“THE SCOREBOARD” INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMI-STATE CLASS 4A ELKHART (NORTH SIDE GYMNASIUM) 10 AM ET | G1: NORTHRIDGE (25-1) VS. HOMESTEAD (20-6) 12 PM ET | G2: CROWN POINT (23-1) VS. FORT WAYNE SNIDER (20-7) 8 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER NEW CASTLE (NEW CASTLE FIELDHOUSE) 10 AM ET | G1: MT. VERNON (FORTVILLE) (25-3) VS. DECATUR CENTRAL (20-6) 12 PM ET | G2: NEW ALBANY (22-5) VS. TERRE HAUTE NORTH VIGO (24-3) 8 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER CLASS 3A LOGANSPORT (BERRY BOWL) 10 AM ET | G1: NEW HAVEN (20-7) VS. DELTA (16-10) 12 PM ET | G2: COLUMBIA CITY (23-4) VS. EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL (15-12) 8 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER SEYMOUR (LLOYD E. SCOTT GYMNASIUM) 10 AM ET | G1: RONCALLI (18-7) VS. SILVER CREEK (28-1) 12 PM ET | G2: INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (22-5) VS. PRINCETON COMMUNITY (23-3) 8 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER CLASS 2A MUNCIE CENTRAL (MUNCIE FIELDHOUSE) 10 AM ET | G1: FORT WAYNE BISHOP LUERS (15-11) VS. OAK HILL (25-1) 12 PM ET | G2: WESTVIEW (25-1) VS. LAPEL (21-5) 8 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER SOUTHPORT (SOUTHPORT FIELDHOUSE) 10 AM ET | G1: PARKE HERITAGE (24-4) VS. TRRITON CENTRAL (23-3) 12 PM ET | G2: LINTON-STOCKTON (24-4) VS. AUSTIN (17-8) 8 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER CLASS 1A LAFAYETTE JEFFERSON (MARION CRAWLEY CENTER) 10 AM ET | G1: MONROE CENTRAL (21-4) VS. NORTH VERMILLION (16-11) 12 PM ET | G2: TRI-COUNTY (16-10) VS. TRITON (23-3) 8 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER WASHINGTON (HATCHET HOUSE) 10 AM ET | G1: BARR-REEVE (25-1) VS. LIBERTY CHRISTIAN (19-7) 12 PM ET | G2: BLOOMFIELD (19-8) VS. HAUSER (25-2) 8 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER ================================================================== THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 2025-26 MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL ALL-AMERICA TEAMS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 2025-26 ALL-AMERICA MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM WITH STATISTICS THROUGH CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS: FIRST TEAM (ASTERISK)CAMERON BOOZER, DUKE, 6-9, 250, FRESHMAN; MIAMI, FLORIDA; 22.5 POINTS, 10.2 REBOUNDS, 4.2 ASSISTS (61 OF 61 FIRST-PLACE VOTES, 305 POINTS) AJ DYBANTSA, BYU, 6-9, 210, FRESHMAN; BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS; 25.3 POINTS, 6.7 REBOUNDS, 3.8 ASSISTS (57, 295) YAXEL LENDEBORG, MICHIGAN, 6-9, 230, SENIOR; PENNSAUKEN, NEW JERSEY; 14.4 POINTS, 7.0 REBOUNDS, 3.3 ASSISTS (47, 273) DARIUS ACUFF JR., ARKANSAS, 6-3, 190, FRESHMAN; DETROIT, MICHIGAN; 22.7 POINTS, 3.2 REBOUNDS, 6.4 ASSISTS (47, 264) JT TOPPIN, TEXAS TECH, 6-9, 230, JUNIOR; DALLAS, TEXAS; 21.8 POINTS, 10.8 REBOUNDS, 2.1 ASSISTS (12, 163) (ASTERISK)-UNANIMOUS SELECTION SECOND TEAM JOSHUA JEFFERSON, IOWA STATE, 6-9, 240, SENIOR; LAS VEGAS, NEVADA; 16.9 POINTS, 7.6 REBOUNDS, 4.9 ASSISTS (15, 162) BRADEN SMITH, PURDUE, 6-0, 170, SENIOR; WESTFIELD, INDIANA; 14.0 POINTS, 3.6 REBOUNDS, 9.0 ASSISTS (12, 150) JEREMY FEARS, MICHIGAN STATE, 6-2, 190, SOPHOMORE; JOLIET, ILLINOIS; 15.7 POINTS, 2.4 REBOUNDS, 9.2 ASSISTS (10, 139) KEATON WAGLER, ILLINOIS, 6-6, 180, FRESHMAN; SHAWNEE, KANSAS; 17.9 POINTS, 4.8 REBOUNDS, 4.4 ASSISTS (8, 131) CALEB WILSON, NORTH CAROLINA, 6-10, 215, FRESHMAN; ATLANTA, GEORGIA; 19.8 POINTS, 9.4 REBOUNDS, 2.7 ASSISTS (4, 119) THIRD TEAM KINGSTON FLEMINGS, HOUSTON, 6-4, 190, FRESHMAN; SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS; 16.4 POINTS, 3.9 REBOUNDS, 5.3 ASSISTS (8, 111) LABARON PHILON JR., ALABAMA, 6-4, 185, SOPHOMORE; MOBILE, ALABAMA; 21.7 POINTS, 3.2 REBOUNDS, 4.7 ASSISTS (5, 109) THOMAS HAUGH, FLORIDA, 6-9, 215, JUNIOR; NEW OXFORD, PENNSYLVANIA; 17.1 POINTS, 6.2 REBOUNDS, 2.0 ASSISTS (1, 101) CHRISTIAN ANDERSON, TEXAS TECH, 6-3, 180, SOPHOMORE; ATLANTA, GEORGIA; 18.9 POINTS, 3.6 REBOUNDS, 7.6 ASSISTS (5, 68) GRAHAM IKE, GONZAGA, 6-9, 250, SENIOR; AURORA, COLORADO; 19.7 POINTS, 8.2 REBOUNDS, 2.4 ASSISTS (0, 67) HONORABLE MENTION (ALPHABETICAL ORDER, NEXT 10 VOTE TOTALS AND TIES ) MICHAEL AJAYI, BUTLER; JADEN BRADLEY, ARIZONA; BRAYDEN BURRIES, ARIZONA; RUEBEN CHINYELU, FLORIDA; ZUBY EJIOFOR, ST. JOHN’S; PJ HAGGERTY, KANSAS STATE; EBUKA OKORIE, STANFORD; DARRYN PETERSON, KANSAS; BENNETT STIRTZ, IOWA; TYLER TANNER, VANDERBILT; BRUCE THORNTON, OHIO STATE. =================================================================== NCAA TOURNAMENT MEN’S SCHEDULE/SCORES ALL TIMES EASTERN FIRST FOUR TUESDAY, MARCH 17 AT DAYTON, OHIO HOWARD 86 UMBC 83 TEXAS 68 NC STATE 66 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 AT DAYTON, OHIONO. 16 PRAIRIE VIEW A&M VS. NO. 16 LEHIGH, 6:40 P.M.NO. 11 MIAMI (OHIO) VS. NO. 11 SMU, 9:15 P.M. THURSDAY, MARCH 19 EAST REGION, FIRST ROUND NO. 9 TCU VS. NO. 8 OHIO STATE, 12:15 P.M., GREENVILLE, S.C.NO. 11 SOUTH FLORIDA VS. NO. 6 LOUISVILLE, 1:30 P.M., BUFFALO, N.Y.NO. 16 SIENA VS. NO. 1 DUKE, 2:50 P.M., GREENVILLE, S.C.NO. 14 NORTH DAKOTA STATE VS. NO. 3 MICHIGAN STATE, 4:05 P.M., BUFFALO, N.Y. SOUTH REGION, FIRST ROUND NO. 13 TROY VS. NO. 4 NEBRASKA, 12:40 P.M., OKLAHOMA CITYNO. 12 MCNEESE VS. NO. 5 VANDERBILT, 3:15 P.M., OKLAHOMA CITYNO. 11 VCU VS. NO. 6 NORTH CAROLINA, 6:50 P.M., GREENVILLE, S.C.NO. 10 TEXAS A&M VS. NO. 7 SAINT MARY’S, 7:35 P.M., OKLAHOMA CITYNO. 14 PENN VS. NO. 3 ILLINOIS, 9:25 P.M., GREENVILLE, S.C.NO. 15 IDAHO VS. NO. 2 HOUSTON, 10:10 P.M., OKLAHOMA CITY MIDWEST REGION, FIRST ROUND NO. 1 MICHIGAN VS. HOWARD 7:10 P.M., BUFFALO, N.Y.NO. 9 SAINT LOUIS VS. NO. 8 GEORGIA, 9:45 P.M., BUFFALO, N.Y. WEST REGION, FIRST ROUND NO. 12 HIGH POINT VS. NO. 5 WISCONSIN, 1:50 P.M., PORTLAND, ORE.NO. 13 HAWAII VS. NO. 4 ARKANSAS, 4:25 P.M., PORTLAND, ORE.NO. 6 BYU VS. TEXAS, 7:25 P.M., PORTLAND, ORE.NO. 14 KENNESAW STATE VS. NO. 3 GONZAGA, 10 P.M., PORTLAND, ORE. FRIDAY, MARCH 20 EAST REGION, FIRST ROUND NO. 12 NORTHERN IOWA VS. NO. 5 ST. JOHN’S, 7:10 P.M., SAN DIEGONO. 10 UCF VS. NO. 7 UCLA, 7:25 P.M., PHILADELPHIANO. 13 CAL BAPTIST VS. NO. 4 KANSAS, 9:45 P.M., SAN DIEGONO. 15 FURMAN VS. NO. 2 UCONN, 10 P.M., PHILADELPHIA SOUTH REGION, FIRST ROUND NO. 9 IOWA VS. NO. 8 CLEMSON, 6:50 P.M., TAMPA, FLA.NO. 1 FLORIDA VS. WINNER, PRAIRIE VIEW A&M/LEHIGH, 9:25 P.M., TAMPA, FLA. MIDWEST REGION, FIRST ROUND NO. 10 SANTA CLARA VS. NO. 7 KENTUCKY, 12:15 P.M., ST. LOUISNO. 12 AKRON VS. NO. 5 TEXAS TECH, 12:40 P.M., TAMPA, FLA.NO. 14 WRIGHT STATE VS. NO. 3 VIRGINIA, 1:50 P.M., PHILADELPHIANO. 15 TENNESSEE STATE VS. NO. 2 IOWA STATE, 2:50 P.M., ST. LOUISNO. 13 HOFSTRA VS. NO. 4 ALABAMA, 3:15 P.M., TAMPA, FLA.NO. 6 TENNESSEE VS. WINNER, MIAMI (OHIO)/SMU, 4:25 P.M., PHILADELPHIA WEST REGION, FIRST ROUND NO. 16 LONG ISLAND VS. NO. 1 ARIZONA, 1:35 P.M., SAN DIEGONO. 9 UTAH STATE VS. NO. 8 VILLANOVA, 4:10 P.M., SAN DIEGONO. 15 QUEENS VS. NO. 2 PURDUE, 7:35 P.M., ST. LOUISNO. 