THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2023

“THE SCOREBOARD”

ADAMS CENTRAL	69	SOUTHWOOD	50
ANDREAN	61	GARY WEST	55
ARGOS	62	SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS)	42
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE	54	EVANSVILLE NORTH	40
BEECH GROVE	55	PERRY MERIDIAN	36
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN	54	HERITAGE CHRISTIAN	42
BLOOMFIELD	55	SULLIVAN	48
BOONVILLE	72	FOREST PARK	63	OT
BOWMAN ACADEMY	75	GRIFFITH	49
BREBEUF JESUIT	75	TRI-WEST	55
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL	70	FLOYD CENTRAL	47
CARROLL (FLORA)	47	FRANKFORT	44
CASTLE	58	VINCENNES LINCOLN	39
CENTER GROVE	82	MOORESVILLE	72
CENTERVILLE	70	UNION CITY	47
CENTRAL NOBLE	63	FORT WAYNE SOUTH	52
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY	53	CROTHERSVILLE	35
CLARKSVILLE	58	NORTH HARRISON	57
CLINTON CENTRAL	73	NORTH MONTGOMERY	67
CONCORD	63	SOUTH BEND CLAY	55
CRAWFORD COUNTY	60	BORDEN	54
DEKALB	56	FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA	53
DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN	55	WEST CENTRAL	48
DELTA	79	RUSHVILLE	45
EAST CENTRAL	80	UNION COUNTY	43
EASTERN (PEKIN)	55	ROCK CREEK ACADEMY	41
EASTERN HANCOCK	62	BLUE RIVER	30
EASTSIDE	50	WOODLAN	48
EDGEWOOD	66	NORTHVIEW	60
ELKHART CHRISTIAN	40	SMITH ACADEMY	31
EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN	52	HENDERSON COUNTY (KY.)	44
EVANSVILLE HARRISON	55	PRINCETON	51
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI	55	MOUNT VERNON (POSEY)	45
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL	67	EVANSVILLE CENTRAL	55
FISHERS	61	LAWRENCE NORTH	58
FORT WAYNE LUERS	52	HUNTINGTON NORTH	31
FRANKTON	57	MONROE CENTRAL	51	OT
GARRETT	57	CHURUBUSCO	25
GREENCASTLE	45	CASCADE	44	OT
GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN	51	TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN	40
HAGERSTOWN	60	MUNCIE BURRIS	57
HAMMOND CENTRAL	54	LAKE CENTRAL	49
HAMMOND NOLL	60	HIGHLAND	45
HERITAGE HILLS	62	WASHINGTON	45
HOBART	59	CALUMET	56
HOMESTEAD	70	EAST NOBLE	34
INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL	72	INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD	56
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN	52	COVENANT CHRISTIAN	48
INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN	78	INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE	61
IRVINGTON PREP ACADEMY	51	ANDERSON PREP ACADEMY	46
JAC-CEN-DEL	63	MILAN	40
JIMTOWN	65	BETHANY CHRISTIAN	53
JOHN GLENN	68	KNOX	31
KANKAKEE VALLEY	80	BOONE GROVE	60
KNIGHTSTOWN	43	SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE)	28
KOKOMO	66	WESTERN	41
KOUTS	48	LOWELL	40
LAPORTE	66	GOSHEN	64
LEWIS CASS	55	CASTON	29
LOOGOOTEE	101	WASHINGTON CATHOLIC	14
LOUISVILLE BALLARD (KY.)	89	JEFFERSONVILLE	77
MACONAQUAH	85	NORTHFIELD	51
MANCHESTER	79	LAKELAND CHRISTIAN	36
MARQUETTE CATHOLIC	63	ILLIANA CHRISTIAN	62
MEDORA	59	COLUMBUS CHRISTIAN	53
MICHIGAN CITY	79	NEW PRAIRIE	68
MISHAWAKA	66	SOUTH BEND ADAMS	57
MUNCIE CENTRAL	41	YORKTOWN	38
MUNSTER	84	LAKE STATION	66
NEW CASTLE	59	PENDLETON HEIGHTS	41
NEW HAVEN	78	FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY	63
NORTH JUDSON	54	CULVER	28
NORTH NEWTON	50	SOUTH NEWTON	16
NORTHWOOD	48	TIPPECANOE VALLEY	39
NORTHEAST DUBOIS	58	EVANSVILLE DAY	51
NORTHRIDGE	56	LAKELAND	52
NORTHWESTERN	50	ROSSVILLE	44
OAK HILL	66	TIPTON	49
ORLEANS	60	WEST WASHINGTON	31
PAOLI	66	SCOTTSBURG	63
PARK TUDOR	81	HORIZON CHRISTIAN	49
PENN	86	PLYMOUTH	65
PIKE	61	SOUTHPORT	58
PRAIRIE HEIGHTS	68	LAKEWOOD PARK	53
RANDOLPH SOUTHERN	69	BLACKFORD	67
SEYMOUR	60	GREENSBURG	55
SHENANDOAH	66	UNION (MODOC)	22
SOUTH BEND CAREER	75	LIGHTHOUSE CPA	70
SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH	82	BREMEN	36
SOUTH KNOX	77	VINCENNES RIVET	17
SOUTHERN WELLS	74	NORTH MIAMI	56
SOUTHMONT	70	SOUTH PUTNAM	48
SPRINGS VALLEY	74	NEW WASHINGTON	60
TAYLOR	49	ELWOOD	23
THRIVAL INDY ACADEMY	58	INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON	54
TRI	52	SETON CATHOLIC	38
TRITON CENTRAL	66	MONROVIA	56
TRITON	70	ROCHESTER	48
UNIVERSITY	71	WESTFIELD	67	2OT
WABASH	63	EASTBROOK	31
WASHINGTON TWP.	47	OREGON-DAVIS	39
WAWASEE	69	WESTVIEW	62
WEST VIGO	74	CLOVERDALE	43

INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL AP POLLS

CLASS 4A

1. BEN DAVIS (14)

2. PENN (1)

3. BROWNSBURG

4. HAMMOND CENTRAL

5. CENTER GROVE

6. CATHEDRAL

(TIE) KOKOMO

8. MUNSTER

9. JENNINGS CO.

10. CARMEL

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: GREENFIELD 52. ANDERSON 44. NEW PALESTINE 42. HANOVER CENTRAL 12. ZIONSVILLE 9. LAWRENCE NORTH 7.

CLASS 3A

1. NORTHWOOD (9)

2. MISHAWAKA MARIAN (6)

3. NORWELL

4. W. NOBLE

5. SCOTTSBURG

6. LAKE STATION

7. CONNERSVILLE

8. S. BEND WASHINGTON

9. OAK HILL

10. TIPPECANOE VALLEY

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: N. DAVIESS 73. BREBEUF JESUIT 38. BEECH GROVE 26. GUERIN CATHOLIC 8.

CLASS 2A

1. LINTON-STOCKTON (14)

2. WAPAHANI

3. S. SPENCER

4. FT. WAYNE BLACKHAWK (1)

5. UNIVERSITY

6. BROWNSTOWN

7. PROVIDENCE

8. GARY 21ST CENTURY

9. TIPTON

10. SOUTHWESTERN (JEFFERSON)

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: CARROLL (FLORA) 39. ADAMS CENTRAL 28. EASTERN HANCOCK 14. PARK TUDOR 13. SULLIVAN 6.

CLASS A

1. BLOOMFIELD (12)

2. ORLEANS (2)

3. MORGAN TWP. (1)

4. FOUNTAIN CENTRAL

5. LOOGOOTEE

6. BETHESDA CHRISTIAN

7. BLUE RIVER

8. EV. CHRISTIAN

9. GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN

10. MICHIGAN CITY MARQUETTE

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: LUTHERAN 44. TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN 31. CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 29. TRI 23. DUBOIS 9. EDINBURGH 8. BARR-REEVE 8. BORDEN 7. LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 6. LAKEVIEW CHRISTIAN 6.

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

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

#5 KANSAS 87 OKLAHOMA STATE 76

OKLAHOMA 79 #12 KANSAS STATE 65

#24 PROVIDENCE 94 #18 CREIGHTON 86 2OT

SYRACUSE 75 #23 NORTH CAROLINA STATE 72

VILLANOVA 62 BUTLER 50

DUKE 68 NOTRE DAME 64

BALL STATE 87 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 77

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 66 VALPARAISO 62

TOLEDO 89 MIAMI OHIO 71

AKRON 78 EASTERN MICHIGAN 51

CENTRAL MICHIGAN 77 BOWLING GREEN 74

KENT STATE 82 WESTERN MICHIGAN 58

PENN STATE 93 ILLINOIS 81

NEBRASKA 82 RUTGERS 72

WISCONSIN 64 MICHIGAN 59

GEORGIA 65 LSU 63

ST. JOHN’S 92 DEPAUL 83 2OT

UTAH STATE 80 AIR FORCE 65

SAN JOSE STATE 75 UNLV 60

WYOMING 70 NEW MEXICO 56

AUBURN 89 MISSOURI 56

SETON HALL 76 GEORGETOWN 68

VANDERBILT 75 SOUTH CAROLINA 64

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/CBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230214

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD:

NBA SCOREBOARD

MILWAUKEE 131 BOSTON 125 OT

TORONTO 123 ORLANDO 113

PHOENIX 120 SACRAMENTO 109

LA CLIPPERS 134 GOLDEN STATE 124

WASHINGTON 126 PORTLAND 101

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

NHL SCOREBOARD

MONTRÉAL 4 CHICAGO 0

CAROLINA 3 WASHINGTON 2

NEW JERSEY 3 COLUMBUS 2

OTTAWA 3 NY ISLANDERS 2

ST. LOUIS 6 FLORIDA 2

WINNIPEG 3 SEATTLE 2

BOSTON 3 DALLAS 2

TAMPA BAY 4 COLORADO 3

PITTSBURGH 3 SAN JOSE 1

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

TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES

NFL NEWS

CARDINALS HIRE EAGLES COORDINATOR GANNON AS NEXT COACH

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) The Arizona Cardinals hired Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon on Tuesday to be their next head coach.

Gannon replaces Kliff Kingsbury, who was fired last month after going 4-13 in his fourth season. Gannon becomes Arizona’s fourth coach in seven years and the second Eagles coordinator to become a head coach after Shane Steichen was hired by Indianapolis on Tuesday.

The 40-year-old Gannon has been Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator the past two seasons, helping rebuild a defense that helped the Eagles reach the Super Bowl last Sunday. The Eagles lost to Kansas City 38-35 at State Farm Stadium, home of the Cardinals.

The Eagles had the NFL’s No. 2 defense this season and the third-most sacks in NFL history with 78 under Gannon in 2022. Philadelphia led the NFL with 70 sacks this season – 15 more than any other team.

Gannon’s resume took a bit of a hit during the Super Bowl. The Eagles coughed up a 10-point halftime lead and couldn’t stop Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, even though the MVP wasn’t moving at his best because of a sprained ankle.

That hiccup wasn’t enough to deter Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill, who is trying to find a leader who can help the franchise win its first NFL championship since 1947.

Gannon’s hiring is the first major move by general manager Monti Ossenfort, who was hired last month after Steve Keim and the team parted ways.

Gannon inherits a defense spearheaded by Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker and young linebackers Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins. Arizona also is potentially looking at a roster overhaul with roughly 30 unrestricted free agents and the retirement of three-time NFL defensive player of the year J.J. Watt.

The Cardinals also have the No. 3 overall pick in the upcoming draft.

One of Gannon’s first tasks will be connecting with franchise quarterback Kyler Murray, who tore the ACL in his right knee late last season and is expected to miss at least a few games next fall.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection regressed some during his fourth season, though the former No. 1 overall pick was still productive when healthy. He signed a $230.5 million deal during last year’s offseason that could keep him with the franchise through 2028.

Before being hired by the Eagles, Gannon served as the defensive backs coach for the Colts from 2018-20. He also worked as an assistant defensive backs/quality control coach for the Minnesota Vikings from 2014-17 and held the same position with the Tennessee Titans from 2012-13.

Gannon began his coaching career as a defensive assistant with the Atlanta Falcons in 2007 and worked as a scout for the Rams from 2009-10. He played defensive back at Louisville in 2002 before sustaining a career-ending hip injury and served as a graduate assistant at his alma mater.

DEREK CARR HITS OPEN MARKET AFTER RELEASE FROM RAIDERS

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) Quarterback Derek Carr was released by the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday as the club evaluates its future at the position.

The move was expected after Carr was benched with two games remaining this season because the Raiders would have owed him $40.4 million in guaranteed money over the next two years if he remained on the roster beyond Tuesday. By releasing Carr, the Raiders’ salary dead cap hit will be $5.6 million next season.

“We have a lot of respect for Derek Carr and what he has meant to the Raiders organization for the last nine years,” Raiders coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler said in a statement. “Derek has done great things in this league and we’re thankful to have been able to work with him this past year. He is a true professional and we appreciate his hard work in striving to produce the results we all desire.”

Carr’s agent, Tim Younger, posted on Twitter that they wish the Raiders “the best of luck.”

“This is the tough part of this business,” Younger wrote. “That’s the point; it’s just business. Time now to reset for both sides. Derek chooses to hold on to many good memories and friendships, without any ill will. That’s who he is. Onward and upward.”

Las Vegas tried to work out a trade with the New Orleans Saints, and Carr visited the team last week. He exercised his no-trade clause and turned down the deal Sunday because Carr didn’t want to take a pay reduction, a person with knowledge of the situation said at the time. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to comment publicly.

Now Carr, who turns 32 on March 28, will see what he’s worth on the open market, and there is little doubt there will be interest in the nine-year veteran given how many teams need to upgrade at quarterback.

Carr might still be able to work out a deal with the Saints, but New Orleans is nearly $60 million over the salary cap, according to overthecap.com. The Saints would need Carr to restructure his contract, but he already turned down that option last weekend.

Other teams Carr could consider include the Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Washington Commanders. Another team also could jump into the mix.

Over nine seasons with the Raiders, Carr became the team’s career leader in passing yards (35,222) and touchdown passes (217).

The knock on Carr was that he led the Raiders to just two playoff appearances and still is looking for his first postseason victory. How much of that was on Carr and how much on the Raiders is debatable, but Carr will have the opportunity to show elsewhere he wasn’t the problem.

He indicated the week of the Pro Bowl that free agency was his preference over a trade, saying Peyton Manning was encouraging during a discussion they had. The Colts released Manning in 2012 and he went on to win a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos after the 2015 season.

“I’m just looking for teams that have made that decision consistently that they’ll do whatever it takes to put a winning program out there,” Carr said Feb. 2. “So for me, that’s just to win, win a championship. That’s at the forefront of the mind. It’s not money.”

As for the Raiders, Ziegler and McDaniels will have to determine the best path forward at quarterback.

They could try to land a veteran such as Aaron Rodgers or Jimmy Garoppolo.

A trade for Rodgers would reunite him with wide receiver Davante Adams and create buzz around the organization, but the Packers likely would demand a lot in return. Sending draft picks and/or players to Green Bay could make it difficult for Raiders management to build around Rodgers and improve on their 6-11 record.

The San Francisco 49ers have let it be known Garoppolo won’t be back, and he was in the New England Patriots’ organization when Ziegler and McDaniels were there. His injury history would be a concern, but Garoppolo is 40-17 in his career with a Super Bowl appearance.

Signing a veteran would show the Raiders are trying to win big now, and with a group of targets that includes Adams, Hunter Renfrow and tight end Darren Waller, Las Vegas could be an attractive destination for a veteran. The Raiders also hope to bring back Josh Jacobs, who led the NFL with 1,653 yards rushing.

Las Vegas could also try to draft its quarterback of the future, and with the No. 7 overall pick, the Raiders might be able to land one of three QBs projected to go in the top 10. The Raiders could even try to move up in the draft to try to secure Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud or Kentucky’s Will Levis.

KANSAS CITY READY TO CELEBRATE ITS LATEST SUPER BOWL WIN

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to line the streets of downtown Kansas City on Wednesday as the city celebrates the Kansas City Chiefs’ second Super Bowl championship in two years.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid and Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be joined by teammates, family and Chiefs officials as they ride in open-air vehicles down one of the city’s main downtown streets.

Most schools, many businesses and some government offices in the Kansas City metro area will be closed so people can celebrate. The event starts at noon and will end with a victory rally at the city’s Union Station.

Officials began planning the parade even before the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 Sunday on a field goal with 8 seconds remaining in the game.

Officials said that more than 19 local and area law enforcement agencies, along with fire departments and transportation leaders are ready for the anticipated crowd.

The City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee agreed to earmark $750,000 for parade-related expenses, and Mayor Quinton Lucas estimated overtime costs for police and firefighters would total more than $1.5 million.

The the Kansas City Sports Commission is expected to contribute another $1 million in private donations, and the Jackson County Legislature voted to add $75,000.

After decades of championship drought, the city is gaining experience with victory parades. Two years 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.

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NEW MEXICO STATE FIRES COACH IN WAKE OF HAZING ALLEGATIONS

(AP) — New Mexico State fired basketball coach Greg Heiar on Tuesday in the wake of hazing allegations within the team that shut down the program for the rest of the season.

Chancellor Dan Arvizu announced the firing of the first-year coach and said “hazing has no place on our campus, and those found responsible will be held accountable for their actions.”

The chancellor said decisions about the rest of the coaching staff will be made after further investigation.

Arvizu shut down the program for the season on Sunday, after reviewing a campus police report in which an Aggies player said three teammates ganged up on him and attacked him. The report, which redacted the names of the players, included allegations of false imprisonment, harassment and criminal sexual contact.

The 47-year-old Heiar spent time earlier in his career as an assistant for former Aggies coach Chris Jans, who left after last season to coach Mississippi State. Last season, Heiar was at Northwest Florida State, where he helped the Raiders win the junior college national title.

He brought two highly ranked players with him from the juco ranks, Issa Muhammad and Deshawndre Washington (another player, Marchelus Avery, had moved over from Northwest Florida the season before), but the Aggies were riddled with problems almost from the start of their season.

It started unraveling when some basketball players were involved in a fight with New Mexico students at an Aggies football game in October.

A month later, the night before New Mexico State basketball was scheduled to play at New Mexico in Albuquerque, forward Mike Peake went to the apartment complex of one of the students involved in the fight. Security cameras at the apartment complex shows the student pulling a gun, then Peake brandishing own gun and shooting the student, inflicting fatal wounds. Peake was taken to the hospital with leg wounds.

Peake has been suspended from the team but not charged with a crime while authorities in Albuquerque investigate. New Mexico State has hired an independent investigator to look into the circumstances surrounding the killing.

The hazing allegations came less than three months after the shooting in Albuquerque. The police report says the hazing victim described teammates removing “his clothing exposing his buttocks and began to slap his (buttocks). He also went on to state that they also touched his scrotum.”

The Aggies were 9-15 when the season was first put on hold before a scheduled game last Saturday at California Baptist.

The Western Athletic Conference is counting New Mexico State’s final six games as forfeits. The team is supposed to move into the bigger, more high-profile Conference USA next season – a move that seemed like a good fit for a program that has a long tradition of strong basketball teams. New Mexico State has made 26 trips to the NCAA Tournament and reached the Sweet 16 five times.

But there have also been problems checkered throughout the history of a program that has long depended on juco transfers and players looking for second chances. An academic scandal in the 1990s brought about the quick end to the otherwise successful tenure of coach Neil McCarthy. It led to relative stability during the second of two long tenures in Las Cruces by coaching stalwart Lou Henson.

Most of Henson’s successors, including Marvin Menzies, Reggie Theus and Jans, enjoyed success before leaving for bigger opportunities.

There has been similar turnover in the administration. Just over the past 14 months, the university provost and president have resigned or been removed from their positions. And Arivzu, the chancellor, is on his way out in June after the regents declined to renew his contract. He said the school will investigate the hazing allegations.

“We will work to ensure we fully understand what happened here, and that those found responsible are held accountable,” he said. “We will also ensure that support systems are in place to prevent this from happening again.”

CARTER LEADS NO. 24 PROVIDENCE PAST NO. 18 CREIGHTON IN 2 OT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) Devin Carter had a career-high 25 points and No. 24 Providence outlasted No. 18 Creighton 94-86 in double overtime Tuesday night.

Bryce Hopkins and Noah Locke each scored 20 for the Friars (19-7, 11-4 Big East), who ended an eight-game winning streak for the Bluejays that began with a Jan. 14 victory over Providence at home.

“It was a great college basketball game if you didn’t care who won. It had to be a lot of fun to watch,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott said.

With the victory, the Friars tied the Bluejays (17-9, 11-4) for third place in the Big East standings. Both teams are a half-game behind Xavier and a game back of first-place Marquette in a crowded race for the regular-season title.

Providence, the defending regular-season champion, improved to 14-0 at home this season and 9-1 in its past 10 games that went to overtime – including a pair of double-OT wins on its own court this season.

Ryan Nembhard led Creighton with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Arthur Kaluma and Trey Alexander both scored 17.

The game featured 20 lead changes and 17 ties. Providence finally pulled away in the second overtime, scoring the first five points and holding Creighton to just two late free throws after the Friars built a 92-84 lead.

“Obviously, we weren’t as efficient in the second overtime as we were in the first,” McDermott said. “Defensively, we haven’t had a team do that to us in a long time.”

Carter also had eight rebounds and two blocks. The sophomore guard helped the Friars get off on the right foot in the second OT, converting a three-point play to snap an 84-all deadlock.

Carter’s father had a front-row seat for his son’s best game of the season. Anthony Carter is an assistant coach for the Miami Heat who played 13 years in the NBA.

“Devin affects the game in a number of different ways,” Providence coach Ed Cooley said. “You hear about all these different players around the country defensively. I wouldn’t take one player in America defensively – not one. We put him on everyone. We may put him on Julius Erving if he comes out of retirement. This man here is a stud defensively.”

END OF REGULATION

The Friars tied it at 73 with a minute remaining in the second half, and both teams had a chance to win in regulation. Hopkins missed a step-back jumper on the baseline with 14 seconds left, and Creighton’s last bid nearly resulted in a turnover near midcourt.

END OF FIRST OT

Providence opened an 82-78 lead after Hopkins made a 3-pointer, but Creighton tied it 84-all after Baylor Scheierman hit two free throws with 48.4 seconds left.

A sloppy possession resulted in PC committing a shot clock violation with 9.5 seconds to go. Creighton turned to Nembhard on the ensuing possession but Carter came up huge once again when he blocked Nembhard’s shot down low to extend the game another five minutes.

“I knew he was going to pump fake so I stayed down,” Carter said. “Obviously, he has to shoot it with two seconds left. I jumped up and ended up blocking it.”

BIG MINUTES

Hopkins played all 50 minutes. Ed Croswell was one of three Friars to log 45 or more as the senior big man chipped in with 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting while holding his ground against Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Creighton: The Bluejays are ranked for the second consecutive week after spending nine straight weeks outside the AP Top 25. Creighton was No. 9 in the preseason poll.

Providence: The Friars are ranked for the sixth week in a row. They moved into the AP Top 25 for the first time on Jan. 9.

UP NEXT

Creighton: Plays at St. John’s on Saturday night.

Providence: Will host Villanova on Saturday.

SHERFIELD HELPS OKLAHOMA BEAT NO. 12 KANSAS STATE 79-65

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) Grant Sherfield scored 22 points and Oklahoma went on a 12-0 run early in the second half on their way to a 79-65 win over No. 12 Kansas State on Tuesday night.

The win snapped a seven-game Big 12 conference losing streak for the Sooners (13-13, 3-10 Big 12) and prevented the Wildcats (19-7, 7-6) and first-year coach Jerome Tang from earning their 20th win of the year.

Sherfield leads Oklahoma in scoring and assists on the season, but coach Porter Moser felt he took them to a different level in this game.

“I thought Grant had his best floor game since he’s worn a Sooner uniform,” said Moser. “The ball went where it needed to go. He had six assists and had a bunch of other (passes) that led to fouls. He was just so locked in. He had eight rebounds. Best overall communication game that he’s had.”

Tanner Groves scored 16 while freshman Milos Uzan added 13 for Oklahoma. Nae’quan Tomlin had 17 points – 13 of them in the first half – and 10 rebounds to pace Kansas State.

Sherfield’s 3-pointer in the final 10 seconds of the opening half sent the teams into intermission tied at 36.

The Wildcats got the first basket of the second half, and then the Sooners scored 12 straight to move to a 48-38 lead early in the second half, spurred by threes from Sherfield, Groves and Uzan. Oklahoma shot 11-for-23 (47.8%) and went on to lead by as many as 16. Kansas State got no closer than eight the rest of the way.

It was the Wildcats second straight conference loss and both were to teams at the bottom of the Big 12 standings. Coach Tang hopes this is a wake up call for his team, who he says is less than a lock for NCAA tournament play.

“(Oklahoma) kicked our butts and they deserve all the credit in the world for that. We did not play hard enough to deserve to win tonight,” said Tang. “We have to win at least two more games to get to the NCAA tournament. That was my message to them that we gotta figure this thing out.”

It was Oklahoma’s first conference win in a month, since a one-point win at home over West Virginia. With the loss, Kansas State fell into a fifth place tie with Oklahoma State in the Big 12 race.

TIP-INS

Kansas State – Tang was trying to become just the fourth Wildcats coach to win 20 games in his first season, joining Lon Krueger, Bob Huggins and Frank Martin. He is currently still tied for the winningest first year head coach this season with Sean Miller of Xavier and Dennis Gates of Missouri.

Oklahoma – The Sooners shot 14% better from three than their season average. The Sooners avoided their eighth straight conference loss, which last occurred in the 2011-12 season.

UP NEXT:

Kansas State – Host No. 19 Iowa State on Saturday.

Oklahoma – Visits No. 6 Texas on Saturday.

DICK SCORES 26 AS NO. 5 KANSAS BEATS OKLAHOMA STATE 87-76

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) Kansas guard Gradey Dick was the main target of jeers from Oklahoma State’s noisy fans Tuesday night.

His outside shooting quieted the crowd. The freshman scored 17 of his season-high 26 points in the second half and the fifth-ranked Jayhawks rolled to an 87-76 victory over the Cowboys.

