACKSTROKE
1. Brendan Burns – 44.65 (Big Ten Champion, Pool Record, NCAA A Cut)
6. Gavin Wight – 46.27 (NCAA B Cut)
9. Luke Barr – 46.43 (NCAA B Cut, Career Best)
14. Kai Van Westering – 47.25 (NCAA B Cut)

3-METER DIVE
1. Andrew Capobianco – 500.30 (Big Ten Champion, NCAA Zone Qualifier)
2. Quinn Henninger – 484.75 (Silver, NCAA Zone Qualifier, Career Best)
7. Maxwell Weinrich – 365.00 (NCAA Zone Qualifier)
9. Carson Tyler – 457.35 (NCAA Zone Qualifier, Career Best)
15. Will Jansen – 302.80

200 FREESTYLE RELAY
1. Van Mathias, Gavin Wight, Finn Brooks, Rafael Miroslaw – 1:16.29 (Big Ten Champion, Pool Record, NCAA A Cut)

UP NEXT
Indiana hopes to turn its momentum into a second-consecutive Big Ten title. The first task on the final day of the conference meet is the preliminary session, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. ET Saturday (Feb. 25) morning. The 1,650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, platform dive and 400 freestyle relay will be contested on Saturday.

INDIANA BASEBALL

HOOSIERS FALL ON FRIDAY NIGHT AT TEXAS

AUSTIN, Texas – An eight-inning home run was the difference in a tough 4-2 loss in Indiana baseball’s series opener at Texas on Friday (Feb. 24) inside UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

Indiana (2-3) opened the scoring with one run in the fifth inning, before Texas (2-3) evened the game with a single run in the sixth. The Hoosiers tacked on one in the seventh to recapture the lead, but a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning was the difference.

Senior starting pitcher Ben Seiler held the Longhorn offense in check with five shutout innings in his second start of the year. He scattered four hits, walked two and struck out two in the no decision. Graduate student Gabe Levy (0-1) took the loss with three runs allowed on three hits in 1 1/3 innings.

Senior Phillip Glasser continued his hot start with his fourth multi-hit game of the young season. He had a pair of singles, drove in one RBI and one run scored. Senior Hunter Jessee moved his reached base streak to 24 games with a two-out base hit that led to IU’s second run of the game in the seventh inning.

Sophomore Josh Pyne had a pair of hits in the game, including IU’s only extra base hit, and drove in one RBI. Sophomore Brock Tibbitts and redshirt senior Matthew Ellis each walked twice in the contest.

Porter Brown did most of the damage for the Longhorns with three hits and three RBIs, while Eric Kennedy had a pair of hits in the contest. Dylan Campbell walked twice and scored two runs in the contest. Chris Stuart (1-0) picked up the win in relief, as he worked 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Scoring Recap
Top Fifth
Matthew Ellis beat the shift to get the inning started with an infield single and Morgan Colopy was hit by a pitch in the next at bat to put two on with no outs. A sacrifice bunt from Evan Goforth advanced both runners and Phillip Glasser‘s sacrifice fly put IU on the scoreboard first.
Indiana 1, at Texas 0

Bottom Sixth
A leadoff walk and a base hit put runners on the corners in front of a Garret Guillemette’s sacrifice fly to left-center field.
Indiana 1, at Texas 1

Top Seventh
With two outs, Glasser and Hunter Jessee each singled to put runners on the corners for Josh Pyne. The sophomore hit one back up the middle that ricocheted off the pitcher and stayed in the infield but pushed Glasser across.
Indiana 2, at Texas 1

Bottom Eighth
Eric Kennedy doubled to start the inning and Dylan Campbell walked in front of Porter Brown’s three-run home run to right-center field.
at Texas 4, Indiana 2

Up Next
The middle game of the three-game slate will start at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 25 from UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The game will be televised on the Longhorn Network and the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.         

INDIANA SB

FOUR HOME RUNS, RUN-RULE PUSH HOOSIERS PAST BLUE HENS, 11-0

GREENSBORO, N.C.  –  Indiana Softball (4-6) hit four home runs in the fourth to defeat the Delaware Blue Hens, 11-0, in five innings in game one of the UNCG Invitational.

INDIANA 11, DELAWARE 0
KEY MOMENTS
• Sophomore Sarah Stone would get things going early for the Hoosiers as she hit an RBI home run out of the park to left center for a 2-0 lead.
• Sophomore Taylor Minnick would step up to the plate, earning an RBI single.
• Freshman Avery Parker hit an RBI double to right field to put the Hoosiers up, 4-0, at the end of the first inning.
• Indiana’s defense came up big in the top of the second, after Parker caught the fly out to right field and threw a dart to third base for the double play.
• IU brought Barrel city to Greensboro as the Hoosiers hit four home runs, scoring seven runs on six hits in the bottom of the fourth.
• Bassett opened the inning with a home run deep into center field for a 5-0 lead.
• The Blue Hen’s pitcher sent junior Brooke Benson to first after she was hit by the pitch. Kern sent her home with an RBI single to right field.
• A big swing from Minnick earned her a three RBI home run.
• Senior Abby Meeks stepped up to the plate as she hit her first career home run, sending one deep into right field to extend Indiana’s lead.
• IU would seal the game in the top of the fifth with the run rule.

NOTABLES
• The Hoosiers hit four home runs against the Blue Hens to tie the second most all-time in a single game.
• Bassett hit her second home run this season.
• Minnick collected her first home run of the season and the sixth of her career.
• Stone earned their first home run of the season and third of her career.  
• Indiana totaled 11 RBI ranking in the top-10 for most RBIs in a single game.
• Sophomore pitcher Heather Johnson earned her second win of the season.

UP NEXT
The Hoosiers will take the field against UNCG at 1:30 p.m. with bracket play set for 4 p.m. or 6 p.m. ET. Updates can be found on UNCG’s Tournament Central page.

PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL

THE RIVALRY RESUMES AS #5 PURDUE HOSTS #17 INDIANA IN PRIMETIME ON SATURDAY

GAMEDAY INFO
Saturday, February 25, 2023 | 7:30 p.m. ET
[5] Purdue (24-4, 13-4) vs. [17] Indiana (19-10, 10-7)
West Lafayette, Ind. | Mackey Arena (14,876)
TELEVISION: FOX | RADIO: Purdue Sports Network
ANNOUNCERS: Gus Johnson, Jim Jackson

THE NOTES TO KNOW
• One of America’s greatest rivalries returns to the hardwood on Saturday night, when No. 17-ranked Indiana arrives in Mackey Arena to take on the No. 5-ranked Boilermakers. The 7:30 p.m., tip marks the first time the game will be played in primetime on a weekend in Mackey Arena since the 2000-01 season. The 43 combined victories between the two teams equal the most in series history.
• Saturday’s meeting marks the first time that Indiana and Purdue are ranked in the top 20 in a Mackey Arena contest since Jan. 18, 1994.  
• Purdue righted the ship in its last outing — an 82-55 win over Ohio State that snapped a two-game losing streak. The Boilermakers won their 56th straight game when shooting over 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from the 3-point line and 70 percent from the free throw line.
• Purdue is now 15-1 on the season when not ranked No. 1 in the country following the win over Ohio State. The Boilermakers fell to No. 5 in Monday’s AP poll, but has been ranked in the AP Top 5 in a school-record 13 consecutive weeks.
• The Boilermakers are looking for their 25th win, which would make this year’s team just the seventh season of 25 regular-season victories. Matt Painter is looking for his 10th season of 25 or more victories.
• Purdue has won at least 12 Big Ten games for the eighth time in the last nine seasons and is close to locking up a double-bye in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament. Purdue is the only program that has received a double-bye in every year that has been played under the current format.
• Purdue is 53-12 since the start of last season. The 53 wins over a two-year span are already the seventh most in school history and Purdue needs just four wins to tie the record for most wins in a two-year span (57 in 2017, 2018). Iowa is second among Big Ten teams with 43 wins.
• The Boilermakers are nearing their league-leading 25th Big Ten Championship, needing the combination of one win and / or Northwestern loss to clinch at least a share of the title. Purdue (Indiana, at Wisconsin, Illinois) owns a 13-4 record, while Northwestern (at Maryland, Penn State, at Rutgers) has an 11-6 mark. There are five Big Ten teams tied for third in the loss column with seven setbacks.
• Purdue has MADE 419 free throws this season, while opponents have SHOT just 293. Purdue has made 206 more free throws (419 to 213) than its foes this season, the highest discrepancy in the nation (Purdue +206, Portland +164, North Carolina +155, Texas A&M +150). 
• Purdue is shooting 75.8 percent from the free throw line this season, currently the Big Ten leader (all games played) and the third-highest percentage in school history (.782 – 1969; .760 – 1998). 
• In Purdue’s last six home games (all wins by an average of 16.3 points), it boasts an offensive efficiency of 123.4 and a defensive efficiency of 87.9. It is shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from long distance, while outrebounding foes by 17.0 boards per game. It has averaged at least 1.22 points per possession in five of the six games during that stretch (PSU, Ohio State, Iowa, Neb, MSU).
• Purdue has been ranked in the nation’s top five in 25 of the last 35 polls dating to the preseason poll a year ago. Gonzaga (21), Houston (16) and Kansas (15) are the only other programs to have at least 15 weeks ranked in the top 5. 
• Sixteen of Purdue’s 24 wins have come against the KenPom top-100, the second-highest number of top-100 wins in the country (Kansas – 16). Purdue is also second behind Kansas in top-50 victories with 10 (Kansas has 13).
• Purdue is in search of its fourth No. 1 seed in school history, previously earning the No. 1 seed in 1988, 1994 and 1996. In addition, Zach Edey is the leader to earn consensus National Player of the Year accolades. The last time Purdue earned a No. 1 seed, it was led by its last consensus National Player of the Year recipient, Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson. Since 2000, eight players have earned consensus National Player of the Year accolades and led their team to a No. 1 seed, including four times in the last eight years (Williamson, Brunson, Mason, Kaminsky). 
• Zach Edey surpassed 750 career rebounds in the win over Ohio State and is the only active junior (or younger) in the country with 1,350 career points and 750 rebounds. He and former No. 1 NBA Draft pick Joe Barry Carroll are the only Purdue players to ever do it. 

PURDUE WBB

PURDUE HEADS TO MINNESOTA FOR REGULAR SEASON FINALE

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Looking to solidify their NCAA Tournament resume, the Purdue women’s basketball team closes out the regular season on the road Sunday afternoon at Minnesota. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. (ET) on B1G+.

Tim Newton will have the call on the Purdue Radio Network on 95.3 BOB FM.

GAME INFORMATION  
Purdue (18-8, 9-7) vs. Minnesota (10-18, 3-14)
Sunday, Feb. 26
Time: 3 PM (ET)  
TV: B1G+  
Radio: 95.3 BOB FM  
Live Stats: Purduestats.com  

LAST TIME OUT  
The Boilermakers rounded out its home campaign with a dominant 86-62 win over Penn State on Wednesday night at Mackey Arena. Lasha Petree dropped 23 points to lead all scorers. Cassidy Hardin connected on a trio of 3-pointers to finish with 11 points, while Caitlyn Harper added 18 off the bench. Jeanae Terry tallied her third non-point double-double of the season with 10 rebounds and 10 assists, missing a quadruple-double by one point and two steals.

NOTES
• Purdue leads the all-time series with Minnesota 48-23, following a 75-56 win at Mackey Arena on Jan. 21.
• Jeanae Terry vaulted herself back up the national rankings after her nine-point, 10-assist, 10-rebound, eight-steal performance against Penn State. The senior ranks 10th in assists (171) and assists per game (6.6) and in the top 60 in steals and assist-to-turnover.
• Lasha Petree climbed into the top 15 of the Big Ten in scoring with 14.6 points per game, following back-to-back 23-point outings.
•  Purdue has shot 50% or better in eight games and ranks 25th nationally and sixth in the Big Ten with a clip of 45.7%.
• Sitting in seventh in the Big Ten standings, Purdue closing in on their best finish and tournament seeding since 2016-17.
• Abbey Ellis has made 30 of her last 31 free throws to move up to ninth in the nation and first in the league with a 90.3% at the line.
• Caitlyn Harper remains one of seven players from the Big Ten to average double-digit points and shoot over 50% from the field.
• Katie Gearlds joined Linn Dunn and Carolyn Peck as the only Purdue head coaches to improve the win total in each of their first two years.
• After scoring 71 points against Penn State, the senior class moved its average up to a combined 54.7 points per game.
• Purdue has won all 16 games this season when holding an opponent to 65 or fewer points.
• Cassidy Hardin sits second in program history with 138 games played, two shy of Danielle Campbell’s (2006-09) record of 140.

PURDUE TRACK

3 MEDALS OPEN BIG TENS FOR BOILERS

GENEVA, Ohio – A pair of silver medals and one bronze for the Purdue track & field team highlighted the opening day of the 2023 Big Ten Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio, on Friday.
 
Fifth-year Johnny Vanos and freshman Bryanna Craig were the Big Ten runners-up in the weight throw and pentathlon, respectively, while junior LJ Hill claimed bronze in the long jump. They were joined by the men’s distance medley relay team to reach the podium on Friday, and another seven Boilermakers advanced to tomorrow’s finals on the track. A total of nine top-10 marks in school history were achieved, including by Vanos and Craig, on the first day of the two-day conference championship meet.
 
Vanos’ silver medal came with the second-best throw in school history in the weight throw, thanks to a mark of 22.12 meters. He earned his first career Big Ten medal and third podium finish with the best throw by a Boilermaker since 2015. Vanos was in fifth place after two attempts, but a throw of 21.76m on his third attempt moved him up to fourth. His fifth throw of 22.12m was what secured the runner-up finish by 0.07m.
 
Vanos bested his previous PR of 21.10m and remains ranked No. 13 in the NCAA in the event this season.
 
In her Big Ten Championships debut, Craig won a silver medal in the pentathlon with 4,046 points. The personal-record mark ranks No. 4 in school history and is Purdue’s best since 1997. Craig, in just her second collegiate pentathlon competition, becomes the fifth Boilermaker ever to eclipse 4,000 points. She moved up from fifth all-time and 3,968 points, achieved in her pentathlon debut.
 
Craig’s day began with a seventh-place 60m hurdle time of 8.79, followed by a runner-up high jump finish of 1.73m. A personal-best shot put throw of 10.47m followed, and she was in fourth place through three events. A long jump PR was next, with a 5.67m-jump to finish fourth, which moved Craig up to third. She finished with an 800-meter time of 2:15.09 to propel her up to second overall.
 
Hill collected his first Big Ten medal and reached the podium for the fourth time in his career. A personal-record jump of 7.48m earned him the bronze medal, and it came on his third attempt. That moved Hill up from eighth place, after jumps of 7.06m and 7.21m. Hill’s third jump proved to be his best, which allowed him to secure the medal by 0.01m.
 
Purdue concluded the first day with a podium finish, as the men’s distance relay squad was eighth overall. The foursome of junior Caleb Williams, sophomore Owen Schafer, freshman Kiefer Bell and sophomore Brady Yoder placed eighth in 9:48.35.
 
As Bell was part of the relay team to finish the day, he also opened the day in the men’s mile prelim, where he was fifth overall in 4:06.09. He advanced to the final with the fifth-fastest time in Purdue history and the fastest since 2020.
 
One event later, sophomore Brett Otterbacher punched his ticket to the final, also with a top-10 time. In the men’s 400m, he was fourth in 47.15, which put him in the record books for the first time in the event at No. 7.
 
Junior Cierra Williams advanced to the final in the women’s 400m courtesy of a time of 53.33. As she finished sixth overall, she improved on her time that is No. 5 in school history.
 
Fifth-year Justin Becker qualified for the finals in both events he competed in, the 60m and 200m. He ran the fastest 200m prelim time of 20.97, a mark that also moved him up to sixth in program history. Becker’s day began with a 6.73 in the 60m to place fourth overall, also good for a final run tomorrow.
 
Freshman Zachary Evans was right behind Becker in fifth in the 60m prelims. He was first in his heat to automatically qualify for Saturday’s final.
 
In the 60m hurdle, junior K’Ja Talley was ninth in 8.36 to advance to the final. Right behind her was fellow junior Nikia Smith in 10th place. She finished in 8.45 to climb one spot in the record books to No. 9.
 
Fifth-year Camille Christopher took sole possession of No. 6 in team history in the 60m. She finished in 7.43, Purdue’s fastest time since 2017, and was 12th overall.
 
Senior Saran Kouyeth jumped up three spots in the record book to No. 7 all-time in the 200m. Her mark of 23.85 was 10th in the prelims.
 
Junior Logan Sandlin recorded three personal-best marks in the first four events of the heptathlon. He has 2,599 points thanks to PRs in the 60m (7.29), shot put (11.48m) and high jump (1.73m).
 
Collegiate-best marks also were earned by Evans (200m, 21.31), Schafer (400m, 48.67), junior Jahn Riley (400m, 47.95), sophomore Ezra Lewellen (60m, 6.81) and freshmen Danny Affleck (pole vault, 4.90m) and Eric Young II (200m, 21.54). Affleck’s pole vault clearance is the best by a Boilermaker, indoors or outdoors, since 2015.
 
The championships conclude on Saturday, beginning with Sandlin in the final three events of the heptathlon at 11 a.m. ET. Purdue’s first field event is the men’s triple jump at noon, and running events commence at 1:20 p.m. with the mile final. The meet will close with the 4×400 relay at 4:55 p.m.
 
Fans unable to cheer on the Boilermakers in person can follow along with live results and watch all the action live on B1G+ (Saturday Field | Saturday Track), with a B1G+ subscription required. Championships information, including the complete schedule, is available at BigTen.org/ITFChamps. Additional updates from Geneva also can be found by following and connecting with the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, while direct links are available on the schedule page at PurdueSports.com/TrackField.

PURDUE SB

BOILERMAKERS WIN IN WALK-OFF FASHION

ORLANDO, Fla. – With a full count and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, the Purdue softball team defeated Bradley, 8-7 The hard-fought walk-off victory was the first of the year for the Boilermakers, bringing Purdue’s victory count to five wins in the last six games and a 7-3 overall record.

Second baseman Jade Moy was at the plate, earning the RBI single to center field for the game-winning run, which was scored by Iowa fifth-year transfer and pinch runner Kate Claypool.

The Boilermakers collected nine hits including a home run from Tyrina Jones, a triple from Khloe Banks and a double from Kiersen George. Eight runs were earned by eight individual Boilermakers: Becca Edwards, Jones, Jordyn Ramos, Khloe Banks, Alivia Meeks, Kiersen George, Becca Edwards and Kiara Dillon.

In seven innings, no Boilermakers struck out.

Relief pitcher Madi Elish came in for Alex Echazaretta in the top of the fourth inning to earn the victory behind two hits, three runs and one strikeout over 3.1 innings of work. With the result, Elish improves to 3-0 on the year. Meanwhile, Echazaretta registered three strikeouts in her 3.2 innings pitched.

Purdue produced five runs in the third inning, led by Banks’ RBI triple and a two RBI homer from Tyrina Jones. The triple was the first of Banks’ career while the homer was Jones’ third of the season.

Bradley responded in the next inning with three runs. The Boilermakers tied the game back up in the fifth inning with Edwards batting in a run. Bradley responded in the sixth with a homer of its own until Purdue clinched the victory in the bottom of the seventh inning when the team captured two runs leaving the final score 8-7, Purdue.

Purdue will face Bradley again tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. ET and later that evening face ranked #23/25 UCF at 7 p.m. ET. The Boilers will finish the weekend with a game against Louisville at 11 a.m. ET Sunday. The games will be streamed on ESPN+.

BUTLER TRACK

KEANE AND WOMEN’S DMR HIGHLIGHT FIRST DAY FOR @BUTLERXCTF AT BIG EAST INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Friday Results I Saturday Heat Sheets

After the first day of the BIG EAST Indoor Championships, both the Butler men’s and women’s squads currently sit third in the standings. 

Barry Keane led the way for the Bulldogs earning the first gold medal for the Bulldogs in the 5,000 meters at 13:45.37. In the process, Keane captured his second consecutive title after sitting atop the podium in the same event last season. 

