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Author: Dave Riggert

MWSU’s Peoples named MIAA Pitcher of the Week

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MWSUAfter picking up a win and a save this past weekend in the Missouri Western baseball teams 3-1 series win at No. 4 Emporia State, Richard Peoples has been named the MIAA/AstroTurf Pitcher of the Week.

The Webb City, Missouri native picked up the win in game two, going three and a third innings and allowing just one hit, while striking out seven in the team’s walk-off winner.

In game four, Peoples picked up the save in an inning and a third of work, giving up three hits and striking out one.

On the season, Peoples is 2-0 with two saves and a 0.00 ERA, surrendering just one unearned run through 12 innings of work. Peoples is holding opponents to a .205 batting average and has struck out 13.

Through the first week of MIAA action, Missouri Wetsern is tied with Nebraska-Kearney for second place in the conference standings. The Griffons are 3-1 in the MIAA and 6-5 overall.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Northwest softball splits doubleheader at Rockhurst

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Northwest2013riggertThe Northwest Missouri State softball team split a doubleheader with Rockhurst on Tuesday in Kansas City, Mo.

Northwest took the first game, 5-0, with Sarah Baldwin throwing a complete game shutout and Rockhurst came from behind to win the nightcap, 6-4.

Both the Bearcats and Hawks are now 2-4 on the season.

Game One – Northwest 5, Rockhurst 0

Junior Sarah Baldwin improved to 2-0 on the season after throwing a three hit shutout. She struck out two and did not walk a batter.

Stephanie Mark was a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish, driving in one run in the process, while catcher Jessica Rawie hit one double and one home run with two RBI and two runs scored. Rawie also added a stolen base.

Game Two – Rockhurst 6, Northwest 4

Northwest outhit the Hawks, nine to seven while Stephanie Mark clubbed a pair of doubles, scoring one run and driving in another.  Jessica Rawie had a pair of singles in the game, while Baylee Scarbrough went 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored and Madison Jones hit her first home run of the season, driving in two runs.

Abbie Vitosh started the game for the Bearcats, throwing four innings while giving up two earned runs.

The Bearcats are scheduled to head to Joplin, Mo. to participate in the Teri Mathis-Zenner Memorial tournament Saturday and Sunday. Northwest will play Illinois Springfield at 4 p.m. Saturday followed by a 6 p.m. contest with William Jewell.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Stewart joins Nebraska football coaching staff

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NUUniversity of Nebraska Head Football Coach Mike Riley announced Tuesday the hiring of Brian Stewart as the Huskers’ defensive backs coach. Stewart brings defensive coordinator experience at both the college and professional levels to the Husker staff.

Stewart comes to Nebraska after spending the past three seasons as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at the University of Maryland.  His stop at Maryland continued an impressive coaching resume that includes seven years as a defensive coordinator—five years in college football and two in the National Football League. Stewart also has 15 years of tutoring defensive backs on his coaching resume.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the Nebraska football program,” Stewart said. “The opportunity to coach at Nebraska is awesome. My first impression is ‘wow’. From the weight room to walking down the hallway and seeing the national championship trophies, Nebraska is what you think it is…a football powerhouse.

“The most important thing for me in my coaching career is my family. Coach Riley and his staff have been together so long, and you can just see the loyalty and trust. I’m proud to be a part of that.”

Riley said adding another experienced coach to his staff will provide excellent leadership to a veteran group of Nebraska defensive backs.

“Brian Stewart brings a record of success in both the collegiate and professional ranks and will be a great fit at the University of Nebraska,” Riley said. “He has experience coaching and recruiting in all parts of the country, most recently with experience in the Big Ten Conference. We look forward to Brian getting started with our defensive staff and our secondary.”

The 50-year old Stewart completes a Nebraska defensive staff that includes four coaches who all have professional coaching or playing experience. The defensive staff has three coaches with coordinator experience, including Stewart, defensive coordinator Mark Banker and defensive line coach Hank Hughes. Both Stewart and Banker have served as defensive coordinators in both college and the National Football League.

Including Stewart, the Nebraska staff has eight coaches with professional coaching experience. The group has a total of 46 years coaching in the professional ranks, including 30 years in the National Football League. The staff also has three coaches with professional playing experience.

In his three seasons on the Maryland staff, Stewart helped the Terrapins to a pair of bowl appearances. The attacking Terrapin defense tallied more than 30 sacks each of the past two seasons.

Defensive back Will Likely was a standout under Stewart’s guidance, leading the Big Ten in interceptions in 2014 en route to first-team all-conference honors. In Stewart’s first year at Maryland in 2012, his defense finished in the top three in the ACC in total defense, rushing defense and pass defense, and was 21st nationally in total defense.

