Sports – Page 688 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Kuligowski to remain as Mizzou’s defensive line coach

Posted on January 26, 2015January 26, 2015

The University of Missouri announced on Monday that assistant football coach Craig Kuligowski has withdrawn his name for consideration for a co-defensive coordinator coaching position at Illinois, and he will remain the defensive line coach at Mizzou.

“As a coach, you’re always looking to advance yourself professionally in hopes of someday having a chance to become a head coach,” Kuligowski said. “It was important for me and my family to consider this opportunity, and I’m grateful to have gone through the experience, but after evaluating everything, what is best for us is to stay here at Mizzou. We’ve built something special here at Mizzou, and I’m excited to continue to be part of it.”

Kuligowski came to Missouri with Gary Pinkel from Toledo back in 1996 and has been on Pinkel’s coaching staff for the last 23 years.

Royals Invite 23 Non-roster Players to Spring Training

Posted on January 26, 2015January 26, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Royals have invited 23 non-roster players to spring training, including former fifth overall draft pick Bubba Starling and promising youngsters Miguel Almonte and Raul Mondesi.

Starling, who grew up near Kansas City, has struggled in the minor leagues but will get a taste of big league camp. Almonte, a right-hander, and Mondesi, an infielder, are non-drafted free agents who have become two of the club’s top prospects.

Other notable players headed to camp are infielder Hunter Dozier, the eighth overall draft pick in 2013; pitcher Sean Manea, the 34th overall choice the same year; and outfielder Brett Eibner, a second-round choice in 2010.

Pitchers and catchers report to Surprise, Arizona, for the start of spring training on Feb. 19. The Royals’ first full-squad workout is scheduled for Feb. 25.

KU’s Alexander named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week

Posted on January 26, 2015January 26, 2015

Kansas freshman Cliff Alexander has been named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Newcomer of the Week in a vote by a media panel which covers the league, the conference announced Monday.

Alexander led Kansas to two victories over top-25 foes as the Jayhawks defeated No. 18 Oklahoma (85-78) and won at No. 17 Texas (75-62). The Chicago forward averaged 14.0 points and 11.0 rebounds while shooting 55.6 percent (10-of-18) from the field. Alexander had his second double-double of the year versus OU, finishing with 13 points and a career-best 13 boards. He had a team-high 15 points at UT, while grabbing nine rebounds. It marks the first time in 2014-15 that Alexander has scored in double digits in consecutive contests.

This is the third time this season a Jayhawk has been named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week. Freshman Kelly Oubre, Jr., has been named twice on Dec. 22 and last week on Jan. 19. KU has had two or more student-athletes named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week each of the last three seasons and six of the last seven years.

Kansas (16-3, 5-1 Big 12) begins three games in six days at TCU (14-5, 1-5) on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 8 p.m. (Central) on ESPNU.

— KU Sports Information —

Wichita State guard Frankamp arrested on suspicion of DUI

Posted on January 26, 2015

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say Wichita State guard Conner Frankamp has been arrested on suspicion of DUI.

Wichita police Lt. James Espinoza told The Associated Press that the 19-year-old was arrested early Sunday morning after being initially stopped for failing to signal a turn and maintain a single lane.

Espinoza said Monday a breath test showed Frankamp’s blood-alcohol content was .186, more than twice the legal limit.

A phone message left Monday at his parents’ Wichita home was not immediately returned.

Frankamp transferred at the end of last semester from Kansas to Wichita State, which has been in the Top 25 all year. The sophomore must sit out this semester because of NCAA transfer rules.

Kansas State’s Williams earns Big 12 Honors

Posted on January 26, 2015January 26, 2015

K-State senior Nino Williams has earned Phillips 66 Co-Big 12 Player of the Week honors for the second time this season after posting back-to-back 20-point games in helping K-State to a split of two games last week.

Williams shared the weekly honor with Baylor’s Rico Gathers.

