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Author: Dave Riggert

Missouri’s rally comes up short in home loss to Temple

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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Quinton Rose scored 18 points to lead Temple to a 79-77 victory over Missouri.

Shizz Alston finished with 15 points and six assists, De’Vondre Perry added 11 points and Ernest Aflakpui grabbed 12 rebounds for the Owls (6-1).

Temple outscored Missouri 16-4 in the final 3:20 of the first half to open a 42-32 halftime lead. The Tigers (3-3) got within two points in the final two minutes thanks to outstanding outside shooting — they were 11 of 19 from 3-point range — but the Owls never gave up their lead after intermission.

Missouri’s Jordan Geist hit a 3-pointer to cut the Temple lead to 77-75 with 14 seconds left, but Alston was fouled and made both free throws to secure the game.

Mark Smith led Missouri with 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, Kevin Puryear added 16 points and Jeremiah Tilmon had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

BIG PICTURE

Temple: It was the Owls’ third victory over a Power 5 conference opponent this season, after they previously defeated Georgia and California.

Missouri: Temple entered the game ranked seventh nationally with 10.5 steals per game, and Missouri entered with a minus-2.2 turnover margin. As expected, turnovers hurt the Tigers, who committed 15 while forcing only five.

UP NEXT

Temple: The Owls return to Philadelphia for a game at Saint Joseph’s on Saturday.

Missouri: The Tigers will face a second straight American Athletic Conference opponent when UCF visits Mizzou Arena on Sunday. Temple was picked to finish sixth in the AAC by the league’s coaches, while UCF was projected to win the league.

— Associated Press —

Bruder becomes Northwest’s first volleyball All-American

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Northwest Missouri State can celebrate its first volleyball All-American in senior Maddy Bruder.

Bruder, a senior from Firth, Nebraska (Norris HS), is the first Bearcat in program history to earn American Volleyball Coaches Association First-Team All-America honors. Bruder led the MIAA in kills (4.26 per set) and ranked No. 17 in the nation in that category. Bruder blew away the competition in MIAA matches by averaging 4.30 kills per set with 275 kills in 64 sets. Bruder notched a team-best 17 double-doubles, including 12 in MIAA play.

Earlier this month, Bruder was named the MIAA player of the year.

Griffons hold on for 78-75 win at William Jewell

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LIBERTY, Mo. – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team (5-4) used a balanced offensive effort and solid team defense to pick up a road win over William Jewell 78-75 on Monday night. The win snaps a three-game losing skid and wraps up the Griffon’s five-game road trip.

NOTABLES

  • There were 19 lead changes and five ties throughout the game. The Cardinals held the lead for over 27 minutes, compared to just nine for the Griffons.
  • Both teams struggled offensively in the first half, as the Griffons trailed 34-33 going into halftime. Missouri Western held William Jewell to just 37 percent shooting in the first half.
  • Bryan Hudson sank a three pointer with 14:24 remaining to cap off a 10-3 run and give the Griffons their first lead of the second half.
  • William Jewell lost its final lead of the game at 10:24 remaining after Jonathan Mesmacque knocked down a pair of free throws.
  • Hudson’s dunk stretched the lead to double digits with under two minutes remaining off of a Tyrell Carroll assist.
  • Four different Griffons scored in double figures in the win.
  • Free-throw shooting is one area the Griffons can improve after Monday’s win. The Griffons shot just 57 percent from the line.

LEADERS

  • Lavon Hightower scored 17 points on just seven shot attempts.
  • Hudson also finished with 17 points, his fifth-straight game in double-figures.
  • Tyrell Carroll added 15 points. His seven assists are the most by a Griffon this season.
  • Mesmacque was one rebound shy of a double-double, finishing with 12 points and nine boards.

UP NEXT

  • Missouri Western will have nine days before its next game.
  • The Griffons will host Lindenwood (6-3) in the MIAA opener on Dec. 6.
  • The Lions defeated NAIA institution Culver Stockton 95-53 in their last game.

— MWSU Athletics —

Nebraska wins at Clemson in Big Ten/ACC Challenge

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CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Isaac Copeland Jr. wasn’t about to let this resume-builder slip away for Nebraska.

The Cornhuskers had watched Clemson cut an eight-point lead down to 66-64 in the final seconds and made sure his teammates knew it was time toughen up. “We’re winning this game. We’re winning this game,” Copeland, a senior, shouted in the huddle.

“Chill out, bro, chill out,” James Palmer told his teammate, according to Nebraska coach Tim Miles.

“Hey guys, it’s OK,” Miles told them. “We’re all on the same team. We’re all in the same direction.”

A winning one for the Cornhuskers, who closed out the Tigers for a 68-66 win to start the ACC/Big Ten Challenge — and gained a critical check mark when the NCAA Tournament committee looks to fill the field next March.