Dick said Oklahoma State’s fans gave him energy.

“I love it,” he said. “I love it. I kind of like being, you know, the hated one going into (visiting arenas). And they were doing their little chants. But it definitely fuels the fire, for sure.”

Dick made 10 of 17 field goal attempts, shooting 4 of 9 on 3-pointers. And his performance allowed Kansas to get away with a bit of an off night from the Big 12’s leading scorer. Jalen Wilson had 14 points – nearly seven below his average coming in.

Wilson said Dick’s production was exceptional, especially for a freshman.

“He did great,” Wilson said. “You guys have seen all year, he has no conscience when it comes to shooting the ball and that’s what makes a great shooter. Every time he shoots the ball, we think it’s going in just like he thinks it’s going in.”

Kansas shot 66% from the field in the second half to pull away from the Cowboys. Oklahoma State leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage defense, but the Cowboys couldn’t figure out the Jayhawks.

“We’ve got to defend better,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton said. “We’re a better defensive team than we showed. We just didn’t have our fastball tonight and our curveball wasn’t good enough.”

Kansas (21-5, 9-4 Big 12) has won three straight. The Jayhawks are tied with Texas and Baylor atop the conference standings.

Kalib Boone scored a career-high 27 points, John-Michael Wright had 18 and Bryce Thompson added 17 for Oklahoma State (16-10, 7-6).

Oklahoma State had won five straight, including victories over ranked opponents TCU and Iowa State. The Cowboys were coming off a 64-56 win at then-No. 11 Iowa State.

But the Cowboys were again without senior guard Avery Anderson III, who remained out after having surgery on his left wrist.

Thompson lit up the Jayhawks early. The guard, who played at Kansas for a year before transferring to Oklahoma State, scored 14 points in the first 11 minutes to help the Cowboys take a 23-18 lead.

Kansas hung tough, and Dick’s 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer gave the Jayhawks a 39-37 lead at the break.

“Obviously, it was a big play, kind of a breakdown in communication for us,” Boynton said. “I think we had a mix-up in our defensive calls there and that should never happen. A guy who shoots that well is obviously pretty close to the top of the scouting report.”

Dick scored eight points in the first two minutes of the second half to help Kansas take a 52-44 lead, and the Jayhawks led by at least five the rest of the way.

Now, Oklahoma State will try to regain its footing.

“You can’t get too far down,” Boynton said. “There’s still a lot of games left, a lot to play for with solid position. We’ve just got to get back to work.”

BIG PICTURE

Kansas: The Jayhawks completed back-to-back road wins in Oklahoma against teams that have some big victories on their home courts. The Jayhawks beat Oklahoma on Saturday.

Oklahoma State: While this loss won’t hurt perception of the Cowboys, they have three more regular-season games against ranked opponents, so every opportunity is critical.

STAT LINES

Boone shot 10 of 15 and grabbed nine rebounds. He scored 25 points three games ago against TCU, then dropped to nine against Texas Tech and eight against Iowa State before Tuesday’s big performance.

QUOTABLE

Boynton on his team’s effort: “I didn’t think as a team we necessarily met the moment collectively in a way that we gave ourselves the best chance to win.”

UP NEXT

Kansas: Hosts No. 9 Baylor on Saturday.

Oklahoma State: Visits No. 22 TCU on Saturday.

MINTZ HELPS SYRACUSE BEAT NO. 23 NC STATE 75-72

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) Judah Mintz scored 20 points and Syracuse knocked off No. 23 North Carolina State 75-72 on Tuesday night.

“I think I’m getting better as the season goes on,” Mintz said. “Just knowing when to force it up and when to get my teammates involved. I know I can score, my teammates know I can score, but just making plays for others, it’s going to make us better.”

With the score tied at 70 with two minutes to go, Jesse Edwards finished strong at the rim, plus the foul, to give the Orange a three-point lead. Syracuse would then use a mixture of defensive pressure and clutch free-throw shooting to hold on for the victory.

Edwards finished with 18 points for Syracuse (16-10, 9-6 Atlantic Coast Conference), which also got 11 from Chris Bell, 10 from Malik Brown and 14 from Joseph Girard III.

Mintz shot 50% from 3 and made all five of his free throws. He also had a team-best nine assists.

“He made some great plays, he had six assists at halftime, but he was looking to get to the basket too,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. “He’s gotten better from day one. It’s a learning experience. It takes time. He’s good as any freshman around.”

D.J. Burns Jr. and Jarkel Joiner each scored 15 points for the Wolfpack (20-7, 10-6 ACC), who were coming off a 92-62 victory at Boston College on Saturday.

NC State’s backcourt of Terquavion Smith and Joiner entered Tuesday’s game as the highest-scoring duo in the ACC. Together they were averaging 34.7 points per game. Smith, who scored his 1,000th-career point against Boston College, finished Tuesday’s game with 14 points.

“We fought, man,” NC State coach Kevin Keatts said. “It was a great ACC game on the road. Back-and-forth. Two teams just fighting in February. I felt good about our guys. We got down, we made a hell of a comeback. I thought my guys played good enough to win the game. We just came up short.”

Syracuse’s advantage came at the charity stripe. They were 16-for-17, while the Wolfpack shot just 3-for-5. NC State was called for 19 fouls, while only 11 were called against the Orange.

“I’m one of those guys, that believe that the game should be won on the floor by the players,” Keatts said. “It was tough for me because at the end of the game I thought we had five calls that went completely against us, not to take away from Syracuse.”

STAT OF THE NIGHT

Edwards, Syracuse’s 6-foot-11 center, was perfect from 3 after making his first career triple with the shot clock winding down early in the second half. It was his first attempt in four seasons with the Orange.

“I just thought I saw one second on the clock,” Edwards said. “I just threw it up, and then the crowd went crazy for that. You never know when a prayer’s going to go in, but it felt great.”

BIG PICTURE

NC State: The Wolfpack entered Tuesday’s game as winners of five of their last six. Their only loss during that stretch was to No. 8 Virginia on Feb. 7. NC State, which was picked to finish 10th in the conference preseason poll, currently holds the No. 5 spot, just two games in the win column behind ACC leaders Virginia and Pittsburgh.

Syracuse: The Wolfpack are the first ranked opponent in five tries the Orange have beaten this season.

UP NEXT

NC State: Hosting North Carolina on Sunday

Syracuse: Hosting Duke on Saturday.

NBA NEWS

BUCKS EDGE CELTICS 131-125 IN OT FOR 11TH STRAIGHT WIN

MILWAUKEE (AP) Jrue Holiday demonstrated just why he’s heading to the All-Star Game for the first time in a decade.

Holiday matched a career high with 40 points and made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 25.2 seconds left in overtime as the Milwaukee Bucks edged the short-handed Boston Celtics 131-125 on Tuesday for their 11th consecutive victory.

The 32-year-old Holiday shot 8 of 12 from beyond the arc – including one from behind midcourt that beat the third-quarter buzzer – to set a career high for 3-pointers.

“I don’t really, I guess, care for how I’m playing as long as we’re winning,” said Holiday, who also had seven assists. “For me, as long as we get the win, I’m OK. The only stat I look at is turnovers. That’s kind of how I determine if I had a good or bad game. Tonight, what did I have, five turnovers? To me, that hurts my soul.”

Holiday will join Bucks teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo at Sunday’s All-Star Game at Salt Lake City. It’s the first time Holiday has been selected since he was playing for Philadelphia in 2013, which marks the longest gap between All-Star appearances in league history.

“I’ve said since the season started that he’s an All-Star,” Antetokounmpo said.

Antetokounmpo added 36 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists as the Bucks (40-17) moved within a half-game of the Celtics (41-17) in the Eastern Conference standings.

Boston was playing without both its All-Stars – Jayson Tatum (non-COVID illness) and Jaylen Brown (facial fracture) – as well as Marcus Smart (sprained right ankle) and Al Horford (swelling in right knee).

The Celtics still nearly earned their fifth straight win.

“We expected to win that game,” said Malcolm Brogdon, who scored 26 points. “We went into that game like we were going to win, like we were supposed to win. We believe we are the best team on the floor every single night.”

Boston’s Sam Hauser, a Wisconsin native who had 40 friends and family members in the stands, made a game-tying 3-pointer with three seconds left in regulation to force overtime. Boston’s Derrick White then scored the first five points of overtime.

The Celtics still had a five-point lead with two minutes left, but the Bucks scored the final seven points of the game. The game-ending spurt started with Holiday’s go-ahead 3-pointer.

“On both ends of the court, he was phenomenal,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “I think his ability to create some turnovers and create pressure helped flip it. We went down and he made a few big-time plays that just are very Jrue-like. Special performance by him.”

Grant Williams lost the ball on Boston’s next possession, Grayson Allen got the steal and a clear-path foul was called on the Celtics with 3.2 seconds left.

Antetokounmpo made the ensuing two free throws and capped the scoring with a dunk at the buzzer.

SCARY MOMENT

Antetokounmpo landed awkwardly after an unsuccessful drive to the basket late in the fourth quarter and lay on the floor for a while before walking slowly back to the bench, but he never actually left the game.

“They gave me a quick update just saying that they think he just banged knees with somebody,” Budenholzer said. “We’ll check him in the morning, but I’d say the initial kind of report was positive.”

TIP-INS

Celtics: White, the reigning Eastern Conference player of the week, led Boston with 27 points. … Boston lost despite having a 27-10 edge in points off turnovers. … Mike Muscala got his first career technical foul for saying something to the Bucks bench after dunking in the third quarter.

Bucks: Antetokounmpo’s nine assists increased his career total to 3,271. He’s one behind Paul Pressey for the career franchise lead. … Holiday’s other 40-point game came for the Bucks against New Orleans on Dec. 17, 2021. … Antetokounmpo and Holiday won’t be the only Bucks representatives at the All-Star Game this weekend. Johnny Watson, the Bucks’ executive producer for arena and event presentation, will direct and produce in-game entertainment at the All-Star Game for an eighth time. Bucks disc jockey DJ Shawna and in-game host Melanie Ricks will handle those same roles at the All-Star Game.

UP NEXT

Celtics: Host Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.

Bucks: At Chicago on Thursday.

POELTL SCORES 30, SIAKAM HAS 26, RAPTORS BEAT MAGIC 123-113

TORONTO (AP) Jakob Poeltl scored 30 points, Pascal Siakam had 26 and the Toronto Raptors beat the Orlando Magic 123-113 on Tuesday night for their fifth win in six games.

Scottie Barnes scored 17 points, Fred VanVleet had 10 points and a season-high 15 assists, and Precious Achiuwa had 11 points and 13 rebounds for the Raptors, who shot a season-best 60.2%.

Wendell Carter Jr. scored 26 points, Jalen Suggs had 24 off the bench and Markelle Fultz scored 19 points for the Magic.

Orlando came in having won three straight road games but couldn’t follow Monday’s win at Chicago with another victory. The Magic are 1-10 in the second game of back-to-backs.

A former Raptor who was reacquired from San Antonio last week, Poeltl shot 15 for 17 and added nine rebounds and six blocks.

“You see what he did tonight,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosely said. “He was a game changer.”

The 30 points were the most Poeltl has scored as a Raptors player. His career high is 31, set with San Antonio last Nov. 15 at Portland.

“It’s just about reacting to the defense,” Poeltl said. “They decided to trap Freddie a bunch of times. I’m comfortable catching the ball there at the top of the key and trying to make plays.”

Suggs said Poeltl hurt Orlando with his bruising, physical style.

“He’s a force in the paint,” Suggs said. “Trying to box him out, you can’t out-jump him. He’s really strong and physical in there. He fits what they want to do. He’s a physical big who’s going to hit you in your mouth and have no remorse about it.”

One game after setting a season best by allowing just five points off turnovers, the Raptors made a season-worst 20 miscues against the Magic, leading to 26 points. The Magic weren’t much better, making 19 turnovers that led to 29 points for Toronto.

“You can’t turn the basketball over and give up offensive rebounds and give yourself a chance,” Mosley said.

The Raptors outrebounded the Magic 40-29 and had a 13-9 edge on the offensive glass.

As the All Star break arrives, Orlando has gone 19-15 since a 5-20 start.

“I feel like we did a solid job from the beginning of the year to now of kind of changing the script of who the Orlando Magic are,” Carter said.

Orlando led 70-65 at halftime but Poeltl scored eight points in the third as Toronto took a 94-89 edge to the fourth.

TIP-INS

Magic: Paolo Banchero scored 13 points. . F Jonathan Isaac (left knee) sat as Orlando played the second game of a back-to-back. . G Cole Anthony (sore right wrist) missed his second straight game.

Raptors: Toronto is 13-0 all-time when shooting 60 percent or better. . Coach Nick Nurse returned after missing Sunday’s win over Detroit for personal reasons. . F Thad Young injured his left knee early in the second quarter and did not return. .. G Gary Trent Jr. (sore left calf) missed his second game while F O.G. Anunoby (sprained left wrist) missed his ninth straight. . Toronto had 13 assists on 16 made baskets in the first quarter, including seven assists from VanVleet.

MILESTONE MAN

Barnes reached 2,000 career points. At 21 years and 197 days, he’s the third-youngest player in Raptors history to reach the milestone, behind Tracy McGrady and Chris Bosh.

ROAD WORK AHEAD

After hosting the Pelicans in their first game following the All-Star break, Toronto plays seven of eight on the road, a testing stretch that includes games at Cleveland, Denver, and both Los Angeles teams.

OUT ON VALENTINE’S DAY

Toronto Mayor John Tory attended the game. Tory said last Friday that he would step down as mayor of Canada’s largest city after acknowledging an affair with a former staffer.

UP NEXT

Magic: Host Detroit on Thursday, Feb. 23.

Raptors: Host New Orleans on Thursday, Feb. 23.

SUNS TOP KINGS 120-109 WITH DURANT WATCHING FROM BENCH

PHOENIX (AP) Devin Booker scored 32 points, Deandre Ayton had 29 points and 11 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns beat the Sacramento Kings 120-109 on Tuesday night with superstar acquisition Kevin Durant watching from the bench.

It was the first home game for the Suns since they completed a trade with Brooklyn for Durant, who is recovering from a right knee injury and hasn’t played since Jan. 12. He was introduced during a timeout in the third quarter and received a standing ovation. Durant is expected back sometime after this weekend’s All-Star break.

“I was watching him more than anything,” Booker said. “I don’t think people realize what it is until you’re in it. He deserves it, he’s a legend in this game. I’m glad he’s here.”

Booker was 13 of 20 from the field and did not attempt a 3-pointer in 29 minutes. It was his highest-scoring game of the four he’s played since returning from a left groin strain that sidelined him for 21 games.

“I feel good. It’s been a long recovery road, something I found peace in and just enjoyed the whole process,” Booker said.

Chris Paul had a season-high 19 assists and scored 17 points for Phoenix, which has won 11 of its last 14. Josh Okogie scored 19 points and made a team-high three 3-pointers.

“I think we did a really good job of finding the open man,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “Overall, it was a well-balanced game for us, complemented by how hard we played from start to finish.”

De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 35 points, following up his 36-point performance in a win over Dallas on Saturday.

“We just had too many unforced errors and going up against a team like that you can’t do that,” Fox said. “They capitalized on just about every error that we made today.”

Domantas Sabonis had 24 points and 15 rebounds – going 10 for 10 from the free-throw line – and Kevin Huerter scored 18 for Sacramento, which saw its lead over Phoenix in the Pacific Division shrink to one game.

The Suns led by as many as 13 points in the third quarter, but the Kings closed within four at the end of the period. Sacramento kept it close in the fourth, but Okogie’s 3 with 1:42 remaining turned out to be the Kings’ final basket. Paul responded with a step-back jumper to put the Suns ahead by nine.

DURANT UPDATE

Before the game, Williams said Durant is participating in some drills as he prepares to return.

“He’s in great shape and going game speed like he always does,” Williams said, adding that Durant needs to play in more 3-on-3 and similar competition levels before he can return.

DIVISION DOMINANCE

The Suns are 9-0 against Pacific Division opponents, the only NBA team without a loss in its division this season.

INJURY REPORT

Kings: Played without Malik Monk (right ankle sprain) and KZ Okpala (knee soreness).

Suns: Besides Durant, Cameron Payne (right foot sprain) and Landry Shamet (right foot soreness) remain sidelined.

HUERTER ADDED

Huerter has been selected to participate in the 3-point contest this weekend in Salt Lake City. Coach Mike Brown said Huerter is valuable to the Kings for more than just his shooting.

“He tries to find other ways to help us win,” Brown said. “The way he facilitates, plays the two-man game, he’s shown that he can shoot at a high level for many years.”

MISSING BRIDGES

The Suns gave up a lot to get Durant and Williams said replacing Mikal Bridges, a defensive stalwart at forward, is a challenge.

“Josh (Okogie) and Torrey (Craig) have been taking up some of that role. It’s something we have to figure out, be open-minded about what these guys can do and not compare to what Mikal did, it’s not fair to anybody,” Williams said.

UP NEXT

Kings: Host Portland on Feb. 23 after the All-Star break.

Suns: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday.

LEONARD’S 33 POINTS LEAD CLIPPERS OVER WARRIORS, 134-124

LOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Clippers have 22 games remaining to integrate their trade deadline acquisitions. They didn’t waste any time.

Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points, tying his career high with seven 3-pointers, and the Clippers beat the Golden State Warriors 134-124 on Tuesday night to snap a two-game skid.

“The Clippers just outplayed us,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “They were great in the second half and they deserved it.”

Norman Powell added 24 points and Paul George had 20 points and eight assists for the Clippers, who debuted newly acquired Eric Gordon, Bones Hyland and Mason Plumlee. They helped outscore the Warriors’ bench, 49-42.

“It’s going to be different for us,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “We got to put this together as fast as we can.”

Gordon finished with seven points, Hyland had six and Plumlee scored eight in the teams’ last game before the All-Star break.

“They did a good job of just being themselves and being aggressive,” Leonard said.

Leonard was 12 of 17 from the floor, 7 of 9 from 3-point range and made both of his free throws in 34 minutes.

“I kept shooting with confidence,” he said.

Jordan Poole led seven Warriors in double figures with 28 points. Klay Thompson had 18 points playing the second game of a back-to-back for the first time this season. Kevon Looney had 11 points and 14 rebounds.

The Warriors fell to 29-29 at the break. They hope to have Stephen Curry back not long after the season resumes, while newly acquired Gary Payton II could be out a month.

“We have reinforcements coming and we have a lot to look forward to,” Kerr said. “We have lost so many games that we should have won. We know we’re right there.”

Gordon’s 3-pointer extended the Clippers’ lead to 18 points early in the fourth. The Warriors cut it to 116-106 on Jonathan Kuminga’s 3-pointer. He finished with 16 points off the bench.

Leonard hit his seventh 3-pointer in the closing minutes before leaving the game with the Clippers ahead 128-114.

The teams traded leads and were tied five times early in the third. The Clippers outscored the Warriors 19-7 over the final minutes to lead 105-93 going into the fourth. Leonard and George had just two points each while their supporting cast carried them. Plumlee had six points and Hyland had two during the run in which seven different players scored.

“With this offense, I feel like I can create in the lane and find teammates,” Hyland said. “I forgot Mason can push the ball, too.”

The Warriors had four players in double figures at halftime when they led 65-61.

TIP-INS

Warriors: Thompson missed 11 games, all second games of back-to-backs, due to right Achilles tendon injury management. … Andrew Wiggins was out for personal reasons and will rejoin the team after the All-Star break. Donte DiVincenzo started in his place and scored 10 points. … Kerr got a technical late in the third for arguing a call. … Andre Iguodala (right hip soreness) missed his 16th straight game.

Clippers: Hyland will run the point for the second unit. “Just watching him, the pop he has, running pick and rolls, getting downhill, attacking and making the right passes, making the right plays,” Lue said.

GREEN’S CRITIQUE

Draymond Green was critical of the Warriors’ defense, something that has concerned Kerr all season.

“Defense is all about a will – a want to defend. Defense isn’t fun. You just got to want to do it if you want to win and we haven’t,” Green said. “I’m always going to try on that side, but I can be better. I’m not going to point the finger at anyone or point blame. If you’re a leader at something and you’re failing, it’s your fault.”

UP NEXT

Warriors: At Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

Clippers: At Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

KUZMA RETURNS FROM INJURY AND WIZARDS TOP BLAZERS 126-101

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Kyle Kuzma returned from an ankle sprain and scored 33 points, making six 3-pointers, to lead the Washington Wizards to a 126-101 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.

Kristaps Porzingis added 28 points and 12 rebounds for the Wizards, who have won three of their last four games.

“We’re making strides. I think we did a good job,” Kuzma said. “I think the biggest way – we talk about efficiency – is just the way we were playing, playing the right way, playing extra pass basketball, moving the ball around. That’s going to cause a lot of efficient nights because you’re getting quality shots.”

Afterward, Kuzma posted to Twitter: “Feels good to be back hoopin.”

Damian Lillard had 39 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for the Blazers. Anfernee Simons added 17 points but sprained his right ankle late in the third quarter and had to be helped to the locker room. Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said X-rays were negative.

“Once I saw him stay down, I was definitely concerned. That makes things tougher for us,” Lillard said.

The Blazers were already playing without Jerami Grant because of the concussion protocol and big man Jusuf Nurkic, out with a left calf strain.

The final margin was the Wizards’ biggest lead of the second half. Cam Reddish made a 3-pointer that had the Blazers within 105-90 with 8:11 left. Shaedon Sharpe got Portland closer at 107-97 with 5:14 to go.

A series of calls against the Blazers, including a flagrant foul and a technical on Lillard, stalled Portland’s momentum. It was the first flagrant foul of Lillard’s career.

Both teams were playing the second of back-to-backs.

The Blazers hit 23 3-pointers in a 127-115 rout of the Los Angeles Lakers, who were without NBA career scoring leader LeBron James.The Wizards fell 135-126 at the Golden State Warriors.

The newest Blazers, Reddish and Matisse Thybulle, started together for the second straight game after both were acquired at last week’s trade deadline.

Kuzma, who missed four games with a left ankle sprain, hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Wizards a 31-24 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Lillard hit a 3-pointer from nearly half court at the buzzer.

Lillard crashed into some sideline seats chasing a ball midway through the second quarter and came up limping, but he walked off any discomfort.

Kuzma had 19 points and the Wizards led 59-52 at the break. They shot 60.5% from the floor in the opening half.

Bradley Beal’s 3-pointer gave the Wizards a 72-60 lead in the third quarter. They led 97-80 going into the final quarter. Kuzma hit a three-quarter court 3 at the buzzer.

“I took some extra time (off from the injury) and I thought I thought that was really, really worth it for me to come out and play the type of game I did today,” said Kuzma, who missed his first three shots but then made his next six. “Just feeling healthy. Felt good.”

TIP-INS

Wizards: The Wizards dropped the other meeting with the Blazers this season, 124-116, at Capital One Arena. The Wizards have lost six straight at home in the series against Portland. … “I thought we had another good offensive night,” coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. ” It helps when you throw 17 3’s in.”

Trail Blazers: The Blazers were without starter Jermai Grant for the second straight game because he is in the concussion protocol. … The NBA announced that Lillard and Simons will take part in the 3-point contest on Saturday for All-Star weekend. Joing them will be Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana), Tyler Herro (Miami), Buddy Hield (Indiana), Kevin Huerter (Sacramento), Lauri Markkanen (Utah) and Jayson Tatum (Boston).

UP NEXT

Wizards: Visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night.

Trail Blazers: Visit the Sacramento Kings on Feb. 23.

NHL NEWS

CANADIENS CRUSH BLACKHAWKS 4-0 FOR THIRD STRAIGHT WIN

MONTREAL (AP) The Montreal Canadiens scored three goals in the third period to earn a 4-0 win over Western Conference bottom-dwellers Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.

Joel Armia scored one goal and added an assist, while Jonathan Drouin collected three assists. Justin Barron, David Savard and Christian Dvorak also scored as the Canadiens won a third straight game since returning from the NHL All-Star break.

“It wasn’t a pretty one for us, but we found a way to win,” Dvorak said. “We had a really good third period which was nice but now we really want to finish off this homestand the right way and go on the road on a little win streak here.”

Jake Allen made 22 saves to bank his first shutout of the season.

“It can sometimes be a bit of a letdown game when you have two really big wins, then a day off and then come back to that third one,” Allen said. “Sometimes it can be tough to get back up after such an emotional couple of wins so I’m just glad we did.”

Jaxson Stauber made 27 saves as Chicago started a four-game Canadian road trip with back-to-back losses. After three straight wins to start his NHL career, the Canadiens handed the 23-year-old native of Wayzata, Minnesota, his first loss.

“We were real sloppy in the first period,” said Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson. “We just didn’t play a good, solid game and I think they found their game before us and then it became tough.

“I mentioned a few times this year, when we play well we’re really connected together and today we just seem disconnected.”

The Canadiens drew first blood on the power play at 8:38 of the opening period. Barron’s wrist shot from the point deflected off Chicago defenseman Jack Johnson and past Stauber.

Chicago was inches away from tying the game when Andreas Athanasiou freed himself on a breakaway. Allen saved Athanasiou’s shot but the forward’s skate pushed the puck toward the goal line. The Habs goaltender knocked the net loose with his skate before the puck crossed the line.

Drouin connected with Armia on a cross-ice pass giving Montreal a two-goal lead at 5:45 of the final period. Stauber was shaken up after a collision on the play but remained in the game.

The Canadiens sealed the win midway through the third period with two goals in less than a minute.

SPECIAL GUESTS

Ukraine Team Select, a hockey team consisting of 11- and 12-year-old refugees displaced by war in their home country, attended the game. The Ukrainian players sat on the Canadiens bench to take in the pre-game warmups and received fist bumps and pucks from players as they prepared for the game.

The Canadiens presented a welcome video in the first period highlighting their path in the Quebec Peewee Tournament. The team received an ovation from the Bell Center crowd.

INJURY REPORT

Blackhawks defenseman Jarred Tinordi left for the locker room at 5:40 of the first period. The Blackhawks announced during the second period that he would not return to the game.

