College – Page 54 – St. Joseph Post Archive

No. 2 Bearcats make 19 three-pointers in blowout win at Northeastern State

Posted on January 4, 2019

TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma – The No. 2-ranked Northwest Missouri State Bearcat men’s basketball team reached the 100-point mark for the fourth time this season with a 105-70 victory at Northeastern State University on Thursday night.

Northwest (13-0 overall) buried a season-high 19 three-pointers and shot 64.3 percent from the floor in moving to 3-0 in MIAA play. The Bearcats were one 3-pointer shy of matching the school record for 3-pointers in a game.

The Bearcats drained 19-of-29 shots (65.5 percent) from three-point range against the RiverHawks. Northwest came into the game ranked No. 1 in the nation in three-point field percentage at 46.1 percent.

Sophomore Ryan Hawkins went for a career-high for the second straight game with 31 points and five steals. Redshirt freshman Trevor Hudgins posted 22 points and eight assists in the win.

Northeastern State closed to within 23-22 with 6:23 left in the half before the Bearcats offense simply exploded with efficiency. Northwest made nine of its next 10 shots, including 8-of-9 from three-point range to take a 55-33 lead into the intermission.

The Bearcats will travel to Edmond, Oklahoma, on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. tip vs. the Central Oklahoma Bronchos.

NOTES: Ryan Welty was a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range … Welty came into the contest ranked as the NCAA’s active career three-point accuracy shooter at 53.6 percent (133-of-248) … Northwest dished out 23 assists and posted 11 steals … Northeastern State won the rebounding battle, 27-20 … it marks the first time this season that Northwest has been out-rebounded.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri Western women struggled in fourth, lose at UCO 69-56

Posted on January 4, 2019

EDMOND, Okla. – Missouri Western Women’s Basketball (6-6, 1-2 MIAA) fell on the road to Central Oklahoma (11-2, 2-1 MIAA) on Thursday night. The Griffons took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter, but were outlasted in the final period and lost 69-56 to the Bronchos.

NOTABLES

Both teams struggled offensively in the first quarter. The Bronchos outscored the Griffons 12-9 as both teams shot 33 percent from the field.
Katrina Roenfeldt’s three pointer as time expired in the third capped off a 13-4 run for the Griffons, giving Missouri Western the 41-40 lead going into the final quarter.
The Griffons shot 43 percent and forced five UCO turnovers in the third quarter.
Missouri Western was unable to keep up with the Central Oklahoma offense in the final period. The Bronchos scored 29 points in the fourth quarter, going 6-8 from three.
The Griffons shot 46 percent in the second half.

LEADERS

Roenfeldt led the Griffons with 14 points on four made three-pointers.
Jessica Davies finished with a team-high seven rebounds and 33 minutes.
Brittany Atkins added 10 points and four boards.

UP NEXT

Missouri Western will travel to Northeastern State (3-9, 0-3 MIAA) on Saturday.
The RiverHawks lost to Northwest Missouri 62-59 at home on Thursday.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest women come back to win at Northeastern State

Posted on January 4, 2019

Northwest Missouri State got their first conference win in a 62-59 dogfight against Northeastern which featured 24 lead changes and 10 ties. The game was back and forth all night until Erika Schlosser hit the go-ahead 3 with 10 seconds left to give the Bearcats the 62-59 lead. This win was the first conference win of Austin Meyer’s young coaching career with the Bearcats.

The Bearcats only shot 33 percent from the field but combated that by making 16-18 from the free throw line and limiting themselves to 8 turnovers compared to Northeastern’s 17. The Bearcats were led in scoring by Kendey Eaton with 18, closely followed by Jaelyn Haggard with 17. Kaylani Maiava rounded out the double digit scorers for the Bearcats with 10 and led the team with 7 rebounds.

Northeastern had two players in double figures. Cailyn Long had 20 and Cenia Hayes had 11. Bailee Eldred led the Riverhawks with 12 rebounds. They shot 45 percent from the field but only 66 percent from the line.