Williams averaged 21.0 points on 69.2 percent shooting ( 18-of-26 ) with 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals in 31.5 minutes per game in helping he Wildcats to a split of games with Iowa State and Oklahoma State.

Former KSU star Jordy Nelson scores in friendly Pro Bowl

Posted on January 26, 2015January 26, 2015

Jordy Nelson scores a Pro Bowl touchdown on a pass from Saints QB Drew Brees- courtesy photo

BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Some of the best played football on Sunday, a gentler, friendlier version of the game.

The Pro Bowl never has intensity. That will come a week from now, boiling over when Seattle meets New England on the same field.

Few moved very fast, no one flattened a quarterback and there were no bone-jarring hits in Team Irvin’s 32-28 victory over Team Carter.

But everyone seemed to have a good time, and there were a few plays to remember including Jordy Nelson’s 21 yard touchdown catch from Drew Brees just before halftime. Former Wildcat Darren Sproles picked up 42 yards on only 3 carries for team Irvin.

J.J. Watt intercepted a pass, recovered a fumble and danced for the crowd. Jimmy Graham dunked over the crossbar twice after TD catches — this time with no penalty.

Odell Beckham Jr.’s diving grab at midfield might have been the day’s most impressive play.

Griffons allow 27-2 second half run and lose to Missouri Southern

Posted on January 24, 2015January 24, 2015

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – A run by Missouri Southern to begin the second half left the Griffon Men in a hole they couldn’t dig out of on the way to a 77-65 loss to Missouri Southern.

Leading 41-35 coming into the second half, MWSU was outscored 27-2 over the first six and a half minutes of the second half. Missouri Southern opened the half on a 17-0 run to build an 11-point lead. The Griffons would never get closer than that through the remainder of the half.

Missouri Southern shot 44 percent from the field for the game while the Griffons ended the game shooting 41 percent. MWSU shot just 23 percent from three-point range and 70 percent at the free throw line. Missouri Western won the rebounding battle, 36-35 but were hurt by 13 turnovers and 10 missed three-point tries.

Cortrez Colbert finished with 18 points and four rebounds while Currie Byrd scored 10 with four boards. Kevin Thomas finished with nine points and nine rebounds.

The loss dropped MWSU to 8-9 on the season and 4-6 in MIAA play. They hit the road next week with a trip to Lincoln on Thursday and Lindenwood on Saturday.

— MWSU Sports Information —

No. 9 Ravens win ninth straight as they take down No. 21 Evangel

Posted on January 24, 2015January 24, 2015

The ninth-ranked Benedictine men’s basketball team erased a two-point halftime deficit to No. 21 Evangel University on Saturday afternoon to hand the Crusaders their first loss of the Heart season.

Benedictine (18-3, 7-2 Heart) hit 50 percent from the floor in the second half while holding Evangel (13-7, 8-1 Heart) to just one 3-pointer as they earned the comeback win, 88-80.

The difference between the Ravens and the Crusaders over the first 20 minutes of play proved to be from beyond the arc.

Benedictine converted on seven 3-pointers at 53.8 percent while Evangel converted on nine 3-pointers at 60 percent.

The Ravens led by seven points early before the Crusaders found their stroke from beyond the arc.

Evangel erased their deficit by converting on four of the first first-half 3-pointers to erase the Ravens lead and move in front, 14-12, with 14:21 left in the first half.

The lead changed hands four more times before the Crusaders took a 43-41 lead into the half.

Jake Schannuth knocked in a 3-pointer to start the Ravens offense off in the second half to erase the halftime defict and push Benedictine back in front.

After two lead changes and three ties, Benedictine was able to convert on some key 3-point opportunities while limiting Evangel’s 3-point looks.

Benedictine pushed ahead by nine points with 6:49 remaining only to have Evangel pull even with 3:16 left at 76-76.

John Harris Jr. answered with an old-fashion 3-point play to push Benedictine back in front seconds later.

From there, the Crusaders were forced to foul and the Ravens converted 8 of 12 from the charity stripe to seal the win.