10 MISSOURI VS. NO. 7 MIAMI, 10:10 P.M., ST. LOUIS ============================================================== MEN’S NIT SCHEDULE/SCORES ROUND 1: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 LIBERTY 77 GEORGE MASON 71 NORTH CAROLINA WILMINGTON 68 YALE 67 WICHITA STATE 74 WYOMING 70 OKLAHOMA STATE 84 DAVIDSON 80 TULSA 89 STEPHEN F AUSTIN 84 OT SEATTLE 67 ST. THOMAS 52 AUBURN 78 S. ALABAMA 67 UNLV 75 UC IRVINE 72 ================================================================== NCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE ALL TIMES ET WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 (FIRST FOUR) 7 P.M. | (11) NEBRASKA VS. (11) RICHMOND | ESPN2 9 P.M. | (16) MISSOURI STATE VS. (16) SFA | ESPN2 THURSDAY, MARCH 19 (FIRST FOUR) 7 P.M. | (16) SOUTHERN U. VS. (16) SAMFORD | ESPN2 9 P.M. | (10) VIRGINIA VS. (10) ARIZONA STATE | ESPN2 FRIDAY, MARCH 20 (FIRST ROUND/ROUND OF 64) 11:30 A.M. | (3) DUKE VS. (14) COL. OF CHARLESTON | ESPN2 12 P.M. | (3) TCU VS. (14) UC SAN DIEGO | ESPN 1:30 P.M. | (8) OREGON VS. (9) VIRGINIA TECH | ESPN2 2 P.M. | (6) BAYLOR VS. TBD | ESPN 2:30 P.M. | (6) WASHINGTON VS. (11) SOUTH DAKOTA STATE | ESPNEWS 3 P.M. | (5) MARYLAND VS. (12) MURRAY STATE | ESPNU 3:30 P.M. | (5) OLE MISS VS. (12) GONZAGA | ESPN2 4 P.M. | (1) TEXAS VS. TBD | ESPN 5:30 P.M. | (2) MICHIGAN VS. (15) HOLY CROSS | ESPN2 5:30 P.M. | (4) NORTH CAROLINA VS. (13) WESTERN ILLINOIS | ESPNEWS 6 P.M. | (2) LSU VS. (15) JACKSONVILLE | ESPN 6 P.M. | (4) MINNESOTA VS. (13) GREEN BAY | ESPNU 7:30 P.M. | (5) MICHIGAN STATE VS. (12) COLORADO STATE | ESPNEWS 8 P.M. | (7) NC STATE VS. (10) TENNESSEE | ESPN 8:30 P.M. | (7) TEXAS TECH VS. (10) VILLANOVA | ESPNU 10 P.M. | (4) OKLAHOMA VS. (13) IDAHO | ESPN SATURDAY, MARCH 21 (FIRST ROUND/ROUND OF 64) 11:30 A.M. | (3) OHIO STATE VS. (14) HOWARD | ESPN2 12 P.M. | (3) LOUISVILLE VS. (14) VERMONT | ESPN 1 P.M. | (1) SOUTH CAROLINA VS. TBD | ABC 1:30 P.M. | (7) GEORGIA VS. TBD | ESPN2 2 P.M. | (6) NOTRE DAME VS. (11) FAIRFIELD | ESPN 2:30 P.M. | (6) ALABAMA VS. (11) RHODE ISLAND | ESPNEWS 2:30 P.M. | (5) KENTUCKY VS. (12) JAMES MADISON | ESPNU 3 P.M. | (1) UCONN VS. (16) UTSA | ABC 3:30 P.M. | (8) CLEMSON VS. (9) SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | ESPN2 4 P.M. | (2) IOWA VS. (15) FDU | ESPN 5 P.M. | (4) WEST VIRGINIA VS. (13) MIAMI (OHIO) | ESPNU 5:30 P.M. | (8) IOWA STATE VS. (9) SYRACUSE | ESPN2 7 P.M. | (2) VANDERBILT VS. (15) HIGH POINT | ESPNEWS 7:30 P.M. | (8) OKLAHOMA STATE VS. (9) PRINCETON | ESPN2 9:30 P.M. | (7) ILLINOIS VS. (10) COLORADO | ESPN2 10 P.M. | (1) UCLA VS. (16) CALIFORNIA BAPTIST | ESPN ============================================================== COLLEGE BASEBALL SCORES #7 GEORGIA 8 CITADEL 5 #9 VIRGINIA 6 GEORGETOWN 4 #24 WAKE FOREST 11 LIBERTY 0 #22 TENNESSEE 10 EASTERN KENTUCKY 3 #5 AUBURN 9 3 GEORGIA TECH 2 #6 MISSISSIPPI STATE 17 JACKSON STATE 1 #11 FLORIDA STATE 12 BETHUNE COOKMAN 1 #19 CLEMSON 3 COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 1 #10 NORTH CAROLINA STATE 14 UNC WILMINGTON 2 #18 FLORIDA 10 STETSON 1 #4 ARKANSAS 13 NORTHERN COLORADO 2 #12 SOUTHERN MISS 4 NICHOLLS 0 SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA 3 #8 OKLAHOMA 0 #23 TEXAS A&M 9 TEXAS STATE 6 TARLETON 6 #2 TEXAS 1 PORTLAND 3 #17 OREGON STATE 1 #1 UCLA 5 PEPPERDINE 4 #13 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 7 SAN DIEGO STATE 4 PENN STATE #20 WEST VIRGINIA CANCELED MARSHALL #15 KENTUCKY CANCELED CENTRAL MICHIGAN NOTRE DAME POSTPONED PURDUE BUTLER CANCELED RICHMOND 7 MARYLAND 5 RUTGERS 13 MONMOUTH 3 INDIANA 5 VANDERBILT 1 NEBRASKA 8 WICHITA STATE 1 NORTH DAKOTA STATE 7 MINNESOTA 4 (11) WASHINGTON 13 ST. MARTINS 1 BALL STATE VALPARAISO CANCELED ============================================================== COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCORES #9 ARKANSAS 10 CENTRAL ARKANSAS 2 #4 ALABAMA 4 LOUISIANA MONROE 1 #21 DUKE 17 UNC WILMINGTON 0 OHIO STATE BUTLER CANCELED PURDUE BALL STATE CANCELED ============================================================== MEN’S COLLEGE HOCKEY SCORES NO GAMES SCHEDULE ============================================================== MEN’S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL SCORES #12 MCKENDREE 3 HARVARD 0 ================================================================ DIVISION 1 MEN’S LAX SCORES #13 GEORGETOWN 14 LOYOLA MARYLAND 7 BROWN 13 UMASS LOWELL 6 LEHIGH 14 VILLANOVA 7 ================================================================= DIVISION 1 WOMEN’S LAX SCORES #11 STONY BROOK 18 VILLANOVA 10 #4 NAVY 11 ARIZONA STATE 10 #10 CLEMSON 16 MERCER 8 #9 SYRACUSE 6 #5 YALE 5 #6 FLORIDA #1 NORTH CAROLINA POSTPONED CHARLOTTE #19 DENVER CANCELED ================================================================= NBA SCORES CHARLOTTE 136 MIAMI 106 DETROIT 130 WASHINGTON 117 OKLAHOMA CITY 113 ORLANDO 108 NEW YORK 136 INDIANA 110 MINNESOTA 116 PHOENIX 104 CLEVELAND 123 MILWAUKEE 116 DENVER 124 PHILADELPHIA 96 SAN ANTONIO 132 SACRAMENTO 104 ================================================================== NBA G-LEAGUE SCORES CLEVELAND 122 WESTCHESTER 107 CAPITAL CITY 137 SANTA CRUZ 130 RAPTORS 123 MOTOR CITY 122 OSCEOLA 129 LONG ISLAND 109 OKLAHOMA CITY 130 GRAND RAPIDS 127 OT COLLEGE PARK 119 AUSTIN 116 TEXAS 108 RIO GRANDE VALLEY 104 BIRMINGHAM 122 MAINE 106 RIP CITY 133 S. BAY 126 VALLEY 117 STOCKTON 108 ================================================================== NHL SCORES MONTRÉAL 3 BOSTON 2 OT NY ISLANDERS 3 TORONTO 1 COLUMBUS 5 CAROLINA 1 MINNESOTA 4 CHICAGO 3 OT NASHVILLE 4 WINNIPEG 3 EDMONTON 5 SAN JOSE 3 BUFFALO 2 VEGAS 0 VANCOUVER 5 FLORIDA 2 TAMPA BAY 6 SEATTLE 2 ================================================================== MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WASHINGTON 1 ST. LOUIS 0 BOSTON 4 ATLANTA 3 NY YANKEES 3 TAMPA BAY 2 BALTIMORE 1 DETROIT 1 HOUSTON 10 PITTSBURGH 2 PHILADELPHIA 2 MINNESOTA 0 NY METS 5 MIAMI 5 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 6 LAS VEGAS 4 SAN DIEGO 9 SEATTLE 6 SEATTLE 10 COLORADO 6 LA DODGERS 10 KANSAS CITY 4 CHICAGO CUBS 8 LA ANGELS 6 CLEVELAND 8 CINCINNATI 0 ================================================================== WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC SCORES VENEZUELA 3 UNITED STATES 2 ================================================================= WOMEN’S PRO VOLLEYBALL SCORES NO GAMES SCHEDULED ================================================================== MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER NO GAMES SCHEDULED ================================================================= NATIONAL SPORTS NEWS RELEASES MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TRAMON MARK, TEXAS SINK NC STATE IN LAST SECONDS AT FIRST FOUR DAYTON, Ohio — Tramon Mark capped his team-leading 17-point effort by sinking a pull-up jumper with 1.1 seconds remaining, lifting Texas past North Carolina State 68-66 in an NCAA Tournament First Four thriller on Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio. Matas Vokietaitis had 15 points while Chendall Weaver had 11 points and 10 rebounds for Texas (19-14), which advances as the No. 11 seed in the West Region to face No. 6 BYU on Thursday in Portland, Ore. Dailyn Swain (13 points, eight rebounds) blocked a potential 3-pointer at the buzzer to preserve the game for the Longhorns. The two teams faced off at the Maui Invitational in November, and Texas won that meeting 102-97. “Today it was very slow and very different,” Texas coach Sean Miller said of the game’s tempo. “One thing about the tournament, it can bring some anxiety and probably (to) both teams. I just thought like we missed a few easy shots, and we weren’t who we’ve been all season on offense but thrilled we were able to win.” Tre Holloman converted a three-point play with 1:48 remaining to draw NC State within 62-56. After a pair of Swain free throws, Paul McNeil Jr. drained a deep 3-pointer from the left baseline to bring NC State within 64-59 with 1:30 remaining. Another McNeil 3-point heave from the opposite baseline with 1:06 left cut Texas’ lead to 64-62. Mark’s turnaround in the lane with 36.8 seconds remaining put the Longhorns up 66-62 before Darrion Willams answered with a trey to make it 66-65 Texas with 29.4 seconds left. Swain was double-teamed in the corner after receiving the inbounds pass and lost it out of bounds with 20.3 seconds to go. Holloman drove to the basket and was fouled and given two free throws with 18.3 seconds left. He missed the first but hit the second for a 66-66 tie, and setting the stage for Mark’s game-winner. “I got a great look,” Mark said. “I looked at the clock, and I just sized them up and got a great look at the rim. I practice those