Northwest continues the Oklahoma road trip and plays University of Central Oklahoma Saturday, Jan. 5 at 1:30 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri women open SEC play with big win at Ole Miss

Posted on January 4, 2019January 4, 2019

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball opened conference play in dominant fashion Thursday, as the Tigers defeated Ole Miss, 78-55, at Mizzou Arena. Mizzou had its best shooting night of the season in the victory, as the Tigers set season-highs in field goal percentage (65.9 percent) and three-point percentage (60 percent).

Mizzou’s 27-for-41 shooting night from the field was its first time shooting over 60 percent from the field since Feb. 23, 2017 against Ole Miss (60 percent, 30-for-50), while its 9-for-15 shooting from three marked its best shooting performance from deep since shooting 61.5 percent (8-for-13) against South Carolina on Jan. 7, 2018. Mizzou sank nine three-pointers in the game, marking the ninth time in the last 11 games Mizzou has made at least seven threes in a game.

TURNING POINT

For the second game in-a-row, Mizzou completely controlled an entire quarter to take a grasp of the game, this time the second quarter, as the Tigers outscored the Rebels, 21-6, in the second frame. The dominant quarter helped result in Mizzou taking a 40-21 lead into the locker room at halftime. Mizzou had nine players score in the half, led by senior guard Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) with nine points.

TOP TIGERS

Junior guard Amber Smith (Shreveport, La.) paced the Tigers with 18 points in the game, her seventh double-figure scoring performance in the least eight games. Smith was extremely efficient from the field in the game, as she shot 8-for-10 from the field.
Cunningham had 14 points in the game, and also contributed five rebounds and a team-high five assists. The Tiger senior had a perfect night shooting from the field in the game, as she shot 4-for-4 from the field and 3-for-3 from three.
Junior guard Jordan Roundtree (St. Louis, Mo.) was Mizzou’s third double-figure scorer, as she matched a career-high with 10 points.

NOTES

Mizzou’s 65.9 percent shooting from the field is its first time shooting better than 60 percent since Feb. 23, 2017 against Ole Miss (60 percent, 30-for-50), and its best shooting night overall in the last seven seasons dating back to the 2012-13 campaign.
The Tigers 60 percent success rate from deep (9-for-15) is its best shooting night from three since shooting 61.5 percent (8-for-13) against South Carolina on Jan. 7, 2018.
In addition to season-highs in field goal percentage and three-point percentage, Mizzou also set a season high in assists with 21, led by Cunningham’s five. Three other Tigers recorded three or more assists, as redshirt senior Lauren Aldridge (Marshfield, Mo.) and redshirt junior forward Hannah Schuchts (Tallahassee, Fla.) each had four, while redshirt freshman Haley Troup (Gadsden, Ala.) had three. Schuchts and Troup each recorded career highs with their dimes.

UP NEXT

Next, Mizzou travels to Knoxville, Tenn., for a meeting with No. 10 Tennessee on Sunday. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

No. 5 Kansas holds off No. 23 Oklahoma 70-63

Posted on January 2, 2019

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The mantra at Kansas is “faces change, expectations don’t.”

Something else that doesn’t change? Oklahoma losing in Allen Fieldhouse.

Dedric Lawson had 13 points and 15 rebounds, Kansas’ young backcourt made enough crucial plays when it mattered, and the fifth-ranked Jayhawks began pursuit of their 15th consecutive Big 12 title by holding off the No. 23 Sooners 70-63 on Wednesday night.

Devon Dotson added 16 points and fellow freshman Quentin Grimes had 14 for Kansas (12-1, 1-0), which survived a nervy final minute to win its 18th straight against Oklahoma in the Phog.

“We don’t want any games to slip away from us,” Grimes said, “especially at home.”

The last time Kansas lost its initial Big 12 game was against Oklahoma on Jan. 8, 1991.

The Sooners (11-2, 0-1) nearly turned the trick again Wednesday night, rallying just about every time the Jayhawks went on a run. And when Charlie Moore missed two free throws in the final minute, Aaron Calixte’s off-balance runner got them within 67-63 with 31 seconds to go.

Dotson made the second of two foul shots at the other end for Kansas, and when Calixte and Kristian Doolittle came up empty for Oklahoma, Dotson made two more free throws to seal the win.

