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Category: Sports

Northwest baseball loses second straight at Arkansas-Fort Smith

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The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Arkansas-Fort Smith, 11-1, on Sunday at Crowder Field in Fort Smith, Ark.

The Bearcats are now 0-2 overall on the year while the Lions improve to 2-0.

Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest scored one run in the sixth inning. UAFS had two in the second, three in the fifth, two in the sixth and four in the seventh.

– The Bearcats had one run on four hits with two errors. Arkansas-Fort Smith had 11 runs on 13 hits with no errors.

– Mondesi Gutierrez was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

– Landon Figg had a double, going 1-for-3.

– Kevin Handzlik went 1-for-3 with a walk.

– Luke Hassman drove in Northwest’s run in the sixth.

– Jay Hrdlicka and Luke Wilkinson each reached base on walks.

– Brad Roberts went five innings, allowing five runs. He struck out six batters and walked three.

Key Northwest Innings
– In the sixth, Gutierrez led off with a single to center. Figg doubled to left in the next at bat to put runners on second and third. Hassman grounded out to third but Gutierrez was able to score on the play.

Up Next
– The final game of the three-game series is scheduled for Monday afternoon at 3 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

Griffons fall at home to Lincoln 81-72

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ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team (4-16, 2-112 MIAA) fell to Lincoln University (12-11) 81-72. Missouri Western hit a season-high 14 three-pointers in the game.

A 15-2 run gave Lincoln an early advantage in the first half. The Blue Tigers used the run to take a 39-30 halftime lead. MWSU battled in the second half with a 12-3 run to cut the Blue Tiger lead to one point with 14:29 left in the game. LU countered the run with a 15-2 stretch over seven minutes to pull away.

Lavon Hightower scored a season-high 24 points for MWSU. The Griffons shot just 38.6 percent from the field, the first time in four games they have been held under 40 percent. Lincoln shot 46.3 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from the three-point arc.

NOTABLES
– The two teams combined for 28 assists, Missouri Western’s 16 assists where the most since Nov. 24 against Southeastern Oklahoma State

– Cole Clearman and Trey Brown combined for 13 of MWSU’s 16 assists

– TJ Evans scored 17 points, his best performance since Jan. 20 at Nebraska Kearney

– Lincoln was 8-16 from the three-point arc in the first half, LU hit just four three’s in the second half

– Four different Blue Tigers scored 13 points or more in the game led by Terrance Smith’s 26 points

UP NEXT
Missouri Western travels to Washburn on Wednesday, Feb. 7 for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off in Topeka, Kansas.

— MWSU Athletics —

No. 6 Bearcats defeat Lindenwood to set MIAA home winning streak record

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The Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball team defeated Lindenwood University, 78-58, on Saturday at Bearcat Arena in Maryville, Mo.

– Northwest improves to 19-2 overall and 11-2 in MIAA play. The Lions fall to 14-9 overall and 6-8 in conference action.

– With the win, the Bearcats set the MIAA record with their 48th straight home victory, dating back to Jan. 14, 2015.

– The previous mark of 47 straight home victories was held by Central Missouri from Nov. 20, 1982 until Feb. 16, 1985.

– Joey Witthus surpassed 1,000 career points early in the second half. Witthus scored 782 points in two seasons at Minnesota State and now has 229 points this season.

Key Northwest Statistics
– The Bearcats shot 59.6 percent from the field (31-52) and hit 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) three point field goal attempts.

– Northwest outrebounded the Lions, 37-26, and held a 40-22 advantage in points in the paint.

– Brett Dougherty had a team-high 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting. The senior forward added three rebounds and three assists.

– Witthus did not miss a shot, scoring 16 points on 5-of-5 shooting. He hit all three of his three-point attempts and was 3-for-3 at the charity stripe. He had eight rebounds and a blocked shot.

– Justin Pitts scored 13 points with three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

– Ryan Hawkins reached double figures for the second-straight game, recording 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting. He hit two three pointers, grabbed five rebounds and added an assist.

– Chris-Ebou Ndow had nine points with five rebounds and an assist.