shots every day, so just got a great look at it.” It was the second straight First Four for Swain and Miller. In the 2025 First Four, the two of them helped Xavier beat Texas on the same court and advance to the field of 64, where the Musketeers lost to Illinois. Williams had 21 points and Quadir Copeland added 16 points and eight rebounds for NC State (20-14), which ends its season losing eight of the final 10 games. “Disappointing end to a pretty disappointing season for us, the way I look at it,” NC State coach Will Wade said. “We haven’t been very good in close games. We hadn’t earned the right to win in close games, and our season ended very similar to the reason we’re sitting in Dayton. “You are who you are in pressure moments, and we tried to mask some stuff and we couldn’t do it. That’s why we’re here, and that’s why we’re heading home.” Texas dominated most of the game on the boards, outrebounding NC State 45-33. The Wolfpack took advantage of an eight-minute Texas field-goal drought to close the first half down just 30-29 after trailing by 10. HOWARD HANGS ON FOR FIRST FOUR WIN OVER UMBC, EARNS MICHIGAN MATCHUP DAYTON, Ohio — Ose Okojie scored 16 of his team-leading 23 points in the first half and Bryce Harris added 19 points and 14 rebounds as Howard held off a furious rally by UMBC 86-83 on Tuesday in an NCAA Tournament First Four contest. As the shot clock was expiring, Harris hit a clutch turnaround jumper with 12.7 seconds left to give Howard (24-10) a four-point lead. The Bison held on to advance as the No. 16 seed and oppose No. 1 seed Michigan in a Midwest Region first-round game Thursday in Buffalo. “We talk about how important it is for them to have a chance to get to an NCAA Tournament and win games. It’s a box that we checked,” Howard coach Kenneth Blakeney said of Howard’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win in five tries. “We talked about that before the game. We’ve never won a game. We’ve done a lot of things in our program, but let’s check off the box of winning an NCAA game today.” Harris gathered the team together on the court after the win and spoke about the history they made. “Bryce’s speech was just like, we did it,” Okojie said. “We made history with these guys. And it wasn’t just me. It wasn’t just the starting five. It was 1 to 16. The energy they gave up is the (credit to the) coaching staff.” The Bison, who qualified for the 68-team field by capturing the MEAC tournament title, extended their season-best win streak to nine games. “I think our guys’ resiliency and being battle tested in our tournament and some of our games this year, it was a very familiar place for us,” Blakeney added. “I’m just so happy for our university, our players. We talk about this moment, these moments when we present our university to our young men.” Jah’Likai King had 19 and DJ Armstrong Jr. added 17 for the Retrievers (24-9), who had their program-record 12-game win streak snapped. The Retrievers, tournament champions of the America East, were making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since their historic 2018 upset of No. 1 seed Virginia. Caden Diggs added 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench for UMBC. Armstrong’s 30-foot 3-point attempt was off the mark to the right as time expired. Howard led by double figures for most of the second half, but Diggs converted two free throws with 53.8 seconds left to draw UMBC within 83-78. After the Bison’s Cam Gillus came up short on the front end of a 1-and-1 with 52.9 seconds left, Armstrong drained a long 3-pointer with 43.4 seconds left to cap a 9-0 run, and UMBC was within 83-81. “In the second half, I think you got to see what UMBC does all the time where we didn’t foul and we really guarded, played good offense, and we made it a game,” Retrievers coach Jim Ferry said. “It was a very exciting game to watch, but I’m so proud of my guys because I saw it in warmups and I don’t really want to say it, I thought those guys were flying around on Howard and we were kind of (passive). But then we fought through it and fought through it which is what we’ve done all year and made it into a fantastic basketball game.” After UMBC opened with the game’s first four points, Howard scored the next nine points to take an early lead. The Bison used an 8-0 surge to take a 19-11 advantage on a layup by Okojie. Trailing 21-13, the Retrievers went on a 9-3 spurt to draw within 24-22 on a King layup. UMBC cut the gap to 31-30 before Howard answered with a 12-0 run that gave them their biggest first-half lead after a pair of free throws from Alex Cotton. Cougar Downing’s layup with two seconds left in the half sent UMBC into halftime down 49-41. FRESHMAN STARS CAMERON BOOZER, AJ DYBANTSA AND DARIUS ACUFF JR. PICKED FOR AP ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM Duke forward Cameron Boozer, BYU star AJ Dybantsa and Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas arrived this season as part of what could go down as one of the most heralded freshman classes in college basketball history. They lived up to their billing, too, and were announced Tuesday as first-team AP All-Americans. Boozer was a unanimous choice among the 61 voters that select the weekly Top 25 for The Associated Press, following in the footsteps of Cooper Flagg, who also was a unanimous choice as a freshman for the Blue Devils last season. Dybantsa was a first-team pick on all but four ballots, while Acuff was a first-team selection on 47 of the ballots. Yaxel Lendeborg of Michigan and JT Toppin of Texas Tech rounded out the five-member first team. “He’s all about his teammates,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said of Boozer, who was the AP’s national player of the week twice during the season. “He’s not about numbers. He’s about winning. And I think when your best player’s that way, it becomes contagious, and it has a big effect on the rest of the group.” Such a team-first attitude was on display by all the first-team picks; each helped their team to the NCAA Tournament. Boozer took the Blue Devils to ACC regular-season and tournament titles and helped them earn the top overall seed. Lendeborg also helped the Wolverines earn a No. 1 seed. Arkansas is seeded fourth, Texas Tech seeded fifth and BYU seeded sixth. “This has been the best year of my life, honestly. I’ve had so much fun,” said Lendeborg, the first Michigan first-team All-American since Trey Burke in 2012-13. “Just how much I’ve learned this year in general has really helped me out, and is really molding me to be better in the future no matter what I’m doing in my life.” Arkansas had not had a first-team pick since Sidney Moncrief in 1978-79 before Acuff was chosen. Dybantsa, the nation’s top scorer at 25.3 points per game, joins Jimmer Fredette and Danny Ainge as the Cougars’ only first-team selections. “When I left the NBA to come to college,” BYU coach Kevin Young said, “one thing I noticed is just a lot of guys, their processing speed was way slower. AJ’s is extremely high. So I can tell him something in the game, or in a film session, and he’s going to carry it over.” Toppin was a second-team All-American for the Red Raiders last season, when he helped them reach the Elite Eight. Now, he is the only first-team pick in Texas Tech history, even though his season ended in February with a torn ACL in his right knee. “JT Toppin is genuine. He’s an unbelievable competitor. He’s real,” Red Raiders coach Grant McCasland said following the injury. “You know how much JT loves our team and how hard he competed and how much he cared about that group. To understand that this is difficult and JT has a long road, to watch him weep and see how much this meant to him is hard. “I’m excited to see what comes of this, because the joy comes in the morning,” McCasland continued. “There’s