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Author: Dave Riggert

Nebraska loses on the road at No. 21 Purdue

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riggertNebraskaWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — When A.J. Hammons plays the way he did Saturday, No. 21 Purdue has an opportunity to beat most of college basketball’s elite.

Hammons scored a career-best 32 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, had five assists and blocked four shots, leading the Boilermakers to an 89-74 victory over Nebraska.

Rapheal Davis had 17 points and six rebounds, and Isaac Haas scored 13 points for Purdue (19-4, 7-3 Big Ten). Caleb Swanigan contributed six points, 12 rebounds and five assists for the Boilermakers, who improved to 5-0 against Nebraska (12-10, 4-5) in Mackey Arena.

“I just had a lot of energy at the beginning,” said Hammons, who made 14 of 17 field goal attempts and 4 of 4 free throws. “Coach said to just make sure you’re locked in, so I have been trying to get locked in all day. I made sure I kept attacking the rim, and they got early fouls, so I tried to keep going.”

Hammons and his teammates never stopped, shooting 58.9 percent from the field (33 of 56), including 7 of 12 from 3-point range (58.3 percent). Davis was 4 of 5 from beyond the arc, scoring 16 of his 17 during the final 20 minutes.

Andrew White III had 18 points, Tai Webster scored 17 and Shavon Shields added 16 for the Cornhuskers, who had no answer for 7-footers Hammons and Haas.

“They got 45 points from their two bigs and 21 on 3-pointers,” Nebraska coach Tim Miles said. “I thought Rapheal Davis’ four 3-pointers were more of a dagger than A.J.’s dunks. We knew he would get some of those. He is a physical presence, and we don’t have that right now.”

Hammons, who had 16 points and eight rebounds in Wednesday’s win at Minnesota, surpassed his previous best of 30, notched in a loss to Indiana on Jan. 30, 2013. He scored the Boilermakers’ first eight points in the second half.

“For A.J., it’s all about posting up strong and making good decisions,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “He posted hard all day, and you can do that when you have that kind of talent. Another key was that Rapheal got into a rhythm and knocked down those four 3s.”

Purdue got a 3-pointer from Davis and a baseline jumper from Swanigan to increase its lead to 76-65 with 6:16 to play. Hammons broke his career high with a dunk with 4:28 remaining.

Davis’ 3-pointer gave Purdue a 61-51 lead with 12:34 remaining, but back-to-back baskets from Shields and Glynn Watson Jr. trimmed Nebraska’s deficit to 61-55 with 11:49 to play.

A 3-pointer by Watson with 12:52 to go capped an 8-0 Nebraska run and sliced Purdue’s lead to 58-51, prompting a Boilermaker timeout.

While Nebraska enjoyed a 22-11 advantage in points as the result of turnovers, Purdue outrebounded the Cornhuskers, 38-22. The Boilermakers have outrebounded each of their first 23 opponents.

Purdue scored the final five points in the first half — a Ryan Cline 3-pointer and a dunk at the buzzer by Hammons following an offensive rebound — for a 44-35 lead.

The Boilermakers shot 51.7 percent (15 of 29) during the first half. Nebraska shot 43.3 percent (13 of 30).

TIP-INS

Nebraska: The Cornhuskers entered Saturday’s game having won three consecutive Big Ten road games. A Nebraska basketball team has not won four consecutive league road games since the 1975-76 season. … The Cornhuskers were playing their first game since an 81-68 loss to Michigan on Jan. 23 in Lincoln, Nebraska. … Nebraska ranks second in the Big Ten in steals, averaging 7.2 per game.

Purdue: The Boilermakers honored their “Three-Peat” Big Ten championship teams from 1994, `95 and `96, all coached by Gene Keady. … Before playing Nebraska, Purdue had won 19 of 20 home games, losing only to No. 3 Iowa on Jan. 2. … The Boilermakers lead the country in rebounding margin at plus-12.1 and outrebounded each of their first 22 opponents. … Purdue’s non-starters outscored the opposing team’s bench in 21 of the first 22 games.

SHARING THE WEALTH

Painter said Saturday was Purdue’s best passing game this season. The Boilermakers had 27 assists on their 33 field goals. P.J. Thompson had seven, Vince Edwards had six and Hammons and Swanigan each added five.

MASH UNIT

Swanigan, who missed Purdue’s 68-64 victory on Wednesday with a sprained right ankle, practiced Friday. It was decided Saturday morning that he would play. He said after the game that he is about 90 percent. The Boilermakers played without Kendall Stephens, who has missed three consecutive games after the death of a high school friend. Stephens and Painter are scheduled to meet Monday to determine when Stephens (7.2 points a game) might return.