Key Northwest Sequence
– Lindenwood held the lead for the first 20 second of the game, hitting the game’s first shot. Northwest promptly responded by scoring 11 of the next 13 points to take hold of a lead it would not relinquish.

– Late in the first half, Northwest held a 14 point lead but added an exclamation point in the final four minutes by going on a 13-0 run. Brett Dougherty hit back-to-back shots to push the lead to 36-18. Ndow would connect on a three pointer with 2:32 to play. After Dougherty hit a layup to push the lead to 23, Witthus got off a last second shot that dropped to give the Bearcats a 43-18 lead at halftime. Out of the break, Pitts converted a back-door layup off a feed from Dougherty to give Northwest a 27 point lead, 45-18.

Up Next
– Northwest will head to Emporia State on Wednesday, Feb. 7, for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff against the Hornets.

— Northwest Athletics —

Mizzou beats Kentucky for 1st time, defeats No. 21 Wildcats 69-60

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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri has shown upward mobility under first-year coach Cuonzo Martin, and the latest sign came Saturday — the Tigers’ first victory over Kentucky.

Behind 16 points each from Jordan Barnett and Kassius Robertson, the Tigers finally cleared that Big Blue hurdle with a 69-60 victory against the No. 21 Wildcats.

Missouri (15-8, 5-5 Southeastern Conference) had been 0-10 vs. Kentucky (17-6, 6-4) since the teams first played in 1960.

“It’s definitely a really good win, but that’s maybe how I look at it — it’s just another win,” Barnett said. “We’re going to keep competing and hopefully put together a string of wins. I’m not treating this one any different just because of the name on the front of the jersey.”

Kentucky won at least a share of the SEC regular-season basketball title the last three years, while Missouri finished last each time.

Martin said he didn’t realize Missouri had never beaten Kentucky until he was asked about it after the game.

“It’s good for our guys, because there have been some tough years,” Martin said.

The Wildcats didn’t look like a typical Kentucky team. They shot just 31.3 percent from the field and finished with only nine assists.

“The biggest thing is we refuse to pass the ball,” coach John Calipari said. “I don’t have any answer for that.”

Kentucky, which started five freshmen, had only one player reach double figures. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 15 points but made only 5 of 16 shots.

Missouri got nice contributions from its freshmen big men, Jontay Porter and Jeremiah Tilmon. Porter finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Tilmon added nine points and two blocks.

Missouri led 28-18 at halftime. Late in the first half, Kentucky’s Jarred Vanderbilt took exception to Jared Geist’s box-out, wrestled Geist to the court and had to be restrained. Both players received technical fouls, and Vanderbilt was assessed a flagrant foul.

Early in the second half, Geist drew a flagrant foul for elbowing Gilgeous-Alexander in the face.

The Wildcats had erased double-digit deficits the last two games in victories over West Virginia and Vanderbilt, but their poor shooting against Missouri’s stingy defense ensured there would be no rally this time.

The Wildcats cut the lead 33-32 on Jalen Knox’s layup with 16:14 remaining. Then Missouri went on an 8-0 run, started with a 3-pointer and transition layup by Porter and finished with Barnett’s 3-pointer. The Tigers maintained the lead the rest of the way.

“Give Missouri credit,” Calipari said. “They did a great job and fought. I thought we had our chances at the start of the second half, and then we come down and do freshmen stuff.”

BIG PICTURE

Kentucky: The Wildcats made just 2 of 20 shots from 3-point range. The Wildcats’ nation-leading streak of 1,035 straight games with a made 3-pointer — dating to Nov. 28, 1998 — was in jeopardy until Wenyen Gabriel made one with 2:53 left in the game.

“I would imagine they would make more if nobody was on the floor, so we had something to do with it,” Martin said, referring to Missouri’s defensive effort. “We did a good job of playing the scouting report.”

Missouri: The Tigers have played themselves back into NCAA Tournament contention in the last week with two straight victories over top-half SEC teams. Missouri won at Alabama on Wednesday.

“To experience what I experienced those first two years and to have the type of success we’re having now, it’s great,” junior forward Kevin Puryear said.