Palmer scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half and Copeland added 16 points for Nebraska (6-1), which earlier had dropped a game Texas Tech it came in expecting to win.

“We had been tested before with Texas Tech and we gave up early, and that’s why we lost by so much,” Copeland said of the 70-52 loss last week. “We knew going into this game we had to be strong, stay together.”

That’s just what they did when, ahead by two, they forced a turnover from Clemson’s Marcquise Reed with 9.4 seconds left. Glynn Watson Jr. followed with two foul shots seconds later to seal the win.

“It’s our first real road test of the year, so passing it was really important,” Miles said.

Nebraska thought it had a strong NCAA case after winning 22 games and going 13-5 in Big Ten play. But the Cornhuskers were left out, then got beat in the NIT opening round. A win like this, Copeland said, will help change that.

“We’re headed to high places,” he said.

Nebraska took control midway through the second half as Palmer had two straight baskets and Copeland followed with a power jam. When Thomas Allen struck with a 3-poiner from the right corner, the Cornhuskers were ahead 64-56.

Clemson, despite its late surge, could not catch up and lost its second straight game after starting 5-0.

It was also a strong start for the Big Ten, which has lost the past two challenges to the ACC — last year by an 11-3 margin. The conferences play 14 games in all, the majority on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The win improved Nebraska to 5-3 in challenge games since joining the Big Ten in 2011-12. The Cornhuskers picked up their third road win in challenge play after victories at Wake Forest (2012) and Florida State (2015).

It was also a bit of revenge for a tight loss at Clemson in the 2016-17 challenge when it was the Tigers pulling out a 60-58 win.

Elijah Thomas led Clemson with 16 points. Reed, who scored 24 and 27 points the past two games, was 6-of-14 shooting for 15 points.

Shelton Mitchell said it was frustrating to follow its 87-82 loss to Creighton in the Cayman Islands Classic final by dropping a home game. “But this is the time we need to stick together,” he said. “We lost two games, but it’s a long season.”

BIG PICTURE

Nebraska: The Cornhuskers looked fast, strong and talented and they’ll have a chance to show that in Big Ten play starting this week against Illinois as the league begins its 20-game regular season.

Clemson: The Tigers dropped out of this week’s Top 25 after losing the final of the Cayman Island Classic to Creighton 87-82 last week. They still looked like they were on island time as they played a step slow as Nebraska had 10 offensive rebounds and five steals.

STAT STUFFER

Isaac Copeland Jr. made a mark all over the place for Nebraska. He had six rebounds, three of them on the offensive glass. He made all four of his foul shots, had three of his team’s 10 assists to with a block and a steal.

TURN ABOUT

Nebraska coach Tim Miles recalled how his team had several chances to win here in 2016 before losing 60-58 as Clemson controlled much of the second half. This time, Miles said it was the Cornhuskers who dictated things in their victory. “You have to play from the lead on the road,” he said. “It’s really important.”

The Cornhuskers never gave up the lead after Copeland’s basket put them ahead 39-37 with 16:03 to go.

UP NEXT

Nebraska opens Big Ten Conference play against Illinois on Sunday.

Clemson faces St. Peter’s on Dec. 4.

— Associated Press —

KU’s Lawson earned Big 12 Player of the Week honor

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IRVING, Texas – Kansas redshirt junior Dedric Lawson posted back-to-back double-doubles in being named the most valuable player of the NIT Season Tip-Off and has been named the Big 12 Player of the Week in a vote by a media panel which covers the league, the conference announced Monday.

This is the second time this season Lawson has earned the honor and the third-straight week Kansas has taken home the conference player of the week. Lawson’s two weekly league honors, Nov. 12 and 26, were sandwiched by Jayhawk senior Lagerald Vick being named Nov. 19.

Lawson scored 26 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in Kansas’ 77-68 win versus Marquette (11/21) in the NIT semifinals. The Memphis native also had three assists and two blocked shots against the Golden Eagles.

In KU’s 87-81 overtime win against No. 5 Tennessee (11/23) in the title game, Lawson scored 24 points, pulled down 13 rebounds and had five assists. It marked the first time since 2003 a Jayhawk has posted 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. He averaged 25 points and 12.5 rebounds in Kansas’s NIT title run and in the title game against the Volunteers, Lawson scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half and overtime.

Lawson is the only player in the Big 12 currently averaging a double-double. He leads the league with a 10.4 rebound average and his 17.6 points per game are sixth in the Big 12. He also ranks among the conference leaders in assists (ninth at 3.8).

No. 2 Kansas (5-0) returns home to host Stanford (3-2) in Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 4:30 p.m.