UP NEXT

Nebraska: Hosts No. 7 Maryland on Wednesday night.

Purdue: Plays at No. 7 Maryland on Saturday.

— Associated Press —

Northwest women fall apart late in loss at Pittsburg State

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Northwest2013riggertThe Northwest Missouri State University women’s basketball team fell to Pittsburg State, 74-66, at John Lance Arena in Pittsburg, Kan., on Saturday afternoon.

Senior Tember Schechinger recorded the 10th double-double of her career with a season-high 24 points and 15 rebounds.

Pittsburg State had a 30-7 rally in the fourth quarter after Northwest built a 15 point lead.

Junior Tanya Meyer had 15 points and five rebounds. She tied a season-high with three three-pointers. It was her 10th game this year scoring in double figures.

Junior Jasmin Howe finished the game with 11 points and four rebounds. It was her eighth game scoring in double-figures and the fourth time this year she has hit three or more three pointers.

The Bearcats held the Gorillas to 41.3 percent shooting (26-of-63). It was the fifth straight game Northwest has held an opponent to under 43 percent shooting.

Northwest finished the first half on a 15-3 run that continued into the start of the second half. Howe hit a trio of three pointers in the final four and a half minutes of the second quarter to help spark the Bearcats. Northwest tied the game 28-28 on a Shull layup. After Howe hit her second three, Pitt State tied it with a long range bomb of their own to tie the game, 31-31 with 1:02 remaining. How would hit another three the next trip down and after a defensive stop, Bailey Smith knocked down a jumper as time expired to give the Bearcats a 36-31 lead into halftime. Northwest would score the first four-points on a Schechinger layup and a Shull jumper.

Late in the third quarter, Northwest went on a 9-0 run as Schechinger, Shull and Meyer all hit key buckets to put the Bearcats up 15 points, 57-42. Schechinger hit a jumper and Shull followed it with a bucket to make it 52-42. Schechinger hit a pair of free throws and after another missed PSU shot, Meyer knocked down a three pointer to make it 57-42.

The Bearcats return home for an MIAA contest against Lincoln University on Thursday, Feb. 4, at 5:30 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

Griffons picked fifth in preseason MIAA baseball poll

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riggertMissouriWesternST. JOSEPH – With five returning starters and 10 returning letter winners, the Missouri Western baseball team is picked fifth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

The Griffons were just two votes behind fourth place Lindenwood in the poll.  Last year’s team went 29-21 with a 22-14 mark in MIAA play, finishing fifth in the MIAA. Headlining the returners are relief pitcher Richard Peoples (2015 3rd Team All-MIAA), first baseman Cosimo Cannella (Honorable Mention All-MIAA), infielder David Glaude (Honorable Mention All-MIAA) and utility man Orencio Fisher (Honorable Mention All-MIAA).

Buzz Verduzco enters his 17th season as the head coach of the Griffons and is just the second coach in the program’s history. Verduzco won his 300th MIAA game last season and now holds a career mark of 463-348 with a 320-229 record in MIAA games. Joining Verduzco’s coaching staff this season is 2013 NCBWA National Player of the Year Michael Schulze. The highly decorated Griffon returns to Missouri Western after a few years playing professional baseball.

Missouri Western begins the season Feb. 6 with a three-game series at Arkansas Tech. The Griffons are scheduled for a home opening series against Washburn on Feb. 26.

2016 MIAA Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Missouri Southern (11) – 166
2. Emporia State (1) – 152
3. Central Missouri (2) – 141
4. Lindenwood – 122
5. Missouri Western – 120
6. Washburn – 114
7. Nebraska-Kearney – 97
8. Central Oklahoma – 87
9. Fort Hays State – 64
10. Northeastern State – 60
11. Southwest Baptist – 47
12. Northwest Missouri – 46
13. Pittsburg State – 45
14. Lincoln – 13

— MWSU Athletics —

Cunningham, No. 22 Tigers hold off LSU 52-46

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riggertMissouriCOLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Lindsey Cunningham hit three 3-pointers and finished with 16 points to lead the 22nd-ranked Missouri women past LSU 52-46 Thursday night.

Morgan Stock scored 12 — on 4-of-6 shooting from 3-point range — and Jordan Frericks added eight points, nine rebounds and three assists for Missouri.

