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Author: Dave Riggert

Griffons’ rally comes up short in home loss to Southwest Baptist

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ST. JOSEPH – After falling behind by as many as 21 points in the second half, Missouri Western (11-14, 5-9 MIAA) came back to trail by just one possession with three minutes remaining. Southwest Baptist (12-11, 6-8 MIAA) managed to hold on late, allowing just two made field goals in the final three minutes to win by a score of 79-71.

NOTABLES

  • The Griffons shot well out of the opening tip, making seven of their first 11 shots to take a 17-15 lead eight minutes into the game.
  • Southwest Baptist’s three-pointer on the next possession sparked a 28-6 run to go ahead by 20 in the first half.
  • Tyus Millhollin swung it out to Lavon Hightower for a buzzer-beating three to trim the Bearcat lead to 43-29 at the halftime break.
  • Bryan Hudson led the Griffons with 11 first half points.
  • Southwest Baptist built its first-half lead from beyond the arc with seven triples before halftime.
  • The Bearcats stretched their lead to a game-high 21 points five minutes into the second half.
  • The Griffons then used a 21-7 run to slowly chip away at the Southwest Baptist lead.
  • Hightower’s driving layup finally brought Missouri Western within one possession at 66-63 with 3:22 remaining.
  • Southwest Baptist would then halt the Griffons’ momentum with a corner three-pointer.
  • With the Griffons down four with one minute remaining, Southwest Baptist’s Maris Colton put the Bearcats up six to put Missouri Western away.
  • The Griffons’ aggression paid off offensively in the second half, scoring 30 of their 42 second-half points in the paint.

LEADERS

  • Hudson led all players with 24 points on an efficient 65 percent shooting. Hudson’s 24 points give him his second-highest mark this season.
  • Tyrell Caroll finished with 18 points.
  • Hightower scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half and also led the team with eight rebounds.

UP NEXT

  • Missouri Western Men’s Basketball will face Central Missouri (12-11, 5-9 MIAA) for the first time this season on Saturday.
  • The Mules fell to top-ranked Northwest Missouri by 17 points on Wednesday night.

— MWSU Athletics —

No. 1 Bearcats overcome halftime deficit to defeat Central Missouri

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MARYVILLE, Missouri – The No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball team overcame a halftime deficit for only the second time this season and scored a 67-50 win over the visiting University of Central Missouri Mules in Bearcat Arena.

The Bearcats improved to 24-0 and matched the second-best start to a season in program history. Only the 1929-30 Bearcat squad under the direction of then first-year head coach Henry Iba got off to a better start with a perfect 31-0 season. Central Missouri fell to 12-11 overall and 5-9 in MIAA. Northwest has won eight straight games in the series vs. UCM.

Senior Joey Witthus paced the Bearcat offense with 19 points and junior Ryan Welty did damage from deep as he drained five three-pointers in seven attempts to score 15 points.

The Mules led by as many as eight points in the first half when the built a 28-20 lead with 2:19 left on the clock. However, Northwest then used an 18-0 run over the final two minutes of the first half and the opening five minutes of the second half to overtake the visitors and take a 38-30 lead. The Mules closed back to within five points at 44-39 with 9:45 remaining in the game, but another 7-0 spurt by the Bearcats turned it back into a double-digit affair.

The Bearcats will be back in action Saturday against Southwest Baptist. Stay tuned to www.BearcatSports.com for the latest game time information for Saturday’s contest because of impending inclement weather. Northwest is scheduled to play Southwest Baptist in a women’s/men’s doubleheader beginning at 1:30 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.

