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Author: Dave Riggert

Missouri-Eastern Michigan agree on two-game football series

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riggertMizzouThe University of Missouri and Eastern Michigan University have agreed to a two-game football series, as announced jointly Tuesday by both schools.  Mizzou will play host to both games in the series, with the first date set for September 10, 2016, while the back end of the two-game set will be played Sept. 26, 2020 at Faurot Field.

Mizzou and Eastern Michigan have met once previously on the gridiron, with the Tigers taking a 44-24 victory in Columbia on Sept. 6, 1997 in what was the season-opener that year for both squads.

The Mizzou Coaching staff is preparing to unveil its latest recruiting signing class this Wed., Feb. 4th, and Mizzou Network will have its comprehensive Signing Day Show live beginning at 8 a.m. (central time) on www.mutigers.com.

The team is beginning winter conditioning drills this week, in preparation for spring football, which will begin with the first practice on March 10th.  Spring will conclude with the annual Black & Gold Game on Saturday, April 18th.  Kickoff time has been set for 4 p.m. for the Black & Gold Game, with more details to follow.

— MU Sports Information —

Petteway’s 28 leads Nebraska past Northwestern 76-60

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NebraskariggertLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska followed its two worst shooting performances against Big Ten opponents with its best one in four seasons, and Terran Petteway was there to lead the way.

Petteway scored 28 points and the Cornhuskers shot 62.8 percent from the floor in a 76-60 victory over Northwestern on Tuesday night.

Petteway, the conference’s No. 3 scorer, came out of the shell he was in the previous two games. He was 1 for 11 while scoring seven points in a loss to Michigan, and he took a season-low eight shots while scoring 10 in a loss to Minnesota.

He was back to his old self against the Wildcats, going 8 for 16 and making five 3-pointers.

“The team was telling me I was being too patient, probing too much,” Petteway said. “That’s definitely the reason I came out so aggressive in the first half, to try to get going.”

Petteway made his first four 3-pointers, including three in a 1:21 span that got the Huskers out to a 21-13 lead.

“When Terran had that crazy outburst, the guys were like, `We’re not losing tonight,’ ” Nebraska coach Tim Miles said.

Petteway went without a field goal for almost 19 minutes spanning the halves but finished his big night with a 3-pointer and breakaway dunk in the final minute.

Walter Pitchford added 14 points and Shavon Shields had 11 points and a career-high seven assists for the Huskers (13-9, 5-5 Big Ten), who snapped their two-game losing streak.

Northwestern (10-12, 1-8), which lost its eighth straight, got 16 points from Alex Olah, 12 from Scottie Lindsey and 11 from Vic Law.

The Huskers’ accuracy was their best since they shot 63 percent against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 2010-11. Nebraska also shot a season-best 47.6 percent on 3-pointers against the Wildcats.

“We had been struggling shooting, it’s no secret,” Shields said. “So getting everyone step-in 3s and a lot of easier looks that they can knock down was something we’ve been talking about.”

The Huskers were coming off horrid road losses to Michigan and Minnesota. They shot a combined 33.6 percent in those two games, committed a season-high 20 turnovers against Michigan and scored a season-low 42 points against Minnesota.

The Huskers, down 41-40 early in the second half, scored 17 straight points to go up 57-41. David Rivers had six points during the run and Petteway scored five in a row. The Wildcats went scoreless for 6 1/2 minutes and without a field goal for almost eight.

“I didn’t think it was so much what we didn’t do,” Wildcats coach Chris Collins said. “Obviously, Nebraska hadn’t been shooting the ball well. For those guys to come out and shoot the ball the way they did… When they’re shooting the ball like that, because their defense is good, they can beat anybody in this league, especially on their home floor.”

—

TIP-INS

Northwestern: Wildcats’ season scoring leaders Tre Demps and Bryant McIntosh combined for 10 points after totaling 36 in Saturday’s loss to Purdue. …Terran Petteway defended Demps and Benny Parker guarded McIntosh most of the game.