The quartet of Katherine Olsen, Reagan Kelly, Morgan Walsh, and Angelina Ellis claimed first in the women’s distance medley at 11:20.99. A late boost from Ellis helped the squad crush the school record of 11:33.17 that has stood since 2015. 

Karmen Koch placed second in the women’s indoor pentathlon with a score of 3817. Koch tied for first in the high jump (1.66m) while also placing in the top four of all five events. 

On the men’s side, Jack Elder earned the bronze in the men’s pole vault at 3.85m. He also currently leads the competition in the men’s indoor heptathlon after finishing the first four events with a score of 2840. Elder will complete the final three events tomorrow including the men’s 60m hurdles, pole vault, and 1000m.

In the preliminary races, Butler also had four runners qualify for the finals. Jesse Hamlin qualified second in the men’s mile while Luke Finnegan advanced in third for the 60m dash. Gavin Cougle also earned a spot in the finals after placing sixth in the men’s 400m.

Olsen rounded out the Bulldog qualifiers in the women’s 800m finals after placing second in her heat at 2:10.66. 

Women’s Results (6 events scored)

1. UConn – 85 
2. DePaul – 30 
3. Butler – 26 
4. Marquette – 23
5. Villanova – 19
6. Georgetown – 18
7. Providence – 16
8. St. John’s – 16
9. Xavier – 2

Men’s Results (5 events scored) 

1. UConn – 62 
2. Villanova – 28 
3. Butler – 24 
4. DePaul – 20 
5. Providence – 18
6. Marquette – 17
7. Georgetown – 9
8. Xavier – 1

The Bulldogs will return to action Saturday, Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. for the final day of the BIG EAST Indoor Championships.  

BUTLER WGOLF

BUTLERUGOLF WOMEN STAND T5 AFTER FIRST 18 OF RIO VERDE INVITATIONAL

Round 1 Results

Butler’s women are tied for fifth after the opening round of the Rio Verde Invitational. The event is hosted by Western Michigan and is being contested in Arizona.
 
The 54-hole event continues Saturday.
 
The Bulldogs carded a team total of 303 (+15) Friday afternoon, which placed the team alongside the host Broncos for fifth. There are 18 teams in the field.
 
BIG EAST rival Xavier has the 18-hole lead at five-over 293. The Musketeers are three shots ahead of Cal Baptist. Cal Baptist was led Friday by Samantha Dizon, who shot a two-under 70 and holds a one-shot advantage in the individual standings.
 
Butler’s freshman duo of Kelli Scheck and Cybil Stillson each shot 73 on the 6,044-yard Quail Run course Friday and are part of an eight-player grouping that is tied for fourth.
 
Madalin Small is tied for 33^rd at 77 (+5), while both Katie Steinman and Alaina Bowie shot 80 Friday. They are tied for 63^rd.

BUTLER WBB

BUTLER BEATS SETON HALL ON SENIOR NIGHT 76-64

INDIANAPOLIS – Butler ended the game on an 11-0 scoring run to defeat the visiting Seton Hall Pirates on Friday night 76-64. The victory locks Butler into the No. 8 seed of the upcoming conference tournament and gives the Bulldogs their fourth-straight win!
 
How It Happened
Butler went 6-for-6 from the field in crunch time to defeat Seton Hall in Hinkle Fieldhouse. BU led SHU by one with three minutes left. Caroline Strande would score five-straight for BU to push the lead to six and Rachel McLimore and Jessica Carrothers would add field goals to cushion the lead. Strande scored a career-high 19 points in the victory. She was one of four Bulldogs to reach double figures.
 
Each team shot the ball well on Friday night with the Bulldogs hitting 55 percent of their attempts and Seton Hall connecting on 48 percent. The difference came from the 3-point line where Butler went 11-for-20 and Seton Hall went 6-for-16.
 
Jordan Meulemans hit a game-high four 3-pointers for Butler to tally 12 points. Sydney Jaynes and Jessica Carrothers were in the box score with 13 each.
 
The Bulldogs would hang onto a 19-17 lead after the first quarter, but a five-minute scoring drought in the second would allow Seton Hall to come back and own a 34-33 lead at the half. Butler went on a 12-5 run to end the third and that scoring spree would put the ‘Dawgs in front 53-50 heading to the final quarter.
 
BU went 10-for-15 from the field over the final 10 minutes of regulation to record their 11th win of the season. They are now 6-13 against BIG EAST foes with one game remaining in the regular season.
 
Stat of the Game
Butler only had two second half turnovers and the Bulldog bench outscored the Pirate bench 26-5.
 
Inside the Box Score
– Caroline Strande paced Butler with a career-high 19 points
– Strande added four rebounds and four assists
– Sydney Jaynes had 13 points, five rebounds and three assists
– Jessica Carrothers had 13 points, five assists and three rebounds
– Rachel McLimore had nine points, four assists and two steals
– Six different Bulldogs hit a 3-pointer on Friday night
– BU outscored SHU 43-30 in the second half
– Tenley Dowell had five rebounds, two assists and two steals
– Kelsy Taylor had four points, two rebounds, and an assist
– Shay Frederick had three points and two assists
– Sidney Cooks led SHU with 22 points
– Azana Baines had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds
– There were 13 lead changes and three ties tonight
– Lauren Park-Lane was inactive for the Pirates
 
Up Next
Butler will end the regular season with a 7 PM tip at Creighton on Monday, Feb. 27. The BIG EAST Tournament will follow on March 3.

BUTLER BASEBALL

CAMELS COMEBACK TO BEAT BUTLER 9-4

BUIES CREEK – Butler held a 4-2 lead over Campbell after six innings, but the Camels scored a solo run in the seventh and erupted for seven runs in the eighth to win the contest 9-4. Lukas Galdoni highlighted the action for the Bulldogs with a three-run home run in the sixth.
 
Campbell recently upset No. 11 ECU in midweek action and would take an early lead on Friday night with an unearned run coming around to score in the first off a single from Pierson. DeFries tied the action in the fifth with an RBI on a fielder’s choice and the 1-1 game would run into the sixth.
 
Galdoni put BU in the driver’s seat, but the wheels fell off in the eighth. An error extended the inning, and Arnold would double down the line and Belbin tripled to deep center after him.
 
Dawson Taylor would take the loss on the mound and the win would go to Aaron Rund. Cory Bosecker had a quality start for the Bulldogs going 5.1 innings with 10 strikeouts and just one walk. Cade Kuehler also tossed five innings for the Camels while striking out eight.
 
These two clubs will go at it again tomorrow with a 3 PM first pitch.

BUTLER SB

@BUTLERSOFTBALL PICKS UP SECOND WIN OF SEASON

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Butler softball team defeated Louisiana-Monroe, 5-2, in its opening game of the UAB Green & Gold Classic in Birmingham, Ala. The Bulldogs are now 2-10 on the season.
 
Due to rainy weather, all game times for the weekend have been shifted, and all are updated on butlersports.com.
 
Game 1: Butler- 5, Louisiana-Monroe- 2 (7 innings)
 
Butler got on the board first, scoring two runs in the third inning. After Kieli Ryan hit a lead-off double, Olivia Moxley (2-3, 3B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R) tripled to push Ryan across. During the next at bat, Moxley scored on a wild pitch, giving the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead that held through four innings.
 
In the fifth, Cate Lehner reached on an error and then stole second. Kaylee Gross doubled to left field and knocked Lehner across. Gross advanced to third on a wild pitch, and Ella White then drew a walk. In an attempt to steal second, White was caught in a run-down, giving Gross enough time to score prior to White being tagged out. Butler led 4-0 and maintained the lead through six.
 
In the top of the seventh, Moxley connected on a solo home run to give the Bulldogs a five-run cushion.
 
In the bottom half of the final frame, Louisiana-Monroe’s bats finally came to life. The Warhawks hit a bases-loaded double, scoring two, but a final strikeout ended the rally and the game.
 
Mackenzie Griman (1-5) pitched a complete game for Butler and picked up her first win of the season. In seven complete innings, she allowed two runs (both earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out three.
 
Bulldog Bits

• Olivia Moxley hit both her first triple and her first home run of her Butler career.
• Kieli Ryan’s double was the second of her freshman season.
• The double for Kaylee Gross was her first of the season and the second of her career.
• Cate Lehner’s stolen base was her second of the season.
• Mackenzie Griman notched her first win of the season and the ninth of her career. It was her third complete game this season.

Up Next
Butler plays games two and three (of five) at the UAB Green & Gold Classic in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, Feb. 25. On the schedule for the Bulldogs are Alabama-Birmingham, at 1:15 p.m. ET / 12:15 p.m. CT, and Cleveland State, at 5:45 p.m. ET / 4:45 p.m. CT.

IUPUI MTENNIS

JAGUARS COLLECT KEY VICTORY OVER DAYTON, 4-2

INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI men’s tennis team earned an impressive 4-2 win over Dayton inside West Indy Racquet Club on Friday night (Feb. 24). The Jaguars showcased impressive depth, earning three singles wins towards the bottom of the lineup on the heels of the doubles point. 

IUPUI (2-10) earned the night’s initial point with wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles spots. At No. 2, Blessing Benibo and Colton Morehart collected a 6-3 win and Nicholas Moody and Kamil Kozerski did the same at No. 3 doubles. The tandem of Alex Jochim and Tom Ciszewski were up 5-4 at No. 1 doubles when the play ended with the doubles point in hand. 

In singles play, head coach Bren Vasalakis‘ team relied heavily on the bottom of its lineup to get past the Flyers. 

Eli Mercer won in straight sets at No. 6 singles, 6-3, 6-2 and Nate Day won at No. 5 singles, 6-3, 6-3. At the top of the lineup, Ciszewski fell in straight sets to Dayton’s Connor Bruce, 6-1, 6-3 and Jochim had split sets at No. 2 singles when play ended. 

Kozerski won a hard fought first set at No. 3 singles to build momentum in a 7-5, 6-1 victory. Morehart was tripped up at No. 4 singles, 6-4, 6-4. 

IUPUI will take on Ball State on Saturday (Feb. 25) at 1:00 p.m. in Muncie. 

IUPUI SB

SOFTBALL FALLS IN OPENER OF SAMFORD BULLDOG CLASSIC

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The IUPUI softball team fell behind early and never fully recovered as the Jaguars fell to host Samford on day one of the Samford Bulldog Classic on Friday night (Feb. 24), 7-2. Samford built a 2-0 lead in the first inning and knocked around a trio of IUPUI pitchers for 13 hits in the win. 

Samford’s Grier Bruce went 3-for-4 with five runs batted in and a pair of homers to lead the victors. Kayla Freiberg, Morgan Gilbert and Jaida Speth all had two hits in the defeat. 

Bruce staked Samford (3-8) to an early lead with an RBI single against IUPUI starter Carly Metcalf (0-3) as part of two runs in the opening frame. 

IUPUI (1-8) got a run back in the fourth as Kennedy Cowan drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on Freiberg’s infield single. After a punchout, Gilbert loaded the bases with an infield hit. Victoria Sivert reached on a fielder’s choice and Cowan skated home on a throwing error to produce IUPUI’s first run. However, Samford starter Lainey Baker (1-2) got back-to-back strikeouts to leave the bases loaded.

Bruce launched the first of two two-run homers in the bottom of the fourth to extend the Bulldog lead to 4-1. 

IUPUI struck again in the fifth as Speth flared a single to center and moved to second on a passed ball. After back-to-back strikeouts, Freiberg just missed a two-run homer of her own with a double off the wall, easily scoring Speth. 

IUPUI threatened again in the seventh as Speth reached on a one out single and later moved to third on Cowan’s infield hit. However, Cowan was caught stealing to end the game, ending the rally. 

Speth extended her hitting streak to five straight games in the loss. Metcalf took the loss, yielding a pair of runs in the opening inning, while Alexa Holman allowed five runs (four earned) in 4.1 innings of relief work. Isabelle Waggner tossed two-thirds of an inning of scoreless relief. 

IUPUI will return to action on Saturday when the Jaguars face Samford and Southern Indiana on day two of the event. 

BALL STATE TRACK

GRIFFITH WINS PENTATHLON, CARDINALS TALLY NINE TOP-FIVE FINISHES

BOWLING GREEN, OHIO – The Ball State track and field team completed day one of the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships with an event win in the pentathlon and another program record by Charity Griffith, nine overall top-five finishes, and four student-athletes advancing on to tomorrow’s finals in their respective events.
 
The first event of the day, the pentathlon, earned the Cardinals three top-five finishes with senior Charity Griffith winning the event (4,315), junior Jenelle Rogers placing second (3,938), and senior Lea-Marie Diedicke placing fifth (3,650).
 
Griffith tallied an indoor best score and broke yet another program record in the pentathlon earning 4,315 (before conversions for track size), passing the previous record she set in 2023 (4,179).
 
In the 800m dash, junior Kayla Jones won the preliminary event running a 2:11.33, automatically qualifying her for tomorrow’s finals at 3:20 p.m.
 
Junior Alexis Thigpen ran a 57.27 in the 400m dash, qualifying her for the finals tomorrow at 2:35 p.m.
 
Sophomore Jenna Oriani (7.52) and freshman Alana Springer (7.56) each qualified for the 60m dash finals tomorrow. Oriani placed second in her heat. Lindley Steele ran a 7.64, and all three student-athletes notched personal best times in the 60m.
 
Oriani and Springer each won their heats in the 200m dash, tying for fifth overall and running the same exact time of 24.73. They each will move on to Saturday’s finals at 3:40 p.m.
 
The Cardinals will continue competition at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow with the triple jump. The second day of events concludes at 4:50 p.m. with the 4x400m relay.
 
Individual Results in the MAC Indoor Championships
 
FRIDAY FEB. 24th
Pentathlon / Program Record: 4,179 points by Charity Griffith in 2023
 
1. Charity Griffith 4,315
2. Jenelle Rogers 3,938
5. Lea-Marie Diedicke 3,650
 
Long Jump / Program Record: 6.43m / 21-1.5 by Patricia Soman in 2003
 
3. Charity Griffith (5.93m / 19-5.5)
4. Jenelle Rogers (5.88m / 19-3.5)
17. Moriah Johnson (5.25m / 17-3.0)
 
Mile Run / Program Record: 4:50.10 by MaryKate Mellen in 2013

14. Sarah Greer (5:03.21)
17. Shelby Christman (5:10.17)


60m Hurdles / Program Record: 8.19 by Amber Williams in 2007

16. Jennah Rogers (9.20)
18. Makensie Kramer (9.25)


400m Dash
 
8. Alexis Thigpen (57.27)(q)
10. Emma Potter (57.76)


60m Dash / Program Record: 7.33 (c) by LaTasha Jenkins in 1998

4. Jenna Oriani (7.52) (Q)
7. Alana Springer (7.56)(q)
9. Lindley Steele (7.64)


800m Dash / Program Record: 2:07.30 by Natasha Lothery in 2002
 
1. Kayla Jones (2:11.33)(Q)
17. Grace Dean (2:17.53)


200m Dash / Program Record: 23.25 by LaTasha Jenkins in 1999
 
5. Jenna Oriani (24.73) (Q)
5. Alana Springer (24.73) (Q)
17. Lindley Steele (25.49)


Distance Medley Relay / 11:34.14 by Donna Harless, Linise Gordon, Natasha Lothery, Katie Nowak in 2001
 
7. Ball State “A” (Carly Spletzer, Leila Williams-Molitor, Evie Noel, Sarah Mahnensmith) (11:58.84)


Ball State Entries in the MAC Indoor Championships
 
SATURDAY FEB. 25th
Triple Jump (11:00am): McKenna Cinotte
Shot Put (1:30pm): Malena Higgins
High Jump (2:00 pm): Charity Griffith
400m Finals (2:35pm) Alexis Thigpen
60m Finals (3:00 pm): Jenna Oriani, Alana Springer
800m Finals (3:20pm): Kayla Jones 
200m Finals (3:40pm) Jenna Oriani, Alana Springer
3000m Run (4:10pm): Sarah Mahnensmith, Shelby Christman
4x400m Relay (4:50pm): Ball State 

BALL STATE MBB

BALL STATE HITS THE ROAD FOR MATCHUP WITH EASTERN MICHIGAN

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men’s basketball team returns to Michigan for a Saturday matchup with Eastern Michigan. The Cardinals (20-8, 11-4 MAC) and the Eagles (7-21, 4-11) are scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. tip inside George Gervin GameAbove Center.
 
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 is coming off a big 82-70 home win against Kent State. Jaylin Sellers finished with a team-high 20 points and added two rebounds. Luke Bumbalough recorded a season-high 13 points with four assists and three rebounds. Basheer Jihad also tallied 13 points to go along with his six boards and he tied a career high with two blocks. Demarius Jacobs shot 80.0 percent from the field and finished with 12 points. He added five boards and four assists. Sparks collected his ninth double-double with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. He dished out one assist. Jarron Coleman produced a game-high eight assists, which tied a career high and was two more than Kent State produced as a team. Coleman added nine points and three rebounds.
 
Boogie on Down
Jarron Coleman is averaging a team-high 14.7 points per game. He leads the team with 66 made 3-pointers and is shooting 36.7 percent from behind the arc. He leads the team with 107 assists and leads the squad in steals with 39. 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 13.8 points per game. He is shooting 48.0 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 50.6 on the season. Sellers has collected 23 assists, 18 steals, and 15 blocks. He has notched six games with 20 or more points for the season, including back-to-back games.
 
Spark Plug
Sparks leads the team with 8.6 rebounds per game, which is tied for 54th in the country and fourth in the conference. His 3.25 offensive rebounds per contest have him tied for 29th in the nation and third in the MAC. He is third on the team averaging 12.8 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 53rd in the country and is third in the MAC. He is third on the team with 54 assists, second on the team with 24 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 11.9 points a contest. He has a team-high 35 blocks, which is tied for 105th in the NCAA and tied for the most in the MAC. His 1.30 blocks per contest is tied for 111th in the nation and tied for first in the conference. He second on the team in assists with 92 and is second on the team in steals with 35. He is averaging 3.9 boards per contest. Pearson is second on the squad with 5.6 rebounds per contest and is averaging 7.7 points a game. Pearson is shooting 50.4 percent from the field.
 
Taking Advantage at the Free-Throw Line
As a team, the Cardinals are averaging 24.8 free throws per game, which is third in the NCAA and leads the MAC. Ball State is averaging 16.8 free-throws made per contest, which is 15th 19th in the nation and is second in the conference. Sparks is tied for ninth in the nation with 203 free-throw attempts, which is second in the MAC.
 
Effective Shooting
The Cardinals are currently shooting 47.3 percent from the field, which is tied for 40th in the NCAA and is second in the MAC. Ball State has been effective from behind the arc with a combined 37.5 percent from 3-point range, which is tied for 28th in the country and tied for second in the MAC.
 
Series History with the Eagles
Saturday will be the 115th meeting between Ball State and Eastern Michigan. The Cardinals lead the series 67-45. BSU has won the last seven meetings, including a 91-90 victory in Muncie on Feb. 3, earlier this season. The Cardinals are 33-21 against the Eagles in Ypsilanti.
 
Scouting Eastern Michigan
In the matchup earlier this season, Emoni Bates finished with a game-high 35 points with five rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal. Tyson Acuff went of 18 points, two assists, and one rebound. Noah Farrakhan recorded 16 points with two assists and a steal. Farrakhan, Kevin-David Rice, and Orlando Lovejoy tied for a team-best six rebounds. As a team, EMU is tied for 16th in the NCAA with a free-throw percentage of 76.9. Bates leads the squad averaging 19.9 points per game, has a team-best 5.8 boards per contest, and has a team-high 15 blocks. He has added 39 assists and 20 steals. Acuff is second on the team averaging 13.7 points a contest. He paces the team with 71 assists and in steals with 34. He is averaging 2.7 rebounds per game to go along with three blocks. Farrakhan rounds out the double-digit scorers with 12.6 a contest. He is averaging 4.1 rebounds with 68 assists, 19 steals, and four blocks.
 