Missouri (17-4, 4-4 Southeastern Conference) went into the half leading 33-16 but went scoreless for more than seven minutes to open the third. LSU outscored Missouri 19-4 in the quarter and trimmed its deficit to two by the start of the fourth.

Stock scored nine during an 11-2 run that extended the lead to 48-37 with 49 seconds to play and Missouri held on from there.

Alexis Hyder scored a season-high 23 points, on 8-of-11 shooting, and had five steals to lead LSU (8-13, 2-6). The rest of the team shot just 30 percent (10 of 33) from the field.

— Associated Press —

Kansas gets verbal commitment from five-star recruit Udoka Azubuike

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riggertKUThe University of Kansas received a verbal commitment on Thursday from five-star prospect Udoka Azubuike.  The 6-foot-11, 275 pound center from Potter’s House Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida is ranked no. 27 in the nation by Rivals.com.  He chose the Jayhawks over North Carolina and Florida State.

Azubuike, who is originally from Nigeria, has been in the United States for three years and is averaging 16.9 points and 9.7 rebounds this season.

Azubuike is the second played to commit to Kansas.  Mitch Lightfoot, a 6-8, 210-pound forward from Gilbert, Arizona, committed in October to KU.

Missouri dismisses QB Maty Mauk

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riggertMissouriCOLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) – Missouri has dismissed quarterback Maty Mauk from the program after a series of missteps.

New coach Barry Odom said Thursday he met with Mauk in December and gave him a fresh start. But Missouri suspended Mauk again this week after a brief video was posted to Twitter. It shows a person appearing to snort a white, powder-like substance and the tweet mentions Mauk by name.

Odom says he believes the video is from “a long time ago,” but it was clear Mauk had violated team rules in recent weeks and that was the reason for the dismissal.

Mauk, a junior, was suspended on Nov. 1 following an incident at a downtown bar not long after returning from a suspension on Sept. 29 for an undisclosed violation of team policy.

Coach Odom released the following statement regarding the decision:

“I met with Maty Mauk this morning and informed him of my decision to permanently dismiss him from the football program. When I met with Maty back in December, I wanted to give him an opportunity for a fresh start, but I also made it very clear what our expectations would be moving forward. After gathering information and speaking with a number of individuals this week, it is clear Maty has failed to live up to those expectations by violating team rules in recent weeks.

As for the video appearing on social media this week, it is concerning, but we believe it is from a long time ago. However, Maty’s failure to live up to expectations in recent weeks was the reason for this decision.

We believe it is in his best interest to focus on his personal life and his academic career at this time. We remain committed to helping him work through the challenges and earn his degree. Our hope is that he will grow from this and we wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western picked fourth in preseason MIAA softball poll

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riggertMissouriWesternST. JOSEPH – MIAA Softball Coaches have released their preseason poll and Missouri Western is picked to finish fourth in the league.

The Griffons did receive one first place vote and 142 overall. Just 15 votes separated Missouri Western and top-vote getter Central Oklahoma (157). Pittsburg State was picked second after receiving more first place votes (6) than any other program. Central Missouri, which won the MIAA Regular Season and Tournament Championships in 2015 was picked third.

Missouri Western was picked No. 16 in the NFCA Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the only MIAA member to appear in the top-25. Last season, MWSU went 36-21, 17-9 in the MIAA. The Griffons posted the third best record in conference play but finished fourth in the standings due to a second place tie between Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State. Seven starters return to this year’s team and nine letter winners. Last year marked head coach Jen Bagley’s 10th 30-win season in her 14 years at MWSU. She enters her 15th season in St. Joseph just 10 wins away from 500 for her career.

2016 MIAA Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Central Oklahoma (4)  – 157
2. Pittsburg State (6) – 154
3. Central Missouri (3) – 149
4. Missouri Western (1)  – 142
5. Northwest Missouri  – 111
6. Emporia State – 106
7. Washburn – 96
8. Fort Hays State – 92
9. Northeastern State – 76
10. Nebraska-Kearney – 57
11. Southwest Baptist – 52
12. Missouri Southern – 35
13. Lindenwood – 34
14. Lincoln – 13

— MWSU Athletics —

No. 6 Griffons drop second straight, lose at Pittsburg State 83-80

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MWSUPITTSBURG, Kan. – After winning its first 18 games of the season, the 6th-ranked Missouri Western Women’s basketball team has lost two in a row after dropping a heartbreaker at Pittsburg State, 83-80 on Wednesday.