also a lot of hope in this, and even for JT there’s a lot of hope that he’ll get better because of this.” Second team Braden Smith of Purdue, who needs two assists to break Bobby Hurley’s career Division I record, earned 12 first-team votes and was chosen a second-team All-American. Smith was a first-team pick last season and honorable mention for the 2023-24 season. The senior from Westfield, Indiana, was joined on the second team by Big Ten rivals Jeremy Fears of Michigan State and Keaton Wagler of Illinois. Joshua Jefferson of Iowa State and North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson rounded out the team. Third team Gonzaga senior Graham Ike, an honorable mention pick two years ago, earned third-team honors this season. He was joined on the team by Houston freshman Kingston Flemings, sophomores Christian Anderson of Texas Tech and Labaron Philon Jr. of Alabama, and junior forward Thomas Haugh of Florida. Honorable mention Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries gave Arizona two honorable mention All-Americans this season, and Bennett Stirtz of Iowa earned the honor for the second consecutive year after making it onto the team with Drake last season. Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson, who missed time with injuries this season, also was honorable mention, which is given to the next 10 players and ties after the first three All-American teams. So were Zuby Ejiofor of St. John’s, Rueben Chinyelu of Florida, Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton, Michael Ajayi of Butler, Kansas State’s PJ Haggerty, Ebuka Okorie of Stanford and Tyler Tanner of Vanderbilt. IT ISN’T ONLY FRESHMEN MAKING THIS MARCH MADNESS SPECIAL. HERE ARE TOP PROSPECTS IN OTHER CLASSES This is the type of NCAA Tournament that should delight college basketball and NBA fans alike because it features plenty of guys who figure to be part of an extraordinarily deep draft this summer. It hasn’t always been this way lately. Just two years ago, Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard and UConn’s Stephon Castle were the only two college players selected among the NBA’s first six draft picks. Alabama’s Brandon Miller was the only college player taken in the top five of the 2023 draft. The trend started to change last year, when college players dominated the lottery selections. Two of the top four picks were Duke teammates Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, who now are competing for NBA rookie of the year honors. Even then, two of the top five players taken were Rutgers teammates Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, whose Scarlet Knights failed to reach the NCAA Tournament. This year, college players again figure to dominate the draft, and nearly all of them are competing in March Madness. Most of the attention regarding this draft has focused on the phenomenal freshman class. The No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft almost certainly will be one of three freshmen: BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson or Duke’s Cameron Boozer. Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr., Tennessee’s Nate Ament, Arizona’s Brayden Burries, Houston’s Kingston Flemings and Illinois’ Keaton Wagler are among the other potential lottery picks competing in this tournament as freshmen. In a draft class this deep, there also must be plenty of non-freshmen who should go on to have long NBA careers: Christian Anderson, Texas Tech This 6-foot-3 guard has taken a major step forward in his sophomore season. Anderson is scoring 18.9 points per game, up from 10.6 last season. He was an Associated Press first-team All-Big 12 selection. Anderson is shooting 42.5% from 3-point range while making 3.4 3-point baskets per game. Anderson also has averaged 7.6 assists. He ranks third among all Division I players in assists per game and 13th in 3-pointers per game. Thomas Haugh, Florida Haugh made a combined seven starts his first two years at Florida but has come into his own as a junior. The 6-9 forward has averaged 17.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.1 steals and 1 block while earning AP first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors. He closed the regular season by scoring 22 points in a victory over Arkansas and 20 in a win over Kentucky. Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan The 23-year-old Lendeborg will be older than most players in his draft class, which could cause him to get taken later than his college production would suggest. The 6-foot-9 graduate student and UAB transfer has starred in his lone season with Michigan. He was named the AP Big Ten player of the year. Lendeborg is averaging 14.6 points, 7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 steals. Patrick Ngongba II, Duke The 6-foot-11, 250-pound sophomore has stepped up while playing a complementary role to Boozer. Ngongba has averaged 10.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in just 22.4 minutes per game while shooting 60.2%. He has the ability to impact the game at both ends, first as a strong space-eater inside who can block or alter shots. He also has shown nice touch as a passer (1.9 assists). Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama Philon is a first-team AP All-SEC guard who is scoring 21.7 points per game. The 6-4 sophomore has made 2.3 3-pointers per game and is shooting 40.2% from beyond the arc. He also has 4.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. Philon has scored at least 21 points in each of his last four games, and he has shot 12 of 24 from 3-point range during that stretch. Bennett Stirtz, Iowa Stirtz has made a remarkable transformation from Division II player to NBA prospect. After playing two years at Division II program Northwest Missouri State, Stirtz followed coach Ben McCollum to the Division I level and helped Drake reach the NCAA Tournament. Now he’s back in March Madness with Iowa, again playing for McCollum. Stirtz earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from a league media panel. The 6-4 guard averages 20 points and 4.5 assists per game. FLORIDA’S RUEBEN CHINYELU WANTS TO BE ABLE TO FIX THE TEETH HE COULD KNOCK OUT IN MARCH MADNESS GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida center Rueben Chinyelu is as much a force in the classroom as he is in the paint — a double major and a walking double-double. The 6-foot-10 junior from Nigeria is the second in Southeastern Conference history to be named scholar-athlete of the year and defensive player of the year in the same season, joining former Florida standout Patric Young from 2014. Chinyelu is majoring in biology and sociology, with hopes of becoming a dentist. Yes, the guy most likely to knock out an opponent’s teeth in the upcoming NCAA Tournament also wants to be able to fix them. “I just try to make sure that I’m all business,” said Chinyelu, who boasts a 3.48 GPA. He’s no joke in the lane, either. He can often be found giving opponents the business end of an elbow while dominating down low. Chinyelu ranks third nationally in rebounding, averaging 11.5 boards a game, and is on pace to become the first Florida player in 50 years to average a double-double over the course of a season. He’s averaging 11.2 points. He’s arguably the most important player in Florida’s bid to repeat as national champion, which begins Friday night in nearby Tampa. Sure, fellow big men Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon have better scoring numbers. And point guards Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee make everything run smoothly. But Chinyelu’s physicality sets the tone. “He’s one of the most valuable guys out there, the way he makes teams pay on both sides of the floor even if it is just the way he wears teams down,” coach Todd