Before the game, the Montreal Canadiens announced that defenseman Arber Xhekaj would be out indefinitely with an upper-body injury. The undrafted rookie suffered the injury during a fight with Edmonton Oilers blue liner Vincent Desharnais during Montreal’s 6-2 win over the Oilers last Sunday.

UP NEXT

Blackhawks: Play at Toronto on Wednesday night.

Canadiens: Start a four-game road trip at Carolina on Thursday night.

GRAVES’ LAST-SECOND GOAL GIVES DEVILS 3-2 WIN OVER JACKETS

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Ryan Graves scored off a feed from Michael McLeod in front of the net with 1.4 seconds left, and the New Jersey Devils beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 on Tuesday night for their fourth win in five games.

Yegor Sharangovich and Jesper Bratt had the other goals for the Devils, and Graves also had an assist. Vitek Vanecek stopped 31 shots for New Jersey, which remains three points behind first-place Carolina and moved five ahead of the New York Rangers in the Metropolitan Division.

Adam Boqvist had a goal and an assist, and Johnny Gaudreau scored for Columbus, which has lost five of six, including three straight at home, and continues to sit last in the NHL. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 29 shots.

The teams traded goals through the first two periods, scoring late and early.

Sharangovich made it 1-0 at 10:46 of the first and Gaudreau tied it on a power-play goal with 1.3 second left in the period.

Bratt’s go-ahead goal came 7 seconds into the second period before Boqvist tied it again at 4:41 with his first score of the year.

UP NEXT

New Jersey: Visits St. Louis on Thursday night.

Columbus: Hosts Winnipeg on Thursday night.

SCHENN SCORES TWICE TO LEAD BLUES PAST PANTHERS, 6-2

ST. LOUIS (AP) Brayden Schenn scored twice and Jordan Binnington made 34 saves to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 6-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.

Ryan O’Reilly, Jordan Kyrou, Ivan Barbashev and Nick Leddy also scored for the Blues, who won their second in a row following a five-game losing streak.

Carter Verhaeghe and Eetu Luostarinen scored for Florida, which had won four of five.

The Blues scored first when Schenn deflected a shot by Torey Krug that bounced off the back wall and kicked off the skate of goalie Spencer Knight.

“You need some goals like that every once in a while,” Schenn said. “Not pretty by any means, but I’ll take it.”

Schenn converted on a wrist shot from inside the circle 25 seconds into the second period to make it 2-0.

“We’re just kind of playing for one another right now, playing hard,” Schenn said. “We go game by game now, trying to grab two points each night.”

O’Reilly and Kyrou scored 20 seconds apart in the third period to push the lead to 5-1. Kyrou leads the team with 24 goals.

Barbashev, the subject of trade speculation, also had two assists.

Binnington stopped 17 of 18 shots in the third and improved to 20-18-3 with his second successive win.

“I thought we got contributions from a lot of guys,” St. Louis coach Craig Berube said. “We played a pretty solid game from the goaltender on out.”

The Blues have scored six goals in each of their last two games since trading longtime sniper Vladimir Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola to the New York Rangers.

“The past two games after the break, obviously, we’re playing good hockey,” Schenn said.

Knight made 22 saves for Florida, which fell to 11-6-2 since Jan. 3. The Panthers were coming off a 2-1 win over Minnesota on Monday.

The Panthers came in averaging an NHL-best 36.1 shots per game.

St. Louis has killed off the last 13 penalties against Florida.

“We weren’t at our best tonight,” Verhaeghe said. “It was a little frustrating.”

BANGED UP

The Blues lost Krug and winger Brandon Saad to upper-body injuries during the game. Krug played 7:58, and Saad 9:32.

MILESTONE

Leddy played in his 900th career game, becoming the 528th player in NHL history to reach that plateau. The defenseman’s first game came with Chicago at Colorado on Oct. 7, 2010.

“For me it was a special night,” Leddy said. “Just trying to create some offense when I can.”

PANTHERS HONOR VICTIMS

Panthers players wore T-shirts into the arena honoring victims of the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on the fifth anniversary of the tragedy. The shirts had the names of the 17 people who were killed. Many players have formed relationships with the families of those victims.

“Anything we can do to support a cause like that is real good. We’re a family here in South Florida,” Verhaeghe said.

UP NEXT

Panthers: Continue their road trip Thursday at Washington.

Blues: Host the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.

DESMITH MAKES 38 SAVES, PENGUINS BEAT SHARKS 3-1

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Casey DeSmith made 38 saves and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the San Jose Sharks 3-1 on Tuesday night.

“I thought his confidence (was high). You could just see it from the drop of the puck,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “I think that’s contagious. I think it rubs off on the group in front of him.”

The Penguins’ top line of Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel and Rickard Rakell each had three points. Crosby had three assists, giving him 41 this season.

Guentzel scored twice, including an empty-netter. Rakell had the first Pittsburgh goal.

“I think we worked hard. It was nice to get rewarded. It wasn’t always pretty tonight, but it was nice to get the win,” Rakell said.

Timo Meier scored his 31st goal late in the third period for the Sharks. Aaron Dell made 24 saves in his third start for San Jose this season. He has yet to earn a win.

“He played great. He’s an NHL-caliber goaltender,” Sharks captain Logan Couture said. “There’s a reason he’s played, I don’t know how many games in this league. He’s got the skill to do it.”

Erik Karlsson and Alexander Barabanov both had their four-game point streaks snapped.

Pittsburgh took the lead early, with Rakell jumping on a juicy rebound 5:52 into the first period for his 19th goal of the season.

In the second, Crosby faked out the entire arena by going behind the net and throwing a no-look backhand pass to Guentzel, who had a wide-open net. It was Guentzel’s 22nd goal of the season.

“Just got to be ready when you’re with him. He made a nice play to make everyone fake, and it’s pretty easy for (me),” Guentzel said.

Meier scored on a rush the full length of the ice and beat DeSmith through the legs with 4:03 to go.

“He’s an elite player in this league. And he’s a very difficult guy to contain. He had some chances tonight,” Sharks coach David Quinn said. “That’s a big-time goal and a power forward goal.”

Guentzel added an empty-net goal to seal it.

900 CLUB

Couture skated in his 900th NHL game, all with San Jose.

“I’ll go home tonight and I’ll sit on the couch and think about all the games that I’ve gotten to play here in San Jose. I still vividly remember my first game in Philadelphia, walking into the room,” Couture said. “And I tell guys, my friends, when they ask what it’s like to play in the NHL, that the lights are 10 times brighter than you think, and the music’s 10 times louder than you think. I cherish every single day I get to play in this league.”

UP NEXT

Penguins: At the New York Islanders on Saturday.

Sharks: Visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.

TOP INDIANA RELEASES

COLTS HIRE EAGLES OC SHANE STEICHEN AS THEIR HEAD COACH

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Indianapolis Colts have hired Shane Steichen as their head coach.

The move announced Tuesday ends a search that took more than a month, involved more than a dozen candidates and finally gives the Colts some direction in what still appears to be a tumultuous offseason.

“Right now I’m a little emotional because this is a big day for me and my family,” Steichen said, explaining why he was choking up during his introductory news conference. “We want to get a lot of things done here, we’ve got to grind every single day.”

Each of Indy’s last two full-time hires were offensive coordinators for Philadelphia Eagles teams that made the Super Bowl. Frank Reich was hired in 2018 after the Eagles won their first championship since 1960 but was fired in October as the Colts’ season started to unravel

He was replaced by interim coach Jeff Saturday, who won his first game but lost the final seven to give Indy the No. 4 overall draft pick. Saturday was one of the finalists for the full-time job.

Now, though, the Colts seem to be changing directions again, this time likely with a young, promising quarterback. That’s a major reason team owner Jim Irsay and general manager Chris Ballard, who led the lengthy search, sought out the 37-year-old Steichen.

Under Steichen’s tenure in Philadelphia, Jalen Hurts went from second-round draft pick in 2020 to solid starter in 2021 to NFL MVP runner-up in 2022.

But Hurts isn’t Steichen’s only prized pupil.

In 2020, as offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers, Steichen presided over Justin Herbert’s NFL offensive rookie of the year campaign. Before that, he worked with former Chargers star Philip Rivers, who played his final season in Indianapolis under the leadership of Reich and current Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni.

“Shane and I met in Philadelphia and had a long and thorough conversation and he was so impressive,” Irsay said, describing a Friday night meeting the week before the Super Bowl. “I know Philip had a lot of input, and he and I talked for a very long time about Shane. Shane was tremendous in the interview, showed incredible leadership, toughness, very fast mind to be able to process and disseminate information very quickly.”

The similarities between Steichen and Reich are striking.

Both climbed the coaching ladder with a franchise that previously called San Diego home, and both were college quarterbacks, though Steichen, unlike Reich, never took a snap in the NFL. And both left the Philadelphia staff just days after their teams played in the Super Bowl, though Reich was hired only after Josh McDaniels backed out of an agreement to take the job.

Still, Irsay is hoping for different results from Steichen, who becomes the league’s third-youngest coach behind two other 37-year-olds, Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams and Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings.

McVay won last year’s Super Bowl title and O’Connell, who is two weeks younger than Steichen, won a division title in his first season with the Minnesota Vikings and finished sixth in coach of the year balloting.

Those success stories seemed especially appealing to a franchise that missed the playoffs each of the past two seasons and almost certainly will have a seventh different opening day starting quarterback in September. Indy has drafted only two quarterbacks in the first round over the past 25 years – Peyton Manning in 1998 and Andrew Luck in 2012, both the top overall pick.

First, though, Steichen must put together a staff. It’s unclear whether Saturday, who had no college or pro coaching experience when he was hired for the interim job, is interested in remaining in Indy as an assistant coach.

The choice of Saturday to replace Reich was widely panned by critics who thought there were more qualified candidates already on Indy’s staff and those who thought Irsay was skirting NFL rules to include minority candidates in the hiring process.

While those rules don’t apply to midseason changes, Ballard and Irsay promised to conduct an exhaustive, inclusive search that did meet the Rooney Rule requirements.

Still, they landed on Steichen.

“High integrity, high character, brilliant football mind and philosophy,” Ballard said. “We see the game the same way and I think that’s important. We’re not going to always agree, we didn’t always agree in the interview, but we see the game the same way.”

Steichen must figure out how to revamp an offensive line that had been among the league’s top units from 2018-21 but struggled mightily in 2022. Plus, Indy must decide what to do with veteran quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Nick Foles, who struggled last season.

Ryan is just six days younger than Steichen and would count $35.2 million against the salary cap if he returns. Indy could save about $17 million by releasing him. Cutting Foles, the Super Bowl 52 MVP, would save the Colts about $2 million off his $3.6 million cap charge in 2023.

Neither has said he plans to retire.

PACERS BASKETBALL

HALIBURTON, HIELD TO COMPETE IN 3-POINT CONTEST AT ALL-STAR WEEKEND

Pacers teammates Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield are among eight participants in the 2023 Starry 3-Point Contest, which will take place this Saturday in Salt Lake City as part of All-Star Saturday Night.

Haliburton will take place in the competition the night before participating in his first career All-Star Game. The 22-year-old point guard is averaging 20 points and 10.1 assists and shooting 39.8 percent from 3-point range.

Hield will attempt to win a second 3-Point Contest title. He won the event in 2020 in Chicago while a member of the Sacramento Kings. Hield currently leads the NBA with 224 3-pointers made this season and ranks 11th in the league in 3-point percentage at .423.

Haliburton and Hield will compete against Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat, Kevin Huerter of the Sacramento Kings, Damian Lillard and Anthony Simons of the Portland Trail Blazers, Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz, and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics.

Haliburton and Hield are the fourth and fifth Pacers players to participate in the 3-Point Contest. Hall of Famer Reggie Miller took part in the event five times (1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, and 1998), while Danny Granger (2009) and Paul George (2013) competed once each. No Pacer has ever won the 3-Point Contest.

All-Star Saturday Night, which also features the Skills Competition and Dunk Contest, will air on TNT on Saturday, Feb. 18 beginning at 8:00 PM ET.

GAME PREVIEW: PACERS VS BULLS

The Pacers will take the court one last time before the All-Star break, as Indiana (25-34) hosts Chicago (26-31) on Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Pacers and Bulls have split two games so far this season, with each team winning on their home court.

Indiana has dropped five straight games following Monday’s 123-117 loss to Utah. All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton was brilliant in the second half, scoring 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting and dishing out six assists over the final two quarters, but it wasn’t quite enough for the Blue & Gold to come away with the win.

Defense continues to be the Pacers’ downfall, as seemingly every time Haliburton hit a big shot down the stretch on Monday, the Jazz answered by either getting to the rim or creating an open look from beyond the arc.

Indiana will need to find some answers on the defensive end ahead of Wednesday’s matchup with the Bulls, who feature two of the NBA’s top 20 scorers in DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine.

DeRozan, who is headed to Salt Lake City this weekend for his sixth All-Star appearance, is averaging 25.4 points per game on 50.7 percent shooting and also dishing out 5.1 assists per contest, but has been ruled out for Wednesday’s game due to a strained quad.

The Pacers will still have to contedn with LaVine, who averages 23.9 points and 4.1 assists and hoists over seven 3-point attempts per game.

The Bulls have dropped their last four games to fall to 11th place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game back of the final spot in the Play-In Tournament. Both Chicago and Indiana will be hoping to snap skids on Wednesday night and head into the All-Star break with a little positive momentum.

Projected Starters

Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Buddy Hield, F – Aaron Nesmith, C – Daniel Theis

Bulls: G – Ayo Dosunmu, G – Zach LaVine, F – Dalen Terry, F – Patrick Williams, C – Nikola Vucevic

Injury Report

Pacers: Daniel Theis – questionable (sprained right thumb), Myles Turner – questionable (sore lower back)

Bulls: Goran Dragic – probable (sore left knee), Alex Caruso – questionable (sore left midfoot), Lonzo Ball – out (left knee surgery), DeMar DeRozan – out (right quadricep strain), Javonte Green – out (right knee surgery), Derrick Jones Jr. – out (left adductor strain), Marko Simonovic – out (G League assignment)

Last Meeting

Jan. 24, 2023: The Pacers trailed the Bulls by as many as 21 points in the first half and by 16 at halftime, but mounted a furious rally in the second half to snap a seven-game skid. Myles Turner scored 16 points in the third quarter and rookie guard Bennedict Mathurin tallied 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting in the fourth to lead the Pacers to a 116-110 comeback win over their Central Division rivals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Turner and Mathurin shared high-scoring honors for Indiana with 26 points apiece and T.J. McConnell added 20 points and 10 assists in a much-needed victory over Chicago.

“We had a positive halftime,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. “We talked about the fact that we were very much still in the game, that they played last night, and we were starting to do some things that were causing them some problems — just to hang in and stay together.

“That’s exactly what happened. Guys fought their butts off…Down the stretch, it was just guts all the way.”

DeRozan had a game-high 33 points, going 14-for-21 from the field and 5-for-5 from the free throw line, but the second half belonged to the Blue & Gold.

Turner finished 11-for-21 from the field and pulled down eight rebounds, while Mathurin went 10-for-17 and collected seven boards. McConnell played 40 minutes, went 9-for-14 from the field, tallied a double-double, and came up with three steals.

Noteworthy

The Pacers snapped a four-game losing streak against Chicago with their win over the Bulls last month.

Buddy Hield has a league-leading 224 3-point field goals on the season and needs to make six more to break Reggie Miller’s single-season franchise record for threes made in a season, which has stood since 1996-97.

Pacers forward James Johnson began his NBA career in Chicago, where he played from 2009-11.

Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)

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

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)

Tickets

In their final game before the All-Star break, the Pacers welcome Zach LaVine and the Chicago Bulls to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7:00 PM ET.

INDY INDIANS BASEBALL

PROSPECTS WEEKENDS RETURN TO VICTORY FIELD FOR 2023 CAMPAIGN

INDIANAPOLIS – With pitchers and catchers officially reporting to spring training this week, the Indianapolis Indians today announced that two Prospects Weekends presented by Hoosier Lottery have been added to the 2023 promotional calendar. The fifth installment of the popular promotion will include Oneil Cruz and Ji-Hwan Bae bobblehead giveaways, the Indians wearing ‘Young Bucs’ jerseys on field as an ode to their affiliation with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and appearances by the Pirates Pierogies and Pirate Parrot in September.

“Prospects Weekends have been one of the top game day promotions to our baseball fans over the past four seasons at Victory Field,” said Kim Stoebick, Indianapolis Indians director of marketing. “We look forward to unveiling the Oneil Cruz and Ji-Hwan Bae bobbleheads, wearing and auctioning off specialty ‘Young Bucs’ jerseys, and welcoming the Pirates Pierogies and Pirate Parrot to the Vic for in-game entertainment.”

The first Prospects Weekend falls on Friday, May 19 and Saturday, May 20 when the Indians host the Iowa Cubs. The Indians will debut their ‘Young Bucs’ jerseys on May 19 with Friday Fireworks immediately following the game. Then on May 20, the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive an Oneil Cruz bobblehead. During the Sunday, May 21 series finale, the first 250 Knot Hole Kids Club members will receive a prospect bobblehead thanks to Riley Children’s Health and Williams Comfort Air. The finale also includes Sunday Characters with Princesses (and Pirates!) presented by MHS with a princesses meet-and-greet and Rowdie dressed like a pirate. Fans are encouraged to dress up like their favorite fairy tale princesses and pirates, too.

The second Prospects Weekend takes place on Friday, Sept. 8 and Saturday, Sept. 9 with the Toledo Mud Hens in town. Pirates Pierogies will be in attendance for both games and the Sunday, Sept. 10 series finale, and ‘Young Bucs’ jerseys will be up for auction from gates open on Sept. 8 through the end of the seventh inning on Sept. 9 to benefit Indianapolis Indians Charities. Friday Fireworks cap the Sept. 8 affair while the first 1,000 fans through the gates on Sept. 9 receive a Ji-Hwan Bae bobblehead. Bae was Indianapolis’ Team MVP in 2022 and made his MLB debut in late September. The weekend finale features Sunday Characters with Princesses (and Pirates!) and an appearance by the official mascot of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirate Parrot.

Full season, half season and mini plans are on sale, and group and premium reservations may also be made. Single-game tickets go on sale Wednesday, March 1 at 10 AM. For more on the Indians, visit IndyIndians.com or contact the Victory Field Box Office at (317) 269-3545 or Tickets@IndyIndians.com.

INDIANA SWIMMING

NO. 8 HOOSIERS READY FOR BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – No. 8-ranked Indiana swimming and diving is set to kick off the 2023 Big Ten Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, a four-day event spanning Wednesday (Feb. 15) through Saturday (Feb. 19) inside Canham Natatorium in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The Hoosiers are the second-highest ranked program in their conference meet behind only No. 5 Ohio State and in front of No. 16 Michigan, No. 20 Northwestern and No. 21 Wisconsin.

The event begins Wednesday evening with the first set of finals in the 200-yard medley relay and 800-yard freestyle relay. The following three days will consist of two sessions, with preliminaries in the morning to determine finals in the evening. All seven sessions can be streamed on the Big Ten Plus digital platform.

MEET INFO

Wednesday, Feb. 15 – Saturday, Feb. 19 • 10 a.m. ET (prelims), 5 p.m. ET (finals)

Canham Natatorium • Ann Arbor, Mich.

Live Results (Swimming): http://bit.ly/3jTPEVx/Meet Mobile App

Live Results (Diving): http://bit.ly/3jWYeCQ

Live Stream: bigtenplus.com

SCHEDULED EVENTS (Finals)

Wednesday (5 p.m. ET) – 200 Medley Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay

Thursday (5 p.m. ET) – 500 Freestyle, 200 IM, 50 Freestyle, 1-Meter Dive, 400 Medley Relay

Friday (5 p.m. ET) – 100 Butterfly, 400 IM, 200 Freestyle, 100 Breaststroke, 100 Backstroke, 3-Meter Dive, 200 Freestyle Relay

Saturday (5 p.m. ET) – 1,650 Freestyle, 200 Backstroke, 100 Freestyle, 200 Breaststroke, 200 Butterfly, Platform Dive, 400 Freestyle Relay

OF NOTE…

PODIUM WATCH – HOOSIERS WITH TOP FIVE MARKS IN BIG TEN

Megan Carter – 1-meter (351.60)

Brearna Crawford – 200 breast (2:09.36)

Mariah Denigan – 500 free (4:41.89), 1,650 free (16:08.72)

Anne Fowler – 1-meter (346.28), 3-meter (375.55)

Ching Hwee Gan – 500 free (4:41.58), 1,650 free (16:05.69)

Mackenzie Looze – 200 IM (1:56.52), 400 IM (4:09.67)

Kristina Paegle – 50 free (22.07), 100 free (48.15)

Anna Peplowski – 200 free (1:44.19), 100 back (52.11), 200 back (1:52.00), 100 free (48.73)

Noelle Peplowski – 200 IM (1:56.85), 100 breast (59.17), 200 breast (2:05.52)

Ella Ristic – 200 free (1:45.45)

2022 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Hoosiers extended a stretch of 16 straight top-three finishes at the conference meet, as well as a stretch of 21-of-22, while placing third in last year’s championships. IU scored 1,100 points to finish behind Big Ten Champion Ohio State (1303) and Michigan (1185).

Two Hoosiers earned individual titles, as then-freshman Brearna Crawford won gold in the 200-yard breaststroke, and Tarrin Gilliland secured victory in the platform diving event.

BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

Indiana won its sixth and most recent women’s Big Ten Championship in 2019. Five have occurred during IU head swimming coach Ray Looze’s tenure. The Hoosiers have finished in the top three in 16 straight seasons, with 11 championship or runner-up finishes during that span.

IU athletes have combined for 119 Big Ten championships, including 58 swimming titles, 22 relay championships and 33 diving titles.

INDIANA MBB

INDIANA BASKETBALL GAME NOTES – GAME 26 AT RV/RV NORTHWESTERN

Opening Tip

• Indiana University concludes a brief two-game road swing in its 123rd season of competition in men’s basketball at Northwestern at 9 p.m. ET on Feb. 15 at the Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game will be broadcast on BTN.

• Northwestern, led by 10th-year head coach Chris Collins, enter the game with a 18-7 record and an 9-5 mark in B1G play. Northwestern has earned victories in three-straight games, including an upset win over No. 1/1 Purdue (64-58) on Feb. 12. The Wildcats are aiming to reach the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history.

Game Information

Feb. 15, 2023 • 9 p.m. ET

Welsh-Ryan Arena (7,039) • Evanston, Ill.

TV: BTN (Kevin Kugler, Robbie Hummel)

Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)

Series History: Indiana leads, 120-54

Last Meeting: NW 84, IU 83 on Jan. 8, 2023 in Bloomington

Series History

• Indiana leads the all-time series against Northwestern, 120-54, but are just 5-5 against the Wildcats in the last 10 meetings. IU’s longest win streak in the series came in the form of 26-straight triumphs from Feb. 11, 1988 to Jan. 15, 2003.

• Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino tallied a career-best 33 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the floor and 5-of-7 attempts from the 3-point line against Northwestern in an 84-83 loss against Northwestern on Jan. 8.

• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis registered 18 points, a career-high 24 rebounds, eight assists, and four blocks against the Wildcats. He became the first Big Ten player to post a game with at least 15 points, 20 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in a league game since Jordan Murphy (Minnesota, Jan. 19, 2019).

• Indiana turned the ball over 16 times in the loss, the third-most giveaways for the season. Northwestern turned the extra possessions into 25 points.

• In six career games against the Wildcats, head coach Mike Woodson averaged 20.3 points. He scored in double figures in all 60 games played against Big Ten Conference opponents in his storied Hoosier career.

Last Time Out

• Indiana overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Michigan by a score of 62-61 at the Crisler Center on Feb. 11. The victory marked the first for IU in Ann Arbor since Feb. 2, 2016.

• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis led the Hoosiers with 28 points and 11 rebounds, his 45th career double-double. He also dished out three assists and blocked a pair of shots.

• Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino overcame early foul trouble to post 21 points, four rebounds, and five assists.

• The duo scored or assisted on the first 16 Indiana made field goals against the Wolverines.

• Michigan made just one of their final 10 shot attempts from the field and did not score a point for the final 5:12 of the game. The Hoosiers found a stop on eight-straight possessions to close out the Wolverines.

Jackson-Davis, The All-American

• Since the calendar flipped to 2023, senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis has averaged 23.3 points, 13.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.3 blocks per game. His rebounding figure marks the highest tally in the NCAA during the 12-game stretch.

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

• Jackson-Davis made 111-of-207 (53.6%) of his shots from the floor and 58-of-84 (69.0%) of his free throw attempts in the first 12 games of the new year.

• TJD posted three 30-pooint games in the month of January, including back-to-back games with 35 points at Illinois (Jan. 19) and 31 points against Michigan State (Jan. 22). He also grabbed at least 20 rebounds three times during the stretch of nine games.

Rise of the Fino

• After hitting double figures in the scoring column just twice in his first six collegiate games, freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino scored 10-plus points in his next nine games.

• Since returning to the Indiana lineup against Kansas on Dec. 17, Hood-Schifino is averaging 14.4 points, 4.3 assists, and 1.0 steals on 43.8% shooting from the floor and 41.8% shooting from the 3-point line. He has 11 double-digit scoring outputs during that stretch, including four games exceeding the 20-point threshold.

• Hood-Schifino scored a career-best 33 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the floor and 5-of-7 shooting from the 3-point line against Northwestern on Jan. 8, the highest point total by a Hoosier freshman since Eric Gordon scored 33 against Chattanooga on Nov. 12, 2007.

• JHS ranks third among all freshmen in the Big Ten in scoring (12.6 points per game), second in assists (4.2), fifth in rebounds (3.9), and fifth in made 3-pointers per game (1.3). He is second in the league averaging a combined 20.7 points, rebounds, and assists per game.

Miller Time

• Fifth-year senior forward Miller Kopp has knocked down a team-best 45 3-pointers this season. He is hitting the long ball at a 45.5% clip (45-of-99), the second-highest percentage on the team (min. 20 attempts).

• In the two games against Rutgers this season, Kopp averaged 19.5 points and hit 60.0% (9-of-15) of his shots from behind the arc. The two games mark his two highest scoring outputs of his season.