NOTES: Trevor Hudgins was 2-of-2 at the line to extend his consecutive free throws made streak to 33 in a row … Ryan Hawkins ripped down a game-high 12 rebounds and tallied four steals … Northwest extended the nation’s longest active winning streak to 14 in a row … Northwest is 86-5 over the past three seasons … the Bearcats are a perfect 12-0 at home this season and the 12-game home win streak is the fifth-longest active streak in the nation … the Bearcats have won 19 consecutive MIAA contests … in fact, Northwest has won 76 of its last 83 MIAA games, including 40 of its last 41 league games in Bearcat Arena … Northwest was held to a season-low 67 points – its previous low this year was 72 in its season-opening 72-70 overtime victory over Northern State on Nov. 3 … Northwest has won its last 15 games by double figures.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri Western women use big second half to roll past Southwest Baptist

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ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western women’s basketball team rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to defeat Southwest Baptist Wednesday night 78-64 inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.  The Griffons outscored SBU in the second half 50-29 as they improve to 12-11 and 7-7 in the MIAA.  The Bearcats fall to 6-17 and 2-12 in league play.

NOTABLES

  • The Griffons went to halftime down by seven after being outscored 20-9 in the second quarter
  • MWSU responded with a 26-15 third quarter and a 24-14 fourth quarter to climb ahead and put the Bearcats away
  • The 78 points scored were the most for the Griffs since dropping 93 on Saint Mary in November
  • Missouri Western shot 60 percent in the third quarter, 56 percent in the fourth and 48 percent for the game
  • After SBU went 3-for-8 from three in the first half, the Griffon defense limited the Bearcats to 1-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc in the second half
  • The Griffons were 50 percent (7-14) from three-point range in the game and 83 percent (15-18) from the free throw line
  • With the win, Missouri Western took over sole possession of seventh place in the MIAA standings

LEADERS

  • Katrina Roenfeldt had a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds
  • Anastacia Johnson posted career highs for points (16) and steals (7)
  • Jessica Davies scored 17 points, 13 in the second half

UP NEXT

  • Senior Day and the home finale for the Griffons
  • No. 24 Central Missouri visits the MWSU Fieldhouse Feb. 16 at 2 p.m.
  • The Jennies won 78-67 at Northwest Missouri Wednesday night.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest women lose to No. 24 Central Missouri 78-67

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The Northwest Missouri State women’s basketball team dropped a close game Wednesday night to Central Missouri 78-67 at Bearcat Arena.

Northwest fell behind 17-2, then clawed their way back to be down 33-29 at the half. Kylie Coleman hit a three pointer to bring the game within three at 62-59 with 7:44 left in the game, Central then went on a 9-0 run and never looked back.

Kendey Eaton scored a career high 37 points, which is tied for third in Northwest history for points in a game. Mallory McConkey added 10. The Bearcats shot 50% from the floor and 37.5% from the three-point line. The Bearcats won the turnover margin 12-11.

The Jennies had all five starters score in double figures led by Morgan Fleming with 20 points, Fleming also led the team in rebounds with 9. Central outrebounded Northwest 35-22. They had 13 offensive rebounds.

Northwest plays again on Saturday against Southwest Baptist at 1:30 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.

— Northwest Athletics —

Palmer’s last-second FTs lift Huskers over Gophers 62-61

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — James Palmer made two free throws with 1.1 seconds left to give Nebraska a 62-61 win over Minnesota on Wednesday night, ending the Cornhuskers’ seven-game losing streak.

Minnesota’s Dupree McBrayer had picked up a loose ball under the basket moments earlier, but he stepped out of bounds, giving Nebraska possession with 2.7 seconds left. Glynn Watson Jr. inbounded to Palmer, who was fouled by Amir Coffey as he went up to shoot.

Palmer went to the line and hit the first free throw, and after a timeout he swished the second to send the Pinnacle Bank Arena crowd into a frenzy.

Gophers coach Rick Pitino started to follow an official off the court, but the official waved him off and Pitino turned around.

Palmer finished with 24 points for the Huskers (14-11, 4-10 Big Ten). Watson broke out of the worst slump of his career, scoring 19 points.

Jordan Murphy had 19 points, Daniel Oturu added 16 and Coffey had 11 for the Gophers (17-8, 6-9), who have lost four straight.

The Gophers led 61-60 and had the ball in the final minute, but Murphy, who scored eight of his team’s last 10 points, was called for a charge into Roby with 20.9 seconds left.