Golden said. “That shows up. … We feel like we’re playing downhill on some teams because they’re wanting a break. “It’s definitely been a huge value for us all year and something we don’t take for granted.” The Gators are 18-0 this season when Chinyelu records a double-double, reaching double figures in scoring and rebounding. He was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection by The Associated Press and has a chance to be the national defensive player of the year. There are countless clips of Chinyelu scoring in the post, battling for rebounds, blocking shots and infuriating opponents, but the one that could seal the award is the one of him against Alabama in early February. He walled off forward Aiden Sherrell near the basket, prompting a pass back outside, and then picked up speedster Labaron Philon during a ball screen. He shut down every move Philon tried, forcing a pass to fellow guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. He rotated onto Wrightsell amid another screen and covered him so tightly that he forced a shot-clock violation. It was feasibly the most impressive 30 seconds of defensive basketball played this season and quite possibly the best individual effort turned in by anyone — let alone a 260-pound center — in years. “He’s turned himself into one of the best centers in America,” Golden said. “The guy grabs every rebound. I don’t know what to tell you. The maturation and growth that he’s had, just really elevating his game over the course of his time here, has been incredible.” “He’s a tireless worker.” Not just on the court and in the classroom, either. Chinyelu, who grew up idolizing Hall of Famer and fellow Nigerian Hakeem Olajuwon, created a program last offseason to deliver basketball shoes to kids back home. He gets most of them donated from teammates. It’s just the latest step in a journey filled with unexpected turns: his father dying when Chinyelu was 6 years old; landing at the NBA Academy after a stranger suggested he should be playing basketball because of his height; and transferring to Florida after one year at Washington State. He made a huge leap in his second season in Gainesville, bulking up, honing post moves and improving stamina. “To me, it’s just going out there and playing, enjoying the game,” he said. “Whatever comes with it, comes with it.” It could be another national title — and eventually a doctorate in dentistry. That would be the ultimate double-double for the player who is one away from breaking the school mark set in 1976. “It’s a pretty standard thing for Rue now,” Condon said. “I look up in the first half and he’s almost got a double-double every game. It’s a standard that he set for himself now.” MARCH MADNESS HAS BROUGHT NOTHING BUT SADNESS TO NEBRASKA SO FAR. IS THIS THE YEAR THE CURSE ENDS? LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Whenever Pryce Sandfort stops by the downtown Chipotle to grab a bite, someone in line will ask to take a picture with him and offer congratulations on what so far has been the greatest of all Nebraska basketball seasons. Invariably, Sandfort also gets the same question his teammates and players of the past have been asked: Will this be the year the Cornhuskers’ curse is broken? All Sandfort can do is smile and say he hopes so. For all the firsts this season has brought — the 20-0 start, top-five ranking and most conference wins, to name a few — there is one still out there yet to be accomplished that hangs over the program like an albatross. Nebraska is the only school in a power conference that has never won a game in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers are 0-8 on the sport’s biggest stage. “It’s definitely a thing,” said Sam Hoiberg, the fifth-year senior starting guard and son of coach Fred Hoiberg. “It’s not like we don’t talk about it. Everybody knows it.” The Huskers (26-6) will make their ninth appearance in March Madness on Thursday when they play Troy (22-11) in the first round in Oklahoma City. They’re the No. 4 seed in the Midwest Region and 13.5-point favorites against their 13th-seeded opponent from the Sun Belt Conference, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Fans accustomed to having hope turn to heartbreak will find no comfort in the fact No. 4 seeds are 127-33 in the round of 64. After all, the Huskers were a No. 3 seed in 1991 and lost to No. 14 Xavier. The Huskers’ most recent attempt at a breakthrough came in 2024. They lost 98-83 to Texas A&M. Current players Sam Hoiberg, Rienk Mast, Jamarques Lawrence and Cale Jacobsen were on that team and hope the experience serves them well. “I remember just thinking we were going to win because we wanted it more,” Sam Hoiberg said of the A&M game. “We’re the team without the tournament win, only Power Five team without one, you know. You feel that once you get to that position, you’re going to be so desperate it’s going to fall into your hands. That’s not the case.” Fred Hoiberg, who took the last four of his five Iowa State teams to the NCAA Tournament from 2012-15, said winning in the tourney requires sharing the ball, making simple plays, communication on the court, getting back in transition and not giving up easy baskets. Dad’s point is well taken, Sam said. “You just have to do everything in your power to prepare the best you possibly can because you only get one chance at this,” he said. “Especially for Rienk and I, being seniors, it’s our last chance to get this tourney win for this program. I think we’re bringing that urgency and trying to spread that to the rest of the team.” Nebraska started the season on a heater. The Huskers carried momentum from winning the inaugural Crown postseason tournament in Las Vegas in April, and their streak grew to 24 games following their 20-0 start. They are 6-6 since and coming off a first-round blowout loss to eventual champion Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament. “The Big Ten Tournament got away from us against Purdue, but guess what? They’re playing pretty damn good,” Fred Hoiberg said. The Huskers are healthy and will be well-rested with five days since their last game when they play Troy. Undoubtedly, how this special Nebraska season will be remembered hinges on whether the Huskers end the curse. A win certainly would make Sandfort’s interactions with those fans at Chipotle, good as they are now, even better. “It would really suck,” he said, “if we weren’t able to get that first win.” CHARLOTTE FIRES MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH AARON FEARNE AFTER 3 SEASONS CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte 49ers fired head basketball coach Aaron Fearne on Tuesday after he went 47-51 in three seasons at the helm. Charlotte was 17-17 this season and lost 86-64 to South Florida in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament. The 49ers finished tied for fifth in the regular season AAC standings with a 9-9 record. After going 19-12 in Fearne’s first season in 2023-24, the 49ers lost several players through the transfer portal and were 11-22 the following season. Charlotte director of athletics Kevin White said “while difficult, making a head coaching change is necessary to allow for greater success.” White said a search for Fearne’s replacement will begin immediately. REPORT: EASTERN MICHIGAN TABS CLEMSON ASSISTANT BILLY DONLON AS COACH Eastern Michigan has hired Clemson assistant Billy Donlon as its next head basketball coach, CBS Sports reported on Tuesday. The report comes on the heels of the school parting ways with head coach Stan Heath on March 8. Donlon, 49, will take over a team that finished 10-21 overall this season and 4-14 in the Mid-American Conference. He previously posted a 109-94 record as head coach at Wright State from 2010-16 before serving as an assistant under John Beilein at Michigan and Chris Collins at Northwestern. He then became the head coach at Kansas City in 2019, earning a 49-39 mark in three seasons. Donlon joined the staff of Brad Brownell at Clemson before the 2022 season. Heath, a Detroit native, posted a 57-99 record during his time with his alma mater. ====================================================================== WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL BETTS, BLAKES AND STRONG HEADLINE 2025-26 USBWA WOMEN’S ALL-AMERICA TEAM INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) — Senior center Lauren Betts of UCLA, sophomore guard Mikayla Blakes of Vanderbilt, graduate guard Azzi Fudd and sophomore forward Sarah Strong of UConn junior guard Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame headline the 2025-26 U.S. Basketball Writers Association Women’s All-America First Team. The UConn duo has led the Huskies to a 34-0 regular season and the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Betts, a returning first-team USBWA All-American, has helped power UCLA’s to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 16.