Tale of the Tape 

BSU	Category	EMU
76.5	POINTS PER GAME	72.5
69.8	OPP. POINTS PER GAME	80.9
.473	FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE	.440
.433	OPP. FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE	.483
.375	3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE	.317
.372	OPP. 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE	.339
.678	FREE THROW PERCENTAGE	.769
36.5	REBOUNDS PER GAME	31.5
4.0	REBOUNDING MARGIN	-5.5
13.2	ASSISTS PER GAME	9.8
12.5	TURNOVERS PER GAME	11.9
-0.6	TURNOVER MARGIN	0.5
5.7	STEALS PER GAME	6.3
3.9	BLOCKS PER GAME	2.2

 
MAC Conference Standings
1. Toledo – 22-6 (13-2)
2. Kent State – 22-6 (12-3)
3. Ball State – 20-8 (11-4)
3. Akron – 19-9 (11-4)
5. Ohio – 17-11 (9-6)
6. Buffalo – 13-15 (7-8)
7. Northern Illinois – 11-17 (7-8)
8. Central Michigan – 10-18 (5-10)
9. Bowling Green – 10-18 (4-11)
10. Miami – 10-18 (4-11)
11. Eastern Michigan – 7-21 (4-11)
12. Western Michigan – 7-21 (3-12)
 
All of BSU’s games are presented on the Ball State Gainbridge Radio Network on Woof Boom stations 96.7 FM, 102.9 FM, 104.9 FM, WLBC HD2, and the stream of 967BlakeFM.com as well as WERKFM.net.

BALL STATE WGOLF

BOYD, GALLAGHER TIED FOR 12TH AFTER DAY ONE OF WMU RIO VERDE INVITATIONAL

RIO VERDE, Ariz.  – The Ball State women’s golf team returned to the course for round one of the WMU Rio Verde Invitational on Monday. Madelin Boyd and Sarah Gallagher led the Cardinals and are tied for 12th as BSU is in fourth.
 
Boyd opened the tournament with three birdies on her way to a 74 (+2). Gallagher matched the opening round of 74 (+2) with four birdies. Both Boyd and Gallagher are tied for 12th.
 
Kiah Parrott opened the tournament with a birdie on the par-5 ninth. She produced a tally of 77 (+5). Jasmine Driscoll collected three birdies and finished with a 77 (+5). Parrott and Driscoll are tied for 33rd.
 
Paige Hillman started her tournament tied for 86th with a birdie and a mark of 84 (+12).
 
The Rio Verde Country Club Quail Run is a par-72, 6,044-yard course. Day two is scheduled for a shotgun start at 3 p.m. ET. Live stats can be found on Golfgenius.com or by clicking here.
 
Team Standings
1. Xavier – 293 (+5)
2. California Baptist – 296 (+8)
3. Kennesaw State – 298 (+10)
4. Ball State – 302 (+14)
T5. Butler – 303 (+15)
T5. Western Michigan – 303 (+15)
7. Illinois State – 307 (+19)
T8. Loyola – 308 (+20)
T8. Missouri State – 308 (+20)
T8. Central Michigan – 308 (+20)
T8. Wichita State – 308 (+20)
12. Akron – 309 (+21)
13. Oakland – 310 (+22)
14. Bradley – 312 (+24)
T15. Bowling Green – 314 (+26)
T15. Ohio – 314 (+26)
T15. South Dakota – 314 (+26)
18. Eastern Michigan – 318 (+30)

BALL STATE VB

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL OUT TOUGHS LINDENWOOD IN FIVE SETS

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – It is never easy to win on the road but tonight the Ball State men’s volleyball team prevailed in Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) action to take a 3-2 come-from-behind win at Lindenwood Friday night at Robert F. Hyland Arena.
 
“The fight our team displayed tonight was motivating,” Ball State head men’s volleyball coach Donan Cruz said. “The guys on and off the court stayed patient and responded the way we are capable of.”
 
The No. 12 Cardinals (8-5, 3-2 MIVA) rallied back to an impressive 15-8 fifth set victory to take the match from Lindenwood (5-7, 3-2 MIVA). 
 
For the match, graduate senior outside attacker Kaleb Jenness turned in a 17-kill performance while senior outside hitter Bryce Behrendt had 10 kills on the night. Jenness also served up an ace and led the team with 12 digs.
 
The fifth set would be the Cardinals’ best set offensively tonight with a .571 hitting percentage while holding the Lions to a .000 attack percentage. 
 
The Cardinals fell behind early to the Lions dropping sets one (25-14) and two (25-18) early in the match. 
 
Ball State though continued to fight through its adversity and managed to take sets three (25-17) and four (25-22) with both frames being decided by a Jenness kill. 
 
In the fifth stanza, Behrendt served up five-straight points to give Ball State the 8-3 edge over Lindenwood. The Cardinals dominated the fifth set, 15-8. 
 
Ball State would pick up its offense in a major way in the final two sets and would win the match off a kill from Behrendt.
 
The Ball State men’s volleyball team continues MIVA action on the road when it travels to Quincy Saturday for a 6 pm ET first serve at Pepsi Arena.

BALL STATE WBB

PARTY IN WORTHEN SATURDAY; WBB CLASHES WITH RIVAL TOLEDO

Game 29 | Ball State (23-5, 13-2 MAC) vs. Toledo (22-4, 13-2 MAC)
Senior Day | Party in Worthen (Coach Lewis Promo)
Feb. 25 | Muncie, Ind. | Worthen Arena | 6:30 pm ET

Opening Tip:

– The Ball State women’s basketball team looks to improve to 14-2 in Mid-American Conference play for the first time since the 2008-09 season and close out its home regular season play in Worthen Arena undefeated, 15-0.

– The remaining three games will have a lot riding on them as Ball State, Toledo and Bowling Green are all competing for the No. 1 seed at the upcoming MAC Tournament along with the MAC regular season title crown. All three programs will face one another in the coming week. After the Cardinals play the Rockets Saturday, Ball State will compete at Bowling Green Wednesday at 5 pm ET on ESPNU. Toledo and BGSU close out the regular season against one another Saturday, March 4 at Savage Arena at 2 pm ET.

– Ball State is coming off one of its best offensive and defensive performances Wedensday night after defeating Western Michigan, 80-49. 

– Ball State women’s basketball team will play in a nationally televised regular season game for the first time ever on ESPNU Wednesday, March 1, at 5 p.m. ET when it takes on Bowling Green at the Stroh Center.

– The Cardinals currently have 23 wins with four games left and the MAC Tournament on the horizon, Ball State has the potential to have the best record in program history. The Cardinals are three wins away from tying the program record which is 26-9 in 2008-09. 

– Saturday’s contest marks the 91st time in program history the two schools have met with Toledo leading the all-time series record, 60-30. The Rockets won the first meeting 83-76 over the Cardinals in Toledo, Jan. 11. 

– Prior to the Saturday’s contest, the Cardinals will say good-bye to seniors Anna Clephane and Thelma Dis Agustsdottir. 

Fast Facts:
– Redshirt senior Anna Clephane has 1,201 points for her career and became the 10th player under Brady Sallee to reach the 1,000 point milestone against Miami (1/14/23). Clephane is first on the team in scoring averaging 15.1 points per game.

 – Sophomore Marie Kiefer has proven to be a great defender for the Cardinals. She currently sits in 12th place all-time in blocked shots with 89 and so far has 41 total this season. Kiefer averages 1.4 blocks per contest.

– Graduate senior Thelma Dis Agustsdottir has found her rhythm behind the arc again as she currently leads the team with 89 three’s so far this season. Agustsdottir has 307 total 3-pointers for her career and sits in second place all-time. She needs 17 more take the top spot which is currently being held by former Cardinal and current associate head coach Audrey Spencer (2006-10) with 323 3-pointers. Agustsdottir right now ranks fourth in the nation in made 3-pointers (89), fifth in 3-pointers per game (3.18) and 14th in 3-point field goal attempts (210).

It’s Been 20 Years:
The Cardinals are having one of the program’s best performances in history as Ball State fights for its first MAC regular season title in 20 years. The last time it happened was the 2002-03 season. If the Cardinals are crowned the regular season champions it will only be the third time in program history. 

Scouting Toledo:

– The Rockets look to extend their 10-game win streak Saturday against the Cardinals. The Toledo women’s basketball team overcame a 13-point deficit at Akron on Wednesday night to come back and win, 80-76. The 13-point deficit overcome on Wednesday was the Rockets’ largest of the season and the largest since overcoming a 17-point deficit at Ohio last season (Feb. 16, 2022).

– Toledo is the best free throw shooting team in the league, ranking first in the MAC in free throw percentage (79.3%), free throws made per game (15.6), and free throw attempts (19.7). UT ranks fifth in the nation in free throw percentage and 13th in free throws made per game.

– The Rockets are 34-3 over their last 37 regular season conference games.

NOTRE DAME HOCKEY

IRISH PICK UP EXTRA POINT AT MICHIGAN

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The home ice hunt continued Friday night as the University of Notre Dame hockey team secured the extra conference point in a shootout victory over the Michigan Wolverines Friday night inside Yost Ice Arena.

Although the Wolverines struck first with a powerplay goal at 4:19 of the opening frame, the Irish fought back to dominate possession throughout the remainder of the period.

Notre Dame found themselves up a man shortly after the opening Michigan tally as the Wolverines were whistled for a highsticking infraction just over five minutes into the contest. Like the home team, the Irish capitalized on the man-advantage to make it a 1-1 game off a deflection out front from Jesse Lansdell.

Landon Slaggert net his fifth goal in as many games less than one minute later to give ND the 2-1 lead at 7:58 of the first period.

Michigan evened the tally with just under nine minutes elapsed in the period off an odd-man rush for the final goal of the period.

The Irish closed out the first with a last second chance on net but were unable to light the lamp and skated to the locker room in a lock with the Wolverines, 2-2.

The two teams continued to battle through the second period but neither side could break the stalemate through the middle 20.

The Irish went back to the powerplay early in the third period of play, following an interference call against Michigan. Notre Dame peppered the Wolverine net with shots throughout the man-advantage, finally capitalizing off a Jack Adams goal with just 16 seconds left on the powerplay opportunity to make it 3-2.

A late Michigan goal, following a waved off penalty on the Wolverines, knotted the game at 3-3 with 1:57 left in regulation to force the overtime session.

Ryan Bischel stood tall in the extra frame, casting aside all four shots faced in the final five minutes of action to send Friday’s game to the shootout, Notre Dame’s second in as many games.

In the shootout, Nick Leivermann took the first shot, beating Portillo in the Wolverine net before Bischel stifled all three Michigan attempts for the 1-0 advantage and extra conference point.

GOALS

• Drew Bavaro fired a shot from the point which found the stick of Jesse Lansdell out front to tie things up just over seven minutes into the period. The powerplay goal was also assisted by Trevor Janicke.
• Chayse Primeau weathered a hit along the far boards in the offensive end before sending it back to Landon Slaggert at the goal line. Slaggert’s first shot bounced off the pads of Michigan’s Erik Portillo in net and back onto the Irish forward’s stick. He buried his second attempt to give ND the 2-1 lead, just 57 seconds after Lansdell’s opening tally.
• Jack Adams scored the third Irish goal of the night off a pass from Drew Bavaro. The graduate student skated along the goal line before tucking the puck behind Portillo in the Michigan net to make it 3-2 in the third period.

KEY STATS

• With his goal in the first period, Landon Slaggert now boasts five goals in his last five games, and seven on the season.

UP NEXT

The Irish and Wolverines close out the regular season Saturday night with an 8 p.m. puck drop set for the Big Ten Network.

NOTRE DAME BASEBALL

NOTRE DAME TAKES HOME GAME ONE WIN OVER UNCG

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish took home their second win of the season as they defeated the UNC Greensboro Spartans 6-5 on Friday night at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. The Irish advance to 2-2 on the season and take the 1-0 lead over the Spartans in the three-game series. 

How It Happened

The Irish came out swinging in the first, tallying four hits and four runs to start game one. TJ Williams led off the first, reaching on a Spartan error. The Irish offense hit three consecutive singles by graduate students Zack Prajzner, Brooks Coetzee, and Carter Putz. Runs from Willams and Prajzner gave the Irish the 2-0 advantage, with just one out and Penney up to the plate. 

Penney reached first on a fielder’s choice and moved Putz to third. Vinny Martinez drove in Putz with a double to left field and DM Jefferson delivered Penney with a ground out to extend the lead to 4-0 after the top of the first

Radek Birkholz started on the hill and he combined with Aidan Tyrell to hold UNCG scoreless through the first five innings. The Spartans broke through in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs and tied the game with a three-run homer. Jack Findlay came on in relief and put out the fire, sending the game to the seventh tied at four. 

Neither team put runs on the board in the seventh or eighth, setting up the final inning dramatics. Putz started the ninth with a single and Danny Neri stepped up, homering to right field to give the Irish the 6-4 lead. 

The Spartans weren’t going down without a fight. Findlay had two strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth and while the Irish were looking to close, an RBI double from UNCG brought it within one with runners on second and third. Findlay went to work as the final Spartan batter struck out swinging, giving the Irish the 6-5 game one win.

Up Next

The Irish are back in action tomorrow for game two of the three-game series at UNCG. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.

NOTRE DAME TRACK

IRISH FINISH DAY TWO OF ACC CHAMPIONSHIPS

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After a thrilling first day of competition for the Irish at the 2023 ACC Indoor Championships, the Irish returned for a second day of events. The Irish claimed second place in the high jump, and saw two members of the team qualify for their event finals.

The first event of the day saw Madison Schmidt, Sarah Flight, and Arianna Martinez compete for the Irish in the high jump. Schmidt took second place with her best mark coming in at 1.80m. This mark also became a new personal best for her. Flight and Martinez each finished with a mark of 1.69m. In the women’s long jump Kendall Burgess competed for the Fighting Irish. She hit a mark of 5.62m.

The women’s mile preliminary race had Anna Sophia Keller and Katie Thronson advance to the finals on Saturday at noon. Keller finished in sixth place with a time of 4:41.14 and Thronson finished in eighth place with a time of 4:42.71. In the men’s mile preliminary race CJ Singleton and Daelen Ackely represented the Irish. Singleton crossed the finish line at 4:08.06 and Ackely finished with a time of 4:06.60.

In the 400 meter race on the women’s side, Eve Balseiro finished in 15th place with a time of 55.33. Teammates Molly Bennet and Remy Finn finished with times of 55.95 and 56.49. In the men’s race John Oleksak crossed the finish line at 49.86. In the 60 meter dash, Shae Douglas finished with a 7.54.

The women’s 800 meter race had Kaitlin Ryan finish with a 2:06.36 to take ninth place. Teammates Molly and Paige Grant finished with times of 2:10.79 and 2:13.25, respectively. The men’s race had Jackson Storey and Nick Miller represent the Irish. Miller finished with a time of 1:50.93 and Storey crossed the finish line at 1:52.52.

The men’s team currently sits in third place overall while the women’s team is in fourth. The Irish are back tomorrow competing in the women’s mile final race, both the men’s and women’s 3000m, the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays, triple jump, shot put, and men’s pole vault.

NOTRE DAME SB

IRISH RALLY FOR AN 8-7 VICTORY OVER UT MARTIN

MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – After trailing 7-1 in the third inning, the Fighting Irish scored seven unanswered runs for the come from behind victory over the UT Martin Skyhawks Friday afternoon. The University of Notre Dame softball team improves to 6-4 on the year with the victory. Graduate student Payton Tidd took care of business in the circle over the final four innings, setting up the Irish offense to come all the way back for the win.

Shannon Becker got the start in the circle, throwing 2.2 innings in a no-decision. The sophomore allowed four hits, five runs, four earned and struck out three. Tidd came in and got things under control in the third inning. The graduate student earned the win, throwing 4.1 innings, allowing two earned runs and struck out five. Tidd didn’t allow a run after the third inning as the Irish rallied from six down for the win.

The Irish offense knocked out 13 hits in the victory. Six players had two hits each, led by a 2-for-4 effort from clean-up hitter Lexi Orozco. Orozco drove in the tying runs with her third home run of the season in the fifth. Jane Kronenberger added two hits and two RBI, while Carlli Kloss finished with two runs scored and a double.

How It Happened

Notre Dame got on the board first in the top of the second inning. Mitchell led off with walk and stole second. Back-to-back ground outs from Miranda Johnson and Anna Holloway drove the run in as the Irish took an early lead.

UT Martin rallied in their half of the second, scoring two runs. The lead-off Skyhawk was hit by a pitch and moved up after a walk. A sacrifice bunt moved them into scoring position as a hit and an error brought in the two runs as UT Martin took the lead 2-1 after two innings.

The Skyhawks rallied to score five runs in the bottom of the third. With two outs, UT Martin connected for five-consecutive singles to take the 7-1 lead.

The Irish responded in the fourth, plating three runs. Walks to Hanks and Johnson put two on as Holloway singled through the left side to load the bases. Mickey Winchell drove in a run with a ground out to the right side, and Kronenberger drove in a pair with a single to left as the Irish cut the lead down to 7-4.

Notre Dame kept the rally going, scoring three in the fifth. Kloss reached with a hit by pitch and Gaskins drew a walk to put two on. Orozco homered to center field to drive in three and tie the game at seven all.

The Irish finally got back on top in the top of the sixth. Kloss singled and moved up with an Orozco single. Leea Hanks drove in the eventual game-winning run with a single back up the middle.

Tidd locked it down again in the sixth and seventh, allowing a base runner in each, but not allowing the Skyhawks past first base.

Up Next

The Irish return to R.O.C. Park tomorrow morning for a split doubleheader with FIU and Siena. The first matchup with the Panthers is set for an 11 a.m. first pitch, followed by a 1:30 p.m. first pitch time against the Saints.

NOTRE DAME MBB

GAME 29 PREVIEW: IRISH MAKE 4TH TREK TO CAROLINAS

GAME 29:	NOTRE DAME (10-18, 2-15) AT WAKE FOREST (17-11, 9-8)
WHEN:	SATURDAY, FEB. 25 | 7 PM ET
WHERE:	WINSTON-SALEM, NC | LJVM COLISEUM
WATCH:	ACCN
LISTEN:	NOTRE DAME RADIO NETWORK | CLICK HERE
SOCIAL:	@NDMBB | #GOIRISH

NOTRE DAME NOTES | WAKE FOREST NOTES

Winston-Salem, NC – This weekend will mark the fourth trip to the Carolinas for the Notre Dame men’s basketball squad this ACC season, as the Fighting Irish (10-18, 2-15) still search for that coveted first road win. To pull off the feat, the Irish will have to topple Wake Forest (17-11, 9-8), who they have already met once this season. Tip inside LJVM Coliseum is set for 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 25. The game will air on ACC Network.

ND VS WAKE

Notre Dame owns the slightest edge in the overall series, only up 8-7, with a 2-3 mark in LJVM Coliseum. The two have already clashed once this season, with ND dropping an 81-64 decision in South Bend. It was one of the rare few ACC games that weren’t close this season. It was a weird game which saw Notre Dame in control early, claiming a 12-point lead in the first half. Wake Forest then found its stroke and hit 11 three-pointers in the second half. Nate Laszewski led the Irish in scoring with 18 points. For Wake, Damari Monsanto hit a ridiculous eight threes to pour in 28 points. 

THE DIFFERENCE A FEW POSSESSIONS CAN MAKE

How unlucky have the Irish been this season? Just in ACC play alone, they have lost 10 games by single digits. Of those 10, a whopping eight have been by five points or less. Plus, an incredible five has been decided by one possession.

If those eight that were decided by five points or less went a different direction, aka the difference of 2-3 possessions, the Irish could easily be sitting at 10-7 and in the middle of the pack. 

Taking a deeper look at six of ND’s last seven losses – excluding the Wake Forest outlier – the Irish have lost by a combined margin of 21 points over 6 games, which equates to a 3.5 average margin of defeat. 

UNLUCK OF THE IRISH

Coach Brey has been happy with how the guys have competed over the last 3 games, they just have to find a way to close. The Irish battled Duke, No. 7 Virginia and North Carolina to the final minute. All three – it was Unluck of the Irish. 