Thomas Allen had his shot blocked by Oturu with time running down, and McBrayer grabbed the ball but turned it over when his foot touched the baseline.

That set up the winning sequence for Nebraska, which hadn’t won since Jan. 14.

BIG PICTURE

Minnesota: The Gophers’ longest losing streak of the season continues, and they’ve lost six in a row in Lincoln. They also lost for the seventh time in eight road games.

Nebraska: Palmer’s free throws won the game, but the resurgence of Watson is what helped put the Huskers in position to win. In the previous four games, Watson was 6 of 37 from the floor and 1 of 18 on 3-pointers with a total of 15 points.

UP NEXT

Minnesota hosts Indiana on Saturday.

Nebraska hosts Northwestern on Saturday.

— Associated Press —

Da Silva leads Missouri State over Evansville 68-56

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Tulio Da Silva scored 17 points as Missouri State topped Evansville 68-56 on Wednesday night. Ryan Kreklow and Jarred Dixon added 15 points each for the Bears.

Marty Hill had 15 points for the Purple Aces (10-16, 4-9 Missouri Valley Conference). K.J. Riley added 10 points.

The Bears evened the season series against the Purple Aces with the win. Evansville defeated Missouri State 70-64 on Jan. 16. Missouri State (14-12, 8-5) takes on Loyola of Chicago on the road on Sunday. Evansville plays Northern Iowa at home on Sunday.

— Associated Press —

Bishop LeBlond football coach Tony Dudik announces his retirement

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St. Joseph, Mo. – Bishop LeBlond Athletic Director Michael Evans announced Wednesday that LeBlond head football coach Tony Dudik will retire in May after more than 41 years of teaching and leading young men in the sport.

Evans said that as the “dean of area football coaches,” Tony Dudik represents more than just a football coach. “When Coach Dudik arrived nine years ago to lead our program he accepted the challenges of coaching the smallest school in a very competitive conference and of reinvigorating the tradition of LB football,” Evans said. “But Tony’s influence and impact goes far beyond the football field. He brought an energy, enthusiasm, and most importantly faith example, for all our students. Tony always wanted our teams to be prepared athletically and to compete, but most importantly he wanted each student at Bishop LeBlond to become the best person he or she could be.”

Coach Dudik’s career includes 33 years at the city’s largest high school, Central, (23 years as head coach, 9 as assistant and 1 as volunteer). His record at Central was 113-119. At Central, he coached six players who ultimately played in the NFL, 12 college Division I players, and 38 players who played at other college levels. At LeBlond he finishes with a record of 32-65.  His LB teams were district runner-up in 2012 and 2013, and reached the district semifinals in 2014-2016. To date, 14 players from LeBlond have gone on to play college football.

Dudik has won numerous coaching and teaching awards throughout his years of service including being a 2011 Missouri Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductee, and being named a 2016 National Double-Goal Coach Award Winner by the Positive Coaching Alliance.

Tony and his wife Mary Ann Westhoff Dudik, a Bishop LeBlond graduate, have three children and seven grandchildren. He said he hopes in retirement to be able to share the journey with them, as well as spend time with his mother and mother-in-law. “I don’t know what my future holds, but I do know who holds my future,” Dudik said. “I will cherish all my memories for the rest of my life. It’s always a great day to be an Eagle.”

Evans said the search for a new football coach begins immediately. Ideally, Evans said, the new coach will be able to teach physical education/weight training as well as coach football. Anyone interested should contact Evans at mevans@bishopleblondhs.com.

— Bishop LeBlond Press Release —

Tilmon helps Missouri hold off Arkansas 79-78

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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri locked down on the final defensive possession and squeaked by Arkansas 79-78 Tuesday night.

The Tigers were up three points with 17 seconds remaining when Arkansas’ Daniel Gafford threw down an alley-oop dunk from Jalen Harris. On the ensuing inbound play, Missouri’s Xavier Pinson committed a push-off foul to give Arkansas the ball back and a chance to win.