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game and shooting 57.7 percent from the field. She is the Big Ten Player of the Year and was also an honorable mention All-American two seasons ago. Blakes, the 2024-25 Tamika Catchings National Freshman Player of the Year, produced the most prolific scoring seasons in the country, leading the nation with 27.0 points per game, while adding 4.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds per contest. The sophomore guard is the SEC Player of the Year. Fudd returned to full strength to lead UConn with 17.6 points per game while shooting 44.6 percent from three-point range, second in the country and 95.1 percent (39-for-41) from the free throw line. Hidalgo earned her third USBWA All-America honor and second straight first team nod, averaging 25.2 points (3rd in the nation), 6.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. The junior guard is the ACC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Strong, a third-team All-America selection a season ago, is enjoying a standout sophomore season by averaging 18.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, ranking among the Big East leaders in scoring and rebounding and giving unbeaten (34-0) Connecticut two players on the First Team. Other returning honorees include Madison Booker of Texas (a third No. 1 seed), Audi Crooks of Iowa State, Rori Harmon of Texas, Flau’jae Johnson of LSU, Kiki Rice of UCLA and Olivia Miles of TCU, who was a second-teamer at Notre Dame last season. After twice earning honorable mention, Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers was named to the third team with 15.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Headlining the second team. Crooks is the nation’s second-leading scorer at 25.5 points per game to go with 7.8 rebounds per game. Booker is averaging career-highs in points (18.9), rebounds (6.5) steals (2.5) and field goal percentage (50.5). Jaloni Cambridge of Ohio State is scoring 22.8 points per game (7th) to go with 5.6 rebounds ad 4.6 assists per game. Joyce Edwards of South Carolina, has led the Gamecocks to a No. 1 seed as well, averaging 19.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 68.7 precent from the field. South Carolina is a one-seed for the sixth consecutive season. For the second straight season, LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson has been named to the third team by the USBWA with he 13.2 points and 4.2 assists per game as eight of the ten All-SEC players were honored by the USBWA. Third-teamer Toby Fournier led Duke to the ACC regular-season and conference titles with her 17.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Olivia Olson averages 19.2 points for game for 25-6 Michigan and UCLA’s Kiki Rice complements Betts with 15.6, 6.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. Texas’ Rori Harmon is the first and only player in NCAA Division I women’s basketball to reach 1,500 points, 900 assists, 600 rebounds and 350 steals as she is the programs career leader in assist and steal. Overall, six All-Americans are conference Players of the Year: Betts (Big Ten), Blakes (SEC), Hidalgo (ACC), Crooks (Big 12), Maggie Doogan of Richmond (Atlantic 10) and Brooklyn Meyer of the South Dakota State (Summit League). Meyer is 11th in the country with 22.4 points per game and Doogan is 14th with 21.0 points per game. Including honorable mentions, Connecticut, UCLA, Texas and South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball each placed two players on the 25-player All-America team. The third team includes six players due to a tie in voting and nine players earned honorable mention, including Doonan and Meyer. Following is the complete 2025-26 USBWA Women’s All-America Team: 2025-26 USBWA WOMEN’S ALL-AMERICA TEAM FIRST TEAM (5) Lauren Betts, UCLA C 6-7 Sr. Centennial, Colo. Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt G 5-8 So. Somerset, N.J. Azzi Fudd, Connecticut G 5-11 Gr. Arlington, Va. Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame G 5-6 Jr. Merchantville, N.J. Sarah Strong, Connecticut F 6-2 So. Durham, N.C. SECOND TEAM (5) Madison Booker, Texas F 6-1 Jr. Ridgeland, Miss. Jaloni Cambridge, Ohio State G 5-7 So. Nashville, Tenn. Audi Crooks, Iowa State C 6-3 Jr. Algona, Iowa Joyce Edwards, South Carolina F 6-3 So. Camden, S.C. Olivia Miles, TCU G 5-10 Gr. Phillipsburg, N.J. THIRD TEAM (6) Raegan Beers, Oklahoma C 6-4 Sr. Littleton, Colo. Toby Fournier, Duke F 6-2 So. Toronto, Ontario Rori Harmon, Texas G 5-6 Gr. Houston, Texas Flau’jae Johnson, LSU G 5-10 Sr. Savannah, Ga. Olivia Olson, Michigan G 6-1 So. New Hope, Minn. Kiki Rice, UCLA G 5-11 Sr. Bethesda, Md. HONORABLE MENTION (9): Shay Ciezki, Indiana (G, 5-7, Sr., Buffalo, N.Y.); Jazzy Davidson, USC (G, 6-1, Fr., Clackamas, Ore.); Maggie Doogan, Richmond (F, 6-2, Sr., Broomall, Pa.); Ava Heiden, Iowa (C, 6-4, So., Sherwood, Ore.); Raven Johnson, South Carolina (G/F, 5-9, Sr., Atlanta, Ga.); Liv McGill, Florida (G, 5-9, So., Minneapolis, Minn.); Cotie McManon, Ole Miss (F, 6-0, Sr., Dayton, Ohio); Brooklyn Meyer, South Dakota State (F, 6-2, Sr., Larchwood, Iowa); Clara Strack, Kentucky (C, 6-5, Jr., Buffalo, N.Y.) IOWA’S REBRANDING IS COMPLETE. TWO YEARS AFTER CAITLIN CLARK, HAWKEYES POUNDING POST WITH AVA HEIDEN IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Hawkeyes were primarily a guard-oriented team the last time they were seeded so highly for the women’s NCAA Tournament. Of course, it was just a couple of seasons ago and that guard was Caitlin Clark, college basketball’s all-time leading scorer. The Hawkeyes (26-6), the No. 2 seed in the Sacramento 4 Region, are now led by a post player who came into her own at this point last season and has become one of the top frontcourt players in the nation. Ava Heiden was a first-team All-Big Ten selection at center and goes into Saturday’s first-round game against Fairleigh Dickinson leading the Hawkeyes with 17.4 points per game and shooting 64.7% from the field to rank third nationally. It’s been a big step for the 6-foot-4 sophomore, who averaged just five minutes per game last season but hasn’t missed a start this season. “Just my confidence, really, that’s been the big difference,” Heiden said. Heiden has scored 20 or more points in 11 games, including a four-game stretch against Nebraska, Purdue, Michigan and Illinois in which she averaged 25. It was in the 62-44 win over Michigan on Feb. 22 when Heiden showed just how much she has developed. Her battle with Wolverines’ forward Ashley Sofilkanich became so physical, officials stopped play to lecture them. Later, Heiden scored eight consecutive points, beating Sofilkanich with one move