At Duke, the Irish Trailed by 10 in the 2nd half and rallied to make it a one-point game at 62-63 with 36 seconds left. The comeback was fueled by Dane Goodwin, who scored 17 straight points from 12:35-4:29. Goodwin finished with a season high 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting. ND thought they would have a chance for at least the tie at the end if it wasn’t for the heroics of Duke’s Mark Mitchell, who had one field goal at that point in the game. He then hit a corner three with 12.0 seconds left.

A few days later in Charlottesville, the Irish thought they had a miracle at the buzzer. Down two with three seconds on the clock, Trey Wertz was on the free-throw line with one to shoot. He then shot a ‘perfect miss’ as the ball found its way back to him. Wertz calmly dished to Dane Goodwin who was wide open for the game-winning three. It hit off the rim as ND fell at the buzzer 57-55.

A few days later at home vs North Carolina, it was 57-56 UNC with one minute remaining. UNC’s Davis took his defender 1-on-1 and converted a tough jumper just beyond the free-throw line, extending the lead to 59-56. The Irish put the ball in Starling’s hands and the freshman beat his defender with a driving layup down the right side of the paint – now 59-58 UNC with 30.3 seconds left. Next, the offensive boards helped the Tar Heels again as they got two shots off but no rim. Notre Dame was a second away from a huge defensive stand and on UNC’s third shot of the possession they hit the front end of the rim as the rebound was knocked out-of-bounds. It stayed with UNC with now just nine seconds on the clock, shot-clock off, which meant ND had to foul. The Tar Heels made both free throws and then fouled Notre Dame so they couldn’t shoot the three. ND ultimately fell 63-59.

TAKEAWAYS FROM UNC GAME

The major positive, outside of it being a one-possession game in the final minute yet again, was the defensive performance in the first half. 

With the score 27-19 at the half, Notre Dame held North Carolina to its lowest first-half score total of the year. UNC’s 19 points were the fewest in a half vs an unranked team since Feb. 24, 2015 (against NC State). The Tar Heels shot 5-of-27 from the field (18.5 percent), which was their lowest shooting percentage in a half since 1980. Their five field goals were the fewest in a half in over a decade.

DANE IS THE ROAD WARRIOR

Dane Goodwin has found much success on the road down the stretch. He’s posted seven straight road games in double figures – averaging 14.7 ppg (103 points). 

THREAT FROM THREE

Notre Dame’s offense may struggle from time to time, but you can’t argue with the team’s three-point shooting ability. The Irish rank 3rd in the ACC in made three-pointers per game and 39th in the country, converting 8.9 per game. They also rank 5th in three-point shooting percentage (.361). Their 8.9 threes per game would rank 6th all-time in program history – the program record is 9.7 set by the 19-20 squad. 

INDIANA STATE SB

SYCAMORES FALL TO SOUTHEASTERN, DEFEAT KENNESAW STATE IN EXTRA INNINGS

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Indiana State softball split a pair of games on the first day of the Easton Bama Bash, falling to Southeastern Louisiana 1-0 while defeating Kennesaw State 1-0 in 10 innings.
 
The Sycamores once again got strong outings from the pitching staff as Cassi Newbanks and Lexi Benko both threw complete games and gave up a combined one run. Indiana State is now 4-3 on the season.
 
Game One
After a leadoff walk from Southeastern, the Lions were able to get one the board first in the opening frame on an RBI groundout after a stolen base and a wild pitch. Sycamore starter Cassi Newbanks was able to get a ground ball to strand runners on second and third to limit the damage.
 
Olivia Patton led off the bottom of the first with a leadoff single but ISU couldn’t get her home, keeping Southeastern’s one run lead in tact after the opening frame. The Sycamores went down in order in the second in and third inning. Cassi Newbanks worked a 1-2-3 second inning and struck out her second batter of the afternoon in a scoreless third inning.
 
Southeastern threatened again in the fourth inning with a one-out double but Newbanks got the next two batters to keep it a one run ballgame. SLU starter Cera Blanchard continued her strong outing with a third consecutive 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the frame.
 
Both teams went down in order in the fifth inning as the game remained 1-0 in favor of the Lions. Cassi Newbanks stranded a runner in the top of the sixth, picking up her third strikeout of the game. Indiana State would go down in order in the bottom of the inning.
 
In the game’s final inning, Newbanks picked up her fourth strikeout en route to another 1-2-3 inning. Isabella Henning got aboard with a two-out single to center followed by a TeAnn Bringle walk but the Sycamores could not cash in, falling 1-0 to Southeastern Louisiana in the opening game of the day.
 
Olivia Patton and Isabella Henning had the lone hits for the Sycamores while SLU finished with four.
 
Cassi Newbanks finished with a complete game, allowing just four hits while striking out four.
 
Game Two
It was another pitcher’s duel in the second game of the day for ISU as neither team recorded a hit until the sixth inning.
 
Game two starter Lexi Benko was in command out of the gates, striking out three Owl hitters in the first inning.
 
Benko surrendered her first hit of the evening in the bottom of the sixth on an infield single. Kennedy Shade would give the Sycamores their first hit in the top of the seventh with a line drive single to right field.
 
With the game still tied 0-0 in the bottom of the seventh, Benko worked around a leadoff single and induced three-straight groundouts to send the game into extra innings.
 
In the top of the eighth inning, Isabella Henning got on with a two-out single to left center but that would be it for the Sycamores in the inning. Benko worked a quick 1-2-3 inning in the bottom half to extend the game into the ninth inning.
 
Kennedy Shade started the inning with her second hit of the game, an infield single, but ISU could not bring her around to score. In the bottom of the ninth, Benko once again set the Owls down in order, bringing on the 10^th inning.
 
Olivia Patton doubled down the left field line with one away in the 10^th to bring up Annie Tokarek who doubled off the base of the wall in right field to give Indiana State a 1-0 lead.
 
Benko would strike out a pair in the 10^th to close out the victory, finishing with a 10 inning complete game. She struck out eight while allowing just four hits and zero walks to improve to 2-0 on the year.
 
Indiana State finished with five hits while Kennesaw State had four on the evening. The Sycamores 1-0 win is the first victory over the Owls in program history.
 
Luci Kapelka made her first collegiate start behind the plate, drawing two walks in her debut.
 
Up Next
The Sycamores are back in action on Saturday, beginning the day with a noon ET matchup with No. 6 ranked Alabama and closing out the day with a 7:30 ET nightcap against Kennesaw State.

INDIANA STATE WBB

SYCAMORES CLOSE ROAD SLATE AT MISSOURI STATE

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State plays its final road contest of the 2022-23 season Saturday afternoon when it faces Missouri State at 2 p.m. The game will be carried on ESPN3 and 105.5 The Legend.
 

Indiana State Women’s Basketball at Missouri State
Date	Saturday, February 25 | 2 p.m. ET
Location // Venue	Springfield, Mo. // Great Southern Bank Arena (11,000)
Game Notes	Indiana State Notes // Missouri State Notes
Live Stats	Live Stat Feed
Watch	ESPN3
Listen	105.5 The Legend
Tickets	Tickets Starting at $1
Social Media	@IndStWBB // @IndStAthletics

 
 
Last Time Out
Bella Finnegan led all scorers with 21 points Thursday night, but a slow fourth quarter proved costly for Indiana State in a 79-64 loss inside Banterra Center.
 
15 of Finnegan’s 21 points came in the first half, as she shot 50 percent (8-for-16) from the field and 60 percent (3-for-5) from 3-point range. Chelsea Cain finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Del’Janae Williams had nine points and four assists.
 
Indiana State shot better than 50 percent in the first half, which allowed the Sycamores to take a 42-40 lead into the intermission. Cain and Finnegan combined for 25 points in the opening 20 minutes, while the Sycamores took care of the ball well in the first two quarters. Indiana State had a 54-52 lead entering the fourth, but the Sycamores were unable to get into any rhythm in the fourth as SIU outscored the Trees 27-10 in the final period.
 
Crunch Time
With three games left before the MVC Tournament, Indiana State has a chance to play itself up the standings heading into the Quad Cities.
 
The Sycamores can finish anywhere between sixth and 11th in the MVC standings, with the teams occupying those spots separated by just two games in the standings.
 
Heating Up
Indiana State freshman guard Bella Finnegan has scored 20-plus points twice in the last four games for the Sycamores, with both of those outings coming on the road. Finnegan had 26 points against Murray State and 21 points against Southern Illinois.
 
Finnegan has scored in double-figures in four of Indiana State’s last five games and five of the last seven. She leads MVC freshmen in scoring during conference play with 10.4 points per game.
 
All-Conference Charge
After earning honorable mention all-conference honors last season, Indiana State guard Del’Janae Williams has seen her numbers continue to go in the right direction this season as she looks to earn another conference honor.
 
Williams leads Indiana State in scoring at 13.1 points per game and also adds 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists for the Blue and White. She has scored in double-figures a team-leading 17 times this season, with a season-high 25 points at Valparaiso.
 
Milestone Moments
This season has seen a trio of Sycamore reach career milestones, including two which happpened during Indiana State’s recent road trip.
 
Del’Janae Williams became the 29th player to score 1,000 points at Indiana State by scoring each of the Sycamores’ first nine points at Belmont.
 
Chelsea Cain hit 1,000 points for her collegiate career with a layup in the first quarter at Evansville. Cain scored 857 points in three seasons at Nicholls State and has 272 points for the Sycamores this year, giving her 1,129 career points.
 
Head coach Chad Killinger picked up his 300th win as a collegiate head coach with Indiana State’s 82-71 win over Murray State.
 
Road Warriors
Playing on the road is traditionally a daunting task, but Indiana State has actually performed better away from home each of the last two seasons.
 
Of Indiana State’s five conference wins this season, four have come on the road. Seven of the Sycamores’ 10 wins in MVC play under head coach Chad Killinger have been road wins.
 
Lockdown Defense
After giving up 70-plus points in both ends of its last road trip, Indiana State’s defense came to play at home. The Sycamores allowed just 55 points per game against Valparaiso and UIC, their best two-game defensive stretch since early January.
 
Indiana State’s defense allowed the Sycamores to play a pair of three-possession games last week despite averaging less than 50 points per game over those contests.
 
Missouri State at a Glance
Missouri State enters Saturday’s game at 18-8 overall and 13-4 in MVC play. The Lady Bears are coming off a 63-51 win over Evansville at home in their last contest.
 
Aniya Thomas (14.8), Kennedy Taylor (11.5) and Sydney Wilson (10.7) all average double-figure scoring for the Lady Bears, with Taylor also averaging a team-high 8.6 rebounds per game. Seven different Lady Bears average six-plus points per game.
 
Saturday’s game closes a four-game homestand for Missouri State. The Lady Bears have gone 2-1 in that stretch.
 
Head coach Beth Cunningham is in her first season at the helm after spending the past two seasons as an assistant on Kara Lawson’s staff at Duke. Cunningham has nearly a decade of previous head coaching experience at VCU (167-115).
 
Series History Against Missouri State
Missouri State has a 66-18 advantage in the all-time series and has won the last 17 meetings, though Indiana State has been within three possessions in each of the last three. The Sycamores’ last win in the series was in 2014.
 
Last Game Against Missouri State (Dec. 29, 2022)
Bella Finnegan recorded season-highs of 14 points and five rebounds, but visiting Missouri State escaped Hulman Center with a 71-62 win over Indiana State.
 
Chelsea Cain added 12 points and seven rebounds, her third double-figure scoring game in the last four, while Anna McKendree, Adrian Folks and Caitlin Anderson scored eight points each. Mya Glanton had six points and a season-high 11 rebounds for the Sycamores.
 
Indiana State struggled from the field offensively, allowing Missouri State to take an early double-digit lead. The Sycamores took advantage of their trips to the free throw line in the first half, cutting the deficit to one, and later took the lead in the third quarter. A 14-1 run in the third quarter proved crucial for Missouri State, and despite cutting the deficit to three late in the fourth, the Sycamores were unable to fully recover.
 
Up Next
Indiana State begins its final homestand of the season Thursday at 6 p.m. against Bradley.

INDIANA STATE BASEBALL

SYCAMORES CONTINUE SNOWBIRD BASEBALL CLASSIC WITH WEEKEND SERIES AGAINST NORTHEASTERN

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State baseball wraps up its two-week Florida trip to open the 2023 season as the Sycamores take on Northeastern in a three-game series at the Snowbird Baseball Classic in Port Charlotte, Fla.
 
The teams will compete on field C-9 starting with a doubleheader on Saturday morning at 11 a.m., while Sunday’s finale is also set for an 11 a.m. first pitch. All three games will be streamed live via FloBaseball, while live stats will be provided on NUHuskies.com.
 
The Sycamores enter the weekend coming off a pair of midweek games against Florida Gulf Coast and at No. 22 Miami (Fla.). Indiana State picked up an 8-7 win against FGCU on Tuesday afternoon as a part of the Snowbird Baseball Classic, while the Sycamores fell on the road at the Hurricanes on Wednesday night, 9-3.
 
Mike Sears powered the Sycamores past Florida Gulf Coast as the redshirt junior connected on a grand slam to cap a six-run rally to top the Eagles. The Sycamores relied on power in the contest with six of their nine hits going for extra bases in the win, while ISU utilized nine pitchers on the mound with Simon Gregersen recording his first win in the Blue & White.
 
Luis Hernandez connected on his first home run in 2023 in the Wednesday night contest against No. 22 Miami as the sophomore sparked Indiana State early against the Hurricanes. Cameron Holycross added an effective three-inning relief stint in the loss to Miami.
 
Indiana State’s pitching staff continues has posted a 5.65 ERA over the first week of the 2023 season with a 38:14 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Sycamores have limited opponents to a .258 batting average, while 15 different pitchers have seen time on the mound this year. Jared Spencer and Simon Gregersen lead the way with a team-high three appearances.
 
Josue Urdaneta (.385) and Luis Hernandez (.357) are the team’s hitting leaders on the year through the first four games of 2023. Hernandez is the team leader with four extra-base hits and has scored a team-high six runs. Mike Sears leads the Sycamores with six RBI following his five-RBI game against FGCU.
 
Indiana State takes on their second of three first-time opponents in the 2023 season this weekend as the Sycamores take on the Huskies. ISU previously faced off against Quinnipiac (W, 6-1) and still has Murray State (May 12-14) on the schedule.

Scouting the Opposition
Northeastern Huskies
Northeastern enters the weekend with a 2-1 record on the year following their opening weekend at UNC Greensboro on February 17-19. The Huskies won the season opener, 11-0, and followed up by taking the series finale 12-9 to top the Spartans. UNCG took the middle contest, 7-6, with a walk-off single in the ninth. Jimmy Sullivan (.417) and Danny Crossen (.400) lead Northeastern’s offense through the opening part of the season as the Huskies are hitting .333 as a team through three games. Sullivan and Carmelo Musacchia are tied for the team lead with five hits, while Crossen is the team leader with two doubles on the year. Sullivan and Tyler MacGregor have both homered for the Huskies.
 
Twelve different Northeastern pitchers have seen time on the mound this season with Wyatt Scotti, Eric Yost, and Matt Downing all earning starts on the rubber. Scotti, Charlie Walker, Griffin Young, and Jack Beauchesne combined for the season-opening shutout against UNC Greensboro to highlight the Northeastern staff. Walker and Young have both made multiple appearances on the mound to lead a staff that has posted a 3.76 ERA and a 30:13 strikeout-to-walk ratio on the year.
 
Northeastern was picked fourth overall in the Colonial Athletic Association preseason poll as the Huskies received 71 total points and one first place vote in the poll. The Huskies were highlighted by preseason All-Conference selections Mike Sirota (OF), Wyatt Scotti (SP), and Honorable Mention choice Jordy Allard (RP). Sirota led the team with a .326 batting average with 14 doubles and four home runs prior to a season-ending injury in 2022. Scotti went 8-3 on the mound with 14 starts and finished among the national leaders in strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.12) and walks allowed per nine innings (0.89). Allard added 22 relief appearances and two midweek starts while making a pair of saves in the CAA Tournament.
 
Indiana State – Northeastern History
This weekend marks the first contest between Indiana State and Northeastern in their respective program histories. It also marks just the fourth Colonial Athletic Association opponent Indiana State has faced with ISU posting a 10-5 record against CofC (3-2), Elon (4-1), and UNC Wilmington (3-2).

Indiana State Quick Notes
On-Base Streaks Continue
Seth Gergely enters the weekend boasting a double-digit on-base streak as the redshirt senior outfielder carries an 11-game on-base streak heading into the series against the Huskies. The Tallmadge, Ohio native has hit safely against Iowa, FGCU (double), and Miami (Fla.), while also drawing a pair of walks against Quinnipiac. Gergely is one of six players on the team to boast a career double-digit on-base streak including Miguel Rivera (19), Josue Urdaneta (18), Joe Kido (13), Randal Diaz (12), and Grant Magill (11). Additionally, Josue Urdaneta carries an 11-game on-base streak in the state of Florida dating back to the start of the 2022 season after reaching base safely in all four contests this season.

They Get Plunked
Indiana State’s hitters continue to wear it at the plate as the Sycamores lead the Missouri Valley Conference and sit 43rd in the NCAA in hit by pitches in the 2023 season. At least one Sycamore has been hit in every game this season including four batters plunked against Quinnipiac on February 18. Adam Pottinger has been hit a team-leading three times on the year, while Luis Hernandez has been hit by two pitches on the year. Jordan Schaffer led the Missouri Valley last season after getting hit by 23 pitches in 2022.

Powering Up
Indiana State’s Mike Sears and Luis Hernandez connected on the Sycamores’ first home runs of the 2023 season in the midweek games against Florida Gulf Coast and Miami (Fla.). Sears connected on ISU’s first blast of the year as the redshirt junior drilled a grand slam in ISU’s 8-7 win over the Eagles. Hernandez followed up in the next game with his first home run of the season, a solo shot to left field, in the top of the first inning at Miami (Fla.). The Sycamores’ first two home runs of the year come following a 45-home run season in 2022. Randal Diaz (7) was ISU’s home run leader in 2022, while Keegan Watson (6), Josue Urdaneta (5), and Luis Hernandez (4) all return among Indiana State’s leaders from last season. ISU is currently seventh in the MVC in team home runs with two on the year.
 
Sycamores For Extra Bases
Indiana State’s hitters have struggled at the plate at the beginning of the 2023 season, but the power bats have been strong as the Sycamores have connected on 12 extra-base hits over their first four games of the year. Luis Hernandez leads the team with four extra-base hits (three doubles, a home run), while Josue Urdaneta and Grant Magill have also connected on a pair of doubles this season. Additionally, Seth Gergely (double), Connor Hicks (double), Mike Sears (home run), and Adam Pottinger (triple) have all posted extra-base hits on the year heading into the second weekend of the season.
 
Limiting the Free Runners
Indiana State’s pitching staff returns to sit among the national leaders in both WHIP and walks allowed per nine innings heading into the second weekend of the season. The Sycamores lead the Missouri Valley in WHIP allowing 1.31 runners per inning, while Indiana State sits second in the conference allowing 3.44 walks allowed per nine innings. Matt Jachec remains one of the top pitchers in the country in the walks allowed per nine innings as the redshirt junior has not allowed a walk over his 6.0 innings on the mound.

First Time On The Field
Indiana State had a number of Sycamores make their Blue & White debuts on the field in the Sunshine State as Adam Pottinger, Henry Brown, Zach Davidson, Brayden Lybarger, Simon Gregersen, Jacob Pruitt, Kyle Cortner, Aaron Moss, Jorge Pereira, Dom Krupinski, and Alex Marx all appeared on the field for the first time. Pottinger has started all four games in left field for the Sycamores, while Zach Davidson (Quinnipiac) and Jacob Pruitt (FGCU) have both made their first starts on the mound.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE TRACK

PURDUE FORT WAYNE HOSTS #HLTF INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS WEEKEND

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Lutheran Health Fieldhouse is the place to be this Saturday and Sunday for the 2023 Horizon League Indoor Track & Field Championships. 

