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Author: Dave Riggert

Foster’s career-high 34 helps K-State upsets No. 15 Texas

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KSUMANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Texas coach Rick Barnes understands how imperative the latter half of the conference schedule is for Kansas State. His team, however, didn’t receive the message.

After escaping TCU with a win on Tuesday, the Longhorns went through a hangover at the hands of the Wildcats.

With only one road win in conference play, the Wildcats needed to continue their dominance on their home court and they capitalized in almost every facet of the game.

Marcus Foster scored a career-high 34 points on 13-of-16 shooting, and Kansas State beat No. 15 Texas 74-57 on Saturday, ending the Longhorns’ seven-game winning streak.

“They beat us any way you can get beat,” Barnes said. “Right from the beginning whether you want to talk loose balls or from turning the ball over, you are not going to win with turning the ball over 18 times. Some of it had to do with them, but a lot of it had to do with what we were doing, too.”

Foster’s 34 points were the most for a Kansas State freshman since Michael Beasley’s 39-point performance against Kansas on March 1, 2008. Foster’s previous high was 25 points against Oral Roberts on Nov. 13.

Will Spradling added nine points for the Wildcats (16-7, 6-4 Big 12) who extended their home winning streak to 12 games. The win improved coach Bruce Weber’s record at Bramlage Coliseum to 29-2, 13-1 in conference games.

Isaiah Taylor had 17 points for the Longhorns (18-5, 7-3) while Connor Lammert added eight points. Texas entered the game with four players averaging in double figures.

Foster’s impressive dunk off an alley-oop pass was the highlight of an opening 18-4 run for the Wildcats over the game’s opening 8 minutes.

“He did not get any resistance,” Barnes said. “He played terrific. As a team they did whatever they wanted to do. He did a terrific job, and they really deserved to win. The score is not really indicative of how bad they really beat us. He was terrific.”

Kansas State held the Longhorns to 3-of-8 shooting with six turnovers through the 11:41 mark of the first half. Texas finished the half at 25 percent (5 of 20).

Texas’ shooting percentage was its second-lowest of the season and it followed Tuesday’s performance as the two worst of the season both by percentage and score.

“The big thing was the defense,” Weber said. “Holding them to 32 percent and they had 18 turnovers. It allowed us to get transition points. I don’t know if we’ve had fast breaks like that altogether all year as many as we had today.”

Javan Felix and Cameron Ridley were held to only five combined field goals (5 of 19). Ridley, who scored 18 points in the team’s first meeting on Jan. 21, struggled mightily in getting comfortable against the Wildcats interior.

“I was baffled by some of the things that we did,” Barnes said. “We were not shooting the ball well.”

Texas forward Jonathan Holmes left the game with a knee injury. The junior scored the game’s first basket and attempted only two shots before leaving.

Barnes said Holmes will be evaluated when the team returns to Austin. He will undergo an MRI on Sunday.

The 17-point first half by Foster was the best 20 minutes by any K-State player this season. He nearly outscored the Longhorns by himself as the Wildcats led 39-18 at halftime.

“Part of their execution was that they defended the way they wanted to defend and we couldn’t handle it,” Barnes said. “We have to give them credit for that.”

Taylor, who had 15 points in the second half, helped Texas climb within 16 points with 12:15 left in the game, but the Wildcats quickly answered and pushed their lead over 20 points in less than a minute. Each of those baskets was by Foster.

“Texas is a team that makes a lot of runs,” Foster said. “I just felt like they were making their run in trying to come back. I was in the right spot to make plays and my teammates found me.”

Foster was the third Kansas State true freshman to score 30 points joining Beasley and Mike Evans.

After a minor injury on a hard foul forced Kansas State’s Thomas Gipson to sit with 4:47 left, Foster closed his performance by hitting both free throws in place of Gipson.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western softball opens 2014 season with two wins

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riggertMissouriWesternMissouri Western softball went 2-0 on day one of the Hurry Up Classic defeating Henderson State 5-1 and Ouachita Baptist 1-0 in eight innings. The Griffons used two complete games by pitchers Jackie Bishop and Janie Smith to get the victories. On the afternoon Bre Fleschner went 3-for-7 with a run scored while Tiffany Gillaspy went 3-for-6 with a run scored.

Game 1
Missouri Western 5, Henderson State 1

In their 2014 season opener the Missouri Western softball team pounded out 10 hits and used a strong pitching performance from senior Bishop picking up the 5-1 victory over Henderson State.