Nebraska: The Huskers have won seven of eight games against Northwestern since 1975. Nebraska has held opponents to 37.5 percent shooting in their first six Big Ten home games.

SHIELDS OVER 1,000

Nebraska’s Shavon Shields went over 1,000 points for his career by scoring 11 against the Wildcats. “It’s an awesome accomplishment,” he said. “I couldn’t do it without these guys. But there’s a bigger picture we’re trying to get to with these guys.”

MENTAL TOLL

Northwestern coach Chris Collins said the eight-game losing streak is wearing on his team. The setback to Nebraska was only the third of the Wildcats’ nine Big Ten losses decided by more than seven points.

“We’re a little beat down, no question about it,” Collins said. “We had a stretch of five games as gut-wrenching as you can have. We are what we are. We have one win. To me, I feel we should have four or five.”

UP NEXT

Northwestern visits Wisconsin on Saturday.

Nebraska visits Penn State on Saturday.

— Associated Press —

No. 8 KU rolls past No. 11 Iowa State to avenge earlier loss

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riggertKULAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Now that Missouri has bid farewell and joined the Southeastern Conference, a new archrival is emerging for Kansas. Its name is Iowa State.

The 223rd consecutive sellout in historic Allen Fieldhouse was definitely louder for the Cyclones on Monday night than it was two days earlier when Kansas State came calling.

When the No. 8 Jayhawks got hot in the second half and raced to an 89-76 victory over the 11th-ranked Cyclone team that handed them a road loss the month before, the windows seemed to rattle in this 60-year-old arena.

Wayne Selden Jr., who scored 19 of his 20 points in the second half, admitted he’d been “haunted” by the 86-81 loss back on Jan. 17.

The pain persisted “that day, that whole next day. Maybe a little bit after,” said Selden. “We had to get onto the next (game). But a sense of urgency came back when we knew we had them next.”

Selden, after missing all three of his shots and scoring only one point in the first half, drilled four of his first five 3-pointers after intermission, often finding himself virtually unguarded on the right wing, as the Jayhawks (19-3, 8-1 Big 12) padded their lead in the Big 12 race to 1 1/2 games.

Georges Niang had 24 points for Iowa State (16-5, 6-3), which dropped out of a second-place tie with West Virginia.

Making sure to give Kansas State plenty of respect, Kansas coach Bill Self agreed the Cyclones, at least for now, are quicker than just about anyone to get Jayhawk blood boiling. The Cyclones were gunning for their third straight victory over Kansas `I think it’s cyclical. But right now, for sure,” said Self. “Right now, the way it sits, K-State would be our biggest rival but you could make a case that Iowa State has emerged as our other rival. Certainly the last couple of years, without question.”

Despite success at home in the Big 12 tournament against Kansas in recent years, the Cyclones have lost 10 straight in Allen Fieldhouse.

“What has Bill lost in this building, nine times?” said Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg. “It’s tougher than hell to walk out of this building with a win.”

Leading 35-28 after a seesaw first half, the Jayhawks reeled off a 14-6 run the first 4 minutes, 45 seconds after intermission, with Selden scoring eight points, including two uncontested 3-pointers. Iowa State called time out and tried to regroup after Selden’s second 3-pointer put Kansas on top 49-34. But unable to stop Kansas’ transition game, the Cyclones never got the lead under nine points.

“Selden was great,” Hoiberg said. “You have to take your hat off to him. He hit some tough shots. He hit a couple where I didn’t think our urge3ncy was good enough.”

Perry Ellis’s three-point play gave the Jayhawks breathing room at 77-63 with less than 3 minutes left. Ellis had 17 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. had 16 for the Jayhawks, who are gunning for their 11th straight Big 12 title.

Bryce Dejean-Jones had 14 points for Iowa State and Monte Morris had 12.

Niang’s steal and Jameel McKay’s dunk sliced the lead briefly to single-digits at 54-45 but Kansas scored the next seven points, four on Oubre’s baskets and three on a shot by Selden, who was 5 for 7 from behind the arc.