There were four ties in the final five minutes of the game with each team taking the lead twice after the ties. On the night, the score was tied 12 times with nine lead changes.

Pittsburg State built an eight-point lead with 9:32 left in the game but Missouri Western recaptured the lead with 4:42 to go on two free throws from LaQuinta Jefferson. The senior guard scored 11 points in the Griffons’ 13-3 run to regain the lead. Kylie Gafford tied the game for Pittsburg State at 74 with 4:19 left then gave the Gorillas the lead back with two free throws. Miliakere Koyamainavure tied the game with 3:01 left at 76 and Jefferson tied it again with 2:30 remaining and after a Mikaela Burgess three gave Pitt State the lead back, Jefferson made three of four free throw attempts after being fouled and a technical foul was called on Pittsburg State. Jefferson had a chance to tie the game at 81 with 36 seconds left but made one of two to leave the team down one at 81-80. Pittsburg State would make two more free throws with three seconds left. Sarafina Handy had a chance to tie the game at the end, launching a three at the buzzer that went long.

The stat sheet showed a close contest with the Griffons shooting 49.2 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from three-point range and 72.7 percent at the free throw line. Missouri Western also won the battle on the glass, finishing with 37 rebounds to the Gorillas’ 30. The difference seemed to come at the free throw line where Pittsburg State shot 82.8 percent, making eight more free throws than the Griffons on seven more attempts. Missouri Western went 16-22 from the charity stripe, Jefferson accounted for 13 of the makes and 18 of the attempts. Jefferson, Handy and Julia Torres were the only Griffons to attempt free throws.

Jefferson finished with a game-high 29 points, five rebounds and a team-high four assists. Handy added 16 points, 12 in the first half. Miliakere Koyamainavure finished with 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds. The loss dropped Missouri Western to 18-2 on the season, 12-2 in MIAA play. The Griffons stay on the road this week with a trip to Missouri Southern on Saturday.

— MWSU Athletics —

Mizzou gets blown out at No. 20 Kentucky

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riggertMissouriLEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Tyler Ulis scored 20 points, Derek Willis added a career-best 18 and No. 20 Kentucky used an early 20-0 run to blow past outmanned Missouri 88-54 on Wednesday night.

The Wildcats (16-4, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) had it easy in improving to 9-0 against the Tigers and winning their third straight overall. Kentucky spotted the Tigers an opening layup by Wes Clark before the big spurt that quickly put the game out of reach, twice stretching its lead to 40 points in the second half.

Good shooting was the key again for Kentucky, which made 52 percent from the field after hitting 55 percent against Vanderbilt.

Willis also grabbed 12 rebounds for his second double-double in four games. Isaiah Briscoe had 15 points, Skal Labissiere 12 and Jamal Murray 11 to round out Kentucky’s double-figure scorers.

Clark had 11 points for Missouri (8-12, 1-6 SEC), which sustained its biggest loss this season.

After Saturday’s blowout of Vanderbilt, the Wildcats didn’t want to look past a Tigers squad that challenged No. 10 Texas A&M for more than a half before falling 66-53. That was never a problem as Kentucky came away with the tuneup it wanted before Saturday’s big test at No. 4 Kansas.

The Wildcats outrebounded Missouri 47-28, including a 32-19 advantage on the defensive glass. They forced 15 turnovers that led to 22 points and held the Tigers to 32 percent shooting.

Kentucky also shot 9 of 20 from 3-point range while limiting Missouri to 4 of 14 from behind the arc.

So much for Missouri’s hope of avoiding another drubbing at Rupp Arena after last year’s 49-point rout. That quest didn’t last long as the Wildcats quickly answered Clark’s basket with a blistering surge.

Kentucky’s run included three long-range shots by Willis, who made his third straight start. The Wildcats began 8 of 13 from the field and didn’t cool off much after that in a 54 percent shooting half set up by sharp passing.

Missouri made just 26 percent from the field in the first half, even lower than its 39 percent average in league play coming in. The Tigers were actually better from long range (38 percent) in the half, none of which mattered in a game Kentucky dominated throughout.

TIP-INS

Missouri: Despite the rout, Clark maintained his double-digit scoring average against Kentucky. He averaged 12 points in three previous appearances.

Kentucky: The Wildcats hit nine 3s, their highest total in five games. … Labissiere scored in double figures for the second time in three games.

UP NEXT

Missouri: Hosts Mississippi State on Saturday.

Kentucky: Plays at No. 4 Kansas on Saturday in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

— Associated Press —

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