The Griffons were able to get two players on in the top of the first but stranded Bre Fleschner and Tiffany Gillaspy at third and second. In the third the Griffons opened the scoring when Fleschner singled to shortstop and later scored on a Brooke Schaben double to left center.

The Reddies answered in the bottom of the third when Tricia Hock homered to left field tying the score at one.

The rest of the game belonged to Bishop and the Griffons. In the fourth Kailey Green blasted the first homer of her career to center field which was followed up by a Taylor Anding bomb to left field giving the Griffons the 3-1 lead after four.

In the 5th Anding struck again with two outs, hitting a two run single scoring Sydney Washington and Gillaspy pushing the Missouri Western led to 5-1.

That is all Bishop needed going all seven innings giving up five hits while striking out nine. She improves to 1-0 with the victory.

Fleschner went 3-for-4 with one run scored while Gillaspy and Anding each had two hits. Anding finished with three RBI and one run scored.

The Reddies fall to 2-3 on the season as five different players got a hit in the game. Ashlyn White falls to 0-1 on the season going 3.2 innings giving up six hits and three earned runs while striking out two.

Game 2
Missouri Western 1, Ouachita Baptist 0 (8 Innings)

Sophomore pitcher Janie Smith pitched an outstanding game picking up an eight hit 1-0 extra inning shutout against the Ouachita Baptist Tigers. Smith struck out two Tigers and and got a game ending ground out with the bases loaded in the 8th inning picking up the victory.

The Griffons got just three hits in the game with Morgan Rathmann, Gillaspy and Kat Stephonovich all getting a hit. Missouri Western scored the game winning run in the top of the 8th inning with the international tie breaker. Washington was put on second and stole third. Smith walked and pinch runner Taylor Schaben stole second putting runners on second and third with no one out. With one out Steponovich hit a sacrifice fly scoring Washington.

In the bottom half of the inning Smith loaded the bases on back-to-back walks but buckled down getting back-to-back strikeouts before getting the game ending ground out. She struck out six in her second shutout of her career. Here first was on March 16, 2013 when the Griffons beat Southwest Baptist 8-0.

The Tigers fall to 1-2 on the season. Macy Nantz led the way going 3-for-3 with two doubles while Teresa Mursuli went 2-for-4. Abbi Frakes went eight innings giving up just three hits while striking out five. She falls to 1-2 with the loss.

The Griffons return to action on Saturday, February 8 with two games. The Griffons will take on Cameron University at 9 am at Ouachita Baptist and Arkansas Tech at 1 pm at Henderson State.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Chiefs sign WR Weston Dressler, release DB Dunta Robinson

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ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs announced on Friday that the club has signed wide receiver Weston Dressler and released defensive back Dunta Robinson.

Dressler (5-7, 179) joins the Chiefs after six seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 2008-13. He registered 442 receptions for 6,531 yards (14.8 avg.) with 43 touchdowns. He added 48 carries for 286 yards (6.0 avg.) with two rushing touchdowns. Dressler tallied 92 punt returns for 907 yards (9.9 avg.) with one touchdown and 31 kickoff returns for 634 yards (20.5 avg.). In 2013, he caught 70 passes for 1,011 yards with nine touchdowns to help the Roughriders to a Grey Cup title. He has recorded 1,000 or more yards in five of six CFL seasons and set career highs in receptions (94), yards (1,206) and touchdowns (13) in the 2012 season.

The Bismarck, N.D., native played collegiately at the University of North Dakota, playing in 39 games (22 starts), recording 167 receptions for 2,110 yards (12.6 avg.) with 25 touchdowns. He prepped at Bismarck High School where he was a three-time all-state and all-conference selection and was named the 2003 Gatorade Player of the Year.

Robinson (5-10, 183) has played in 139 games (128 starts) in 10 NFL seasons with the Houston Texans (2004-09), Atlanta Falcons (2010-12) and Kansas City Chiefs (2013). His career numbers include 593 tackles (503 solo), 5.5 sacks (-36.5 yards), 17 interceptions for 194 yards with one touchdown and 91 pass breakups. Robinson played in eight games (two starts) with the Chiefs in 2013. He tallied 13 solo tackles, four passes defensed, and one fumble recovery.

The Athens, Ga., native originally entered the NFL as a first-round draft pick (10th overall) of the Houston Texans in the 2004 NFL Draft. Robinson played collegiately at South Carolina. He prepped at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

Mike Sweeney returns to Kansas City as Special Assistant to Baseball Operations

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RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals announced Friday that the club has named former first baseman Mike Sweeney to the front office staff, carrying the job title of Special Assistant to Baseball Operations.