TIP-INS

Kansas: The Jayhawks are 91-15 all-time at home against Iowa State but the Cyclones are responsible for three of Kansas’ nine home losses since the Big 12 opened play in 1996-97. With 12 points, Frank Mason recorded his 19th straight double-digit game.

Iowa State: The Cyclones were held four points below their league-leading scoring average. They now have at least 15 assists in all but five games. Cyclones had a 41-38 rebound edge.

STAT LINES

Kansas: In regular-season play, No Bill Self Kansas team has been beaten twice by the same team in the regular season. The Jayhawks had five players in double figures and 22 assists, five more than the Cyclones, who came into the game leading the conference in assists

Iowa State: Iowa State’s first-half shooting of 35 percent was its lowest of the season. With nine rebounds, Bryce Dejean-Jones led both teams. But the Cyclones had five players with at least five, as did Kansas.

QUOTABLE:

“`Kansas played a great basketball game. This building explodes when they get those points in transition” said Hoiberg.

UP NEXT:

Kansas is at Oklahoma State on Saturday.

Iowa State hosts Texas Tech on Saturday.

— Associated Press —

Western’s Gillaspy named to Schutt Sports/NFCA National Player of the Year watch list

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MWSUMissouri Western senior infielder Tiffany Gillaspy has been placed on the Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II Softball National Player of the Year watch list. She is one of 50 players around the nation named to the list.

Gillaspy is coming off her best season as a Griffon. She finished the season leading the Griffons and was in the top-10 in the MIAA in batting average (.390), hits (73), doubles (13), home runs (13), RBI (60), total bases (125) and slugging percentage (.668). The Johnston, Iowa native was named named third team Daktronics All-American, Daktronics First Team All-Region, NFCA First Team All-Central Region and First Team All-MIAA for the first time in her career. She also was named the MIAA AstroTurf Hitter of the Week twice and finished her season with a hit in 23 of her last 25 games and had an 19-game hitting streak during that run.

Behind the collaboration between the NFCA and the NCAA Division II Head Coaches Committee, and the generosity of Schutt Sports, the award was created to honor the outstanding athletic achievement among softball student-athletes throughout Division II.

This inaugural group consists of 29 seniors, 14 juniors and seven sophomores that represent 37 programs from 18 different conferences across the country. Nine programs garnered multiple candidates, including Caldwell, out of the East Coast Conference (ECC), boasting five selections. Defending national champion and Lone Star Conference representative West Texas A&M picked up three nominations, while seven more institutions had two apiece.

The Great Lakes Valley Conference paced the way with five of its schools and seven student-athletes. The Lone Star and Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) each had four programs with seven and five student-athletes, respectively. The Pacific West Conference and California Collegiate Athletic Association followed with three, while the ECC, Heartland Conference, Northeast-10 Conference and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference garnered two apiece.

The Top 25 finalists for the 2015 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Player of the Year award will be announced on April 8. While an athlete does not have to be on watch list to be considered for the Top 25, the winner will come from the 25 finalists. The Top 10 finalists will be announced on April 30 and the Top 3 on May 13 or 14.

The Griffons begin their 2015 season this Friday when they play Henderson State at noon.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Coughlin named Benedictine’s first men’s lacrosse coach

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BenCoughlinATCHISON, Kan. – The Benedictine College Athletic Department and Athletic Director Charlie Gartenmayer have announced the hiring of Ben Coughlin to lead the new Raven Men’s Lacrosse program.

“We are happy to have Ben join our staff here at Benedictine,” Gartenmayer said. “He has a passion for lacrosse and we are excited to have him lead our men’s program.”

Coughlin comes to Benedictine after serving the past year and a half as an assistant men’s lacrosse coach for NCAA Div. III Aurora University in Aurora, Ill. While at Aurora, he helped the Spartans to an undefeated regular season in the Midwest Lacrosse Conference. The Spartans not only earned the regular-season title, they were also crowned MLC Tournament Champions and qualified for the round of 16 of the NCAA Div. III National Tournament.