— KU Athletics —

Tigers’ Jordan Elliott named SEC Defensive Player of the Week

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri sophomore DT Jordan Elliott (Missouri City, Texas) has been named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week, as announced this morning by the league office. Elliott, who shares the weekly award with LB Devin White of LSU, was cited after a career performance on Friday which keyed Mizzou’s 38-0 shutout win over Arkansas that closed the regular season and improved the Tigers to 8-4.

It is rare for an interior lineman to impact a game the way Elliott did Friday, but he was a virtual one-man wrecking crew against the Razorbacks as the Tiger defense pitched its first SEC shutout in program history, while earning MU’s first shutout of a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) school since a 14-0 win at Iowa State in 2010. It was also Mizzou’s largest shutout win over an FBS foe since a 58-0 win over Colorado in 2008.

Elliott keyed the day thanks to career highs in both quarterback sacks (3.0) and tackles for loss (4.0), on his way to a five-tackle day. His second-quarter blind-side sack jarred the ball loose and ended in a fumble recovery for a touchdown for teammate Akial Byers which made the score 21-0 with 12:33 left in the first half. Elliott’s three sacks marked the first of his Tiger career, and his four tackles behind the line of scrimmage equaled his 11-game season total coming into the contest.

Mizzou held Arkansas to just 187 yards of total offense in the shutout effort, well below the Razorbacks’ season average of 349.2 yards and 23.6 points per game coming in. Arkansas’ minus 21 yards rushing in the first half was also the lowest first-half rushing total by any FBS team in 2018.

He is the first Tiger to win SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors since Nov. 6, 2017 when safety Anthony Sherrils was honored for his game against Florida – and he’s also the first Tiger defensive tackle to win the award.

This marks the ninth time since Mizzou joined the SEC in 2012 that a Tiger has won or shared the weekly Defensive Player of the Week award. That history includes: 2012 – S Kenronte Walker (Sept. 17 vs. Arizona State); 2013 – LB Kentrell Brothers (Oct. 14 vs. Georgia); 2013 – DE Michael Sam (Oct. 21 vs. Florida); 2013 – CB E.J. Gaines (Dec. 2 vs. Texas A&M); 2014 – DE Shane Ray (Sept. 13 vs. UCF); 2014 – DE Markus Golden (Nov. 22 vs. Tennessee); 2015 – LB Kentrell Brothers (Sept. 12 vs. Arkansas State); 2017 – SS Anthony Sherrils (Nov. 6 vs. Florida).

Mizzou will be heading to its second-straight bowl game under Head Coach Barry Odom, and the Tigers will learn of their bowl destination this Sunday afternoon.

— Mizzou Athletics —

MWSU women’s game Tuesday vs. Adams State postponed

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ST. JOSEPH – Due to current driving conditions between Alamosa, Colorado, and St. Joseph, the Missouri Western women’s basketball game versus Adams State on Nov. 27 has been postponed until Dec. 30.

The two teams were scheduled to play Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the MWSU Fieldhouse, but weather conditions made travel unsafe for Adams State. The game has been re-scheduled for Dec. 30 at 1 p.m. in the MWSU Fieldhouse. The new date and time will make the game part of a non-conference doubleheader as the Missouri Western men’s basketball team will host Illinois-Springfield at 3 p.m. on Dec. 30.

— MWSU Athletics —

Schuchts’ career day helps No. 21 Missouri women defeat Duke

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ESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Hannah Schuchts made every shot she took except a free throw in the final seconds, setting career highs with six 3-pointers and 25 points, to lead No. 21 Missouri to a 62-54 win over Duke for fifth place in the Gulf Coast Showcase on Sunday.

Schuchts, a junior forward whose previous career game highs were four 3-pointers and 12 points, was 8-of-8 shooting and 3 of 4 from the line, her only miss coming with 18 seconds left.

The Tigers (5-2) were 16 of 34 outside the arc for 47 percent and only 3 of 20 inside it.

Duke dominated points in the paint 24-4, matched Missouri with 19 field goals but made only five 3-pointers and missed 7 of 18 free throws.

Lauren Aldridge added four 3-pointers and 13 points, seven in the fourth quarter, for Missouri.

Haley Gorecki had four 3-pointers and 24 points, while Leaonna Odom added 15 points and Onome Akinbode-James grabbed 11 rebounds for the Blue Devils (3-3).

Missouri led 39-38 after three quarters. Schuchts and Aldridge opened the fourth quarter with 3-pointers and the Tigers held on, going up by nine with 30 seconds to go. Schuchts had 11 points in the final period.

— Associated Press —

Griffons suffer 90-75 loss against Maryville

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ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Missouri Western Men’s Basketball (4-4) lost its second and final game of the UMSL Thanksgiving Classic 90-75 to Maryville (4-2) on Saturday. The Griffons shot 47 percent from the field but couldn’t overcome hot shooting from Maryville as MWSU suffers its third straight loss.

