INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL
FORT WAYNE DWENGER 75 LEO 65
INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS 75 INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN 57
INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE 71 PHALEN ACADEMY 26
KIPP INDY LEGACY 63 INDIANA DEAF 42
LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 65 THRIVAL INDY ACADEMY 64 2OT
MORGAN PARK (ILL.) 72 LIGHTHOUSE CPA 67
SOUTH RIPLEY 51 SHAWE MEMORIAL 47
“THE SCOREBOARD”
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMI-STATE MATCH-UPS
NORTH
CLASS 4A AT HUNTINGTON NORTH
G1: FORT WAYNE SNIDER (21-4) VS. FISHERS (24-2) 10 AM ET
G2: SB WASHINGTON (27-0) VS. LAKE CENTRAL (22-5) 12 PM ET
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER. 8 PM ET
CLASS 3A AT LAPORTE
G1: TWIN LAKES (27-0) VS. HAMILTON HEIGHTS (20-5) 10 AM CT
G2: TIPPECANOE VALLEY (22-3) VS. FAIRFIELD (25-2) 12 PM CT
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER. 7:30 PM CT all use
CLASS 2A AT LOGANSPORT
G1: ANDREAN (25-3) VS. LAPEL (220-7) 10 AM ET
G2: CENTRAL NOBLE (25-2) VS. LAF. CENTRAL CATHOLIC (20-6) 12 PM ET
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER. 8 PM ET
CLASS 1A AT FRANKFORT
G1: TRI (25-1) VS. TRI-CENTRAL (12-13) 10 AM ET
G2: BETHANY CHRISTIAN (22-3) VS. WASHINGTON TWP. (20-6) 12 PM ET
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER. 8 PM ET
SOUTH
CLASS 4A AT SOUTHPORT
G1: BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (24-3) VS. CENTER GROVE (22-4) 10 AM ET
G2: LAWRENCE NORTH (18-9) VS. BEN DAVIS (18-9) 12 PM ET
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER. 8 PM ET
CLASS 3A AT JASPER
G1: GIBSON SOUTHERN (21-4) VS. CORYDON CENTRAL (25-2) 10:30 AM ET
G2: INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD (12-13) VS. INDIAN CREEK (26-1) 12:30 PM ET
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER. 8 PM ET
CLASS 2A AT SHELBYVILLE (BROADCAST ON INDIANA SRN)
G1: FOREST PARK (23-3) VS. GREENCASTLE (23-4) 10 AM ET
G2: NORTH KNOX (27-1) VS. EASTERN HANCOCK (23-3) 12 PM ET
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER. 8 PM ET
CLASS 1A AT NEW ALBANY
G1: BLOOMFIELD (14-14) VS. JAC-CEN-DEL (16-11) 10 AM ET
G2: LANESVILLE (25-2) VS. TRINITY LUTHERAN (22-6) 12 PM ET
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER. 8 PM ET
INDIANA WRESTLING STATE FINALS
FRIDAY, FEB. 17, 2023
SESSION 1
GATES OPEN AT 12:30 PM ET
PARADE OF CHAMPIONS AT 1:30 PM ET
FIRST ROUND WEIGHT CLASSES 106 – 145 BEGIN AT 2 PM ET
FIRST ROUND WEIGHT CLASSES 152 – 285 BEGIN AT 5:30 PM ET
SATURDAY, FEB. 18, 2023
SESSION 2
GATES OPEN AT 8 AM ET
QUARTERFINALS BEGIN AT 9 AM ET WITH SEMIFINALS TO FOLLOW
FIELDHOUSE CLEARED OF ALL SPECTATORS FOLLOWING SEMIFINALS
SESSION 3
GATES OPEN AT 3:30 PM ET
CONSOLATIONS AT 4:30 PM ET WITH STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS TO FOLLOW AT 7:30 PM ET
BRACKETS ARE AVAILABLE VIA FLOWRESTLING.COM
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES
#10 TENNESSEE 68 #1 ALABAMA 59
#7 VIRGINIA 61 LOUISVILLE 58
#11 MARQUETTE 69 #16 XAVIER 68
NORTHWESTERN 64 #14 INDIANA 62
MIKE WOODSON POST GAME: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGIgOU8CG8I
#19 IOWA STATE 70 #22 TCU 59
#21 SAN DIEGO STATE 45 FRESNO STATE 43
OAKLAND 85 IUPUI 81
INDIANA STATE 79 ILLINOIS CHICAGO 60
BELMONT 95 EVANSVILLE 63
FLORIDA 79 OLE MISS 64
CLEMSON 94 FLORIDA STATE 54
EAST CAROLINA 75 CINCINNATI 71
GEORGIA TECH 77 VIRGINIA TECH 70
KENTUCKY 71 MISSISSIPPI STATE 68
BOISE STATE 80 COLORADO STATE 78
WASHINGTON 72 OREGON 71 OT
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/CBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230215
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
#6 UCONN 62 CREIGHTON 60
#7 IOWA 91 WISCONSIN 61
#14 VILLANOVA 73 ST. JOHN’S 57
#15 OKLAHOMA 84 TEXAS TECH 57
BALL STATE 78 OHIO 53
AKRON 72 EASTERN MICHIGAN 70
KENT STATE 72 BUFFALO 69
RICHMOND 84 ST. LOUIS 74
DAYTON 70 VCU 65
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/WCBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230215
NBA SCOREBOARD
INDIANA 117 CHICAGO 113
CHARLOTTE 120 SAN ANTONIO 110
NEW YORK 122 ATLANTA 101
BOSTON 127 DETROIT 109
BROOKLYN 116 MIAMI 105
PHILADELPHIA 118 CLEVELAND 112
OKLAHOMA CITY 133 HOUSTON 96
MEMPHIS 117 UTAH 111
DENVER 118 DALLAS 109
LA LAKERS 120 NEW ORLEANS 102
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NBA/SCOREBOARD.ASP
NHL SCOREBOARD
TORONTO 5 CHICAGO 2
ARIZONA 1 TAMPA BAY 0
COLORADO 3 MINNESOTA 2
DETROIT 5 EDMONTON 4
NY RANGERS 6 VANCOUVER 4
BUFFALO 7 ANAHEIM 3
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NHL/SCOREBOARD.ASP
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
NO. 10 TENNESSEE TAKES DOWN NEWLY MINTED NO. 1 ALABAMA 68-59
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Rocky Top was too much for top-ranked Alabama.
Zakai Zeigler and Santiago Vescovi each scored 15 points and No. 10 Tennessee extended the jinx for No. 1 teams, jolting the Crimson Tide 68-59 on Wednesday night.
On Monday, Alabama climbed to the top spot in The Associated Press poll for the first time since the 2002-03 season. But playing for the first time since the new rankings came out, the Crimson Tide (22-4, 12-1 SEC) led just once in the early going and committed 19 turnovers.
Alabama’s loss was the eighth by an AP No. 1 team this season. That ties the most in a regular season with 1993-94 in a stat dating to 1948-49.
“We turned the ball over too much tonight,” Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats said. “(Tennessee) got 26 points off the turnovers. Their physicality. … They got into our guards and we couldn’t handle it.”
Tennessee bounced back from a pair of last-second defeats.
“After those tough losses, we stayed with it,” coach Rick Barnes said. “We didn’t splinter.”
Vols big man Jonas Aidoo added 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Volunteers (20-6, 9-5).
“It takes confidence,” he said. “We go through the ups and downs. We just do what we do and play hard and we’ll be fine.”
Unlike football, when Tennessee fans stormed their home field after beating No. 3 Alabama 52-49 in October, this sellout crowd stayed in the seats when it was over. “Rocky Top” loudly blared as the Volunteers ended a two-game skid.
Alabama became the last Power 5 men’s team to lose a conference game this season. The Tide’s only lead in this game came at 12-11.
Brandon Miller led Alabama with 15 points along with 10 rebounds, Jaden Bradley added 14 points and Nimari Burnett had 11.
“We shot 6 of 20 at the rim,” Oats said. “(Tennessee) was able to finish stuff at the rim.”
Uros Plavsic, who scored 10 points, connected on a three-point play to give Tennessee a 56-47 lead with just over five minutes left in the game.
Vescovi tossed a lob that Olivier Nkamhoua caught in mid-air and followed with a slam to put Tennessee ahead 19-15 with 7:42 to play in the first half. It was tied at 29 at the break.
“We were down on ourselves a little bit,” Zeigler said. “We were down 17 (in the second half Saturday against Missouri) and we came back. We have to bring that (second-half effort) every night.”
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Alabama: Alabama is 14-13 against Top 25 teams during Oats’ five years.
Tennessee: A pair of buzzer-beating losses only cost the Vols four places in this week’s poll. . Tennessee has won six of its last seven games against Top 10 teams. . Earlier this season, the Vols lost at No. 9 Arizona.
BIG PICTURE
Alabama: Big man Charles Bediako has been hobbled with a “minor knee injury” he sustained in Saturday’s win over Auburn. He was able to play in the game. . Heading into the game, Miller was the only Division I player to score 470 points, grab 200 rebounds and make 75 3-pointers. Zeigler was matched up against Miller’s team in an AAU game a couple years ago when he caught Barnes’ eye.
Tennessee: Two starters – Josiah-Jordan James (ankle) and Julian Phillips (hip flexor) – have been struggling with injuries and missed the game. . Six of Tennessee’s seven final games are against teams in the upper half of the SEC. … How special was Wednesday night’s game? More than 20,000 Vols fans made an orange and white checkerboard out of Thompson-Boling Arena, something that’s only done once a season. … Sophomore Jahmai Mashack made his first career start.
UP NEXT
Alabama: The Crimson Tide will be at home against Georgia on Saturday. The two teams have not met this season.
Tennessee: The Vols will travel to Kentucky on Saturday, focused on avenging a 63-56 loss a month ago.
TEXAS PROSECUTOR DROPS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE AGAINST BEARD
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) A Texas prosecutor on Wednesday moved to dismiss a felony domestic violence case against former Texas basketball coach Chris Beard, in part because of the alleged victim’s wishes not to prosecute.
Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza said that “after a careful and thorough review of the evidence” and considering the wishes of Randi Trew, Beard’s fiancee, his office determined the charge of assault by strangulation/suffocation-family violence could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Beard was arrested Dec. 12 after Trew called 911 and told officers that Beard strangled, bit and hit her during a confrontation in his home. She later said Beard didn’t choke her, and that he defended himself from her. She added that she never intended him to be arrested and prosecuted.
“Everyone knows that Coach Beard has maintained his absolute innocence since the moment he was arrested,” said Perry Minton, Beard’s attorney. “Additionally, this district attorney has a well-earned reputation for being very tough regarding domestic violence cases. The fact that Mr. Garza’s review resulted in this determination so quickly says a lot. We are very pleased.”
The Associated Press does not typically identify alleged victims of sexual abuse or domestic violence, but Trew issued a public statement on Dec. 23 about Beard’s arrest and their fight that night, disputing several elements of the initial police account.
The third-degree felony charge carried a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison if prosecutors had pressed the case to conviction.
“Our office takes all domestic abuse cases seriously to ensure justice for the victims,” Garza said. “In every case, we are obligated to evaluate the facts and evidence and do our best to reach an outcome that will keep the victim and our community safe.”
Garza also defended his office’s record of pursuing domestic violence cases, noting his office has secured more than 1,000 convictions in family violence cases since 2021, with more than 200 people going to prison.
According to the police affidavit in support of Beard’s arrest, Trew initially told officers he strangled her from behind to the point where she couldn’t breathe for several seconds. The affidavit listed several visible signs of an altercation, including bite marks on her arm and abrasions on her face and leg.
According to the affidavit, Trew initally told police “he choked me, bit me, bruises all over my leg, throwing me around and going nuts.” Her later statement did not address why she called 911 or several of the physical injuries described in the police report.
Texas suspended Beard without pay the day he was arrested. He was fired on Jan. 5 when Texas officials told Beard’s attorney he was “unfit” to lead the program.
Texas has been led by interim coach Rodney Terry since Dec. 12. The Longhorns are ranked No. 6 and share first place in the Big 12.
A University of Texas spokesman declined comment Wednesday.
Beard had five years left on a seven-year guaranteed contract that included a provision saying he could be fired for cause if he was charged with a felony or committed other behavior unbecoming of his position or that reflected poorly on the university.
The university’s vice president of legal affairs, Jim Davis, wrote in a letter to Beard’s attorney on the day the coach was fired that Beard engaged in “unacceptable behavior that makes him unfit to serve as head coach at our university.”
Whether prosecutors continue with the case does not determine whether Beard engaged in conduct unbecoming of the school, Davis wrote.
NO. 11 MARQUETTE RALLIES LATE TO EDGE NO. 16 XAVIER 69-68
MILWAUKEE (AP) Marquette moved a step closer to earning its first conference title in a decade by turning a weakness into a strength.
Rebounding.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper converted a putback with 1.6 seconds left and No. 11 Marquette edged No. 16 Xavier 69-68 on Wednesday night to extend its slim Big East lead.
After Kam Jones missed his driving layup attempt, Prosper used his right hand to tip in the offensive rebound and put the Golden Eagles back in front.
“I knew if he missed it, that was my rebound,” Prosper said. “I just went as hard as I could. It bounced right. I just went up there and just put it back in. That’s just an effort play.”
Marquette (21-6, 13-3), picked to finish ninth by the league’s coaches in the preseason poll, moved 1 1/2 games ahead of Xavier (19-7, 11-4), No. 24 Providence and No. 18 Creighton.
The Golden Eagles haven’t claimed a conference championship since earning a share of the Big East crown in 2013, also the last year they won an NCAA Tournament game.
Marquette surged into conference title contention despite entering Wednesday with a minus-3.4 rebound margin that ranked 311th out of all Division I teams. In an 80-76 loss at Xavier on Jan. 15, Marquette was outrebounded 45-32.
The Golden Eagles turned that around Wednesday.
“We knew that as long as we were the team that was going to put the most effort out there and just go after it, we were going to get the majority of them,” Prosper said. “It’s about being quicker to the ball. Coach (Shaka Smart) preaches that all the time: Be quicker to the ball.”
Marquette outrebounded Xavier 36-32 and outscored the Musketeers 15-7 in second-chance points. The Golden Eagles had 15 offensive rebounds, including 11 in the second half.
No rebound was bigger than Prosper’s putback in the final seconds. His basket produced the 15th and final lead change of the second half after Jack Nunge’s layup put Xavier ahead 68-67 with 8.3 seconds remaining.
“I thought that last play was the storyline of the entire second half,” Xavier coach Sean Miller said. “We could not get a defensive rebound.”
Xavier’s Jerome Hunter threw a long inbounds pass to Nunge, whose deep 3-point try caromed off the backboard as the buzzer sounded.
Marquette got 17 points and a career-high six steals from Stevie Mitchell. Tyler Kolek scored 15 and Oso Ighodaro added 14. Prosper had seven points, all in the last five minutes.
Souley Boum fought through a sprained ankle to score 24 points for the Musketeers.
Xavier shot 70% in the second half but couldn’t hang onto its 28-24 halftime lead because of its inability to take care of the ball and prevent Marquette’s second-chance opportunities. In the second half, Xavier committed 11 turnovers and attempted 16 fewer shots than Marquette.
The Musketeers led 66-63 and had the ball in the final minute before Boum lost it and Mitchell got a steal, leading to Prosper’s layup with 29.1 seconds remaining. Xavier committed a backcourt turnover on its ensuing possession, as Boum’s pass went off Colby Jones’ body before going out of bounds.
“We just had some inexplicable things happen at the end to us, just turnovers that, as much as I’d like to give our opponent credit for forcing the turnover, I think they were about as surprised as we were,” Miller said. “We just kind of gave it to them a couple of times at the end.”
Ighodaro got fouled and hit two free throws with 22.4 seconds left to put Marquette ahead. Nunge’s layup off a nice pass from Colby Jones put Xavier back in front before Prosper’s clutch tip-in.
BIG PICTURE
Xavier: The Musketeers have lost two straight games by a combined three points. They showed plenty of fortitude by coming as close as they did at far less than full strength. Xavier was playing a fourth straight game without leading rebounder Zach Freemantle due to an injured left foot. Boum was dealing with his injured ankle. The Musketeers also were missing reserve guards Desmond Claude and Kam Craft, who could be out a few weeks with a knee injury.
Marquette: The Golden Eagles won despite shooting 5 of 22 from 3-point range and getting just five points from Kam Jones, who was averaging a team-high 15.2 points per game.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Marquette has a great shot to move back into the top 10 next week.
UP NEXT
Xavier: Will host DePaul on Saturday.
Marquette: Plays at No. 18 Creighton next Tuesday.
KUNC, NO. 19 IOWA ST BEAT ANOTHER RATED TEAM, TOP NO. 22 TCU
AMES, Iowa (AP) Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger figured the time was right to try something new following losses in four of five games.
So he inserted Aljaz Kunc into the starting lineup for the first time in almost two months to give the team a different look and give Caleb Grill’s sore back a rest.
Kunc responded with career highs of 22 points and five 3-pointers, and No. 19 Iowa State never trailed in a 70-59 win over 22nd-ranked TCU on Wednesday night.
“Man, he stepped up in a major way,” Otzelberger said. “Offensively he was so effective. He makes 3s. He’s a winning player. You have him out there and you can tell the ball moves better. He just understands how to play and what we need, and then defensively and on the glass he does such a good job. It’s great seeing him back playing the way we know he can play.”
The Cyclones won their nation-best seventh game against a Top 25 opponent after losing 64-56 at home to Oklahoma State last weekend.
“I liked what I saw from `Jaz’ even though we didn’t play great Saturday,” Otzelberger said. “I thought he was a bright spot and thought we could use that energy and enthusiam.”
Jaren Holmes added 16 points for the Cyclones (17-8, 8-5), who took sole possession of fourth place in the Big 12, one game behind co-leaders Kansas, Texas and Baylor.
TCU (17-9, 6-7) lost its fourth straight while playing its fifth game without injured conference preseason player of the year and leading scorer Mike Miles Jr.
Kunc, playing his fourth game since missing six weeks with a broken finger, made four of his 3s in the first half and hit his fifth midway through the second to restore the Cyclones’ double-digit lead after TCU erased much of a 21-point deficit.
“When he’s knocking down shots like he did today, it opens up the floor and takes a lot of pressure off certain guys,” center Osun Osunniyi said. “It sets the tone for the game. They can’t sag off and help in the paint as much because we have shooters.”
TCU coach Jamie Dixon said the Horned Frogs lost track of Kunc too many times.
“When we guarded, he fell down and shot an air ball,” Dixon said. “You can’t give them catch-and-shoots. He’s a good player when you leave him open, and we left him open plenty. Congratulations to him.”
The Horned Frogs got 15 points from Shahada Wells and 13 from Micah Peavy.
The Cyclones swept the season series. Gabe Kalscheur’s 3-pointer with 2 seconds to play gave Iowa State a 69-67 win at TCU on Jan. 7.
There was no drama in the return game at Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State got out to a quick 15-2 lead, withstood a TCU run that made it a one-point game and then outscored the Horned Frogs 29-12 spanning the halves to win for the first time in three games.
BIG PICTURE
TCU: The Horned Frogs are on their longest losing streak since they dropped four in a row to end the 2020-21 season. Help is on the way. Miles, who averages 18 points per game, is expected to return Saturday for a home game against Oklahoma State.
“We’re not playing as good as we’ve played. We’re searching,” Dixon said. “We haven’t gotten it done on the road against good teams.”
Iowa State: The Cyclones, one of the top defensive teams in the nation, never let TCU’s vaunted fast break get going and have won 11 straight when holding their opponent under 60 points.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Iowa State entered the game off losses in four of five games but was in total control and could make a big jump if it knocks off No. 12 Kansas State on Saturday. The Horned Frogs’ status as a Top 25 team is in peril as they began a three-games-in-six-days stretch.
HOME SWEET HILTON
The game was the 800th in program history in Hilton Coliseum, the Cyclones’ home arena since 1971. The Cyclones own a 595-205 record at Hilton and are 13-1 at home this season.
UP NEXT
TCU: hosts Oklahoma State on Saturday looking to avenge its 79-73 loss two weeks ago.
Iowa State: visits No. 12 Kansas State, which it beat 80-76 in Ames last month.
NBA NEWS
BALL HAS TRIPLE-DOUBLE, HORNETS HAND SPURS 14TH LOSS IN ROW
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) LaMelo Ball had 28 points, 10 assists and a season-high 12 rebounds and the Charlotte Hornets beat San Antonio 120-110 on Wednesday night to send the Spurs into the NBA All-Star break with a 14-game losing streak.
The 21-year-old Ball became the second-youngest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists in his career.
“He is an ultra-talented player for sure,” Hornets swingman Gordon Hayward said. “Great vision for sure and he’s all over the court. (With rebounding) he has an special ability to be in the right place at the right time. … He’s obviously a great player already and I think he will continue to grow into an even better one.”
When told about the accomplishment Ball immediately correctly guessed that LeBron James was the only player younger than him to reach that pinnacle.
“I don’t like to trip to up with that stuff,” Ball said of being on the same list as James. “I just go out and try to get win after win.”
For Ball, it was his third triple-double of the season and franchise-leading ninth overall.
The Hornets got another solid contribution from P.J. Washington, who had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and rookie Mark Williams added 12 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots as Charlotte won its second straight game.
The Hornets had 12 blocks in all, including five by backup center Nick Richards.
For years the Panthers have sought a rim protector – and now it appears they have two young and capable shot blockers in 7-footers Williams and Richards.
“What they both do is make exceptional plays because of their size and athleticism,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. “What they need to do now on top of that is less mistakes and not giving possessions away. If they do that we will be in good shape and they will be too.”
Malaki Branham had 23 points and Keldon Johnson added 21 points for the Spurs, who have not won on the road since beating Houston on Dec. 19. Doug McDermott added 17 points on five 3s.
The Hornets led 60-57 at halftime behind Ball, who nearly had a triple-double before the break with 10 points, nine rebounds and eight assists while seeing extra minutes with backcourt mate Terry Rozier out with knee soreness.
Charlotte looked like it might pull away in the fourth quarter, but McDermott led the Spurs back with back-to-back 3-pointers and short jumper to cut the lead to one.
But newly acquired guard Svi Mykhailiuk, playing in his first game with the Hornets, sparked a Charlotte run by burying a jumper from the corner to help push the lead back to six with five minutes remaining.
Ball’s fifth 3-pointer of the game with two minutes remaining pushed the lead back to nine and Washington’s offensive rebound and resounding dunk with 59 seconds left sealed the win.
“At some point, you have to take pride in what you’re doing execution wise and competitively,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “That starts with defense and we really sucked. That’s on me when I think we’re starting to improve on it, and we go back two steps, so that’s something I’m going to have to think about, figure out how I’m going to be able to motivate them better.”
TIP INS
Spurs: Shot 38.3% from the field.
Hornets: Dennis Smith Jr. got the start for Rozier, who was held out with knee soreness. … Svi Mykhailiuk saw his first action since being acquired in a trade. He scored his first basket on an alley-oop from Ball after a backdoor cut.
UP NEXT
Spurs: At Dallas on Feb. 23.
Hornets: At Minnesota on Feb. 24.