“I’m excited to come back to my home state and bring back some of what I’ve been able to learn about lacrosse over the past five years,” Coughlin said. “The Benedictine community has been great to me. I really don’t feel like I’m the new guy.

“I’m excited to be given the chance to build my own program at Benedictine. The support the school has shown towards its Athletic Department through new facilities on campus lets me know that I’ll have the tools and support to build a program the way I want to.”

Before joining the staff at Aurora, Coughlin served a year as the head coach at the University of Illinois where he guided the program to a 5-2 mark in the Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference.

A native of Olathe and a graduate of Kansas State University, Coughlin began coaching club lacrosse in the Kansas City Metro area in 2011 and gradually began working his way up to his most recent stop at Aurora.

Prior to attending K-State, where he played four years of club lacrosse, Coughlin was in the Navy where he earned an Honorable Discharge in July 2006.

His time in the Navy helped teach him many of the same philosophies it takes to build a successful team.

“Structure, organization and discipline are all factors for success with any team,” Coughlin said. “To be a good team you have to be able to bring a group of guys together to work as a unit and share the same mission.”

Coughlin will be begin his duties immediately as he prepares for the Ravens first varsity season in the Spring of 2016.

“We are excited to be able to add men’s and women’s lacrosse to our varsity lineup,” said Benedictine College President Stephen D. Minnis. “I think our students have enjoyed the sport at the club level and the growth of lacrosse in our region makes it a natural addition to the varsity offerings as we continue to add academic programs and grow as a well-rounded institution.”

— BC Sports Information —

Griffons come up short at Lindenwood, 66-57

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MWSUST. CHARLES, MO — The Missouri Western men’s basketball team hung tough but didn’t quite have the firepower against one of the MIAA conference’s top teams.

The Griffons shot just 32.2% from the field in a 66-57 at Lindenwood Saturday.  Western held a 45-43 lead midway through the 2nd half, but the Lions used a 13-0 run to pull ahead for good.  Senior Cortrez Colbert and freshman Cole Clearman led Western with 19 and 18 points respectively, and were the only two MWSU players in double figures.  Lindenwood shot 50% as a team and had a balanced offensive attack.

The Griffons fall to 9-10 overall and 5-7 in the MIAA, while Lindenwood improves to 14-7 and 9-3 in conference play.

Missouri Western returns to action Wednesday when they host Northwest Missouri State at 7:30 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Bearcats hold off Lincoln for second straight win

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Northwest2013riggertThe Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball team led wire-to-wire en route to a 67-57 victory over the Lincoln Blue Tigers Saturday afternoon in Jefferson City.

Northwest improves its record to 15-5 on the season and 8-4 in the MIAA.

The Bearcats hit 52 percent (23-of-44) of their shots in the contest, highlighted by a blistering 65 percent in the first half (15-of-23).

Junior Lyle Harris finished the contest with 13 points, two assists and a team-high seven rebounds, while Grant Cozad hit 4-of-7 shots from the field and added both attempts from the charity stripe en route to his 14 points. The senior added four rebounds and one assist.

Leading 15-10 after the first eight minutes of play, Northwest went on a 15-4 run over the next four minutes to extend the lead to a game-high 16 points. Lyle Harris answered a Blue Tiger three pointer with a trey of his own, followed by two free throws by senior Grant Cozad. Anthony Woods and Harris made layups on consecutive possessions for the Bearcats to stretch the lead to 24-12. Woods then made his fourth three-pointer of the season to give the Bearcats a 13 point advantage. Lyle Harris finished the run by getting fouled after sinking a driving layup. He made the free throw to give Northwest a 30-14 lead with 7:01 to play in the first half.

The Bearcats will make the short trip to St. Joseph, Mo. on Wednesday to take on the Missouri Western Griffons. The tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —

No. 7 Ravens upset at home by Avila; snaps 10-game win streak

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BCA late surge for the No. 7 Benedictine men’s basketball team wasn’t enough to beat the Avila University Eagles on Saturday as Avila was able to knock off the Ravens 86-79 to split the regular season matchup with the Eagles.

