We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Category: College

Mizzou defeats Arkansas 77-67 to cap off regular season

Posted on

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — When Arkansas and Missouri faced off in January, the Razorbacks dominated the paint. They fouled out Missouri bigs Jeremiah Tilmon and Jontay Porter, and limited them to a combined nine points and seven rebounds.

On Saturday, Tilmon and Porter got their revenge. Porter scored 19 points, Tilmon added 17, the two each had eight rebounds and Missouri defeated Arkansas 77-67.

“We have enough to be as good as anybody as long as we’re like this, and if those two stay out of foul trouble,” Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin said.

Arkansas’ Daniel Gafford played well in the post as well, scoring 16 points. But Gafford and the Razorbacks ran into foul trouble early. Missouri looked aggressive in the post, and the Tigers finished with a 37-25 rebounding advantage.

Jordan Barnett finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, his fifth double-double this season. Kassius Robertson scored 14 points.

Gafford’s 16 points led Arkansas (21-10, 10-8 Southeastern Conference), which tried to use the press to draw itself closer throughout the second half. It worked to an extent, but the Razorbacks couldn’t stop fouling. The Tigers finished 27 of 33 from the free-throw line. Arkansas was just 12 of 15.

“I thought the biggest thing was the free-throw line,” Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said. “That can nullify a lot of things that you’re doing well.”

Missouri built up an eight-point lead at the break with an 11-0 run midway through the opening half followed by a late 7-0 spurt. The Tigers also put together a 12-2 run with 9:05 left in the game.

Unlike in previous contests, the Tigers were able to pull away late. Arkansas was down six with 10:18 remaining, and couldn’t pull any closer.

BIG PICTURE

Arkansas: The Razorbacks had momentum following a win over No. 14 Auburn, which was their sixth win in seven games. But in a tough road environment, Arkansas had trouble defending Missouri’s post players.

Missouri: After losing three straight, Missouri has now won its last two. The Tigers’ bigs — Porter and Tilmon — are heating up at the right time. If Missouri can continue to thrive in the paint, the Tigers will be a scary SEC tournament team.

STAR WATCH

After anticipation of a possible return against Arkansas, Missouri freshman forward Michael Porter Jr. didn’t play Saturday. Porter returned to practice Feb. 23 and was cleared to play by doctors. Last year’s top high school prospect has played just two minutes this season, coming in the team’s opener against Iowa State. His possible appearance in the SEC tournament is still up in the air.

“Hopefully he gets right, he can join us and we can make a run at this thing,” Michael’s brother Jontay Porter said. “It hurts him to see us hooping out there, having fun. But he’s right there with us.”

SENIOR SENDOFF

Missouri’s most valuable player this year has undoubtedly been senior guard Kassius Robertson, who averaged 17.7 points per game in conference play coming into Saturday. But, with his 19 points, 11 boards and 5-for-7 mark from 3, Jordan Barnett stood out among the seniors Saturday. Barnett has particularly locked down on defense as well, something Martin says sets him apart.

“I think if Barnett defends the way he defends, because he’s shooting the ball at 6’7, I don’t know how he’s not in the NBA if he defends the way he has the last two games,” Martin said. “If you can defend like that with the way you can catch and shoot a three ball, I don’t know why he’s not at that level.”

UP NEXT

Arkansas will continue its season Thursday as the six seed in the SEC tournament.

Missouri will play Thursday as a five seed in the SEC tournament in St. Louis.

— Associated Press —

MWSU baseball snaps four-game skid with win at No. 16 Southern Indiana

Posted on

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Griffon baseball (6-9) snapped a four-game skid with a 3-1 win at No. 16 Southern Indiana (5-3), Saturday.

Down 1-0 after four innings, the Griffons scored two in the sixth and another in the seventh to snap the streak and put the team in position for a road series win against a ranked opponent. Casey Danley tied the game with an RBI-single in the sixth and scored the go-ahead run on Will Jibas’ RBI-single. Dusty Stroup added the insurance with an RBI-single of his own in the seventh.

NOTABLES
– Danley went 3-for-4 at the plate with the RBI and the run scored

– Brooks Day’s double was the only extra base hit for the Griffons who had seven hits

– Jacob Miller picked up the win, pitching 5 1/3 of three-hit baseball. He allowed the one run, and unearned run, while striking out four and walking one

– Nate Hunter earned a 3 2/3-inning save.