Day One
When: Saturday, February 25
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Lutheran Health Fieldhouse
Championship Central (with meet schedule): Link
Live Results: Link
ESPN+: Link (11 a.m. for first session of the 5,000) | Link (3:50 p.m. session)
Talent: John Nolan and Henry Brun

Day Two
When: Sunday, February 26
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Lutheran Health Fieldhouse
Championship Central (with meet schedule): Link
Live Results: Link
ESPN+: Link (1 p.m.)
Talent: John Nolan and Henry Brun

What to Watch For (women): 
Entries: Link

• Katie Clark has the third best time in the league this year (56.59) in the 400. Clark was fifth in the 400 at last season’s indoor championships.
• Brooke Neal brings in the second best 5000 meters time in the league (17:09.39).
• Ali Sparks enters with the fifth best marks in the shot put (13.39 meters) and weight throw (16.16 meters).
• Jesseca Hudson-Turpin has the third best time in the 60 hurdles in the league this year at 8.55. She was fourth at indoors last season.
• The squad of Sophia Buck, Clark, Hudson-Turpin and Dylan Kirkwood are seeded second in the 4×400 relay (3:50.61).
• Lydia Carrell, Madeline McClerren, Ava Genovese and Makaila Groves are seeded third in the DMR. 
• Jai Reed is entered into the 60, 200 and long jump for the ‘Dons. Her 60 seed is the sixth best in the league while her long jump mark is ninth.

What to Watch For (men):  
Entries: Link

• Draven Thompson, Colten Gasson, Harrison Niswander and Joe Cartwright bring in the best seed time of 10:20.01 in the DMR in the league.
• Brent Donaldson, Braxton Trittipo, Nicolas Blair and Troy Golden own a time of 3:17.54 in the 4×400, second best in the league.
• Trittipo’s time in the 400 (48.74) is third best.
• In the high jump, Cain Hohne enters with the third seed (2.04 meters).
• Kai Auernheimer has the second best heptathlon performance of the season in the league (4349).
• In the 800, Kobe Milledge is seeded fifth while teammate Weston Miser isn’t much lower at the eighth spot.
• Meanwhile Andrew Whitinger owns the seventh seed in the 5000 meters while Nicholas Mills is sixth in the mile. 

PURDUE FT. WAYNE VB

BLOCK ADVANTAGE POWERS MASTODONS TO DEFEAT OF LEWIS

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne picked up their second league win of the week with a 3-1 (25-23, 25-12, 13-25, 27-25) on Friday (Feb. 24) evening over Lewis on Arnie Ball Court at the Gates Sports Center.

Zach Solomon delivered an ace on match point to clinch the contest for the Mastodons. He finished with 38 assists, three kills and two aces. He ran an offense that out-hit the Flyers .310 to .235. The ‘Dons had three student-athletes reach double-digit kills. Jon Diedrich hit .295 with 16 kills. Mark Frazier hit .333 with 11 kills and 10 digs for a double-double. Bryce Walker added 10 kills. 

The story of the night defensively came at the net where Purdue Fort Wayne held a 16.5 to 6.5 advantage in blocks. Ryan Steponaitis had a match-high seven block assists while Frazier added six. Walker finished with eight blocks (two solo).  

The ‘Dons needed only one set point in the first frame thanks to a Walker kill that won the set 25-23. The second set was all Purdue Fort Wayne. The set featured a 9-1 Mastodon run with five different Mastodons recording a kill in the stretch. The ‘Dons out-hit the Flyers .462 to .000 in the frame. 

Purdue Fort Wayne’s attempt for a sweep was denied swiftly by the Flyers as Lewis flipped the switch by out-hitting the Mastodons .391 to .094 in the third set.

The ‘Dons trailed 24-23 in the fourth. A Lewis service error denied the Flyers a chance to win the set. Walker followed with an ace to put the ‘Dons in control before Solomon’s ace won it. 

The ‘Dons improve to 12-4 (3-3 MIVA) and return to the court on March 4 at Loyola.  Lewis is now 8-9 (2-4 MIVA). 

PURDUE FT. WAYNE BASEBALL

‘DONS DROP SERIES OPENER TO WILDCATS

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Purdue Fort Wayne had 12 hits in a 13-8 setback at Bethune-Cookman on Friday (Feb. 24) evening in the opener of a four-game series with the Wildcats.

The Mastodons fell behind 4-0 but tied it with a four-spot in the fifth. Jarrett Bickel and Ben Higgins each had a 2-RBI single in the inning. Bethune-Cookman went up 6-4 with a pair of their own in the fifth.  Caileb Johnson hit a solo home run in the sixth to make it a 6-5 score in favor of Bethune-Cookman. The Wildcats were able to extend their lead from there. Dylan Stewart provided a home run in the ninth inning.

Braedon Blackford had three hits including two doubles and a run knocked in.

Garrett Chun had a triple and a double with four runs scored for the Wildcats.

The ‘Dons fall to 1-4. Bethune-Cookman moves to 3-2. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday.

PURDUE FTR. WAYNE SB

MASTODON SOFTBALL SPLITS OPENING DAY OF EVANSVILLE TOURNAMENT

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne softball team picked up a win over MAC foe Bowling Green and went down to the wire with Missouri Valley opponent Evansville on Friday (Feb. 24).

GAME 1: Purdue Fort Wayne 3, Bowling Green 2
Alanah Jones picked up her third win of the year in game one, throwing the full game against the Falcons to move to 3-3. When it mattered most, she shut the Falcons down. In the last three innings, she saw just nine batters. Jones finished with five strikeouts.

Bowling Green led after scoring one run in each of the third and the fourth, but it was a three-run sixth for the Mastodons that was the difference. Taylor Warne doubled then Bailey Manos singled. After Manos stole second, reigning Horizon League Player of the Week Grace Hollopeter stepped up with runners on second and third. She singled to third base, scoring Warne. Then Jones brought Manos home on a fielder’s choice. Taryn Jenkins came up with Hollopeter on third, then singled up the middle to score the go-ahead run.

Four Mastodons had a hit in the contest, all of which came in that sixth inning.

Bowling Green fell to 3-7 with the loss.GAME 2: Evansville 3, Purdue Fort Wayne 2
The Mastodons nearly pulled off a second win in the second game of the day, but fell to Evansville 3-2.

Alyson Quinlan went 5.2 innings and struck out 10 Purple Aces, a career-high for the redshirt-sophomore.

Evansville got the first run of the game in the third inning, stealing home. The Mastodons responded in the following frame, getting two runs of their own. After Manos singled, she advanced to second on an error, then stole third. Hollopeter joined her on the base paths with a walk and a steal to put both Mastodons in scoring position. Manos scored when Jenkins brought her home on a fielder’s choice and Hollopeter scored after an error from the Evansville catcher.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Purple Aces retook the lead thanks to a pair of hits that scored a pair. Kennedy Peckinpaugh came in to relieve Quinlan and retire the rest of the side, leaving the bases jammed.

Purdue Fort Wayne had a chance to even up the contest, with the game-tying run at third, but Evansville’s pitching staff got out of the jam and stranded Ella Carriere on third.

Quinlan took the loss and falls to 0-3. Evansville improved to 9-1. Purdue Fort Wayne moved to 4-9 with the split on Friday.

The ‘Dons will take the field again tomorrow morning (Saturday, Feb. 25) at 11 AM ET against St. Thomas.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE WBB

WOMEN’S HOOPS VISITS GREEN BAY FOR FINAL REGULAR SEASON GAME OF 2022-23

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball team will visit the Kress Center at Green Bay for the first time ever on Saturday (Feb. 25) for the final Horizon League regular season game of the 2022-23 season.

Game Day Information
Who: Green Bay Phoenix
When: Saturday, February 25 | 2 PM ET
Where: Green Bay, Wis. | Kress Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Green Bay | Horizon League

Know Your Foe
Green Bay is 24-4 and 17-2 in the Horizon League, and has already clinched at least a share of the regular season championship. The Phoenix are paced by 11.4 points by Sydney Levy, but have six players averaging between six and 10 points per game. The Phoenix are riding a 10-game winning streak dating back to January 20, which was their only loss since December 1.

The Series
Green Bay leads the all-time series 7-0. The Mastodons have only played in Green Bay once, a 2004 contest, but they have never played in the Kress Center, which opened in 2007.

That Seems Good
The Mastodons’ 32 points in the fourth quarter against Wright State (Feb. 16) was the most points scored by a Mastodon team in a quarter since quarters were introduced in women’s basketball in the 2015-16 season.Grabbing Boards
The Mastodons held Wright State to just 19 rebounds on February 16, which tied the fewest rebounds by an opponent since the Mastodons held Centenary to 17 on January 31, 2011.

Ball Control
The Mastodons had a season-low five turnovers against Wright State on February 16. It tied the fewest turnovers dating back to at least 1990 (given available records) with three other games: Manchester (2021), Western Illinois (2016) and North Dakota State (2008).

Ball Control Times Two
The Mastodons had a then-season-low seven turnovers against Cleveland State and won the points off turnovers battle 23-1.

Defense (Clap, Clap) Defense
Purdue Fort Wayne has held its opponents to 64 points or fewer in 13 games this season. They are 10-4 in such games.

Thieves!
Purdue Fort Wayne is first in the Horizon League and is 68th in the country with 9.2 steals per game. The ‘Dons also force the 65th-most turnovers in the country at 18.28 per game, a league-best.

Especially Those Two!
In league play, Shayla Sellers and Amellia Bromenschenkel are first and third in the Horizon League with 2.2 and 1.9 steals per game.

Sellers Swiper
Shayla Sellers ranks in the top-125 in the country with 52 steals this season.

Last Time Out
Milwaukee beat Purdue Fort Wayne 64-34 at home on Thursday night (Feb. 23). Shayla Sellers had eight points, eight rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block.

Coming Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will play its final game of the 2022-23 regular season at Green Bay. That game will have major postseason implications and will likely determine where the Mastodons will be playing in the Barbasol Horizon League Championship.

EVANSVILLE SB

UE SOFTBALL PICKS UP TWO WINS ON FRIDAY

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Two more wins were added to the season tally on Friday with the University of Evansville softball team opening the day with a 3-2 win over Purdue Fort Wayne before overcoming a 9-run deficit to defeat the University of St. Thomas by a 12-9 final in the evening.

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Game One Box Score – Game Two Box Score

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Game One – UE 3, PFW 2
 
Hannah Hood hit a 2-run single in the bottom of the sixth to lift the Purple Aces to a 3-2 win over Purdue Fort Wayne. 
 
Taylor Howe doubled to left to open the third inning and moved to third on a passed ball.  With two outs, she stole home to open the scoring.  Her heads-up baserunning kept the defense off guard to give UE the lead.  Purdue Fort Wayne countered with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth.
 
With her team trailing by a 2-1 score in the bottom of the sixth, Hannah Hood put her team back in front.  Marah Wood belted a 1-out double before Alexa Davis reached on a walk.  With the duo at second and third, Hood delivered a single to left center to put the Aces on top, 3-2. 
 
Megan Brenton entered the game in the top of the 7^th and retired the Mastodons to earn the save while finishing off the 3-2 win.  Mikayla Jolly allowed two unearned runs on one hit in six frames on the way to her third win of the season.
 
Game Two – UE 12, St .Thomas 9
 
After trailing St. Thomas by a 9-0 score after the first inning, the Purple Aces scored 12 unanswered runs to wrap up the day with a 12-9 victory. 
 
St. Thomas opened the game with a 9-run top of the first.  Despite the large deficit, UE worked its way back into the fold.  The offense got on the board with three runs in the bottom of the second.  Callie Meinel recorded the first RBI of her career while Zoe Frossard added a 2-RBI double.
 
Another run crossed the plate in the fourth on a Taylor Howe RBI knock before UE made it a 9-7 game in the fifth.  A groundout by Hannah Hood scored Marah Wood and Lacey Smith followed with an RBI triple.  Jenna Nink doubled to left center to cut the deficit to just a pair heading into the sixth.
 
Evansville completed the comeback in the sixth.  The offense drew four consecutive bases-loaded walks to take its first lead of the game.  Hood, Smith, Nink and Meinel picked up the walks to make it an 11-9 game.  Howe was later hit by a pitch to bring in the 12^th run. 
 
Megan Brenton earned her second save of the day with a scoreless 7^th inning to cap off the win.  Elle Jarrett tossed two scoreless innings on the way to her first collegiate win.  Paige McAllister went 3 2/3 innings of relief and gave up two unearned runs.  Evansville finished the night with 14 hits.  Howe and Wood recorded three apiece.  Hood and Smith each scored three times.  On Saturday, UE faces Bowling Green at 12:30 p.m. before taking on Purdue Fort Wayne at 3 p.m.

EVANSVILLE BASEBALL

EASTERN MICHIGAN TAKES SERIES OPENER, 5-2

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The visiting Eastern Michigan baseball team scored two two-out runs in the top of the fifth inning Friday to grab a lead it would never lose, as the Eagles rallied for a 5-2 victory over the University of Evansville Purple Aces at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.

Reigning Mid-American Conference Player of the Year Matt Kirk produced a two-out RBI double to the wall in right-center field in the fifth inning to tie the score at 2-2 for Eastern Michigan.  He then scored on a two-out single to right by first baseman Darren Kraft to give EMU a 3-2 lead.  The Eagles would add a two-run home run in the eighth inning by DH Josh Kross, before holding off a late UE rally in the ninth inning to win.

“I just felt like it was an uninspired performance today by our offense,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll.  “I thought that Nick Smith pitched pretty well for us today, and I thought that our defense made some good plays, but we needed some guys to step up offensively for us, and we really didn’t have that outside of Ben Stuart, who had a great game.  But, credit their two pitchers.  I thought they did a tremendous job of controlling at-bats.  We just have to try and bounce back tomorrow.”

Stuart was the lone bright spot on Friday for Evansville offensively, as he produced two of UE’s three hits, and drove in UE’s first run of the contest with a two-out RBI single in the second inning.  Kirk and Kross both had two-hit games for Eastern Michigan.

Junior RHP Nick Smith (0-2) was the tough-luck loser for Evansville, as he scattered three runs on five hits in 5.0 innings of work, while striking out six.  Reliever Luke Russo (1-0) earned the win for EMU by tossing 4.1 innings of scoreless, hitless relief, while striking out six.  He did have to escape a ninth-inning jam, as he walked the first two hitters of the inning to bring the tying run to home plate, but he was able to record back-to-back strikeouts and a ground out to end the contest.

The two teams will continue the series on Saturday afternoon with a 2 p.m. contest that can be seen live on ESPN3.  Senior Tyler Denu (0-0, 5.79 ERA) will take the mound for Evansville (0-5), trying to get the Aces their first win of 2023.  Eastern Michigan (2-2) has not announced a starter yet for Saturday’s contest.

EVANSVILLE MBB

MEN’S BASKETBALL TRAVELS TO ILLINOIS STATE FOR REGULAR SEASON FINALE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Regular season action comes to a close on Sunday when the University of Evansville men’s basketball team travels to Illinois State.  Tip is set for 2 p.m. CT with the Purple Aces Radio Network and ESPN+ having the coverage.
 

Evansville at Illinois State
Game Information	Sunday, Feb. 26 | 2 p.m. CT | Normal, Ill.
Game Coverage	Live Stats | Live Audio | Game Notes | Watch (ESPN+)
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Setting the Scene
– Evansville makes the trek to Normal looking for its second MVC win of the year
– With a 1-18 conference record, the Purple Aces are locked into the #12 spot at Arch Madness
– UE has struggled at Redbird Arena, winning just five times in 30 games inside the venue; Evansville is 1-9 in its last 10 trips to Normal with the lone win being a 66-55 decision in 2016
– Last season, the Aces fell by a 94-56 final at Redbird Arena on Jan. 21 but rebounded two days later to defeat the Redbirds by a 56-53 score at the Ford Center
 
Last Time Out
– Wednesday evening saw UE wrap up its home schedule with an 82-76 loss to UIC
– Senior Marvin Coleman II and Kenny Strawbridge Jr. were honored at the game
– Yacine Toumi reset career highs in scoring (20 pts), field goals (9) and attempts (18)
– Strawbridge completed the night with 18
 
Finishing With 20
– For the first time in his collegiate career, Yacine Toumi reached the 20-point mark, scoring 20 in the home finale versus UIC
– He also set career marks with nine field goal makes and 18 attempts
– On the glass, Toumi has picked up 8 rebounds in three of the last six games to improve his season mark to 5.9 per game, which is 13th in the Valley
– He has grabbed 5+ boards in 16 of the last 18 to raise his average from 5.1 to 5.9
– His top tally of 11 came in the win over Bellarmine and had nine at UIC
– Toumi has raised his scoring from 9.8 to 10.7 PPG in the last 10 games and is averaging 12.3 PPG in that time (123 pts)
 
He’s #1
– Connecting on four of his seven 3-point tries against UIC, Gage Bobe improved his MVC outside shooting average to 44.3%, which is tops in the league
– Bobe recorded 12 versus the Flames, marking his sixth double figure game of the seasons; five of those have come in the last 11 games
– Hitting 14 of his last 29 attempts from long range, Bobe is shooting 38.5% on the season but is even better in the MVC
– His top career game came at Valpo as he scored 22 points while draining six of his 11 3-point tries and seeing 36:49 of work
 
Scouting the Opponent
– Illinois State enters the regular season finale with a 10-20 mark while sitting at 5-14 in Valley play
– Last time out, the Redbirds fell at Drake by a score of 82-51, marking their sixth loss in a row
– Darius Burford leads three double figure scorers with 12.8 points per game while pacing the squad with 71 assists
– Seneca Knight is averaging 11.7 points while Kendall Lewis checks in with a mark of 10.6 PPG
– Lewis is the top rebounder for ISU, hauling in 7.1 caroms per game
– Malachi Poindexter is averaging 9.8 PPG but was the leading scorer for ISU with 18 points in the first meeting against UE

SOUTHERN INDIANA SB

NEWMAN PITCHES ONE-HIT SHUTOUT IN USI’S 1-0 WIN

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Sophomore pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) pitched her first shutout of the season on Friday as University of Southern Indiana Softball opened the Samford Bulldog Classic with a 1-0 win against Samford University.
 
Newman threw a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts across seven innings. She earned her second win of the 2023 season. The shutout performance on Friday follows six shutouts a season ago during Newman’s freshman campaign.
 
Southern Indiana (3-1) got on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning. After senior infielder Jordan Rager (Fishers, Indiana) reached on a fielder’s choice, a single by senior designated player Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) and a defensive error by Samford allowed Rager to advance to third.
 
With runners on the corner and one out, senior infielder Rachel Martinez (Chicago, Illinois) sent one to right field for the RBI knock to bring Rager home and give USI the 1-0 lead.
 
After that point, Newman had all the run support she needed, as nine of her 10 strikeouts came after the first inning. In fact, Newman struck out the side in order in the third inning. She remained in control for the rest of the game.
 
Samford (2-8) only had two baserunners reach second base in the game. The Bulldogs had only four total baserunners.
 
Samford’s freshman pitcher Sara Bond was dealt the loss, allowing the unearned run and two hits in 1.1 innings. Sophomore pitcher MacKenzie Newcomb entered the game afterward and nearly matched USI’s Newman. Newcomb went 5.2 innings of relief with nine strikeouts and gave up just one hit.
 
The Screaming Eagles return to action at the Bulldog Classic Saturday at 1:30 p.m. to face an old Division II foe in the University of North Alabama. Later Saturday evening, USI will take on Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) at 6:30 p.m.
 
Weekend coverage links are on the USI Softball schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.

SOUTHERN INDIANA BASEBALL

USI LOSES HOME OPENER TO BELLARMINE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball lost the home opener to Bellarmine University, 4-2, Friday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. The Screaming Eagles watch their record go to 3-3, while Bellarmine goes to 4-0.
 
USI took the initial lead in the first frame when senior centerfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) scored on a RBI-single to right center by junior first baseman Tucker Ebest  (Austin, Texas). Tachioka had moved into scoring position after reaching on an error and stealing second.
 
The 1-0 lead would last until the top of the third when Bellarmine grabbed a 2-1 lead on a two-run home run. The Knights extended lead to 4-1 with another two runs in the sixth.
 