BRUNSON SCORES 28, RANDLE 25, KNICKS ROUT HAWKS 122-101
ATLANTA (AP) Jalen Brunson is on quite a streak.
The New York Knicks are confident it’s no fluke.
Brunson scored 28 points, Julius Randle added 25 and the Knicks cruised into their All-Star break with their third straight victory, blowing out the Atlanta Hawks 122-101 Wednesday night.
New York moved six games above .500 (33-27) and is brimming with confidence about its prospects for the remainder of the regular season.
“There’s still 22 games left,” said RJ Barrett, who chipped in 17 points and was among six Knicks in double figures. “We’ve got to stay the course.”
The course looks promising the way Brunson is playing.
In his first season with the Knicks after signing a $104 million deal in free agency, he is averaging 31.5 points over his last 10 games and 23.9 for the season.
Hard to believe he was just a second-round pick by Dallas coming off a stellar college career at Villanova, where he won a pair of national titles.
“He’s good and he knows he’s good,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “I don’t think anyone is surprised by what he’s doing.”
But Brunson is hardly content. When told what his coach had said, the 26-year-old guard quickly pointed out he had five turnovers.
“Whenever I step on the court, I try to be the best player I can be,” he said. “There’s always ways I can improve, no matter what’s going on, whether I’m playing good or bad.”
New York settled this one right from the start. The Knicks never trailed, building a 24-point lead in the first half and leading by double digits for the final 42 minutes of the game.
The only sign of life from the Hawks came late in the third quarter, when they crept within 11.
But Obi Toppin and Josh Hart connected on back-to-back 3s from the same corner early in the fourth to push the lead back to 19.
That was it for the Hawks, who lost their second in a row to dip below .500 (29-30) in what has been a hugely disappointing season just two years after they reached the Eastern Conference final.
Trae Young was held to 19 points on 4-of-14 shooting, making just one of six outside the 3-point stripe. De’Andre Hunter led the Hawks with 20 points.
“We definitely need a break,” Young said. “I’ve got faith in my team. I’ve got trust that we can make a special run.”
Randle grabbed 11 rebounds for the Knicks, who finished with a 55-40 edge on the boards.
Thibodeau fretted before the game about his team letting up heading into the All-Star hiatus.
“You don’t want to go on break before the break,” he said.
Instead, it was the Hawks who sleepwalked through the contest, falling behind by double digits before the game was 5 minutes old.
New York stretched the margin to 34-14 late in the first period, and the Hawks never got closer than 14 the rest of the opening half.
The Knicks led by as many as 24 points and were up 66-44 at the break. Randle had 14 points over the first two quarters, while Brunson and Barrett chipped in with 12 apiece.
Shredding Atlanta’s defense, the Knicks knocked down 51% of their shots in the opening half, including 9 of 26 from beyond the 3-point stripe. The Hawks, on the other hand, connected on just 1 of 15 from long range before halftime.
TIP-INS
Knicks: New York improved to 8-6 since C Mitchell Robinson went down with a thumb injury. Jericho Sims has stepped up to fill Robinson’s spot in the starting five, while Isaiah Hartenstein is providing solid minutes off the bench. “When someone goes out, it’s opportunity for someone else to step in,” Thibodeau said. “We’re getting good production out of that position.” ,,, New York wrapped up its season series with the Hawks. Each team won twice.
Hawks: Newcomer Saddiq Bey played his first game in front of the Atlanta fans after being acquired at the trade deadline. He had just 2 points in 18 1/2 minutes. … The Hawks finished 5 of 26 on 3-pointers. … John Collins left in the third quarter after taking an elbow the face.
UP NEXT
Knicks: Return from the All-Star break at Washington, where they will face the Wizards on Feb. 24.
Hawks: Host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Feb. 24 in their first of four straight home games after the break.
TATUM’S 38 POINTS HELP CELTICS ROLL PAST PISTONS 127-109
BOSTON (AP) The Celtics got back their offensive and defensive spark plugs. Together, they gave Boston the jolt it needed to head into the All-Star break on track to accomplish all its goals this season.
Jayson Tatum scored 38 points, including 24 in the third quarter, and the Celtics rolled to a 127-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.
Malcolm Brogdon had 25 points off the bench, and Al Horford added 11 points and seven rebounds for Boston. Derrick White finished with 11 points and six assists.
Reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart contributed nine points, seven rebounds, six assists and six steals in his first game back after missing nine with a sprained right ankle.
“We missed a lot,” Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla said of Smart’s absence. “We missed his joy. He brought a level of joy into the game.”
The Eastern Conference-leading Celtics (42-17) enter the break with five wins in their last six games. They have a one-game lead over second-place Milwaukee, which has won 11 straight and plays its final game before All-Star Weekend on Thursday at Chicago.
Tatum said he likes the way Boston is trending as it rests before trying to complete a run back to the NBA Finals in the second half.
“All things considered, everything that we’ve went through this season as a team with coaching changes and guys getting injured, missing games and being in and out of the lineup. … Overall, it’s been a hell of a start,” Tatum said.
Detroit trimmed a 19-point deficit to five late in the third quarter. But Tatum scored 24 points in the period to give the Celtics an eight-point cushion entering the fourth. Boston then got its lead back up to 19 with 4:29 to play.
Bojan Bogdanovic led the Pistons with 28 points and five rebounds. Isaiah Stewart added 14 points. Detroit has lost five of six.
The Celtics’ lead in the East was cut to a half-game after they lost in overtime Tuesday at Milwaukee while playing without Tatum (illness), Jaylen Brown (facial fracture), Smart and Horford (right knee swelling).
Wednesday brought the return of Smart, Tatum and Horford. White also played despite dealing with a hole in his right eardrum from a hit he took against the Bucks.
The extra personnel helped the Celtics jump out to an 18-point lead in the first half, overwhelming a Pistons team that turned the ball over nine times in the opening 24 minutes. Four of those came off steals by Smart.
Third-year big man James Wiseman finally debuted for the Pistons following the four-team trade that sent him from Golden State to Detroit. The deal was initially held up by the part that sent Gary Payton II from Portland to the Warriors after concerns arose surrounding Payton’s health following offseason surgery.
Wiseman checked in for the first time at the 3:29 mark of the first quarter, playing alongside Killian Hayes, Alec Burks, Isaiah Livers and Bogdanovic.
Wiseman finished with 11 points and five rebounds in 24 minutes.
TIP-INS
Pistons: Outscored the Celtics 38-31 in the third quarter. . Finished with 14 turnovers, leading to 15 points for Boston.
Celtics: Robert Williams (left ankle soreness), Jaylen Brown (facial fracture), Mike Muscala (right ankle management) and Mfionda Kabengele (personal reasons) all sat out. … Boston went 21 of 45 from behind the 3-point line (47%). . Led 66-51 at halftime.
UP NEXT
Pistons: Play at Orlando on Feb. 23.
Celtics: Play at Indiana on Feb. 23
MIKAL BRIDGES SCORES CAREER-HIGH 45, NETS BEAT HEAT 116-105
NEW YORK (AP) In his third game since arriving in the Kevin Durant trade, Mikal Bridges had an electrifying scoring stretch to rival even the superstar he replaced.
Bridges scored a career-high 45 points, including 15 in a row for Brooklyn to break open a game that had been close for 3 1/2 quarters, and the Nets beat the Miami Heat 116-105 on Wednesday night in the final game for both teams before the All-Star break.
“I just had it going and my teammates found me every time,” Bridges said.
The Nets led only 90-89 before Bridges went to work with an array of drives, 3-pointers and jumpers over the next three minutes. That pushed the lead to nine and when another Nets player finally scored, it was a 3-pointer by fellow former Phoenix player Cam Johnson that pushed it to 108-96.
Bridges scored 17 points in the final quarter to blow by his previous career best of 34 points. He was 17 of 24 from the field, 4 of 6 on 3s and 7 of 7 at the line, and also had eight rebounds and five assists.
“I think overall just his spirit and energy and juice, even at our walkthrough today, like he had the mindset it seemed like he wasn’t going to let us lose,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said.
Bridges was the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year last season whose offensive game is growing. He said after the blockbuster trade last week that he understood why the Suns would trade him for Durant, and still does after averaging 25 points since while earning the nickname “Brooklyn Bridges.”
“You traded a future Hall of Famer that averaged damn near 30 for his career, so I’m just trying to continue to get better and get to a point where I can score a little more,” Bridges said.
Cam Thomas added 19 points and Johnson had 18 for the Nets, who won for the first time since the two former Suns joined them in the lineup.
Bam Adebayo had 24 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for the Heat. Max Strus scored 18 points.
The Heat fell behind New York into seventh place in the Eastern Conference, out of guaranteed playoff position, and will hope missing regulars Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry and Victor Oladipo get healthy during the break.
“We’ve got 23 to go to get to where we need to get to,” Heat star Jimmy Butler said. “It’s all about being healthy, which is what going into this break is going to do for us, come out swinging for the fences in the right way.”
Bridges scored on a jumper with 0.2 seconds left to give the Nets an 83-80 lead after three quarters in which neither team led by more than six points.
Duncan Robinson had six points in his first game since Jan. 4 surgery to repair a finger ligament.
TIP-INS
Heat: Lowry missed his sixth straight game with left knee soreness. Oladipo has missed seven in a row with a sprained right ankle. … Miami began a four-game road trip around the break. The Heat don’t play at home again until March 1.
Nets: Ben Simmons was booed when he checked in four minutes into the game. He finished with two points, four rebounds and four assists in 20 minutes. … Seth Curry was scoreless in 10 minutes after missing five games with a left adductor strain. … Brooklyn plays nine of its first 11 games after the All-Star break on the road.
HURTING HERRO
Herro missed his second straight game with a bruised left knee but is still scheduled to fly to Salt Lake City and compete in the 3-point contest at All-Star weekend.
“You’re not burning any calories in that and you’re certainly not colliding or jumping or doing anything,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He is making progress. He definitely is not ready to be able to play in an NBA game tonight and then we’ll just see how he feels the next two days with his treatment, whether he’ll be able to do that. I know that he really wants to.”
UP NEXT
Heat: At Milwaukee on Feb. 24.
Nets: At Chicago on Feb. 24.
EMBIID HAS 29 POINTS, HELPS 76ERS SNAP CAVALIERS’ WIN STREAK
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Joel Embiid scored 29 points – including the 10,000th of his career – and the Philadelphia 76ers survived a rocky second half to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-112 on Wednesday night.
After watching a 28-point lead in the second half melt to four with 90 seconds left, the Sixers were able to put it away by making 13 straight free throws.
“That’s a pretty good team over there that will give other teams trouble,” Embiid said. “Obviously, we knew they would make a run. But they got the stops when we needed to.”
James Harden added 19 points and 12 assists to help send the 76ers into the All-Star break with their fourth straight victory. De’Anthony Melton added 18 points, and Tyrese Maxey had 16.
“To win that game despite the adversity was good for us,” Maxey said.
Donovan Mitchell had 33 points – including 25 in the second half – for the Cavaliers. They had won seven straight. Darius Garland added 27 points for Cleveland, and Evan Mobley had 23.
“We allowed them to put a little bit of doubt in our minds early, but we figured it out,” Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.
After the game, Embiid – scheduled to be a starter in the All-Star Game in Utah on Sunday night – indicated that he may sit the game out due to lingering left foot soreness that has been officially marked on the Sixers injury report since the club’s trip to the West Coast in late December. Embiid mentioned that doctors had told him that getting off of the foot was necessary in order to prevent the injury from getting worse.
“I was trying to get the All-Star Break without missing games” Embiid said. “But I think that I may have reached the point where I need to follow the doctors advice. We’ll see how the next few days go.”
Embiid passed the 10,000 point mark early in the first quarter. He accomplished the milestone in his 373rd game – the fastest in franchise history ahead of Allen Iverson’s 378.
“I can only think what if I didn’t miss all these games, but that’s not where the focus is,” Embiid said. “I’m just focused on what I can do to help the team. Whether it is scoring a lot, passing, defensively- then I’m going to do it.”
Philadelphia hit its first six 3-pointers and 11 of 14 shots from the floor to jump out to a 31-10 lead. The Sixers led by 28 early in the second half.
Cleveland rallied in the second half in part because of its ability to move the ball around and force turnovers. The Cavs forced nine turnovers in the second half, turning them into 20 points while just turning the ball over once.
“They did a great job of physically out of our stuff,” Bickerstaff said. “They were aggressive on both ends of the floor and it took us too long to recover from that first punch. We showed what we are capable of in the second half with 17 assists and just one turnover.”
TIP-INS
Cavaliers: Danny Green made his return to the Cavaliers lineup on Wednesday night, scoring three points in about 12 minutes. Green – who played three games for Memphis this season before being traded to Houston and being eventually waived – was drafted by the Cavs in 2009. Bickerstaff indicated that Green’s role will be as much mentor for a young lineup as opposed to on the floor. “We know his game his ability to make shots and defend, but our group needs as much information as they have,” Bickerstaff said. … Ricky Rubio was inactive for Cleveland with a non-COVID illness.
76ers: Philadelphia forward P.J. Tucker was back in the starting lineup after leaving Monday’s game against Houston with right calf tightness.
UP NEXT
Cavaliers: Host Denver on Feb. 23.
76ers: Host Memphis on Feb. 23.
GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER SCORES 29, HELPS THUNDER DOMINATE ROCKETS
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma City Thunder created the kind of momentum they wanted to take into the All-Star break.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points to help the Thunder roll past the Houston Rockets 133-96 on Wednesday night.
Gilgeous-Alexander was 8 of 16 on field goals and 13 of 15 on free throws. The first-time All-Star played just three quarters because Oklahoma City was up 116-78 heading into the fourth.
Thunder guard Josh Giddey said coach Mark Daigneault helped the team stay focused.
“Guys know the break’s coming up and it’s easy to look past it and kind of brush this game off and just get through it and head into the break,” Giddey said. “But coach really emphasized running the finish line. I think we did a really good job of that tonight.”
The Thunder enter the break with a 28-29 record after finishing last season 24-58. They are positioned to make a run at a playoff spot in the second half of the season.
“We’re aware of the race for the play-in and the playoff spots. … Every game we can get, we need,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
Lu Dort scored 15 points, Jalen Williams had 13 and Jaylin Williams added eight points and a season-high 16 rebounds for the Thunder, who posted their largest victory margin of the season.
“We didn’t settle tonight,” Daigneault said. “Transition, we got out and ran. Offensively, we hit the paint. We got to the line a ton. We got to the rim and we sprayed the ball for open shots. I thought we made the right play the majority of the night. So credit to the guys who played together on that end.”
Jabari Smith Jr. scored 15 points and Jalen Green added 14 for the Rockets, who lost their seventh straight game and enter the break with the worst record in the NBA.
“I’m going to take some time over the break and not think about it for a little while,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. “But then I am going to take a good amount of the break and really kind of figure out what the next 20, however many games looks like. And maybe there’ll be some some different things, different rotations, different schemes at times.”
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 16 points in the first half to help Oklahoma City take a 76-54 lead.
The Thunder continued to dominate, outscoring the Rockets 40-24 in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 13 points in the period.
TIP-INS
Rockets: G Jae’Sean Tate was issued a technical foul in the first quarter after he disagreed with a foul that was called against him. C Alperen Sengun and F/C Usman Garuba were called for technicals later in the quarter. … G Kevin Porter Jr. missed his 17th straight game with a bruised left foot. … Garuba was issued a Flagrant 1 for a push in the fourth quarter.
Thunder: Oklahoma City was called for defensive three seconds twice in the first quarter. … Held the Rockets to 22.7% shooting in the first quarter. … Held the Rockets to 33.7% shooting.
THUNDER DEBUT
Thunder forward/center Dario Saric debuted after he was acquired in a trade with the Phoenix Suns. He had 12 points and five rebounds in 14 minutes.
“I thought he was good,” Daigneault said. “Plays the right way. Certainly has a great feel for the game stylistically. Just a guy that you don’t have to over coach what we’re doing and stuff. He just kind of plays basketball, figures things out.”
UP NEXT
Rockets: Visit the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 24.
Thunder: Visit the Utah Jazz on Feb. 23.
JACKSON, BANE LEAD GRIZZLIES OVER JAZZ, 117-111
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Jaren Jackson had 26 points, nine rebounds and four blocks and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Utah Jazz 117-111 on Wednesday night in the last game for both teams before the All-Star break.
Desmond Bane scored 24 points and Ja Morant had 20 points – on 8-of-26 shooting – and nine assists. Jackson also had five steals.
Kelly Olynyk led the Jazz with 28 points and 14 rebounds, and Jordan Clarkson had 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
Utah, which trailed by 24 in the first half, cut the Memphis lead to 111-110 when Ochai Agbaji (17 points) scored on a dunk with 1:28 left. But Morant scored the next three points for Memphis and the Grizzlies held on for their second straight victory.
“Being up 24, you definitely don’t want to go into the All-Star break after losing a (big) lead, but we survived,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said.
Jackson said there were several key factors that helped Memphis hold on. He said the performance “wasn’t great,” but the Grizzlies had enough left at the end to escape the Utah comeback.
“I can’t tell you what it was,” Jackson said. “I’m just happy they missed some shots late, and we made some shots late. We got the ball to who we wanted to get it to and finished it out.”
Utah scoring leader Lauri Markkanen was out with right knee soreness. Then, four minutes into the game, guard Collin Sexton went out with a left hamstring injury and did not return. That left the Jazz short-handed and relying on their reserves. Talen Horton-Tucker led the Utah bench, scoring 15 points, while grabbing seven rebounds and handing out an equal number of assists.
Memphis benefitted from poor ball protection by the Jazz in the first half. Fifteen first-half turnovers by Utah resulted in 26 Grizzlies points. Jackson already had 16 points, cashing in on four 3-pointers, while recording three blocks and four steals in the first half.
Utah outscored Memphis 33-25 in third quarter, cutting the lead to 88-80 entering the fourth.
“You see everybody’s energy and how they played tonight?” Clarkson said. “Nobody ever gave up throughout the whole game. We had turnovers and missed shots early.”
But Clarkson noted that the youthful energy of the Jazz along with new teammates helped them overcome early problems in the game while missing key players.
“One shot away, two plays away from winning the game,” Clarkson said.
TIP-INS
Jazz: F Juan Toscano-Anderson made his debut with the Jazz after he was traded from the Lakers at the deadline. He finished with seven points. … Olynyk was 4 of 4 from 3-point range in the Jazz win over Indiana but missed all three 3-pointers in the first half. He finished 3 of 7 from outside the arc. …In addition to Markkanen, reserve F Rudy Gay was out with non-COVID illness.
Grizzlies: Brandon Clarke started his seventh game of the season at center. … Are 17-16 against the Western Conference. … The win marks only the third time in franchise history that they have reached 35 wins before the All-Star break.
STANDINGS WATCH
The Jazz entered the night in 10th place in the Western Conference, holding onto the last play-in spot a mere half-game ahead of Portland and Oklahoma City. Utah coach Will Hardy said there has to be a balance to watching the logjam.
“It can be daunting when you look at the standing,” Hardy said. “How tight everything is. Then you start trying to do math in your head about what you may have to do.” Then he added: “I’d be lying if I said we don’t look at the standings. You do.”
UP NEXT
Jazz: Host Oklahoma City on Feb. 23.
Grizzlies: At Philadelphia on Feb. 23.
GREEN HELPS NUGGETS GO INTO BREAK WITH 118-109 WIN OVER MAVS
DENVER (AP) Reserve Jeff Green scored a season-high 24 points, Nikola Jokic notched his 21st triple-double of the season and the Denver Nuggets headed into the All-Star break with a 118-109 victory over the short-handed Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.
Nikola Jokic finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for the Western Conference-leading Nuggets, who moved to an NBA-best 27-4 at home this season. Michael Porter Jr. hit five 3-pointers and finished with 22 points.
“For us to continue to find ways to win and have different guys step up every night, I think it speaks to our chemistry, our depth,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “We’ve got a really good team in there.”
Luka Doncic had 37 points in leading a banged-up Dallas team that was missing guard Kyrie Irving due to lower-back tightness. Doncic and Irving have played alongside each other in two games since Irving was acquired as part of a deal with Brooklyn on Feb. 6.
The Nuggets led by 21 in the fourth quarter, only to see the Mavericks cut it to 105-95 with 5:50 remaining on Christian Wood’s layup. Soon after, Porter blocked a shot on one end, raced back and hit a 3-pointer on the other to gain some breathing room.
Where it really got away from the Mavs, coach Jason Kidd conceded, was in the second, when the Nuggets broke open a one-point game with a 35-19 quarter.
“You’re sitting in a good place against the best team in the West and so we have to look at doing a better job,” Kidd said.
The two teams split their four-game season series.
View Denver as a favorite?
“When you have a guy like Jokic on your team, you’re the favorite,” Doncic said.
Jokic joined some exclusive company by going over 500 assists and 500 rebounds before the All-Star break. The other NBA players to accomplish the feat were Russell Westbrook (three times, ’16-17, ’17-18, ’18-19) and Oscar Robertson (’61-62).
Jokic, the two-time reigning MVP, remains on pace to average a triple-double this season.
“He makes it look like a walk in the park,” recently acquired backup center Thomas Bryant said of Jokic’s ease with triple-doubles. “It’s not easy at all.”
Doncic’s big night was his 65th career game with 35 or more points. Only LeBron James had more (87) before his 24th birthday. Doncic turns 24 on Feb. 28.
TIP-INS
Mavericks: F Justin Holiday was signed Wednesday. He played in 28 games for Atlanta this season and averaged 4.5 points. … F Davis Bertans (calf), G Tim Hardaway Jr. (hamstring) and F/C Maxi Kleber (hamstring) were inactive.
Nuggets: Denver was without guard Jamal Murray (right knee inflammation) along with forward Aaron Gordon (bruised ribs).
FRIENDLY REMINDER
Malone made sure to remind his team the All-Star break didn’t begin until 11 p.m. – well after their game. They listened.
“Times have changed, guys get their private jets running, waiting to go somewhere,” cracked Malone, who will coach Team LeBron at the All-Star Game.
COLORADO KID
Backup guard Reggie Jackson jumped at the chance to sign with the Nuggets and play close to home. Jackson, who grew up down the road in Colorado Springs, agreed to a deal with Denver on Tuesday. He wasn’t in uniform against Dallas.
The 32-year-old Jackson’s favorite player as a kid was Chauncey Billups, the Denver native who went to the University of Colorado before embarking on a long NBA career.
Jackson will wear No. 7 with Denver – a number Billups wore in 2009 while with the Nuggets.
UP NEXT
Mavericks: After the All-Star break, start a six-game homestand against San Antonio on Feb. 23.
Nuggets: At Cleveland on Feb. 23.
LEBRON, ANTHONY DAVIS GET NEW-LOOK LAKERS PAST PELICANS
LOS ANGELES (AP) LeBron James had 21 points in his first game since becoming the NBA’s career scoring leader, and Anthony Davis had 28 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the new-look Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-102 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.
D’Angelo Russell had 21 points and seven assists during his warm welcome home to the Lakers, who won for just the second time in six games. Los Angeles’ five new players all made their home debuts after last week’s busy trade deadline, and the Lakers never trailed in one of this up-and-down team’s most impressive performances of the season.