“We had some opportunities,” Sooners coach Lon Kruger said, “we just didn’t finish.”

Lagerald Vick contributed 12 points for the Jayhawks, despite an off night shooting the ball. He was 2 of 7 from beyond the arc, where the Jayhawks were just 4 of 21 as a team.

Brady Manek led the Sooners with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Doolittle added 10 points and Christian James had 11, though he was just 4 of 15 from the field and 1 of 7 from beyond the arc.

“Got to take care of the ball more,” Manek said. “Thought we played better in the second half.”

The Jayhawks got off to a slow start, but Dotson’s layup midway through the first half catapulted them on a 15-0 run. Most of it was fueled by defense, where Udoka Azubuike swatted a shot and turnovers turned into easy fast-break opportunities. Dotson capped it with a 3-pointer from the wing.

Oklahoma briefly nipped into the lead, but the Jayhawks closed with a 12-3 charge — Lawson scored his first two field goals after a 0-for-9 start — to take a 40-25 lead into the break.

“I thought the first half we ran well. Probably as efficiently as we’ve run all year,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said. “The second half was a dud. There was no transition at all the second half.”

Indeed, the Sooners ramped up their defense, which had been holding opponents to 66.1 points, and made their own run early in the second half. The highlight came when Doolittle threw down an alley-oop dunk to wrap up a run of nine straight points over the opening five minutes.

Lawson provided an answer for the Jayhawks.

The preseason Big 12 player of the year scored back-to-back baskets moments later. Then, after Dotson knocked down a 3 off a pretty assist from Marcus Garrett, Lawson added another basket to provide the Jayhawks a 58-45 lead and force Kruger to call for a timeout.

“I knew in the post they were doubling,” Lawson said, “so I just tried to feel where they were doubling from. I got a couple of one-on-one opportunities and tried to take advantage of it.”

Oklahoma got the deficit back to single digits by the final media timeout, and kept the game close the rest of the way. But the Jayhawks, despite missing crucial free throws, managed to hang on for their 28th consecutive Big 12-opening win.

“You know,” Self said with a wry grin, “even though we didn’t do a lot of good things, we’ve won a lot of games like tonight over the course of the years. You don’t play great but you make sure the other team doesn’t play quite as good as you do.”

BIG PICTURE

Oklahoma had won seven straight heading into the Phog, yet the Sooners’ struggles in the venerable field house continued.

Kansas struggled from the perimeter but made up for it with defense and determination. The Jayhawks tracked down loose balls, forced the Sooners into 17 turnovers and made enough free throws to survive.

UP NEXT

Oklahoma returns home for Bedlam against Oklahoma State on Saturday.

Kansas visits Hilton Coliseum to face Iowa State on Saturday.

— Associated Press —

Short-handed K-State loses at home by 20 to Texas

Posted on January 2, 2019

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kace Febres scored 23 points and Texas Longhorns won its Big 12 Conference opener for the 15th time in 23 seasons, picking up a 67-47 win over short-handed Kansas State on Wednesday night.

The Longhorns won for the fourth time in their last five games. Kansas State’s Kamau Stokes, who averages 11.1 points per game, reinjured the ankle that sidelined him for much of last season during a morning shooting session and did not dress for the game. The Wildcats were already without Dean Wade, who is recovering for a foot injury.

Febres hit 8 of 10 shots from the field, including 7 of 9 from 3-point range. Kerwin Roach II had 10 points in the winning effort.

The Wildcats (10-3) have struggled offensively, averaging 67 points per game coming into conference play, and losing Stokes further hampered their ability to score. Makol Mawien had 12 points and was the lone scorer to reach double figures.

It was a good night for Texas from the 3-point line, shooting 64 percent and going 14-27, with five of those coming in the final five minutes.

Texas used a 33-12 run to end the game after trailing by as many as five in the second half.

With 10 minutes to play, Febres hit back-to-back three’s to give Texas a 40-35 lead and the Longhorns never trailed again.

The Wildcats used a 14-4 run to end the first half and start the second to take a two-point lead with 13 minutes left in the game.

