Sports – Page 66 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Lawson leads No. 11 Kansas past No. 16 Texas Tech 79-63

Posted on February 2, 2019

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self had been waiting most of this season for a moment to galvanize his team.

He may have gotten it during practice on Friday.

First, the Jayhawks lost starting guard Marcus Garrett to a sprained ankle, robbing them of their defensive stopper. Then, they learned that sophomore forward Silvio De Sousa would be ineligible for this season and next after the NCAA determined his guardian had accepted impermissible benefits.

With everything going against them, the No. 11 Jayhawks responded Saturday by throwing haymakers from the opening bell in their showdown with No. 16 Texas Tech. Dedric Lawson piled up 25 points and 10 rebounds, Devon Dotson added 20 points and Kansas cruised to a 79-63 victory over the Red Raiders.

“There comes a point in every season when a team becomes a team,” Self said, “and we’ve been given an opportunity — and maybe fortunately so — that we’ve dealt with some crap, and you can become a team off that, and I hope today is a step toward it.”

Lagerald Vick added 13 points and Ochai Agbaji had 10 for the Jayhawks (17-5, 6-3 Big 12), who came into the showdown of Big 12 title contenders having lost two straight and three of four.

Yet suddenly and unexpectedly, they looked every bit the program that has won 14 straight crowns.

The Jayhawks roared to a 20-point halftime lead against the Red Raiders (17-5, 5-4), the league’s dominant defensive team, then weathered a shaky start to the second half before pulling away again.

It left a stark change in mood in Lawrence from 24 hours earlier.

“You’d have to be an idiot not to understand what we were walking into,” Texas Tech coach Chris Beard said. “Their backs were against the wall. This is how good Coach Self is. There’s too much pride in that locker room. And for whatever reason, we didn’t hear that message.”

Davide Moretti led the Red Raiders with 14 points, but nobody really got on track. Leading scorer Jarrett Culver was held to 10 points on 5-for-17 shooting, the Red Raiders were 6 of 28 from beyond the arc and they continually gave up easy opportunities on the fast break.

“We really came together. That’s what I think our statement was,” Agbaji said. “We had a lot of pressure coming into this game. We didn’t have a really good week, so we had a lot of pressure.”

Lawson got the Jayhawks off to a hot start, draining an early 3-pointer on his way to 16 points and seven boards by the break. Vick also got into the act, knocking down a trio of first-half 3s and at one point gesturing to the Texas Tech bench to bring it on.

The Red Raiders never really did.

Only three times in the first half did Texas Tech score on consecutive trips down the floor, and a team that relies on defense to dictate tempo could not contain the Jayhawks at the other end.

By the time Lawson buried two more 3s, the Jayhawks had a 46-26 lead headed into halftime.

To put its offensive efficiency into perspective, Texas Tech had been holding opponents to an average of 56.8 points. Four times the Red Raiders have allowed 46 points or fewer.

Texas Tech began to pound the paint with Norense Odiase in the second half, but misfires from the foul line prevented the Red Raiders from trimming their deficit. And when they managed to get within 15 points, the Jayhawks would answer with a driving layup or crucial putback.

Or they’d make a key defensive stop a la their opponents.

The lead swelled to 25 down the stretch, and Self was able to empty his bench with a couple of minutes remaining against a team that topped Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse last season.

“Victory favors the team that was more aggressive,” Beard said. “They were more aggressive than us the whole game, every possession, offense and defense.”

Western baseball splits doubleheader at Oklahoma Baptist

Posted on February 2, 2019February 2, 2019

SHAWNEE, Okla. – Griffon Baseball split a doubleheader, Saturday, at Oklahoma Baptist to go 1-2 in the season-opening series. Missouri Western dropped the first game of the twin bill before winning the finale 4-2.

GAME 1
Oklahoma Baptist 13, Missouri Western 7

The Griffons led 7-4 after Casey Danley’s two-run home run in the seventh
OBU answered with a seven-run seventh inning and added two more runs in the eighth
Starting pitcher Anthony Castaneda struck out 14 batters in six innings of work allowing one walk and four hits. He allowed the first four runs, three earned.
Conrad McMahon went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored. One of his four hits was a solo home run in the fifth.
Fahd Shakeel went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and a stone base
The Griffon bullpen allowed the final nine OBU runs, five of them earned
Thomas Ruwe took the loss in relief