Stewart re-joined the college ranks as the defensive coordinator at the University of Houston in 2010 and 2011. Stewart helped the Cougars to a 13-1 record and No. 14 final national ranking in 2011.

He spent the previous eight years in the NFL, including a two-year stint as the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008. As the Cowboys’ defense coordinator, Stewart guided Dallas to two top-10 rankings in fewest yards allowed. He helped the Cowboys to a 13-3 record and NFC East divisional title in 2007.

Stewart also served as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Eagles (2009), San Diego Chargers (2004-06) and the Houston Texas (2002-03). Each of the teams Stewart coached in his final six NFL seasons won at least nine games, including three division champions and four playoff teams. During his time in the professional ranks, Stewart helped 14 players make Pro Bowl appearances.

Before his stint in the National Football League, Stewart had college assistant coaching stops at Syracuse, Missouri, San Jose State, Northern Arizona and Cal Poly. A California native, Stewart played defensive back at Santa Monica City College and Northern Arizona.

Riley also announced that Jon Clark has joined the Nebraska staff as a defensive graduate assistant coach. Clark comes to Nebraska after one season as the secondary coach at East Texas Baptist University. Clark also served as the defensive coordinator at Canyon State Academy and was a student assistant coach for Arizona State. Clark was a letterwinner for the Sun Devil defense as a player.

— NU Sports Information —

K-State rallies from eight-point deficit to upset No. 8 Kansas

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riggertKStateMANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — As the final seconds ticked away on the massive new video board hanging from the rafters, an ocean of purple-clad Kansas State students began to spill onto the floor.

In a season full of failures, the Wildcats finally had reason to celebrate.

Nigel Johnson scored a career-high 20 points, Nino Williams hit a clinching jumper in the final minute and Kansas State rallied to beat eighth-ranked Kansas 70-63 on Monday night.

“I’ve talked all season about not dwelling on the past, not thinking about the future, focus on today,” Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said, “and I think they did that.”

Williams finished with 15 points in his final regular-season game against the Jayhawks, and Thomas Gipson added 12 points as the Wildcats (14-15, 7-9 Big 12) overcame an eight-point, second-half deficit to beat their bitter rival for only the fifth time in the past 54 meetings.

The Jayhawks (22-6, 11-4) trudged off the court as students poured from the stands into a mad pile, celebrating the biggest highlight of what has been a dreary season in Manhattan.

Weber even had to shield Kansas counterpart Bill Self from the crush of fans.

“I wasn’t nervous for me, but there were several students that hit our players — not saying with fists, but you storm the court, you run in, you bump people,” said Self, whose team watched the Wildcats storm the court against them last year, too.

“Somebody is going to hit a player, the player is going to retaliate, you’re going to have lawsuits — it’s not right,” Self said. “At least (celebrate) around center court.”

The Wildcats had lost seven of their last eight games amid suspensions and strife, and it appears a lock that their string of eight straight 20-win seasons will end. But at least for one night, against their biggest foil, they looked like a Top 25 team in their own right.

“It’s good. We got them two years in a row,” Williams said. “Like Coach said, it’s just good for the fans, alums, all the students. It’s a big-time win for everyone.”

Perry Ellis had 24 points to lead the Jayhawks, whose lead over Iowa State in the league race was whittled to a half-game. Kelly Oubre Jr. also had 14 points.

Kansas State never allowed the Jayhawks to pull even in a tense final few minutes.

After Oubre made the first of two foul shots to cut Kansas’ deficit to 64-61, Williams made two free throws at the other end. And when Brannen Greene scored with just under a minute left to make it 66-63, Williams knocked down a 15-footer to help wrap up the victory.

Johnson, who had played just 10 minutes total in the Wildcats’ last two games, provided the surprising lift. He hit a pair of 3-pointers on his way to 10 first-half points, helping Kansas State to overcome a slow start and cut into an early Kansas lead.

A silly foul on the Jayhawks’ Landen Lucas with 1.3 seconds left sent Williams to the foul line, and he made both shots to give Kansas State a 31-30 lead at the break.

The Jayhawks made another big run to start the second half, but a missed dunk by Ellis proved pivotal when Johnson scored at the other end. Instead of the Jayhawks taking a 43-33 lead, the Wildcats had trimmed the lead back to six points and had the momentum on their side.

Johnson added another 3 as the shot clock expired to knot the game 53-all, then scored again when the Jayhawks were called for goaltending as the Wildcats pulled ahead.

Kansas State never trailed again, beating the Jayhawks for just the fourth time in 27 meetings at Bramlage Coliseum.

