Sports – Page 675 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Kansas State’s struggles continue with loss at TCU

Posted on February 18, 2015

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — TCU started the season with 13 consecutive non-conference wins. Now the Horned Frogs finally have their first winning streak in the Big 12.

Chris Washburn scored 17 points and TCU beat Kansas State 69-55 on Wednesday night, giving the Frogs consecutive Big 12 victories for the first time since joining the league.

“We’re growing up, we’re maturing … I think the question was asked about learning how to win. You’ve got to go through it,” coach Trent Johnson said. “There was a stretch there when they made their run. We weren’t playing really well, but we sustained our confidence, and that enabled us to get out of that.”

TCU (16-10, 3-10 Big 12) never trailed in the game, building a 20-point halftime lead and holding on when K-State cut the gap to six points just more than eight minutes into the second half.

This is the third Big 12 season for the Horned Frogs, who went 0-18 in league play a season ago after a 2-16 debut in 2013. They were coming off a 70-55 home win over No. 22 Oklahoma State four days earlier.

Kansas State (13-14, 6-8) scored 11 consecutive points in less than two minutes early in the second half. The Wildcats were within 41-35 when Nino Williams made a free throw after a technical foul against TCU with 11:52 left.

But K-State then went scoreless for nearly 4 1/2 minutes, and was still down 14 when Tre Harris hit a 3-pointer with 7:29 left to end the drought.

“We just ran out of gas,” coach Bruce Weber said.

TCU had a 10-0 run in that span, which started when Brandon Parrish drove for a layup high off the glass. Washburn had a thunderous dunk while being fouled, plus a free throw, to make it 50-35 with just over 8 minutes left.

Karviar Shepherd added 12 points for TCU, while Kenrich Williams had 11 and Amric Fields 10.

Nino Williams had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats, who were coming off a win over No. 17 Oklahoma after a five-game losing streak. Harris had 14 points and Thomas Gipson 12.

“I told our guys both of us came off good wins on Saturday, and who had the maturity and determination to come and play hard, would be the one that would come out with another win,” Weber said.

Johnson’s pregame message was for his players was to build off how they finished against Oklahoma State, when they had a pair of 10-0 runs after halftime to win.

“That’s probably as good a first half of basketball as we played all year,” Johnson said afterward. “We knew they were going to make a run at us. We kept our poise.”

TCU had a 35-15 halftime lead that was bolstered by a 19-0 run over the final 7 1/2 minutes before the break.

Gipson made two free throws to get the Wildcats within 16-15 with 7:48 left in the first half, nearly two minutes after their last field goal of the half. But the Wildcats didn’t score again before the break, and six different TCU players scored in the big run — with only Shepherd making multiple field goals in that stretch.

—

SHOTS FALLING

Shepherd has consecutive double-figure scoring games for TCU after none in 16 games since Dec. 4. The Horned Frogs have shot over 50 percent in consecutive games after missing 87 shots in the two games before that.

BOTTOM HALF

The 15 points in the first half weren’t even the lowest this season by Kansas State. The Wildcats had had 12 at halftime in a 50-46 loss to Georgia on Dec. 31. Against TCU, they shot only 16 percent (4 for 25) from the field while the Frogs made 14 of 22 shots (64 percent).

TIP-INS

Kansas St.: The Wildcats are 1-8 in road games.

TCU: Shepherd and Washburn each had eight rebounds. … The technical foul was against Trey Zeigler after he pushed away a dead ball that hit a K-State player.

UP NEXT

Kansas State plays at No. 20 Baylor on Saturday.

TCU is at No. 8 Kansas on Saturday.

— Associated Press —

Missouri State beats Indiana State to snap four-game skid

Posted on February 18, 2015February 18, 2015

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Freshman Chris Kendrix scored a career-best 20 points — including a key rebound and free throw in the final seconds — as Missouri State snapped a four-game skid to defeat Indiana State 60-56 Wednesday night.

Missouri State (10-17, 4-11 Missouri Valley) took the lead for good, 57-56 with a Dorrian Williams pull up jumper with 49 seconds remaining. In that final span, Indiana State (13-14, 9-6) missed four shots, including a trio of 3-point tries.

It was after Khristian Smith missed a trey with six seconds left that Kendrix collared the rebound and was fouled. He sank the front end of a one-and-one to push the lead to 60-56. It was enough even as Indiana State’s Justin Gant missed a trey in the final two seconds.

Williams scored 16 for the Bears. Kendrix added eight rebounds, also a career best.

Frosh Brenton Scott led the Sycamores with 16 points, Smith added 13.

— Associated Press —

NASCAR names woman as chief starter for Daytona 500

Posted on February 18, 2015

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — NASCAR named series official Kim Lopez as the chief starter for Sunday’s Daytona 500.