GAME 2
Missouri Western 4, Oklahoma Baptist 2

Danley hit his second two-run homer of the day in the first to put the Griffs up 2-0
The Griffons got another solid starting pitching performance, this time from Jacob Purl. The transfer from Oklahoma State struck out seven and allowed two runs on two hits through 4 2/3 to earn the win in the seven inning game
Roy Robles picked up a save, going the final two innings
Four Griffons had one hit each
Shakeel added another hit in game two and finished the opening weekend batting .417 with a double, a triple and three RBIs

SERIES STATS

McMahon began his Griffon career by batting .357 over three games with five runs scored
Danley drove in five runs on the weekend
Griffon pitchers struck out 39 batters over 23 innings, including 28 Ks from the three starters though 15 2/3 innings

UP NEXT

MWSU plays in the Henderson State Invitational in Arkadelphia, Arkansas next weekend
The Griffons are set to play four teams in two days starting with the co-hosts, Ouachita State and Henderson State on Friday, Feb. 8.

— MWSU Athletics —

Wade is perfect as Kansas State shoots past Oklahoma State 75-57

Posted on February 2, 2019

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Kansas State’s Dean Wade didn’t know he had a perfect shooting night going from the field until assistant coach Chris Lowery told him.

“Honestly, I had no idea,” Wade said. “I didn’t really know until the very end, when coach Lowery said something to me about, `Oh, you just don’t want to shoot, don’t want to mess up your percentage.’ I was like, `What are you talking about?”

Wade scored a season-high 24 points on 9 of 9 shooting to help Kansas State defeat Oklahoma State 75-57 on Saturday night. It was just the seventh time in school history that a Kansas State player had a perfect shooting night with at least nine attempts. He also made three 3-pointers.

Barry Brown scored 18 points and Cartier Diarra added 10 for the Wildcats (16-5, 6-2 Big 12), who entered the night tied for the conference lead.

The Wildcats were ranked seventh out of 10 Big 12 teams in 3-point percentage during league games and 10th in all games before Saturday. They made 16 against Oklahoma State, the most in school history for a conference game and the second-most overall.

“I’ve said all among we could be a good shooting team,” Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said. “We should be. The ball movement was really spectacular. Kind of what we’d hoped all year.”

In a building where Oklahoma State has pulled numerous upsets the past two seasons, the Wildcats were unusually comfortable.

“I think a lot of the credit has to go to the coaching staff,” Wade said. “The scouts — they put so much time into the scouts, and it gives us just a great base of how we’re going to play. We went out tonight and executed.”

Curtis Jones scored 14 points and Lindy Waters added 12 for the Cowboys (9-12, 2-6).

Oklahoma State hung tough for a while, but a putback dunk by Kansas State’s Makol Mawien put the Wildcats ahead by 13 late in the first half. Brown hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to give Kansas State 43-27 advantage. Kansas State shot 61.5 percent before the break.

Oklahoma State didn’t score for more than six minutes to start the second half as Kansas State pulled away. The Wildcats led by 34 at one point, and Oklahoma State went on a 13-0 scoring run late in the game to make the game seem closer.

“They shot the ball better than what they have all season, and a team that’s that good defensively shooting the ball that well offensively — you’re in for a tough game then,” Oklahoma State guard Thomas Dziagwa said.

BIG PICTURE

Kansas State: The Wildcats won their sixth straight conference game, and their fourth straight by double digits. Other than a loss to Texas A&M in the SEC/Big 12 challenge, the Wildcats have been dominant lately and could make their way into the Top 25.

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys were scrappy for a while, but they were simply overmatched. It was Oklahoma State’s fourth straight conference loss. The long-term effects of four players leaving the program or being kicked off the team this season are taking effect.

WADE’S WORLD

Wade has rounded into form since returning from a foot injury. He scored just two points in his first game back, but has been on a tear since then. In his past five games, he’s averaging 18 points on 58 percent shooting, including 53 percent from 3-point range.

STAT LINES

Oklahoma State made just two of nine free throws, making just one in each half. Kansas State made 7 of 12.

HE SAID IT

Oklahoma State forward Cameron McGriff: “It’s a bad loss. It’s just one loss.”

UP NEXT

Kansas State hosts Kansas on Tuesday.

Oklahoma State plays at TCU on Wednesday.

— Associated Press —

Missouri State loses at Northern Iowa

Posted on February 2, 2019

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Spencer Haldeman scored 15 points, making all three of his 3-point tries, and Northern Iowa held off Missouri State 64-59 on Saturday night.