• Kopp transferred to Indiana before the 2021-22 season after playing three seasons with Northwestern. While with the Wildcats, Kopp averaged 9.6 points on 122-of-339 (36.0%) from the 3-point line in 87 career games (74 starts).

Double Double, Double Double (CAREER)

Trayce Jackson-Davis: 45; last at Michigan, 2/11/23

Race Thompson: 9; last vs. Elon, 12/20/22

Xavier Johnson: 4; last vs. Arizona, 12/10/22

Jordan Geronimo: 2; last vs. Wisconsin, 1/14/23

Twenty Piece (CAREER)

Trayce Jackson-Davis: 42; last at Michigan, 2/11/23

Xavier Johnson: 15; last vs. North Carolina, 11/30/22

Miller Kopp: 10; last at Rutgers, 12/3/22

Jalen Hood-Schifino: 4; last at Michigan, 2/11/23

Race Thompson: 2; last vs. Little Rock, 11/23/22

Tamar Bates: 1; vs. Jackson State, 11/25/22

Trey Galloway: 1; vs. Nebraska, 12/7/22

TJD, The Big Fundamental, and The Diesel

• In the last 30 seasons of Division I men’s college basketball, only senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis and NBA Hall of Famer Tim Duncan have averaged at least 19.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game.

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

Chasing History

• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis currently sits sixth all-time at IU in scoring (2,004), third in rebounds (1,035), and holds the school record for blocked shots (242). He joins Alan Henderson as the only Hoosiers to be top-10 all-time in career scoring, rebounding, and blocks.

Up Next: Career Scoring Leaders

1. Calbert Cheaney (2,613)

2. Steve Alford (2,438)

3. Don Schlundt (2,192)

4. A.J. Guyton (2,100)

5. Mike Woodson (2,061)

6. Trayce Jackson-Davis (2,032)

Up Next: Career Rebounding Leaders

1. Alan Henderson (1,091)

2. Walt Bellamy (1,087)

3. Trayce Jackson-Davis (1,046)

Up Next: Career Double-Doubles

1. Walt Bellamy (59)

2. Archie Dees (56)

3. Alan Henderson (49)

4. Trayce Jackson-Davis (45)

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

• The Center Grove product is the only active men’s Division I player to tally at least 2,000 career points, 1,000 career rebounds, and 225 career blocks. In the last 25 seasons, only nine players have achieved those numbers in college basketball. Only Kyle Hines (UNCG) produced those numbers on a higher career scoring average.

• Jackson-Davis is one of two high-major players (Zach Edey; Purdue) to average at least 20.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game this season.

PURDUE WGOLF

PURDUE WOMEN’S GOLF WINS TULANE CLASSIC

NEW ORLEANS – Purdue Women’s Golf began the spring season on the right note, defeating 17 teams to win the Tulane Classic at English Turn Golf & Country Club in New Orleans. The Boilermakers (+33) used Top-5 individual performances from Ashley Kozlowski, Danielle du Toit and Momo Sugiyama to secure a four-shot victory over runners-up Tulane (+37) and Incarnate Word (+37).

In just the fifth tournament under first-year head coach Zack Byrd, the Boilermakers captured their first team title since winning the 2018 Illini Women’s Invitational. It was a wire-to-wire victory for Purdue (299-285-313—897), leading after all three rounds.

The Boilermakers recorded 37 birdies throughout the 54-hole tournament, the most by any team. Purdue also paced the field in par-3 scoring (E) and par-5 scoring (+1) on the difficult par 72 course.

Kozlowski finished runner-up on the individual leaderboard, ending the tournament at 5-over (71-72-78—221) and three shots back of medalist Carla Bernat of Tulane. The second-place showing was a career best for the junior, as well as her third Top-10 finish as a Boilermaker. Kozlowski’s final round featured an eagle on the par-5 11th, her second eagle of the season. She dominated par 5s throughout the week, playing them 4-under to rank second in the 96-player field.

Du Toit was closely behind Kozlowski, two shots back in third (76-69-78—223). Competing in her 39th tournament as a Boilermaker, the super senior produced her best performance, besting her fourth-place finish as a freshman at the 2019 Lady Boilermaker Classic. Du Toit made 11 birdies over 54 holes and played the par 3s 2-under, leading the field in both categories.

Sugiyama matched her best finish as a Boilermaker, tying for fourth (77-70-77—224). The sophomore secured her third Top-20 performance in five tournaments this season, including her second in the Top 10. She helped Purdue wrap up the tournament title with three birdies on the back nine and played the final holes 1-under without a bogey.

In her first tournament of the season after missing the fall due to injury, Kan Bunnabodee tied for 17th (75-74-80—229). It marked the seventh Top-20 finish for the senior Boilermaker.

Purdue will waste no time in returning to competition, heading out to Las Vegas for The Show next week (Feb. 20-21). Spanish Trail Country Club will play host to the tournament, closing out the Boilermakers’ February.

BOILERMAKERS

2. Ashley Kozlowski: 71-72-78—221 (+5)

3. Danielle du Toit: 76-69-78—223 (+7)

T4. Momo Sugiyama: 77-70-77—224 (+8)

T17. Kan Bunnabodee: 75-74-80—229 (+13)

T69. Nitisha Manikandesh: 81-78-82—241 (+25)

*T48. Jade Gu: 76-75-85—236 (+20)

*Competing as an individual

PURDUE MGOLF

BOILERMAKERS FINISH 10TH IN PUERTO RICO

RIO GRANDE, P.R. – The No. 28-ranked Purdue men’s golf team pieced together its best round of the tournament, but couldn’t move up the standings and finished 10th at the elite Puerto Rico Classic.

The Boilermakers finished the 54-hole event at 7-under par 857 (289-288-280). Oklahoma won the event for the second straight year at 30-under par 834. East Tennessee State (-25), Georgia (-24), Wisconsin (-22) and Ohio State (-20) rounded out the top 5.

Herman Sekne led the Boilermakers with a 28th-place showing at 3-under par 213 (73-71-69), posting his seventh and eighth rounds of even-par or better this season. His third-round 69 marked his sixth round in the 60s this season.

Playing in his first tournament on the counting team, Kent Hsiao finished tied for 34th at 2-under par 214 (71-73-70). Peyton Snoeberger also finished tied for 34th with rounds of 73-71-70.

Andrew Farraye finished tied for 49th at 2-over par 218 (74-73-71) and Nels Surtani was tied for 54th at 3-over par 219 (72-75-72).

Playing as individuals, Nick Dentino finished tied for 49th at 2-over par 218 (74-70-74) and Luke Prall finished 75th at 15-over par 231 (77-74-80).

Purdue’s next action will be in late March at the Hootie at Bulls Bay in South Carolina.

BUTLER MEN’S BB

VILLANOVA PULLS OUT WIN OVER BUTLER IN DEFENSIVE BATTLE

In a game that was tighter for much more of the contest than the final score indicated, Villanova pulled out a 62-50 win over Butler Tuesday night at Finneran Pavilion in Philadelphia, Pa.

With the result, Villanova is now 13-13 overall and 7-8 in BIG EAST play. Butler falls to 13-14 (5-11 BIG EAST)

TOP DAWG PERFORMANCE:

Jayden Taylor led the Bulldogs with 20 points. It marked the sophomore’s fourth consecutive game scoring 19 or more points. Taylor was selected as the BIG EAST Player of the Week Monday.

STAT OF THE NIGHT:

Villanova went 16-for-19 from the free throw line, while the Bulldogs only made it to the charity stripe seven times (making five).

HOW IT TRANSPIRED:

Taylor and Manny Bates combined for 20 of Butler’s 24 first half points as Villanova took a 25-24 halftime advantage. The first half featured nine lead changes and two ties.

A Villanova run early in the second half gave the home team a 37-31 lead with 13:22 remaining.

After Butler once again clawed back within one point, back-to-back Caleb Daniels’ three-pointers gave Villanova a 45-38 lead with 8:46 to play.

A final Butler run was capped by a Simas Lukosius layup to make it 48-45 with 6:13 remaining.

Villanova then closed the game on a 14-5 spurt for the final margin.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

Butler’s only lead of the second half came at 31-30 with 15:59 to play.

Butler shot 38 percent from the field, just better than Villanova’s 35-percent mark.

Manny Bates had 12 points and nine rebounds for Butler.

Simas Lukosius scored seven points to go along with his eight rebounds, which were one shy of his career-high.

Justin Moore (15) and Caleb Daniels (13) scored in double figures for Villanova, which had five players score eight or more points.

Villanova committed only seven turnovers. The Wildcats scored 10 points off Butler’s 11 turnovers.

OF NOTE:

Butler was without starting forward Ali Ali Tuesday night. He did not travel with the team to Philadelphia (illness).

Chuck Harris returned for Butler after missing the last three games due to a concussion sustained Jan. 28 in the game against Seton Hall. He scored four points in 18 minutes.

Butler won the first match-up between the two teams Jan. 13 at Hinkle Fieldhouse (79-71).

Butler is now 1-9 against Villanova in Philadelphia.

UP NEXT: The Bulldogs return to Hinkle Fieldhouse for a Sunday tip against Georgetown. Tickets are still available for the 3 p.m. tip, which will also air on FS1.

BUTLER MGOLF

BUTLERUGOLF POST FOURTH-PLACE RESULT AT UNC-GREENSBORO COLLEGIATE

The Bulldogs finished off an impressive performance with a fourth-place finish at the Advance Golf Partners Invitational.

The 54-hole tournament was played at the Hammock Creek Golf Club in Palm City, Fla.

TEAM LEADERBOARD:

Drexel, 293-287-283—863 (-1)

UNC-Greensboro, 295-282-289—866 (+2)

DePaul, 297-292-280—869 (+5)

Butler, 288-292-293—873 (+9)

Elon, 303-289-282—874 (+10)

There were 19 teams in the field, including a large BIG EAST contingent as Butler and DePaul were joined by Creighton (ninth), UConn (tied for 11th), and Villanova (13th).

Butler held the lead after Sunday’s opening round before both host UNC-Greensboro and Drexel both went under par on Monday to move into the top two spots. It was Butler’s BIG EAST rival DePaul who had the best round Tuesday with an eight-under 280 to move into third place on the final leaderboard.

The Bulldogs shot 293 (+5) Tuesday, just off their 288 and 292 rounds from the first two days.

BULLDOG RUNDOWN: Damon Dickey continued his steady play with an even-par 72 in Tuesday’s final round. His three-round performance was highlighted by a Sunday two-under 70. He finished in a tie for sixth at 215 (-1).

The round of the day Tuesday belonged to freshman Leo Zurovac, who had an eagle and five birdies on his card, resulting in a three-under 69. He climbed 34 spots on the leaderboard Tuesday, finishing in a tie for 28th at 222 (+6).

T6. Damon Dickey, 70-73-72—215 (-1)

T13. Daniel Tanaka, 72-71-75—218 (+2)

T28. Leo Zurovac, 76-77-69—222 (+6) – playing as an individual

T28. Connor McNeely, 72-77-73—222 (+6)

T45. Derek Tabor, 74-78-73—225 (+9)

T58. Raymond Sullivan, 77-71-79—227 (+11)

T70. Will Horne, 82-75-72—229 (+13) – playing as an individual

INDIVIDUAL HONORS: UNCG’s Nick Lyerly shot a three-under 69 Tuesday, which allowed him to overtake Drexel’s Drue Nicholas, who held the lead after each of the first two rounds. Lyerly finished at 12-under 204. Nicholas and Elon’s Matt Doyle each finished at 211 (-5).

UP NEXT: The Bulldogs have nearly a month off from competition before returning to action March 9-10 at the Sacred Heart Invitational, which will be contested in Daytona, Fla.

BUTLER WBB

BULLDOGS TO HOST HOYAS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT

INDIANAPOLIS – Butler and Georgetown will battle inside Hinkle Fieldhouse on Wednesday night at 7 PM. Johnny Soper and Sydney Buck will call the action on the BIG EAST Digital Network.

GameDay

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 15

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: Indianapolis, Ind. – Hinkle Fieldhouse

Live Stats: ButlerSports.com – Statbroadcast

Watch: FloSports.com – BEDN

Bulldog Bits

– Wednesday will be the 20th overall meeting between Butler and Georgetown.

– Georgetown ranks 100 in the latest NET Rankings and Butler comes in at 128.

– With eight wins, Butler has now doubled their win total from the previous two seasons combined.

– Anna Mortag led Butler to victory at Providence with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting.

– A different Bulldog has led Butler in scoring over the team’s last four games.

– Butler has made at least seven 3-pointers in six-straight games.

– BU has made 10+ 3-pointers in a single game six times this year.

– Mortag ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in 3-point field goal percentage (41.1).

– Jessica Carrothers ranks eighth in the BIG EAST in field goal percentage (50.0).

– Carrothers has shot 50% or better from the field in four of Butler’s last five games.

– Sydney Jaynes ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in field goal percentage (50.3).

– Jaynes battled foul trouble at Providence and was limited to just two shots in 18 minutes.

– Rachel McLimore has made eight 3-pointers over her last two games while shooting 57 percent from distance.

– Jordan Meulemans has made a 3-pointer in five-straight games.

– Kendall Wingler scored a career-high 23 points vs. Georgetown in the first meeting (Jan. 11).

– 23 points is the second-highest individual scoring game for Butler this season (Jaynes – 26 vs. Illinois).

– Wingler made a season-high four 3-point field goals at Georgetown.

– Butler hasn’t swept an opponent since 2019-20.

Scouting Georgetown

The Hoyas are 12-13 overall with a 5-11 record in the BIG EAST. They most recently took a 67-59 loss to UConn at Entertainment & Sports Arena. Guard Kennedy Fauntleroy was the highest scoring freshman in the BIG EAST last week, averaging 17.5 points off 50-percent shooting. At No. 15 Villanova, the rookie guard had 11 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. She followed that with a game-high 24 points and five steals against No. 4 UConn. Kelsey Ransom is another talented guard on the Georgetown roster. She leads the team in scoring (13.0) rebounding (6.9), assists 3.2) and steals (2.8).

All-Time Series vs. Georgetown

Butler holds a narrow 10-9 lead over Georgetown in the all-time series. The Bulldogs will look to sweep the season series against Georgetown for the first time since 2019-20. Since joining the BIG EAST, Butler is 5-4 against Georgetown inside Hinkle Fieldhouse. They averaged 66 points per games over those five wins, but just 48 points over the four losses. The first-ever meeting was played in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 11, 2014. Georgetown won the matchup 85-79.

Butler’s Last Game vs. Georgetown

Trailing 15-12 after the first quarter, Butler erupted for a 22-8 second quarter to pull away from the host Hoyas. Kendall Wingler scored a career-high 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting to lead the Bulldogs, who snapped a three-game skid with the win. Kelsey Ransom tallied 16 points, six boards and four steals in the setback. Butler registered 19 assists on 26 field goals, including six dimes for Jessica Carrothers, who was playing for the first time since Dec. 18. Georgetown forced 21 turnovers but committed 20 of their own.

Georgetown’s Last Game

Georgetown led UConn 17-13 at the end of the first quarter, but would take 67-59 loss to the Huskies after being outscored 19-8 in the third quarter. Graceann Bennett joined Kennedy Fauntleroy (24) in double figures with 11 points. She added four assists and three rebounds against UConn. The Hoyas shot 37 percent from the field and forced 23 UConn turnovers, resulting in 17 Hoya points.

Behind The Arc

Butler ranks seventh in the NCAA and second in the BIG EAST in 3-point field goal percentage (38.2). The Bulldogs average 7.9 made 3-point field goals per game (2nd in the BIG EAST) and have made 10 or more in back-to-back games. Rachel McLimore leads the team with 37 made 3-pointers this season (39%). The Bulldogs also have four other student-athletes with at least 20 makes from long range this season. Three of those four are shooting 39% or better from behind the arc.

Back Home at Hinkle

Butler will play three of their final four regular season games at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The team opened the year playing seven of their first 10 at home. The Bulldogs have not won on their home court since Dec. 7 against Southern Indiana (58-48). All three of their conference wins this year have been picked up on the road (Xavier, Georgetown, Providence). BU is 3-9 at home this year, 3-8 on the road and 2-0 at a neutral site.

First February Win

Butler’s first win in the month of February was significant in that it was the first time this season BU trailed their opponent at halftime and came back to win. It was also the first time BU shot less free throws than their opponent and won a game. Furthermore, it was just the second time this season that BU posted a win with their opponent shooting over 40 percent from the field.

Playing For A Sweep

The Bulldogs have not swept a conference opponent during the regular season since 2019-20. That year, BU swept Providence, Creighton, Villanova, Xavier and Georgetown to help them reach 11 conference wins.

Run It Back

The Bulldogs scored 72 points at Georgetown behind 50 percent shooting (26-52) and 13 made 3-pointers. BU shot 54 percent from behind the arc and didn’t miss a free throw (7-7).

Butler at Providence Recap

Butler outscored Providence 15-11 in the fourth quarter at Alumni Hall to record their eighth victory of the season (63-62). Providence had a good look on their final possession, but the 3-point attempt from the right wing rimmed out allowing Butler to come out on top. BU had three players score in double figures in Rhode Island. Anna Mortag was a huge factor in the outcome with a game-high 17 points. Mortag hit three of Butler’s 10 3-pointers in the game and would chip in with four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block.

Tournament Talk

The 2023 BIG EAST women’s basketball tournament is 17 days away. If the tournament started this week, Butler would play as the No. 10 seed and face No. 7 seed DePaul. The winner of that contest would advance to the quarterfinals to play No. 2 seed Villanova. Other first round pairings would feature No. 6 seed Seton Hall playing No. 11 seed Xavier and No. 8 seed Georgetown playing No. 9 seed Providence. The tournament will be held in Uncasville, Conn. at Mohegan Sun Arena. Action starts March 3 and the championship game will air March 6 on FS1.

Up Next

Butler will return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 21 with a 7 PM tip vs. Xavier. The contest is the annual Pink Out game for the Bulldogs.

BUTLER BASEBALL

2023 @BUTLERUBASEBALL PREVIEW: INFIELD / DESIGNATED HITTERS

INDIANAPOLIS – Butler finds strength in their infield depth and experience featuring transfers, returning veterans, and newcomers. The team’s designated hitter slot is also open with four seniors in the mix.

Infield

The left side of the diamond will feature two transfers in Jake DeFries and Carter Dorighi. DeFries joined the Bulldogs as a graduate transfer from Georgia Gwinnett and he will likely start at third base for the ‘Dawgs opening weekend. Dorighi comes to Butler from Lafayette College and he is probable to start at shortstop for BU.

“It is a joy as a coach to have Dorighi and DeFries man the left side of the infield for us,” Beemer stated. “They both hit left-handed and they both will hit near the top of the order. They feed off each other and that makes them a fun left side duo.”

On the right side, there are a mix of Bulldogs fighting for spots. Ryan O’Halloran, Billy Wurch, and Ian Choi have worked to put themselves in position to start.

O’Halloran was one of two Bulldogs to start in all 56 games last season and held the fourth-best batting average on the team at .256. Wurch played in 55 games, making 52 starts at second base while hitting .226 in 2022. Choi is a freshman that has impressed the staff in fall training.

“Ian Choi is just a freshman, but he is pushing all of our guys for innings,” Beemer said. “Ian can handle the stick and he plays good enough defense that you see him battling for some time. O’Halloran and Wurch are just a little older, a little more mature at the plate so they probably have a leg up on him right now for playing time at second base. We have options and it will be really fun to watch our guys early in the season.”

Other Bulldogs who may earn playing time include Jaylon Nauden and Evan Parks. Nauden is coming off an injury, but he is on track to return in the near future. Parks is a freshman from Grand Rapids, Mich. who has shown talent and will be ready if called upon.

Designated Hitters

Lukas Galdoni, Garret Gray, Scott Jones, and Dominic Milano are four seniors that head into the start of the season as solid options to take over as the team’s designated hitter.

Galdoni, a two-way player, saw four of his eight hits last year go out for home runs. He posted a slugging percentage of .389, while recording an on-base percentage of .303.

Gray hit .309 last season, tallied 10 RBI’s, held a .358 slugging percentage, and had a .391 on-base percentage.

Jones was fifth on the team last year in batting averaging at .249. He led Butler with two triples, added six doubles, and two home runs. He recorded 27 RBI’s and ended the year with a .333 on-base percentage.

Milano finished last year with a .229 batting average. The senior scored 15 runs, hit six doubles, and added a home run in 2022. He also held a .381 on-base percentage and .337 slugging percentage.

IUPUI MBB

JAGUARS TO FACE OAKLAND UNIVERSITY ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT

ROCHESTER, Mich. – The IUPUI basketball team will continue a stretch of four straight road games on Wednesday (Feb. 15) when the Jaguars take on Oakland University at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+.

IUPUI (4-23, 1-15 HL) is looking to right the ship after lopsided losses at Wright State and Northern Kentucky. At NKU, freshman Vincent Brady II made four threes as part of his team-high 17 points and Chris Osten, Armon Jarrard and Jonah Carrasco each finished with six points apiece. Carrasco also grabbed a team-high five rebounds and Amhad Jarrard delivered four assists.

IUPUI shot just 38.3 percent from the floor and 4-of-19 from three-point range while NKU was a blistering 60 percent from the field and 13-of-26 (50 percent) from beyond the arc. The Jaguars led 23-19 midway through the first half, but stormed away with a 19-0 run to close the half to build a 15-point halftime advantage.

For the year, sophomore Jlynn Counter leads IUPUI in scoring (14.1 ppg), assists (3.3 apg) and free throws made (67). Brady continues to lead Horizon League freshmen in scoring (10.7 ppg) and has a team-high 47 threes made.

QUOTABLE

“We turned it over way too much and that led to too many easy points for them. They never let us get going offensively and you flat out can’t win when you turn it over 21 times,” head coach Matt Crenshaw said following Sunday’s loss at Northern Kentucky.

SCOUTING OAKLAND

Oakland is 11-16 overall and 9-7 in Horizon League play and the Golden Grizzlies are 6-4 at home this season. Jalen Moore leads Oakland in scoring (17.7 ppg) and assists (6.0 apg) and Trey Townsend averages 16.6 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game. Keaton Hervey (11.4 ppg) and Blake Lampman (11.1 ppg, 62 3’s) are also scoring in double-figures. Oakland shoots 43.3 percent from the floor and 31.6 percent from three-point range while their foes shoot 46.1 percent overall.

UP NEXT

IUPUI will close out the trip at Detroit Mercy on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 1:00 p.m. on ESPN+.

Tidbits heading into Wednesday’s game (click here for full game notes)

SEVEN AWARDS; THREE FRESH AWARDEES

IUPUI freshmen have collected seven #HLMBB Freshman of the Week Awards this season as Vincent Brady II has collected four honors, Armon Jarrard has been honored twice and DJ Jackson is a one-time honoree.

Brady is second on the team in scoring (10.7 ppg) and third in rebounding (3.9 rpg) and leads the team in minutes played (31.7 mpg, 15th in the HL) and threes made (47). Brady comes in having made at least one three in 22 straight games and in 25 of the team’s 27 games this season.

A VERY BRADY DUNK

Speaking of Brady, you may have seen him on your timeline recently as his dunk in the closing minutes of IUPUI’s win over Green Bay went viral on social media. Brady threw down a vicious one-handed hammer with 2:40 to play over GB’s Cade Meyer, later earning ESPN’s #SCTop10’s No. 1 play and ‘Dunk of the Day’ honors, along with additional mentions from Fox Sports, NCAA March Madness, House of Highlights and other social accounts. It received just under 1-million views on ESPN’s SportsCenter account alone.

FRESH DUBS

It would appear that Brady will be hovering around double-digits in scoring all season long as he sits at 10.7 points per game entering today’s game.

Earlier this season, he had a stretch of four straight games with 15-or-more earlier this season, becoming the first IUPUI freshman to do so since Alex Young in 2008.

Freshmen scoring in double-digits has been a rarity for the IUPUI program as just two have done so in the program’s Division I-era. The aforementioned Young went on to score 2,286 points in his four-year IUPUI career and current Indiana Pacer George Hill scored 1,619 points in three-plus seasons before being drafted in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft.

Here’s the full list of IUPUI true freshmen to score in double digits for a season in the Division I era (1998-present).

Alex Young – 10.8 ppg (2008-09)

George Hill – 10.7 ppg (2004-05)

COUNTER POINTS

It’s safe to say that sophomore guard Jlynn Counter has emerged as the program’s most important player this season. Here are a few nuggets about the Oklahoma City-native.

-he’s scored 20-or-more in five of IUPUI’s last eight games

-he ranks among the Horizon League’s top-15 in scoring (14.1 ppg), assists (3.3 apg), field goal percentage (49.7%) and free throw percentage (80.7%)

-in Horizon League play, he’s averaging 14.1 points, 4.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game

-he started the year 0-of-14 from three in the season’s first 12 games, but has gone 11-of-33 (33.3 percent) since and made at least one three in six of IUPUI’s last eight games

ALL 12

Following IUPUI’s game at Cleveland State on Jan. 29, all 12 of the Jaguars’ scholarship players have now started at least one game this season. Graduate student Jonah Carrasco started in place of an injured Chris Osten, becoming the 12th different IUPUI player to start a game and IUPUI’s 12th different starting unit of the year.

TOPS IN THE COUNTRY

IUPUI is tops in the nation, having had 14 different players miss at least one game due to injury or illness, 12 of whom are scholarship student-athletes. Highest on the list are Zach Gunn (out for the season), Bryce Monroe (23 games missed) and DJ Jackson (11 games). Other scholarship student-athletes who have missed multiple games this season include Amhad Jarrard (9 games), Daylan Hamilton (9 games), Armon Jarrard (7 games), John Egbuta (5 games) and Cooper Dewitt (4 games).

Behind IUPUI, Wyoming and Iona have all had nine student-athletes miss time.

IUPUI has not had a game this season in which the entire roster was available.

THE ONLY ONE IS NO. 1

True freshman Vincent Brady II is the only IUPUI player to have appeared in all 27 games this season and is tied with Chris Osten with a team-high 26 starting nods.