“There was a huge emphasis on getting this win,” Davis said. “Guys came out and played with a lot of energy and urgency. … It was only our first game together, but it looked good.”
James only had to play a season-low 29 minutes after taking the previous three games off to rest his sore left ankle and foot immediately after he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record Feb. 7.
“I feel really good about what we’ve got brewing, but we need to lock in,” James said. “It’s the first time we’ve all been on the floor together, so we wanted to see what it looks like, and the first 40 minutes looked pretty good.”
Russell’s debut was actually a homecoming, because he played his first two NBA seasons for Los Angeles before getting traded four times and eventually returning last week. Russell was clearly thrilled to be back in Hollywood, putting on an impressive playmaking performance while also repeatedly exhorting the crowd to standing ovations for the Lakers.
After he hit a 3-pointer in the second half, Russell celebrated by pointing at the letters on his chest and screaming to the fans: “Like I never left!”
“I love those moments,” Russell said. “We had Bron tonight, and we seemed a little more fluid. Everybody pitched in. Everybody played a major part in keeping the lead, maintaining it, getting stops. I like what we showcased tonight.”
The Lakers hit the All-Star break in 13th place in the 15-team Western Conference at 27-32 – but the season isn’t over yet, and they’ve got promising reinforcements.
Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley joined James and Davis in the Lakers’ 30th starting lineup of the season, while Mo Bamba fouled out in 16 minutes as the backup center in his Lakers debut.
“It was just hot,” said Beasley, who scored eight poitns. “We wanted to make a statement and do what we do.”
Brandon Ingram scored 25 points and C.J. McCollum had 22 points and nine assists in his return from a one-game absence with a sprained right ankle for the Pelicans, who lost for only the second time in six games.
“We just didn’t play with a sense of urgency, and those were my end-of-game comments to our team,” coach Willie Green said. “We have to play with more force and have a sense of urgency that we just didn’t have tonight. Not a great effort on our part.”
New Orleans’ Josh Richardson was ejected for arguing a no-call with 10:52 to play.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: Zion Williamson attended the game and greeted James during a timeout. He has missed 22 straight games with a strained hamstring, and he is expected to be out for several weeks after the break. … Former Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. sat out with left groin soreness.
Lakers: Davon Reed played the final 3 1/2 minutes and hit a 3-pointer. … Bamba had four points, six rebounds and three blocked shots.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: At Toronto on Thursday, Feb. 23.
Lakers: Host Golden State on Thursday, Feb. 23.
NHL NEWS
NYLANDER LEADS MAPLE LEAFS TO 5-2 WIN OVER BLACKHAWKS
TORONTO (AP) William Nylander had a goal and two assists, Ilya Samsonov stopped 27 shots and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 on Wednesday night.
Auston Matthews, John Tavares and Rasmus Sandin each added a goal and an assist, and Conor Timmins also scored for the Maple Leafs, who won for the fifth time in eight games.
“I didn’t think the game had much life to it. Not what you come to expect in terms of what it’s like to play in the NHL,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “We’re happy to get through it with two points.”
Sam Lafferty and Philipp Kurashev each had a goal and an assist for Chicago. Petr Mrazek finished with 37 saves. The Blackhawks have lost three straight and are 2-5-1 in their last eight.
“Our guys fought to the end,” Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said. “There was no give-up.”
Leapfrogged by Tampa Bay for second in the Atlantic Division since last playing Saturday night in a4-3 loss to last-place Columbus, the Maple Leafs opened the scoring after just 9 seconds into the game when Nylander moved in on a breakaway and slid home his 30th goal of the season.
“It was Matty’s idea to draw that play up,” Nylander said of Matthews. “Usually it’s not open . luckily (Blackhawks defenseman Jake McCabe) blew a tire there and gave me the space.”
The Swede, who has five points in two games, also nearly ran out of room.
“I think I waited too much,” Nylander said with a smile. “Lucky that it slipped by his skate there on the post.”
The Blackhawks tied it on the game’s second shot 53 seconds later when Lafferty jumped on a turnover by Calle Jarnkrok and scored his ninth.
Sandin regained the lead for Toronto with his fourth on a shot that hit a Chicago stick and fooled Mrazek at 8:14.
“When we had some breakdowns or they responded . our response was better,” Tavares said. “We were able to grab the game back and grab momentum.”
Alexander Kerfoot appeared to give Toronto a two-goal lead just 15 seconds later only to have it overturned when the Blackhawks challenge for offside.
However, Matthews did push the lead to 3-1 when he scored his 26th off a pass from Nylander with 8:39 left in the first.
Matthews, last season’s Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP and the first player in a decade to score 60 goals, was back after spraining his knee on Jan. 25 – missed five games over a three-week stretch thanks to the All-Star break and Toronto’s bye week.
“The adrenalin kicks in,” Matthews said. “My energy faded a little bit throughout the game. … For the most part, I felt pretty good.”
Chicago got back within one 46 seconds into the second when Kurashev fired his eighth.
Tavares made it 4-2 as he took advantage of Mrazek’s miscue to score his 24th at 7:37 of the middle period.
Timmins, playing for the first time since Jan. 27, then scored his second on a one-timer for a 5-2 lead with 3:53 left in the middle period.
NYLANDER MILESTONE
Nylander joined Matthews, Tavares and Phil Kessel as the only Maples players over the last 20 years to reach 30 goals in 55 games or fewer. The goal was the also fourth-fastest to start a game in franchise history behind only Charlie Conacher in 1932 (7 seconds), Mitch Marner in 2019 (7 seconds) and Ted Kennedy in 1953 (8 seconds).
UP NEXT
Blackhawks: At Ottawa on Friday night to finish a four-game trip.
Maple Leafs: Host Montreal on Saturday night to finish a three-game homestand.
MACKINNON SCORES AGAIN, AVALANCHE BEAT WILD 3-2
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Denis Malgin scored for the second consecutive night, Nathan MacKinnon got his fifth goal in five games since the All-Star break and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Minnesota Wild 3-2 on Wednesday.
Andrew Cogliano also scored for Colorado, which recovered from a shootout loss at home to Tampa Bay the previous night. Alexandar Georgiev also bounced back with 41 saves. He allowed 11 goals in the previous three games.
The Avalanche beat Minnesota in the first meeting between the division foes since Oct. 17 despite the Wild holding a 43-19 edge in shots. Colorado had lost three of four, once in overtime and once in a shootout.
“We know the standings and we know the other team is close to us,” Georgiev said. “We knew it was big points for us and kind of every game for us now is playoff intensity. We know we have to get points and get higher up in the standings, for sure.”
Kirill Kaprizov scored his 31st goal and Joel Eriksson Ek added his 21st of the season for Minnesota, which has lost five of six since the All-Star break and been outscored 19-10 in the process.
Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 16 shots for the Wild.
“We played great. We didn’t get a reward,” Minnesota coach Dean Evason said. “Obviously, it’s a results league and we’re (ticked) off that we didn’t get two points. How do you not feel good about the way you played, right? Yeah, we’re frustrated with the end result and they’ll be very mad and disappointed, which is great. They’ll come back hungry and ready to go in two days.”
The Avalanche made the most of their scoring chances.
Cogliano opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period. Devon Toews brought the puck into the offensive zone and slid a pass to Cogliano charging in. He sent a quick shot past Fleury for his ninth of the season.
MacKinnon assisted on Malgin’s fourth goal of the season. Malgin, acquired from Toronto in December, wristed a shot with Fleury screened for his second goal with Colorado.
Eriksson Ek deflected a shot from Mats Zuccarello on the power play midway through the second. Eriksson Ek has seven goals and five assists in his past 12 games.
“We played good, but it doesn’t really matter when the outcome is losing,” Eriksson Ek said.
MacKinnon answered later in the period with his 18th goal of the season. He had a six-game goal drought heading into the All-Star break but has five goals and three assists in the five games since.
“I feel like he’s picking up his game here recently,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “The bigger the moment, the better he plays. Last night, the night before, I thought he was great and then tonight, he kind of led the charge for us tonight, especially on the offensive side of it. Looked like he had good legs. He’s making plays and getting dangerous on a bunch of occasions.”
The Avalanche mustered just 10 shots through two periods, but it was another tough outing for Fleury, who made his first start in three games. He allowed five goals in his last start against Vegas.
Kaprizov brought the Wild within one with 5:53 remaining on his fourth goal in six games.
GOOD TIMING
Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson returned to the lineup for the first time since Dec. 1 after recovering from a lower-body injury. He added to the defensive corps, which was without Cale Makar and Erik Johnson.
“It’s unfortunate with those guys going down,” Manson said. “It ended up working well. I was trying to get back as soon as I could. But yeah, definitely worked out having those guys unfortunately go out but me being able to step back in since we went down too many right shots.”
Makar missed his fourth straight game with a head injury. Johnson was placed on injured reserve Tuesday and Brad Hunt was recalled from the American Hockey League. Hunt and third goaltender Jonas Johansson were reassigned to the AHL after the game.
UP NEXT
Avalanche: Play at St. Louis on Saturday.
Wild: Host the Dallas Stars on Friday.
SUTER LIFTS RED WINGS PAST OILERS IN 5-4 SHOOTOUT VICTORY
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) Pius Suter scored the winner in the fifth round of the shootout, leading the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night.
Dylan Larkin, Moritz Seider, Robby Fabbri and Olli Maatta scored in regulation for the Red Wings, who have won four straight. Ville Husso made 41 saves overall.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a pair of goals, and Leon Draisaitl and Derek Ryan also scored for the Oilers, who have dropped their last two. Jack Campbell stopped 19 of 23 shots.
Detroit opened the scoring 4:17 into the first period on Larkin’s power-play goal – the fourth straight game in which he has scored.
The Red Wings made it 2-0 when Seider sent a backhand shot from the corner toward the net and it caromed off defenseman Philip Broberg, the post and then Campbell before going in.
Nugent-Hopkins got the Oilers on the scoreboard 1:26 into the second period, but Fabbri restored Detroit’s two-goal edge on the power play at 9:06.
Edmonton made it a one-goal game just over two minutes later as Connor McDavid sent a one-handed pass across the crease to Nugent-Hopkins, who recorded his 26th goal of the season in his 55th game. Nugent-Hopkins’ career best is 28 goals in 82 games in 2018-19.
Maatta made it 4-2 with 3:48 to play in the second.
Draisaitl scored 3:26 into the third period, and Edmonton pulled even a couple of minutes later on Ryan’s goal.
UP NEXT
Red Wings: At Calgary on Thursday night in the third of a five-game trip.
Oilers: Host New York Rangers on Friday night to finish a two-game homestand.
NFL NEWS
‘OUR OWN DYNASTY’: KANSAS CITY FETES LATEST SUPER BOWL WIN
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce promised thousands of fans celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl championship Wednesday that the team will be back for more.
During a boisterous victory rally at downtown’s Union Station after a parade, Mahomes and Kelce joked about “experts” who predicted the just-concluded NFL season would be a rebuilding year for the Chiefs, who defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 on Sunday.
“We’re back again, we’re back again,” Mahomes, the NFL’s regular season and Super Bowl MVP, told thousands of cheering fans clad in the Chiefs’ red and gold team colors.
“When we started this season the AFC West said we were rebuilding,” Mahomes said. “I’ll be honest with you, I don’t know what rebuilding means. In our rebuilding year, we’re world champs, we’re world champs.”
Kelce noted that some “haters” predicted the Chiefs wouldn’t even make the playoffs.
“In all reality, this was this best season of my life,” Kelce said. “I owe it to (the fans), I owe it to the guys on this stage, I owe it to everybody in Chiefs Kingdom and the organization we’ve been able to create.”
Celebrating his second Super Bowl win with the Chiefs, coach Andy Reid told the crowd that “there’s no place you’d rather be, and no greater place to be than right here, baby. … Not very often are you able to say you’re the greatest team in the world, you have the greatest players in the world, have the greatest organization in the world and, most of all, the greatest fans in the world.”
The rally festivites wrapped up a day that began with some fans who slept overnight – and others arriving before sunrise -to get a prime spot downtown to celebrate the Chiefs’ second Super Bowl championship in four NFL seasons.
Players, coaches, team officials, family members and others rode double-decker buses past legions of fans, sometimes standing up to 10 people deep, as the parade rolled down a main downtown street on the way to the Union Station rally.
Many players got off the buses to dance, sign autographs, take selfies and occasionally hand out beers to supporters along the route. Some lucky fans were able to touch the Lombardi Trophy, which denoted the Chiefs’ win.
Most schools, many businesses and some government offices in the Kansas City metro area were closed to allow fans to enjoy the festivities. Most were in good spirits while waiting in long lines for food trucks, merchandise trucks and, of course, portable toilets. Police did not immediately report any major problems during the event.
After decades of championship drought, the city is gaining experience with victory parades. Four seasons ago, the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers for the team’s first Super Bowl championship in 50 years. That followed the Kansas City Royals winning the World Series in 2015, the city’s first baseball championship in 30 years.
Shellie Diehl, 46, of Kansas City, was seated about a block from Union Station, joined by her 8-year-old daughter, Skyler; 16-year-old daughter, Taylor; and a friend. Diehl said she came to the Chiefs parade in 2020 and decided to have mother-daughter time on Wednesday while celebrating Skyler’s first parade.
“The last one was so much fun, we decided we had to come to this one,” Diehl said. “We’re big Chiefs fans, and we wanted to celebrate a great day with the community.”
Some fans admitted that Kansas City might be getting a little spoiled.
“Kind of getting used to it, but that’s OK,” said Liz Barber, 50, of Shawnee, Kansas. “It is good.”
“We had a 50-year-drought, so it’s about time we had our own dynasty,” said David Cordray, 38, of Kansas City.
Some 25 Chiefs fans who arrived about 6 a.m. cooked up a breakfast feast, complete with corn on the cob, bacon and potatoes and all the trimmings – and they had steaks ready for later in the day. Dominic Zamora, 18, said the group of friends were continuing a tailgating tradition at Chiefs games.
“With Mahomes, there’s more to come,” Zamora said. “It’s going to be fun, and I’m excited to show up.”
Manuel Palacio, 48, was dressed in a cow’s suit in a tribute to Kansas City’s “Cowtown” nickname. He said he was a longtime Buffalo Bills fan who converted to the Chiefs after losing a bet with a Chiefs fan.
“I had to convert,” Palacio said. “It’s like being an Oakland Raiders fan; at some point you have to cheer for the team who keeps winning,” he said, laughing.
Officials began planning the parade weeks before the Chiefs defeated the Eagles on a field goal with 8 seconds remaining in the game. Kansas City police said about 675 law enforcement officers from more than 20 agencies, along with fire departments and transportation officials, were deployed for Wednesday’s event.
The City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee earmarked $750,000 for parade-related expenses, while Mayor Quinton Lucas estimated overtime costs for police and firefighters would total more than $1.5 million. The Kansas City Sports Commission was expected to contribute another $1 million in private donations for parade expenses and sponsorships, and the Jackson County Legislature voted to add $75,000.
MLB NEWS
MANFRED: OAKLAND OWNER FOCUSING ON MOVE TO LAS VEGAS
PHOENIX (AP) Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says Oakland Athletics owner John Fisher has focused on Las Vegas of late as a new home for the franchise.
Manfred, speaking Wednesday at baseball’s Cactus League media day, isn’t closing the door on the team remaining in Oakland.
“I think Mr. Fisher wants to make the best deal to secure the future of the A’s, whether it’s in Oakland or in Las Vegas,” Manfred said. “They need a new stadium. I think that’s kind of beyond debate.”
The A’s have played at the Coliseum since 1968, and their lease expires after the 2024 season. After withdrawing plans for ballparks in Fremont and San Jose, the team announced in November 2018 it had found a waterfront location for a new ballpark at Howard Terminal, close to the Jack London Square neighborhood.
But the Howard Terminal proposal has been stalled by money and concerns about affordable housing in the area.
“I don’t think they are in agreement on the affordable housing issue,” Manfred said. “The threshold issue right now I think in Oakland is how to handle the funding for the infrastructure.”
The A’s also have been working with funding issues when it comes to a possible ballpark in Las Vegas.
Oakland’s uncertain future is one reason it had a major league-low payroll of $49 million last year.
The gap between baseball’s big spenders and its small-market clubs prompted Cincinnati Reds President Phil Castellini to reportedly tell a supporters group in January that an increasing amount of clubs were out of contention on opening day.
“I think that most people who pay attention to our game realize that we do have a disparity issue in the game, both on the revenue side, and consequently on the ability to spend on players,” Manfred said when asked about Castellini’s remarks.
“I think sometimes in markets that produces frustration that leads to what I regard to be unfortunate comments, not helpful.”
San Diego is considered a small market, but it has one of the majors’ biggest payrolls after finalizing a $280 million, 11-year contract with Xander Bogaerts in December. Manfred praised Padres owner Peter Seidler for his investment in his club and said the Padres have gone from a revenue-sharing receiver to a team that pays.
“The trick for small markets has always been sustainability,” he said. “Hats off to Peter Seidler. He’s made a massive financial commitment, personally, to making this all happen. The question becomes how long can you continue to do that, and what happens when you have to go through a rebuild.”
RANGERS HOLD DEGROM OUT OF 1ST SPRING WORKOUT WITH TIGHTNESS
SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom was held out of the first spring training workout for the Texas Rangers on Wednesday because their top free-agent acquisition felt some tightness in his left side.
Each of deGrom’s past two seasons with the New York Mets were shortened substantially by injuries, but Rangers general manager Chris Young insisted the decision to hold out deGrom was precautionary. It was an unusually chilly day in Arizona and some fields were slick from overnight rain.
“It’s as much about it being Day 1 of spring training as anything,” Young said. “He’s been throwing. His arm feels great.”
Young said deGrom, who signed a $185 million, five-year deal in December, wanted to participate in the first workout of spring training. The GM said deGrom has already thrown about six bullpens. He felt tightness after his latest bullpen a few days ago.
“Nothing major, but having him come in today with the weather conditions, I made the decision that we’re going to hold him off from throwing for a day or two until we can treat him and things return to normal,” said Young, a former big league pitcher. “We wanted to make sure that we play things slowly.”
The 34-year-old deGrom spent the first nine years of his big league career with the Mets.
Before missing the final three months of the 2021 season with right forearm tightness and a sprained elbow, he had a career-low 1.08 ERA over 92 innings.
The right-hander was then shut down late in spring training last year because of a stress reaction in his right scapula and didn’t make his first big-league start until Aug. 2. He went 5-4 with a 3.08 ERA over 64 1/3 innings in 11 starts, then opted out of a $30.5 million deal to become a free agent for the first time.
DeGrom is 82-57 with a 2.52 ERA and 1,607 strikeouts in 1,326 career innings.
TOP INDIANA RELEASES
PACERS BASKETBALL
GAME REWIND: PACERS 117, BULLS 113
The Pacers’ final game before the All-Star break certainly didn’t lack excitement. In the end, it was Indiana’s All-Star that lifted the Pacers to a dramatic victory.
Tyrese Haliburton’s runner with 31.2 seconds left proved to be the game winner in the Pacers’ 117-113 victory over Chicago on Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Indiana (26-34) trailed the Bulls (26-32) by 24 after a dismal first quarter and by 23 early in the third quarter, but rallied to move in front minutes into the fourth.
The Blue & Gold actually led 98-93 with seven minutes remaining. The Bulls came right back, however, with seven unanswered points, retaking the lead on Zach LaVine’s jumper with 5:23 to play. Buddy Hield’s layup at 5:02 tied the game at 100, but Coby White drilled a three on the other end to put the visitors back in front.
Nikola Vucevic’s three made it a 106-100 game with 3:44 remaining, but threes by Aaron Nesmith and Hield on Indiana’s next two possessions tied the game once more with 2:46 to play.
Another LaVine jumper at 2:16 gave Chicago a two-point lead. Two Nesmith free throws at 1:51 tied the game at 108, but two foul shots by White 20 seconds later restored Chicago’s lead.
Myles Turner then hit a go-ahead three from the right wing with 1:17 remaining. After the two teams traded misses, LaVine drove into traffic and barreled into Nesmith. It was ruled a blocking foul despite much disdain from the home crowd, and Chicago’s two-time All-Star hit both foul shots to put the Bulls ahead with 41.2 seconds to play.
But Haliburton ensured that the questionable call wouldn’t be the deciding factor. The 22-year-old drove right back down the court and banked in a runner from the right baseline with 31.2 seconds left.
On the other end, LaVine missed a contested jumper in front of the Chicago bench. Turner secured the rebound and was fouled, converting both free throws with 8.9 seconds to play.
The Pacers elected to foul LaVine with 7.7 seconds remaining. He missed the first free throw and hit the second. Hield then made two foul shots on the other end to seal the victory for Indiana.
It was a much-needed win for the Pacers, who had dropped five straight and 15 of their last 17 entering Wednesday.
Hield led Indiana with 27 points in the victory and put together an impressive reel for Saturday’s 3-Point Contest at All-Star Weekend in the second half, making six threes over the final two quarters to give him 230 on the season, breaking Reggie Miller’s franchise record of 229 that had stood since 1996-97.
“Just a blessing,” Hield said of setting the record with 22 games remaining on the schedule. “It’s the new NBA, man. We shoot threes and shoot at a high level…Passing a legend like Reggie in Indiana, it’s a testament to hard work, dedication to the game, and my teammates.”
Nesmith hit two quick 3-pointers, but otherwise it was a struggle for the Blue & Gold early on Wednesday night. The Pacers started just 2-for-10 from the field while the Bulls scored seven points off three Indiana turnovers. As a result, Chicago led 18-6 midway through the first quarter.
Haliburton converted a three-point play with 5:25 remaining in the opening frame to get the Pacers back within single digits, but the Bulls outscored Indiana 21-6 over the remainder of the quarter. Chicago scored the final 10 points in the frame — the last seven, including a buzzer-beating three, coming from White — and took a commanding 39-15 lead into the second.
The Pacers flipped the script in the ensuing frame, outscoring the Bulls 13-4 over the first six minutes of the second quarter.
Indiana trailed 48-32 a couple minutes later, when rookie Bennedict Mathurin converted a layup and drew a foul with 3:50 remaining in the half. Vucevic was whistled for a technical after reacting to the call, so Haliburton converted a free throw before Mathurin finished the three-point play — a four-point possession in total.
The Pacers fouled Vucevic on the other end, but he missed both free throws. Haliburton corralled the rebound and pushed the break, draining a trey to trim the deficit to 48-39 with 3:34 to play in the quarter.
That forced a timeout by Bulls head coach Billy Donovan and the visitors responded after the stoppage, outscoring Indiana 10-3 over the remainder of the half to push their lead back to 58-42 at the intermission.
Chicago picked up where it left off to open the third quarter, starting the second half with 11-4 run that pushed the margin back up to 23.
But the Pacers came right back with a 12-2 spurt of their own that featured two threes by Hield, another trey from Nesmith, and a Haliburton three-point play.
In fact, Hield and the Pacers couldn’t miss for much of the third quarter. After Nesmith missed a three on the opening possession of the second half, Indiana hit on its next 13 attempts, capped by back-to-back threes from Hield that cut Chicago’s lead to 79-75 with 3:52 remaining in the third quarter.
Indiana trailed 86-79 in the closing seconds of the frame. After LaVine missed at the rim, Mathurin raced down the court and found Hield on the left wing. The Bahamian sharpshooter swished home his fifth three of the quarter.