Lopez will become the first woman and first Hispanic to flag the race. Lopez is in her 11th season with NASCAR and has flagged races for the past seven years in the Xfinity Series and Truck Series. She also flagged two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races last season.

The chief starter displays the eight flags that tell the drivers to start, slow down, move over or stop. Lopez also will wave the checkered flag when the winner crosses the finish line.

Lopez says: “You have little girls who can now look up and say, ‘I can do this someday, I can be this someday.'”

Big 12 reveals league policy for dealing with concussions

Posted on February 18, 2015February 18, 2015

IRVING, Texas (AP) — The Big 12 has announced its conference-wide policy for the diagnosis of concussions and managing the care of all student-athletes.

The policy, revealed Wednesday, was developed by team athletic trainers, physicians and medical support staff.

Big 12 members will be required to follow the NCAA’s 2014 consensus guidelines for concussion diagnosis and management. Each school will have on file a concussion management plan directed by a team physician with specific protocol for evaluation and management of a concussion.

Commissioner Bob Bowlsby says the Big 12 policy goes beyond what was approved during recent NCAA meetings on autonomy for the largest conferences.

City High School Basketball Scores – Tuesday, Feb. 17

Posted on February 17, 2015

BOYS

Park Hill South 52 OT
Central 50 (8-13, 3-4 Suburban)

Benton 59 (13-9, 3-3 MEC)
Savannah 42

Lafayette 65 (18-4, 6-0 MEC)
Chillicothe 57

Smithville 54
Bishop LeBlond 41 (14-10, 3-3 MEC)

GIRLS

Benton 61 (21-2, 6-0 MEC)
Savannah 27

Chillicothe 49
Lafayette 45 (15-7, 4-2 MEC)

Bishop LeBlond 50 (15-9, 4-2 MEC)
Smithville 40

Chiefs begin clearing space by releasing 2 WRs

Posted on February 17, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs released wide receivers Donnie Avery and A.J. Jenkins on Tuesday as they began to clear roster and salary cap space ahead of what could be a busy offseason.

Kansas City is facing the loss of All-Pro linebacker Justin Houston and center Rodney Hudson in free agency. The Chiefs are expected to meet with Houston’s representatives about a long-term deal on Wednesday in Indianapolis, and the possibility remains of using the franchise tag on him.

Either way, the Chiefs could be facing some difficult financial choices if they want to keep Houston or Hudson, or both. Releasing Avery and Jenkins saved the Chiefs nearly $5 million, though it makes targeting a wide receiver in free agency or the draft a priority.

Griffon baseball moves MIAA opening series to Emporia

Posted on February 17, 2015February 17, 2015

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Winter weather has forced Missouri Western’s baseball home opener to be rescheduled and moved. The Griffons were to play No. 4 Emporia State in a four-game series Friday through Sunday in St. Joseph. Those games will now be played in Emporia, Kansas on Thursday and Friday.

MIAA rules will allow Missouri Western to still be considered the home team, though the games will be played in Emporia.

The fourth ranked Hornets are 4-0 and ended the Griffons season last year with two wins in the MIAA Tournament.

Missouri Western will enter the series with a 3-4 record. MWSU Head Coach Buzz Verduzco will begin his quest for 300 MIAA victories as he enters the MIAA schedule with 298 conference wins.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Nixon to restore state funds for sports complex

Posted on February 17, 2015February 17, 2015

KANSAS CITY (AP) – Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said he plans to restore nearly $5 million in state funding for the Truman Sports Complex and Bartle Hall in Kansas City.

The money was eliminated in Nixon’s proposed budget, without explanation. That caused concern for Jackson County and Kansas City officials who count on the state subsidy to run the home of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, and Bartle Hall, which attracts several conventions to the city.

Nixon spokesman Scott Holste said the funding was left out of the governor’s budget proposal by mistake. Nixon announced Monday he planned to restore the money.

City and county officials said they were told the problem was apparently a clerical error.

The Kansas City Star reported hat the state has subsidized the venues since 1991.

No. 8 KU misses last-second layup, falls to No. 23 West Virginia 62-61

Posted on February 17, 2015

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Leg cramps weren’t going to keep Juwan Staten from getting West Virginia to 20 wins for the first time in four seasons on Monday night.

Staten scored 20 points, including a layup with four seconds left, then draped Perry Ellis on the other end after a long pass before the Jayhawks forward missed a layup off the back of the rim at the buzzer as No. 23 West Virginia beat No. 8 Kansas 62-61.

“I might have rushed it a little bit, but I should have made it,” Ellis said.

It was a resume-building victory for the Mountaineers (20-6, 8-5 Big 12), who had lost three of their previous four games and four straight against ranked opponents. They’re looking for their first NCAA tournament bid in three seasons.

“This was definitely a must-win game at home,” Staten said. “We had the crowd behind us and we fought to the end.”