TEN HIT TEN

Freshman DJ Jackson became the tenth different IUPUI player to have a double-digit scoring game for the Jaguars this season, doing so against Detroit Mercy on Jan. 21. Amazingly, of all 10 players who have scored in double-digits this season, none were on the IUPUI roster last season.

CHRIS DON’T MISS

Graduate transfer Chris Osten is currently shooting 67.1 percent for the season, chasing the school record for single-season shooting percentage (Jon Avery – 67.9 percent in 2008-09). The 6-foot-9 forward is shooting an absurd 77.1 percent from the field (54-of-70) at home this year and shooting 72.7 percent in Horizon League games.

Coming into this season, he had scored in double-digits just one time in his Division I career

in stops at both Arizona State and Northern Illinois, and never had a double-double. However,

in 21 games this season, Osten has hit double-figures 12 times and registered four double-doubles.

SEEING 20-20

IUPUI had a pair of 20-point scorers against Oakland last Thursday as freshman Vincent Brady II had a career-high 23 points (8-16 FG, 4-9 3’s, 3-3 FT) and Jlynn Counter tallied 22 (8-16 FG, 1-2 3’s, 5-6 FT). It marked the first time under head coach Matt Crenshaw that two players have gone for 20-or-more in the same game.

CRUNCH TIME

With so many new faces and primarily young faces, head coach Matt Crenshaw is still seeking a closer to help in crunch time. IUPUI has gone down to the wire in six of its past eight losses.

At Robert Morris on Jan. 9, IUPUI trailed 44-29 at halftime, but rallied to come all the way back in the second half. The Jaguars tied the game at 61 all and again at 63-63 before being outscored 14-7 over the game’s first five-plus minutes in the 77-70 loss.

Against Oakland on Jan. 19, IUPUI again rallied from a nine-point deficit and led by as many as four in the closing minutes before a Jalen Moore trey with 3.0 seconds left sent the game to overtime. Oakland outscored the Jags 15-9 in overtime to secure an 83-77 win, keeping the Jags winless in league play.

Against Detroit Mercy on Jan. 21, it was a two-possession game with five minutes remaining before the Titans outscored the Jags 20-12 down the stretch.

At Purdue Fort Wayne, IUPUI rallied from 11 down to cut the Mastodons’ lead to two in the waning minutes, but couldn’t get over the hump late.

At Cleveland State on Jan. 29, the Jaguars rallied from down 20 in the second half to down three with 3:01 to play. However, IUPUI was never able to draw even late in that contest before ultimately falling short, 78-72.

Against Milwaukee on Feb. 2, IUPUI had two chances to tie the score in the closing minute but came up empty on both in a 72-69 home loss to one of the league’s top teams.

FRESH STARTERS

IUPUI had three freshmen in the starting lineup in the season opener at Iowa State as Vincent Brady II, Amhad Jarrard and Armon Jarrard all got the starting nod. The trio, all of whom are Indianapolis natives, combined on four points, five boards and an assist in their collegiate debut.

A fourth freshman, DJ Jackson, made his first collegiate start on Dec. 31 against NKU.

IUPUI hosted its annual NCAA Readers Become Leaders game on Dec. 12 against Spalding University and had a program best 4,114 fans in attendance. The game attracted roughly 3,500 3rd graders from Central Indiana and stressed the importance of creating reading habits at a young age. The 4,114 fans easily surpassed the previous record for an IUPUI home game – 3,327 against Indiana State inside Conseco Fieldhouse on Dec. 23, 2008.

The previous record for an IUPUI game inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum was 3,159 in the inaugural game against Indiana State on Nov. 14, 2014.

THE MONROE EFFECT

After missing the first three games of the season to injury, junior transfer Bryce Monroe came in and made a major impact in the Jaguars’ lineup. In his four appearances, Monroe led the team in scoring (12.0 ppg) and assists (3.8 apg), despite suffering an injury in his third game back. More importantly, the team as a whole has improved its output. Without Monroe in the lineup, the Jags averaged just 53.4 points per game and scored 65.0 points per game with him available.

The San Diego-transfer had a monster game at New Orleans on Nov. 24, pumping in 29 points (13-20 FG, 3-6 3’s) and seven assists – both of which are the most by an IUPUI player this season. However, Monroe was injured during the New Orleans trip and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

BOOK WORMS

The Jaguars put together a 3.03 team grade point average during the fall semester with 12 members of the team earning a 3.0 or better. Junior John Egbuta was most impressive with a perfect 4.0 mark during the fall.

BALL STATE MBB

CARDINALS CLINCH SPOT IN MAC TOURNAMENT WITH WIN OVER HUSKIES

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men’s basketball team was back inside Worthen Arena for a Mid-American Conference contest with Northern Illinois on Tuesday. The Cardinals won their sixth straight on a night that saw five BSU players finish in double digits. Payton Sparks and Mickey Pearson Jr. each collected double-doubles as BSU defeated NIU 87-77.

Ball State improved to 19-7 and 10-3 in league play, while Northern Illinois fell to 11-15 overall and 7-6 in the MAC. With the win tonight, the Cardinals clinched a spot in the MAC Tournament in Cleveland on March 8.

“It was a good win for us,” said Head Coach Michael Lewis. “This time of year, you just try to continue to stack wins. I have to give Rashon Burno and Northern Illinois a lot of credit. To be down a guy, and to come out and compete that way. Give them a lot of credit. I’m really proud of these guys and their effort. Payton was a monster inside once he warmed up to the fight after the first four minutes. Obviously, he was a force with his stat line. Mickey continues to be Mickey. He has really impacted winning in a lot of different ways, that sometimes don’t really show up in the numbers.”

Sparks led the Cardinals with 20 points and added a game-high 16 rebounds on the way to his eighth double-double of the season. He added three assists and a block. Pearson scored 10 points and brought down 11 boards as he produced his second double-double of the season.

Jarron Coleman recorded his 22nd game in double figures with 17 points. He added a game-high eight assists, which tied a career high. He led the team with two steals and brought down one rebound. Demarius Jacobs notched a 17-point effort, his 18th game in double figures. He collected three rebounds and two assists. Jaylin Sellers posted his 18th game in double figures with a 13-point performance. Sellers added two rebounds, a block, and a steal.

The first three minutes was a back-and-forth battle that saw two ties and two lead changes. The Cardinals went on a 12-2 run capped off by a Luke Bumbalough steal and a fastbreak layup with 12:56 left in the opening stanza.

Northern Illinois mounted a comeback and took a 21-20 lead with 8:10 on the clock after a 13-2 run. Ball State was unfazed and responded with a 6-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Kaiyem Cleary, BSU extended its lead to 26-21.

NIU outscored BSU 12-9 over the next 4:32 and cut the Cardinal lead to 35-33, with 2:23 left until the break. Ball State ended the half on a 7-0 run and took a 43-33 lead into the break. Coleman capped off the run with a big and-1 on a driving layup.

The Cardinals used the momentum from the end of the first and started the second half on a 7-0. Ball State extend its lead to 50-33 as Sellers accounted for five of the seven points.

NIU did not go down easily as the Huskies outscored the Cardinals 14-8 over the next 4:46 of game action and cut the BSU lead to 58-47. The Huskies followed that up with a 9-3 run and cut the deficit to five, 61-56, with 8:12 left in regulation.

The Cardinals were unfazed and answered with an 11-6 run to extend the lead to 10, 72-62. The final 3:19 was a back-and-forth affair as both teams scored 15 points. Ball State went on to win the game 87-77.

David Coit led the Huskies with a game-high 22 points. He added a team-high six assists with four rebounds. Zarique Nutter finished with 18 points along with three assists and two boards. Anthony Crump posted 16 points, a team-high eight rebounds, and two steals. Darweshi Hunter rounded out the double-digit scorers with 15 points to go along with three rebounds.

The Cardinals take to the road for a matchup against the Western Michigan Broncos on Saturday, Feb. 18. Jump is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

BALL STATE WBB

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HOSTS OHIO WEDNESDAY IN ANNUAL “THINK PINK” GAME

Game 26 | Ball State (21-4, 11-1 MAC) vs. Ohio (5-18, 3-9 MAC)

Feb. 15 | Muncie, Ind. | Worthen Arena | 6:30 pm ET

Opening Tip:

– The Ball State women’s basketball team looks to improve to a 12-1start in Mid-American Conference play for the first time in program history.

– Ball State is looking to extend its win streak to 10 when it hosts Ohio Wednesday for a 6:30 pm ET tip-off in Worthen Arena. The longest MAC regular season win streak was eight which happened in 2000-01, 2001-02, 2008-09 and 2022-23. Ball State will be also looking to remain undefeated at home and improve to 13-0 in Worthen Arena.

– Currently, the Cardinals are tied for first place in the Mid-American Conference standings with Bowling Green.

– The Cardinals earned their 20th win of the season Wednesday, Feb. 8 when BSU defeated EMU, 68-50. The win gave 11th-year head coach Brady Sallee his sixth 20 win season at Ball State.

– With the Cardinals win against the Zips Saturday Ball State clinched a spot in the 2023 Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio (Mar. 8-11).

– Wednesday’s game against Ohio will mark the 70th time in program history the two schools have met with the Bobcats leading the all-time series record, 39-30.

– Redshirt senior Anna Clephane has earned Mid-American Conference Player of the Week honors. Last, Clephane averaged 24.5 points per game and 7.5 rebounds. She also shot a staggering 78 percent (15-19) from the charity stripe. Clephane helped Ball State remain atop of the MAC standings with an 11-1 league mark, while also extending BSU’s win streak to nine. She also scored 26 points against Arkon, Feb. 11 which tied her career high. She pulled down a personal best 10 rebounds at Eastern Michigan, Feb. 8.

The Dynamic Duo:

The dynamic duo of Thelma Dis Agustsdottir and Anna Clephane made up for over 69 percent of the Cardinals total 68 points scored against the Eagles Feb. 8 in Ypsilanti. The duo combined for 47 points and shot 51 percent from the field (17-33).

MAC Tourney Time:

This marks the 33rd appearance for the Cardinals in the Mid-American Conference Tournament in program history. Ball State has advanced to Cleveland 21 out of the past 23 seasons. The Cardinals are 22-31 all-time in MAC Tournament play and have advanced to the MAC Tournament finals on six occasions.

Fast Facts:

– Redshirt senior Anna Clephane has 1,153 points for her career and became the 10th player under Brady Sallee to reach the 1,000 point milestone against Miami (1/14/23). Clephane is first on the team in scoring averaging 15.0 points per game.

– Sophomore Marie Kiefer has proven to be a great defender for the Cardinals. She currently sits in 12th place all-time in blocked shots with 84 and so far has 36 total this season. Kiefer averages 1.4 blocks per contest.

– Graduate senior Thelma Dis Agustsdottir has found her rhythm behind the arc again as she currently leads the team with 71 three’s so far this season.

Agustsdottir has 290 total 3-pointers for her career and sits in third place all-time. She needs two more to move up to second place which is currently being held by former Cardinal and current assistant Moriah Monaco (2014-18) with 292 3-pointers.

Scouting Ohio:

– The Cardinals won their first meeting over the Bobcats this season by a score of 78-58 in Athens, Ohio, Jan. 28. Anna Clephane led all players with 20 points while Ohio’s YaYa Felder led the Bobcats with 19 points that game. Both Clephane (15.0 ppg) and Felder (20.6 ppg) lead their respective teams in scoring this season.

– The Bobcats have went 2-3 since Jan. 28 in MAC action. Ohio earned wins over Eastern Michigan (65-55) and Northern Illinois (72-71) while losing to Ball State (78-58), Toledo (55-66) and Bowling Green (44-81).

– From 1998-2006 the Cardinals had held a nine-game win streak over Ohio. In 11 seasons under head coach Brady Sallee Ball State has won five games against the Bobcats .

BALL STATE FB

FOOTBALL WELCOMES BACK NATE ATKINS AS DEFENSIVE BACKS AND NICKELS COACH

MUNCIE, Ind. – – After a brief stint as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Dayton, Ball State football welcomes back Nate Atkins as the new defensive backs and nickels coach, according to head coach Mike Neu.

“Nate has been an important part of our staff for the past three seasons, and we are excited to welcome him back to the Ball State football family,” Neu said. “A highly accomplished student-athlete himself, Nate knows what it takes to develop top-notch student-athletes on and off the field. I have no doubt he will help elevate our defensive back and nickel groups.”

A three-year member of the Ball State staff from 2020-2022, Atkins spent the past two months at Dayton, where he worked with the linebackers and specialists. In his limited time on the Flyers staff, Atkins also headed recruitment of his respective skill groups.

Before his time at Dayton, Atkins started his Cardinals coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant in July 2020. In his year in that role, Atkins assisted in coaching Ball State’s front seven, primarily working with the defensive line. His effort helped the Cardinals claim the 2020 Mid-American Conference Championship and earn the program’s first-ever bowl win versus San Jose State in the Offerpad Arizona Bowl.

Atkins was promoted to defensive assistant and project coordinator in June 2021 and spent the past two seasons helping develop the program’s defensive backfield, primarily the safeties. He also assisted with game planning and running group drills.

A four-year starter at William & Mary from 2016-19, Atkins began his coaching career with the Tribe as a voluntary graduate student assistant for the 2020 spring semester.

As a student-athlete at W&M, Atkins was just the 12th player to be voted team captain twice in the 126-year history of the program. He started all 44 games over his collegiate career and ranked eighth in program history with 316 career tackles upon graduation.

After redshirting for the Tribe in 2015, he started all 11 games in 2016, ranking second on the team with 74 tackles. He was selected All-Colonial Athletic Association Third Team as a sophomore in 2017 after leading the team with 96 tackles and ranking fifth in the conference at 8.7 tackles per game.

Atkins earned his first team captain honor as a junior in 2018 and again led the squad in tackles with 68. His career culminated in 2019 with another team captaincy, and he was a national semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, considered the “Academic Heisman.” The award recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership.

NOTRE DAME MBB

IRISH BATTLE DUKE TO THE WIRE BUT COME UP SHORT, 68-64

DURHAM, N.C. – A team searching for a signature road win and a team that hasn’t lost at home this season – Notre Dame men’s basketball (10-16, 2-13) took the Duke Blue Devils (18-8, 9-6) to the wire, but came up just short 68-64.

Dane Goodwin scored a season high 25 points and was a man on absolute fire in the second half, recording a stretch in which he scored 17 straight points. The Irish, who were down 10 with eight minutes left, rallied to make it a one-point game, down 62-63 with 36 seconds remaining. However, Duke’s Mark Mitchell (shooting .361 from three on the year) hit a corner three with 12 seconds on the clock.

The Irish outscored the Blue Devils 41-37 in the second half, in which 19 of those points belonged to Goodwin. In addition, freshman Ven-Allen Lubin, making his third consecutive start, notched his third straight game in double figures with 10 points.

How It Happened

Duke started 3-for-3 from the field to jump out to a 6-2 advantage, but Ryan and Hammond got the offense churning with seven consecutive points to push the Irish ahead for their first lead at 9-6.

Hammond ultimately started 3-for-4 from the field as his six quick points had the Irish up 15-13 in a very back-and-forth game. In fact, by 9:38 on the clock, there were already three ties and six lead changes in the game.

However, the Blue Devils turned the tide with a 7-0 scoring run that they extended into a 12-2 scoring spree over a seven-minute span. The Irish, who started the game 7-for-13 from the field, finished the half 3-for-15. Freshmen Ven-Allen Lubin and JJ Starling were two of those baskets, limiting the damage to down 31-23 at the half.

Hammond and Goodwin each led with six points at halftime while Duke’s Kyle Filipowski was the lone player in double figures with 10. The Irish uncharacteristically had just one three.

Filipowski scored the first two baskets of the second half, pushing the Blue Devil lead to double digits at 35-23, prompting a Coach Brey timeout. Goodwin scored out of the timeout and was later followed by a three from Laszewski – but the latter picked up his fourth foul right at the 16:00 media. With Duke’s Ryan Young’s bucket at 15:37, the home squad was up 42-28.

Next, the Irish began to muster some momentum, a 12-2 scoring stretch in fact, cutting the deficit to 40-44 at 12:28. In fact, Duke was held to without a field goal from 15:37 to 10:29.

Yet, as soon as the Blue Devils got one in, they parlayed that into a quick 6-0 run in a minute, and in a blink of an eye, the Irish were down double digits again at 40-50 with 9:26 remaining.

Next, Dane Goodwin single-handedly took over the game for the Irish and recorded one of the best individual stretches all season. The graduate guard scored 17 straight points from 12:35-4:29, going toe-to-toe with Duke and cutting the deficit to 52-56.

Later down eight, the Irish surged again with back-to-back three-pointers from Ryan and Starling, making it 60-62 with 1:11 on the clock.

Out of a Duke timeout, Roach got fouled and went to the line where he converted 1-of-2. Starling then drove into the paint and made the layup, making it a one-point game at 62-63.

Down on the other end, Duke’s Mitchell, who had one field goal at that point in the game, hit a corner three with 12.0 seconds left. Down 66-62 now, Notre Dame attacked the basket quickly and got a put-back from Lubin. Off the Duke in-bounds, Ryan thought he had a tie-up jumpball but the referees ruled it a foul instead, sending Duke to the line where they put the game away.

Up Next

Notre Dame will remain on the road and will look to topple a top-10 ranked foe. The Irish travel to Charlottesville Saturday to clash with No. 7/6 Virginia at Noon ET on ESPN2.

NOTRE DAME MLAX

GAME 1 PREVIEW: MARQUETTE

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – No. 2/3 Notre Dame opens up the 2023 season at home against Marquette at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Feb. 15 inside Loftus Sports Center. The game will be broadcast live on ACCNX.

GAME DETAILS

Location: South Bend, Indiana | Loftus Sports Center

Schedule: Feb. 15 — 5 p.m. ET

Live Stream: ACCNX

Live Stats: UND.com

Twitter Updates: @NDlacrosse

For a more in-depth look at the matchup – Game Notes: Notre Dame

THE MARQUETTE SERIES

• Wednesday will be the 11th meeting all time between Notre Dame and Marquette.

• The Irish hold a commanding 10-0 lead in the series, including a mark of 6-0 when playing at Marquette.

• The most recent matchup in the series came last season, with Notre Dame winning 18-8 in Milwaukee.

• Jake Taylor led the Irish attack with five goals while Pat Kavanagh totaled five points off two goals and three assists.

• Liam Entenmann was strong between the posts, registering 15 saves while allowing just seven goals.

FANTASTIC FEBRUARYS FOR THE FIGHTING IRISH

• Notre Dame is 32-4 in its last 36 games played in February dating back to the 2006 season.

• Fighting Irish head coach Kevin Corrigan is 41-7 in the month of February during his Notre Dame tenure.

• The Irish split their two February matchups last season, defeating Detroit Mercy before falling to Georgetown.

OWNING THE OPENERS

• Notre Dame is 35-7 all-time in season openers, including a 29-5 record in the Kevin Corrigan era.

• The Irish have won a program-record 20 straight season openers.

• Notre Dame opened the 2022 season with a 24-2 win over Detroit Mercy on Feb. 19.

• The Irish last dropped a season opener in 2002, a 10-9 overtime setback at home against Penn State.

• In home openers, the Irish are 38-4 in program history and 31-3 under Corrigan.

THE BROTHERS KAVANAGH

• Pat Kavanagh became the fourth Tewaaraton Finalist in program history in 2021 and his brother Chris joined the 2022 squad as an attackman.

• Pat led the team during the 2022 season in points (64) and assists (39). He was second in goals (24), caused turnovers (12) and ground balls (39) while Chris was second in points (33) and assists (11) while tied for third in goals (22).

• The brothers linked up on 12 goals during the 2022 season, with one assisting the other’s goal.

• The Kavanagh’s combined for 27 points over the two wins over Syracuse. Pat had 19 points (7G, 12A) and Chris added eight (4G, 4A).

• In just 12 games in the 2022 season, Pat became the all-time single-season ND assist record holder with 39, breaking his own record from the 2021 season.

• Pat owns the single-game points record at ND, recording 10 points in a game twice, both against Syracuse and both coming on May 1. He recorded 10 points on May 1, 2021 with 5G & 5A and then matched his record on May 1, 2022 with 4G & 6A.

PRESEASON ALL-ACC

• Notre Dame placed three players on the Preseason All-ACC Team entering the 2023 season.

• Senior goalie Liam Entenmann, senior attackman Pat Kavanagh and junior midfielder Eric Dobson each earned the honors from the conference’s coaches.

• Also included in the preseason release from the ACC was the annual coaches poll. The Irish were pegged second in the rankings, earning 21 points.

THE ATTACK IS BACK

• The Irish return 78.5 percent of their goals from last season (139 of 177).

• Eight of ND’s top 10 scorers from 2022 are on the 2023 roster, including four that finished with 20+ goals.

DOMINATING DEFENSE

• Notre Dame finished 2022 with the best defense in the ACC and a top-10 unit in the country, allowing just 10.08 goals per game.

• The Irish finished last season holding opposing attacks to single-digit scoring outputs in three of the last five games.

CASHING IN ON THE EMO

• Notre Dame had one of the greatest man-up units in recent memory during the 2022 season, leading the country in efficiency.

• The Irish EMO unit cashed in on 21-of-31 chances (.677) last season.

• Six returners combined to score 19 of the 21 goals, with Eric Dobson leading the team with six goals and Jeffery Ricciardelli adding four. Pat Kavanagh added three goals and Chris Kavanagh have each scored two man-up goals.

CHALLENGING SLATE AHEAD

• Notre Dame has never shied away from putting together a challenging schedule and the 2023 slate is no different.

• Of Notre Dame’s 12 regular-season opponents, nine are currently ranked in the top 20 in both the USILA or Inside Lacrosse Top 20 Polls.

IRISH INDOORS

• Notre Dame has excelled when playing inside the last eight seasons, going 15-1 when playing indoors since the start of the 2015 season.

• Notre Dame is currently riding a 21-game win streak when playing in Loftus Sports Center.

• The Irish haven’t lost in Loftus Sports Center since dropping a 14-11 decision to UNC on March 14, 2004.

• The Irish went 2-0 when playing indoors last season, defeating Detroit Mercy in the home opener in Loftus and then downing Syracuse inside the Carrier Dome.

CORRIGAN ALL-TIME DI PROGRAM WINS LEADER

• With the win over No. 1 Duke on April 10, 2021, Baumer Family Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach Kevin Corrigan broke the NCAA record for most wins at a DI program with 311, passing Bob Shillinglaw (Delaware).

• Corrigan became just the third coach in NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse history to reach the 300-win mark at a single school with the win over Marquette on April 10, 2019.

• Corrigan is one of just four active Division I coaches to reach the 300-win mark in his career.

• Corrigan has an overall record of 331-172 in his 37 seasons of coaching.

• The head coach is 321-157 in his 35 seasons at Notre Dame.

• Corrigan is the longest tenured men’s lacrosse coach at the DI level.

INDIANA STATE MBB

SYCAMORES LOOK TO STAY HOT AGAINST FLAMES ON THE ROAD

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State Sycamores are seeking their sixth straight win and fourth season series sweep Wednesday night when they head to the Windy City for a matchup against UIC. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+ from Credit Union 1 Arena.

Indiana State is coming off its fifth straight win and fourth straight double-digit win after defeating UNI 80-62 on the road Saturday.

The Sycamores lead the Valley in scoring with 78.9 points per game, and they are 12-2 when scoring 80 or more points this season.

The Sycamores now have 18 overall wins for just the second time in nine seasons, and Josh Schertz is one of four ISU coaches all-time to improve win totals from year one to year two.

Cooper Neese is 10 3-pointers away from moving into sole possession of fourth place on ISU’s all-time list of career 3-point leaders.

Robbie Avila is two points away from passing Tyreke Key and moving into sole possession of 10th place on ISU’s all-time freshman scoring list.

The Sycamores were plagued with second-half struggles early in the season but have recently turned that around. In their last six games dating back to Jan. 24 at Drake, the Sycamores are outscoring their opponents in the second half by 90 (+15 scoring margin) compared to being outscored by 49 (-3.5 scoring margin) in the 14 games before that.

With four games remaining in the regular season, the Sycamores remain just one game out of first place in the MVC standings. Drake and Bradley sit at the top tied at 12-5 while there is a three-way tie among Southern Illinois, Belmont, and Indiana State at 11-5.

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday will be just the fourth all-time meeting between Indiana State and first-year Valley member UIC. The two teams met once in 2001 and once in 2002 and then did not meet again until Jan. 8 earlier this year when the Sycamores won 80-60 at home. Indiana State leads the all-time series 2-1 but has yet to win against the Flames in Chicago.

A WIN WOULD…

Tie ISU’s season-best six-game win streak.

Give the Sycamores their fourth season sweep of the year.

Give ISU 19 overall wins for the first time since 2013-14.

Give ISU seven road wins for the first time since 2013-14.

Give ISU 12 Valley wins for the first time since 2013-14.

LAST GAME AGAINST THE FLAMES

With an 80-60 win against UIC at home earlier this season, the Sycamores started off 6-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play for the first time since 1978-79 when Larry Bird’s team made it to the NCAA National Championship game.

Courvoisier McCauley notched a double-double and Julian Larry paced all Sycamore scorers with 18 points to help ISU win its fourth straight.

After UIC led 23-19 at 7:17, the ISU went off on a 20-2 run and never trailed again in the game. That run lasted nearly the last six minutes of the first half, and ISU shot 8-of-10 from the field in that span while holding UIC to 1-of-9 including 0-of-3 from three with two turnovers.

McCauley pushed Indiana State’s lead to 51-32 at 16:51 in the second half on back-to-back triples, and a Jayson Kent and-1 extended the lead to 20 at 63-43 with 10:49 left in the game. The Sycamores reached their largest lead of the game at 22 points with a Cooper Neese jumper at 9:20 that made it 67-45.

The lead hit 22 points once again on a 10-0 Sycamore run that was capped by a no-look pass from Robbie Avila to Kent who finished with a layup to get himself in double figures on the scoresheet. The Flames would get one bucket back a few seconds later to close out the scoring in the game.

LAST TIME OUT

The Indiana State Sycamores extended their win streak to five games Saturday afternoon with a statement win on the road at Northern Iowa, defeating the Panthers 80-62 for their fourth straight double-digit win.