Donovan was assessed a technical foul after the buzzer, so Hield knocked down a free throw at the start of the fourth quarter that made it an 86-83 game.
“Makes are contagious,” Turner said of Indiana’s third-quarter rally. “We found the hot hand. Buddy’s the best at what he does. He steps up when it matters. He just has no conscience.”
The Pacers tied the game at 90 on Jalen Smith’s putback dunk with 9:16 remaining in the final frame, then took their first lead of the night the next trip down the floor on Mathurin’s transition layup with 8:51 to play.
Patrick Williams’ 3-pointer at 8:12 put Chicago back in front, but Indiana surged back ahead on Duarte’s corner three at 7:30. Nesmith then came up with a steal, raced down the court, and converted a tough two through contact, flexing to the crowd after the ball fell through the net. The ensuing free throw gave Indiana a surreal 98-93 lead with seven minutes to play and set the stage for a thrilling finish.
Nesmith finished with 21 points and seven rebounds for Indiana in the victory. Turner added 17 points, nine boards, and three blocks and Haliburton chipped in 16 points and eight assists.
Mathurin and Duarte both scored 14 points off the bench.
LaVine led all scorers with 35 points, going 10-for-23 from the field and 11-for-13 from the free throw line. He also tallied 11 rebounds and seven assists.
White scored 25 points off the bench for Chicago, going 9-for-12 from the field and 5-for-8 from 3-point range. Vucevic added 19 points and seven boards.
While several Pacers will be heading to Salt Lake City to participate in All-Star Weekend, the squad will not take the floor again for over a week. Indiana resumes action next Thursday when it hosts Boston before embarking on a four-game road trip.
Inside the Numbers
After trailing 39-15 after the first 12 minutes, Indiana outscored Chicago 102-74 over the final three quarters.
Hield made six 3-pointers in a game for the ninth time this season, breaking Miller’s single-season franchise record in style.
Both teams had an excellent shooting performances from beyond the arc. Indiana went 18-for-43 (41.9 percent) from 3-point range, while Chicago was 15-for-35 (42.9 percent).
Duarte reached double figures for the first time since Jan. 27 and topped 1,000 career points on Wednesday in his 91st career game.
The Pacers had 19 turnovers, 14 of them in the first half.
Turner’s three blocks made him the third player in franchise history to surpass 1,100 with the Pacers. He now has 1,001 and trails just Rik Smits (1,111) and Jermaine O’Neal (1,245) on the all-time list.
You Can Quote Me On That
“We were dangerously close in the first quarter to getting booed by the greatest fans in the NBA. And we responded in the second quarter, the third, and the fourth.” -Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle on the rollercoaster of emotions in Wednesday’s game
“We started playing harder. We starting switching with the five man so it made it harder for them to play in their pick-and-roll game, which was picking us apart in the first quarter. Once we did that and we started blocking out and rebounding, everything fell into place.” -Nesmith on what changed defensively after the first quarter
“Buddy is going to go down as a historically great 3-point shooter in this league. Passing Reggie Miller for the single-season mark with 22 games to go is a strong statement.” -Carlisle on Hield
“Just seeing him and Tyrese come over here and have such an impact on our culture, organization, our city, I think it’s something that’s so dope. It’s not something that you see all the time, especially so quick. They’ve both quickly become fan favorites.” -Turner on Hield and Haliburton’s impact in a little over one calendar year in Indiana
“His points were certainly key in this game, but his presence defensively is something that we can almost always counting. That’s been his calling card on our team, that’s how he’s won the starting job at the four position. He’s continued to develop and get better. It’s been great to see.” -Carlisle on Nesmith’s impact
Stat of the Night
The Pacers’ 24-point comeback on Wednesday was their largest of the season. The largest margin Indiana erased prior to Wednesday was 21 in a 116-110 win over Chicago at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Jan. 24.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, Wednesday’s comeback was the largest deficit after the first quarter to be overcome by a team since 2008 and the fourth-largest comeback victory in the shot clock era (since 1954-55).
Noteworthy
The Pacers now have a 2-1 lead in the season series with the Bulls. The two Central Division rivals will play once more in Chicago on March 5.
Pacers center Daniel Theis missed Wednesday’s game with sprained right thumb and reserve big man Isaiah Jackson sat out the second half due to a non-COVID illness.
The Bulls were without All-Star forward DeMar DeRozan due to a thigh injury.
Tickets
The Pacers return to action after the All-Star break on Thursday, Feb. 23, when they host Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics at 7:00 PM ET.
INDIANA MBB
INDIANA FALLS AT NORTHWESTERN, 64-62
EVANSTON, Ill. – Indiana rallied. Boy, did it rally.
It fought. Boy, did it fight.
A 21-point, on-the-road deficit to Northwestern Wednesday night became a crunch-time tie. The No. 14/15 Hoosiers had a chance.
A defensive stop was needed.
It never came.
Wildcats guard Boo Buie hit a short hook shot with two seconds left for a 64-62 Wildcat victory.
That dropped IU to 18-8 overall, 9-6 in the Big Ten. Northwestern is 19-7, 10-5. The Wildcats have sole possession of second place in the conference standings, two games behind Purdue.
“We fought,” coach Mike Woodson told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. “We did everything we had to do to get back in the game, and then Boo hit a tough shot. We couldn’t get it out of his hands. He went downhill and made a hell of a shot after being bumped.”
During a furious second-half rally from a 19-point halftime deficit, IU shut off the paint, forced Northwestern into a three-point shooting futility (just 2-for-22 after a 6-for-11 start) and found offensive productivity (66.7 percent shooting in the second half).
It also had, again, a huge dose of senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis.
It wasn’t quite enough.
“You can’t fault the effort,” Woodson told Fischer. “We were terrible the first half. We came back storming back. We just fell short.”
Jackson-Davis had 23 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists while playing over 39 minutes.
Senior forward Race Thompson was back after missing a couple of games for precautionary reasons. He finished with 13 points and three rebounds.
“It was a game-time decision,” Woodson said in the post-game press conference about Thompson playing. “The young man told me he felt good enough to play. He gave us some positive minutes.”
Jalen Hood-Schifino added 13 points while playing the entire game. Northwestern was led by Buie’s 21 points.
IU out-shot (49 percent to 37 percent) and out-rebounded (36-25) Northwestern. It had a 32-22 edge in points in the paint, and a 15-14 edge in made free throws.
But, the Hoosiers committed 13 turnovers to Northwestern’s four, and only made three three-pointers to the Wildcats’ eight. A series of first-half offensive and defensive breakdowns created too big a hole.
“We were too hyped before the game,” Woodson told Fischer. “We couldn’t make shots. We were throwing the ball away.
“We settled down the second half, started to play and got back in it. But you spot a good team 19 points on the road, it’s tough to come back.”
IU’s offense struggled for the second straight road game. But unlike Saturday’s Michigan victory, the Hoosiers couldn’t find a way to win.
“We can’t have stretches where we’re not scoring,” Woodson told Fischer. “I have to do a better job of getting us in a better frame of mind in terms of making shots.
IU committed three turnovers in the first six minutes, led 10-7 and then stumbled.
Northwestern’s 21-3 run — helped by a pair of Indiana technical fouls (one on the IU bench, one on Woodson) that resulted in four free throws — put the Hoosiers in a 28-13 hole.
Turnovers, missed free throws and bad shots mounted. The Wildcats built a pair of 18-point leads, then got it to 21 before ending the half ahead 39-20.
Jackson-Davis was limited to just three shots, five points and six rebounds. IU shot just 29 percent from the field, 0-for-5 from three
“We felt good coming into this game,” Woodson said during the post-game press conference. “Our intentions were good, but in the first 10 possessions of the game, I bet we had five to six turnovers. You can’t run offense that way. It’s impossible. We couldn’t make a shot and couldn’t get defensive stops.”
The main second-half priorities — get Jackson-Davis more involved, find offensive balance, ratchet up the defense.
The Hoosiers did all three.
They got a pair of Thompson layups and a Trey Galloway three-pointer close to 42-27 in less than three minutes.
Hood-Schifino and Miller Kopp hit three-pointers. Thompson dunked. Jackson-Davis made a pair of free throws. Assist were up, turnovers were down, the defense turned stingy. IU closed to within seven.
A Thompson three-point play off a Jackson-Davis assist brought IU to 53-47 with eight minutes left.
A pair of Jackson-Davis free throws made it a five-point game with five minutes left. His three-point play made it 58-56 with 2:51 left.
A Hood-Schifino basket made it 62-60 with 32 seconds left. A Kopp steal and pass to Jackson-Davis tied it at 62-62 before Buie’s basket won it.
“We made it tough on them,” Woodson told Fischer. “They only scored 25 points in the second half. Our defense finally came to play. I wish we had started the game that way.”
And then, in the post-game press conference, with a Saturday home game against Illinois looming:
“To have a shot at the end says a lot about the character of our ballclub,” Woodson said. “We have to move on and get ready for Illinois.”
INDIANA SWIMMING
HOOSIERS BREAK RECORDS, TAKE OPENING NIGHT LEAD
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Indiana leads the pack after setting a program record and earning two relay medals in as many events during the opening night of the 2023 Big Ten Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships on Wednesday (Feb. 15) inside Canham Natatorium.
No. 8-ranked IU women’s swimming and diving earned 118 points on the first night, narrowly edging defending champion and No. 6-ranked Ohio State’s 116.
IU finished the night as the Big Ten Champion in the 800-yard freestyle relay after posting a 6:58.44 that set the program and pool records. The Hoosiers trailed slightly after sophomore Anna Peplowski’s opening 1:43.50 but took the lead thanks to sophomore Ching Hwee Gan’s 1:45.08 second leg and never looked back. Junior Mackenzie Looze (1:45.34) and freshman anchor Kristina Paegle (1:44.52) shut the door. IU improved by eight seconds from midseason, when they touched in 7:06.54.
“Anna had a great leadoff, and I thought Ching stepped up remarkably in her first time on that relay,” IU head swimming coach Ray Looze said. “Mackenzie had a really split and put Paegle in a good position. She had a nice freshman anchor. It wasn’t perfect, but we didn’t expect it to be at this juncture. It’s nice to set a school record and get the ‘W.'”
The gold medal in the 800 freestyle relay is IU’s first since the Hoosiers won five of six between 2010-15. Indiana women hold pool records in seven swimming events at Canham Natatorium. It was the first Big Ten title for all four swimmers.
In the opening race, the 200-yard medley relay Indiana matched its season-best from midseason, going 1:35.98 via sophomore Kacey McKenna (24.56), senior Noelle Peplowski (26.64), junior Elizabeth Broshears (23.45) and senior Ashley Turak’s career-best 50 free split (21.33). The same quartet went 1:36.07 at the 2022 NCAA Championships, where they placed 15th. The time ranks tied for seventh in program history as the Hoosiers are the fastest they’ve been since 2019.
“I thought our medley relay was a really good start,” Looze said. “All four girls showed some really good stuff. Kacey McKenna’s underwaters were awesome. Elizabeth Broshears showed great speed. Noelle [Peplowski] same thing. Ashley Turak had her best split ever at Indiana and the second-fastest of the whole field, so I was pretty happy with that. It would have been great to get second, but nonetheless to go 1:35 was good, they swam well, and it bodes well for every one of those women the rest of the meet.”
Between relays, the programs competed in an exhibition team diving event in which three divers from each squad executed a total of six dives, two from each board. Indiana divers produced the highest total for the unofficial competition, totaling 396.00 points ahead of runner-up Minnesota (367.00) and Purdue (355.30). Junior Anne Fowler, sophomore Megan Carter and recent newcomer and sophomore Skyler Liu dove for IU.
“It was a great day today,” IU head diving coach Drew Johansen said. “We usually don’t dive on Wednesday, so it was nice to be in the finals environment and in that exhibition team event, which was really well received. The athletes enjoyed having that team component, it’s almost like a relay for diving, which was a lot of fun, and they all performed fantastic. So, it was a great start to the meet for us.”
TEAM SCORES
1. Indiana – 118
2. Ohio State – 116
3. Michigan – 112
t4. Wisconsin – 102
t4. Northwestern – 102
6. Penn State – 98
t7. Rutgers – 90
t7. Minnesota – 90
9. Nebraska – 80
10. Illinois – 66
11. Purdue – 64
12. Iowa – 62
RESULTS
200 MEDLEY RELAY
3. Kacey McKenna, Noelle Peplowski, Elizabeth Broshears, Ashley Turak – 1:35.98 (NCAA A Cut)
800 FREESTYLE RELAY
1. Anna Peplowski, Ching Hwee Gan, Mackenzie Looze, Kristina Paegle – 6:58.44 (Program Record, Pool Record, NCAA A Cut)
UP NEXT
The 2023 Big Ten Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships resume Thursday for day two, the first full day of action. Athletes will compete in the 500 freestyle, 200 IM, 50 freestyle, 1-meter dive and 400 medley relay, with preliminaries beginning at 10 a.m. ET. Finals are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET.
INDIANA SB
INDIANA SOFTBALL READY FOR ESPN TAXACT CLEARWATER INVITE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana softball will head back to the sunshine state to compete in the ESPN TaxAct Clearwater Invitational at Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Fla.
The Hoosiers are set to take the field against four top-25 opponents in No. 4/4 Arkansas and No. 15/12 Alabama, No. 22 Louisiana, No. 10/12 Arizona and Mississippi State who is receiving votes.
Date Opponent: Time (ET) TV
Thursday, Feb. 16 RV/22 Louisiana 12 p.m. ESPNU
Friday, Feb. 17 RV Mississippi St. 12:30 p.m. SEC Network
No. 4/4 Arkansas 1:00 p.m. ESPN+
Saturday, Feb. 18 No. 15/12 Alabama 6:00 p.m. ESPNU
Sunday, Feb. 19 No. 10/12 Arizona 12:00 p.m. ESPN+
LAST TIME OUT
• The Hoosiers went 3-1 on opening weekend picking up wins against Pitt (17-5), Prairie View (5-1) on day Opening Day. On day two, Indiana would fall 9-0 to Auburn before the game against Howard was canceled due to inclement weather. On day three of the tournament, Indiana Softball would bounce back to beat South Alabama, 5-1, to close out the weekend.
SCOUTING LOUISIANA
• The Ragin’ Cajuns hosted Stephen F. Austin and Lafayette College in their annual Louisiana Classic tournament. ULL went 4-0 to open the season, winning two games against the
• On the season, they have totaled 42 runs, 45 hits, 40 RBI and seven home runs with nine stolen bases.
Pitcher Sam Landry collected the Sun Belt’s Pitcher of the Week award after Landry tossed a no-hitter on Opening Day. She finished the weekend with nine innings of one-hit, shutout softball while tallying 19 total strikeouts
SERIES NOTES
• Indiana will take the field against Louisiana to kick off the invite. The Hoosiers last saw the field with the Ragin’ Cajuns in 2022 as they lead the series 3-1.
• The Hoosiers will compete against two new opponents in Mississippi State and No. 4/4 Arkansas in at the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational.
• Against Alabama, IU Softball is 1-0 in the series. The two teams played on Feb. 28, 1999, when IU defeated the Crimson Tide, 2-0.
• IU is 2-7 against the Arizona Wildcats. Their last matchup was in 2020 when the Hoosiers traveled to Tucson, Ariz., dropped the game 6-1.
COPELAND NO-HITTER
• Sophomore Brianna Copeland threw her first career no-hitter against Prairie View A&M tallying a career-high ten strikeouts, along with no hits, one run and zero walks. After opening weekend, she has an era of .60 after pitching 11.2 innings and totaling 14 strikeouts.
SWING BATTER BATTER
• Junior infielder Brooke Benson had a stellar performance at the plate opening weekend. In 10 at bats, she jump started the Hoosiers’ offense totaling four hits, one double, one home run and seven RBI. Benson hit the ninth career home run against Prairie View A&M to take a 2-1 lead against the Panthers.
POWER HITTER
• Sophomore Sarah Stone had some power hits for the Hoosiers on Opening Day. four hits on the weekend, with four RBIs with three doubles. On Opening Day, her batting average against Pitt was .667 and PVAMU .500.
NEW FACES ON THE FIELD
• Utility player Cassidy Kettleman earned her first career start against South Alabama and totaled six at bats on the weekend holding a .500 slugging percentage.
• Second baseman Taryn Kern started for the Hoosiers in the infield. She tallied two hits, 1 RBI and seven assists in her rookie debut.
• Catcher/Utility Avery Parker started in all four games earning three runs, two hits, one triple and two RBI during Opening Weekend. The Westfield, Ind., native also stole two bases in her first two attempts.
ABOUT LAST SEASON
• Indiana finished the 2022 season with a 27-22 record, going 10-13 in conference play. The Hoosiers fell, 2-1, against the No. 7 seeded Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament.
• IU faced five ranked opponents last season, in No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 3 Florida State, No. 10 Northwestern, No. 22 Notre Dame and No. 23 Ohio State where they went 1-2 in the series against the Buckeyes.
RETURNING IN 2023
• The Hoosiers return six starters from the 2022 season led by senior utility Cora Bassett (.400, 62 hits, 57 runs, 16 SB in 2022), Infielders Brooke Benson (.341, 43 hits, 25 runs, 9 SB in 2022) and Briana Copeland (.278, 20 runs, and 32 hits in 2022).
• Pitchers Heather Johnson (3.89 ERA, 88 K, 147.2 IP in 2022) and Macy Montgomery (4.13 ERA, 79 K, 95.0 IP in 2022) lead the way in the circle.
• Catcher Lindsey Warick returns to her role behind the plate (.227, 22 hits, 16 RBI in 2022).
• IU brings back their top seven hitters from last season in terms of average, led by Tatum Hayes and Cora Bassett (.400).
50 YEARS
• Indiana Softball is celebrating 50 years as a varsity sport this season. Team 50 hosted a celebration in the fall, inviting alumni to celebrate the storied history and bright future of the program.
NEW HIRES
• Shonda Stanton added two to her staff in assistant coach Aaron Clopton and Graduate Assistant Grayson Radcliffe. Clopton arrives at IU with over two decades of experience, most recently coaching at the University of Kansas. Radcliffe joins the program after a phenomenal four-year career with the Hoosiers under coach Stanton (2018-2022).
INDIANA WR
NO. 23 INDIANA TRAVELS TO CHATTANOOGA FOR REGULAR SEASON FINALE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– Only one regular season weekend remains for Indiana Wrestling. The Hoosiers will close out the dual schedule with a match at Chattanooga on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Maclellan Gym.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Chattanooga (8-10, 5-2)
125: Logan Ashton (3-15)
133: No. 21 Brayden Palmer (16-5)
141: Franco Valdes (3-8) OR Dayne Dalrymple (7-10)
149: Noah Castillo (7-4)
157: Lincoln Heck (11-9)
165: Weston Wichman (3-3) OR Jackson Hurst (4-10)
174: No. 10 Rocky Jordan (15-1)
184: No. 31 Matthew Waddell (12-6)
197: Jake Boyd (9-8) OR Thomas Sell (5-8)
285: Logan Andrew (8-12) OR Logan Webster (3-6)
No. 23 Indiana (7-5, 3-5)
125: Jacob Moran (20-12)
133: No. 24 Henry Porter (18-7)
141: Cayden Rooks (11-9)
149: No. 30 Graham Rooks (24-6)
157: No. 20 Derek Gilcher (21-10)
165: Nick South (8-6) OR Robert Major (7-7)
174: No. 11 DJ Washington (20-4)
184: Clayton Fielden (9-12)
197: Nick Willham (15-7) OR Drayton Harris (6-13)
285: No. 22 Jacob Bullock (17-4)
CHATTANOOGA PREVIEW:
-Indiana will compete in their final match of the dual season on the road when the Hoosiers take on Chattanooga on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. in Maclellan Gym.
-The Mocs currently stand at 8-10 with a 5-2 conference mark in dual action this season.
-This will be Chattanooga’s fifth time facing a Big Ten opponent, as well. The Mocs have competed against Wisconsin, Purdue, Illinois and Iowa already this season.
-Chattanooga’s conference dual victories include VMI, Davidson, Presbyterian, The Citadel and Gardner-Webb.
-The team’s final conference matchup will be a home dual vs. Bellarmine on Friday, Feb. 17.
-Last season, Chattanooga finished in third place at the Southern Conference Championships and had four NCAA qualifiers.
-The Mocs returned two of those qualifiers in Brayden Palmer (133) and Matthew Waddell (184). Both guys are currently ranked with Palmer being No. 21 and Waddell at No. 33 with 16-5 and 12-6 records, respectively.
-In addition to Palmer and Waddell, Ohio State transfer, Rocky Jordan, has emerged for the Mocs with a 15-1 record this year. He is currently ranked No. 10 at 174 lbs.
LAST TIME OUT:
-Indiana returns to action from an 0-2 weekend after two very close duals. The Hoosiers lost at No. 24 Michigan State, 20-16, and at No. 12 Michigan, 23-18.
-Indiana and Michigan State split five matches a piece with Indiana taking four victories at Michigan.
-No. 29-ranked Redshirt senior Graham Rooks (149) and No. 11-ranked redshirt junior DJ Washington (174) were both 2-0 in the Great Lakes State.
-Rooks won by major decision, 13-4, over Michigan State’s Peyton Omania, and handled Michigan’s Fidel Mayora in a 4-1 decision.
-Washington didn’t allow his opponents many opportunities to get to their offense in his two matches. He left Michigan State’s Ceasar Garza scoreless in a 4-0 victory and pinned Michigan’s No. 28-ranked Max Maylor in the first period (2:55).
-Freshman and No. 24 Henry Porter (133) picked up a big win at Michigan State, defeating No. 17-ranked Rayvon Foley in a 10-5 decision.
-Nick South (165) also won by fall over Michigan’s Alex Wesselman (2:55) for his second win by pin against conference opponents this season.
STRONG STANDING:
-In the most recent NCAA Coaches Rankings from Feb. 9, five Hoosiers made the list.
-Porter, G. Rooks, Derek Gilcher, Washington and Jacob Bullock all were named. Each wrestler has at least 17 wins on the season.
THE HOMESTRETCH:
-The regular season is starting to come to a close. Indiana has just one weekend left in the regular season with the Chattanooga dual as the last competition on the docket.
-From there, the team will have a week off prior to the Big Ten Championships in Ann Arbor on March 4 and 5.
-Roughly two weeks after that, a select number of Hoosiers will compete in the NCAA Championships in Tulsa, Okla. from March 16-18.
SETTING NEW STANDARDS:
-Indiana Wrestling has returned to its winning ways this season.
-Following a 3-8 record and 14th place at the Big Ten Championships in 2021-22, the Hoosiers have bounced back in a major way.
-Indiana is ranked in all three major polls. Prior to this season, Indiana had not been ranked since Feb. 2016.
-Head coach Angel Escobedo has led the team to seven wins thus far, including three Big Ten wins, both are the most in a season in his tenure at Indiana.
-The team had not reached seven wins since 2016-17 and three Big Ten wins since 2015-16.
-The Hoosiers have three wins over ranked opponents to this point, as well.
VETERAN PRESENCE:
-Throughout Indiana’s starting lineup, there is a steady dose of veteran leadership.