“We’re thrilled as an organization that Mike will be joining our baseball operations department,” Royals Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations/General Manager Dayton Moore said.  “He’s a tremendous leader and I’m confident that he will impact our players and staff in positive way.”

Sweeney, 40, was a five-time American League All-Star with the Royals, whom he played with from 1995-2007 after being drafted in the 10th round in 1991 out of Ontario (Calif.) High School.  Sweeney was a .297 career hitter with 325 doubles, 215 home runs, 909 RBI and 759 runs scored.  He capped his playing career with the Oakland Athletics (2008), Seattle Mariners (2009-10) and Philadelphia Phillies (2010).

The club record holder for RBI in a season with 144 in 2000, Sweeney ranks in the top six all-time in Royals history in 17 offensive categories, including second in average (.299) and home runs (197).  He narrowly missed winning the 2002 A.L. batting crown, hitting .340 in 2002, the second-highest single-season average in club history to George Brett’s .390 mark in 1980.  Sweeney represented the Royals as an American League All-Star five times (2000-2003, 2005).  He is joined by George Brett (13), Amos Otis (5) and Frank White (5) as the only players in club history to make five or more All-Star appearances.

“It’s a great honor to have played in the Kansas City organization for 20 years. To be welcomed back by the Glass family, Dayton Moore, Ned Yost and the entire staff is a dream come true for me,” said Sweeney.  “The only thing I was unable to accomplish during my playing days was to bring October baseball back to Kansas City.  With this new position, my goal is to do as much as I can to help the Royals get back to being one of the prized organizations in baseball, as it was in the 1980’s.”

— Royals Media Relations —

Chiefs hire Brock Olivo as Assistant Special Teams Coach

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ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs announced on Thursday that the club has hired former University of Missouri and NFL running back Brock Olivo to serve as the club’s Assistant Special Teams Coach.

Olivo joins the Chiefs after two seasons (2012-13) as an assistant coach with Coastal Carolina where he coached the running backs and assisted on special teams. Under Olivo’s tutelage at Coastal Carolina, senior RB Lorenzo Taliaferro shattered a number of Chanticleer single-season rushing records, including yards (1,729), attempts (276), touchdowns (27), yards per game (115.3), all-purpose yards (1,882), 100-yard rushing games (nine), multi-rushing touchdown games (eight), points scored (174) and most total touchdowns scored (29). In 2012, the Chanticleers averaged 199.2 rushing yards per game to rank 25th in the Football Championship Subdivision and in 2013, Coastal Carolina ranked eighth among FCS teams, averaging 252.1 rushing yards per game. Prior to joining Coastal Carolina in 2012, Olivo spent the 2011 season as running backs coach for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League (UFL).

Before joining the Omaha Nighthawks, Olivo served as head coach and offensive coordinator of the Italian National Football Team. He was also the head coach, offensive coordinator and special teams coordinator of the S.S. Lazio Marines, a Serie A1 team which competes in Italy’s IFL, the country highest level of American football.

He spent four seasons (1998-01) with the Detroit Lions, serving as a running back as well as a captain of the Lions special teams units. During his NFL career, he appeared in 44 games, registering two carries and seven receptions, and added 15 kickoff returns for 263 yards (17.5 avg.). He also recorded two career special teams fumble recoveries. After his final season in Detroit, he played one season for the S.S. Lazio Marines.

A product of the University of Missouri, Olivo set the then-school career record for rushing yards with 3,026 from 1994-97 and led the team in scoring in three straight seasons from 1994-96. Olivo was also the nation’s first recipient of the Mosi Tatupu Award, an honor bestowed on college football’s top special teams player. He became just the seventh player in Missouri football history to have his number (27) retired. A 1998 graduate, he received his degree in English. While at Missouri, Olivo played for a Tigers coaching staff that included Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub, who held the title of strength and conditioning coach and defensive line coach for more than a decade (1989-00). Following his NFL career, Olivo worked three years at the National Italian American Foundation.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

Cardinals sign RHP Pat Neshek to minor league contract

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CardsThe St. Louis Cardinals have signed right-handed pitcher Pat Neshek to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League camp for Spring Training.

Neshek pitched over seven Major League seasons with the Twins (2006-10), Padres (2011) and most recently Athletics in 2012-13.

The 33-year old Madison, Wis., native has made 226 career appearances, all in relief, compiling a 16-9 record with a 3.07 ERA while averaging over a strikeout per inning fanning 216 batters in 214.1 innings.