Missouri’s Jeremiah Tilmon didn’t allow Harris to get a quality shot off, and the ball was tipped back to him as time expired.

Tilmon led Missouri (12-11, 3-8 Southeastern Conference) with 21 points. Senior Jordan Geist contributed 18 points as the Tigers avoided falling below .500 for the first time since Cuonzo Martin took over as head coach at the beginning of last season.

The Tigers erupted for 46 points in the first half, eclipsing their previous season high of 45 against Morehead State on Dec. 29.

Gafford led Arkansas (14-10, 5-6) with 26 points on 12-of-17 shooting. He scored the Razorbacks’ first 10 points of the game.

Arkansas shot 47 percent from the field. The Tigers won the turnover battle 12-11 and outrebounded Arkansas 39-33.

BIG PICTURE

Arkansas: The Razorbacks had a chance to win, but instead it turns into a loss that will hurt their NCAA Tournament chances.

Missouri: The Tigers have struggled to maintain leads recently, so holding off Arkansas’ comeback attempt was a step in the right direction. Missouri is still off the radar in terms of NCAA Tournament hopes.

UP NEXT

Arkansas returns home to face Mississippi State on Saturday.

Missouri hits the road to take on Mississippi on Saturday.

— Associated Press —

K-State defeats Texas for 9th straight Big 12 win

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – – Barry Brown and Xavier Sneed each scored 16 points, and No. 18 Kansas State beat Texas 71-64 Tuesday night for its ninth straight Big 12 victory.

Three other Wildcats scored in double figures, Dean Wade with 12 points, and Kamau Stokes and Makol Mawien with 11 apiece.

Kerwin Roach led Texas with 17 points, and Courtney Ramey added 10.

Kansas State (19-5, 9-2 in Big 12) converted nearly 55 percent of its field goal attempts, including 56.5 in the second half.

The Wildcats used runs of 8-0 and 9-0 in the second half before seven minutes were gone, the latter giving the Wildcats a seven-point lead. Even so, they could not shake Texas. A long 3-pointer by Kamau Stokes with 4:30 left gave them their second seven-point lead of the half.

Texas (14-11, 6-6), trying to cut the deficit to two with 3:02 left, used too much of the 30-second shot clock, Jaxson Hayes’ basket ruled to be too late after the officials went to replay.

Roach committed three turnovers in the first six minutes of the game, but he eventually made a star turn, scoring 14 points in the first half, primarily with hard drives to the basket that resulted in layups and free throws.

Ramey added all 10 of his points for Texas in the half, and the Longhorns led 39-35 at the break.

Roach slowed down in the second half, scoring just three points and committing three more turnovers.

Kansas State played without guard Cartier Diarra, its top reserve who recently suffered a broken finger on his shooting hand that will require surgery. He’s out indefinitely.

BIG PICTURE

Kansas State: The Wildcats maintained their hold on first place in the Big 12 standings. One reason is a 5-1 record on the road in conference games, an area in which they have improved the last three seasons. They are 13-11 in Big 12 road games since the beginning of 2016-17. In the previous two seasons they were 2-16 in Big 12 road games. Kansas State did get a break when Baylor was missing two starting guards, including leading scorer Makai Mason, on Saturday.

Texas: The Longhorns, a really poor 3-point shooting team earlier in the season, have recently improved, but they still ranked only 227th nationally before Tuesday with 33.4 percent accuracy. They made 17 of 43 (39.5 percent) in two games before facing Kansas State, so perhaps they were due for a bad game. They had one, hitting 4 of 19 against the Wildcats.

UP NEXT

Kansas State hosts Iowa State on Saturday. The Wildcats beat the Cyclones 58-57 on Jan. 12 in Ames. Barry Brown Jr. hit the game winning driving shot with four seconds remaining.

Texas hosts Oklahoma State on Saturday. Texas lost to the Cowboys 61-58 on Jan. 8 in Stillwater, stopping their momentum after a 2-0 start in Big 12 play and starting a three-game losing streak.

— Associated Press —

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