Courvoisier McCauley paced all scorers in the game with 21 points including a game-high five 3-pointers. Julian Larry posted his third double-figure scoring outing in four games with 17 points alongside four rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

Iowa native Cade McKnight rounded out the Sycamores in double figures with 11 points and a tied team-high seven rebounds. He shot a perfect 3-of-3 from the field with a triple and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.

The Sycamores gave up the first basket of the day but held control of the game from start to finish. The first 10 minutes saw four ties and three lead changes, but UNI never led by more than two points and after 12:57 in the first half, never led again in the game.

It took nearly two minutes for either team to get on the board, and things were even at 4-4 with 15:55 to go in the opening frame until a pair of free throws and a layup from Cameron Henry put the Sycamores up 8-4 at 15:26. Back-to-back Sycamore threes pushed ISU’s lead to 20-14 with 9:47 left in the half, and Jayson Kent put ISU up by 10 with a three before Larry scooped up a loose ball and took it all the way in for a slam dunk to make it 26-16 at 6:29.

The Panthers responded with an 8-0 run to cut their deficit to four points and force a Sycamore timeout with 3:39 left in the half, but ISU came out of that timeout with two straight threes to go back up by 10 at 35-25 with 2:49 to go. Xavier Bledson notched his team-high fourth assist in the game when he fed McCauley for a three to close out the first half and put ISU up by 15 at 44-29 going into the break.

Indiana State went off on a 13-0 run with three triples early in the second half to reach its largest lead of the game, 28 points at 59-31 with 16:20 to go. UNI would come within 16 points in the final minute, but that’s as close as the Panthers would get.

CHARITY SUCCESS

Indiana State shot 95.8% (23-of-24) from the free throw line in Saturday’s 18-point win at UNI, marking the third-best percentage in program history (minimum 10 FT made) and the best percentage since 1993. The program record is 100% (31-of-31) against Wichita State Feb. 18, 1991.

Nine different Sycamores made two or more free throws in the game, led by Cade McKnight and Julian Larry who each made 4-of-4.

MCCAULEY EARNS B2B NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK HONORS

Courvoisier McCauley was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week for the second and third time this season on Feb. 6 and Feb. 13.

Feb. 6: He averaged 20.5 points and 8.5 rebounds on the week to help the Sycamores to back-to-back double-digit wins. He posted an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double Wednesday at Evansville before scoring a game-high 23 points while hitting five of ISU’s program-best 19 3-pointers against Murray State Saturday.

Feb. 13: He led the Sycamores to two double-digit victories this week to extend their win streak to five games. He averaged 18 points with a team-high 15 points against Valparaiso alongside six rebounds, three triples, a block, and a steal in the game. Saturday at Northern Iowa, McCauley paced all scorers in the game with 21 points and a game-high five triples for his eighth 20+-point outing this season.

This marks the second time ever and first time since Manny Arop in 2012 that a Sycamore has earned back-to-back MVC Newcomer of the Week honors, and McCauley joins Brenton Scott and Jake Odum as the only three Sycamores to earn the award three times in one season.

SHARING IS CARING

Indiana’s State’s 27 assists against Murray State Saturday is an all-time program second-best, behind the program record of 34 set in 1983 against West Texas State. Julian Larry led the way Saturday with a career-high nine assists in the game.

ISU leads the Valley in assists, assists per game and assist-to-turnover ratio while Julian Larry and Cameron Henry rank top-10 in the Valley in all three of those categories.

The Sycamores are 14-0 this season when they dish out 15 or more assists.

Cameron Henry is two assists away from 100 this season and would be the first Sycamore with 100 assists in a season since Jordan Barnes in 2019-20.

RAININ’ THREES

Indiana State set a single-game program record for 3-pointers in a game with 19 against Murray State Saturday, breaking the previous record of 18 vs. Arizona State Dec. 2, 1988. Those 19 3-pointers are the most all-time in a game between two Valley teams.

ISU was two triples shy of tying that program record Wednesday against Valpo, and the 36 triples between those two games are the most in a two-game stretch in Valley history.

Eight different Sycamores connected on a three in those two games. ISU is 9-1 this season when six or more players hit a three in a game and 10-1 when making 10 or more threes as a team.

ISU is averaging 13.8 3-pointers a game across the last five wins, and the Sycamores are 11 triples away from tying the season program record of 270 for the second straight season.

INDIANA STATE SWIMMING

SYCAMORES READY TO MAKE MARK AT 2023 MVC CHAMPIONSHIPS

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State makes the trek to Iowa City, Iowa this week as the Sycamores prepare to take on the field at the 2023 Missouri Valley Swimming & Diving Championships held at the University of Iowa pool this weekend.

The Sycamores are one of 10 MVC teams vying for the conference championships and ISU rides the momentum into the postseason coming off four dual meet wins and a strong showing at the Tim Welsh Classic.

ISU was picked second overall in the preseason poll by the conference’s head coaches and the Sycamores look to live up to the billing boasting one of the deepest rosters in the field under the helm of head coach Josh Christensen.

“We’re excited to go compete in Iowa this week,” Christensen said. “The team has done a great job all season and these last few weeks have been no exception. We’re prepared and confident. We know this will be the deepest MVC meet ever. We’re prepared to go swim and dive for each other and fight for every point.”

The 2023 MVC Championships will feature a new scoring system that will favor the teams with deeper rosters. In previous years, the top 16 athletes in each event would score and add to the team totals. This season, the top 24 athletes will place and have their score added to the overall team standings.

Across the team standings, ISU boasts multiple athletes that sit among the scorers in every event as the Sycamores look to snap a stretch of finishing third in each of the last four seasons.

Two ISU athletes sit among the conference standings in their respective events heading into the conference championships. Marni Gray continues to add to her legacy at Indiana State as the senior is the conference leader in both the 100 and the 200 Butterfly events. Zoe Smith is the lone MVC diver to break 300 points in the 3M diving event and is a four-time MVC Diver of the Week as recognized by the conference office this season.

The Sycamores have also set eight new school records in the 2022-23 season coming in the 500 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke, 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 400 Freestyle Relay, 200 Medley Relay, and both the 1M and 3M diving events. Two records came in ISU’s last meet at the Tim Welsh Classic as Gray (54.16, 100 Fly) and the ISU 400 Freestyle Relay team (Chloe Farro, Peyton Heagy, Kaimi Matsumoto, Alexa Szadorski – 3:23.04) set new marks in the ISU record book.

Additional records came earlier starting at the season-opener against Missouri State and Miami (Ohio) as Carmen Alard Vegas, Matsumoto, Gray, and Farro set a new mark in the 200 Medley Relay touching the wall in 1:41.98. Two more marks came at the Kansas Classic as Andrea Putrimas (4:54.48 – 500 Free) and Madie Rutan (55.00 – 100 Back) broke the previous standards. Gray (25.16 – 50 Fly) tied and Smith (290.55 – 1M) set a new mark in their respective events in the December meet against Indianapolis, while Smith shattered the ISU mark in the 3M diving event against Illinois State.

In years past, the top three athletes that finish in their events earn All-Conference recognition from the MVC. Heading into the conference championships in addition to Gray and Smith, seven other Sycamores are currently on the potential All-Conference list this season after sitting in the top-five in the MVC performance list this season.

Putrimas currently leads the Sycamores in three separate events as the senior is in the top-five in the Valley this season in the 200 Free (fourth), 500 Free (second), and the 1650 Free (fifth). 2022 All-Conference recipient Madie Rutan is also back in the mix in the backstroke sitting third in the 100 and fourth in the 200, while Dorotea Bukvic is also a hopeful in two events competing in the 200 Breaststroke (fifth) and 400 IM (third). Other Sycamores sitting in the top-five in the conference include Esther Rydbeck Norden (1650 Free – 3rd), Katie Dougherty (200 Fly – 4th), and Alexandria Cotter (400 IM – 5th).

All five Indiana State relay teams also currently sit in the top-three in the conference standings including the 200 Free Relay (3rd), 400 Free Relay (2nd), 800 Free Relay (2nd), 200 Medley Relay (3rd), and 400 Medley Relay (3rd).

Live results will be available via Meet Mobile, while live video will be available via UNI’s YouTube page.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE WGOLF

ARNY DAGSDOTTIR NOTCHES TOP-10 FINISH IN UTAH

WASHINGTON, Utah – Arny Dagsdottir of the Purdue Fort Wayne women’s golf team finished in the top 10 at the Utah Tech Zupas Trailblazer Invitational on Tuesday (Feb. 14). She finished the event with a 77-76-153 for eighth place.

The tournament was cut short due to inclement weather. After a reasonable spring day on Monday, Utah saw rain and snow cover the course, making it unplayable. The scores the teams had recorded in round three were scrapped.

Dagsdottir’s eighth-place finish was the best of her career, topping the ninth-place she had at the Dayton Flyer Invitational last fall. In round two, she dropped in 11 pars and a pair of birdies. She birdied the 502-yard 18th and the 470-yard fourth. She was -3 on hole four in two rounds.

Anna Olafsdottir was two strokes back of Dagsdottir to take 14th at the event. She finished with a 78-77-155. She birdied hole 12 to move to even, then had 11 pars after that to finish with a 77.

Laura Caetano took 47th with an 82-84-166. She had three pars in her first four holes, the finished strong with an even performance over the last five holes of her day. She birdied the 353-yard eighth hole. Her sister, Luiza Caetano, was the last score taken for the Mastodons. She turned in a 90-83-173 for 54th. After a rough start, Caetano evened out on the front nine with 1-over 37 after making the turn. She birdied the fifth hole with a two and had six pars.

Natalie Papa rounded out the lineup with a 97-95-192 for 59th. She turned in seven pars.

As a team, the Mastodons improved on day two, shooting 327-320-647. They moved ahead of Idaho State. California Baptist won the event with a 610. CSUN’s Gracie Piar was the medalist with a 140.

Purdue Fort Wayne will take the course again in 11 days when they play at the Bright’s Creek Women’s Intercollegiate on February 25-26.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE SB

BUSY WEEK AHEAD FOR MASTODON SOFTBALL AT MIAMI AND GEORGIA STATE TOURNAMENT

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne softball team will play six games in the next five days, including a newly scheduled game on Wednesday at Miami (OH). After their pit stop in Oxford, the Mastodons will go to the Bob Heck Classic in Atlanta.

Wednesday Gameday Information

Who: Miami (OH) Redhawks

When: Wednesday, February 15 | 5:30 PM

Where: Oxford, Ohio

Live Stats: Link

Watch: None

Bob Heck Classic Information

Host: Georgia State

When: Friday, Feb. 17 – Sunday, Feb. 19

Where: Atlanta, Georgia

Live Stats: Link

Watch: None

Bob Heck Classic Schedule

Friday, Feb. 17

12:30 PM – Rhode Island

5:30 PM – Georgia State

Saturday, Feb. 18

10 AM – Eastern Kentucky

12:30 PM – Rhode Island

Sunday, Feb. 19

12:30 PM – Georgia State

Series Histories

Miami (OH): Mastodons lead 2-1. Last meeting was 3/17/2018.

Rhode Island: First Meeting

Georgia State: First Meeting

Eastern Kentucky: Eastern Kentucky leads 3-1. Last meeting was 3/2/2019.

Know Your Foes

• Miami (OH) was 40-17-1 last season and a participant in the NCAA Regional. The Redhawks are 2-2 this season with wins over East Tennessee State and Campbell. Kate Kobayashi has six hits this season, batting .500.

• Rhode Island was 11-35 last season. Rhody was led last year by Rachel Zingerman, who batted .307 and is back for her senior season. This will be the first Rhode Island has played this season.

• Georgia State is 1-4, coming off a 21-33 campaign in 2022. They picked up a 4-1 win over No. 22 Louisiana last year. The Panthers picked up their first win of the season over Kansas City in the last game of the Florida International Tournament.

• Eastern Kentucky was 13-36 last year, but already off to a 4-1 start in 2023. The Colonels picked up wins against St. Thomas, Bowling Green, Valparaiso and Creighton in their opening tournament. Vianna Barron has nine hits and nine runs so far this year.

Last Time Out

The Mastodons started their season at the UNCW Home Weekend #1. They went to extra innings with the host UNCW in game two, but fell 2-1 in eight innings.

Next Up

The Mastodons will play in the 2023 Aces Home Tournament #2 next weekend (Feb. 24-26), where they will play Bowling Green, Evansville and St. Thomas.

EVANSVILLE MBB

UE OPENS THE WEEK AT BELMONT ON WEDNESDAY

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Two games on the road make up the slate this week for the University of Evansville men’s basketball team starting on Wednesday evening at Belmont. Tip is set for 6:30 p.m. CT with the Purple Aces Radio Network and ESPN+ having the coverage.

Setting the Scene

– Evansville’s recent turnaround began in the first match-up versus the Bruins on Jan. 25 as the Aces kept it close in a 73-64 loss

– Ben Sheppard had a double-double in that game, posting 23 points and 10 rebounds

– Yacine Toumi and Marvin Coleman II led the Purple Aces with 15 points apiece

– The downward trend of the 2021-22 season started with the trip to Nashville on 11/13/21 as UE fell by a final of 81-43

Last Time Out

– Another solid game by UE saw them hold a lead in the final four minutes before three consecutive triples lifted Missouri State to the 66-60 win at the Ford Center

– Antoine Smith Jr. led UE with 16 points, tying his season mark

– Marvin Coleman and Kenny Strawbridge Jr. scored 14 and 10, respectively

Racking up the Minutes

– Playing 34 minutes or more in 16 of the last 17 games, Marvin Coleman II ranks 6th in the MVC with 34.8 per game

– His average of 35.5 minutes in MVC games is 5th-best in the league

– With 14 points against Missouri State on Feb. 12, Coleman picked up his 14th double figure scoring effort in the last 17 games

– Hitting 9 of his 13 shots at Southern Illinois, Coleman reset his career scoring high with 25 points

– Over his last 117 games, Coleman is averaging 13.6 points while shooting 42.2%

Scouting the Opposition

– With their first season as members of the MVC rounding the homestretch, Belmont is 18-9 and 11-5 in the Valley

– The Bruins are tied for third in the league standings, just one game out of first place

– Ben Sheppard continues to pace the Bruins in numerous statistical categories

– His 19.4 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per contest, 34.7 minutes and 40 steals are all team-highs

– In the first meeting against the Aces, Sheppard led the way with 23 points and 10 rebounds

– Cade Tyson and Drew Friberg average 13.5 and 11.7 points per game, respectively

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.

SOUTHERN INDIANA BASEBALL

USI OPENS DIVISION I PLAY VERSUS WIU

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana Baseball opens NCAA Division I action by playing a neutral-site four-game series with Western Illinois University February 17-19 at USA Stadium in Millington, Tennessee. The series opens Friday with a 2 p.m. single game; followed by a noon doubleheader Saturday; and conclude with a noon single game Sunday.

Links to follow the Eagles during the opening weekend of 2023 can be found on USIScreamingEagles.com.

USI Baseball Notes:

USI vs. WIU: The Screaming Eagles play the Leathernecks for the first time since 1977 when WIU took a two-game set, 6-5 and 4-3.

Eagles in 2022: USI was 21-28 in 2022 and during the final season in the NCAA Division II, placing fifth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Blue Division with a 10-14 record.

USI predicted eighth in OVC: USI was predicted to place eighth in the Ohio Valley Conference during 2023.

McNew named preseason All-OVC: Senior catcher Lucas McNew was named Preseason All-OVC by the conference and by Perfect Game. The preseason honors were the first of McNew’s career.

Leading Returning Hitters: Senior catcher Lucas McNew was second on the team in 2022 with a .321 batting average, while driving in a team-high and career-high 57 RBIs and hitting a team-best eight home runs last spring. He also is a .306 career hitter with 126 RBIs and 20 home runs.

In addition to McNew, the USI lineup returns senior outfielders Ren Tachioka and Evan Kahre. Tachioka, USI’s leadoff hitter in 2022, batted .295 in his first season and ranked second on the team with 45 runs scored and 21 stolen bases. Kahre batted .290 with 18 runs scored and 22 RBIs in his first season as an Eagle last spring.

McNew climbing the USI All-Time charts: Senior catcher Lucas McNew enters the season tied for sixth all-time at USI in home runs (20); 13th in RBIs (126); and 14th in doubles (40).

Top Returning Pitcher: USI is led into 2023 by sophomore rigthhander Tyler Hutson. Hutson was 2-2 in 20 appearances out of the pen last season with three saves and a 4.83 ERA.

Under Tracy Archuleta: The Eagles enter their 17th season under Head Coach Tracy Archuleta, who has led the Eagles to two NCAA Division II national championships (2010, 2014) in his 16 years at the helm. He also has been recognized as the Division II ABCA National Coach of the Year twice (2010, 2014); the ABCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year five times (2007, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018) and the GLVC Coach of the Year twice (2011, 2014) since taking over the program in 2007. He also is the winningest coach in the history of the program with 527 victories in 16 years.

VALPO MGOLF

MEN’S GOLF FINISHES ADVANCE GOLF PARTNERS WITH ANOTHER SOLID ROUND

The Valparaiso University men’s golf team finished out the Advance Golf Partners Collegiate with its second consecutive round at under par, as the team climbed all the way to tied for sixth on the leaderboard. Senior Caleb VanArragon (Blaine, Minn. / Blaine) once again had the squad’s best score, solidifying a top-10 finish at the par-72, 7169-yard Hammock Creek Golf Club in Palm City, Fla.

How It Happened

VanArragon turned in a 70 (-2) in Round 3 to finish the event with a 54-hole score of 215 (-1). He did great work over the final two rounds to dig himself out of a hole that he created by shooting six over in Round 1. The Valpo senior tied for sixth in a 119-player field after finishing Day 1 at t-56.

The team’s second-best score on Tuesday came courtesy of Sam Booth (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel), who turned in a 71 (-1) to finish at 220 (+4) for the week. He made his way into the top 20 at t-18.

The team’s third-best score – both for the day and for the tournament – was Yianni Kostouros (Crown Point, Ind. / Crown Point [Ball State]). His Round-3 score of 72 (E) helped him finish the event at 223, tied for 33rd.

Valpo posted a team score of 287 in Tuesday’s round. The team was in 17th of 19 after one day of the event, but climbed all the way tied for sixth by the time Tuesday’s action wrapped up with a 54-hole score of 881.

Drexel took the team title at 863, while UNCG’s Nick Lyerly was the individual medalist at 204.

Inside the Round

VanArragon has now finished in the top 10 in all six tournaments this season and has nine straight top-10 finishes dating back to last season. In his career, VanArragon has now finished in the top 10 on 25 occasions.

Valpo led the tournament field in par-5 scoring at 4.73 (-16). The team’s par-4 scoring was also solid at 4.16 (fourth), but the Beacons were second from the bottom in par-3 scoring at 3.38.

VanArragon finished second in the field in par-5 scoring with a 4.42 average.

Valpo ranked fifth in the field with 44 birdies, led by VanArragon with 13.

Thoughts from Head Coach Dave Gring

“I’m really proud of the team, battling back from a huge deficit that we made for ourselves in the first round. It was a very disappointing first-round performance and we struggled in a variety of areas. The guys made some quality adjustments from the first round, and that paid dividends in the final two rounds. We played as well as team champion Drexel in the final two rounds and better than the rest of the field. We made up a lot of ground in two days, and that’s a huge positive that we can take from this tournament.”

“While our team led the field in Par-5 scoring, our long iron/hybrid shots were not sharp today and we didn’t take advantage in scoring after a number of very good tee shots. We need to simply get more practice reps with those clubs. We really could have crushed the field in Par-5 scoring had our approach shots been better. Also, our Par-3 scoring was very solid in the second round and decent today, but we need to hit more Par-3 greens in regulation.”

“The competitive rounds always show us what we need to work on in practice. We have a month before our next tournament, so we have plenty of time to focus on those areas. For the first tourney of the spring season, I watched a lot of excellent shot execution and I felt the guys made a lot of good decisions out there in managing the course. We had some quality sub-par rounds from Caleb and Sam, with solid ball-striking and both of them putting well to make some birdies. Yianni and Owen gave us some much-needed rounds at and around par. We will look forward to playing in another quality field in a few weeks.”

Up Next

Next month, Valpo will return to tournament action by making its way to Phoenix to compete in the Grand Canyon University Invitational at GCU Golf Course. The two-day event will begin on Monday, March 13. A link to live scoring will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.

VALPO MBB

RALLY FALLS SHORT AS SIU EDGES VALPO AT ARC

The Valparaiso University men’s basketball team rallied from down by as many as 12 to take its first lead of the game with 5:48 remaining, but the Beacons could not put away visiting Southern Illinois as the Salukis prevailed 66-62 on Tuesday night at the Athletics-Recreation Center. Seniors Ben Krikke (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada / Jasper Place) and Kobe King (La Crosse, Wis. / La Crosse Central [Wisconsin]) poured in 24 points apiece, but didn’t get enough help as no other Beacon tallied more than five points.

How It Happened

Southern Illinois jumped out to an early lead by scoring the game’s first eight points to force a Valpo timeout at the 15:39 mark, an early deficit that proved pivotal in the game’s outcome.

After trailing 12-4 early, it was Valpo’s turn for an 8-0 run to even the game at 12. Ibra Bayu (Flevoland, The Netherlands / Perkiomen) had a pair of baskets including a tip-in dunk, and then Bayu set up Krikke’s game-tying layup by swiping a steal.

SIU quickly regained the lead and eventually had the gap back to eight by the time the game reached halftime.

Valpo missed all nine 3-point tries in the first half, but SIU wasn’t exactly putting on a 3-point shooting clinic either, going 1-of-7 before the break.

The guests scored the first four points of the second half to up the lead to 12, but the Beacons compiled another 8-0 burst to shrink the deficit to four, a run that was capped by a 3-pointer by Maximus Nelson (Appleton, Wis. / Appleton North), the team’s first make of the game from long range.

The lead fluctuated between five and nine for most of the half, until Quinton Green (Columbus, Ohio / Homeschool [Cedarville]) hit a 3-pointer with 10:15 on the clock to trim the margin to four. A second-chance dunk by Krikke with 9:05 on the clock slimmed the gap to one at 48-47.

With 5:48 remaining, King scored on an assist from Darius DeAveiro (Kanata, Ottawa, Canada / Orangeville Prep) to give Valpo its first lead of the evening at 49-48. However, SIU scored the next 11 points to open the lead back to double figures at 59-49 by the 3:16 mark.

Valpo showed no quit even when the lead went back to 10, cutting it all the way down to three by the game’s closing seconds, but SIU made a game-clinching free throw with five ticks remaining to hold on for the win.

Inside the Game

Krikke became just the 11th player in program history to cross the 1,500 career point threshold on Tuesday night, finishing the evening with 1,507 career points. He is one point away from tying and two from passing Harry Bell (1984-88; 1,508) for a spot in the program’s all-time top 10.

Krikke’s 24-point performance on Tuesday was his fourth straight game with 20+ points and his seventh straight with 19 points or more. He went 8-of-10 from the free-throw line to contribute to his point total. He has scored in double figures in 16 consecutive games and all 17 MVC contests.

Speaking of double figure streaks, King’s reached 28 games on Tuesday as he scored 24 points. He is one double-figure output away from tying the program record shared by Alec Peters and Javon Freeman-Liberty for consecutive double-figure scoring outputs within the same season.

King’s 24 points tied his MVC-only season high set on Jan. 17 vs. UIC and was two points shy of his overall career best of 26 set on Nov. 13 of this season vs. Western Michigan. He went 8-of-13 from the field and 8-of-9 at the stripe on Tuesday, tying his career high for made free throws in a game.

Both teams went 2-of-14 from 3-point distance on Valentine’s Day (2/14).

Green gobbled up a team-high 10 rebounds to tie his career high. This marked his second straight double-figure rebounding effort after his first of the season occurred on Saturday vs. Illinois State.

Krikke rejected five shots, outdoing his previous career high of four that came on Feb. 9, 2022 at Illinois State. The last time a Valpo player swatted five shots in a game was Dec. 17, 2020 (Donovan Clay vs. Purdue Northwest) and the last time it occurred against a Division-I foe was Jan. 26, 2019 (Jaume Sorolla vs. Drake).

The second half marked a significant improvement as Valpo shot 55.6 percent after the break compared to 26.1 percent in the first 20 minutes.

Valpo slipped to 0-5 in MVC games that are either decided by fewer than five points or go to overtime.

Postgame Comments

Click here for postgame press conference.

Up Next

Valpo (11-17, 5-12 MVC) will have its longest break between games of the Missouri Valley Conference slate as the team will next be in action on Sunday at UIC. The game will begin at 2 p.m. and will air on ESPN+.

VALPO BASEBALL

VALPO, KANSAS TO CLASH ON OPENING WEEKEND

Valparaiso (0-0, 0-0 MVC)

vs. Kansas (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

Whataburger Field (7,679) | Corpus Christi, Texas

Friday, Feb. 17, 3 p.m. – RHP Griffin McCluskey

Saturday, Feb. 18, 1 p.m. – RHP Connor Lockwood

Sunday, Feb. 19, noon – RHP Ryan Mintz

Next Up in Valpo Baseball: The 2023 Valparaiso University baseball season will get underway this weekend with a three-game series against Big 12 Conference foe Kansas that will take place at a neutral site in Corpus Christi, Texas. The season-opening series will be held at Whataburger Field, which is the home to the Corpus Christi Hooks, the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. This will start a stretch of 20 straight games away from Emory G. Bauer Field before the home opener on March 28.

Last Time Out: Valpo closed the 2022 campaign with an 8-0 loss to Indiana State on Wednesday, May 25 in the single-elimination opening round of the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament, held in Springfield, Mo. The Beacons capped the year at 16-32 and 5-15 in Missouri Valley Conference play.

Following the Beacons: All three games in the series will air on FloBaseball (subscription required), plus a live radio broadcast courtesy of Kansas Athletics and live stats will also be available. For the second consecutive year, fans will be able to watch Valpo baseball home games on The Valley on ESPN (ESPN3/+) this season. For all the latest in Valpo Baseball, follow @ValpoBaseball on Twitter.