Defensively, Benedictine held Evangel to just 1 of 9 from beyond the 3-point arc in the second half while converting on 5 of 12.

Schannuth led four Ravens in double figures with 19 points. He went 5 of 7 from beyond the arc and 6 of 8 from the floor. Harris Jr. added 18 as he went 10 of 13 at the charity stripe while Jonathan Anaekwe chipped in 16. Rafail Tsourakis anchored the Ravens bench, which outscored the Crusaders 24-13, with 11 points.

Benedictine opens up the second half of Heart play with a trip to Peru, Neb., on Thursday for a 7:30 p.m. game against Peru State College. The Bobcats took the first meeting of the season with the Ravens, 69-64, back on Dec. 4 to open up the Heart season.

— BC Sports Information —

Missouri Western women even record with home win over Southern

Posted on January 24, 2015January 24, 2015

The Missouri Western women’s basketball team picked up their second straight home win with a 61-56 victory over Missouri Southern Saturday afternoon. The win moved the team to 8-8 overall and 3-7 in the MIAA, while dropping Missouri Southern to 12-5 and 6-4.

LaQuinta Jefferson led the way for Missouri Western with 17 points on 5-11 shooting from the field. Chelsea Dewey added 11 for the Griffons and Tiara Hall had 10 points. Jefferson added five rebounds with Miliakere Koyamainavure and Alex Saxen each adding seven rebounds.

MWSU shot 44 percent from the field, 10 percent from three-point range and 62 percent at the free throw line. They held Missouri Southern to 33 percent from the field and six percent from long range.

FIRST HALF
The Griffons jumped out to a 12-4 lead that quickly faded as Missouri Southern tied the game at 18 with 5:50 left in the half. Two straight layups by the Griffons put them back up by five but Missouri Southern scored the last five points of the game to send the temas to halftime knotted at 26. Missouri Western missed all six of their three-point attempts in the first half and shot 35 percent from the field.

SECOND HALF
Missouri Southern jumped out to a four-point lead that the Griffons couldn’t erase until a Chelseas Dewey layup with 16:02 to go gave the Griffons a one-point lead. The two teams traded leads over the next eight minutes with MWSU finally capturing a five-point lead with 7:56 to go on a Dewey three-pointer. Missouri Southern never got closer than a 56-56 tie with 2:01 left. Missouri Western led the rest of the way.

The Griffons hit the road next week, playing at Lincoln on Thursday and Lindenwood on Saturday.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Benedictine women stay in first place with win over Evangel

Posted on January 24, 2015

The Benedictine Women’s Basketball team closed out the first half of Heart of America Athletic Conference play on Saturday as they hosted Evangel University.

Benedictine (15-6, 8-1 Heart) outscored Evangel (4-13, 3-6 Heart) 10-6 over the final 2:41 to earn a 76-71 win.

The lead changed hands 14 times through the course of play on Saturday.

Benedictine built as much as a nine-point lead early in the first half only to have that erased as Evangel pulled even at 32-all at halftime.

The Ravens lead throughout the entire first half playing through two ties. They converted on 12 field goals while Evangel converted on 13.

Evangel started the second half hot on offense, building a five-point lead before Benedictine’s Chayla Rutledge regained the lead for the Ravens at 42-41 with 15:50 remaining.

The five-point advantage would prove to be Evangel’s largest lead of the game as the game continued to go back and forth.

A 3-pointer from Jordan Kramer with 37 seconds extended Benedictine’s lead to five points and then Jackie Ziesel converted 4 of 4 from the charity stripe inside the final 23 seconds to seal the win for the Ravens.

Rutledge led the Ravens with 21 points while Ziesel chipped in 16 while going 6 for 6 from the free throw line. Kramer and Jayde Reid each scored nine points to round out the Ravens top scorers.

Benedictine begins the second half of their Heart schedule on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. as they travel to Peru, Neb., to take on Peru State College. Benedictine opened the Heart season with a 66-49 win at home over Peru State.

— BC Sports Information —