USI cut into the deficit in the eighth with a tally to make the score 4-2. Junior rightfielder Drew Taylor (Jefferson, Indiana) entered the game as a pinch runner in the eighth and scored a sacrifice fly by Tachioka before USI left the bases jammed.
 
In the ninth, Bellarmine set USI down in order in the ninth to notch its fourth win of the year. The Eagles were limited to just three hits in the game.
 
On the mound, sophomore right-hander Tyler Hutson (Villa Hills, Kentucky) took the loss for the Eagles. Hutson (1-1) allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits and two walks, while striking out six in five-plus innings of work.
 
Up Next for the Eagles:
USI and Bellarmine continue the three-game series Saturday at 1 p.m. and concludes Sunday at noon.
 
The Eagles hit the road next week to play a three-game set at Washington State University March 3-5 in Pullman, Washington. The thee-game set will be the first meetings between the two programs all-time.  

VALPO BASEBALL

BASEBALL ROUTS UT MARTIN IN SERIES OPENER

The Valparaiso University baseball team jumped ahead early and never looked back, racking up 17 hits in a 10-2 victory over UT Martin on Friday afternoon in Martin, Tenn. Both Nolan Tucker (Cedar Lake, Ind. / Hanover Central) and Kyle Schmack (Wanatah, Ind. / South Central) ripped home runs as the early-season power surge continued, while Griffin McCluskey, Nathan Chasey (Ames, Iowa / Gilbert [Indian Hills CC]) and Josh Cottrill (Pewaukee, Wis. / Pewaukee) combined for a quality day on the mound.

How It Happened

• The game started with a double by Kaleb Hannahs (West Terre Haute, Ind. / West Vigo), who came into score when Schmack ripped a double of his own. Brady Renfro (Antigo, Wis. / Antigo) and Jake Skrine (Longmont, Colo. / Mead [Indiana]) each lashed run-scoring singles as part of a three-run first.
• Valpo added to the lead in the second inning when Renfro notched another run-scoring single.
• The lone tally against McCluskey came in the bottom of the second, when the Skyhawks pushed across a single run.
• Valpo got that run right back in the top of the third on an RBI single by Alex Ryan (Lake Mills, Wis. / Lakeside Lutheran) to make it 5-1.
• McCluskey worked 1-2-3 innings in both the first and third frames, and allowed just one baserunner in both the fourth and fifth.
• Tucker belted a two-run homer in the sixth to expand the lead to 7-1, then Skrine added a run-scoring single to cap off a three-run inning.
• The offense continued to thrive in the top of the seventh when Schmack smacked a two-run homer to open up a 10-1 lead.
• UT Martin scratched out a run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly, the only run of the day against Chasey, who flipped three solid innings of relief.

Inside the Game

• Valpo already notched its second double-figure run output of the season after scoring 11 in last weekend’s win over Kansas. For comparison, last season, the team’s second double-figure run total came on March 25.
• The Beacons have slugged eight home runs in the first four games of the season. The team has hit multiple home runs in three straight games. Last year, Valpo had multiple home runs six times the entire season and did not hit its eighth homer until the 11^th game of the season.
• Valpo pounded out 17 hits, matching its total from last weekend’s entire three-game series. This surpassed the team’s season high in the hit column from last year. This was the team’s highest hit total since 18 on May 1, 2021 vs. Illinois State.
• This was Valpo’s highest hit total in a road game since May 8, 2018 at Western Michigan.
• Ryan enjoyed a three-hit day, tying his career high that occurred on April 30, 2022 at Southern Illinois. Also boasting three hits was Renfro, who matched a career high that he reached three times last year.
• Every player in the lineup had at least one hit, and Hannahs, Schmack, Skrine and Alex Thurston (Fowler, Ind. / Benton Central) notched two apiece. The two through five hitters in the batting order each had multiple RBIs, led by Schmack with three.
• Renfro was on base five times as he had two walks to go along with the three hits, while Schmack reached on four occasions.  
• Schmack’s home run was the 11^th of his collegiate career, while Tucker picked up the fourth of his career. He has as many home runs in the first four games this season (two) as he did in the first 57 games of his collegiate career.
• McCluskey received the win, the third of his career and first this season. He allowed one run on four hits while walking one and striking out four in five innings. Chasey permitted just one run on two hits over three frames before Cottrill sent down the side in order in the bottom of the ninth.

Up Next

Valpo (2-2) and UT Martin will continue the series on Saturday at 3 p.m. A link to live stats will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.

VALPO SB

SOFTBALL FALLS TWICE ON FIRST DAY OF ACTION IN FLORIDA

The Valpo softball team opened up weekend action at The Spring Games in Madeira Beach, Fla. on Friday with a pair of games. The Beacons fell to Siena in their opener, 8-4, and suffered a 6-1 defeat later in the afternoon versus FIU.

How It Happened – Siena

• Valpo started off strong offensively on Friday, plating a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Junior Kayla Skapyak (Macomb, Mich./Macomb) led off with a single and two batters later, fifth-year Taylor Herschbach (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) walked to put a pair of runners on for senior Lauren Kehlenbrink (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway South), who drove them both in with a double to give the Beacons a 2-0 lead.
• Siena answered with a pair of unearned runs in its half of the first, and the Saints took the lead for good with a run in the second. They added five more runs over the third and fourth frames to take an 8-2 lead.
• Valpo got a pair of runs back in the top of the sixth, as an infield single from junior Alexis Johnson (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) plated freshman Lexi Szostak (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park), and sophomore Kaiah Fenters (Speedway, Ind./Speedway) later scored on a wild pitch. But with the potential tying run in the on-deck circle, the Beacons were unable to trim any more runs from the deficit.

How It Happened – FIU

• It was a pitching duel to start things off against the Panthers, as the only baserunner in the first two and a half innings — a leadoff double in the top of the second for FIU — was erased at the plate as part of a double play.
• Valpo took the lead in the bottom of the third with a mini two-out rally. Freshman Kim Rodas (San Bernadino, Calif./Cajon) singled and moved up to third on an infield single by Skapyak and a subsequent FIU error. With runners on the corners, Skapyak took off and got in a rundown, allowing Rodas enough time to sprint home with the game’s first run.
• Senior Easton Seib (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs South) faced just one batter over the minimum through the first four innings, but FIU struck for four runs — two of which were unearned — to go in front in the top of the fifth. The Panthers added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings for the final margin.

Inside the Games

• Kehlenbrink tallied three hits on the day to lead the Valpo offense, picking up two base knocks against Siena and one against FIU.
• Junior Regi Hecker (Lee’s Summit, Mo./Blue Springs South) reached base three times versus Siena with a hit and a pair of walks.
• Fenters reached base twice against Siena as well with a hit and a walk, while Szostak reached successfully in two of her three plate appearances over the two contests.
• Junior Caitlyn Kowalski (Temperance, Mich./Notre Dame Academy) was charged with the loss in the circle against Siena, despite the fact she allowed just one earned run and struck out four batters in 3.2 innings of work.
• Seib went six innings against FIU and took the loss.
• The Beacons had opportunities to add to their run total in the opener against the Saints, but went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base. On the flip side, versus FIU, Valpo had just one at-bat with a runner in scoring position and left just three runners on base.

Next Up

Valpo (1-6) continues action from Madeira Beach with a pair of games on Saturday, facing Dartmouth at 10 a.m. CT and UT Martin immediately afterwards.

VALPO WBB

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TAKES AIM AT FOURTH STRAIGHT ROAD WIN SATURDAY

Valparaiso (7-19, 5-12 MVC)
Game #27 – Feb. 25, 2023 – 4 p.m.
at Illinois State (20-7, 14-3 MVC)
CEFCU Arena (10,000) – Normal, Ill.

Next Up in Valpo Basketball: With three straight road victories under its belt, the Valpo women’s basketball team takes aim at a fourth consecutive triumph away from home in a span of nine days on Saturday afternoon when it faces off with MVC co-leader Illinois State.

Previously: Valpo led by as many as 16 points in MVC action Thursday night in Peoria, Ill. and held off a furious rally from host Bradley in the final quarter to come away with a 76-72 win. The Beacons have won three consecutive conference road games over the last seven days. Olivia Brown and Ali Saunders tied for game-high honors with 17 points.

Following Valpo Basketball: Streaming Video: ESPN3
Radio: WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso)
Streaming Audio: TuneIn app
Links for live coverage: Available via ValpoAthletics.com

Head Coach Mary Evans: Mary Evans is in her fifth year at the helm of the program in 2022-23 and owns a record of 55-87. Evans has made an impact on the program in her first four years, raising the team’s level of play to be competitive in a strong Missouri Valley Conference. Evans’ preferred style of play has been a big part of the program’s turnaround, as Valpo has led the MVC in 3-pointers made per game in each of the last three seasons and in steals per game in two of the last three years.

Series Notes: Illinois State leads the all-time series over Valpo, 10-4, including wins in each of the last three matchups. Earlier this season at the ARC, the Redbirds came away with a 78-46 victory. Jayda Johnston scored all 14 of her points in the second half on perfect 5-of-5 shooting from the field to lead the Beacons in that contest, while Ali Saunders connected on three 3-pointers on her way to 13 points.

@ValpoWBB…
…and @ValleyHoops
– Valpo was picked to finish in 10th place in the MVC preseason poll, totaling 197 points, just 10 points behind Evansville.
– Valpo is in its sixth season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
– The Valley was ranked 10th in conference NET last year, was ranked seventh nationally in conference NET in 2020-21 and was eighth nationally in conference RPI in 2019-20.

…at Bradley
– Valpo led 16-15 at the end of the first quarter and held Bradley to eight second-quarter points to extend its lead to 33-23 at intermission.
– Bradley got to within seven in the third quarter, but the Beacons ended the period on a 10-2 run to push its advantage to its apex at 53-37 with 10 minutes to play.
– Valpo scored 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor in the final period, but needed every bit of it, as Bradley poured in 35 points on 14-of-18 shooting over the final 10 minutes.
– The Braves outscored Valpo 10-2 over a three-minute stretch to close to within one possession at 68-65 with 1:31 to go. Ali Saunders hit Olivia Brown for a layup with 1:08 to play to make it a five-point game, but on the other end, Bradley’s Ruba Abo Hashesh hit from deep to cut the lead to 70-68.
– Valpo ran the shot clock down on its next possession and got Leah Earnest in an iso at the top of the key, and the junior drove past her defender for a one-handed layup to make it 72-68 with 22.6 seconds remaining. Bradley scored inside on each of its next two possessions, but both times Valpo hit a pair of free throws — first Earnest, then Saunders — to keep the Braves from possessing with a chance to tie or take the lead.
– Valpo shot a season-best 53.2% from the field in Thursday’s win. The Beacons have hit at better than 50% in each of the last two games after doing so just twice in the first 24 games of the season.
– This marks the first time Valpo has shot 50% or better in consecutive games since doing so against Bradley and Illinois State last February.
– It was a balanced team effort on Thursday, as no player played more than 31 minutes and nine played at least 15 minutes. All nine of those players scored, with six of them scoring six or more points.
– Leading the way offensively were Brown and Saunders, who shared game-high honors with 17 points. Brown paced Valpo for the third straight game in the scoring column, going 6-of-8 from the floor and a perfect 5-of-5 from the foul line.
– Saunders scored in double figures for the 15th time with her 17-point effort, missing just once from the floor (6-7 FG; 2-3 3PT; 3-3 FT). The freshman also tied for team-high honors with four assists and committed just one turnover.
– Earnest’s four clutch points in the final minute of play bumped her game total to 11 points, as she scored in double figures for a team-best 17th time this season. The junior also pulled down five rebounds.

…at Evansville
– Valpo was up by as many as seven points in the first half and led 20-17 at the end of the first quarter and 35-33 at halftime.
– Evansville opened the third quarter on an 11-2 run to go ahead by seven points. The Beacons erased the entire deficit, but the Purple Aces scored the final basket of the quarter to lead 55-53 with 10 minutes to play.
– Much like a 10-0 run on Friday in the fourth quarter proved to be the vital stretch in that victory, the Beacons scored seven straight in a span of 1:23 to open the fourth quarter Sunday to take the lead for good.
– Ilysse Pitts opened the period with a driving layup and then came up with a steal on the defensive end, feeding junior Leah Earnest for a basket which put Valpo in front.
– The next time down the floor, it was Olivia Brown who finished at the rim through contact and completed the old-fashioned 3-point play, and all of a sudden, Valpo led 60-55 with 8:37 to play.
– The Beacons maintained at least a three-point lead the rest of the way and held off two possessions in the final three minutes on which Evansville could have tied the game.
– The win completed a weekend sweep of the downstate Indiana road trip for the Beacons.
– Sunday was Valpo’s first victory when trailing after three quarters since coming from behind to win at Drake on Feb. 4, 2022.
– It was a balanced effort on the offensive end, with four players scoring in double figures and two others recording at least seven points. For the second straight game, Brown led the way for Valpo with 16 points — doing so on Sunday on 5-of-8 shooting from field, including 3-of-4 from deep.
– Earnest scored nine of her 14 points in the final quarter, going 6-of-8 from the floor, while also adding five rebounds.
– Playing in front of a strong contingent of family members and friends, Saunders helped ice the game by going 5-of-6 from the foul line down the stretch to close out a 10-point afternoon, while Dunson hit a pair of 3-pointers to score 10 points as well, reaching double figures for the second time this year.

…looking ahead
– The regular season wraps up at the ARC next weekend March with games against Murray State and Belmont.
– Hoops in the Heartland begins Thursday, March 9 in Moline, Ill.

…on the road
– Sunday’s game is the final true road game for Valpo this season.
– The Beacons are currently 4-9 on the road.

VALPO MEN’S BB

SEEDING IMPLICATIONS IN PLAY AS VALPO CLOSES REGULAR SEASON

Valparaiso (11-19, 5-14 MVC)
at Murray State (15-14, 10-9 MVC) 

Game No. 31 – Sunday, Feb. 26, 3 p.m. CT
CFSB Arena (8,600) – Murray, Ky.

Next Up in Valpo Basketball: The Valparaiso University men’s basketball team will close out the regular season on Sunday afternoon by making its first Missouri Valley Conference trip to league newcomer Murray State. The game holds significance for Arch Madness seeding as the Beacons have the opportunity to earn the No. 9 seed with a victory. This will serve as the final tune-up for the State Farm MVC Tournament, which begins on Thursday, March 2 in St. Louis.

Last Time Out: Valpo recognized seniors Nick Edwards, Quinton Green, Luke Morrill, Ben Krikke and Kobe King along with student manager Sam Back and senior cheer/dance team members prior to Wednesday’s Senior Night game, a 76-66 loss to Bradley. Krikke has an additional year of eligibility due to COVID-19 and is undecided on whether or not he will return for a fifth season. Krikke scored a team-high 17 points, while Green contributed 16 and Edwards had a balanced stat line of eight points, eight assists and seven rebounds. King reached double figures for a program-record 30^th consecutive game.

Following the Beacons: Streaming – ESPN+ – Todd Hamilton (pbp) and Rob Cross (analyst)

Radio – 95.1 FM, WVUR, ValpoAthletics.com, TuneIn Radio App – Todd Ickow (play-by-play) and Brandon Vickrey (analyst)

Twitter updates – @ValpoBasketball

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

Head Coach Matt Lottich: Matt Lottich (108-115) is in his seventh season as the head coach of the men’s basketball program in 2022-2023. Twice during his tenure, Valpo has upset Top-25 opponents, defeating Drake and Rhode Island at the ARC. Valpo has four wins over AP Top 25 teams in program history, and two have come under Lottich. In 2019-2020, Valpo became the first team in the history of Arch Madness, the annual Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in St. Louis, to reach the title game after playing in the opening round by winning three games in three days. Lottich, hired as the 22nd head coach of the Valpo men’s basketball program in April 2016, graduated from Stanford University in 2004 and New Trier High School (Illinois) in 2000.

Series Notes: This will mark the fifth all-time matchup between the two teams with Valpo holding a 3-2 edge in the series. The first matchup of the year occurred way back on Dec. 4, a 77-70 overtime win for the Racers. Prior to Murray State joining The Valley this year, the most recent showdown between the two teams was Nov. 29, 2014, a 93-58 Valpo win as part of the Challenge in Music City in Nashville, Tenn. This will mark the second time Valpo has ever visited Murray State and first since Dec. 29, 2012, a 66-64 Valpo victory.

Dec. 4 – Murray State 77, Valpo 70 (OT): Valpo received a then career-high 31 points from Ben Krikke and led by as many as 10 during the first home conference game of the season, but visiting Murray State raced back for a 77-70 overtime victory. Valpo led for much of the first half but the second half was a seesaw battle in a game that featured 10 ties and 14 lead changes. Jerome Palm had a career-high 10 rebounds off the bench, while Quinton Green (18) and Kobe King (11) also tallied in double figures in the scoring column.

Seeding Scenarios

• With one game remaining in the regular season, Valpo’s seeding possibilities for the upcoming State Farm MVC Tournament in St. Louis are ninth, 10^th and 11^th. The team’s possible first-round opponents are Missouri State, Murray State and UNI.
• UIC hosts Southern Illinois on Sunday at 1 p.m. and Illinois State hosts Evansville at 2 p.m.
• If Valpo wins on Sunday at Murray State, the Beacons will clinch the No. 9 seed. If Illinois State loses to Evansville, Valpo also clinches the No. 9 seed.
• If Valpo loses, Illinois State wins and UIC loses, Valpo will be the No. 10 seed.
• If Valpo loses and Illinois State and UIC both win, Valpo will be the No. 11 seed.
• The No. 9 seed will start Arch Madness at noon on Thursday, March 2 against the No. 8 seed. The No. 10 seed plays the No. 7 seed that night at 6 p.m., while the No. 11 seed will play the No. 6 seed at 8:30 p.m. that evening.

U OF I WTENNIS

GREYHOUNDS FALL TO #4 SHARKS IN FIRST ROUND OF ITA INDOORS

KEARNEY, Neb. – The University of Indianapolis women’s tennis team lost their first-round match-up of the 2023 ITA Division II National Women’s Team Indoor Championship, facing off against the No. 4-ranked Hawaii Pacific Sharks.
 
INS AND OUTS
Doubles action was the lead-off for the top-ranked match-up. The Hounds fell into a deficit early, losing the No. 2 doubles match by a score of 6-1. But just minutes later, Diane Flament and Maissane Aik avenged the loss in the No. 3 spot, winning 6-4. The Sharks, however, prevailed in the final doubles point, taking a win at the No. 1 spot.
 
With the momentum as their back, the Sharks went on a tear, picking up three more wins to grab the match victory. Firstly, Flament fell in the No. 4 spot. Despite a solid effort, the young Margarita Andreiuk was unable to make the upset at No. 2 singles, falling to the No. 3 player in the country. The Sharks ended with a straight sets win over Lea Cakarevic at the No. 3 spot, sending the Hounds to the consolation bracket.
 
UP NEXT
The Hounds await to see their next opponent, facing off with the loser of the matchup between the hosting Nebraska-Kearney Lopers and the No. 1 Barry Bucs. Nonetheless the opponent, the Hounds will play at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25.

U OF I SB

EXTRA-INNING WIN HIGHLIGHTS FRIDAY SWEEP

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The 14th-ranked UIndy softball team notched a pair of wins Friday to open the 2023 Blue Bridge Battle, hosted at Deaconess Sports Park in Evansville, Ind. The Greyhounds rolled past Davenport for the second time this season, 13-1, before earning a comeback win against Davis & Elkins in nine innings, 6-5.
 
GAME 1 | UIndy 13, Davenport 1 (5 innings)
After earning an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second, UIndy broke it wide open in the third. The productive inning saw UIndy send 14 batters to the plate, nine of which came around to score. Shelby Cook led off the frame with a walk and things snowballed from there. RBI singles by Dominique Proctor and Megan Nichols and a two-run double from Lexy Rees propelled the rally, while two fielding errors, three hit batsmen and three stolen bases stoked the flames.
 
Starting pitcher Kenzee Smith dominated the Panthers from the circle. The All-American retired the first nine batters and did not surrender a hit in the bottom of the fifth. She finished with five Ks and zero walks in the complete-game win, moving to 6-2 on the season.
 