– Hunter struck out a pair and allowed just one hit

– Griffon batters struck out eight times

UP NEXT
The series will be decided Sunday at noon in Evansville, Indiana.

— MWSU Athletics —

No. 6 Kansas gets clobbered at Oklahoma State

Posted on

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — They’re barely considered a bubble team for the upcoming NCAA Tournament, but Oklahoma State just bolstered its resume with another big win.

Kendall Smith scored a career-high 25 points and Mitchell Solomon had 16 points and seven rebounds to help lead Oklahoma State to an 82-64 victory over No. 6 Kansas in the regular season finale for both teams on Saturday.

The Cowboys’ home fans rushed the court at the final buzzer as Oklahoma State finished the season with three wins in their final four games. The win puts them eighth in the Big 12 and sets up a rivalry battle in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament against Oklahoma.

Smith, who had scored just nine points in each of his two previous outings, hit 20 for the seventh time this season and for the fifth time in the last nine contests. He also added a career-high four steals.

Oklahoma State (18-13, 8-10) swept the season series from Kansas, marking the first time that the Jayhawks have been swept in a home-and-home since 2001, a span of 103 series.

“It hasn’t been a smooth ride, there’s been a lot of ups and downs, but these kids have been really resilient and I couldn’t be more proud,” Cowboys coach Mike Boynton said. “We were locked in. Our guys played with a determination today that we haven’t had consistently throughout the year.”

Boynton believes his team, which also defeated then-No. 6 Texas Tech 79-71 on Feb. 21 and then-No. 19 West Virginia 88-85 on Feb. 10, deserves to be in the tournament.

“I think we can beat anybody,” Boynton said. “I feel like, if we’re in the right frame of mind, and if we play with the type of focus that we’re capable of, I don’t care where it is, who the other coach is, who the other team has on its roster. I believe in these guys that much.”

Devonte’ Graham, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Week, scored 15 points and had eight assists to lead the Jayhawks (24-7, 13-5), who had a five-game winning streak snapped. The Jayhawks had already secured the top seed in next week’s Big 12 Conference Tournament.

“It does surprise me, I thought we’d compete harder,” Kansas coach Bill Self said of his team’s performance, “considering they had kicked us pretty good at our place (in a 84-79 OSU win on Feb. 3), but that was not the case. Our game plan, that’s on me, on how to combat their pressure and everything, obviously didn’t work, so once it went bad, it started going worse.”

And if Oklahoma State can beat Oklahoma in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday, it will set up another matchup with Kansas in the quarterfinals Thursday.

“They would be the favorite in that game,” Self said. “We’re either going to play Oklahoma or Oklahoma State and they’re both capable of beating us. Certainly, it’ll be a coin-flip game either way, and we’re going to have to be a heck of a lot better than the two times we played OSU.”

BIG PICTURE

Kansas: Having already clinched the Big 12 regular-season championship, their NCAA-record 14th in a row and their 61st overall conference title, also a record, the Jayhawks perhaps didn’t start the contest with the required intensity to defeat a determined opponent, falling behind early and never having the lead all game, despite several nice runs and a comeback attempt that saw them pull to within 56-47 with 11:59 remaining. KU still has 13 conference victories for the 13th straight season and is one away for 25 overall wins for the 13th year in a row.

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys continued their pattern of playing their best against elite competition. The win leaves the Cowboys with a 5-1 record in their last six games against ranked opponents, with four of them against top 10 teams, both tied for the most in the NCAA this season.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

The loss may cost Kansas a couple of spots in the next poll, depending on how the teams directly behind them fared this week, but they should remain in the top 10.

TURNING POINT

After Graham sank a 3-pointer from the right corner with 11:56 left in the opening half, the Jayhawks trailed just 17-14, but Oklahoma State went on a game-defining 13-0 run over the next three-plus minutes to take control of the contest. The Cowboys kept adding to the lead and maintained at least a nine-point advantage the rest of the way as the Jayhawks spent the remainder of the game battling from behind.