-Every weight class features an upperclassman starter except for 133 lbs., where freshman Henry Porter starts.
-Eight of the ten starters were regular starters in the Indiana lineup a season ago.
-Redshirt senior Graham Rooks is the only wrestler who has competed for Angel Escobedo all five seasons that he has been head coach.
PURDUE MBB
#3 PURDUE BEGINS STRETCH RUN THURSDAY AT MARYLAND
GAMEDAY INFO
Thursday, February 16, 2023 | 6:30 p.m. ET
[1] Purdue (23-3, 12-3) vs. [RV] Maryland (17-8, 8-6)
College Park, Md. | XFinity Center (17,950)
TELEVISION: BTN | RADIO: Purdue Sports Network
ANNOUNCERS: Cory Provus, Stephen Bardo, Andy Katz
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• With just five games left in the regular season, the No. 3-ranked Purdue Boilermakers look to pad their lead in the Big Ten race in a difficult setting, traveling to the XFinity Center to face a Maryland team that is undefeated in league play at home and winners of five of its last six games overall. A win over Maryland would give Purdue a two-and-half game lead in the league standings with four games to play.
• Purdue is coming off a disappointing 64-58 loss at Northwestern on Sunday. The Boilermakers led 55-47 with 3:50 to play, but were outscored 17-3 down the stretch in suffering just their third loss of the season.
• Purdue has won 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 tournament that has been played under the current format.
• A win over Maryland would give Purdue its 10th quad-1 victory of the season and improve Purdue to 8-2 on the road (7-2 in Big Ten play). Purdue has won seven Big Ten road games just seven times in school history (2018, 2010, 1996, 1995, 1988, 1987 and 1984).
• Purdue is 52-11 since the start of last season. The 52 wins over a two-year span are already the eighth most in school history and Purdue needs just five wins to tie the record for most wins in a two-year span (57 in 2017, 2018). Iowa is second in this current stretch with 42 wins.
• Purdue (+11.7) is dominating the glass this season, leading the country in rebound margin by 2.7 rebounds per game over UMass Lowell (+9.0). Over the last four games, Purdue has outrebounded opponents 154 to 94 (15.0 rebounds per game).
• Purdue ranks fourth nationally in fewest fouls per game (13.3) and is first nationally in opponent free throw rate via KenPom (17.5). Creighton is second nationally in free throw rate. Coincidentally, those teams are 1 and 2 nationally in forcing opponents to take long 2-point jumpers.
• Purdue has MADE 390 free throws this season, while opponents have SHOT just 266. Purdue has made 196 more free throws (390 to 194) than its foes this season, the highest discrepancy in the nation (Purdue +194, Iowa +157, Portland +151, North Carolina +136, Providence +135).
• In Purdue’s three losses this season, the Boilermakers shot just 48-of-69 (.696) from the free throw line with 45 turnovers (15.0 per game). In its 23 wins, Purdue is shooting 76.1 percent from the free throw line and averaging just 10.6 turnovers per game.
• Purdue can claim America’s best resume, boasting a 9-3 quad-1 record with eight of the wins against teams ranked in the NCAA Net’s top 40. Purdue is also 13-3 in quad 1 and 2 games, the second-most wins in the country. Purdue has not lost to a quad 1, 2 or 3 opponent.
• Purdue has been ranked in the nation’s top five in 24 of the last 34 polls dating to the preseason poll a year ago. Gonzaga (21) and Houston (15) are the only other programs to have at least 15 weeks ranked in the top 5.
• The Boilermakers have been ranked No. 1 for 12 of its 26 games so far this season, posting a 9-3 record. When not ranked No. 1, Purdue is 14-0.
• Fifteen of Purdue’s 23 wins have come against the KenPom top-100, the second-highest top-100 wins in the country (Kansas – 16). Purdue and Kansas each have 10, top-50 KenPom victories to lead the country. Purdue’s 108 victories over the top 100 since the start of the 2016-17 season are the fourth most nationally (Kansas – 142; Villanova – 117; Baylor – 110).
• 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).
• Edey needs just 15 rebounds to move into the career top 10 rebounds list (749). With 16 rebounds, he would become the second player in school history to have 1,250 points and 750 rebounds by the end of his junior season, joining 1980 No. 1 NBA Draft pick, Joe Barry Carroll.
• Edey has won six Big Ten Player of the Week awards this season. The league record is seven by Ohio State’s Evan Turner in 2011.
PURDUE SWIMMING
2 SEASON BESTS, 3RD IN TEAM DIVING TO OPEN BIG TENS
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A pair of team season bests on the 800 freestyle relay and a trio of Boilermakers teamed up for third place in the exhibition team diving event headlined Purdue women’s swimming & diving’s opening night Wednesday at the Big Ten Championships.
Three seniors and a freshman teamed up for Purdue’s 800 free relay team. Kendra Bowen, Lindsay Turner, Kate Beavon and Reagan Mattice posted a time of 7:15.25, dropping 5.48 seconds off their team season best at the Big Ten Quad meet in Evanston on Jan. 27. Bowen’s leadoff leg split of 1:47.15 is also a team season best in the 200 free. The senior dropped 1.14 seconds off her previous benchmark.
Sophie McAfee, Daryn Wright and Maggie Merriman teamed up in the team diving exhibition. The event features two dives from all three boards. Purdue’s list score of 355.30 was headlined by an 83.20 for Merriman on her armstand in round 3. McAfee and Wright both executed one dive on each springboard. McAfee’s 58.50 on a forward 2 ½ pike in round 1 was the Boilermakers’ top springboard score.
Action continues Thursday with swimming prelims at 10 a.m., diving prelims at noon and the finals session at 5:30 p.m. The first full day of the championships features the 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 1-meter diving and the 400 medley relay.
WEDNESDAY AT THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
* – Team Season Best
800 Free Relay
Bowen, Turner, Beavon & Mattice, 7:15.25* – Finished 10th (34 Points)
Bowen’s leadoff leg split of 1:47.15* is a team season best in the 200
200 Medley Relay
Marcukaitis, Love, Berglund & Hill, 1:40.85 – Finished 12th (30 Points)
Team Diving Exhibition
McAfee, Wright & Merriman, 355.30 – Finished 3rd
McAfee on 1M & 3M, Wright on 1M & 3M, Merriman 2 on 10M
WEDNESDAY TEAM SCORES
1.) Indiana 118
2.) Ohio State 116
3.) Michigan 112
T-4.) Wisconsin 102
T-4.) Northwestern 102
6.) Penn State 98
T-7.) Rutgers 90
T-7.) Minnesota 90
9.) Nebraska 80
10.) Illinois 66
11.) Purdue 64
12.) Iowa 62
PURDUE SB
CAMPBELL, ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE ON DECK
Thursday, February 16
at Campbell | 3 p.m. ET | ESPN+
ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE SCHEDULE
Friday, February 17
vs. Syracuse | 12:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, February 11
vs. Syracuse | 12:30 p.m. ET
at NC State | 5:30 p.m. ET | ACCNx
Sunday, February 12
at NC State | 12:30 p.m. ET | ACCNx
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue softball team (2-1) is set for a five-game week in the state of North Carolina beginning Thursday at Campbell. The slate will include opponents Campbell (2-2), Syracuse (2-1) and NC State (0-5), including three streamed games for fans to watch between ESPN+ (at Campbell) and ACCNx (both games at NC State).
The ACC/Big Ten Challenge will mark the first time the Boilermakers have participated in the dual-league showdown since 2018. Purdue’s head-to-head results will count towards the final ACC/Big Ten Softball Challenge standings and will be joined in Raleigh, North Carolina, by Iowa.
LAST WEEK AT A GLANCE
Due to inclement weather in Tallahassee, Purdue was only able to play three of its five scheduled games.
The Boilermakers picked up a pair of wins vs. Longwood (2-1 and 3-1).
Purdue runs were scored by freshman Khloe Banks (2),
Freshman Khloe Banks started her collegiate career with a bang, notching both wins in the 2-1 victory as well as the first run in Game Two vs. Longwood.
Winning Pitchers: Mo Wimpee (1-0) and Madi Elish (1-0)
Elish saw the most time in the circle with 10.0 innings pitched, including a complete-game 3-1 victory vs. Longwood in which she tossed a career-high seven strikeouts.
ON THE SCENE: FRESHMAN KHLOE BANKS
In Purdue’s first game, Khloe Banks was responsible for each of Purdue’s two runs.
The freshman right fielder went 2-2 from the plate in the season-opener vs. Longwood.
Banks owns the longest active hitting streak on the team at two-straight games.
Recorded a pair of walks.
Has made-base 50% of the time when going to bat.
MADI ELISH: DONNING THE OLD GOLD AND BLACK
In her first weekend as a Boilermaker, sophomore Arizona transfer Madi Elish guided the team to victory in the weekend finale, 3-1 vs. Longwood.
Elish bested her career-high in strikeouts, set last spring with Arizona with seven on the mound vs. the Lancers (previous: six).
Elish averaged a 2.10 ERA over two appearances.
The sophomore entered in relief during the No. 4/5 Florida State showdown, in which she allowed no walks, notched a strikeout and two assists while giving up four hits and two runs in the final three innings of the game.
SCOUTING CAMPBELL
Campbell’s offense is led by Alyssa Henault, who owns a .615 batting average over the first four games alongside a .643 on-base %.
Leading the team in runs is Allyiah Swiney with five and a .714 slugging %.
As a team, the Camels are averaging a .297 batting avg.
In the No. 1 slot is pitcher Isabella Smith (2-1), tossing 15 strikeouts with a 1.62 ERA over 17.1 innings pitched.
SCOUTING SYRACUSE
The Orange’s wins include a 10-4 victory at North Florida and a 4-2 win at Jacksonville.
Pitcher Madison Knight is a dual threat, not only leading the team in the circle as it’s No. 1 (2-0 record and 10.2 innings pitched), but is also among the strongest batters on the roster with a .444 batting avg., three RBI and a .643 on-base %.
Meanwhile, Lindsey Hendrix has appeared in all three games, earning a save and a 1.75 ERA over her 4.0 innings of work.
SCOUTING NC STATE
The Wolf Pack is 0-5 this season, with two losses each to Kansas and Arizona.
Freshman outfielder Bailey Edwards start the final two games of the weekend and recorded a .500 batting avg. in the two games. She earned a double and an RBI vs. Arizona in Game One.
MaKayla Marbury owns a .364 batting avg. after starting every game this season. In 11 at-bats, the utility freshman infielder has secured three runs, four hits, three walks and two RBI.
Pitcher Rylee Wyman has started three of NC State’s five games. Over 7.1 innings of work last weekend, the righty has allowed 23 hits and 23 runs.
BUTLER WBB
MCLIMORE LIFTS BUTLER TO 58-56 VICTORY OVER GEORGETOWN
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler scored on their final possession to take a two-point lead and the Bulldogs would end the game with a stop to record their ninth overall win of the season. The 58-56 victory over visiting Georgetown is Butler’s second-straight win and fourth conference victory of the season.
How It Happened
Rachel McLimore drove past a Hoya defender and scored a layup while being fouled with just 17 seconds left. McLimore went to the line and added a free throw to give the ‘Dawgs a two-point lead and the Butler defense would get a stop on the other end to secure the win. McLimore scored a game-high 21 points on 6-of-10 shooting. She made three 3-pointers and was perfect from the charity stripe (6-6).
The Hoyas trailed Butler by seven heading into the fourth quarter, but their full court press and overall ball pressure would tighten the game up over the final 10 minutes. Georgetown used an 11-0 scoring run in the fourth to take a 49-47 lead. Butler countered with 3-point field goals from McLimore and Jordan Meulemans to regain the lead and the Bulldogs would hold off the late Hoya charge to come out on top.
Postgame Parkinson Quotes
“It was a great job by our team tonight to find a way to pull out a win at home. Georgetown did a great job with their ball pressure and when we were careless, they turned that into points. At the end of the game, our kids challenged a shot and got a stop so that is really encouraging. I’m proud of how Rachel played. Her 21 points were awesome, but the six assists were also huge. Overall, I’m proud of our kids.”
Stat of the Game
Butler went 13-for-16 from the free throw line and outrebounded Georgetown 30-22
Inside the Box Score
– Butler led Georgetown for 31 minutes
– Jessica Carrothers pulled down a career-high nine rebounds
– Georgetown started the game just 2-for-10 from the field
– Butler went scoreless over the final four minutes of the first quarter
– Butler used an 8-0 scoring run in the second quarter to win that stretch 21-11
– McLimore had 15 first half points
– Georgetown outscored Butler in the third and fourth quarter
– The Hoyas caused 23 Butler turnovers
– GU scored 38 points off BU miscues
– Sydney Jaynes and Anna Mortag each added eight points vs. GU
– Butler shot 40 percent from 3-point range (9-22)
Up Next
Butler will stay in Indianapolis to host Xavier next week on Tuesday night. The 7 PM contest will serve as the annual “Pink Out” game for the Bulldogs. Fans not able to attend can stream the action live on FloSports.com.
IUPUI MBB
JACKSON TALLIES CAREER-HIGH 23 IN JAGUARS’ LOSS AT OAKLAND
ROCHESTER, Mich. – Freshman DJ Jackson led four Jaguars in double-digits with a career-high 23 points and Jlynn Counter added 18 points and seven rebounds, but the Jaguars fell just short at Oakland on Wednesday night (Feb. 15), 85-81. IUPUI’s upset chances were hindered by 20 turnovers that the Golden Grizzlies converted into 22 points.
Trey Townsend and Jalen Moore paced Oakland (12-16, 10-7 HL) with 23 points apiece.
The Jaguars were efficient when they did get looks, shooting 56 percent from the floor and 5-of-13 (38.5 percent) from three-point range. IUPUI (4-24, 1-16 HL) held Oakland to just 2-of-18 from three-point range, but the Golden Grizzlies offset that margin by getting to the free throw line 32 times to IUPUI’s 14 attempts.
IUPUI was ahead 72-69 with 5:16 remaining when Jackson snuck free for an easy layup, but Oakland responded with a 9-0 run and held the Jaguars without points for nearly four minutes. Counter sank an open trey with 1:22 left to make it a one-possession game, but the Jaguars never got closer than two points down the stretch.
“We’re right there, but that’s the difference between playing with underclassmen and playing with seniors. I thought we panicked a couple times and made some careless mistakes and (Oakland) kind of let their upperclassmen play through it. I’m encouraged that we came on the road and put ourselves in a position to win a basketball game in one of the tougher environments in our league.
“The next step for us is consistently getting over that hump and getting to the finish line.”
The game featured 16 ties and 15 lead changes, the last of which came on a Moore three-pointer with 4:12 to play. Jackson missed a potential game tying drive on the ensuing possession and Moore scored on a drive as part of the Golden Grizzlies’ 9-0 run.
Neither side led by more than six points at any point during the game, but the Jaguars struggled to get stops in key moments. Oakland turned it over just nine times and shot 49.2 percent from the floor.
Townsend and Chris Conway combined to shoot 12-of-16 on the interior and grab 10 boards for the victors.
Freshman Vincent Brady II finished with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including four treys, for the Jaguars. John Egbuta contributed 10 points off the bench and Chris Osten tallied eight on 3-of-3 shooting and blocked three shots. Marlon Taylor, who was awarded his first collegiate start on Wednesday, closed with four points and three boards in 12 minutes of work.
IUPUI will play its final regular season road game on Sunday (Feb. 19) at Detroit Mercy at 1:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
IUPUI SWIMMING
IUPUI CLOCKS FOUR SCHOOL RECORDS ON DAY ONE OF HORIZON LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS
INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI swimming and diving team concluded day one of the Horizon League Championships with four school records, one meet record and two first-place finishes. The men’s team holds the top team spot with 149 points while the women’s team is tied for second with 66 points.
“Overall great day!” said IUPUI head coach Damion Dennis. “Four team records, one meet record and several top ten times. Everyone involved, on the board, in the pool and the support from the people not swimming today was lights out. This was an unbelievable start, better than expected. In terms of overall performance, everyone that competed tonight did something above and beyond what they thought they were capable of two weeks ago.”
The Jaguars kicked off the meet with the 200 medley relay. The women’s relay team made up of Malayna Mancinelli, Avery Brooks, Gabby Puryear-Lynch and Lilly Brandt clocked a time of 1:42.71 to earn the third-place finish. During the men’s race, the Jags were neck and neck with Oakland with Wes Wickens inching out Oakland’s Samuel McKenzie to earn the gold. The Jags earned first-place with an IUPUI and meet record time of 1:25.88.
Freshman diver Sebastian Otero continued his dominate rookie year with a gold worthy performance on the 3-meter board with a school record score of 399.80. Alex Scott also took the podium at the bronze level with a score of 320.30.
We went back to the pool lanes after diving with the 800 free relay. The women’s relay with Emmaleigh Zietlow, Puryear-Lynch, Emma Theobald and Jackie Bontrager, earned the silver with a school record time of 7:19.47. The men’s relay team with Ben Kimmel, Luke Dibley, Isaac Wilson and Nick Dibley earned the third-place finish with a time of 6:35.87.
“The real meet starts tomorrow,” said Dennis. “While tonight was great, we can’t lose sight of the next six sessions. Hopefully tonight will serve as motivation and inspiration for the rest of the team this week. There are a lot of great teams and a lot of good swimming. We’re just getting started and it’s going to be an exciting three days.
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL
AP SOURCES: IRISH TO PROMOTE PARKER TO OC, HIRE GUIDUGLI
(AP) — Notre Dame is promoting tight ends coach Gerard Parker to offensive coordinator and working to hire Wisconsin assistant Gino Guidugli as quarterbacks coach, two people with knowledge of the decisions told The Associated Press on Wednesday night.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity because deals were still being finalized and needed university approval.
Football Scoop first reported Parker would be Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator.
Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman was forced to retool his offensive staff following the departure this month of offensive coordinator Tommy Rees to Alabama, where he will hold the same position.
Freeman spoke to Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig about the position, but the school could not come to an agreement with him after he visited the South Bend, Indiana, campus last weekend.
Instead, Freeman turned to two coaches he knows well.
Parker joined Notre Dame’s staff last year after Freeman was elevated to head coach to replace Brian Kelly. Parker had been offensive coordinator at West Virginia for the previous two years.
He and Freeman previously worked together as assistants at Purdue from 2013-16.
Guidugli and Freeman worked together at Cincinnati as assistants under head coach Luke Fickell from 2017-20 before Freeman left to become Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator in 2021.
Guidugli was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Bearcats last season and followed Fickell to Wisconsin, where he was set to be receivers coach and passing game coordinator for the Badgers under offensive coordinator Phil Longo.
Freeman will still have one more opening to fill on his offensive staff. Veteran offensive line coach Harry Hiestand announced his retirement this week.
NOTRE DAME MLAX
#2 IRISH ATTACK ERUPTS IN 21-10 WIN OVER MARQUETTE
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish got the 2023 season started off with a bang, scoring 21 goals in a 21-10 win over Marquette in the season opener inside Loftus Sports Center on Wednesday.
The Notre Dame starting attack of Chris Kavanagh, Pat Kavanagh and Jeffery Ricciardelli proved impossible for the Golden Eagles to slow down, as the trio combined for 19 points (10G, 9A). Chris Kavanagh and Ricciardelli each scored a career-high five goals while Pat Kavanagh orchestrated with six assists.
In total, 11 different Irish players found the back of the net and 14 of Notre Dame’s 21 goals were assisted.
On the defensive side of the field the Irish caused 10 turnovers and held the Eagles’ attack to just three goals in the final 30 minutes of action.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Eric Dobson wasted no time getting the scoring started, firing home a shot on the run in the game’s first possession to put the Irish on top early. The Irish attack came out on fire, scoring five goals in just over five minutes of play to open up a 5-0 lead.
Marquette managed to trim the lead to three at 5-2 with back-to-back goals but Notre Dame responded by scoring four goals in the final three minutes of the first frame to take a commanding 9-2 lead after the opening 15 minutes of action.
The Golden Eagles managed to outscore the Irish in the second quarter 5-4 to trim the Notre Dame lead to 13-7 heading into the halftime break.
The Irish defense put the clamps on the Marquette attack in the third period, shutting out the visitors while the Notre Dame offense tallied three goals courtesy of Quinn McCahon, Ricciardelli and Pat Kavanagh.
The two sides traded goals to begin the fourth frame before the Irish scored the last three to comfortably win by a final score of 21-10.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Chris Kavanagh was pegged to have a breakout season heading into 2023 and he proved why on opening night. The sophomore posted career highs in goals (5) and points (7) while scooping up five ground balls and dishing out two assists. The attackman took just eight shots in the game.
STAT OF THE GAME
Wednesday marked the 11th time the Irish and Golden Eagles have played and the 21 goals from Notre Dame are the most it has ever scored in the series. The Irish surpassed its 2022 total of 18 goals in a winning effort.
NOTRE DAME NOTES
The Irish improved to 11-0 against Marquette in the all-time series.
With the win, the Irish are now 36-7 in season openers, including a 30-5 record under Baumer Family Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach Kevin Corrigan.
Notre Dame improves to 39-4 in home openers in program history and 32-3 under Corrigan.
The victory pushes Notre Dame’s active winning streak to seven games, the longest active streak in the country for men’s DI lacrosse.
Chris Kavanagh’s has now totaled 13 points in season openers in his career after totaling six in a win over Detroit Mercy last season.
Jeffery Ricciardelli matched his season goals and points mark from all of last season in the opener with five goals and an assist. The five goals marked Ricciardelli’s first career hat trick.
Pat Kavanagh was one assist shy of tying his career-high for assists in a game with six in Wednesday’s win.
Jeffery Ricciardelli, Chris Fake, Chris Conlin, Marco Napolitano and Bryce Walker each made their first career starts for the Irish.
Fisher Finley and Fulton Bayman each scored their first career goals at the collegiate level while Brian Tevlin and Jack Simmons scored his first as a member of the Irish.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame has a quick turnaround, welcoming Cleveland State to campus for a noon start on Sunday, Feb. 19. Admission is free and the game will be streamed on ACCNX.
NOTRE DAME WLAX
GAME 2 PREVIEW: NORTHWESTERN
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Fighting Irish are on the road for the first time this season as they travel to Evanston, Illinois to take on the No. 5 Northwestern Wildcats. First draw is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Ryan Fieldhouse and will be streamed on BIG+. Live stats will also be available.
#14 NOTRE DAME vs. #5 NORTHWESTERN
Date/Time: Thursday, February 16 — 7:00 p.m.
Location: Ryan Fieldhouse, Evanston, Illinois.
Live Stream: BIG+
Live Stats: Click Here
Twitter Updates: @NDWomensLax
For a more in-depth look at the matchup – Game Notes: Notre Dame
FOR STARTERS
The No. 14 Irish travel to Evanston, Illinois to take on the No. 5 Northwestern Wildcats for an early top twenty matchup.
Live stats will be available for the contest as well as a live stream through Big Ten+.
After the first game of the season Madison Ahern, Jackie Wolak, Kasey Choma and Alexandra McHugh lead the Irish in goals. Ahern led with four goals in the game.
Kelly Denes had an outstanding performance in the season opener only two draws short of her career high tallying 11 draw controls..
Lilly Callahan entered the national stage with a pivotal performance tallying nine saves. She earned her first career win in her first career start in the season opener.