UIndy has now defeated Davenport twice in the last six days.
 
GAME 2 | UIndy 6, Davis & Elkins 5 (9 innings)
Details and stats will be posted when available. 

UP NEXT
The Greyhounds remain in Evansville Saturday for two more contests. They’ll face off against in-region foes Trevecca Nazarene and Northwood at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET, respectively.

U OF I WRESTLING

NCAA SUPER REGIONAL 4 TOURNAMENT STARTS SUNDAY FOR UINDY WRESTLING

EDMOND, Okla. — The No. 8-ranked University of Indianapolis wrestling team is on the road Sunday, Feb. 26 for the NCAA Super Regional 4 tournament. The yearly regional that hosts the best teams from across the Midwest is once again being hosted by the University of Central Oklahoma, the reigning regional champions.
 
The Hounds enter with a packed lineup, headed up by No. 1 Derek Blubaugh. No. 5 Logan Bailey, No. 5 Jack Eiteljorge and No. 7 Breyden Bailey round out the ranked UIndy wrestlers heading into the regional. Team wise, four of the 11 teams are ranked in the top 25 – No. 1 UCO, No. 8 Indianapolis, T-No. 23 McKendree and T-No. 23 Drury. For the non-ranked foes in the tournament looking to make noise; Central Missouri, Kentucky Wesleyan, Maryville, Newman, Ouachita Baptist, Quincy and William Jewell will be in attendance.
 
Information, including livestreaming, live results and brackets can be found at the tournament homepage on TrackWrestling.

Hear from Head Coach Jason Warthan about his squad heading into this years regional here.

U OF I TRACK

INDOOR TRACK & FIELD SET TO HOST GLVC CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS WEEKEND

INDIANAPOLIS – The time has finally arrived for the UIndy indoor track & field teams to host the GLVC Indoor Track & Field Championships this weekend at the Athletics and Recreation Center on campus. Action is set to begin on Saturday and continue through Sunday.
 
Saturday’s schedule kicks off with combined events beginning at 9 a.m. ET, followed by field events at 3:30 p.m. and running events at 4 p.m. Click the links above to view the complete schedule.
 
Live coverage will be available on GLVCSN.com. In addition to desktop and mobile options, the GLVCSN can be viewed on over-the-top (OTT) device applications such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV.
 
Last season, the women’s team finished in the runner-up spot while the men ended in fifth. The women finished behind Lewis with 161.50 points while earning 13 medals in the meet, while the men ended with 63.50 points and four top-three finishes.
 
Click here to watch a short preview video featuring Hallie Montgomery, Treyton Arnold, and assistant head coach Brad Robinson.
 
Below is the complete list of Greyhounds currently ranked in the top five in the conference.
 

NAME	GLVC RANK	EVENT	MARK
Treyton Arnold	1st	pole vault	5.00m
Ndubisi Eze	1st	high jump	2.01m
Zoe Pentecost	1st	weight throw	20.10m
Ellie Lengerich	1st	high jump	1.68m
Ellie Lengerich	1st	pentathlon	3665
Abdelouakil Mustapha	1st	800m	1:51.37
Ailliyah Reese	1st	60m hurdles	8.84
Sabrina Robison	1st	pole vault	4.01m
Brittney Clark	2nd	pole vault	4.00m
Ndubisi Eze	2nd	60m hurdles	8.32
Cade Priddy	2nd	pole vault	4.75m
Josiah Adams	3rd	400m	49.41
Keeton Adams	3rd	shot put	17.36m
Emily Bonser	3rd	shot put	12.63m
Lucas Liard	3rd	5000m	14:42.46
Tom Saint-Juvin	3rd	800m	1:53.01
Melissa Spencer	3rd	5000m	17:28.45
AJ Goecker	4th	3000m	8:26.91
AJ Goecker	4th	5000m	14:44.70
Zoe Pentecost	4th	shot put	12.44m
Emily Sonderman	4th	800m	2:16.64
Mackenzie VanBibber	4th	pole vault	3.53m
Lindsey Wormuth	4th	60m hurdles	9.18
Emily Bonser	5th	weight throw	15.59m
Amarion Conyers	5th	high jump	1.90m
Ellie Lengerich	5th	800m	2:17.04
Ellie Lengerich	5th	long jump	5.46m
Lucas Liard	5th	3000m	8:28.43
Dylan Mayhew	5th	shot put	16.06m
men’s team	5th	DMR	10:34.90
Alexandre Rio	5th	5000m	14:50.17
Cameron Smith	5th	weight throw	16.89m
Emily Sonderman	5th	400m	59.49
Melissa Spencer	5th	mile	5:02.06
Melissa Spencer	5th	3000m	10:08.24
Devon Whitaker	5th	800m	1:54.18

MARIAN WBB

MARIAN ADVANCES TO NINTH STRAIGHT CL CHAMPIONSHIP

INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 8 Marian women’s basketball team punched its ticket to the Crossroads League Tournament Finals defeating Grace 68-49 in the semifinal round Friday night at John Grimes Court. The Knights move to 26-4 as they will play for the league championship Monday for the ninth straight season.

After trailing 4-0 early, Marian got their first bucket from Ella Collier with the move in the paint. Grace responded moments later and held the lead until the three-minute mark when the Knights got another score from Collier, sparking a 7-0 that saw Collier and Aliyah Evans takeover. With the lead at 15-10, the Lancers got a layup at the horn to trail Marian 17-13 after the first quarter.

Marian started finding their offensive groove in the second quarter as they jumped out with the 7-0 run behind an Evans and-one. Grace came back with five points to cut the deficit to 24-18, but once again it was Evans giving it right back with back-to-back layups to put her team up by 10. The Knights got a big spark from Evans as she scored nine points in the quarter to help her team take the 32-21 advantage into halftime.

Jayla Wehner drained the three-pointer to get the Knights going to start the second half. For the next few minutes both teams were going back and forth before Marian saw the 17-point lead with 4:15 left in the quarter behind the efforts of a Collier triple. The Lancers outscored Marian the remainder of the quarter to cut the lead down to 16 at 50-34 going into the final period of play.

Although trailing by 16 going into the fourth quarter, Grace did not give up. The Lancers put together a 6-2 spurt to get within 14 with 8:29 left to go. Collier answered with two jumpers before a foul on the Knights sent Grace to the line where they executed on a pair of free throws. Leading 58-44, Evans and Perryman gave their team some offensive juice with four quick points from Evans and a pair of freebies from Perryman to go ahead 20. The Knights seemed to take all the energy from Grace in final quarter to go on to win 68-49.

Collier led Marian with 28 points and added three assists, as she made program history by becoming the third player all-time to eclipse 1500 career points. Collier’s first half-efforts allowed her to surpass Dejah Cyrus ’19 for third all-time, while in the second half she eclipsed the 1500 threshold, joining only Kellie Kirkhoff ’18 and Lakan Hasser-Smith ’16 as the lone players to do so. Evans scored 15 points to go along with five rebounds, while Abbey McNally added eight points. Kinnidy Garrard pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds and Sara Majorosova dished out four assists.

Marian will head to Indiana Wesleyan on Monday night at 7 PM for the Crossroads League Tournament Championship.  

MARIAN WLAX

MASON’S HEROICS LEAD MARIAN IN COMEBACK WIN OVER GEORGETOWN

INDIANAPOLIS – Trailing 9-7 at the end of the third quarter, the Marian women’s lacrosse team ramped up their offense in the fourth quarter out-pacing Georgetown College 5-2, with freshman Ruby Mason netting her first collegiate game-winner as the Knights downed the Tigers 12-11. Marian’s comeback win lifts them to a 2-0 start on the season.

The Knights got off to a hot start in their home opener, netting the first three goals of the game. Ruby Mason scored the game’s first goal as Emily Blackburn found her trailing teammate for the score. Less than one minute after the opening goal, Ella Grace Giedd found an open Katelynn Gray, as the duo connected for a 2-0 lead. Grace Martin scored unassisted to jump the lead to 3-0 halfway through the opening quarter, but the Tigers found life on offense in the closing minutes, scoring twice in the final 3:23.

Georgetown kept their run going as they netted three unanswered goals, jumping on top 5-3 with 8:22 remaining in the opening half. The Knights roared back to tie the game as Mason and Giedd scored back to back goals, however a fourth goal from Mac Miller in the first half with just under five minutes remaining put the Tigers back in front. Georgetown would hold their one-goal advantage for the remainder of the half, going into the break with a 6-5 lead.

In the third quarter Georgetown controlled possession early, holding Marian at bay before adding their seventh goal to the scoreboard at the 8:59 mark. Gray got Marian back on the board with her second goal of the game with 7:45 remaining, but it was not enough to close the gap as the Tigers added two more goals to increase their lead to three.

Madeline Dumke got Marian back into it with a late score in the third quarter, and in the fourth the offense kept rolling as Mason completed the hat trick with 11:25 remaining. Just 23 seconds off the draw of Mason’s third goal, Gray completed her hat trick, as her third score of the night tied the game at 9-9. Marian and Georgetown traded goals as Miller and Dumke exchanged scores over the next three minutes, keeping the game knotted at 10-10.

Grace Martin would give Marian their first lead of the game since the second quarter with her fourth quarter goal, scoring with 7:39 remaining to take an 11-10 lead, however it was shot-lived as Faith Boa tied the game for the tigers just 24 seconds later. The game would remained tied until the final minute, with Marian taking over on possession with 1:53 remaining as the defense forced a clock violation. After coming out of a timeout, the Knights drew up a play for Mason, as the freshman connected on a pass from Giedd in the low crease and slashed in the go-ahead goal, giving Marian a 12-11 lead with 59.7 seconds remaining. 

Marian’s defense made one final hold after Georgetown won the draw, forcing an errant shot attempt in the final seconds to escape with the win.

The Knights out-shot the Tigers 33-28 in the win, while winning the draw control and ground ball battle. Mason’s four-goal game led the Knights in scoring, while Gray had three goals on six shots. Giedd led Marian in shots with eight attempts, scoring once and adding two assists. Martin had a team-high five ground balls, and three Knights caused two turnovers in the win. 

Marian will keep their undefeated record at home as they take on Thomas More on Wednesday, March 1. First draw is set for 6:00 p.m.

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 Boston	43	17	.717	—	24-7	19-10	8-1	26-12	8-2	2 W
2 Milwaukee	42	17	.712	0.5	25-5	17-12	8-4	24-13	10-0	13 W
3 Philadelphia	39	19	.672	3.0	24-8	15-11	7-5	22-13	7-3	5 W
4 Cleveland	38	25	.603	6.5	25-7	13-18	11-3	22-12	7-3	3 L
5 Brooklyn	34	25	.576	8.5	18-11	16-14	6-7	24-14	4-6	1 L
6 New York	34	27	.557	9.5	16-15	18-12	5-8	24-16	7-3	4 W
7 Miami	32	28	.533	11.0	19-10	13-18	7-3	15-18	4-6	3 L
8 Atlanta	30	30	.500	13.0	16-12	14-18	5-5	18-19	5-5	1 W
9 Toronto	29	31	.483	14.0	19-13	10-18	4-9	17-19	7-3	3 W
10 Washington	28	31	.475	14.5	14-13	14-18	6-3	15-18	5-5	1 L
11 Chicago	27	33	.450	16.0	17-13	10-20	5-7	21-20	4-6	1 W
12 Indiana	26	35	.426	17.5	18-15	8-20	4-5	18-18	2-8	1 L
13 Orlando	25	35	.417	18.0	15-15	10-20	3-8	13-25	6-4	1 W
14 Charlotte	18	43	.295	25.5	9-18	9-25	6-8	9-29	3-7	3 W
15 Detroit	15	45	.250	28.0	8-21	7-24	0-9	6-28	2-8	3 L
Western Conference
	W	L	Pct	Conf GB	Home	Road	Div	Conf	Last 10	Streak
1 Denver	42	18	.700	—	27-4	15-14	10-5	29-11	8-2	4 W
2 Memphis	35	23	.603	6.0	24-5	11-18	6-2	17-16	4-6	1 L
3 Sacramento	34	25	.576	7.5	18-12	16-13	6-6	22-13	6-4	2 W
4 Phoenix	33	28	.541	9.5	21-10	12-18	9-1	22-15	7-3	1 W
5 LA Clippers	33	29	.532	10.0	15-14	18-15	6-5	19-17	5-5	1 L
6 Dallas	32	29	.525	10.5	20-10	12-19	8-2	24-16	6-4	1 W
7 New Orleans	30	30	.500	12.0	20-10	10-20	7-4	19-15	4-6	2 L
8 Minnesota	31	31	.500	12.0	20-14	11-17	8-7	22-19	4-6	2 L
9 Golden State	30	30	.500	12.0	23-7	7-23	4-7	18-15	4-6	1 W
10 Utah	30	31	.492	12.5	19-12	11-19	5-6	20-18	5-5	1 W
11 Oklahoma City	28	31	.475	13.5	17-12	11-19	5-7	15-19	4-6	2 L
12 Portland	28	31	.475	13.5	16-14	12-17	5-8	20-17	5-5	2 L
13 LA Lakers	28	32	.467	14.0	15-14	13-18	3-9	15-20	5-5	2 W
14 San Antonio	14	46	.233	28.0	9-21	5-25	2-8	5-31	0-10	15 L
15 Houston	13	46	.220	28.5	8-20	5-26	1-8	7-32	2-8	8 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	57	44	8	5	93	42	216	123	24-2-3	20-6-2	6-3-1
2 Carolina Hurricanes	57	39	10	8	86	36	196	148	21-6-2	18-4-6	9-1-0
3 New Jersey Devils	58	38	15	5	81	37	201	157	17-11-2	21-4-3	7-2-1
4 Toronto Maple Leafs	59	36	15	8	80	36	202	157	23-6-4	13-9-4	6-4-0
5 Tampa Bay Lightning	57	36	17	4	76	34	206	169	22-4-3	14-13-1	5-2-3
6 New York Rangers	58	33	16	9	75	30	193	160	16-10-4	17-6-5	7-2-1
7 New York Islanders	62	30	25	7	67	30	179	174	18-11-3	12-14-4	5-3-2
8 Buffalo Sabres	57	30	23	4	64	29	213	199	11-15-2	19-8-2	5-4-1
9 Detroit Red Wings	57	28	21	8	64	26	179	181	15-11-3	13-10-5	7-3-0
10 Florida Panthers	61	29	26	6	64	27	210	213	16-9-3	13-17-3	6-4-0
11 Pittsburgh Penguins	57	27	21	9	63	26	182	185	15-9-4	12-12-5	3-6-1
12 Washington Capitals	60	28	26	6	62	27	178	177	14-13-3	14-13-3	3-7-0
13 Ottawa Senators	57	27	26	4	58	25	172	183	16-12-2	11-14-2	6-3-1
14 Philadelphia Flyers	60	23	27	10	56	22	161	195	11-15-3	12-12-7	3-6-1
15 Montreal Canadiens	58	25	29	4	54	21	161	209	14-14-1	11-15-3	5-4-1
16 Columbus Blue Jackets	58	18	35	5	41	17	146	214	12-18-2	6-17-3	3-5-2
Western Conference
	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	ROW	GF	GA	Home	Road	L10
1 Vegas Golden Knights	58	35	18	5	75	32	190	163	18-13-0	17-5-5	6-1-3
2 Dallas Stars	58	30	16	12	72	28	188	152	15-8-7	15-8-5	2-3-5
3 Los Angeles Kings	60	33	19	8	74	28	203	201	17-9-2	16-10-6	6-2-2
4 Edmonton Oilers	59	32	19	8	72	32	225	195	14-11-5	18-8-3	5-1-4
5 Winnipeg Jets	59	35	23	1	71	34	182	155	20-9-0	15-14-1	4-6-0
6 Minnesota Wild	59	32	21	6	70	26	172	164	19-10-2	13-11-4	5-3-2
7 Seattle Kraken	58	32	20	6	70	32	202	184	15-11-3	17-9-3	4-5-1
8 Colorado Avalanche	56	32	19	5	69	28	178	156	14-9-4	18-10-1	6-2-2
9 Calgary Flames	59	27	20	12	66	26	189	183	15-11-2	12-9-10	4-3-3
10 Nashville Predators	56	28	22	6	62	25	163	169	16-10-3	12-12-3	6-4-0
11 St. Louis Blues	58	26	28	4	56	23	178	212	13-13-3	13-15-1	3-6-1
12 Vancouver Canucks	58	23	30	5	51	20	198	233	11-15-1	12-15-4	4-4-2
13 Arizona Coyotes	58	20	29	9	49	17	158	205	13-9-2	7-20-7	5-1-4
14 San Jose Sharks	59	18	30	11	47	17	176	219	6-15-7	12-15-4	4-5-1
15 Chicago Blackhawks	57	20	32	5	45	19	143	206	12-16-3	8-16-2	5-4-1
16 Anaheim Ducks	59	18	34	7	43	15	149	248	9-16-1	9-18-6	3-5-2

Last updated Feb. 25, 1:11 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

FOOTBALL HISTORY

The Monsoon Game of 1979

December 16, 1979 – This was a big game for the Tampa Bay franchise. With the team in its third year of existence, they had been up in the division late in the season. Their three-game lead over the Chicago Bears had quickly evaporated when the Bucs dropped three straight to the Vikings, Bears and 49ers. This final game with Kansas City coming to the Gulf Coast has real meaning as the Bears were ready to pounce on the division should Tampa Bay falter in a fourth consecutive game from a lofty 9-3 record to 9-6 and clinging by their fingernails on the edge of their playoff lives. Rainfall flowed down the Tampa Stadium steps like a waterfall during that year’s first division championship game of the Bucs vs. Chiefs, according to a BucNation.com article passing just about impossible in the monsoon-like conditions. As a result, Tampa Bay pounded running backs Ricky Bell and Jerry Eckwood 52 times at the Kansas City defense. Even quarterback Doug Williams got into the act, adding another seven bootleg runs at the Bucs controlled 40:22 of the clock. The inept K.C. offense could not muster much of anything battling the weather and the stingy Bucs defense. They had only 80 yards of total offense!

The Bucs won the game 3-0 to advance. They later knocked off the Eagles 24-17 in their first playoff game before falling to the L.A. Rams a week later.

The Mud Bowl

October 4, 1998 – The Seattle Seahawks played the Kansas City Chiefs during one of Kansas City’s worst floods on record. Two rounds of thunderstorms delayed the game’s completion by an hour and drenched the metro area with around 5-6 inches of rain. Pre-game weather reports indicated that 3.66 inches of rain fell on the Kansas City area prior to the kick off. NFL officials then were forced to halt play shortly after 9PM local time as another batch of nasty clouds dropped even more of the wet stuff. With 7:10 left in the second quarter and the score knotted at 3-all. Halftime was cut in half to six minutes. Fans were told to go to the protected areas of the stadium for their own safety.

These terrible storms tragically took the lives of eleven people in the Kansas City area that evening.

When the game did finally resume the Chiefs hung on and won 17-6 in this water slogged showdown.

The Fog Bowl

December 31, 1988 – The 1988 NFC Divisional game hosted by the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field with the Philadelphia Eagles visiting had another contestant, too, a thick fog. It was the Television Broadcasting nightmare as the fog was so thick that the visibility of the play was almost non-existent. It wasn’t much better for the players either, as the Bears jumped out to a 17-6 halftime lead over their former Defensive Coordinator Buddy Ryan, who was now the head coach of the Eagles. Chicago continued to cash in on some Eagles errors in the second half as the Bears held out to win the iconic Fog Bowl 20-12, sealing it with a field goal.

Muddy Night Football

November 26, 2007 – When the Miami Dolphins traveled north to Pittsburgh in an AFC battle, the ESPN Monday Night Football crowd was in for a very memorable sloppy game. Over one and a half inches of rain from a passing storm system on Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field just before the Steelers hosted the Dolphins. The footing was so terrible the only point scored was a Steelers field goal late. Pittsburgh kicker Jeff Reed punched through a usually routine 24-yarder with 0:20 remaining in the contest. That lone scoring play stood as the Steelers triumphed 3-0. It was the lowest-scoring game ever played on Monday Night Football. I thought the Dolphins liked water. Well, I digress, but this game is one of the wettest NFL games ever played.