TIP-INS

Oklahoma State led from wire-to-wire, never trailing in the game at all. . Kansas won the rebounding battle 37-30, including a decisive 23-12 edge in the second half. . The 18-point loss for Kansas marked their largest margin of defeat this season. . The 18-point win was the Cowboys’ largest margin of victory in a Big 12 game this year, with the previous high being their nine-point win over Iowa State on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Kansas: As the top seed in the Big 12 Conference Tournament, the Jayhawks will face the winner of the Oklahoma/Oklahoma State game in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys will play rival Oklahoma in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday.

— Associated Press —

Kansas State uses late first half run to down Baylor 77-67

Posted on

MANHATTAN, Kansas (AP) — Kansas State’s Dean Wade has been a standout player for the Wildcats for most of the season and has a good chance to be the first Wildcat to be named to the All-Big 12 First Team since 2013.

In the regular season finale against Baylor, Wade made a strong case and then some.

Wade scored 25 points and Barry Brown scored 18 and Kansas State beat Baylor 77-67 Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday.

Baylor head coach Scott Drew had nothing but praise for the K-State junior.

“He (Wade) gets to the rim, knocks down 3s and knocks down jumpers. It is hard to guard him. His assist to turnover ratio in the last five games is I think 23-4,” Drew said.

For Wade, even with the spotlight on him and the team as they fight for an NCAA bid, he just wanted to break the streak of bad outings the team had encountered recently.

“We came out and just wanted to be aggressive. We have not played the greatest basketball in the past couple of games. We just wanted to come out and get back to the way we’ve been playing earlier in the Big 12 schedule,” Wade said, adding, “We just came out with a ton of energy, firing on offense and defense, so it was an all-around good game for us.”

After a back-and-forth first half, Kansas State (21-10, 10-8) used a 13-2 run over the final 5:42 of the first half for a 35-25 halftime lead. The run was capped by Wade’s fade-away basket that danced around the rim and went in as the buzzer sounded. Wade finished on 9-of-14 shooting, was 6 of 7 from the foul line and grabbed seven rebounds.

The Wildcats maintained control in the second half and extended their lead to 16 midway through the second half. Baylor (18-13, 8-10) went on a 13-2 run as Nuni Omot buried three 3-pointers and threw down a dunk and Baylor drew within 62-57 with 6:27 left but the Bears couldn’t get closer.

“They shot 52 percent against us,” Drew said.

“I thought we competed. We gave ourselves a chance to get it to five but coach Weber always does a really good job managing the game and putting them in good positions to be successful,” he said.

Omot tied a career-high 30 points on 8-of-11 shooting — including 6 of 9 from beyond the arc — and made 8 of 9 foul shots.

BIG PICTURE

Baylor: The Bears finished below .500 in the conference for the first time in seven seasons.

Kansas State: The Wildcats’ 21 wins equals matching their win total from last year.

UP NEXT

Both teams start play in the Big 12 Conference Tournament in Kansas City, Mo., next week.

— Associated Press —

Northwest Missouri State baseball falls at Fort Hays State

Posted on

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Fort Hays State, 4-2, on Saturday at Larks Park in Hays, Kan.
– The Bearcats fall to an even 7-7 overall and 4-1 in MIAA play. The Tigers improve to 9-7 and 1-4 in conference action.

Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest scored both runs in the sixth. Fort Hays scored twice in the first, once in the fifth and once in the eighth.
– The Bearcats had two runs on six hits with one error. The Tigers scored four runs on eight hits with no errors.
– Mondesi Gutierrez was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
– Aaron Barratt went 1-for-3 and scored a run.
– Luke Hassman was 1-for-4 and was hit by a pitch.
– Landon Figg and Alixon Herrera each went 1-for-4.
– Logan Rycraft and Hudson Bilodeau each drove in a run. Bilodeau also reached base on a walk.
– Brad Roberts got the start, going 7.0 innings. He allowed three runs on six hits with one walk. He struck out eight.
– Jacob Wagner threw the eighth inning, allowing one run on two hits without allowing a walk.

Key Northwest Innings
– Roberts set the Tigers down in order in the third and seventh innings.

– In the sixth, Gutierrez led off with a single to third. Barratt followed it with a single, moving Gutierrez to third. Barratt went to second on the throw. Rycraft grounded out but it allowed Gutierrez to come around for Northwest’s first run. Bilodeau’s groundout drove in Barratt for the Bearcats’ second run.