“We just came out fighting,” Williams said. “They’re the first-place team in the league so they get everybody’s best shot. We gave them our best shot tonight.”

—

INSTANT REPLAY

Weber showed his team a video of last year’s victory over Kansas — complete with the court-storming — as motivation. “I said, `You can have your own special moment,” Weber recalled.

FAN EMERGENCY

One member of the Kansas State student section was taken from the crowd on a stretcher during a late timeout. A school spokesman said the student suffered a seizure and was taken to the hospital, where he was resting comfortably.

TIP-INS

Kansas: The Jayhawks dropped to 8-6 away from Allen Fieldhouse, including 5-5 in true road games. … Frank Mason III was held to four points on 1-for-8 shooting.

Kansas State: The Wildcats won despite getting outrebounded 37-28. … Kansas State had averaged 52 points in its last three games.

UP NEXT

Kansas returns to Allen Fieldhouse to face Texas on Saturday.

Kansas State welcomes No. 12 Iowa State to Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday.

— Associated Press —

Missouri women get road win at Vanderbilt

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riggertMizzouNashville, Tenn. – The Missouri women’s basketball came out victorious on Sunday after a close finish against Vanderbilt as the Tigers topped the Commodores 54-51.

Missouri improves to 15-12 overall and 5-9 in SEC play. Led by sophomore Jordan Frericks, Mizzou had three Tigers finish in double-figures on the day.

Mizzou shot almost 52-percent from the field in the first half, and the Tigers forced five Vanderbilt turnovers before the break. Frericks led the Tigers through the half, going 6-for-8 from the floor good for 12 points. The sophomore standout finished with 15 points and eight rebounds in the game.

Vanderbilt came out of locker room with a vengeance, slowly chipping away at the Tiger lead. Smart shooting by the Tigers kept Mizzou in the lead, but with just a few minutes to play the Commodores made it a one-possession game. Maddie Stock hit a nice three-pointer with two minutes to play, keeping Mizzou’s distance from Vanderbilt. A three-point play with less than two minutes to play brought the Commodores within one, 50-49.

The Tigers held on to their lead grabbing two offensive rebounds to maintain possession throughout the last minute of play and a foul sent Maddie Stock to the free throw line with 14.9 seconds on the clock. Stock made her shot, and Morgan Eye followed up with two more. A Vanderbilt bucket with 12 seconds to play kept the game close, 53-51. Frericks added one more foul shot and secured Mizzou’s win over Vanderbilt, 54-51.4

The Tigers are back on the road next week at Texas A&M in an 8 p.m. game on Thursday. Mizzou will host the Arkansas Razorbacks on March 1 in its regular season finale.

— MU Sports Information —

Missouri State struggles at Drake, loses 78-43

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riggertMissouriStateDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gary Ricks Jr. sank six 3-pointers and finished with 20 points to help propel Drake to a 78-43 win over Missouri State on Sunday.

Reed Timmer added 17 points while pulling down seven rebounds, Jacob Enevold Jensen and Chris Caird added 10 points apiece as Drake (9-19, 6-10 Missouri Valley Conference) shot 51.8 percent from the floor, including 13 of 21 from 3-point range, to snap a two-game skid.

The Bulldogs broke it open with a 19-2 run in the first half that included 3-pointers from Timmer and Caird and the margin never fell below double figures the rest of the way. Leading 35-14 at the break, Drake continued to pull away in the second half.

Chris Kendrix scored 13 points and Camyn Boone had 12 and 10 rebounds for Missouri State (10-18, 4-12), which was held to 28.1 percent shooting, including just 3 of 19 from long range.

— Associated Press —

Nebraska gets routed at home by Hawkeyes

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NebraskariggertLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Iowa made fast work of Nebraska by playing some of its best basketball of the season in the last five minutes of the first half.

The Hawkeyes scored on nine straight possessions before half to build a 26-point lead, and they never let the Cornhuskers get closer than 21 the rest of the way in a 74-46 rout Sunday.

“When it comes together like that and they’re playing unselfishly and playing defense, as a coach, that’s the best feeling in the world,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said of the decisive 21-2 run. “The challenge is to see if you can play that way all the time.”

Aaron White had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Hawks (17-10, 8-6 Big Ten), who got the performance they needed on the road against the conference’s 10th-place team. Iowa’s NCAA tournament hopes had taken a hit the last week or so, with a home loss to Minnesota and an overtime loss at Northwestern followed by a home win over last-place Rutgers.

“We had a bad week, and what we needed was to have a good week,” White said. “It wasn’t like we could come in here and play OK but lose. I’m happy for our guys and happy for the program, and it’s a good win. The next step to that is to not get complacent.”