STEADY AS HE GOES

In the first half, Barnett was a non-factor, going 0 for 3 from the field. In the second half, he was far more assertive and scored 12 points.

“I give him credit — he’s like this the whole time,” Martin said, moving his hand on a horizontal plane. “He’s flying a jet from here to Asia, and he’s just cruising. It doesn’t matter what happens, turbulence, he’s the same the whole time. That’s a skill, because he’s locked in on the next thing. He doesn’t get concerned with what just happened.”

Puryear complimented Barnett — sort of — for his resilience.

“I mean this in the nicest way possible, but Barnett just doesn’t care,” Puryear said. “He’s going to shoot the ball. He has no conscience whatsoever.”

ROUGH DAY FOR KNOX

Knox, who entered the game averaging 15.6 points, scored just five points on 2-of-6 shooting. Knox, a highly touted freshman who considered Missouri before signing with Kentucky, was booed by the Mizzou student section each time he touched the ball.

Vanderbilt said there was no connection between the fans’ reaction and Knox’s performance.

“You have good games, you have bad games,” he said. “This just happened to be one of them.”

Calipari said he didn’t know why Knox struggled.

“But it wasn’t just Kevin,” he said. “We made one jump shot in the first half.”

UP NEXT

Kentucky: Hosts 18th-ranked Tennessee on Tuesday.

Missouri: Visits Mississippi on Tuesday.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western women snap losing streak with win over Lincoln

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ST. JOSEPH – It might not have been the prettiest, but it got the job done. The Missouri Western women’s basketball team (11-11, 4-9) snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 57-44 win over Lincoln (3-19, 0-14) on Saturday.

Rob Edmisson claimed his 100th victory as head coach at Missouri Western. The Griffons were able to overcome 17 turnovers with dominating play inside. Missouri Western out-rebounded Lincoln 43-27 in the game and outscored the Blue Tigers 28-16 in the paint.

NOTABLES
– Cera Ledbetter (12) and Dossou Ndiaye (10) combined for 22 points on 11-of-15 shooting.
– The post players also had a combined 11 rebounds

– KeShara Scott had a game-high 15 rebounds, just one shy of her career-high. Scott added eight points

– Savannah Lentz led all scorers with 13 points

– Missouri Western limited Lincoln to just 30.5 percent (18-59) shooting from the field

– The Griffons went 11-of-19 at the free throw line while Lincoln was 4-for-4

– The win snapped an eight-game losing streak overall, but a nine-game conference losing streak

UP NEXT
The Griffs travel to Topeka, Kansas to take on Washburn (14-8, 6-7) on Wednesday, Feb. 7.

— MWSU Athletics —

No. 7 Kansas upset by Oklahoma State; lose 3 at home for 1st time since 1998-99

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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kendall Smith knocked down a 3-pointer from the wing in the first half, silencing a buzzing sellout crowd of Kansas fans. The Oklahoma State guard instinctively put his finger to his lips in the universal sign for “shush.”

Smith silenced them again when it mattered most.

The senior backup scored 24 points, including the clinching free throws in the final seconds, and the Cowboys held on to beat the Jayhawks 84-79 on Saturday for a rare win in Allen Fieldhouse.

“Just one of those, you know, you play college basketball and when you’re done you say, `I was in Allen Fieldhouse one time and I hit a shot and silenced the crowd,” Smith said afterward.

Cameron McGriff added 20 points and Jeffrey Carroll had 15 for the Cowboys (14-9, 4-6 Big 12), who built an 18-point first-half lead and dominated the boards in ending their three-game losing streak.

It was the third loss for the Jayhawks (18-5, 7-3) in the Phog this season, their most since the 1998-99 season. It was also their second home loss in league play.

“This is as tough an environment you can play in college basketball,” Smith said. “I think we had a full team effort, topo to bottom. Everybody came in and gave us something.”

Devonte Graham gave the Jayhawks a chance when his two foul shots drew them within 82-79 with 14.2 seconds to go. But after they squandered several seconds trying to foul Smith, the guard capped his big performance by knocking down two free throws to put the game away.