THE Notre Dame – NORTHWESTERN Series
The Irish and Wildcats are meeting on Thursday for yet another top two matchup between the two..
In their last meeting, the Irish fell 17-16 in an intense midweek matchup.
Kasey Choma led the team with four goals, while Jackie Wolak tallied three.
In the last meeting, Hannah Dorney was a force on defense where she caused five turnovers.
IN THE POLLS
Notre Dame now sits at No. 14 in the ILWomen/IWLCA weekly poll after week one.
The Irish are also ranked No. 14 in the USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason rankings.
Five other ACC programs are currently ranked in the top-25 according to the IL Women/IWLCA Preseason Poll, including #1 North Carolina, #3 Boston College, #4 Syracuse, and #11 Duke, and #13 Virginia.
CALLAHAN IN THE CREASE
Lilly Callahan earned her first career win in her first career start while holding the San Diego State attack to just two goals .
She made a career-high nine saves in the contest.
The two goals Callahan allowed marked the lowest scoring output in SDSU program history, which dates back to the 2012 season.
The junior allowed the fewest goals of any ACC goalie that played an entire game over the last week and posted the best save percentage (.818) of any goalie that played at least a half of a game over the past week.
TEWAARATON WATCHLIST
Kasey Choma and Madison Ahern were each named to the initial watch list for the 2023 Tewaaraton Award, the Tewaaraton Foundation announced on February 10.
Choma has been named to the watch list for the third consecutive season and this is Ahern’s second consecutive watchlist.
BALANCED ATTACK
The Irish return 3 of the 4 top scorers from the 2022 season in Kasey Choma, Madison Ahern, Jackie Wolak.
The top scorers were assisted by Kelly Denes who won 100 draw controls and tallied 14 goals of her own.
After week one of the season, Ahern (4), Choma (3), Wolak (2) and McHugh (2) lead the Irish in goal scoring.
NOTRE DAME WBB
NOTRE DAME FACES HUGE HOME TEST AGAINST LOUISVILLE
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Kryptonite is the word that comes to mind.
On Thursday, No. 10 Notre Dame (20-4, 11-3) welcomes Louisville (19-8, 10-4) to South Bend to continue what started as a Big East rivalry and has carried over into the ACC. The Cardinals have beaten the Irish six consecutive times, including a demolition last year in Purcell. Notre Dame is determined to right that wrong.
“It’s an opportunity to bounce back from the two losses last year,” Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey said on Wednesday. “We both get up for this game. It’s a battle. They have a different lineup this year, but they always have a great inside and outside presence.”
Louisville is led by junior Hailey Van Lith. Like Irish star Olivia Miles, Van Lith also finds herself on several national late season watch lists. The 5-7 guard averages 19.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. But she’s hardly the only player in head coach Jeff Walz’s arsenal.
Forward Olivia Cochran leads the Cardinals in the rebounding category (7.0), and guard Mykasa Robinson is the assists leader (3.6). Louisville also boasts Chrislynn Carr, who was the ACC Player of the Week on Dec. 26. The options are nearly endless.
Luckily, Ivey has a multitude of weapons at her own disposal. In addition to Miles, the team’s leader in points, rebounds, assists and steals, both Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld have been relatively hot as of late. Four different players have been Notre Dame’s leading scorer over its last eight games.
While center Lauren Ebo remains day-to-day, forward Kylee Watson had what was likely her best game of the year on Sunday. The 6-4 forward led the team with 15 points and tied for the team lead with 7 boards. Both Watson and freshman Cassandre Prosper have shown flashes of shutdown defense in recent weeks, combining for 9 blocks over the last four games. Each one of them has posted a 3-block game in that span.
Thursday’s game will be televised nationally on ESPN and begins at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets can be purchased here. Notre Dame is 16-12 all-time against Louisville.
NOTRE DAME HOCKEY
IRISH NETMINDER NAMED MIKE RICHTER SEMIFINALIST
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – For the first time since 2017-18, an Irish goaltender has been recognized among the nation’s best with Ryan Bischel being named a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award, given annually to the top goalie in men’s NCAA Division I hockey, the Hockey Coaches Association announced Wednesday.
“This is well deserved recognition for Ryan,” head coach Jeff Jackson said of the honor. “I am extremely proud of him for his performance, on and off the ice, during his career at Notre Dame.”
The senior from Medina, Minnesota has earned the nod in net for all 32 Irish contests this season, posting a 14-14-3 record while leading the nation in saves with 1,015.
Last weekend Bischel became the first collegiate netminder to surpass 1,000 saves this season, registering save No. 1,000 partway through the third period to help force the overtime session in Notre Dame’s shootout victory over Ohio State. In his senior night game, Bischel recorded 50 saves through three periods and overtime, before casting aside seven shots in a nine-round shootout to secure the victory.
With a season save percentage of .930, Bischel currently ranks third nationally and leads all conference foes.
“This year he has taken his game to another level and has been the backbone of our team, giving us a chance to win every game,” Jackson concluded.
Two Irish goaltenders have previously been named semifinalists for the Mike Richter Award, including Cal Petersen (2017) and Cale Morris (2018 & 2019).
BALL STATE WBB
AGUSTSDOTTIR’S CAREER NIGHT LEADS WBB PAST OHIO
MUNCIE, Ind. – Graduate senior Thelma Dis Agustsdottir scored a career-high 34 points and tied the program’s single-game 3-point record with nine to help lift Ball State past Ohio Wednesday night in Worthen Arena.
The Cardinals’ (22-4, 12-1 MAC) 78-53 victory over the Bobcats (5-19, 3-10 MAC) allowed BSU to remain undefeated at home this season, improving to 13-0. In addition, thanks to an 85-81 Northern Illinois victory over Bowling Green, the Cardinals now hold sole possession of the top spot in the league standings.
Along with Agustsdottir’s career-high 34-points, which included a 9-for-13 effort from behind the arc, redshirt senior Anna Clephane scored 15 points and sophomore Madelyn Bischoff ended the night with 14.
The Cardinals found themselves in unfamiliar territory to start the contest as Ball State struggled offensively throughout the opening 10 minutes of the contest. Ohio would take a slight 12-11 edge over Ball State to end the first quarter of play.
It was a different story in the second quarter, as Ball State outscored Ohio 26-8 to take a 37-20 advantage into intermission. The Cardinals ability to come back after a not so successful first quarter was impressive to say the least. Not only did Ball State stay focused offensively, but also defensively held Ohio to only three field goals in the second frame.
After the break, Ball State remained in cruise control the remainder of the contest led by Agustsdottir who was on fire from behind the arc, taking sole possession of second all-time in program history in 3-pointers made with 301 for her career.
In the final quarter with 5:36 remaining, Agustsdottir tied the record for most 3-pointers in a contest with nine and now shares that honor with former Cardinal and current associate head coach Audrey Spencer.
Between Agustsdottir, Clephane and Bischoff the Cardinals were unstoppable offensively. You add that scoring combination along with the Cardinals intense defense and determination, that became too much for the Bobcats to handle.
With five games remaining in the regular season, Ball State has already locked up a spot at the 2023 Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio (March 8-11) at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The Ball State women’s basketball team continues MAC play at Northern Illinois Saturday at 2 pm ET in the Convocation Center.
BALL STATE BASEBALL
CARDINALS VOTED TO FINISH FIRST IN MAC PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL
CLEVELAND – The Mid-American Conference announced its annual Preseason Coaches’ Poll on Wednesday. The Ball State baseball team was voted to finish first in the regular season with five first-place votes.
Despite losing all three of its starting outfielders and ace pitcher from a season ago, Ball State picked up five first-place votes and are favorites to win the MAC according to the coaches in the conference. BSU also secured five votes to win the MAC Tournament.
The Cardinals will be led by defending Gold Glove winner, Ryan Peltier, and closer, Sam Klein. Both Peltier and Klein earned Preseason All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Klein was named to a Preseason All-America team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).
BSU will have most of its starting rotation return, including Trennor O’Donnell and Ty Johnson. Ryan Brown was named the No. 49 prospect in college baseball by D1 Baseball. The Cardinals were effective as a pitching staff, striking out 559 batters, and look to continue the success on the mound this season.
Ball State begins the 2023 campaign on the road against Charlotte for a four-game series. First pitch for Friday, Feb. 17, is scheduled for 4 p.m.
“It is always nice to receive recognition from your peers, but preseason polls don’t mean a whole lot outside of some respect earned from past success,” said Head Coach Rich Maloney. “We are excited to get the season started and attempt to become the best team we can be.”
2023 Baseball Preseason Poll (first place votes)
1. Ball State (5) – 115 points
2. Central Michigan (3) – 107 points
3. Kent State (1) – 96 points
4. Toledo (1) – 86 points
5. Miami (1) – 70 points
6. Ohio – 68 points
7. Western Michigan – 53 points
8. Eastern Michigan – 52 points
9. Bowling Green – 39 points
10. Northern Illinois – 27 points
11. Akron – 13 points
Tournament Champion: Ball State (5), Central Michigan (2), Kent State (1), Miami (1), Northern Illinois (1), Toledo (1)
INDIANA STATE MBB
SYCAMORES SUFFOCATE FLAMES ON THE ROAD FOR FOURTH SEASON SERIES SWEEP
CHICAGO, Ill. – The Sycamores went on the road Wednesday searching for their sixth straight win and fourth season series sweep, and they found that in a 79-60 win against UIC inside Credit Union 1 Arena for their first-ever win against the Flames in Chicago. Indiana State’s last five wins have all come by double digits.
Courvoisier McCauley led all scorers in the game with 26 points and five triples, with 21 of those points and four of those 3-pointers coming in the first half to help the Sycamores (19-9, 12-5 MVC) hold a 22-point lead over the Flames (10-18, 2-15 MVC) at the break.
Cameron Henry dished out six assists in the game, and with his second assist of the night, became the first Sycamore since 2019-20 to record 100 assists in a single season.
The two teams opened up in back-and-forth fashion, and with ISU trailing 8-7 with 14 minutes left in the first frame, Henry dished his 100th assist to McCauley who played through contact and completed the and-one to put the Sycamores up 10-8 and give the lead to ISU for the rest of the game.
McCauley pushed that lead to 17-10 with back-to-back buckets at 12:16, and the lead hit double figures with a Trenton Gibson and-one that made it 28-17 with 4:27 to go in the first.
The Sycamores went on a 13-0 run with the first 11 points coming from McCauley including three straight triples followed by a Robbie Avila layup to cap the run and give ISU a 41-19 lead with 1:32 remaining in the opening frame. Avila sent ISU into halftime with a 43-21 lead.
UIC went on an early 8-0 run in the second half to chip away at its deficit, but Henry swiped a pass and laid it in before later swiping another ball and connecting on a triple to make it 65-49 at 6:25. The Flames continued to claw their way back into the game, cutting their deficit to 10 points at 65-55 and force an ISU timeout with 4:43 to go.
Gibson came out of that timeout with a layup to get into double figures, and then Jayson Kent slammed home a pass from Henry to make it 69-55 with 3:53 to go. McCauley sparked a 10-0 run for the Sycamores with his fifth 3-pointer of the night, and the run was capped by a Masen Miller three to push the ISU lead back past 20 points at 79-58 with less than a minute to play. The Flames got a bucket back with 18 seconds left.
Inside the Numbers
The Sycamores committed 15 turnovers in the game after committing 19 combined in their previous three games. UIC scored 18 point off those turnovers.
ISU was led on the glass by Cooper Neese with eight rebounds out of the team’s 36 on the night.
The Sycamores put up 40 points in the paint and got 25 points out of the bench.
News & Notes
ISU now has 19 overall wins, 12 Valley wins, and seven road wins all for the first time since 2013-14.
Cameron Henry hit the 100 assists mark with his second assist of the night at 13:57 in the first half. He becomes the first Sycamore since Jordan Barnes in 2019-20 to record 100 assists in a single season. He finished with a team-high six assists, bringing his season total to 104. He also finished the night with a career-high five steals.
In front of his hometown fan club, Robbie Avila posted 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field to move into ninth place on ISU’s all-time list of points as a freshman, surpassing Tyreke Key and Jay Tunnell.
With a game-high 26 points, Courvoisier McCauley posted his second-straight 20+-point performance and third in his last four games. He is one of five total Valley players with nine or more 20+-point outings this season. He nailed five triples in the game for the seventh time this season and is now just five triples away from ranking second on ISU’s all-time list of 3-pointers in a single season.
Trenton Gibson led the charge off the bench with 14 points including shooting 4-of-4 from the free throw line alongside six rebounds and three assists.
With eight triples tonight, the Sycamores are just three 3-pointers away from tying the program record of 270 3-pointers in a single season for the second year in a row.
Up Next
The Sycamores return home to the Hulman Center Saturday, Feb. 18 to host Illinois State at 2 p.m. ET. Saturday will be ISU’s second Blackout Cancer game of the season. The first 2,500 fans will receive a pair of goggles resembling Robbie Avila courtesy of Labor Link. The first 3,500 fans will also receive a rally towel courtesy of Wright’s Pool Service.
INDIANA SWIMMING
200 MEDLEY RELAY RECORD FALLS TO HIGHLIGHT OPENING DAY OF 2023 MVC CHAMPIONSHIP
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Indiana State 200 Medley Relay team set a new school record to highlight the first day of the 2023 Missouri Valley Swimming & Diving Championship held at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center.
The Sycamores (100) sit tied with Southern Illinois (100) and Marshall (100) in the team standings through the first two events. Missouri State (128), Illinois State (112), and Northern Iowa (104) currently sit atop the standings following the 200 Medley Relay and the 800 Freestyle Relay.
The ISU quartet of Carmen Alard Vegas, Kaimi Matsumoto, Marni Gray, and Alexa Szadorski surpassed the Sycamores record in the 200 Medley Relay to open the championships. The group touched the wall in 1:41.29 to finish sixth overall in the field and surpassed the previous mark set earlier this season against Missouri State and Miami (Ohio) (1:41.98).
The second Indiana State quartet in the 200 Medley Relay finished eighth overall in the field with the ninth-fastest time in school history as Madie Rutan, Elle Gilkerson, Raine Boles, and Chloe Farro touched the wall in 1:43.16. The time put the Sycamores eighth overall in the field to round out ISU’s scorers in the event.
Indiana State closed out the first day by setting the third-fastest time in school history in the 800 Freestyle Relay. The quartet of Peyton Heagy, Marni Gray, Dorotea Bukvic, and Alexa Szadorski went 6.46 seconds under their entry time in touching the wall in 7:24.48 to finish fourth in the field.
The final ISU grouping in the 800 Freestyle Relay finished 10th overall in the field. Kalli Agapios, Esther Rydbeck Norden, Haley Halsall, and Rhiannon Wozny finished in 7:36.31 to round out the Sycamores in competition on Wednesday night.
Up Next
Indiana State is back in action on Day Two of the MVC Championship starting at 11:30 a.m. ET at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center. Wednesday morning’s events include the 500 Freestyle, 200 IM, 50 Freestyle, and 1M Diving prelims and consolation rounds.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE SB
MIAMI (OH) WINS MIDWEEK GAME AGAINST MASTODON SOFTBALL
OXFORD, Ohio – The Purdue Fort Wayne softball team fell to the Miami Redhawks on Wednesday evening (Feb. 15) 12-0 in non-league action.
Purdue Fort Wayne struggled to get offense going all evening. Miami on the other hand had two home runs in the first inning, one in the second and one in the fourth.
Gracie Brinkerhoff threw 3.0 innings and took the loss. She falls to 0-2. Brinkerhoff and Alanah Jones had three strikeouts each. Brianna Pratt got the win for Miami, tossing a no-hitter.
Bailey Manos and Brooke Wintlend each drew a walk.
Purdue Fort Wayne falls to 0-6. Miami improves to 3-2. The Mastodons will continue its road trip with the Bob Heck Classic at Georgia State this weekend (Feb. 17-19).
PURDUE FT. WAYNE WBB
WOMEN’S HOOPS PLAYS HOST TO WRIGHT STATE ON THURSDAY
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball will play Wright State on Thursday at 5 p.m. in the Gates Sports Center. It will be a doubleheader with the Mastodon men’s volleyball team, which plays No. 10 Ohio State at 8 p.m.
Game Day Information
Who: Wright State Raiders
When: Thursday, February 16 | 5 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Wright State | Horizon League
Know Your Foe
Wright State is 5-21 and 4-12 in Horizon League play. The Raiders take and make the most 3-pointers in the Horizon League and are top-10 in the country in both of those categories. They have won three of their last five games, with wins coming at Robert Morris and Milwaukee and at home against Northern Kentucky.
The Series
Wright State leads the all-time series 10-8, but Purdue Fort Wayne has won the last three, including a forfeit in 2021. The Mastodons won the last two on-court meeting by an average of 21 points. Ryin Ott and Shayla Sellers had 16 points each in the last meeting in January.
A Win Would…
• Tie the most league wins for the Mastodons since 2010-11
• Clinch at least the No. 8 seed for the Horizon League Championship
Defense (Clap, Clap) Defense
Purdue Fort Wayne has held its opponents to 64 points or fewer in 12 games this season. They are 9-3 in such games.
She’s Back!
After four games of four points or less, Amellia Bromenschenkel has averaged 13.3 points per game in the last nine games, with double-figures in all but one.
The Best Choice For Defensive Player of the Year
In Horizon League play, Shayla Sellers leads the league with 2.1 steals per game and is 11th in the league with 0.8 blocks per game. She is the only player in the league that is in the top 18 in both categories.
Checking In On The Standings
Through 16 Horizon League games played, the Mastodons are in sixth in the league standings. If the current standings were to hold, the Mastodons would host a first round tournament game on February 28 against the No. 11 seed. With a few wins, there is a chance that the Mastodons could move up to the No. 5 seed and earn a bye to the quarterfinal.
Thieves!
Purdue Fort Wayne is leading the Horizon League and is 65th in the country with 9.3 steals per game. The ‘Dons also force the 61st-most turnovers in the country at 18.46 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 2.0 steals per game, respectively.
Sellers Swiper
Shayla Sellers ranks in the top-150 in the country with 45 steals this season.
Block Party
Purdue Fort Wayne is second in the Horizon League and in the top-150 nationally with 3.3 blocks per game.
Linbo Limbo
Jazzlyn Linbo is second in the Horizon League and top-75 nationally with 34 blocks this season.
Chasing 1,000
There are three Mastodons that are nearing the 1,000-point mark in their careers: Sylare Starks (855), Shayla Sellers (844), Riley Ott (746).
Last Time Out
Shayla Sellers scored 21 points but (RV) Cleveland State took a 73-63 win over the Mastodons.
Coming Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will celebrate Senior Day when Northern Kentucky visits the Gates Sports Center on Saturday (Feb. 18). The Mastodons will honor players Shayla Sellers, Riley Ott and Sylare Starks, and manager Kendal Muxlow.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE MVB
MVB HOSTS NO. 10 OHIO STATE AND NO. 11 BALL STATE FOR HOMECOMING WEEKEND
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s volleyball team will continue MIVA action this weekend with No. 10 Ohio State and No. 11 Ball State coming to the Gates Sports Center on Thursday (Feb. 16) and Saturday (Feb. 18). Both matches will be doubleheaders with the Mastodon women’s basketball team.
Game Day Information (Thursday)
Who: No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes
When: Thursday, February 16 | 8 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Ohio State | MIVA
Game Day Information (Saturday)
Who: No. 11 Ball State Cardinals
When: Saturday, February 18 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Ball State | MIVA
Know Your Foes
• No. 10 Ohio State is 9-3 and is off to a 2-0 start to MIVA play. The Buckeyes are riding a three-match winning streak, which includes four-set wins over USC and McKendree and a three-setter over Lewis. The Buckeyes are led by Samuel Clark and Jacob Pasteur, who are both averaging over 3.50 kills per set. Clark and setter Noah Platfoot are the reigning MIVA Players of the Week.
• No. 11 Ball State is 6-4 this season and 1-1 in MIVA, coming off a 3-1 win over McKendree. The Cardinals lost to Lewis in five sets to start the conference season. The Cardinals are led by Tinaishe Ndavazocheva and Kaleb Jenness, who both are averaging over 3.00 kills per set. Jenness was the MIVA Player of the Year in 2022.
Series Histories
• Ohio State and Purdue Fort Wayne have played 119 times dating back to 1981, the first year of the Mastodons’ varsity program. Ohio State leads the series 79-40 and has won the last two. OSU’s longest win streak is 11 matches and the ‘Dons’ longest win streak is 10.
• Ball State leads the 112-match series 79-33, which also dates back to 1981. Ball State has won the last five meetings, including the MIVA championship match in 2022. The Mastodons won 12 straight games from 1991 to 1993.
Block Party
Purdue Fort Wayne is second in the MIVA and sixth in the country with 2.49 blocks per set. Bryce Walker (1.03), Mark Frazier (0.88) and Jon Diedrich (0.63) are all in the top-20 in the MIVA in blocks per set.
Bryce the Beast
Bryce Walker is second in the MIVA with a career hitting percentage of .348. The only player better than him is Parker Van Buren of Loyola Chicago at .350.
Zany Zach
Zach Solomon is the MIVA career leader with 0.40 aces per set
Yes, No (ah), Maybe
Noah Melendez is the active career leader in Division I/II with 699 digs in his five years. The next closest is McKendree’s Francisco Comas with 642.
Serrrrrrg
Sergio Carrillo has the second-most career assists among all Division I/II student-athletes with 2,833 in his five seasons. Cole Bogner of Penn State is the active leader with 3,378.
Mark It Down
After playing in just five matches in his freshman season, Mark Frazier is second on the team with 2.98 kills per set. He has reached double-figure kills seven times this season.
Chasing 1,000
Jon Diedrich is on pace to join the 1,000-kill club while at Purdue Fort Wayne. He has 883 kills and has averaged 3.44 kills per set in his career. If he continues this pace, he will hit the 1,000 mark in 34 sets.
Jaunty Jon
Jon Diedrich had a season-high 27 kills at George Mason on February 4. This was the most he had since his collegiate debut. It is also the third-most in the country in five-set matches this season.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne went 2-1 last week, picking up 3-0 wins at Maryville and Quincy but fell to Lindenwood in five sets.
Coming Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will play a pair of MIVA contests at McKendree on Wednesday (Feb. 22) and against Lewis at home on Saturday (Feb. 24).
EVANSVILLE SWIMMING
RELAYS HAVE STRONG SHOWING ON FIRST DAY AT MVC SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Evansville women’s swimming team’s relay squads had strong showings in the 200-Yard Medley Relay and 800-Yard Freestyle Relay on Wednesday in the first day of action at the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships in Iowa City, Iowa.
UE’s 200 Medley Relay squad of junior Iryna Tsesiul (Minsk, Belarus), senior Sage Moore (Lexington, Ohio/Lexington), sophomore Sveva Brugnoli (Rome, Italy) and senior Allison McDonald (Cape Girardeau, Mo./Central) won their heat with a time of 1:43.70. The time was just over a second off of the UE school record of 1:42.62 set at last year’s Valley Championships.