NOTABLES

  • Maryville ended the first half on an 18-6 run to take a 43-32 lead going into the break.
  • Missouri Western’s six made three pointers kept the Maryville lead at 11 points going into halftime. Lavon Hightower made all four of his three-point attempts in the first half.
  • Hightower’s made jumper at 9:23 in the second half capped off a 10-3 run by the Griffon to cut the deficit to just eight.
  • The Saints outscored the Griffons 23-16 throughout the remainder of the game.
  • Maryville’s 90 points on Saturday are the most points allowed by the Griffons this season.
  • Saturday was also the first game in which the Griffons have allowed their opponent to shoot over 50 percent from the field, as the Saints shot 61 percent.
  • The Griffons shot 52 percent from the field in the second half.
  • Missouri Western shot a season-high 41 percent from three in the loss.
  • Maryville hands the Griffons their third-straight loss, with all three of those games on the road.

LEADERS

  • Bryan Hudson led the team in scoring for the second time this season with 21 points.
  • Hightower added 19 points, eight board, and three assists.
  • Alex Martin scored a season-high 14 points.
  • Beau Baker scored a season-high seven points in 22 minutes.

UP NEXT

  • The Griffons will wrap up a five-game road trip against William Jewell (2-5) on Nov. 26.
  • The Cardinals will be coming off a 91-81 win at Southwest Baptist earlier this week.

— MWSU Athletics —

Bearcats knocked out of playoffs with 27-21 loss at Ferris State

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BIG RAPIDS, Michigan – The Northwest Missouri State University football team put up a valiant effort against No. 2-ranked Ferris State Saturday and the game came down to a final play as the Bulldogs hung on for a 27-21 win in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Northwest trailed 27-14 with 1:15 left in the fourth quarter when the Bearcats took over on downs. Northwest drove 88 yards on eight plays and scored on a two-yard touchdown pass from Braden Wright to Alec Tatum. Northwest put the ball on the two-yard line following a 51-yard pass play from Wright to LaTroy Harper. Tatum’s score cut the Ferris Stat lead to 27-21 with :14 left.

Northwest kicker Parker Sampson executed a perfect on side kick and the Bearcats’s Marqus Andrews recovered the ball to give the Bearcats possession. Northwest gained 20 yards and had 1st and 10 at the 34-yard line with :05 left in the game. However, Wright was sacked by Austin Simpson and FSU’s Austin Edwards recovered the fumble as the clock expired.

Ferris State jumped on the scoreboard early only three plays into the contest. Following a 71-yard passing play from Jevon Shaw to Sy Barnett set up the Bulldogs for a two-yard touchdown run by Marvin Campbell one minute into the game.

The Bulldogs added their second touchdown of the first quarter on an 8-yard run by third-string quarterback Evan Cummins. Cummins score capped a five-play, 96-yard drive after a Matt Thorman punt had backed up the Bulldogs to their own four.

Ferris State’s Jackson Dieterle tacked on field goals of 45 and 44 yards in the second quarter to build the Bulldog lead to 20-0 with 2:50 left until halftime.

Northwest put together a sustained drive and cracked the scoreboard on a 19-yard passing play from Braden Wright to Shawn Bane Jr. with :09 left in the half. Wright guided the Bearcats 75 yards in 12 plays and the drive consumed 2:36 off the clock. The touchdown pulled Northwest to within 20-7 at the break.

In the first half, Ferris State racked up 343 total yards on 36 plays. The Bulldogs rushed for 149 yards and threw for 194. Meanwhile, Northwest was limited to 132 total yards on 34 plays. Northwest rushed for 13 yards on 14 carries in the opening 30 minutes.

Jack Richards picked off a Travis Russell pass and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown with 12:03 left in the third quarter to pull Northwest to within 20-14 of the Bulldogs.

Northwest failed to capitalize on a missed 26-yard field goal by FSU’s Dieterle in the third quarter. Following a Northwest punt, Ferris state marched 74 yards in eight plays capped by a two-yard touchdown run by quarterback Travis Russell with 0:56 left in the third. The Russell score gave Ferris State a 27-14 lead.

LaTroy Harper tallied his first 100-yard receiving game eight catches for 115 yards. Wright passed for 269 yards on 28-of-43 passing. Ben Althoff tallied a game-high 16 tackles.

NOTES: Ferris State played without the services of Harlon Hill candidate quarterback Jayru Campbell, who suffered a shoulder injury in the Bulldogs’s win over Harding last week … Northwest had won the only previous meeting between the two schools in the 2016 NCAA Division II semifinals Maryville, in which Northwest was victorious, 35-20.

— Northwest Athletics —

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