“We’ve been in a lot of these games, really competitive,” said Cowboys coach Mike Boynton, whose team won without injured guard Tavarius Shine. “Really proud of my kids for showing the kind of fight and competitive spirit. Got a locker room full of guys that always respond.”

Udoka Azubuike had 20 points and Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk scored 17 apiece for Kansas, which was celebrating 120 years of basketball by welcoming back dozens of former players and coaches.

They didn’t have much to cheer about on a sunny Saturday morning.

A nip-and-tuck start gave way to complete first-half dominance by the Cowboys, who at one point had more second-chance points (18) than the Jayhawks had total (16).

One of the nation’s most prolific 3-point shooting teams, the Jayhawks were relegated to dumping the ball to Azubuike in the post. And the big fella was unable to keep up with Oklahoma State’s own 3-point barrage, which at one point stretched the lead to 18 points late in the half.

Kansas coach Bill Self, who typically stalks the sideline, instead sat glumly as his team followed a 3-for-15 start from the field with three consecutive turnovers.

The Jayhawks’ 46-33 halftime deficit matched their biggest of the season.

“Right from the jump,” Self said, “they were so much quicker and more competitive.”

Kansas dug into its disadvantage early in the second half, quickly trimming the lead to seven points on Newman’s flurry of baskets. But for the next 10 minutes, the Cowboys matched the Jayhawks shot-for-shot, answering each attempt at starting a run with a crucial rebound or big basket.

The Cowboys still clung to a 78-71 lead after Newman missed a foul shot with about two minutes left, and Smith scored twice as the Jayhawks were trying to foul him to keep a comfortable lead.

Kansas finally got the game to one possession, only for Smith to hit the clinching foul shots.

“It’s very frustrating,” said Graham, who has been hobbled the last week by a knee injury. “We’re way better on the road than we have been at home. We have to find a way to come out and crush teams the way they came out and stepped on our throats today.”

120 YEARS OF HOOPS

The Jayhawks recognized the birth of its basketball program during a halftime ceremony, highlighted by the 30th anniversary of their 1988 title team. There was also a reunion banquet Saturday night with more than 400 players, staff and coaches from every era expected to attend.

BIG PICTURE

Oklahoma State had a 41-28 advantage on the glass, which produced a 26-7 advantage in second-chance points. That kind of hustle infuriated Self and proved too much for Kansas to overcome.

Kansas’ shooting went wayward as the Cowboys mixed zone and man-to-man defenses. The Jayhawks were 8 of 22 from beyond the 3-point arc, and several of those makes were in desperation time.

UP NEXT

Oklahoma State returns home against Baylor on Tuesday night.

Kansas continues its homestand Tuesday night against TCU.

— Associated Press —

Kansas State gets hammered at No. 15 West Virginia

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Even with several players recuperating from the flu bug, West Virginia’s defense can still frustrate the tar out of opponents.

One game after allowing the most points in a Big 12 game since joining the league in 2012, No. 15 West Virginia overwhelmed Kansas State with its pressure, and the Mountaineers ended a three-game losing streak with an 89-51 victory Saturday.

“We’re still `Press Virginia,” Mountaineers guard James “Beetle” Bolden said. “We’ve just got to come and play with the same energy every single night.”

West Virginia (17-6, 6-5 Big 12) got a rare win after holding a double-digit lead over the past month. The Mountaineers have had such leads in five of its last seven games but have won just twice.

The illnesses took a toll on the Mountaineers in the past week and coach Bob Huggins was concerned about having enough available bodies to execute any type of defense Saturday, especially after a 93-77 loss Wednesday at Iowa State.

Five players have been sick, and guards Daxter Miles Jr. and Bolden required hospital trips. Bolden recovered enough to make his first career start in Miles’ place, while Miles saw his first action of any kind in a week.

The Wildcats (16-7, 5-5) never led, were held to their lowest scoring output of the season and had more turnovers (15) than field goals (14).

“Our pressure really was pretty good,” Huggins said. “We kind of backed it off at the end — I was just trying to save people’s legs.”

Knowing West Virginia’s recent tendencies to relinquish big leads, especially in the second half, Kansas State coach Bruce Weber thought his team had a chance down 39-30 at halftime.