Peter Jok scored 14 points and Jarrod Uthoff had 11 points and four blocked shots for the Hawks, who swept the season series against Nebraska (13-14, 5-10) and sent the Huskers to their fifth straight loss and seventh in eight games.

Iowa, which shot 50 percent and made 10 3-pointers, was the first Nebraska opponent in 38 games to make at least half its shots from the floor.

Nebraska got 16 points from Terran Petteway and 10 from Walter Pitchford. The Huskers’ 32.7-percent shooting matched their season low, and they were just 2 of 18 on 3s.

Shavon Shields, who had 25 points in the first meeting with the Hawks, was held to three points on 1-of-6 shooting.

“You never want to throw your players under the bus, but that was just beyond disappointing. That’s not what we represent,” said Nebraska coach Tim Miles, whose players were not made available for interviews. “I honestly didn’t expect this.”

The Huskers wore throwback jerseys from the 1954-55 season and honored some 50 former players on Legends Weekend. The party turned into a dud, though, as the Hawkeyes led all the way and by never fewer than 10 points after White hit a 3-pointer with 4:48 left in the first half.

The loss was Nebraska’s most lopsided of the season and its worst at home since Ohio State put a 34-point whipping on the Huskers on Jan. 21, 2012.

TIP-INS

Iowa: The game started a stretch of four games in 10 days. Iowa won the first meeting 70-59 in Iowa City on Jan. 5. Aaron White had his first double-double since he had 15 points and 12 rebounds in a November loss to Syracuse. Iowa is 16-1 when scoring 64 or more points.

Nebraska: The Huskers started two freshmen (Tarin Smith and Fuller) for the first time in two years. The 32.7-percent shooting matched the Huskers’ performance against Cincinnati in a double-overtime win in December.

CLEMMONS CLICKS

Iowa’s Anthony Clemmons played 25 minutes off the bench and had eight points, three assists and a steal working at both the point- and off-guard spots.

“He’s been playing aggressively,” starting point guard Mike Gessel said. “We need that out of him. He can get after people on defense. He was driving to the basket and making smart plays.”

SORRY, FANS

Nebraska coach Tim Miles apologized to the home fans for his team’s poor showing.

“When I was at Southwest Minnesota State, to pay for shoes we used to go to the Renaissance Festival in Shakopee (Minnesota) and pick up trash. If I had the option, I would do that tonight, tomorrow and next day and pay back the fans for cost of attendance. Our fans are so supportive, and then we go into non-compete mode.”

UP NEXT

Iowa hosts Illinois on Wednesday.

Nebraska visits Ohio State on Thursday.

— Associated Press —

Griffons struggle in 72-54 loss at Northwest Missouri State

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MWSUMARYVILLE, Mo. – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team lost at Northwest Missouri State Saturday inside Bearcat Areana 72-54.

The Bearcats jumped on the Griffons early, scoring the first nine points and holding MWSU to just 18 first half points. Missouri Western went to the break down 30-18 and trailed by as many 25 in the second half but were able to get the Northwest lead to 13 within the final minutes but could reach no closer.

Cortrez Colbert led team with 20 points and seven rebounds. Kevin Thomas fell just short of a double-double, scoring 15 with nine rebounds. Dareon Jones finished with 11 points. MWSU shot 40 percent from the field and 27 percent from three-point range. Northwest finished 54 percent from the field and 40 percent from long range.

The loss dropped the Griffons to 11-13 overall and 7-10 in MIAA play. The team travels to Central Missouri on Feb. 25.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western women defeat Bearcats to complete season sweep

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MWSUMARYVILLE, Mo. – The Missouri Western women’s basketball team completed the season sweep of rival Northwest Missouri by winning 73-65 on Saturday afternoon at Bearcat Arena. The last time Western swept the Bearcats was the 2006-07 season.

The Griffons improve to 13-10 this season and 8-9 in the MIAA.

Missouri Western and Northwest were even through most of the first half with neither team building more than a five-point lead. The game was tied seven times and the lead changed nine times in the first half.

Western built its lead in the second half to as many as 11 points to help close out the Bearcats chances of a comeback.

The Griffons were led once again by the duo of LaQuinta Jefferson and Sarafina Handy, scoring 23 and 17 respectively. Mhykeah Baez was effective for the Griffons scoring eight points, collecting nine rebounds and blocking two shots.

Missouri Western was able to dominate the bench points; scoring 23 points compared the Bearcats five. MWSU also had 10 fast break points and managed to get 15 points off turnovers.

Missouri Western will travel to Central Missouri on Wednesday night to face the Jennies at 5:30 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —

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