He appeared in a career-high 74 games during his second season with the Twins in 2007 while posting a 7-2 record and a 2.94 ERA.

Neshek held right-handed batters to a .182 batting average over 494 career at bats and has limited the opposition to a .192 average with runners on base and .183 with runners in scoring position.

He has played in two post-seasons first with the Twins in 2006 and then the Athletics in 2012, making three relief appearances.

The Cardinals will have 58 players in camp including non-roster invitations with this transaction.

— Cardinals Media Relations —

Griffons’ road struggles continue with blow out loss to Bearcats

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MWSUThe Missouri Western men’s basketball team struggled on the road in a 92-64 loss at rival Northwest Missouri State. The Griffons were led by Cortrez Colbert and Kalvin Balque with 18 and 15 points respectively. The Griffons fall to 9-12 on the season and 4-9 in MIAA play.

Western is now 0-8 on the road this season and 0-7 away from home in the MIAA.

The Griffons did not score the final 2:28 of the first half going into the locker room down 45-28. Missouri Western stayed close with the Bearcats for the first six minutes being down just 13-9 after a Kalvin Balque layup. The rest of the half belonged to the Bearcats scoring from insdie and outside.

Western made 40.9-percent (9-22) of their field goals and connected on 7-of-10 free throw attempts. The Bearcats shot even better connecting on 50-percent (14-28) field goals and 6-of-14 long range shots. They also made 11-of-14 free throws.

The Griffons were led by Balque and Ryan Devers with seven points apiece while the Bearcats were led by Dillon Starzl with 12 points. The Bearcats did outrebound Missouri Western 18-11 and had nine assists to MWSU’s two.

The Griffon struggles continued in the second half as the Bearcats cruised to the victory. Northwest improves to 17-5 overall and 12-1 in MIAA play.

Missouri Western shot 38.9-percent (21-54) from the field and 36.8-percent (7-19) from long range. The Griffons also made 15-of-21 three throws. Devers was the only other Griffon to score in double figures with 10.

The Bearcats made 56.6-percent (30-56) of their field goals and 44-percent (11-25) from long range. They also shot free throws well making 21-of-27 attempts. They had five players score in double figures with DeShaun Cooper dumping in 23.

The Griffon return to action on Saturday, February 8 when they travel to St. Charles, Mo. to take on the Lindenwood Lions. Game time is set for 3:00 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Western women let late lead slip away at Northwest Missouri State

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MWSUThe Missouri Western women got outscored 11-4 in the final 3:40 of the contest falling 50-44 against the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats. The Griffons shot just 31-percent (18-58) in the game with Tiffanie Abrams leading the way with 13 points. The Griffons fall to 9-11 overall and 4-9 in MIAA play.

The Griffons stuggled shooting ball in the first half making just 30.8-percent (8-26) field goal attepmts. Fortunately they only allowed the Bearcats to shoot 26.1-percent (6-23) as they went into the half down 21-17. The difference in the frame was at the free throw line as they Bearcats made 8-of-10 free throws and the Griffons made just 1-of-2.

The Griffons had seven players score in the half with Quenisha Lockett and Abrams both scoring four points. Lockett and Abrams also led the way on the boards both collecting three rebounds. The Griffons dominated the points in the paint scoring 14 of their 17 points in the lane.

The Bearcats had seven players score in the half with Ariel Easton and Annie Matthews both dumping in five points. Monique Stevens had six of the Bearcats 19 rebounds.

The Griffons dominated the first part of the second half claiming their first lead since the 10:02 mark of the first half when they led 10-8 after an Abrams layup. Abrams also gave the Griffons the lead at 28-27 when she hit a layup with 12:49 to play in the game.

The Griffons led by as much as three the next six minutes but with a one point lead at 40-39 the Griffons offense went cold down the stretch getting outscored 11-4 the rest of the way.

The Griffons made just 1-of-15 long range shots but did make 7-of-8 free throws. They turned the ball over 16 times and got outrebounded 36 to 30 in the contest. Lockett finished with eight points while Tiara Hall ed the way with eight rebounds.

The Bearcats improved to 8-12 overall and 5-8 in MIAA play. Ariel Easton led the way with 16 points making 7-of-8 free throws. Northwest shot 36.8-percent (14-38) from the field and made 21-of-25 free throw attempts.

The Griffons return to action on Saturday, February 8 when they travel to St. Charles, Mo. to take on the Lindenwood Lions at 1:00 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —

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