Although there were five ties and 10 lead changes, Northern Iowa held a slight lead throughout much of the game. Haldeman gave UNI a little breathing room, making a 3-pointer for a 57-53 lead with 1:44 remaining. Tulio Da Silva made two free throws for Missouri State with 1:15 to go.

Haldeman added two free throws to make the lead four points again, Missouri State turned the ball over and UNI had possession with 58 seconds to go. Tywhon Pickford made a layup and, at 61-55, the Panthers had the biggest lead for either team since midway through the first half. Pickford later added 3 of 4 free throws and the Panthers held on.

Luke McDonnell had 12 points and five assists and Isaiah Brown added 12 points for Northern Iowa (10-13, 5-5 Missouri Valley).

Da Silva scored 17 points and Keandre Cook had 15 points for Missouri State (11-12, 5-5).

— Associated Press —

Nebraska falls at Illinois for fifth straight loss

Posted on February 2, 2019

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Pundits love to say defense wins basketball games, and Illinois coach Brad Underwood agreed wholeheartedly on Saturday as the Illini handed Nebraska its fifth straight defeat 71-64.

Kipper Nichols scored 18 points and Ayo Dosunmu 13 for Illinois (7-15, 3-8 Big Ten). Trent Frazier added 11 points for Illinois.

Underwood gave his team credit for a swarming defense, something the Illini have become known for in the conference.

“I think far and away, from a defensive standpoint, this was our best game of the year,” Underwood said. “It was fun to watch.”

James Palmer Jr. scored a game-high 22 points for Nebraska (13-9, 3-8), while Tanner Borchardt added 12 points and a game-high 18 rebounds. Thomas Allen scored 11.

The Huskers were cold from the field all afternoon, hitting 25 of 70 for 36 percent, compared to Illinois’ 27 of 56 shooting for 48 percent.

“Bad shooting is like a virus,” said Nebraska coach Tim Miles. “It goes bad and then all of a sudden you’re expecting the worst.”

Illinois led by as many as 15 points late in the game, but Nebraska pulled within nine before Illinois held on for the win.

The Illini kept pace with the Huskers the first half, after jumping out to a 7-0 lead. The final five minutes of the half saw Frazier and Nichols take over for the Illinois offense. Frazier hit two 3-pointers and Nichols one to give Illinois a 38-29 lead at the half.

“Kipper played well against us previously,” Miles said. “And he made us pay again today.”

The Huskers seemed out of sync from the opening tip and shot only 32 percent from the field the first half, compared to 47 percent for Illinois.

“I thought our defense had them sped up the entire game,” Underwood said. “And that kept them out of sync, I think.”

Illinois made 9 of 23 free throws (39 percent), its worst free-throw percentage since a 2012 win over Georgia Tech.

Nebraska shot 11 of 21 from the line (52 percent).

THE BIG PICTURE

Nebraska came into Saturday’s game on a four-game losing streak following a 62-51 loss to Wisconsin on Tuesday. The Huskers are without second-leading scorer Isaac Copeland, who averaged 14 points per game, due a torn ACL. Copeland is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

Nebraska beat the Illini 75-60 in Lincoln in December, although the Illini are 10-2 all-time against Nebraska at home. The Illini beat the Huskers 72-66 at the State Farm Center last season.

Illinois has been inconsistent all season, and the previous two games were good examples. The Illini shocked then-No. 13 Maryland 78-67 on Jan. 26 at Madison Square Garden, recording its highest-ranked win in four seasons. The Illini then lost to Minnesota 86-75 just four days later.

BATTLE OF THE BOARDS

The Huskers were led by Borchardt’s 11 offensive rebounds. While out-rebounding Illinois 50-36 overall, it was Nebraska’s 21 offensive boards that stood out.

Illinois managed only eight offensive rebounds in the game.

“I was disappointed in the offensive rebound stats,” Underwood said. “We obviously need to clear that up before Tuesday (against No. 6 Michigan State).”

OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING

“Offense is fleeting,” Nichols said after the game. “It comes and goes. Defensive plays win games.”

Underwood agreed.

“It was a good showing, And boy, am I happy for Kip. He works hard and is a great teammate and locker room guy. I just left him alone all week. He’s had enough people in his ear. I just let him go out and play.”

THE DAGGER

With the game waxing and waning in the final few minutes, and Nebraska making several small runs at Illinois, Frazier did what he does the most for his team.

He hit the dagger to seal the victory.