In the 800 Free Relay, the quartet of seniors Sarah Jahns (Lilburn, Ga./Parkview), Maya Cunningham (Yakima, Wash./Eisenhower) and Sonsoles Aguayo (Jerez, Spain) and sophomore Mari Müller (Zurich, Switzerland) teamed up to post a time of 7:38.14, which was over 15 seconds faster than UE’s seed time for the meet. The 15.34 second improvement by UE was the largest of any of the 800 Free Relay teams at the Valley Championships.
“Overall, I thought it was a good start to the conference championships,” said UE head coach Stuart Wilson. “We had some people post some good splits, and it was good to be able to get back to racing after a month of training. There were a lot of positives to take from tonight into the rest of the conference meet.”
The MVC Championships will continue on Thursday with preliminary swims in the 500-Yard Freestyle, the 200 IM, the 50-Yard Freestyle, and the one-meter diving competition taking place beginning at 10:30 a.m. central time. Event finals for all of those events, as well as the 200-Yard Freestyle Relay competition will take place on Thursday night beginning at 6 p.m. Fans can watch the action live at www.youtube.com/@UNIAthleticsPanthers/streams, while also following along on the Meet Mobile App for live results.
EVANSVILLE MBB
ACES DROP ROAD CONTEST TO BRUINS
NASHVILLE – Belmont scored the first six points of the game and would pull away to defeat the University of Evansville men’s basketball team by a final score of 95-63 on Wednesday night inside Curb Event Center.
Marvin Coleman II led the Purple Aces with 15 points. He was 6-for-16 from the field and recorded five rebounds and four assists. Continuing his hot shooting from outside, Gage Bobe was 4-of-6 on his way to 14 points. Preston Phillips added a career-high 11 points to go with seven boards. Five Bruins reached double figures led by Ben Sheppard’s 16 tallies.
Hitting their first two outside attempts, the Bruins took a 6-0 lead before recording the first nine points of the game. After opening the game 0-for-5 from the field with a turnover, Marvin Coleman II got the Aces on the board with a turnaround jumper.
Belmont took its first double digit lead at 14-3 with Gage Bobe countering with the first triple for UE to cut the gap back to eight. Five of the first nine outside tries found the bottom of the net as the lead grew to 20-8. With 6:18 remaining in the half, a free throw solidified a 33-15 advantage for the Bruins.
Over the next two minutes, Evansville made its move, scoring nine in a row. Antoine Smith Jr. connected on two free throws with the defense taking over on the next two possessions. Coleman and Yacine Toumi both turned a turnover into a made basket to get within 12. Smith completed the run with three free throws to get his squad within nine points (33-24) with 4:19 remaining in the half.
Finishing the period on a 13-4 run, the Bruins reestablished their 18-point lead as the game entered the break. Down the stretch, Belmont drained its final five attempts while Evansville missed its last six to make it a 46-28 score.
Evansville’s shooting woes continued in the second half with the Aces missing their first seven attempts with Belmont tacking five more points to their lead. Kenny Strawbridge Jr. converted a 3-point play to temporarily halt the stretch before Belmont continued to add to the lead. Their advantage reached 76-40 with 9:08 left in the game with Evansville closing to within 29 inside of the 7-minute mark.
Things fluctuated from there with Belmont taking the contest by a final score of 95-63. The Bruins shot 56.9% while UE completed the game at 31.4%.
With the season entering its final weeks, UE remains on the road at Murray State on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. contest.
SOUTHERN INDIANA WBB
EAGLES MAKE ROAD SWING TO LITTLE ROCK AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball heads back on the road this week for a pair of Ohio Valley Conference contests at the University of Arkansas Little Rock on Thursday at 5 p.m. and Southeast Missouri State University on Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Screaming Eagles (11-14, 5-9) enter the week in a tie for seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference standings. USI is coming off a split week, falling 79-59 at Tennessee Tech University last Thursday before rolling to a 66-43 home win against Lindenwood University last Saturday.
In the win against Lindenwood, USI set an early tone defensively, taking the Lions out of their comfort zone. Plus, USI dominated the interior in scoring and on the glass. Southern Indiana outrebounded Lindenwood 43-28, including 15-5 on the offensive glass, leading to 26 second-chance points. USI also outscored Lindenwood 19-9 off turnovers and 40-22 in the paint. USI had strong second and third quarters to pull away from Lindenwood, leading to the win in USI’s Play4Kay and Senior Day game.
Senior forward Hannah Haithcock (Washington Courthouse, Ohio) led USI on the night with 19 points and nine rebounds. The senior forward moved into 12th all-time in USI scoring history, passing assistant coach Emma DeHart. Junior forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana) was second in scoring on the night for USI, posting 15 points with eight boards. Sophomore guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana) scored 13 points, including three made triples. Graduate forward Ashlynn Brown (Perrysburg, Ohio) tallied 10 points with seven rebounds. Brown played in her 121st career game at USI on Saturday, which is second all-time in USI history behind DeHart’s 126 games played.
Raley leads the team with 21 games scoring 10 or more and has been playing well in the last seven games. The junior forward is averaging 15.4 points in the last seven games played dating back to January 21. Raley’s teammates in Haithcock and Shafford have been trying to keep up with her in double-digit games, as each has scored 10 or more in 19 games. Although, Haithcock leads the squad in games scoring 15 or more, having done so 13 times. Haithcock has scored 14 or more points in 14 of the last 18 games for USI. During the current 18-game stretch, Haithcock is averaging 15.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, featuring clutch, second-half performances from the senior forward.
On the season, Haithcock leads USI with 15.0 points per game and is second in rebounds with 6.3 boards per game. Raley is second at 13.6 points per contest, while Shafford is averaging 12.8 points and team-best 7.1 rebounds per outing.
Both contests this week will be the second meeting of the regular season. Little Rock edged USI, 47-44, back on January 12 in Evansville. USI opened the OVC season with a 68-54 home win against SEMO on December 29.
Little Rock has a 16-9 overall record and a 13-1 mark in OVC play. Little Rock has won eight straight contests and sits in a tie for first place in the OVC standings. Last Saturday, Little Rock captured a 53-49 road win against the University of Tennessee at Martin. Saturday was the 14th game this season that Little Rock held an opponent to below 50 points. Little Rock is first in the OVC and among the top-10 in the nation in scoring defense.
Redshirt junior forward Sali Kourouma leads Little Rock in scoring at 16.6 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per contest. The Trojans have three other players averaging eight or more points.
Southeast Missouri is 11-14 this season with a 6-8 record in conference action. The Redhawks appear to be back on track after two straight wins. Last time out, SEMO picked up a 69-55 home win against Morehead State University.
Sophomore forward Kennedi Watkins paces the Redhawks at 9.2 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per contest this season. In conference-only games, sophomore guard Jaliyah Green has led SEMO with over 11 points per outing.
Thursday’s matchup can be seen live with a subscription to ESPN+, while Saturday’s game will be shown on ESPN3. Both contests can be heard on 95.7 FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com).
Purchase All-Session Passes to the OVC Tournament, Support USI Athletics
The Ohio Valley Conference Tournament will be held at the Ford Center in Downtown Evansville March 1 through March 4. USI Athletics is offering a special discount on All-Session Ticket Books through February 24.
Purchase a Ticket Book through USI Athletics and attend ALL EIGHT SESSIONS for ONLY $60 (adult single session tickets are $30 & $20 for men’s sessions and $15 for women’s sessions + fees). This special offer allows you to avoid ticket fees AND $30 from each ticket book sold comes back to support USI student athletes. Ticket books purchased through USI Athletics will be available for pickup on campus prior to the first session at the Ford Center on March 1 and specific details on pickup will accompany your purchase confirmation.
Plan to purchase your All-Session OVC Tournament Tickets through the University of Southern Indiana Athletics Office (Link) to show your support for Screaming Eagles Basketball!
SOUTHERN INDIANA MBB
EAGLES HIT THE ROAD FOR IMPORTANT OVC TRIP
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball hits the road for an important Ohio Valley Conference road trip this week when it visits the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Thursday and Southeast Missouri State University Saturday. Tipoff at Little Rock Thursday is set for 7:30 p.m., while the start time at SEMO is slated for 4 p.m.
The Screaming Eagles (14-13, 7-7 OVC) begins this week in sole possession of seventh in the OVC standings, but one game out of the five-way tie for second in the league. USI also has a two-game lead on eighth place Eastern Illinois University and a three-game lead on Lindenwood University and Little Rock, which are tied for ninth.
The Eagles hope the momentum generated by their Senior Night victory over Lindenwood will carry over to the road trip. The 74-64 victory over Lindenwood broke a four-game losing streak that had been reached following the 84-69 loss on the road to Tennessee Tech University.
Senior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) led the way last week with 18.5 points and 11.5 rebounds.
For the season, sophomore guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana) and senior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) lead the way in the USI scoring column with 14.2 points per game each. Polakovich is averaging 12.4 points per outing along with grabbing a team-best and OVC-best 12.7 rebounds per game.
The Trojans of Little Rock (8-19, 4-10 OVC) earned a split last week in the OVC, defeating Morehead State University, 72-68, at home and falling to the University of Tennessee at Martin, 84-61. Little Rock has lost three of its last four games.
Senior guard Myron Gardner leads four Trojans in double-figures with 13.3 points per game. He also is grabbing a team-high 9.2 rebounds per game.
USI won the first meeting of the series with Little Rock and in OVC play with a 74-67 victory at Screaming Eagles Arena. The Eagles were led by graduate forward Trevor Lakes (Lebanon, Indiana) with 22 points, while Polakovich had a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
The SEMO Redhawks (13-14, 8-6 OVC) welcome the Eagles to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, for the first time since the 1990 NCAA Division II Central Regional. SEMO was swept last week, falling to Tennessee State University, 86-65, and Morehead State University, 65-59. The Redhawks, who host Eastern Illinois Thursday, also have lost three-straight games.
USI broke a two-game losing skid to SEMO with an 86-81 victory in the OVC opener in December. Polakovich was dominating in the first meeting with 27 points and 26 rebounds.
VALPO SWIMMING
BEACONS POST PAIR OF STRONG RELAY SWIMS TO OPEN MVC CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Valpo women’s swimming team had both of its relay squads crack the program’s record books Wednesday evening as the Beacons kicked off action at the 2023 MVC Championships in Iowa City, Iowa.
How It Happened
The meet opened with the 200 medley relay, and Valpo’s quartet of senior Sophie Morelock (Milan, Mich./Milan), sophomore Sara Strauss (Spring Lake, Mich./Spring Lake), sophomore Bridget Pollard (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) and freshman Madi Boor (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) came home in 1:49.19 to move into ninth place in program history in the event.
Morelock’s opening-leg time of 28.03 over the 50 back was the team’s fastest 50 back time of the season.
In the 800 free relay, freshman Emma Schmidt (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley), Pollard, freshman Caroline Gorski (Melrose Park, Ill./Leyden) and sophomore Haley Hume (Ballwin, Mo./Marquette) posted the ninth-fastest time in program history, touching the wall in 7:55.43.
Schmidt covered the opening 200 free in 1:56.72, allowing her to move into 10th in program history in the 200 free.
Valpo compiled 68 points on the first of four days of competition, finishing the day in 10th
Next Up
The meet continues on Thursday, with prelim action starting at 10:30 a.m. and event finals beginning at 6 p.m.
VALPO WBB
BEACONS RETURN TO ROAD FRIDAY AT INDIANA STATE
Valparaiso (4-19, 2-12 MVC)
Game #24 – Feb. 17, 2023 – 5 p.m. CT
at Indiana State (10-13, 5-9 MVC)
Hulman Center (9,000) – Terre Haute, Ind.
Next Up in Valpo Basketball: After having played just one road game in a span of 22 days, the Valpo women’s basketball team will play four road games in a nine-day stretch, starting on Friday evening as the Beacons begin the swing downstate in Terre Haute, taking on Indiana State.
Previously: Valpo hosted its annual Play4Kay game Sunday afternoon at the ARC, with visiting UNI earning an 83-60 victory. Freshman Ali Saunders delivered the best shooting performance by a Valpo player in nearly two decades in the losing effort.
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 52-87. 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: Indiana State leads the all-time series with Valpo, 10-6. The Beacons had won four of the last five in the series entering this season, but it was the Sycamores who emerged victorious at the ARC in the season’s first meeting, 66-58. Valpo held a 54-49 lead with 5:20 to play in that matchup before ISU ended the game on a 17-4 run. Four of Valpo’s five starters scored in double figures, led by 17 points from Olivia Brown.
@ValpoWBB…
…and @ValleyHoops
– Valpo was picked to finish in 10th place in the MVC preseason poll, totaling 197 points, just 10 points behind Evansville.
– Valpo is in its sixth season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
– The Valley was ranked 10th in conference NET last year, was ranked seventh nationally in conference NET in 2020-21 and was eighth nationally in conference RPI in 2019-20.
…looking back at last year
– Valpo finished last year with an 11-19 overall record, but was strong in MVC play, going 9-9 in conference and finishing in sixth place – both of which match the program’s best since joining the Valley.
– The Beacons registered the first win at Drake and the first win at Bradley in program history.
– Valpo swept the season series over Drake, the program’s first two wins ever against the Bulldogs.
– The Beacons also tallied four top-100 wins within Valley play.
– Grace White was named MVC Sixth Player of the Year – the program’s first major postseason award since joining the Valley. Shay Frederick was a First Team All-MVC choice, while White was an All-Defensive Team selection and Olivia Brown earned a spot on the All-Newcomer Team.
@IndStWBB
– Indiana State enters Friday with a 10-13 overall record this year and is currently 5-9 in MVC play.
– The Sycamores have lost three of their last four, including an 81-69 setback at Belmont last time out.
– Three ISU starters average in double figures, led by 13.6 points/game from Del’Janae Williams. Chelsea Cain posts 11.8 points and a team-high 5.6 rebounds per game, while Anna McKendree records 10.0 points and 3.3 assists per game.
On the Road Again
– After a lengthy home stretch, the Beacons return to the road the next two weekends.
– Valpo is coming off a stretch where it played five out of six games at the ARC, spending just one night on the road in a span of 21 days.
– The script flips now, as Valpo plays four games in a nine-day stretch away from home.
– Outside of the COVID-affected 2020-21 campaign, it is the first time Valpo has played four conference games in a row away from home since the program’s first season in the North Star Conference in 1987-88. Those road games (Notre Dame, Dayton, Marquette, DePaul) were interspersed among nonconference games over a span of 36 days, however.
U OF I MENS TENNIS
HOUNDS RALLY TO COMEBACK WIN IN TOP-10 SHOWDOWN
INDIANAPOLIS – At home in the UIndy Tennis Center, the No. 7-ranked UIndy Greyhounds, powered through excellent singles action, defeated the No. 9 Hawaii Pacific Sharks. The ranked win leads well into the ITA DII Team Indoor Championships, which kick off this Friday in the UIndy Tennis Center.
INS & OUTS
Doubles action could not have been more exciting for the packed UIndy Tennis Center. The No. 1-ranked dynamic duo of Tom Zeuch and Edgar Destouet got the job done to start the battle.
No. 2 singles, featuring Erwan Momo Andre and Louis Picaud was the first of two endurance battles between the Greyhounds and the Sharks. The Sharks pair jumped out early to a 5-1 lead, but the Picaud and Momo Andre refused to let them go without a fight, scoring four straight to even it up a 5-apiece. Eventually the match would enter tiebreak where the Sharks, off the back of a quick 3-0 start, would grab the second match of doubles.
Tiebreak was once again in effect for No. 3 doubles with Nikolaj Talimaa and Jason Gerweck keeping a close battle. It was tied six times before tiebreak, in which both teams continued their back-and-forth affair, eventually being knotted up 8-8. The Sharks, much to the dismay of the packed bubble, found what they needed to overcome Talimaa and Gerweck to secure the doubles point.
Down a point, the Hounds, with furious yells of “Lets go Hounds,” looked to storm back into the contest. However, the Sharks went ahead and threw another punch, grabbing the point at No. 5 singles. Talimaa went on to avenge that point and make it 2-1 with a 6-2, 6-4 victory. Destouet, despite looking overpowered in the first set, losing 6-2, expressed utter dominance in sets two and three, going 6-2 and a furious 6-0 to make the comeback and to tie it at 2-2.
Just minutes later Picaud fought off a second set rush by his Shark adversary, making it out with a 6-2, 6-4 straight sets win. Just like that a match that seemed to be running away from the Hounds, turned into a momentum storm for the highly-ranked Hounds. August Ehrnrooth was the final nail in the coffin, winning 6-2, 7-6.
U OF I MBB
MEN’S BASKETBALL APPEARS IN INITIAL NCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS
INDIANAPOLIS—The season’s first set of NCAA Division II Regional Rankings dropped on Wednesday, with the UIndy men’s basketball team listed among those receiving postseason consideration. The Greyhounds were one of 10 Midwest Region team’s on the initial list.
This year, the first regional rankings included teams in alphabetical order only, with actual rankings set to be included in next week’s release. Selection Sunday comes on March 5 when the 64-team NCAA DII Championship field – eight from each region – will be announced on NCAA.com.
MIDWEST REGION CONTENDERS
TEAM vs. DII IN-REGION
Ashland 14-7 14-7
Cedarville 14-7 14-7
Ferris St. 16-6 15-6
Hillsdale 21-3 19-3
Ill. Springfield 12-9 11-9
Missouri-St. Louis 17-7 15-7
Southwest Baptist 12-7 12-7
UIndy 20-2 20-2
Walsh 14-8 14-8
Wis.-Parkside16-6 15-5
U OF I WBB
WOMEN’S HOOPS WELCOMES #2 DRURY, SOUTHWEST BAPTIST TO NICOSON HALL THIS WEEK
Thursday, Feb. 16, 5:30 p.m.
vs. #2 Drury Panthers
Watch | Live Stats | Listen
Saturday, Feb. 18, 1 p.m.
vs. Southwest Baptist Bearcats
Watch | Live Stats | Listen
INDIANAPOLIS – Winners of seven out of the last nine games, the University of Indianapolis women’s basketball team is set for some more home conference action this week at Nicoson Hall. The squad will welcome No. 2 Drury on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. ET and then Southwest Baptist on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
Entering Thursday, the Hounds will be riding a 14-10 overall record (10-6 GLVC) while Drury boasts a nearly perfect 23-1 mark (16-0 GLVC). Southwest Baptist will battle Lewis on Thursday at 12-12 overall (6-10 GLVC).
Earlier this season on Jan. 7, Drury took down the Greyhounds by a final of 93-74 at the O’Reilly Family Event Center in Springfield, Mo. This will be the first meeting of the season for the Hounds against Southwest Baptist.
UIndy is led in scoring this season by Sadie Hill who averages 14 points per game to go along with a 7.3 rebounds per game average. Along with Hill, a total of six Greyhound players average five PPG or more. The Hounds have used the fact they are one of the top free throw shooting teams in the conference to their advantage.
U OF I MBB
#6 MEN’S BASKETBALL SET FOR FINAL GLVC HOME SLATE
Thursday, Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m.
vs. Drury Panthers
Watch | Live Stats | Listen
Saturday, Feb. 18, 3 p.m.
vs. Southwest Baptist Bearcats
Watch | Live Stats | Listen
With just four games remaining in the regular season, the No. 6-ranked UIndy men’s basketball team is preparing to host Drury and Southwest Baptist this week at Nicoson Hall in some GLVC action.
Drury will enter Thursday with a record of 8-16 (4-12 GLVC). The Hounds and Panthers will tipoff at 7:30 p.m. ET. As for Southwest Baptist, the Bearcats hold a 17-7 overall record with a 9-7 mark in GLVC play ahead of their game on Thursday at Lewis. The Greyhounds and Bearcats will tipoff at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Earlier this season, the Greyhounds took down Drury by a final of 89-76 in Springfield, Mo. This will be the first meeting of the season for UIndy against Southwest Baptist. The Hounds currently hold a winning streak of 16 games.
MARIAN WBB
COLLIER MOVES TO 4TH ALL-TIME AS MARIAN RUNS AWAY WITH 85-48 WIN OVER TAYLOR
INDIANAPOLIS – Playing in front of a home crowd, No. 6 Marian women’s basketball got back on track Wednesday night by cruising to an 85-48 win over Taylor. The win snaps a two-game skid for the Knights as they improve to 24-4 overall and 15-3 in Crossroads League play.
Marian was the first to score as Jayla Wehner knocked down the midrange jumper before Abbey McNally and Ella Collier scored next to have a 6-0 run to start the game. Wehner and McNally got the hot start going for Marian as the two combined for 14 of the team’s first 16 points to help give the Knights the 16-6 lead with 1:48 to go in the first quarter. The Knights got another bucket from Kinnidy Garrard before the Taylor ended with a three at the buzzer to trail Marian 18-10 after one quarter of play.
The Knights continued their efficient start by extending their lead to 14 after a pair of free throws by Tamia Perryman. Taylor ended the run with back-to-back buckets from Taylor Westgate before a few minutes later cutting the lead down to single digits at 27-18 with 4:29 to play in the second quarter. A triple by Collier and a fastbreak layup by Perryman put Marian back up by 13. The Trojans continued their fight but the Marian offense could not be stopped as the first half ended with Wehner canning the trey with 29 seconds left to take the 41-22 lead into the break.
Not only was the Marian offense functioning on all cylinders, but the defense by the Knights posed a problem for Taylor. The guests only scored six points in the third quarter while Marian erupted for 24 points. Taylor scored the first basket of the quarter, but then Marian took over at the 6:36 mark when Collier swished in the jumper to spark a 12-0 run over the next two and half minutes to grow their lead to 59-26. The Trojans put a stop to the run with a jumper in the lane before Allison Bosse came up with the steal, leading to her getting fouled and sent to the line. Bosse would hit the pair of free throws to end quarter three ahead 65-28.
Marian saw their largest lead at 71-34 with Kenna Gray hitting the layup at the 8:03 mark. Taylor put together an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 29 points, but once again it was Gray draining the three-pointer with 23 seconds left to extend the lead to 85-47. The Trojans put together one more point in the final 18 seconds, but Marian the 56.4% from the field and 50% from three-point land proved to be too much to stop.
Three Knights scored in double digits with Collier leading with 18, while Wehner added 16 going 7-9 from the floor and 2-2 from three. McNally notched the double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Perryman and Kenna Kirby came off the bench to score eight and seven points, respectively, while Garrard had six points and a team-high four assists.
Marian will be return to action on Tuesday when they host for the Crossroads League Quarterfinals at 7 PM.