Benedictine (19-4, 8-3 Heart) started slow offensively because of turnovers and fell behind from precise shooting by Avila (11-10, 5-6 Heart). The Eagles shot 66 percent from downtown and 51 percent from the field in the first half to extend their lead to 20 with 2:30 left in the 1st half.

Defensive energy and hustle plays by the Ravens helped narrow the gap to 13 before half, as the Ravens took a little bit of momentum into the break down, 39-26.

Turnovers, led to easy scores for the Eagles and hurt the Ravens throughout the game. Avila forced 18 turnovers, which translated to 24 points for the Eagles. The Ravens forced 17 turnovers, but were only able to score 14 points off the miscues.

Despite the difference in taking advantage of their turnovers, Benedictine was able to gradually battle back in the second half as they started to connect from beyond the 3-point arc.

Jake Schannuth connected on the Ravens final 3-pointer of the game with 11 seconds remaining but that was all the closer Benedictine would get as the Eagles were able to seal the win at the charity stripe.

John Harris Jr., led the Ravens with 19 points, and Schannuth added a 18. Schannuth connected on 5 of 9 3-pointers as he caught fire late in the game. Brett Fisher finished with 14 points as he converted on 3 of 9 from beyond the 3-point arc.

Benedictine outscored Avila 53-47 in the second half but it wasn’t enough to overcome their slow start.

Five Eagles finished in double figures, led by the 18 points of Trey Bales.

The Ravens are off Thursday before hitting the road on Saturday for a 4 p.m. match up in Fayette, Mo., against Central Methodist University.

— BC Sports Information —

MWSU baseball splits another doubleheader with No. 17 Wonderboys

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riggertMissouriWesternRUSSELVILLE, Ark. – The Missouri Western baseball team went split with No. 17 Arkansas Tech Saturday as they finished 2-2 in the four-game series with the Wonderboys.

GAME 1: MWSU 10, Arkansas Tech 4 (9 innings)

Missouri Western got its second straight win against #17 Arkansas Tech as they collected 12 hits and scored 10 runs.

The Griffons were able to jump out to a quick lead in the first two innings, producing two runs in the first inning and five runs in the second inning.

Missouri Western’s first score came on an RBI triple by David Glaude to score Ryan Degner. Cosimo Cannella grounded out to second but that allowed Glaude to come home for the second run for the Griffons.

The Griffons capitalized on a couple Arkansas Tech errors in the 2nd inning. Dylon Koch drew a walk to get a run in and Glaude reached on a throwing error by the third baseman that brought in Degner and LaHonta. Koch eventually scored on a passed ball as well.

MWSU put one run on the board in the 5th and 6th inning to build their lead to 9-4.

In the top of the 8th innings Orencio Fisher stole second and the Arkansas Tech catcher had a throwing error to allow David Glaude to score and make it 10-4 Griffons.

Banks Born got the start for Missouri Western as he went five innings allowing three hits and two runs. He also had five strikeouts on the day and got his first win of the season.

GAME 2: Arkansas Tech 11, MWSU 2 (7 innings)

Arkansas Tech took control of the final game of the series early. ATU scored one run in the 1st inning on a wild pitch and added seven more run in the 2nd inning.

Missouri Western was able to get two runs across the plate in the top of the 2nd inning. Trevor LaHonta singled to left field to score Cody Childs. Also in the half inning, David Glaude came home to score on an errant throw by the third baseman.

ATU had six hits and seven runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning. The Griffons committed two errors in the inning which contributed to five unearned runs to come home.

MWSU was able to load the bases in the top of the sixth but could not score a run to get any closer to ATU.

Missouri Western will be traveling to Searcy, Arkansas to play Harding University on Saturday, February 7th and Sunday, February 8th.

— MWSU Sports Information —

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