On Saturday, the dagger came in the form of a long 3-pointer with 3:07 to play that put Illinois up 65-53.

“Trent’s amazing,” Underwood said.

UP NEXT

Nebraska: Hosts Maryland on Wednesday.

Illinois: Plays No. 6 Michigan State at home Tuesday.

— Associated Press —

MWSU track & field wraps up Mule Relays Saturday

Posted on February 2, 2019February 2, 2019

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – It was the Griffon Men’s Track & Field team’s turn, Saturday, at the Mule Relays. The team was impressive, turning in 18 top-10 finishes and one event win.

Hunter Scaggs won the high jump, his second win so far in his freshman season, and his fifth top-10 in as many attempts. DeShon Outley improved upon his school record in the 60m with a 6.97 that was good for a third place finish.

TOP FINISHERS

Hunter Scaggs, 1st, High Jump, 1.95m (6′ 4.75″)
Dre’Shaun Sanders, 2nd, 400m, 50.64
Derek Dixon, 2nd, 600yd, 1:17.17
Riley Gorham, 2nd, 800m, 1:59.93
4x400m Relay (Derek Dixon, Riley Gorham, Nate Jelinek, Brandon Colner), 2nd, 3:33.38
DeShon Outley, 3rd, 60m, 6.97
Nate Jelinek, 4th, 800m, 2:02.41
Jordan Garr, 4th, Shot Put, 15.53m (50′ 11.5″)
Dallas Thompson, 4th, Weight Throw, 15.32m (50′ 3.25″)
Jacob Oyler, 5th, 3,000m, 9:24.33
Sijin Hansen, 5th, High Jump, 1.85m (6′ 3/4″)
Chris Stanley, 6th, 800m, 2:03.13
Brandon Colner, 7th, 800m, 2:04.96
Hayden Belgrave, 7th, 600yd, 1:18.06
Andrew Wright, 7th, 3,000m, 9:30.16
Dallas Thompson, 7th, Shot Put, 13.78m (45′ 2.5″)
Logan Cutler, 10th, 1,000m, 2:51.03
Jordan Garr, 10th, Weight Throw, 13.22m (43′ 4.5″)

UP NEXT

Missouri Western goes to Maryville, Missouri for the Bearcat Invite on Feb. 8^th and 9^th

— MWSU Athletics —

Griffon baseball loses season opener at Oklahoma Baptist 7-3

Posted on February 1, 2019

SHAWNEE, Okla. – A tight game through the middle innings turned into a 7-3 win for Oklahoma Baptist over Missouri Western baseball in both teams’ first game of the season Friday.

Oklahoma Baptist led 3-0 after two innings, but Missouri Western pulled within two with a run in the third. The game stayed at 3-1 until the Bison pushed four across the plate in the seventh to open the lead up.

NOTABLES

Andrew Curry scored the first run of the season for MWSU on a Michael Miller sacrifice fly to center
Missouri Western had the go-ahead run at the plate with two runners in scoring position and one out in the fifth, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat
Fahd Shakeel tripled, drove in a run and scored a run
Casey Danley and Michael Miller collected the other Griffon RBIs
Shakeel, Danley, Dusty Stroup and Wyatt Meyer each had one hit
Andrew Curry walked twice and scored a run in his first game back since missing all but one game of the 2018 season with an injury
Jacob Miller got the start and struck out seven, but took the loss allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and walking five
Thomas Ruwe struck out two of the three batters he faced in one inning of relief in his Griffon debut
The two teams combined for 25 strikeouts in the game, 13 for Oklahoma Baptist
Oklahoma Baptist’s first two runs were unearned and the third came with two out in the second
Missouri Western had four hits and left seven on base

UP NEXT

Games two and three of the series on Saturday in Shawnee, Oklahoma
Game two is scheduled for a nine-inning game beginning at 1 p.m. The seven-inning series finale will follow.

— MWSU Athletics —

City High School Basketball Scores – Friday, February 1

Posted on February 1, 2019February 1, 2019

BOYS
Central 69 (8-8, 5-1 Suburban)
Truman 59

Lafayette 71 (10-7, 2-0 MEC)
Cameron 25

Chillicothe 39
Benton 32 (7-10, 0-2 MEC)

Bishop LeBlond 44 (8-13, 2-2 MEC)
Savannah 39

GIRLS
Savannah 57
Bishop LeBlond 40 (4-17, 0-3 MEC)

Missouri Western softball opens season with split against Minnesota State

Posted on February 1, 2019

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Missouri Western softball team went 1-1 on the opening day of the 2019 season, splitting a doubleheader with Minnesota State at the Kelly Laas Memorial Invitational inside the Husky Dome in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

The Griffons took advantage of some Minnesota State miscues and used a little small ball to claim a 5-2 victory in game one. Game two saw more errors hurting both teams. Down 9-2 after 5 innings, the Griffons scored four runs late to drop game two 9-6.