Head Coach Brian Schmack: Brian Schmack (168-267) is in his 10th season in charge of the program. He ranks third in program history in seasons coached and games coached as he enters 2023 having skippered 435 Valpo games. He enters the season with 168 victories, one of four coaches in program history with over 150. The former big-league pitcher led Valpo to 25 wins in his inaugural campaign in 2014, a school record for victories by a first-year skipper. Schmack, a member of the 2003 Detroit Tigers, served as pitching coach/associate head coach at Valpo for seven seasons prior to his promotion.

Series Notes: Valpo will begin the season with six straight games against first-time opponents as the Beacons have never faced off with Kansas or UT Martin.

Opening Day History

Valpo has dropped seven of its last eight Opening Day games, but the one win during that span came recently as the team began the 2021 campaign with a 6-2 victory at UAB.

The aforementioned victory over the Blazers was the squad’s first opening-day triumph since beating Samford 6-5 on Feb. 14, 2014.

The Beacons will look to get back in the Opening Day win column after falling 13-0 at Memphis a year ago.

In the Other Dugout – Kansas

Kansas is picked to finish ninth of nine in the Big 12 preseason poll.

The team is coming off 20-35 season and a 4-20 conference mark.

Under the direction of first-year head coach Dan Fitzgerald, who previously was the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at LSU.

Fitzgerald has been in the opposing dugout against Valpo in the past, as he was part of the Missouri Valley Conference during his tenure on the Dallas Baptist coaching staff from 2012-2021. DBU shared conference affiliation with Valpo before leaving to join Conference USA this season.

Inside the Schedule

The 2023 nonconference schedule will see Valpo take on opponents from nine different conferences including four of the power five – the Big 12, ACC, Big Ten and SEC as well as the Ohio Valley Conference, Sun Belt, Summit League, Horizon League and Mid-American Conference.

Valpo will make a trip to preseason top-25 Southern Miss (March 10-12) to match up with a team that won Conference USA last season as part of a 47-19 record, hosting and winning an NCAA Regional before making an NCAA Super Regional appearance.

Valpo will play twice at Notre Dame (March 21, April 18), a team that reached the College World Series as part of a 41-7 season last year.

valPROS

Valpo’s program produced a pair of pitchers who went on to continue their careers in professional organizations following the 2022 spring.

Left-hander Jake Miller was selected with the 237th overall pick in the eighth round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Detroit Tigers. He became Valpo’s first draft choice since Scott Kapers was selected in the 17th round of the 2018 draft by the Texas Rangers.

Miller was Valpo’s highest draft choice since 2010, when Kyle Gaedele went to the San Diego Padres in the sixth round. The New York native was the highest Missouri Valley Conference pitcher taken in the 2022 draft.

Miller made his professional debut by pitching in five games in 2022 for the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the Class-A Florida State League.

Right-hander Colin Fields was signed by the Tigers as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 draft.

Miller and Fields are part of a long list of Tiger ties within Valpo’s program. Valpo legend Lloyd McClendon was on the Tigers big league coaching staff from 2006-2013 and 2017-2020 including a stint as interim manager, former Valpo players Bo McClendon and Dalton Lundeen were also drafted by the Tigers, Valpo head coach Brian Schmack played in the big leagues with the Tigers in 2003 and current Valpo player Patrick Ilitch is the grandson of longtime Tigers owner Michael Ilitch (1992-2017) and the nephew of current owner Christopher Ilitch (2017-present).

Who’s Back, Who’s Gone, Who’s New?

The Valpo offense is loaded with returning talent in 2023 as 82.7 percent of the team’s hits from last season came from players who are back for the 2023 campaign. The top six Beacons in terms of batting average return and 11 of the 15 position players who saw action a year ago are back with the program.

Relievers Nathan Chasey and Bobby Nowak are back after posting the club’s top two ERAs a year ago, but the top two arms in the weekend rotation – Jake Miller and Colin Fields – were snatched up by the Detroit Tigers.

Valpo’s newcomers include five freshmen (Kyle Tyler, Will Radich, Adam Guazzo, Cole Syversen and Thomas Cooper), two junior college transfers (Josh Spencer and Kaleb Krier) and one four-year transfer (Jake Skrine, Indiana).

Tucker’s Tear: Nolan Tucker hauled in several awards at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign as he was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper while also earning All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team and MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team honors. He was in his third season on campus but qualified for the Freshman All-American honor based on receiving a medical redshirt in 2021 and the 2020 campaign not counting toward eligibility due to COVID-19. Tucker finished his 2023 season second in the conference in batting average both overall (.365) and in league play (.384). He also ranked ninth in the league in on-base percentage (.440) and had four hits on three different occasions. He finished with the highest batting average by a Valpo player since Ryan O’Gara hit .388 in 2010, making a significant jump after entering the season with a .188 batting average. He finished a home run shy of the natural cycle on April 30 at Southern Illinois as his single, double and triple came in that order as part of a four-hit game. That helped him earn MVC Player of the Week on May 2.

Sophomore Jump: Valpo shortstop Alex Thurston enjoyed a sophomore jump rather than a sophomore slump last season. After hitting .158 as a freshman, Thurston finished the season with a .301 batting average, the second-best on the team and one of two Beacons to finish the year above the .300 line.

Renfro’s Rise: After finishing with a .231 batting average in 2021 both overall and in MVC play, Brady Renfro hit for Valpo’s second-highest batting average in league play last year. He ranked fifth on the team with a .252 nonconference batting average, but did his best offensive work in league play, where he finished second on the squad with a .319 average.

Lockwood Locked In Late: Over his final three appearances of the 2022 regular season, freshman RHP Connor Lockwood hit his stride. The rookie righty allowed two runs on nine hits while striking out eight and walking five during that stretch, posting a 1.80 earned run average. That marked a significant step forward for Lockwood, who entered that stretch with an 0-5 record and 8.90 ERA.

National Player of the Week: Valpo freshman Ryan Maka was named a National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball newspaper on May 16 of last season after a breakout series against Bradley that featured four home runs. He enjoyed the first three-homer game of the season by a Missouri Valley Conference player in league play in the May 13 series opener against the Braves. In addition, Maka became the first Valpo player since 2018 (Blake Billinger) and just the second since 2008 to achieve that feat. That came as a part of a four-hit game to begin a three-game set that saw him record five extra-base knocks. Maka went 7-for-13 (.538) over the three games with six RBIs, six runs scored, 20 total bases and a 1.538 slugging percentage. The rookie outfielder followed his career-high four hits in the series opener with three hits in Valpo’s 8-2 victory on May 14. Maka was second on D1Baseball.com’s list of the top 30 hitting performances in the nation on Friday, May 13. Maka became the first Valpo player to earn national Player of the Week honors since Colin Fields did so on March 15, 2021 following his no-hitter against Middle Tennessee State.

Nowak Nailing It Down: Bobby Nowak nailed down eight saves last season, finishing just outside the program’s single-season top 5. He finished with Valpo’s highest single-season save total since 2014, when Karch Kowalczyk had 11. In addition, Nowak enters 2023 ranked tied for ninth in program history in career saves despite having pitched just one season at Valpo.

Valpo’s Career Saves List

Jarad Miller, 2008-2012, 36

Karch Kowalczyk, 2010-2014, 24

Adam Knobel, 2002-2005, 14

Justin Craker, 1998-2001, 13

Easton Rhodehouse, 2017-2021, 11

Dallas Cawiezell, 2005-2007, 10

(t-6) Jon Tieman, 2017-2021, 10

Adam Paetznick, 2001-2004, 9

Chip Pettit, 1993-1996, 8

(t-9) Bobby Nowak, 2022, 8

Pitching Profiles

#38 RHP Griffin McCluskey, Jr. (Normal, Ill. / Normal Community) – As a freshman, got the starting nod on May 11, 2021 vs. No. 8 Notre Dame and pitched a gem at Emory G. Bauer Field, holding the guests to no runs on one hit – a seeing-eye single through the left side – while walking just one and striking out four in six innings. He left in position for the win after becoming just the third pitcher to hold Notre Dame scoreless while pitching six or more innings all season, joining Duke’s Jack Carey and Boston College’s Emmett Sheehan… Posted the highest fielding percentage by a starting shortstop in program history in high school… Finished in the top 10 in his high school’s history in career 3-point field goals in basketball… Enjoys playing the guitar… Earned his first collegiate victory in his hometown of Normal on April 17, 2022, pitching Valpo to a 2-1 win over Illinois State on Easter Sunday. He allowed just one run on four hits and one walk while striking out five over six strong innings.

#11 RHP Connor Lockwood, So. (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville): Named conference co-player of the year as a high school senior in 2021 and received all-state accolades… Interested in a career in elementary education… Favorite food is deep dish pizza… Finished his freshman season with an 0-5 record and 7.30 ERA in 2022, but did his best work late in the year, posting a 1.80 ERA over his last three regular-season starts… Pitched three scoreless innings of one-hit ball on May 7 vs. DBU before working 2 2/3 shutout frames while allowing one hit on May 13 vs. Bradley.

#39 RHP Ryan Mintz (Jr*., Lombard, Ill. / Willowbrook) – Set his high school’s record for wins by a pitcher in the program’s 60-year history… Computer engineering major… Hobbies include snowboarding and other extreme sports… Started eight games over his first two seasons but all 12 appearances in 2022 came in relief… Worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings on March 19, 2022 at Murray State… Tossed three shutout frames on April 15, 2022 at Illinois State.

#10 LHP Christian Hack, So. (Oak Forest, Ill. / Tinley Park) – Helped his team to conference and regional championships in 2019… Also competed in high school basketball… Says he can “do a decent Chewbacca noise”… Favorite TV Show is The Office… Appeared in six games out of the Valpo bullpen and logged 6 2/3 innings as a freshman in 2022.

#12 RHP Jacob Rosenkranz, Jr*. (Lincolnshire, Ill. / Stevenson) – Lived in Texas for 13 years… Favorite TV show is Breaking Bad… Made five appearances in 2020 (COVID shortened), 13 in 2021 (one start) and 12 in 2022… Finished the 2022 season with a 5.79 ERA, but if you take out two bad outings (March 13 at SEMO and April 10 vs. Indiana State), he had a 1.84 ERA over his other 10 games.

#16 RHP Josh Cottrill, R-So. (Pewaukee, Wis. / Pewaukee) – Redshirted in 2021 during his first season on campus, then logged 8 2/3 innings in seven games out of the bullpen in 2022… Best outing of 2022 came on April 1 at UIC, when he did not allow a hit or walk over 2 2/3 shutout innings while striking out three… Two-time all-conference performer in high school… Set his school’s record for highest batting average by a freshman at .531 in 2017… Hobbies include Guitar Hero… Can juggle… Loves to travel.

#32 RHP Bobby Nowak, Sr. (Cedar Lake, Ind. / Hanover Central) – Hobbies include hunting and fishing… Favorite movie is Indiana Jones… Touted as a pitcher with strength who can spin it well… Received 2022 All-MVC Honorable Mention… Nailed down eight saves in 2022, one shy of cracking the program’s single-season top five… Had Valpo’s highest single-season save total since 2014… Finished his first season at Valpo already ranked ninth in program history in career saves… Ranked second on the team in ERA at 5.09 while appearing in 17 games out of the bullpen in 2022.

#34 RHP Grant Jablonski, Jr*. (Mishawaka, Ind. / Mishawaka) – Appeared in four games in 2021 and two in 2020 before appearing in nine games in 2022… 2019 Indiana All-Star while earning all-state honors… Favorite TV show is It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

#42 RHP Nathan Chasey, Sr.* (Ames, Iowa / Gilbert [Indian Hills CC]) – Joined the program for the 2021 season after two years of JUCO baseball… NJCAA Region 11 Honorable Mention in 2019… Enjoys fishing… Favorite MLB team is the Atlanta Braves and player is Chipper Jones… Did not surrender a tally in any of his first six Valpo outings in 2021, a streak spanning 6 1/3 innings… Heaved a scoreless ninth and picked up his first save of the season as Valpo edged Illinois State 6-5 on May 27, 2021 in an MVC Tournament elimination game… Posted a 4.76 ERA in 14 relief appearances in 2022.

Position Player Profiles

#6 Alex Thurston, SS, Jr. (Fowler, Ind. / Benton Central) – Finished as the Valedictorian of his high school senior class… Won the 2019 Nanoline Automation National Championship with three classmates after creating an automated paint brush cleaner… Three-year all-conference honoree on the diamond while also playing four years of tennis and one year of basketball in high school… Appeared in 40 games and made 39 starts in 2021… Posted five hits on April 29, 2022 at Southern Illinois, becoming the first Valpo player with a five-hit game since Scott Kapers on May 8, 2018 at Western Michigan… After hitting .158 in 2021, made a significant jump with a team-high .301 batting average in 2022 while playing in 47 games, all starts.

#15 Kaleb Hannahs, 3B, Jr. (West Terre Haute, Ind. / West Vigo) – 2021 MVC Freshman of the Year, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshman All-American, All-MVC Second Team and Valparaiso University co-Male Newcomer of the Year (ARC Awards)… In a very unusual and possibly even unprecedented occurrence, Valpo has two sons of Missouri Valley Conference head baseball coaches in the starting lineup… Hannahs’ father Mitch is the head coach at Indiana State… Civil engineering major… Fan of Luke Combs, the St. Louis Cardinals and Fernando Tatis Jr… Three-sport athlete in high school, where he earned four letters apiece in football, basketball and baseball… Earned MVC Player of the Week on May 3, 2021 after posting a slash line .556/.636/.667 over five games during the week… Led the team in batting average (.296), hits (55) and on-base percentage (.389) in 2021, becoming the first rookie to pace the team in batting average since Spencer Mahoney in 2012… Finished the 2021 season on a 20-game on-base streak… Started his freshman season with a .200 average over the first 11 games before hitting .336 over his last 36 regular-season contests while posting a .434 on-base percentage in that time… Listed by D1Baseball.com as the No. 3 prospect in the Missouri Valley Conference for the 2023 MLB Draft… Named to the 2022 MVC All-Defensive Team… Led the team in runs scored with 36 while starting all 48 games in 2022, posting a .275 batting average.

#27 Kyle Schmack, OF, Jr*. (Wanatah, Ind. / South Central) – After graduating from nearby South Central High School in 2019, Kyle joined his father Brian’s program at Valpo… Is the first Valpo student-athlete to play for his or her parent as a head coach since Bryce Drew in 1998… Was the MVP of the Indiana North/South All-Star Game in June 2019 following his senior year of high school… Also played football during his prep days… Appeared in 20 games and made nine starts during the shortened 2020 season… Appeared in all 51 games and made 50 starts in 2021, posting a .264 average that ranked fourth on the team while tying for second on the club with 24 RBIs and ranking second on the squad with nine doubles… Ripped his third home run of the season and fifth of his career in Game 2 of a doubleheader on March 19, 2022 at Murray State, his 21st birthday… Reached base 10 times in the April 1, 2022 doubleheader at UIC and made an impressive catch while crashing into the left-field fence in the eighth inning, a play that checked in at No. 9 on D1Baseball’s Top 10 Plays of the Week… Posted his first career two-homer game on April 16 at Illinois State, launching a pair of long balls in Valpo’s 10-2 victory over the Redbirds. He scored four runs in the game, becoming the first Valpo player to score four times in a game since May 8, 2018 vs. Western Michigan (both Chad Jacob and Blake Billinger)… Hit for a .292 average that ranked third on the team in 2022 while also tying for the club lead in both home runs (seven) and RBIs (27).

#30 Brady Renfro, 1B, Jr. (Antigo, Wis. / Antigo) – Exercise science major… Is an only child… Hobbies include hunting and fishing… Favorite MLB player is Clayton Kershaw and team is the Milwaukee Brewers… Played with STiKS Baseball Academy and the Chicago Scouts Association… Posted a 21-game on-base streak that was snapped on May 2, 2021 vs. Illinois State, Valpo’s longest on-base streak since 2017… Named All-MVC Honorable Mention… Was one of two players to start all 48 games for Valpo in 2022… Tied for the team lead in both home runs (seven) and RBIs (27) while also posting a .275 batting average during the 2022 campaign… Hit .319 in MVC play in 2022, ranking second on the team in league-only batting average while driving in a team-high 11 runs in Valley action.

#1 Nolan Tucker, 2B, R-So*. (Cedar Lake, Ind. / Hanover Central) – Earned all-conference honors in three high school seasons in baseball and was a two-time conference champion in wrestling… Was the 2019-20 President of Brandt Hall (dorm)… Hobbies include kayaking… Can juggle and walk on his hands… Can drink a bottle of water in 1.5 seconds… Was a three-year class president in high school… Played in the Collegiate Summer Baseball Invitational on June 4, 2020 on ESPN2 in the first live baseball event since the pandemic…. Appeared in four games in 2021 before incurring a season-ending injury… Missed the beginning of the 2022 season with a hamstring injury… Lashed out four hits and was a homer away from the natural cycle after recording a single, double and triple in that order in his first three plate appearances on April 30, 2022 at SIU… Hit .667 (8-for-12) over a three-game series at SIU (April 30-May 1, 2022)… Named the MVC Player of the Week on May 2, 2022… 2022 All-MVC First Team, MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshman All-American (qualified due to medical redshirt year and COVID year despite being in his third season on campus)… Led the team in hitting and finished with Valpo’s highest single-season batting average since 2010 at .365.

#22 Ryan Maka, OF, So. (Oak Forest, Ill. / Oak Forest) – Also competed in golf in high school… Other hobbies include investing and going to the gym… Favorite TV Show is Stranger Things… Delivered his first collegiate home run on March 29, 2022 vs. Purdue Fort Wayne… Became the first Valpo player since 2018 and second since 2008 to notch a three-homer game on May 13, 2022 vs. Bradley. Had four home runs in that series and five extra-base hits en route to earning Collegiate Baseball Newspaper National Player of the Week recognition… Ranked third on the team in MVC-only batting average at .286 and tied for the team lead with four home runs in Valley play in 2022.

#19 Kade Reinertson, C., R-So. (Huxley, Iowa / Ballard Community) – Did not see game action in 2021… Also played football and basketball in high school… Enjoys golfing and disc golfing… Kicks with his left foot but does everything else right handed… Played in 22 games and made 17 starts in 2022.

#17 Alex Ryan, OF, Jr. (Lake Mills, Wis. / Lakeside Lutheran) – Played in 10 games and made one start as a freshman in 2021… Three-time all-conference pick in high school… Milwaukee Brewers fans… Has a twin sister, Olivia… Hobbies include hiking and playing card games… Played in 46 games (44 starts) in 2022… Tied for second in the league in triples and also tied for second in the MVC with five sacrifice bunts in 2022.

#4 Spencer Warfield, OF, So. (Fullerton, Calif. / Servite) – School treasurer and member of principal’s high honor roll with distinction in high school (above 4.0 GPA with straight A’s)… Favorite food is a cheeseburger… Appeared in 18 games and made 13 starts during his freshman season in 2022.

#9 Matt Olive, LF, R-So., (Minneapolis, Minn. / Blake School) – Majoring in mechanical engineering with minors in Spanish and mathematics… Hit .255 in 21 games and 15 starts in 2021 including a .289 batting average in MVC play… Delivered a go-ahead solo homer with two outs and two strikes to snap a 5-5 tie and give Valpo a 6-5 lead in the May 27, 2021 MVC Tournament elimination game vs. Illinois State in Carbondale. The home run stood as the difference in the game… Received a medical redshirt for the 2022 campaign after playing in just five games prior to a season-ending injury.

#5 Jake Skrine, C/DH, Sr. – Joined the program prior to the 2023 season as a Big 10 transfer from Indiana University… Pursuing a public health certificate… Lived in Puerto Rico for two years… Favorite MLB player is Hank Aaron.

Who’s Next?

It’s never too early to glance ahead to 2024, as the program has announced four signees for next season, all pitchers.

Lucas Foley (Deer Park, Ill. / Lake Zurich), Bennett Musser (Round Lake, Ill. / Mundelein), Jake Jakubowski (Lake in the Hills, Ill. / Huntley [Heartland]) and Jack Thompson (Rosemount, Minn. / Rosemount) have signed to join the program for the 2023-2024 academic and athletic year.

Thoughts from Head Coach Brian Schmack on the Incoming Class: “The goal going into recruiting for the 2023 class was identifying strike throwers who can fit into our pitching philosophy. We think we found four guys who will be able to come in and compete in the zone immediately. We also look at each of the guys and think there is some runway for them physically to be able to gain strength and velocity as they mature and get into our lifting program.”

Inside the Assistants: Top assistant Kory Winter returns to head coach Brian Schmack’s staff this season, while assistant coaches Jeff Mayes and Trey Matthews have joined the fold.

After spending three seasons as a volunteer assistant, Kory Winter was hired as Schmack’s top assistant and hitting coach beginning with the 2019 campaign. Winter played collegiately at Wittenberg and has completed coaching stints at Muskingum University and Shippensburg University. He is also Valpo’s outfield instructor.

Jeff Mayes is in his first season on the Valpo coaching staff, serving as the team’s infield coach. He spent the previous three seasons on staff at his alma mater Aurora University, a Division-III institution in Illinois, where the program amassed an 83-21 record during his tenure. Prior to that, he enjoyed a standout playing career for the Spartans.

Trey Matthews joined the staff prior to the 2023 campaign. He serves as the team’s catching coach. Matthews grew up in Florida and played at Plant City High School before continuing his playing career at Southern Western University. He transferred to Warner University, where he graduated in 2020 before beginning his coaching career with stints at a Florida high school and at Warner prior to his current role.

U OF I MBB

MEN’S HOOPS UP TO #6 IN NABC COACHES POLL

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The UIndy men’s basketball team is up to No. 6 in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) poll, released Tuesday afternoon.

The Greyhounds recently upped their win streak to 16 games last Saturday after a pair of wins at Rockhurst and William Jewell. The ranking marks the 30th week in program history the Hounds have been in the top 10.

NABC DII Poll

RK	SCHOOL (1st-place votes)	REC	PTS	PREV
1.	Nova Southeastern (14)	23-0	398	2
2.	Black Hills State	22-1	379	3
3.	Northwest Missouri State (2)	23-2	363	4
4.	Indiana (PA)	24-1	356	1
5.	UNC Pembroke	24-1	342	5
6.	UIndy	22-2	312	7
7.	Lincoln Memorial	24-2	299	8
8.	Point Loma	23-3	283	9
9.	Fort Lewis	21-2	271	10
10.	Central Oklahoma	21-3	246	6
11.	West Liberty	21-3	244	12
12.	Cal State San Bernardino	20-3	221	14
13.	Hillsdale	21-3	211	15
14.	Southern Nazarene	20-3	191	17
15.	Augusta	20-4	154	11
16.	St. Thomas Aquinas	21-3	139	18
17.	Colorado Mesa	20-4	138	19
18.	West Alabama	20-4	115	20
19.	Colorado School of Mines	20-4	113	13
20.	Mercyhurst	18-4	100	21
21.	Northern State	21-5	89	22
22.	Bentley	18-4	78	16
23.	North Georgia	18-4	55	24
24.	Angelo State	20-5	42	25
25.	Saint Martin’s	20-4	24	NR

U OF I MLAX

MEN’S LACROSSE INCHES UP USILA POLL

BALTIMORE, Md.—With a pair of wins already in its pocket, the UIndy men’s lacrosse team climbed one spot to No. 7 in this week’s USILA rankings. The Greyhounds have been in the top 10 in each of the last 20 weeks.

Defending national champion Tampa earned all 21 first-place votes to retain the top spot, while Mercy, Lenoir-Rhyne, and Le Moyne rounded out the top four.

Complete rankings can be found here.

U OF I SB

HOUNDS CLIMB INTO TOP 15 IN SOFTBALL COACHES POLL

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Coming off a strong opening weekend, the UIndy softball team climbed to No. 14 in the latest NFCA Division II Coaches Poll, released Tuesday. The Greyhounds opened the 2023 campaign last weekend with a 5-1 record at the annual UAH Charger Chillout.

Moving up two spots from its preseason poll position, UIndy remains the lone GLVC team in the top 25. Rogers State received all 16 first-place votes as the unanimous No. 1.

NFCA DII COACHES POLL

RK	TEAM (1st-place votes)	PTS	REC	PREV
1.	Rogers State (16)	400	6-0	1
2.	UT Tyler	378	7-1	3
3.	North Georgia	357	4-1	5
4.	Cal State Dominguez Hills	354	6-3	2
5.	Tampa	312	5-0	17
6.	Central Oklahoma	302	4-2	8
7.	Seton HIll	291	0-0	7
8.	Lubbock Christian	274	10-1	21
9.	Adelphi	270	0-0	9
10.	Valdosta State	259	3-1	12
11.	Grand Valley State	256	0-0	10
12.	Anderson	242	10-0	14
13.	Cal State San Marcos	206	3-2	11
14.	UIndy	174	5-1	16
15.	Lincoln Memorial	156	11-1	20
16.	Southern Arkansas	139	9-0	RV
T17.	Concordia	131	10-4	19
T17.	Kutztown	131	2-1	15
19.	St. Mary’s	114	8-1	NR
20.	Alabama Huntsville	88	6-3	23
21.	Washburn	83	7-2	22
22.	Oklahoma Christian	75	5-1	RV
23.	Angelo State	58	7-3	18
24.	Lenoir-Rhyne	31	7-0	RV
25.	Sonoma State	30	4-1	25

Others receiving votes: Wilmington (29), Augustana (28), Nova Southeastern (13), West Virginia Wesleyan (6), Auburn Montgomery (5), Minnesota State (3), Saint Leo (3), Chico State (1), Colorado Christian (1).

MARIAN WRESTLING

MARIAN WRESTLING CLAIMS 11 WHAC POSTSEASON HONORS

Rochester Hills, Mich. – Following the WHAC Championships on Saturday evening, the conference announced their honorees for the 2022-23 season, including the First and Second Team members, the Champions of Character Team, and the All-Academic Team. Marian, the 2022-23 WHAC runner-up, claimed 11 postseason honors from the league, including five Knights earning first team honors.