Up Next
– The series will conclude on Sunday with game three starting at 1 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri State fires men’s basketball coach Paul Lusk

Posted on

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Missouri State University announced Saturday that Paul Lusk’s contract has been canceled, and he will not return as men’s basketball head coach. The announcement was made by President Clif Smart and Director of Athletics Kyle Moats during a news conference Saturday at JQH Arena.

“We evaluate all of our coaches at the conclusion of each season and monitor several criteria during the year,” said Moats. “Based on my review, I consulted with President Smart on Friday evening and gave him my recommendation that we make a change in the coaching leadership of our men’s basketball program. President Smart supported my recommendation. These decisions are never easy. However, we believe it is in the best long-term interest of our men’s basketball program.”

Smart noted the success of its athletics program has a direct impact on the overall reputation of Missouri State.

“A successful athletics program is an important part of a thriving university,” said Smart. “It helps create student spirit and community engagement, and is an important part of our student recruitment and retention efforts. It often leads to financial contributions to the university and is part of our marketing goals.”

Lusk will receive a $370,000 buyout from non-university funds for the remaining year of his contract.

Associate head coach Corey Gipson will oversee the day-to-day duties of the program until a new head coach has been named. Moats also noted that the team’s other assistant coaches, Matt Sligh and Keith Pickens, will remain employed by the university until a replacement coach is hired.

“Paul ran our program with integrity,” Moats stated. “Almost without exception, his student-athletes represented the university and the department in a positive fashion. He is a class individual who has always respected and appreciated the history and tradition of Bears Basketball.”

Moats stated that a national search will begin immediately to find Lusk’s replacement. Joining him on that search committee will be: Casey Hunt, MSU senior associate director of athletics; Rachael Dockery, MSU legal counsel; Ed Pinegar, community member; Joe Turner, community member; and Dr. James Satterfield, faculty member.

Lusk coached the Bears for seven seasons after taking the helm in April 2011. He compiled a 105-121 overall record in that span, including a 52-74 ledger in Missouri Valley Conference games. Missouri State advanced to the MVC Tournament semifinals twice — 2014 and 2017 — during Lusk’s tenure. His best season was the 2013-14 campaign when he led the Bears to a 20-13 overall record and a trip to the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). The Bears posted winning records each of the last two seasons, including an 18-15 ledger this year.

“I want to thank the athletic department and leadership at Missouri State for the opportunity to coach the men’s basketball program,” said Lusk. “I will always cherish the relationships I’ve built here and the young men who have worked so hard for me and my staff. I wish the university tremendous success moving forward.”

— MSU Athletics —

Top-seeded Bearcats hold off Pitt State to advance to MIAA semifinals

Posted on

The Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball team defeated Pittsburg State, 79-73, on Friday at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.

The Bearcats (25-3), advance to play in the MIAA semifinals against the winner of Central Missouri and Central Oklahoma.

Pittsburg State ends the season at 17-13 overall.

Justin Pitts scored a game-high 25 points on 7-of-14 shooting. He went 11-for-14 at the foul line, adding three rebounds and two assists.

Northwest held the Gorillas to just one offensive rebound, holding a 34-27 advantage on the glass for the game.

Key Northwest Statistics
– The Bearcats shot 42.9 percent (24-of-56) from the field and hit 23-of-32 (71.9 percent) attempts at the free throw line.
– Northwest hit on 8-of-27 three point attempts.
– Brett Dougherty had a game-high eight assists to go along with 12 points and six rebounds.
– Xavier Kurth had 14 points and six rebounds. He was 2-for-4 from beyond the arc and was 4-of-6 at the free throw line.
– Chris-Ebou Ndow returned to action and scored 10 points, knocking down a pair of three pointers. He had six rebounds.
– Ryan Welty hit three three-pointers and finished with nine points, four rebounds, one assist and one block.
– Northwest outscored the Gorillas 16-6 off turnovers and had eight second chance points to Pittsburg State’s two.
– The Bearcats forced 11 PSU turnovers and held a 17-3 advantage in bench points.

Key Northwest Sequence
– With 12 minutes to play in the first half, Pittsburg State took a 15-8 lead on the Bearcats. But Northwest stormed back, piecing together a 9-0 run to take its first lead of the game. Kurth started the sequence with a three pointer. After a Gorilla miss, Kurth hit a layup to pull Northwest to within two, 15-13. Kurth came up with a steal on the next possession, leading to a Pitts layup to tie the game. after the teams traded missed shots, Dougherty hit a layup to give the Bearcats a 17-15 lead.