Midway through the first half, Texas switched to a zone defense that stifled the Wildcats. K-State only went to the free throw line once while Texas shot three free throws in the first half.

BIG PICTURE

Kansas State will need to rely on their bench play much more to carry the through this stretch without Wade and Stokes.

Texas picked up a huge road win to start conference play. If they can shoot the ball that well most of the season they will be in great shape.

UP NEXT

K-State will take on No. 11 Texas Tech on Saturday in Lubbock.

Texas hosts West Virginia at 8 p.m. Saturday.

— Associated Press —

No. 24 Nebraska falls at Maryland 74-72

Posted on January 2, 2019

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Nebraska’s final attempt to score had gone awry, and as the buzzer sounded, Maryland’s players rushed to the middle of the court to celebrate the team’s most significant victory of the season.

“We beat a really good team. We need that for a confidence builder,” coach Mark Turgeon said after the Terrapins used a late push to get past No. 24 Nebraska 74-72 on Wednesday night.

Bruno Fernando had 18 points and 17 rebounds, Anthony Cowan Jr. scored 19 points and freshman Jalen Smith accounted for Maryland’s final seven points to finish with 15, including a tiebreaking layup with 3.8 seconds left.

The Terrapins (11-3, 2-1 Big Ten) had previously lost to Virginia, at Purdue and at home against Seton Hall. Turgeon rarely misses a chance to point out that this is “fifth-youngest team in the country,” but he also knows that isn’t an excuse for losing.

“Our guys are doing great,” Turgeon said. “We’re getting better. I’m just glad we won.”

Maryland trailed 71-70 before Smith made a follow-shot off a 3-point try by Cowan with 28 seconds left. After James Palmer converted 1 of 2 free throws for Nebraska, Smith drove the middle of the lane for his decisive layup.

Following a timeout, Nebraska (11-3, 1-2) tried to work the ball up the court before Ricky Lindo Jr. knocked away a pass under the basket to seal it.

“It was extremely encouraging for all of us, just to see how far we’ve come,” Fernando said. “Wins like that mean a lot to us, to the coaches, to everybody at the whole University of Maryland.”

Palmer scored 26 points and Glynn Watson Jr. added 12 for the Cornhuskers, whose four-game winning streak ended.

Nebraska coach Tim Miles lamented his team’s poor free-throw shooting (15 for 23), lack of rebounding (Maryland dominated 38-28) and a defense that allowed the Terps to hit eight 3-pointers.

“You can’t give them eight 3s and not rebound. Pick one that you want to be awful at,” Miles said.

It was a tough loss to take, as was an earlier seven-point setback at Minnesota, but Miles accepted it as life in the Big Ten.

“You’ve got to look at it from a global, big-picture perspective and say, `This is just the way it’s going be,” he said.

The final minutes went back and forth, with neither team able to take charge.

After a three-point play by Smith put Maryland ahead 70-67 with 2:42 left, Watson made two free throws and Palmer turned a steal into a dunk for a 71-70 lead with 2:13 remaining.

That would be the last time the Huskers were in front.

“You hear the celebration in the opposing locker room, and it’s disappointing because you probably played well enough to win but you just didn’t do enough little things,” Miles said.

The game was tied early in the second half before Maryland missed eight straight shots over a four-minute span while falling behind 47-39.

Fernando ended the drought with a layup and made another before Aaron Wiggins and Cowan drilled 3-pointers to cap a 10-2 run that tied it at 49 with 12 minutes left.

Neither team led by more than four points the rest of the way.

SLOW START

Smith struggled in the first half, scoring only three points in nine minutes.

“He wasn’t very good early, was he?” Turgeon said. “I was chewing on him, the assistants were chewing on him, and he responded.”

DEFENSE RULES

The Cornhuskers limited Maryland to 28-for-60 shooting. It was the 38th time in 39 games Nebraska’s opponent failed to exceed 50 percent, dating to last season. Minnesota topped 50 percent on Dec. 5 in an 85-78 victory.

BIG PICTURE

Nebraska: Playing on the road in a loud arena, the Cornhuskers gave a tough Maryland team everything it could handle. But Nebraska needs to be more aggressive on the boards and against the Terps got only three players to the foul line.