1977 NFC Divisional Playoff

December 26, 1977 – There was on old song once titled, “It Never Rains in Sunny California.” We the day after Christmas 1977 it sure did for the NFC Divisional Playoff game where the Vikings traveled to Southern California to match up against the Los Angeles Rams. A torrential rainstorm turned the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum field into a giant mud pit. Minnesota had a horse in this race that was a “mudder” that day. The Vikings thanks to 101 rushing yards from running back Chuck Foreman, wore away at the home team defense as they held a 14-0 advantage over the Rams late in the game. It seemed like it was all over, that is until Pat Haden directed a Los Angeles drive that resulted in a touchdown with a little more than a minute to play, scoring on a one-yard lob to Harold Jackson in the end zone. The Rams then made it much more interesting when they recovered the onside kick and moved to first down on the Minnesota 30 with seven seconds left. The fans in purple could finally take breath when Jeff Wright intercepted Haden’s desperation pass inside the five-yard line to lock up the decision and help the Vikes to advance to the NFC Championship Game.

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

1933       Four days after turning thirty years old and acquiring a very generous inheritance from his step-father, Tom Yawkey purchases the Red Sox from Robert Quinn for $1.2 million. The acquisition of the Boston American League franchise, which lasts for 44 years, the longest by a sole owner in baseball history, is prompted by former school classmate and Hall of Fame infielder Eddie Collins, who serves as the team’s general manager until 1947.

1934       John McGraw dies at 60 at a New Rochelle Hospital two weeks after hearing optimistic reports about his recovery. The renowned Giants skipper, known as ‘Little Napoleon’ due to his style and stature, won ten pennants and three world championships during his 30 years as the team’s manager.

1965       The MLB owners refuse to raise the minimum salary requested by the players to $7,000 from the current $6,000, a level that is only $500 more than the first minimum salary established 18 years ago. In 1968, thanks to the first-ever collective bargaining agreement in professional sport, the amount will be raised to $10,000, setting the tone for more rapid increases in the coming years.

1969       Baseball avoids the sport’s first work stoppage when the owners agree to increase their contribution to the newly revised pension plan, changing the players’ ability to qualify from five years to four and lowering the minimum age to receive benefits from fifty to forty-five. Other improvements include the players agreeing to collect $5.45 million per year, retroactive to 1959, and a percentage of the revenue generated by televised games.

1972       After multiple salary disputes with their 27-year-old southpaw, the Cardinals trade a stunned 20-game winner Steve Carlton (20-9) to the last-place Phillies for Rick Wise (17-14). This season, ‘Lefty’ will post a 27-10 record for Philadelphia, winning the first of four National League Cy Young Awards during his 15-year tenure with Philadelphia.

1973       The spring training lockout ends when the players’ union and the owners reach a three-year agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement. The CBA establishes salary arbitration for players with two+ years of major league service, raises the minimum salary to $15,000, and includes the new ’10 and 5′ trade rule that allows a player with ten years of service, in which the last five are with his current team, to veto any trade.

1981       At the White House, Ronald Reagan receives a major league season pass from baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn, who expresses his hope the president will attend a few games during the upcoming year. Ironically, the Executive Board of the Major League Baseball Players Association will vote unanimously in Tampa today to strike on May 29, if necessary, surprising the owners who thought the well-paid players wouldn’t risk a costly work stoppage.

1987       Commissioner Ueberroth bans former Cy Young Award winner LaMarr Hoyt from major league baseball for the 1987 season due to multiple drug-related incidents during the past year. An arbitrator orders the Padres to reinstate the right-hander after reducing the penalty to sixty days.

1993       Resembling a fish with arms and legs, ‘Billy the Marlin’ is introduced as the mascot of the new National League franchise in Miami. Owner Wayne Huizenga selects the name partly because a dolphin is from the fish species known as “billfish,” and differs from typical baseball mascot names like Smasher.

1994       After a long campaign by Yankee fans, including owner George Steinbrenner, the Veterans Committee elects Phil Rizzuto to the Hall of Fame and the posthumous selection of Leo Durocher. The former infielder and current television broadcaster’s enshrinement causes much debate, given the borderline career stats became especially important to his supporters when Pee Wee Reese, a similar-styled shortstop of the rival crosstown Brooklyn Dodgers, was inducted in 1984.

2002       Diamondbacks’ third baseman Matt Williams breaks a bone in his left leg during a spring training workout. Arizona will not issue a timetable for their injured infielder’s return, but the 36-year-old veteran will resume his duties at the hot corner after the All-Star break on July 11.

2002       The 84-year-old Hall of Fame broadcaster, Ernie Harwell, announces this season will be his last as the Tigers’ radio play-by-play announcer. During his 62-year career behind the mike, the winner of the 1981 Ford Frick Award for baseball broadcasting excellence had worked for the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, and Baltimore Orioles before moving to Detroit.

2003       The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame selects Blue Jays’ World Series hero Joe Carter for a June induction. Pete Rose, who played 95 games for the Expos and collected his 4000th hit with Montreal, was one of the 46 nominees considered but was not chosen by 75 percent of the voters.

2005       After winning an auction for the one-day naming rights for the Boston Fleet Center, Yankee fan Kerry Konrad initially plans to honor Derek Jeter but agrees to rename the arena the ‘Jimmy Fund Center’ after a friend offers to give an additional $6,275 to the charity. The donation brings the total to $8,600, reflecting the 86 years between Red Sox World Championships.

2008       Terry Francona signs a three-year contract extension that runs through 2011, including team options for 2012 and 2013 to continue as the Red Sox manager. After an eighty-six-year drought, the Boston skipper has led the club to a pair of World Series titles in four seasons at the helm.

2010       The Rangers void Khalil Greene’s contract, announcing the reason for the action is a private matter done in the ballplayer’s best interest. The 30-year-old utility infielder, who missed 49 games with the Cardinals last season because of social anxiety, did not report to spring training last week due to his unidentified problem.

2012       On their Twitter account, the Mets send out an image of the patch the team will wear this season in memory of Gary Carter, who died earlier in the month of brain cancer at 57. The black pentagon will feature the former New York catcher’s nickname, Kid, and the number 8.

Gary Carter’s Memorial Uniform Patch

2016       The players’ union and MLB agree to a slide rule after Ruben Tejada suffers a broken leg covering second base during the NLDS. The new policy, the direct result of Chase Utley’s attempt to break up a double play that injured the Mets infielder, will be reviewable and allow contact to be permissible with the fielder, but prohibiting the runner from changing his path to disrupt the play deliberately.

SPORTS IN NUMBERS

13 – 21 – 32 – 7 -10 – 13

February 25, 1924 –  Marie Boyd scores 156 points in Maryland HS basketball game (163-3)

February 25, 1957 – The US Supreme Court decides 6-3, baseball is only antitrust exempt pro sport

February 25, 1962 – Philadelphia center Wilt Chamberlain, Number 13 scores 67 points against NY Knicks at Philadelphia Civic Center for the second successive year; Warriors lose 149-135

February 25, 1968 –  Number 21, Cale Yarborough driving for Wood Brothers Racing wins the Daytona 500 by less than a second over LeeRoy Yarbrough.

February 25, 1972 – In a very one-sided trade the St. Louis Cardinals traded pitcher Steve Carlton, Number 32 as the Philadelphia Phillies handed them the rights to pitcher Rick Wise

February 25, 1977 – The New Orleans Jazz player Pete Maravich, Number 7 set an NBA record for the guard position when he scored 68 points

February 25, 1994 – Former New York Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto, Number 10 was elected to enter into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Rizzuto had 13 awesome seasons with the Yanks from 1941 through 1956.

February 25, 2019 –  Number 13, James Harden’s scoring streak of games with at least 30 points ends at 32 as he scores 28 in the Rockets’ 119-111 win over Atlanta in Houston; 2nd longest mark in NBA history

TV SATURDAY

NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES – MEN’S	TIME ET	TV
UConn vs. St. John’s	12:00pm	CBS
Creighton vs. Villanova	12:00pm	FOX
Michigan State at Iowa	12:00pm	ESPN
TCU at Texas Tech	12:00pm	ESPN2
Oklahoma at Iowa State	12:00pm	ESPNU
Stony Brook at Charleston	12:00pm	CBSSN
Clemson at NC State	12:00pm	ACCN
Missouri at Georgia	1:00pm	SECN
Ohio at Miami (OH)	1:00pm	ESPN3
Merrimack at LIU	1:00pm	NEC
Sacred Heart at Central Connecticut	1:00pm	NEC
St. Francis Brooklyn at Fairleigh Dickinson	1:00pm	NEC
Wright State at Detroit Mercy	1:00pm	ESPN+
Lehigh at Boston University	1:00pm	ESPN+
Arizona State at Arizona	2:00pm	CBS
Texas at Baylor	2:00pm	ESPN
Arkansas at Alabama	2:00pm	ESPN2
Kansas State at Oklahoma State	2:00pm	ESPNU
Furman at Samford	2:00pm	CBSSN
Louisville at Georgia Tech	2:00pm	ACCN
St. Thomas at North Dakota	2:00pm	–
Western Illinois at North Dakota State	2:00pm	–
Maine at Binghamton	2:00pm	ESPN3
Northern Illinois at Central Michigan	2:00pm	ESPN3
Buffalo at Toledo	2:00pm	ESPN3
Dartmouth at Penn	2:00pm	ESPN+
Princeton at Harvard	2:00pm	ESPN+
Brown at Columbia	2:00pm	ESPN+
The Citadel at Mercer	2:00pm	ESPN+
Army West Point at Holy Cross	2:00pm	ESPN+
Lafayette at Bucknell	2:00pm	ESPN+
Campbell at Radford	2:00pm	ESPN+
High Point at Winthrop	2:00pm	ESPN+
UTEP at Florida Atlantic	2:00pm	ESPN+
Northeastern at Hofstra	2:00pm	FloSports
Hampton at North Carolina A&T	2:00pm	FloSports
Monmouth at William & Mary	2:00pm	FloSports
Rhode Island at Fordham	2:30pm	USA
Oral Roberts at South Dakota State	3:00pm	–
Gardner-Webb at USC Upstate	3:00pm	–
Northern Kentucky at Oakland	3:00pm	ESPN+
Utah Tech at UTA	3:00pm	ESPN+
Texas A&M at Mississippi State	3:30pm	SECN
Minnesota at Nebraska	3:30pm	BTN
Ball State at Eastern Michigan	3:30pm	ESPN3
Auburn at Kentucky	4:00pm	CBS
West Virginia at Kansas	4:00pm	ESPN
Florida State at Miami (FL)	4:00pm	ESPN2
Colgate at Navy	4:00pm	CBSSN
Cal State Fullerton at CSU Bakersfield	4:00pm	Spectrum
Louisiana Tech at Middle Tennessee	4:00pm	Stadium
UNCG at ETSU	4:00pm	–
Western Michigan at Akron	4:00pm	ESPN3
Wagner at Saint Francis U	4:00pm	NEC
UT Martin at Morehead State	4:00pm	ESPN+
VMI at Western Carolina	4:00pm	ESPN+
Houston Christian at Nicholls	4:00pm	ESPN+
Rice at Charlotte	4:00pm	ESPN+
Northern Arizona at Northern Colorado	4:00pm	ESPN+
Vermont at Bryant	4:00pm	ESPN+
Delaware State at Morgan State	4:00pm	–
Howard at North Carolina Central	4:00pm	–
Maryland Eastern Shore at Coppin State	4:00pm	–
Grambling State at Florida A&M	4:00pm	Facebook
Southern at Bethune-Cookman	4:30pm	–
UNC Asheville at Longwood	4:30pm	ESPN3
McNeese at Southeastern Louisiana	4:30pm	ESPN+
Southeast Missouri at SIUE	4:30pm	ESPN+
Tennessee Tech at Eastern Illinois	4:30pm	ESPN+
Little Rock at Lindenwood	4:30pm	ESPN+
Southern Indiana at Tennessee State	4:30pm	ESPN+
Syracuse at Pitt	5:00pm	ACCN
Washington State at California	5:00pm	PAC12N
Omaha at Denver	5:00pm	ALT
Kent State at Bowling Green	5:00pm	ESPN3
New Hampshire at UMass Lowell	5:00pm	ESPN3
A&M-Commerce at UIW	5:00pm	ESPN+
American at Loyola Maryland	5:00pm	ESPN+
Northwestern State at A&M-Corpus Christi	5:30pm	ESPN+
Presbyterian at Charleston Southern	5:30pm	ESPN+
Southern Utah at Sam Houston	5:30pm	ESPN+
Virginia at North Carolina	6:00pm	ESPN
Florida at Vanderbilt	6:00pm	ESPN2
George Mason at Dayton	6:00pm	ESPNU
South Carolina at Tennessee	6:00pm	SECN
Loyola Chicago at Saint Louis	6:00pm	CBSSN
La Salle at George Washington	6:00pm	ESPN+
Portland State at Montana State	6:00pm	ESPN+
UC Davis at Cal Poly	6:00pm	ESPN+
Texas Southern at Jackson State	6:30pm	–
Alabama A&M at Alabama State	6:30pm	YouTube
Notre Dame at Wake Forest	7:00pm	ACCN
Boise State at San Jose State	7:00pm	NBCS-BAY
Portland at Pacific	7:00pm	–
NJIT at UAlbany	7:00pm	ESPN3
SMU at South Florida	7:00pm	ESPN+
CSUN at Long Beach State	7:00pm	ESPN+
UTSA at FIU	7:00pm	ESPN+
Purdue Fort Wayne at Green Bay	7:00pm	ESPN+
Cornell at Yale	7:00pm	ESPN+
Youngstown State at IUPUI	7:00pm	ESPN+
New Orleans at Lamar	7:00pm	ESPN+
Utah Valley at Abilene Christian	7:00pm	ESPN+
Towson at UNCW	7:00pm	FloSports
Delaware at Elon	7:00pm	FloSports
UAPB at Mississippi Valley State	7:00pm	YouTube
Indiana at Purdue	7:30pm	FOX
DePaul at Marquette	7:30pm	FS1
Tarleton at UTRGV	7:30pm	ESPN+
Virginia Tech at Duke	8:00pm	ESPN
Houston at East Carolina	8:00pm	ESPN2
USC at Utah	8:00pm	ESPNU
UAB at WKU	8:00pm	CBSSN
Eastern Washington at Idaho State	8:00pm	ESPN+
Cleveland State at Milwaukee	8:00pm	ESPN+
Kansas City at South Dakota	8:00pm	–
LSU at Ole Miss	8:30pm	SECN
Sacramento State at Montana	9:00pm	ESPN+
Idaho at Weber State	9:00pm	ESPN+
Saint Mary’s at Gonzaga	10:00pm	ESPN
UC Irvine at Hawai’i	10:00pm	ESPN2
San Francisco at BYU	10:00pm	ESPNU
San Diego State at New Mexico	10:00pm	CBSSN
Oregon at Oregon State	10:00pm	PAC12N
Santa Clara at San Diego	10:00pm	Stadium
UC Santa Barbara at UC San Diego	10:00pm	ESPN+
Loyola Marymount at Pepperdine	10:30pm	Bally Sports
COLLEGE BASKETBALL – WOMEN’S	TIME ET	TV
UConn at DePaul	2:00pm	FOX
Colorado St. at Wyoming	9:30pm	FS1
COLLEGE HOCKEY	TIME ET	TV
Ohio State at Minnesota	5:30pm	BTN
Notre Dame at Michigan	8:00pm	BTN
GOLF	TIME ET	TV
PGA: The Honda Classic	1:00pm	GOLF
MLB SPRING TRAINING	TIME ET	TV
Boston vs Atlanta	1:05pm	MLBN
MOTORSPORTS	TIME ET	TV
Xfinity: Production Alliance Group 300	5:00pm	FS1
NBA REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
Toronto at Detroit	12:00pm	Sportsnet Bally Sports
Miami at Charlotte	7:00pm	Bally Sports
Indiana at Orlando	7:00pm	Bally Sports
New Orleans at New York	7:30pm	Bally Sports MSG
Denver at Memphis	8:00pm	ALT2 Bally Sports
Boston at Philadelphia	8:30pm	ABC
San Antonio at Utah	9:00pm	ATTSN-RM Bally Sports
NHL REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
Edmonton at Columbus	12:30pm	Sportsnet Bally Sports
NY Rangers at Washington	1:00pm	ABC ESPN+
Pittsburgh at St. Louis	3:30pm	ABC ESPN+
Boston at Vancouver	7:00pm	Sportsnet NESN
Anaheim at Carolina	7:00pm	Bally Sports
Ottawa at Montréal	7:00pm	NHLN Sportsnet
Philadelphia at New Jersey	7:00pm	MSGSN NBCS-PHI
Tampa Bay at Detroit	8:00pm	Bally Sports
Dallas at Vegas	10:00pm	Bally Sports
Chicago at San Jose	10:00pm	NBCS-CHI NBCS-CA
Calgary at Colorado	10:00pm	Sportsnet ALT
SOCCER	TIME ET	TV
La Liga: Espanyol vs Mallorca	8:00am	ESPN+
Bundesliga: Hertha BSC vs Augsburg	9:30am	ESPN+
Bundesliga: Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund	9:30am	ESPN+
Bundesliga: RB Leipzig vs Eintracht Frankfurt	9:30am	ESPN+
Bundesliga: Köln vs Wolfsburg	9:30am	ESPN+
Bundesliga: Werder Bremen vs Bochum	9:30am	ESPN+
English Premier League: Leeds United vs Southampton	10:00am	USA
English Premier League: Everton vs Aston Villa	10:00am	Peacock
English Premier League: Leicester City vs Arsenal	10:00am	Peacock
English Premier League: West Ham United vs Nottingham Forest	10:00am	Peacock
La Liga: Cádiz vs Rayo Vallecano	10:15am	ESPN+
Ligue 1: Angers SCO vs Olympique Lyonnais	11:00am	beIN Sports
Bundesliga: Schalke 04 vs Stuttgart	12:30pm	ESPN+
English Premier League: AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester City	12:30pm	NBC
La Liga: Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid	12:30pm	ESPN+
Serie A: Empoli vs Napoli	12:30pm	Paramount+
English Premier League: Crystal Palace vs Liverpool	2:45pm	USA
Serie A: Lecce vs Sassuolo	2:45pm	Paramount+
La Liga: Valencia vs Real Sociedad	3:00pm	ESPN+
Ligue 1: Montpellier vs Lens	3:00pm	beIN Sports
MLS: Nashville SC vs New York City	4:30pm	FOX
Argentina Primera División: Estudiantes vs Sarmiento	5:15pm	Paramount+
Argentina Primera División: Platense vs Talleres Córdoba	5:15pm	Paramount+
Liga MX: Cruz Azul vs Juárez	6:00pm	Univision
MLS: Charlotte vs New England	7:30pm	MLS Pass
MLS: DC United vs Toronto FC	7:30pm	MLS Pass
MLS: Cincinnati vs Houston Dynamo	7:30pm	MLS Pass
MLS: Orlando City SC vs New York RB	7:30pm	MLS Pass
MLS: Philadelphia Union vs Columbus Crew	7:30pm	MLS Pass
MLS: Inter Miami vs CF Montréal	7:30pm	MLS Pass
MLS: Atlanta United vs SJ Earthquakes	7:30pm	MLS Pass
Argentina Primera División: Vélez Sarsfield vs Boca Juniors	7:30pm	Paramount+
Liga MX: Tigres UANL vs Guadalajara	8:05pm	Univision
MLS: Dallas vs Minnesota United	8:30pm	MLS Pass
MLS: Austin vs St. Louis City	8:30pm	MLS Pass
MLS: LA Galaxy vs Los Angeles FC	9:30pm	MLS Pass
Liga MX: Atlas vs América	10:05pm	Univision
MLS: Vancouver Whitecaps vs Real Salt Lake	10:30pm	MLS Pass
MLS: Portland Timbers vs Sporting KC	10:30pm	MLS Pass
XFL	TIME ET	TV
D.C. at Vegas	7:00pm	FX ESPN+