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 | ||||||||||||
| Atlantic Division | ||||||||||||
| W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Last 10 | Streak | |||
| Boston | 42 | 17 | .712 | — | 24-7 | 18-10 | 8-1 | 25-12 | 7-3 | 1 W | ||
| Philadelphia | 38 | 19 | .667 | 3.0 | 23-8 | 15-11 | 7-5 | 22-13 | 7-3 | 4 W | ||
| Brooklyn | 34 | 24 | .586 | 7.5 | 18-11 | 16-13 | 6-7 | 24-13 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| New York | 33 | 27 | .550 | 9.5 | 16-15 | 17-12 | 5-8 | 23-16 | 6-4 | 3 W | ||
| Toronto | 28 | 31 | .475 | 14.0 | 18-13 | 10-18 | 4-9 | 17-19 | 6-4 | 2 W | ||
| Central Divison | ||||||||||||
| W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Last 10 | Streak | |||
| Milwaukee | 40 | 17 | .702 | — | 24-5 | 16-12 | 7-4 | 22-13 | 10-0 | 11 W | ||
| Cleveland | 38 | 23 | .623 | 4.0 | 25-6 | 13-17 | 11-3 | 22-11 | 8-2 | 1 L | ||
| Chicago | 26 | 32 | .448 | 14.5 | 16-12 | 10-20 | 5-6 | 20-19 | 4-6 | 5 L | ||
| Indiana | 26 | 34 | .433 | 15.5 | 18-14 | 8-20 | 4-5 | 18-17 | 2-8 | 1 W | ||
| Detroit | 15 | 44 | .254 | 26.0 | 8-21 | 7-23 | 0-9 | 6-27 | 3-7 | 2 L | ||
| Southeast Division | ||||||||||||
| W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Last 10 | Streak | |||
| Miami | 32 | 27 | .542 | — | 19-10 | 13-17 | 7-3 | 15-17 | 5-5 | 2 L | ||
| Atlanta | 29 | 30 | .492 | 3.0 | 15-12 | 14-18 | 5-5 | 17-19 | 4-6 | 2 L | ||
| Washington | 27 | 30 | .474 | 4.0 | 14-12 | 13-18 | 6-3 | 15-17 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| Orlando | 24 | 35 | .407 | 8.0 | 14-15 | 10-20 | 3-8 | 12-25 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| Charlotte | 17 | 43 | .283 | 15.5 | 9-18 | 8-25 | 6-8 | 9-29 | 3-7 | 2 W | ||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||
| Northwest Division | ||||||||||||
| W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Last 10 | Streak | |||
| Denver | 41 | 18 | .695 | — | 27-4 | 14-14 | 10-5 | 29-11 | 7-3 | 3 W | ||
| Minnesota | 31 | 29 | .517 | 10.5 | 20-12 | 11-17 | 8-7 | 22-19 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| Oklahoma City | 28 | 29 | .491 | 12.0 | 17-12 | 11-17 | 5-6 | 15-17 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| Utah | 29 | 31 | .483 | 12.5 | 18-12 | 11-19 | 4-6 | 19-18 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| Portland | 28 | 30 | .483 | 12.5 | 16-14 | 12-16 | 5-8 | 20-16 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| Pacific Division | ||||||||||||
| W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Last 10 | Streak | |||
| Sacramento | 32 | 25 | .561 | — | 17-12 | 15-13 | 5-6 | 20-13 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| Phoenix | 32 | 27 | .542 | 1.0 | 20-9 | 12-18 | 9-0 | 21-14 | 7-3 | 2 W | ||
| LA Clippers | 32 | 28 | .533 | 1.5 | 15-13 | 17-15 | 5-4 | 18-16 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| Golden State | 29 | 29 | .500 | 3.5 | 22-7 | 7-22 | 4-6 | 17-14 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| LA Lakers | 27 | 32 | .458 | 6.0 | 14-14 | 13-18 | 2-9 | 14-20 | 4-6 | 1 W | ||
| Southwest Division | ||||||||||||
| W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Last 10 | Streak | |||
| Memphis | 35 | 22 | .614 | — | 24-5 | 11-17 | 6-2 | 17-16 | 4-6 | 1 W | ||
| Dallas | 31 | 29 | .517 | 5.5 | 19-10 | 12-19 | 7-2 | 23-16 | 5-5 | 3 L | ||
| New Orleans | 30 | 29 | .508 | 6.0 | 20-10 | 10-19 | 7-4 | 19-15 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| San Antonio | 14 | 45 | .237 | 22.0 | 9-21 | 5-24 | 2-7 | 5-30 | 0-10 | 14 L | ||
| Houston | 13 | 45 | .224 | 22.5 | 8-20 | 5-25 | 1-8 | 7-31 | 2-8 | 7 L |
NHL STANDINGS
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | ROW | GF | GA | Home | Road | L10 | ||
| 1 Boston Bruins | 53 | 40 | 8 | 5 | 85 | 38 | 196 | 115 | 22-2-3 | 18-6-2 | 6-3-1 | |
| 2 Carolina Hurricanes | 53 | 35 | 10 | 8 | 78 | 32 | 178 | 144 | 17-6-2 | 18-4-6 | 8-1-1 | |
| 3 New Jersey Devils | 53 | 35 | 13 | 5 | 75 | 34 | 184 | 141 | 15-10-2 | 20-3-3 | 7-1-2 | |
| 4 Toronto Maple Leafs | 55 | 33 | 14 | 8 | 74 | 33 | 186 | 147 | 21-6-4 | 12-8-4 | 6-3-1 | |
| 5 Tampa Bay Lightning | 54 | 35 | 16 | 3 | 73 | 33 | 191 | 157 | 21-4-2 | 14-12-1 | 6-2-2 | |
| 6 New York Rangers | 54 | 32 | 14 | 8 | 72 | 30 | 184 | 145 | 16-9-4 | 16-5-4 | 8-1-1 | |
| 7 Pittsburgh Penguins | 53 | 27 | 17 | 9 | 63 | 26 | 172 | 164 | 15-6-4 | 12-11-5 | 5-2-3 | |
| 8 Washington Capitals | 56 | 28 | 22 | 6 | 62 | 27 | 171 | 160 | 14-10-3 | 14-12-3 | 4-6-0 | |
| 9 New York Islanders | 57 | 27 | 23 | 7 | 61 | 27 | 164 | 158 | 16-10-3 | 11-13-4 | 4-4-2 | |
| 10 Florida Panthers | 57 | 27 | 24 | 6 | 60 | 25 | 196 | 197 | 15-8-3 | 12-16-3 | 5-4-1 | |
| 11 Buffalo Sabres | 53 | 27 | 22 | 4 | 58 | 26 | 197 | 185 | 11-14-2 | 16-8-2 | 6-3-1 | |
| 12 Detroit Red Wings | 53 | 25 | 20 | 8 | 58 | 23 | 165 | 173 | 14-11-3 | 11-9-5 | 7-3-0 | |
| 13 Ottawa Senators | 53 | 26 | 24 | 3 | 55 | 24 | 161 | 170 | 15-12-1 | 11-12-2 | 7-3-0 | |
| 14 Philadelphia Flyers | 55 | 22 | 23 | 10 | 54 | 21 | 149 | 171 | 11-14-3 | 11-9-7 | 3-4-3 | |
| 15 Montreal Canadiens | 54 | 23 | 27 | 4 | 50 | 19 | 148 | 194 | 14-14-1 | 9-13-3 | 5-4-1 | |
| 16 Columbus Blue Jackets | 54 | 16 | 34 | 4 | 36 | 15 | 137 | 207 | 11-17-2 | 5-17-2 | 3-5-2 | |
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | ROW | GF | GA | Home | Road | L10 | ||
| 1 Dallas Stars | 55 | 30 | 14 | 11 | 71 | 28 | 183 | 142 | 15-6-7 | 15-8-4 | 4-2-4 | |
| 2 Vegas Golden Knights | 54 | 32 | 18 | 4 | 68 | 29 | 177 | 152 | 15-13-0 | 17-5-4 | 4-4-2 | |
| 3 Winnipeg Jets | 54 | 34 | 19 | 1 | 69 | 33 | 173 | 140 | 20-8-0 | 14-11-1 | 5-5-0 | |
| 4 Los Angeles Kings | 55 | 30 | 18 | 7 | 67 | 26 | 184 | 185 | 16-9-2 | 14-9-5 | 5-4-1 | |
| 5 Seattle Kraken | 54 | 30 | 18 | 6 | 66 | 30 | 187 | 170 | 13-10-3 | 17-8-3 | 4-4-2 | |
| 6 Colorado Avalanche | 53 | 29 | 19 | 5 | 63 | 25 | 163 | 149 | 13-9-4 | 16-10-1 | 6-2-2 | |
| 7 Edmonton Oilers | 55 | 30 | 19 | 6 | 66 | 30 | 205 | 180 | 13-11-4 | 17-8-2 | 6-1-3 | |
| 8 Calgary Flames | 54 | 25 | 18 | 11 | 61 | 24 | 172 | 165 | 14-9-2 | 11-9-9 | 4-4-2 | |
| 9 Minnesota Wild | 54 | 28 | 21 | 5 | 61 | 23 | 161 | 157 | 16-10-2 | 12-11-3 | 3-6-1 | |
| 10 Nashville Predators | 51 | 25 | 20 | 6 | 56 | 23 | 142 | 151 | 14-9-3 | 11-11-3 | 6-4-0 | |
| 11 St. Louis Blues | 53 | 25 | 25 | 3 | 53 | 22 | 168 | 192 | 12-12-2 | 13-13-1 | 4-6-0 | |
| 12 Arizona Coyotes | 55 | 19 | 28 | 8 | 46 | 16 | 147 | 191 | 12-8-2 | 7-20-6 | 5-2-3 | |
| 13 Vancouver Canucks | 55 | 21 | 30 | 4 | 46 | 18 | 185 | 224 | 10-15-1 | 11-15-3 | 3-6-1 | |
| 14 San Jose Sharks | 55 | 17 | 27 | 11 | 45 | 16 | 167 | 207 | 5-13-7 | 12-14-4 | 4-4-2 | |
| 15 Anaheim Ducks | 55 | 17 | 32 | 6 | 40 | 14 | 138 | 230 | 9-15-1 | 8-17-5 | 5-4-1 | |
| 16 Chicago Blackhawks | 53 | 16 | 32 | 5 | 37 | 16 | 127 | 195 | 10-16-3 | 6-16-2 | 3-6-1 |
FOOTBALL HISTORY
February 16, 1999 – O.J. Simpson’s 1968 Heisman Trophy is sold for $230,000 to help settle a $33.5 million civil judgement against Simpson for the deaths of his ex-wife and her friend per the OnThisDay.com website.
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAY FOR FEBRUARY 16
February 16, 1931 – West Natrona, Pennsylvania – The University of Maryland’s great Tackle Dick “Lil Mo” Modzelewski was born. Dick was one of three brothers that had collegiate careers for the Terps. According to the NFF’s website bio on Lil Mo in his three varsity years, Maryland had a 22-game unbeaten streak. In 1951 Maryland was ranked third in the nation and knocked off the top ranked team, Tennessee, in the Sugar Bowl, 28-13. Dick was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993 after the National Football Foundation tallied their votes.
Teel Bruner
February 16, 1964 – London, Kentucky – Teel Bruner the outstanding safety from Centre College arrived into this life. Learn more about this Hall of Fame player from the college ranks by clicking his name.
Jerome Bettis
February 16, 1972 – Detroit, Michigan – The powerful running back from the University of Notre Dame, Jerome Bettis celebrates his birthday. The St Louis Rams selected Jerome as their first round pick, and 10th overall in the 1993 NFL Draft. In just his first season as a Pro, Bettis received Rookie of the Year honors as was second in yardage in the League that year and third in total yards from scrimmage per the ProFootballHOF.com. A few years later he was famously traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers where he remained for the balance of his 13 year career. He led the Rams in rushing in three seasons and the Steelers in 8. When he retired he had amassed 13662 yards rushing which at the time listed him as the fifth highest total in NFL history. He was an All-Pro in a couple of different seasons and played in 6 Pro Bowl games. Jerome Bettis was selected for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015’s class of inductees.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1924 Boston Braves’ third baseman Tony Boeckel becomes the first major leaguer killed in an automobile accident, dying from injuries received as a passenger yesterday in San Diego. Yankee outfielder Bob Meusel, another passenger of the car driven by Los Angeles theater man Bob Albright, escapes without severe injuries.
1950 The BBWAA does not select any players for the Hall of Fame this season, with former Giants Mel Ott (69%) and Bill Terry (63%) the top vote-getters. ‘Master Mel’ gets the nod next season, and ‘Memphis Bill’ enters in 1954 after both get named 75% of the writers’ ballots required for induction.
1952 Hall of Fame shortstop Honus Wagner officially retires after 39 years in the major leagues, 21 as a player with the Louisville Colonels and Pirates, and spending another 18 years as a coach with Pittsburgh. The ‘Flying Dutchman,’ who led the league in stolen bases for five seasons, won eight batting titles, the most in National League history until Tony Gwynn tied the mark in 1997.
1953 Brooklyn, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia participate in a four-way trade that sends five players to new clubs. Joe Adcock (Reds) and Jim Pendleton (Dodgers) will now play for the Braves, Earl Torgeson (Braves) goes to the Phillies, Rocky Bridges (Dodgers) is now a Red, with Russ Meyer (Phillies) joining the Dodgers.
1967 Red Ruffing, the former Yankee pitcher who authored 273 major league wins, is selected to be in the Hall of Fame by getting the most votes on the second ballot made necessary after the BBWAA fails to choose a player in January. Former Cardinal outfielder Joe Medwick also received 75% of the writer’s votes, usually enough to be selected; however, only the top vote-getter gets the nod in this special run-off election.
1989 Orel Hershiser, who will earn $3,166,167 in the final year of the deal, becomes baseball’s first three-million-dollar man when he signs a three-year $7.9 million contract with the Dodgers. The 1987 Cy Young Award recipient will post an 18-18 record and an ERA of 3.65 during the terms of the agreement.
1996 General Mills announces a special edition of a Wheaties cereal box honoring the 75th Commemorative Year of the Negro Leagues, featuring superstars Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and ‘Cool Papa’ Bell. In 1934, Yankee first baseman Lou Gehrig became the first athlete depicted on the Breakfast of Champions box.
2001 Yankee premier reliever Mariano Rivera (7-4, 2.85, 36 saves) signs a four-year approximately $40 million contract with the Bronx Bombers. The 31-year-old Panama native surpassed Dennis Eckersley’s major league record with 16 saves in postseason games.
2003 Pete Rose becomes a member of the Ted Williams Hitters Hall of Fame along with the Splendid Splinters’ teammate Dom DiMaggio, both not in attendance. ‘Charlie Hustle,’ who collected a record of 4,256 major-league hits, joins 1998 inductee Shoeless Joe Jackson, also prohibited from becoming a member of Baseball’s National Hall of Fame.
2004 After leaving the Phillies as a free agent following the 2002 season to play for the Rangers, Doug Glanville returns to Philadelphia, signing a one-year contract with the team. The 31-year-old outfielder retires at the end of the season after compiling a lifetime batting average of .277 during his nine-year tenure in the major leagues, including playing time with the Yankees and the Cubs, leaves with a 293-game errorless streak intact.
2004 The Rangers trade Alex Rodriguez along with cash to the Yankees in exchange for Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named later, Joaquin Arias. The deal comes on the heels of the Red Sox’s inability to land the American League MVP in a swap with Texas for Manny Ramirez due to the players’ association’s objection because of the need to restructure A-Rod’s existing contract as a result of the tentative transaction.
2007 Altering the regulations for the first time since 1996, the rules committee approves several changes, including eliminating tie games halted after the fifth inning due to weather by resuming the contest in the next scheduled start at the same ballpark. The new standards also implement a ten-game suspension for scuffing a baseball, prohibits players from going into a dugout to make a catch, and allow pitchers to wear multicolored gloves.
2008 Kyle Kendrick, who posted a 10-4 record and an ERA under 4.00 last season as a rookie, is stunned when he hears about his trade to Japan for Takeru Kobayashi, a champion hot dog eater. The bogus deal, an elaborate hoax that includes skipper Charlie Manuel, assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr., fellow hurler Brett Myers, and members of the media, totally fools the Phillies sophomore pitcher.
2011 Rickie Weeks and the Brewers come to terms on a $38.5 million, four-year deal that includes a 2015 option based on plate appearances, which could increase the contract’s total value to $50 million. The 28-year-old second baseman broke a franchise record last season with 754 trips to the plate, mostly as the leadoff hitter.
2011 Speaking to reporters at the Phillies’ spring training complex, a tearful Dallas Green, former big-league manager and senior adviser to general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., thanks everyone for their support after the shooting death of his granddaughter. Nine-year-old Christina Taylor Green was one of six victims killed five weeks ago in a shooting rampage during U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords’ ‘Congress on Your Corner’ gathering outside a Tucson supermarket.
2013 After an appearance at a local winter festival, Guido’s costume, worn by one of the Brewers’ racing sausages, goes missing. A seven-foot Italian sausage impersonator will be seen later in the night, signing autographs at bars in Milwaukee.
SPORTS IN NUMBERS
9 – 32 – 15 – 10 – 13 – 72
February 16, 1953 – The legendary Ted Williams makes the headlines, not on the diamond but at the U. S. Advanced Airbase in Korea when he piloted his damaged aircraft, a jet safely to the runway. The Boston RedSox slugger was serving during his second tour of duty with the Marine Air Corp as a pilot. The baseball great that wore Number 9 was awarded with the Air Medal for the event.
February 16, 1963 – On the college hardwoods, North Carolina Tarheels player wearing Number 32, Billy Cunningham, Number in Carolina Blue, hauled in 27 rebounds against rival Clemson to set a new record. Cunningham would go on not only to play in the NBA but also coach at the next level as well.
February 16, 1967 – Red Ruffing, who once pitched for the New York Yankees and wore Number 15 for most of his career on his pinstripes was selecred on this day to enter into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
February 16, 1969 – Detroit Red Wings’ captain and sweater Number 10, Alex Delvecchio became just the third player in NHL history to score 1,000 career points when in a 6-2 loss of the Red Wings at the Minnesota North Stars Delvecchio tallied an assist.
February 16, 1972 – NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain wearing his trademark Number 13 for the Los Angeles Lakers becomes first player in NBA history to reach the career 30,000 point mark during a 110-109 loss to the Phoenix Suns
February 16, 1975 – At the 17th running of the Daytona 500: Benny Parsons in car Number 72 wins after Cale Yarborough in his famed racer Number 11 Valvoline Chevrolet sends race leader David Pearson, Number 21 spinning on the backstretch; Parsons avoids the accident and takes the checkered flag.
TV THURSDAY
| NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES – MEN’S | TIME ET | TV |
| Saint Francis U at St. Francis Brooklyn | 2:00pm | NEC |
| Purdue at Maryland | 6:30pm | BTN |
| Texas State at App State | 6:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Houston at SMU | 7:00pm | ESPN2 |
| UNC Asheville at Radford | 7:00pm | ESPNU |
| Florida Atlantic at Middle Tennessee | 7:00pm | CBSSN |
| Monmouth at Northeastern | 7:00pm | NESN+ |
| UNCW at Drexel | 7:00pm | NBCS-PHI+ |
| William & Mary at Stony Brook | 7:00pm | SNY |
| Fairleigh Dickinson at Sacred Heart | 7:00pm | NEC |
| LIU at Stonehill | 7:00pm | NEC |
| Wagner at Central Connecticut | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Green Bay at Robert Morris | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Milwaukee at Youngstown State | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| North Texas at Louisiana Tech | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| WKU at Charlotte | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Wichita State at Temple | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Liberty at Kennesaw State | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Queens at Jacksonville State | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Georgia Southern at Marshall | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Georgia State at Coastal Carolina | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Old Dominion at James Madison | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Charleston at Elon | 7:00pm | FloSports |
| Delaware at Towson | 7:00pm | FloSports |
| Hampton at Hofstra | 7:00pm | FloSports |
| Merrimack at Hartford | 7:00pm | – |
| Tarleton at Stephen F. Austin | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| UTA at Sam Houston | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| North Alabama vs. Bellarmine (at KFC Yum Center) | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Central Arkansas at Eastern Kentucky | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Colorado at Arizona State | 8:00pm | PAC12N |
| Eastern Illinois at Southeast Missouri | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| A&M-Corpus Christi at Nicholls | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Houston Christian at Lamar | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| North Florida at Lipscomb | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Jacksonville at Austin Peay | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UCF at Memphis | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UTSA at Rice | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Southern Miss at South Alabama | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| ULM at Louisiana | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| North Dakota at Oral Roberts | 8:00pm | – |
| North Dakota State at Kansas City | 8:00pm | – |
| South Dakota at Omaha | 8:00pm | – |
| UIW at McNeese | 8:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Troy at Arkansas State | 8:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Lindenwood at Tennessee Tech | 8:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Southern Indiana at Little Rock | 8:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Ohio State at Iowa | 9:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Tennessee State at Morehead State | 9:00pm | ESPNU |
| Santa Clara at BYU | 9:00pm | CBSSN |
| Saint Mary’s at San Diego | 9:00pm | Bally Sports |
| South Dakota State at Denver | 9:00pm | Altitude |
| New Orleans at A&M-Commerce | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Southeastern Louisiana at Northwestern State | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| SIUE at UT Martin | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Northern Arizona at Eastern Washington | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Northern Colorado at Idaho | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UAB at UTEP | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Utah at Arizona | 10:00pm | PAC12N |
| Weber State at Sacramento State | 10:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Idaho State at Portland State | 10:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Stanford at UCLA | 11:00pm | ESPN2 |
| California at USC | 11:00pm | FS1 |
| Oregon State at Washington State | 11:00pm | ESPNU |
| Gonzaga at Loyola Marymount | 11:00pm | CBSSN |
| San Francisco at Pacific | 11:00pm | NBCS-BAY |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| PGA: The Genesis Invitational | 4:00pm | GOLF |
| NBA REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| Milwaukee at Chicago | 7:30pm | TNT |
| Washington at Minnesota | 8:00pm | NBCS-WSH Bally Sports |
| LA Clippers at Phoenix | 10:00pm | TNT |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| Florida at Washington | 7:00pm | NBCS-WSH Bally Sports |
| Montréal at Carolina | 7:00pm | Bally Sports Sportsnet |
| Winnipeg at Columbus | 7:00pm | Bally Sports Sportsnet |
| Boston at Nashville | 8:00pm | Bally Sports NESN |
| New Jersey at St. Louis | 9:00pm | ESPN |
| Detroit at Calgary | 9:00pm | Bally Sports NESN |
| Philadelphia at Seattle | 10:00pm | NBCS-PHI Root Sports |
| San Jose at Vegas | 10:00pm | NBCS-CA ATTSN-RM |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| Arnold Clark Cup: Italy vs Belgium | 11:45am | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Europa League: Barcelona vs Manchester United | 12:45pm | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Europa League: Shakhtar Donetsk vs Rennes | 12:45pm | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Europa League: Ajax vs Union Berlin | 12:45pm | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Europa League: Salzburg vs Roma | 12:45pm | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Europa Conference League: Qarabağ vs Gent | 12:45pm | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Europa Conference League: Trabzonspor vs Basel | 12:45pm | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Europa Conference League: Bodø / Glimt vs Lech Poznań | 12:45pm | Paramount+ |
| Arnold Clark Cup: England vs Korea Republic | 2:45pm | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Europa Conference League: Ludogorets vs Anderlecht | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Europa Conference League: AEK Larnaca vs Dnipro-1 | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Europa Conference League: Lazio vs CFR Cluj | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Europa League: Juventus vs Nantes | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Europa League: Bayer Leverkusen vs Monaco | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Europa League: Sporting CP vs Midtjylland | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Europa League: Sevilla vs PSV | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| SheBelieves Cup: Japan vs Brazil | 4:00pm | Peacock |
| SheBelieves Cup: USA vs Canada | 7:00pm | Peacock |
| Copa Libertadores: Zamora vs Boston River | 7:00pm | beIN Sports |
| Liga MX: Mazatlán vs Pachuca | 10:00pm | TUDN |