– The Bearcats finished the game by hitting 7-of-9 free throw attempts with Pitts knocking down five straight. The Gorillas had cut the lead to 73-68 with 1:16 left but Northwest came up with a pair of defensive stops, leading to five points at the charity stripe.

Up Next
– Northwest will face Central Oklahoma in the MIAA Semifinal round on Saturday at 8:15 p.m.

No. 14 Mizzou women lose to 19th-ranked Georgia in SEC Quarterfinals

Posted on

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Que Morrison scored 16 points, and 19th ranked Georgia upset No. 14 Missouri 55-41 Friday night in the Southeastern Conference women’s tournament quarterfinals.

With the win, third-seeded Georgia (25-5) reached the semifinals for the first time since 2013. The Lady Bulldogs will play eighth-ranked South Carolina, a 73-62 winner over Tennessee, on Saturday.

The Lady Bulldogs took control by outscoring Missouri 20-9 in the third quarter. Missouri led 25-22 when Caliya Robinson’s jumper with 7:33 put Georgia ahead to stay, and the Lady Bulldogs took a 40-32 lead into the fourth quarter.

Mackenzie Engram added 14 points, and Taja Cole had 13 for Georgia.

Missouri (24-7) never got closer than five in the fourth quarter with Georgia holding the Tigers to a season-worst 27.1 percent shooting for the game.

Jordan Frericks led Missouri with 10 points before fouling out with 1:15 left. Sophie Cunningham also fouled out for the Tigers.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western adds Andre Crenshaw to football coaching staff

Posted on

ST. JOSEPH – Griffon football head coach Matt Williamson has named Andre Crenshaw as the team’s new special teams coordinator and running backs coach.

Crenshaw comes to Missouri Western after spending the 2017 season at Tennessee Tech where he coached running backs, returners, and specialists.

Before his time at Tennessee Tech he had a two-season stint at Morehead State where he also coached the running backs, returners and specialists. With the Eagles, Crenshaw helped recruit student-athletes, monitored their academic performance, broke down game film and put together scouting reports. He also helped oversee training and developed game plans.

Prior to his tenure in Kentucky, Crenshaw was a graduate assistant, overseeing the running backs and specialists at Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell, South Dakota, then was also the running backs and athletes coach at Riggs Football Academy in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

At Dakota Wesleyan, he helped develop Francois Barnaud, who became the school’s leading rusher in just two seasons, picking up 1,893 yards as a junior and 1,409 yards as a senior, the top two seasons in program history. He led the NAIA and Great Plains Athletic Conference in rushing as a junior, was a second-team All-American selection and twice named all-conference.

A native of Lancaster, California, Crenshaw rushed for more than 500 yards and accumulated more than 1,000 career all-purpose yards during a four-year (2006-09) career at Oregon. He rushed for a career-best 133 yards and two touchdowns at Washington as a sophomore in 2007. He totaled more than 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground as a senior at Antelope Valley High School.

Crenshaw earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Oregon in 2010 and a Master’s degree in educational policy and administration from Dakota Wesleyan 2015.

— MWSU Athletics —

Missouri State comes up short in MVC quarters against Southern Illinois

Posted on

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Sean Lloyd Jr.’s 13 points led five players in double figures and No.2 seed Southern Illinois defeated seventh-seeded Missouri State 67-63 in a quarterfinal game of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Friday night.

Kavion Pippen scored 11 points and Armon Fletcher, Aaron Cook and Tyler Smithpeters each scored 10 for the Salukis (20-12).

Lloyd’s 3-pointer with 6:18 left gave Southern Illinois a 63-49 lead before the Bears climbed within a basket with a 12-0 run. Jarred Dixon made a jump shot and a layup while Jarrid Rhodes made a pair of free throws and two jumpers during the stretch.

Cook’s layup made it 65-61 and Dixon responded with two foul shots. Cook missed a jumper but on Missouri State’s following possession, Smithpeters came up with a steal and Lloyd laid it in with six seconds left to end it.

Rhodes scored 21 points, Dixon added 16 and Alize Johnson collected 11 rebounds.

— Associated Press —

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File