“But they just kept pushing it and we got a little frustrated, couldn’t make some shots and it was like a snowball going down the hill and we couldn’t stop it,” Weber said.

Forward Sagaba Konate, who led West Virginia with 19 points and nine rebounds, took advantage of the Big 12’s worst rebounding team. Over a 1:15 stretch late in the game, the 6-foot-8 sophomore scored off a rebound, made two free throws and threw down a dunk as part of a 13-0 run.

Bolden added 13 points, Teddy Allen had 12 points off the bench and Wes Harris had 10 for West Virginia.

Dean Wade scored 17 points and Xavier Sneed had 16 for Kansas State.

BIG PICTURE

West Virginia: The Mountaineers shot 61 percent (14 of 23) from the floor after halftime in beating Kansas State for the eighth time in their last nine meetings. They didn’t look like the stumbling squad that struggled to a 3-5 record in January after rising to the No. 2 ranking in the AP Top 25 on Jan. 8.

Kansas State: The Wildcats made one basket over a 13-minute stretch spanning both halves, allowing West Virginia to take command. Kansas State has lost two straight after winning four in a row.

STRUGGLING BROWN

Kansas State leading scorer Barry Brown was held to just one point after scoring nine against No. 7 Kansas on Monday. Over his last two games Brown is 4 of 19 from the floor.

“He lost a little bit of confidence,” Weber said. “No one works harder than he does. I think he’ll come back. I don’t have any doubt about that.”

POLL IMPLICATIONS

West Virginia will likely fall several spots after the double-digit loss at Iowa State.

STOKES RETURNS

Kansas State point guard Kamau Stokes had two points in 10 minutes in his return from a six-game absence with a broken foot.

UP NEXT

Kansas State: Plays at Texas on Wednesday

West Virginia: Looks for its first regular-season sweep of Oklahoma after beating the Sooners 89-76 on Jan. 6 in Morgantown. The game at No. 12 Oklahoma is Monday night.

— Associated Press —

Northwest Missouri State women fall at home to Lindenwood

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– The Northwest Missouri State University women’s basketball team fell to Lindenwood University, 84-56, on Saturday afternoon at Bearcat Arena in Maryville, Mo.

– Northwest falls to 3-18 overall and 2-11 in MIAA play. The Lions improve to 12-11 overall and 4-10 in conference action.

– Tanya Meyer had 16 points and nine rebounds to lead the Bearcats.

Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest forced 13 Lindenwood turnovers and scored 16 points off those mistakes.

– The Bearcats outscored the Lions, 27-23, in the third quarter.

– Northwest grabbed 11 offensive rebounds and finished with 16 second chance points.

– The Bearcats were 6-for-7 at the charity stripe.

– Mallory McAndrews hit five three pointers and finished with 15 points and two steals.

– Jaelyn Haggard and Macy Williams each had a game-high four assists.

– Kaylani Maiava had eight points with five rebounds, a block and a steal.

– Mallory McConkey had five rebounds, four points and an assist.

Up Next
– Northwest will head to Emporia State on Wednesday, Feb. 7, for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff against the Hornets.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri State struggles at Loyola-Chicago

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CHICAGO (AP) — Clayton Custer matched his season high with 23 points to lead six players in double figures and Loyola-Chicago took control early and coasted to a 97-75 victory over Missouri State on Saturday.

Custer made 9 of 11 shots, including all seven of his attempts inside the 3-point arc, and handed out six assists for the Ramblers (19-5, 9-3 Missouri Valley Conference). Marques Townes totaled 14 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Cameron Krutwig added 13 points and seven boards. Aundre Jackson scored 12 off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting and Donte Ingram and Ben Richardson both scored 11 for Loyola-Chicago, which shot 61 percent from the floor and buried half its 20 3-pointers. The Ramblers are off to their best start in MVC play since the 1986-87 season.

Freshman Mustafa Lawrence made 5 of 9 from 3-point range and scored a career-high 19 points for the Bears (15-10, 5-7). J.T. Miller tossed in 15 points, while Alize Johnson chipped in with 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Missouri State dropped its fifth straight game.

— Associated Press —

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