Maryland: The Terrapins must build on this victory rather than merely bask in it. “We’re going to enjoy this one and move on,” Fernando said.

UP NEXT

Nebraska faces Iowa on the road Sunday.

Maryland travels to Rutgers on Saturday. The Terps are 6-0 against the Scarlet Knights since joining the Big Ten in 2014.

— Associated Press —

Kansas State women get routed by No. 25 Iowa State

Posted on January 2, 2019

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Bridget Carleton scored 16 of her 26 points in the first half to lead No. 25 Iowa State in a 96-58 rout of Kansas State on Wednesday night in a Big 12 Conference opener.

Iowa State (11-2) won its fifth straight game and improves to 10-0 at home. Kansas State (9-4) has lost two of its last four games, and seven straight conference openers. Carleton added nine rebounds and seven assists, and surpassed Alison Lacey (1,620) for ninth in career scoring.

Kristin Scott had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Cyclones, who had five in double-figure scoring for the third time this season. Ines Nezerwa and Ashley Joens added 14 points apiece, and Alexa Middleton had 11.

Kayla Goth had 17 points and 10 assists to lead Kansas State. Jasauen Beard scored 12 points and Peyton Williams chipped in with six points and 11 rebounds.

The game was tied at 26 midway through the second quarter before Iowa State closed on a 20-8 run for a 46-34 halftime advantage. The Cyclones opened the third with a 15-7 surge, led 61-41 with 2:28 remaining and opened the fourth quarter with a 15-0 run.

— Associated Press —

Griffons fall at home to Illinois Springfield 89-81

Posted on December 30, 2018

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team (6-7) fell to Illinois Springfield (8-3) in the team’s final non-conference game of the season on Sunday afternoon. The Griffons cut the deficit to just three points with 2:13 remaining, but fell to the Prairie Stars by a final score of 89-81.

NOTABLES

The Prairie Stars held a 44-43 after a back-and-forth first half. There were 11 lead changes and seven ties before halftime.
Lavon Hightower and Bryan Hudson paced the Griffons in the first half, combining for 28 first-half points.
Tyrell Carroll gave Missouri Western its only lead of the second half with a three-pointer with 17:28 to play.
Illinois Springfield shot 37 free throws in the win, the most allowed by the Griffons all season.
The Prairie Stars won the turnover battle, forcing 10 more turnovers than the Griffons.
The Griffons finish 6-5 in non-conference play this season.

LEADERS

Lavon Hightower earned a double-double with 22 points and a game-high 11 boards.
Tyrell Carroll scored 21 points, going 3-4 from distance.
Bryan Hudson added 15 points and four assists.

UP NEXT

Missouri Western will travel to Central Oklahoma (7-4, 0-2 MIAA) on Jan. 3.
Both teams will be in search of their first MIAA win this season.

— MWSU Athletics —

No. 2 Bearcats beat Simpson by 50

Posted on December 30, 2018

MARYVILLE, Missouri – The No. 2-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball team put a perfect wrap on its non-conference slate with a 108-58 triumph over Simpson College on Sunday at Bearcat Arena.

Northwest (12-0) shot 63.2 percent from the field, including 48.0 percent from three-point range. Northwest also poured in 60 points in the paint against the Storm. Northwest forced Simpson into 21 turnovers, while the Bearcats had only four turnovers in the matchup.

Bearcat sophomore Ryan Hawkins stuffed the stat sheet with a career-high 29 points, eight rebounds, six steals and a blocked shot. Hawkins went 11-of-16 from the field and was 5-of-8 from three-point range.

Northwest redshirt freshman Trevor Hudgins notched his third double-double on the season with 21 points and 10 assists.

The Bearcats used a 15-0 run to turn a 3-3 tie into an 18-3 advantage and the score never went below double figures the rest of the way.

Northwest will return to MIAA play this week with road contests at Northeastern State on Thursday and Central Oklahoma on Saturday.

NOTES: Freshman Diego Bernard reached double figures for the eighth straight game with a career-high 17 points … Northwest won its 16th straight game in December … Northwest had the rebounding edge in its 12th game this season with a 33-25 advantage.