NOTABLES

The split left 18^th-year head coach Jen Bagley Trotter with 599 career victories and brought her within 16 wins of becoming the winningest softball coach in MIAA history
Down 9-3 entering the bottom of the seventh in game two, the Griffons scored two and had the tying run at the tying run on deck with one out
The Griffs got their third run of the seventh in game two home with two outs. The game ended with the tying run on deck on a line out to center with a runner on second.
Through both games, the teams combined for 13 errors, six committed by Missouri Western
The Griffons scored 11 runs on the day off of 12 hits. Minnesota State scored its 11 runs on 19 hits.
Neither team needed to rely on the long ball with Missouri Western slugging .309 on the day with two doubles and one home run and Minnesota State slugging .361 with three doubles and no home runs
Missouri Western employed all four pitchers from its deep staff

LEADERS

Freshman Sydni Hawkins went 4-for-7 at the plate with three runs scored, two RBIs and a stolen base
Another freshman, Taylor Hoelscher, added two hits
Emma Hoffart had a pair of hits and drove in two runs
Gabi Carter walked three times and ended the day with two RBIs
Cassidy Kelsheimer hit the first home run of the season for MWSU with a leadoff solo shot in the fifth of game two
Olivia Goodale got the win in game one in relief of Kenzie Hilzer. Goodale shut out Minnesota State over 3 1/3, allowing two hits
Hilzer gave up one earned run, two total runs, through 3 2/3 in game one

UP NEXT

Missouri Western stays in St. Cloud for two more games on Saturday
The Griffons take on Concordia-St. Paul at 9 a.m. and the host team, St. Cloud State at 1:30 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest baseball loses on a walk-off at Arkansas-Fort Smith

Posted on February 1, 2019

FORT SMITH, Arkansas – The Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat baseball team opened its 2019 season with a 3-2 loss at Arkansas-Fort Smith.

The Lions plated the winning run on hit batter with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth.

Northwest struck first with an unearned run in the top of the third. Redshirt freshman Jordan Peck led off the inning and reached on an error by UAFS shortstop Logan Easley. Senior Logan Rycraft sacrificed Peck to second. Following a popup by junior Calvin Rudolph, outfielder Derek Hussey singled to shortstop that allowed Peck to reach third. Peck would score on a wild pitch to give Northwest a 1-0 lead.

UAFS rallied with a two-run spot in the bottom of the fourth as the Lions tallied three hits and left two more runners on base.

Junior relief pitcher Ethan Griswold was called on with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Griswold induced a pop up to senior second baseman Mondesi Gutierrez to end the threat and keep the UAFS lead at 2-1.

The Bearcats evened the score at 2-2 in the top of the seventh. Peck singled to right to lead off the seventh. He moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt from Rudolph. Head coach Darin Loe inserted redshirtfreshman Jonathan Hernandez as a pinch runner for Peck. Hussey then singled to third and UAFS’s Brandan Warner’s throw was wild allowing Hernandez to cross home plate.

Griswold worked his third inning in the ninth. He got two of the first three batters out. Following a single by UAFS’s Tremarcus Koontz, Griswold was lifted for Bearcat closer Trevor Dudar. Dudar allowed a single to pinch hitter Cooper VanKooten that loaded the bases with two outs. Unfortunately for Dudar and the Bearcats, Dudar hit Logan Allen with a pitch that allowed the Lions to walk off a 3-2 victory in the season opener for both squads.

Northwest starter Quintin Van Ackeren struck out six batters as he went 4 1/3 innings. Van Ackeren allowed two earned runs off six hits and four walks.

Griswold took the loss despite tossing three innings and giving up only two hits and two walks while striking out a pair.

Hussey led the offense with a pair of singles

The Bearcats and Lions will take to the field tomorrow for game two of the series. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.

NOTES: The Northwest defense was clean with no errors, while UAFS committed five defensive miscues … UAFS outhit Northwest, 10-7 … Northwest drew three walks, while the Lions benefited from eight free passes.

— Northwest Athletics —