With the game on the line, coach Bob Huggins knew who he wanted to give the ball to: Staten, West Virginia’s leading scorer and the Big 12 preseason player of the year.

Staten took an inbounds pass and went the length of the court, made a spin move around Frank Mason III and hit the left-handed layup over the outstretched arms of two other Kansas defenders.

It was Staten’s first field goal over the final eight minutes after he had gone to the bench with cramps.

“That is exactly how we drew it up,” Staten said. “When I spinned, I’d seen nothing in the lane. I laid the ball up. It was a good call by coach.”

Ellis finished with 19 points, Mason had 18 and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 14 points for first-place Kansas (21-5, 10-3), whose lead was trimmed to 1.5 games over No. 14 Iowa State.

Jevon Carter, who also played through leg cramps, added 13 points for West Virginia, including back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Mountaineers ahead 60-59 with 2:31 remaining.

“I’ve got to give a lot of credit to my teammates for setting me up with good passes and good screens leading to open shots,” Carter said. “I just dug deep, knocked them in and gave my team the momentum.”

Mason made a layup with 2:13 left to give Kansas the lead, but the Jayhawks didn’t score again. He missed another layup with nine seconds left and the ball went out of bounds, setting up Staten’s heroics.

“He made a nice play, but we couldn’t have defended it worse,” said Kansas coach Bill Self.

Ellis had 15 points after halftime, capping a 10-0 run to start the second half with a 3-pointer to put Kansas ahead 40-33. But the Jayhawks later went seven minutes without a field goal.

Staten hit a layup and a jumper 50 seconds apart, and Jonathan Holton made a free throw to put West Virginia ahead 50-49 with 7:20 left.

“We had our chances but we just didn’t capitalize,” Self said. “The end of the game was a perfect example. Jamari makes the best pass of the year, Perry catches it right in stride, has an uncontested layup and basically he just missed the layup.”

TIP-INS:

Kansas: The Big 12’s top 3-point shooting team made 6 of 11. … Wayne Selden, who averaged 16 points over his five previous games, was held to four Monday night.

West Virginia: The Mountaineers led by as many as 11 points in the first half, were ahead 33-30 at halftime and were outscored in the second half for the fifth straight game. … Devin Williams reinjured his right hand that had been heavily taped in a loss at Iowa State on Saturday. Williams, who had 22 points and 13 rebounds a year ago in a home win over Kansas, finished with eight points and four rebounds.

BOARD SAVVY:

Huggins admits his team doesn’t shoot well consistently, which is why he stresses getting multiple chances on offensive possessions. West Virginia leads the nation with 17 offensive rebounds per game and got 22 on Monday night.

UP NEXT:

Kansas hosts TCU on Saturday.

West Virginia plays at No. 22 Oklahoma State on Saturday.

— Associated Press —

Mizzou women defeat Ole Miss on Sunday 72-58

Posted on February 15, 2015

Columbia, Mo. – The Missouri women’s basketball team took down Ole Miss on Sunday, defeating the Rebels 72-58. The Tigers move to 14-12 overall and 4-9 in SEC play. Several Tigers stood out in the game with three finishing in double figures, led by Morgan Eye who tallied 16 points and five rebounds.

Mizzou came out hot in the first half, scoring off the opening tip. The Tigers knocked down a bucket by sophomore Jordan Frericks followed by a three-pointer by sophomore Sierra Michaelis. The Tigers used a 10-0 run over a two-minute span in the first half to stretch their lead to 21-7. Mizzou found scoring from eight different players and were led by junior Maddie Stock and junior Michelle Hudyn with eight points, respectively.

The Mizzou defense held the Rebels to a 28.9 field goal percentage and forced six Ole Miss turnovers. Mizzou went into the locker room leading the Rebels, 38-25.

Stretching the lead to 18 points, the Tigers were firing on all cylinders in the second half. Mizzou continued to beat Ole Miss’s pressure on defense and distribute the ball well. The Tigers ended the game with 14 assists on 26 field goals. Despite Ole Miss’ 27 offensive rebounds in the game, the Tigers were able to hold the Rebels to just 15 second chance points, stifling any addition shots the Rebels could take.

Senior Morgan Eye continued on her quest to the NCAA statistical leader in three-pointers made, knocking down two treys and going 4-for-4 from the line, amassing a team-high 16 points. Sierra Michaelis was again an offensive weapon for Mizzou scoring another 15 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Junior Michelle Hudyn had a career-high 10 points in the contest and added another seven rebounds for the Tigers.

Mizzou found 32 of their 72 points in the paint and shot the ball efficiently throughout the game, ending the contest a 54.2 field goal percentage.

The Tigers are on the road for the next two games. They travel to Vanderbilt for a contest against the Commodores next Sunday (Feb. 22) at 1:00 p.m. and then go to Texas A&M on Feb. 26 for a 7:00 p.m. game.

— MU Sports Information —