Marian led the WHAC with five First Team All-Conference honors, winning at five weight classes in the championships. Blake Mulkey (133), Logan Wagner (141), Elliott Rodgers (165), Noah Hollendonner (174), and Jack Servies (197) were all champions in their weight classes. Servies and Rodgers closed the championship as three-time conference champions, landing on the first team for the third time in their careers. Mulkey earned his second WHAC Championship, earning his first title since 2021 after missing last season with a lower-body injury.

Earning Second Team All-WHAC honors were Asa Garcia (141) and Bailey Moore (157), who each finished as the runner-up in their respective weight classes. Garcia’s honor is the first from the WHAC, while Moore earned his third consecutive All-WHAC Second Team honor, totaling four career all-conference recognititions.

The first and second team honors are based on the finish in the WHAC Tournament.

In addition to the first and second team members, the Knights earned three All-Academic Team honorees. Sam Osho, Austin Lane, and Seth Johnson were all named to the WHAC Academic Team, repeating as honorees again in 2023. Osho and Lane are three-time WHAC All-Academic Team members, while Johnson earned his second career honor. In order to be nominated for the WHAC All-Academic Team, an athlete must be a junior or above in academic standing with cumulative 3.25 GPA and in attendance at nominating school for one full year.

Marian’s final award was given to Sam Osho, who was honored as the Knights Champions of Character winner. Osho joined one member from each of the seven WHAC institutions, earning the award as someone who best exemplifies the five core character values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. Osho, one of the program’s most decorated wrestlers, will graduate as the all-time wins leader in program history.

The NAIA Championships will be held on March 3 and 4 in Wichita, Kansas, with the Knights sending multiple student-athletes to compete in the tournament. A full preview will be announced on MUKnights.com leading up to the championship event.

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

Pct

Conf GB

Home

Road

Div

Conf

Last 10

Streak

1 Boston

.707

—

23-7

18-10

8-1

24-12

6-4

1 L

2 Milwaukee

.702

0.5

24-5

16-12

7-4

22-13

10-0

11 W

3 Philadelphia

.661

3.0

22-8

15-11

7-5

21-13

7-3

3 W

4 Cleveland

.633

4.0

25-6

13-16

11-3

22-10

8-2

7 W

5 Brooklyn

.579

7.5

17-11

16-13

6-7

23-13

4-6

2 L

6 Miami

.552

9.0

19-10

13-16

7-3

15-16

6-4

1 L

7 New York

.542

9.5

16-15

16-12

5-8

22-16

6-4

2 W

8 Atlanta

.500

12.0

15-11

14-18

5-5

17-18

5-5

1 L

9 Toronto

.475

13.5

18-13

10-18

4-9

17-19

6-4

2 W

10 Washington

.474

13.5

14-12

13-18

6-3

15-17

6-4

1 W

11 Chicago

.456

14.5

16-12

10-19

5-5

20-18

4-6

4 L

12 Indiana

.424

16.5

17-14

8-20

3-5

17-17

1-9

5 L

13 Orlando

.407

17.5

14-15

10-20

3-8

12-25

5-5

1 L

14 Charlotte

.271

25.5

8-18

8-25

6-8

9-29

3-7

1 W

15 Detroit

.259

26.0

8-21

7-22

0-9

6-26

3-7

1 L

Western Conference

Pct

Conf GB

Home

Road

Div

Conf

Last 10

Streak

1 Denver

.690

—

26-4

14-14

10-5

28-11

6-4

2 W

2 Memphis

.607

5.0

23-5

11-17

6-2

16-16

3-7

1 L

3 Sacramento

.561

7.5

17-12

15-13

5-6

20-13

5-5

1 L

4 Phoenix

.542

8.5

20-9

12-18

9-0

21-14

7-3

2 W

5 LA Clippers

.533

9.0

15-13

17-15

5-4

18-16

6-4

1 W

6 Dallas

.525

9.5

19-10

12-18

7-2

23-15

6-4

2 L

7 New Orleans

.517

10.0

20-10

10-18

7-4

19-14

4-6

1 W

8 Minnesota

.517

10.0

20-12

11-17

8-7

22-19

6-4

1 W

9 Golden State

.500

11.0

22-7

7-22

4-6

17-14

5-5

1 L

10 Utah

.492

11.5

18-12

11-18

4-6

19-17

5-5

1 W

11 Portland

.483

12.0

16-14

12-16

5-8

20-16

5-5

1 L

12 Oklahoma City

.482

12.0

16-12

11-17

5-6

14-17

5-5

1 L

13 LA Lakers

.448

14.0

13-14

13-18

2-9

13-20

4-6

1 L

14 San Antonio

.241

26.0

9-21

5-23

2-7

5-30

0-10

13 L

15 Houston

.228

26.5

8-20

5-24

1-8

7-30

2-8

6 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 Tampa Bay Lightning	53	35	16	2	72	33	191	156	21-4-2	14-12-0	6-3-1
5 Toronto Maple Leafs	54	32	14	8	72	32	181	145	20-6-4	12-8-4	6-3-1
6 New York Rangers	53	31	14	8	70	29	178	141	16-9-4	15-5-4	7-2-1
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	52	26	22	4	56	25	190	182	11-14-2	15-8-2	5-3-2
12 Detroit Red Wings	52	24	20	8	56	23	160	169	14-11-3	10-9-5	6-3-1
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	52	28	19	5	61	24	160	147	13-9-4	15-10-1	6-2-2
7 Edmonton Oilers	54	30	19	5	65	30	201	175	13-11-3	17-8-2	7-1-2
8 Minnesota Wild	53	28	20	5	61	23	159	154	16-9-2	12-11-3	3-6-1

9 Calgary Flames	54	25	18	11	61	24	172	165	14-9-2	11-9-9	4-4-2
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 Vancouver Canucks	54	21	29	4	46	18	181	218	10-14-1	11-15-3	3-6-1
13 San Jose Sharks	55	17	27	11	45	16	167	207	5-13-7	12-14-4	4-4-2
14 Arizona Coyotes	54	18	28	8	44	16	146	191	11-8-2	7-20-6	4-3-3
15 Anaheim Ducks	54	17	31	6	40	14	135	223	9-14-1	8-17-5	5-4-1
16 Chicago Blackhawks	52	16	31	5	37	16	125	190	10-16-3	6-15-2	4-5-1

FOOTBALL HISTORY

February 15, 1929 – A new sporting goods company is founded. The Riddell Company was founded by John T. Riddell a high school football coach and Athletic Director who started with making better safer football cleats and then he became a pioneer in athletic safety equipment. According to the Riddell Company’s website John T. created the removable cleat in 1922. Riddell himself is quoted on the website stating: “When we started out there was no history of the game. In wet weather players have a foot problem. Leather cleats nailed to the bottom of a shoe just won’t cut it. And if the local cobbler is too busy to fix them then it’s “Sorry Boys.” It was this very necessity that prompted Coach Riddell into action and eventually led to the formation of the company that bears his name. Today Riddell equipment is found on almost every gridiron field, helmets shoulder pads and their accessories are designed to keep players safe.

February 15, 1996 – NFL legendary Head Coach Bill Belichick is fired by the Cleveland Browns franchise. Coach B. finished his Browns coaching career with a record of 36-44.

Nittany Lions Nickname Origins

The nickname of Nittany Lions is unique in College athletics and belongs to only one school; Penn State University. The question arises, though, what exactly is a Nittany Lion? We did some research and dug up some rather interesting stories.

Penn State had a different mascot at the dawn of college athletics at the school, a live animal that was not of the feline variety at all. It was a donkey named Old Coaly. Before all the Jack Ass jokes start rolling through our minds, let’s examine this piece of history. According to a Penn State online post, the beast of burden came from Kentucky to the State College campus in 1857 as part of the labor effort to build the Old Main structure, in tandem with his owner Piersol Lytle and his laborious son, craftsman Andy Lytle.

Coaly and a couple of long-eared teammates were tasked with dragging heavy limestone blocks to the building site from a nearby quarry. The donkey’s hard work did not go unnoticed by the school’s brass because, after constructing the five-story building in 1863, Penn State bought Coaly for the hefty sum of $190 from the Lytles. Though the price appeared steep for the time, the investment in the animal paid off as Coaly was used on the grounds for three decades more, helping workers in farm chores, landscaping, and agricultural missions at local farms. Coaly was never officially adopted by the school as the mascot, but the students held him in such regard that his bones have been preserved, even to modern times, and have been on display at various places on campus. He is also mentioned on multiple plaques around the school.

Now back to how the current name came to be. The Nittany portion is relatively simple in explanation. A local geographical feature has a significant influence on it. Mount Nittany stands prominent in the Happy Valley area. Nittany, believed to have been derived from a Native American name for the mountain, is speculated to mean something to the effect of “one mountain.”

During the 1907 baseball season, the Big Cat theme idea came to PSU sports lore per a story relayed on the Centre County History pages. The hard ballers of the college traveled East to play a tough Princeton team. During their road excursion, one of the team’s players, identified as third baseman Harrison “Joe” Mason, introduced the idea of a mountain cat. As the Penn State team toured the Princeton campus before the game, Joe Mason saw the references to the Princeton Tigers’ name. It must have got his wheels spinning because when confronted in some competitive pre-game banter with Princeton players, Joe stated something to the effect that if you think a Tiger is tough, then you never met the Mountain Lion that lives on Mount Nittany. Mason added that that big cat was never beaten in a fair fight, and neither would the Penn State baseball squad. That day Mason was right as Penn State won the ball game over Princeton.

Mason later pitched the idea of the Mountain Lion to a school periodical, and eventually, it took hold and was adopted as the college’s official mascot. By 1914 a song called “Nittany Lion” was published by Jimmy Leyden. The first costumed person in a lion outfit occurred in 1921, but for a decade or two, the appearance of what this big cat looked like was confusing. In 1924 a costume of an African lion with a full mane was used. That is not exactly what a North American mountain lion looks like. This maned representative was banned in 1927, not because of the misrepresentation but because of superstition. Head Football Coach at the time, the legendary Hugo Bezdek, banned the costume from appearing as he felt it had contributed to some losses the gridders suffered.

No mascot appeared until ten seasons after Bezdek left the program. In 1939 a proper-looking mountain lion costume was worn by a supporter, and one has appeared at all sporting events since.

The symbol of the Nittany Lion in either a headshot image or a paw print is found across the nation where PSU supporters are. Additionally, every Penn State campus has its own Nittany Lion statue to salute the mascot’s name and bring it pride.

HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 15

February 15, 1903 – Midland, Ontario, Canada – The great Southern Cal Quarterback of yesteryear, Morley Drury arrived into this life. More on his story by clicking his name.

February 15, 1920 – Lawrence, Massachusetts – Harvard’s solid Guard Endicott Peabody was born. Read more about him by clicking his name.

February 15, 1931 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – John Michels the stellar guard from the University of Tennessee gained his born-on date. John was one of the starting guards for the Vols from 1950 through the 1952 season according to the FootballFoundation.org website. John was a three-time letter winner, two-time all-conference selection, and in 1952, consensus All-America. That year he also won the Jacobs Trophy as the best blocker in the Southeastern Conference. John Michels received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

February 15, 1935 – Trenton, Tennessee – The quick tackle from Mississippi, Gene Hickerson arrived into this life. Gene was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1957 so that Coach Paul Brown could use his quickness as a guard to employ some innovative blocking schemes to open up holes for the great Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly and Bobby Mitchell. Hickerson was voted as an All-Pro in five consecutive seasons and played in 6 Pro Bowl games. In 2007 the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Gene Hickerson into their Canton, Ohio museum.

February 15, 1940 – Lawrence, Kansas – John Hadl the outstanding halfback/quarterback that played for the University of Kansas from 1959 to 1961 was born. The NFF’s online bio of Hadl recounts that he made a 98-yard interception return against Texas Christian, a 97-yard kickoff return against Syracuse, and a 94-yard punt against Oklahoma. His punting average for the season, 45.6 yards, led the nation. He played halfback in 1960 and was voted as an All-American at the position, and moved to quarterback in 1961 and made All-America again from there! John Hadl was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994 after the National Football Foundation tallied their votes.

February 15, 1957 – Bremerton, Washington – Marc Wilson who was under center for the BYU teams of the late 1970s celebrates his date of birth. The National Football Foundation posts that in Marc’s first game as a starter, he threw 7 touchdown passes in a 63-17 triumph over Colorado State. Later that season he set an NCAA record at the time by tossing for 571 passing yards against Utah. In 1979 Wilson was a unanimous All-America and was named Player of the Year by the Seattle Touchdown Club and the Miami Touchdown Club. The NFF voters selected Marc Wilson for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996. Marc enjoyed an eleven year career in the NFL with both the Raiders and the Patriots.

February 15, 1957 – High Point, North Carolina – The fleet footed halfback from North Carolina State Ted Brown was born. The NFF tells that Brown still holds the ACC’s career records for his 4602 yards rushing and 51 touchdowns. Ted was selected as a 1978 consensus First-Team All-America and he helped lead N.C. State to three straight bowl games. Ted Brown received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College FOotball Hall of Fame in 2013.

February 15, 1960 – Houston, Texas – Darrell Green the speedy ball hawking cornerback from Texas A&I was born. Green was able to cover receivers from the line of scrimmage, eliminating the short pass, confident that his speed would allow him to recover on deep patterns per the NFF. Darrell was a first team All-America in 1982 and was the Most Valuable Player in the Lone Star Conference. The National Football Foundation selected Darrell Green for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004. The Washington Redskins used their first round pick in the 1983 NFL to choose Darrell to play for the franchise. Green spent his amazing 20 year NFL career in D.C. and set an NFL record of having a pick in 19 straight seasons in the League. His great foot speed and technique led him to pick off 56 career NFL passes and return six of them for scores along with 621 return yards and 611 punt return yards. Darrell still holds the record for the Washington franchise’s longest fumble return for a score of 78 yards. He was a four time All-Pro and played in 7 Pro Bowls. In 2008 the Pro Football Hall of Fame gave Darrell Green a much deserved Gold Jacket and a bronze bust in Canton.

February 15, 1968 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Major Harris the West Virginia Mountaineer starting quarterback from 1987 through 1989 arrived into the world. The Football Foundation’s website bio on Major tells of how he was the first player in the history of the NCAA to pass for more than 5000 yards and use his legs for more than 2000 in a collegiate career. Harris led WVU to an undefeated season and a chance to play Notre Dame for the National Championship in the 1988 Fiesta Bowl. Major Harris was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009 after the National Football Foundation tallied their votes.

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

1931 Crescent Lake Field, the Yankees spring training site since 1925, is renamed Miller Huggins Field in honor of the team’s late manager, who passed away at the end of the 1929 season. In 1963, the facility will become known as Huggins-Stengel Field to honor another Bronx Bomber skipper, Casey Stengel, the pilot of the National League’s expansion team, presently working out in the St. Petersburg ballpark.

1946 The Phillies hire the first female major league scout when they sign Edith Houghton, who will ink fifteen players, mostly from Philadelphia high schools, to contracts. The North Philadelphia native will continue to scour the Philly area for local talent until 1952, before returning to the Navy to serve her country during the Korean and Vietnam wars. (Ed. Note: Although Edith Houghton is given credit as the first paid female scout, Bessie Largent and her husband, Roy, worked as a team for the White Sox in that capacity beginning in 1925, signing 25 major leaguers, the most distinguished being Hall of Fame shortstop Luke Appling. -LP)

1946 Three days before he will marry New York department store heiress Coral Gimbel, Hank Greenberg comes to terms with the Tiger, signing a contract for $60,000. After leading the American League in home runs (44) and RBIs (127) this season, the slugging first baseman threatens to retire rather than take a pay cut, prompting Detroit to trade the future Hall of Famer to the Pirates.

1961 Donald M. Grant, chairman and a minority owner of the Mets, offers Branch Rickey a contract to become the general manager of the new National League expansion team. After the former GM of the Browns, Cardinals, Dodgers, and Pirates turns down the job, George Weiss, who filled the same role with the Yankees from 1947 to 1960, accepts the position.

1973 In a national poll, Phillies’ southpaw Steve Carlton beats out golf legend Jack Nicklaus to win the $15,000 diamond-studded gold buckled Hickok Belt, an award given to the top “Professional Athlete of the Year.” Last season’s National League Cy Young Award winner joins an elite list of previous recipients, including Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax, Jim Brown, Rocky Marciano, and Arnold Palmer.

1990 With the issue of the implementation of salary cap unresolved, a thirty-two-day lockout begins when major league owners refuse to open spring training camp without reaching a new Basic Agreement with the players. The season will be delayed one week due to baseball’s seventh work stoppage and will need to be extended for three days to accommodate the 162-game schedule.

2001 After turning down the Mets’ offer of salary arbitration that at the very least would have been worth $2 to $3 million, Bobby Jones signs a one-year free-agent deal with the Padres for only $625,000. The 31-year-old right-hander, 11-6 last year with New York, will lose 19 games for the Padres this season.

2003 After the Japanese Central League’s Dragons release Kevin Millar for an undisclosed payment, the Red Sox, who blocked Marlins’ sale of him of him going to Japan with a waiver claim, acquire the 31-year-old first baseman-outfielder (.306, 16, 57). In a complicated deal brokered by MLB, Florida repaid the money that Chunichi had paid for Millar, who previously turned down the opportunity to stay in the United States, and Boston compensated the National League team with a similar amount in return for Millar.

2006 According to Adam Katz, Sammy Sosa’s agent, the 37-year-old slugger will probably retire eleven homers shy of becoming the fifth major leaguer to hit 600 round-trippers. Earlier, the Dominican outfielder rejected a non-guaranteed contract from the Nationals that included performance bonuses.

2006 Former Dodgers starter Jeff Weaver (14-11, 4.22) agrees to a one-year contract with the other team with Los Angeles in its name. The deal for the last major player left on the free-agent market is worth $8,325,000, and the 29-year-old right-hander can earn an additional $600,000 in performance bonuses for innings pitched, and game starts with the Angels.

2007 Ending more than two months of speculation about Barry Bonds’ deal with the Giants, the commissioner office approves the one-year contract worth $15.8 million. The 42-year-old slugger had reached a preliminary agreement with the team early in December, but finalizing the contract was delayed when language about promotional appearances and an additional clause, stating San Francisco could void the deal with the outfielder if the alleged use of steroid leads to an indictment.

2007 The Yankees announce the team will wear black armbands on the left sleeve of their uniforms in memory of teammate Cory Lidle. The 34-year-old right-hander, along with flight instructor Tyler Stanger, died when their plane crashed into a 52-story high-rise apartment building in Manhattan on a rain-swept afternoon last October.

2011 Stan Musial receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom, an award in which the honorees are selected by the sitting president, from Barack Obama. The Cardinals’ legend, who benefitted from the local grass-roots effort on his behalf, joins major leaguers Hank Aaron, Moe Berg, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, and Ted Williams as a recipient of the most prestigious honor given to a United States civilian.

2012 The Rays and Joe Maddon agree to a three-year contract extension to keep the two-time American League Manager of the Year with Tampa through the 2015 season. During his six-year tenure with the club, the 58-year-old skipper has compiled a 495-477 (.509) record, leading the team to the postseason three times in the last four years, including an American League pennant in 2008.

2016 “Baseball is known as our national pastime, but the game has deep roots and a rich history here in New York State. From the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in storied Cooperstown to the Mets and Yankees — the pinnacles of Major League Baseball, to our recently crowned Little League World Series champions from Maine-Endwell, New York State is clearly the epicenter of baseball greatness. It is time that we formally recognize baseball as our official state sport.” – JAMES SEWARD, New York state senator. New York State Sen. James Seward (R-Milford), thanks to a suggestion from a group of fourth-graders at Cooperstown Elementary School, announces he has introduced legislation (S.4288) to designate baseball as New York’s official state sport. In a press release, Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson says he “enthusiastically supports” the proposed bill, citing that Cooperstown serves as baseball’s spiritual home.

SPORTS IN NUMBERS

21- 43 – 99 – 9 – 35

February 15, 1916 – The rights to Frank Homerun Baker were purchased by the New York Yankees from the Philadelphia Athletics for at the time a whopping $37,500.

February 15, 1976 – There was a thrilling finish to the Daytona 500 on the final lap, as there was a race to the finish line between the Number 43, STP Dodge Charger of Richard Petty and David Pearson in the white Mercury Number 21. Pearson made contact with Petty and it slung the pair into the wall and the infield. Petty’s car stalled out but Pearson was able to get back on the track and took the checkered flag to victory lane.

February 15, 1980 – Wayne Gretzky, Number 99 of the Edmonton Oilers registered 7 assists in an 8-2 victory over the Washington Capitals. The feat of the young center tied and NHL record and remember the Great One was only 19 years old at the time and still cutting his teeth at Hockey’s highest level.

February 15, 1980 – Gordie Howe, Mr Hockey, wearing his famed Number 9 sweater, scored the 799th goal of his illustrious career while skakting for the Hartford Whalers.

February 15, 1981 – Richard Petty, Number 43 records victory at the Daytona 500 by beating Bobby Allison to the finish line by a mere 3-1/2 seconds!

February 15, 1994 – Pittsburgh Penguin Goalie Tom Barrasso, Number 35 becomes winningest U. S. born goalie in NHL history, as he and his Penguin teammates won, 5-3 over the visiting Winnipeg Jets. The record previously belonged to Frank Brimsek with 252.

TV WEDNESDAY

NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES – MEN’S	TIME ET	TV
Ole Miss at Florida	6:30pm	SECN
Alabama at Tennessee	7:00pm	ESPN2
Virginia at Louisville	7:00pm	ESPNU
Minnesota at Michigan State	7:00pm	BTN
Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech	7:00pm	ACC Network
Xavier at Marquette	7:00pm	CBSSN
Florida State at Clemson	7:00pm	ACCN
George Mason at George Washington	7:00pm	NBCS-WSH
VCU at Rhode Island	7:00pm	–
Saint Joseph’s at Duquesne	7:00pm	ESPN+
St. Bonaventure at Fordham	7:00pm	ESPN+
Richmond at La Salle	7:00pm	ESPN+
FGCU at Stetson	7:00pm	ESPN+
UMBC at UAlbany	7:00pm	ESPN+
Cincinnati at East Carolina	7:00pm	ESPN+
New Hampshire at Vermont	7:00pm	ESPN+
NJIT at Binghamton	7:00pm	ESPN+
UMass Lowell at Bryant	7:00pm	ESPN+
High Point at Presbyterian	7:00pm	ESPN+
Longwood at USC Upstate	7:00pm	ESPN+
Charleston Southern at Campbell	7:00pm	ESPN+
Winthrop at Gardner-Webb	7:00pm	ESPN+
Lafayette at Loyola Maryland	7:00pm	ESPN+
Navy at Lehigh	7:00pm	ESPN+
Chattanooga at VMI	7:00pm	ESPN+
ETSU at Western Carolina	7:00pm	ESPN+
Furman at The Citadel	7:00pm	ESPN+
Mercer at Wofford	7:00pm	ESPN+
Army West Point at Colgate	7:00pm	ESPN+
Boston University at Holy Cross	7:00pm	ESPN+
IUPUI at Oakland	7:00pm	ESPN+
Evansville at Belmont	7:30pm	ESPN+
UNCG at Samford	7:30pm	ESPN+
Murray State at Illinois State	8:00pm	MARQ
Indiana State at UIC	8:00pm	ESPN+
Missouri State at Bradley	8:00pm	ESPN+
South Florida at Tulsa	8:00pm	ESPN+
Kentucky at Mississippi State	8:30pm	SECN
Arkansas at Texas A&M	9:00pm	ESPN2/U
TCU at Iowa State	9:00pm	ESPN2/U
Indiana at Northwestern	9:00pm	BTN
Davidson at Saint Louis	9:00pm	CBSSN
Drake at UNI	9:00pm	–
UTRGV at Grand Canyon	9:00pm	–
Abilene Christian at NM State	9:00pm	–
CSUN at UC Davis	9:00pm	ESPN+
Boise State at Colorado State	10:00pm	FS1
CSU Bakersfield at Cal Poly	10:00pm	ESPN+
Cal State Fullerton at UC San Diego	10:00pm	ESPN+
Long Beach State at UC Riverside	10:00pm	ESPN+
UC Irvine at UC Santa Barbara	10:00pm	ESPN+
Seattle U at California Baptist	10:00pm	ESPN+
Oregon at Washington	11:00pm	ESPN2/U
San Diego State at Fresno State	11:00pm	CBSSN
NBA REGULAR SEASON GAMES	TIME ET	TV
San Antonio at Charlotte	7:00pm	Bally Sports
Chicago at Indiana	7:00pm	NBCS-CHI Bally Sports
Cleveland at Philadelphia	7:00pm	NBCS-PHI Bally Sports
Miami at Brooklyn	7:30pm	ESPN Bally Sports
New York at Atlanta	7:30pm	MSG Bally Sports
Detroit at Boston	7:30pm	Bally Sports NBCS-BOS
Utah at Memphis	8:00pm	ATTSN-RM Bally Sports
Houston at Oklahoma City	8:00pm	ATTSN-SW Bally Sports
Dallas at Denver	9:00pm	ALT Bally Sports
New Orleans at LA Lakers	10:00pm	ESPN Spectrum Bally Sports
NHL REGULAR SEASON GAMES	TIME ET	TV
Chicago at Toronto	7:00pm	TNT
Tampa Bay at Arizona	9:00pm	Bally Sports
Detroit at Edmonton	9:30pm	Bally Sports Sportsnet
Colorado at Minnesota	9:30pm	TNT
Buffalo at Anaheim	10:00pm	MSG-BUF Bally Sports
NY Rangers at Vancouver	10:00pm	MSG Sportsnet
SOCCER MATCHES	TIME ET	TV
English Premier League: Arsenal vs Manchester City	2:30pm	Peacock
UEFA Champions League: Borussia Dortmund vs Chelsea	3:00pm	Paramount+
UEFA Champions League: Club Brugge vs Benfica	3:00pm	Paramount+
La Liga: Real Madrid vs Elche	3:00pm	ESPN+
Copa Libertadores: El Nacional vs Nacional Potosí	7:00pm	beIN Sports
Liga MX: Monterrey vs Querétaro	8:05pm	ESPN+
Liga MX: Guadalajara vs Tijuana	8:05pm	Universo
Liga MX:Necaxa vs Pumas UNAM	10:05pm	TUDN