that left her spinning to the court as Heiden made a layup. “That bad-ass, kick-ass mentality, you kind of have to have that,” Iowa coach Jan Jensen said. “I think you kind of have to grow into it. You have to become good, and then you start to take the punches of frustration, and then you either take it, like, ‘I got fouled,’ or kind of give it back. And I think she’s finding that fine line of the competitiveness spirit of the great ones.” Jensen, in her second season as Iowa’s head coach after 24 as Lisa Bluder’s top assistant, has a reputation of developing post players. Heiden has become her latest project. Heiden said Jensen and assistant Randi Henderson excel at coaching the bigs on how to handle double-teams or sagging defenses. “They are just steadfast coaches and people who are a joy to work with,” Heiden said. Heiden began breaking through in the 2025 postseason. She scored 11 points against Michigan State and 10 against Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament, then had 15 points in Iowa’s NCAA Tournament opener against Murray State. Those were her only double-figure scoring games of the season. Heiden only has three single-digit scoring games this season, and hasn’t had one since Iowa’s 90-64 loss to UConn on Dec. 20. Heiden’s emergence has allowed Jensen to move Hannah Stuelke from center to power forward, where she works to get the ball inside to Heiden for easy baskets. “I think in the past years, I didn’t get the chance to show off my passing skills because I was playing the ‘5,’ but now I got this one,” Stuelke said, nodding toward Heiden. “Yeah, she just makes it easy. She always knows how to get open and I just throw it to where she’s open.” TEXAS A NO. 1 SEED IN MARCH MADNESS WITH BOOKER, HARMON AND A FRIENDLY ROAD MAP TO THE FINAL FOUR AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Longhorns roll into the women’s NCAA Tournament with a No. 1 seed and a friendly road map for a return trip to the Final Four. They aren’t the overall No. 1 seed for March Madness. That’s UConn. But with a standout duo of Madison Booker and Rori Harmon, an emerging impact player in Justice Carlton, and the momentum of a romp through the SEC tournament, the Longhorns can make a solid argument they’re the team to beat as they chase the program’s first national title in 40 years. “They’re good enough,” coach Vic Schaefer said. “We’re a veteran team in the right places. Our youth is mature now … This is a team that can do it.” Texas (31-3) opens play Friday against the winner of Wednesday’s First Four matchup between Missouri State (22-12) and Stephen F. Austin (25-9). Should the Longhorns win their first two games on their home court, they’ll make just a 3-hour drive north to Fort Worth for the Sweet 16 and a regional final in front of what would likely be a very pro-Texas crowd. “That’s a pretty big deal to me,” said Harmon, a fifth-year player from the Houston area. “I’m all about my family and traveling and what’s easiest for them.” After a Final Four finish last season, the Longhorns are “extremely” hungry to win that elusive national title, Booker said. “We want to be the last one standing,” she said. Texas’ lone national championship came in 1986 when the Longhorns were the first national title winners to go undefeated. Texas made the Final Four in 2003, then waited 22 years to return, only to get bounced by a thumping loss to SEC rival South Carolina. The Longhorns were determined to get back there. The league coaches made them preseason favorites for the SEC title. They didn’t get that, but won their first league tournament crown. The season started with consecutive wins in consecutive days over UCLA and South Carolina, and closed with that rollicking win over the Gamecocks. “I’ve seen us peak a lot in the past few games, even in practice,” Harmon said. “The challenge is to play even better.” Carlton delivering standout moments Booker, a pre-season All-American, led Texas with an 18.9-point average this season and was the MVP of the SEC Tournament. She and Harmon, a fifth-year point guard who averages 6.2 assists, are the engine that drives Texas in the locker room and on the court. But’s it’s been Carlton’s scoring potential that gives them the occasional turbo boost. She scored 10 points in the first quarter of a win over Georgia, 12 in the first quarter of a win over Kentucky, and nine in the first quarter of a win over Oklahoma. In the SEC tournament title game, Carlton knocked South Carolina on their heels with 13 points in the first quarter on 6-of-7 shooting. The Gamecocks never recovered. Texas needs more of that. Carlton has started 23 consecutive games and her production has been up and down. She averages 8.7 points and four rebounds, but hasn’t posted consecutive double-figure scoring games since December. After playing just three minutes in Texas’ last four NCAA Tournament games last season, Carlton enters this one with the confidence that she can light up the basket in an instant. “I do really enjoy that punch-first mentality,” Carlton said after the SEC championship game. Schaefer’s stings, zings and praise The regular season wasn’t as easy as the Longhorns’ record suggests. The toughest moments and criticism often came from their own coach. Schaefer benched Harmon for most the fourth quarter in regular-season losses at LSU and Vanderbilt. After an 18-point loss in Nashville on Feb. 12, he went on a postgame rant that questioned his team’s heart and called the Longhorns “probably the softest team I’ve had in years.” Texas hasn’t lost since and Schaefer has softened around the edges a bit. The 65-year-old has been to the Final Four three times, but has yet to win a championship. “They just keep winning … I think we’re playing our best basketball,” Schaefer said. “You know, none of us are perfect and we all have our days, but these kids are special.” ====================================================================== NBA NBA ROUNDUP: SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER NETS 40 AS THUNDER CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points to lead the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder to a 113-108 win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday. The Thunder clinched their third consecutive playoff appearance with the victory, becoming the first team this season to do so. Chet Holmgren added 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the Thunder, while Ajay Mitchell was the only other Oklahoma City player in double figures with 16. All five Orlando starters finished in double figures, led by Paolo Banchero, who scored 32 points and added a team-best 10 rebounds. Desmond Bane added 16 points. The Magic have dropped back-to-back games after winning seven straight. Knicks 136, Pacers 110 Josh Hart had one of the most prolific games of his career, when he scored 33 points to lead surging New York to a win over visiting Indiana. Hart was 12 of 13 from the field, including 5 of 5 from 3-point land. The 33 points were the second most of Hart’s nine-year career. Hart, who sat out the fourth quarter, added seven rebounds and five assists as the Knicks extended their winning streak to four games. Karl-Anthony Towns (22 points, 11 rebounds) and Jose Alvarado (16 points, 10 assists) each posted double-doubles for the Knicks. T.J. McConnell (10 points, 10 assists) recorded a double-double while Jarace Walker scored a team-high 16 points for the Pacers, who suffered their franchise-record 14th straight loss. Indiana, which is in last place in the Eastern Conference, also had a 13-game skid earlier this year. Nuggets 124, 76ers 96 Christian Braun had 22 points, Cameron Johnson scored 18 and host Denver used a big first half to rout short-handed Philadelphia. Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray and Bruce Brown finished with 12 points each and Nikola Jokic had 14 assists for the Nuggets, who never trailed and led 72-40 at halftime. MarJon Beauchamp scored 16 points to top the 76ers, whose two-game win streak ended. Philadelphia was without Joel Embiid (oblique), Kelly Oubre Jr. (elbow) and Tyrese Maxey (finger). Spurs 132, Kings 104 Victor Wembanyama scored 18 points in just 22 minutes, Keldon Johnson came off the bench for an additional 18 and San Antonio wasted no time distancing themselves from host Sacramento. Stephon Castle finished with a game-high 12 assists and Luke Kornet a game-high 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who used a 19th win in their last 21 games to remain three games back of the Oklahoma City Thunder atop the Western Conference standings. Former Kings Harrison Barnes (16) and De’Aaron Fox (15) combined for 31 points as San Antonio swept the three-game season series. Maxime Raynaud exploded for a season-best 32 points to go with a team-high nine rebounds for the Kings, who had won four of their last five. The rookie made 13 of his 25 shots. Timberwolves 116, Suns 104 Julius Randle scored 32 points on 10-for-17 shooting and Minnesota pulled away for a win over Phoenix in Minneapolis. Bones Hyland added 22 points off the bench for Minnesota, which bounced back from a 13-point road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in its previous game. Ayo Dosunmu finished with 19 points, and Jaden McDaniels contributed 16. Devin Booker scored 34 points in 35 minutes to lead Phoenix, which dropped its third game in a row. Oso Ighodaro tallied 16 points and Collin Gillespie scored 12 despite missing nine of his 13 shots from the field. Hornets 136, Heat 106 LaMelo Ball pumped in 30 points and distributed 13 assists as Charlotte opened a seven-game homestand with a victory against Miami. Coby White’s 24 points and Kon Kneuppel’s 22 points also boosted Charlotte (35-34), which was coming off a 2-2 road trip. Brandon Miller had 16 points and Miles Bridges added 14 points. Tyler Herro led the Heat with 20 points while Norman Powell had 17 points, Keshad Johnson supplied 15 points, Pelle Larsson notched 14 points and Simone Fontecchio ended up with 10 points. Miami (38-31) has lost two in a row since its seven-game winning streak. Pistons 130, Wizards 117 Jalen Duren scored a career-high 36 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as visiting Detroit overcame an early exit by star Cade Cunningham to defeat Washington. Daniss Jenkins scored 15 points, Tobias Harris added 12 and Ronald Holland II had 11 for Detroit, which handed Washington its 13th straight loss. Cunningham exited the game midway through the opening quarter due to back spasms and did not return. Bub Carrington scored 21 of his season-high 30 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Wizards. Carrington shot 12-for-16 from the field and matched his season high with six 3-pointers. Cavaliers 123, Bucks 116 Evan Mobley scored 27 points and grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds, and James Harden had 27 points and six assists as Cleveland took control in the final seven minutes to win at Milwaukee. The Cavaliers scored eight straight points in a 70-second span midway through the final period to seize a 108-100 lead, then powered home for their 11th win in 15 games with Harden in the lineup. Kevin Porter Jr. had 25 points and 10 assists, and Bobby Portis Jr., Ousmane Dieng and Ryan Rollins scored 19 points apiece for the Bucks, who fell to 2-9 since Feb. 27. ====================================================================== NFL BRONCOS GET STAR WIDE RECEIVER JAYLEN WADDLE FROM DOLPHINS IN A BLOCKBUSTER TRADE, AP SOURCES SAY The Denver Broncos have acquired standout wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in a blockbuster deal that sends three draft picks to the Miami Dolphins, including a first-rounder, two people with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Both spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced. The Dolphins will receive the 30th overall pick in next month’s NFL draft along with picks in the third and fourth rounds. Denver will get Miami’s fourth-rounder along with Waddle. The Broncos were the only team not to sign a free agent outside of retaining their own players before making this deal. Waddle gives Bo Nix another main playmaker along with Courtland Sutton, boosting a passing offense that finished 11th in the NFL last season. The Broncos were the AFC’s No. 1 seed last season but lost to New England in the AFC championship game without Nix, who broke his ankle in a game against Buffalo in the divisional round. Waddle, a first-round pick in 2021, had three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons to begin his career but hasn’t reached that total since 2023. The 27-year-old Waddle has averaged 81 receptions, 1,098 yards receiving and six touchdowns over his five-year career. He had a career-high 104 catches as a rookie and had 1,356 yards receiving in 2022 when he led the NFL with 18.1 yards per catch. Overall, Waddle has 373 receptions for 5,039 yards and 26 TDs. The rebuilding Dolphins previously released five-time All-Pro wideout Tyreek Hill and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. They fired coach Mike McDaniel after going 7-10 last season and hired Jeff Hafley to replace him. Miami invested $45 million guaranteed in Malik Willis to replace Tagovailoa. COMMANDERS SIGN FREE-AGENT WR VAN JEFFERSON The Washington Commanders continued to build depth through free agency and signed veteran wide receiver Van Jefferson on Tuesday. The team did not announce terms of the deal. Jefferson played his first three-plus seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, who selected him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He won Super Bowl LVI with Los Angeles following the 2021 season. The Rams traded him to the Falcons on Oct. 10, 2023, for a late-round draft pick, and he appeared in 12 games with Atlanta. Single seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans followed. With Tennessee in 2025, Jefferson appeared in 16 games (seven starts) and caught 29 passes for 350 yards and a touchdown. In 94 career games (54 starts), Jefferson has 166 receptions, 2,226 receiving yards and 13 scores. REPORTS: EAGLES ADD WR MARQUISE ‘HOLLYWOOD’ BROWN Wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is signing a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, multiple media outlets reported on Tuesday. The reported addition of one wide receiver with the last name of Brown comes as talks center about the possible departure of another in A.J. Brown. The Eagles also have DeVonta Smith, however the depth drops from there with Jahan Dotson, a returning-to-health Johnny Wilson and Darius Cooper in the wings. Marquise Brown, 28, recorded 49 catches for 587 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games (six starts) last season with the Kansas City Chiefs. NFL Network reported his deal with Philadelphia is worth up to $6.5 million. He has 371 catches for 4,322 yards and 33 touchdowns in 90 career games (72 starts) with the Baltimore Ravens (2019-21), Arizona Cardinals (2022-23) and Chiefs (2024-25). The Ravens drafted him 25th overall in 2019. REPORT: TEXANS REACH 2-YEAR DEAL WITH G WYATT TELLER Three-time Pro Bowl guard Wyatt Teller agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract with the Houston Texans, NFL Network reported on Tuesday. The deal carries a maximum value of $23 million with playing time incentives, per the report. Teller, 31, started all 13 games he played last season with Cleveland and 101 of the 109 in his career with the Buffalo Bills (2018) and Browns (2019-25). He made three straight Pro Bowls from 2021-23. Texans general manager Nick Caserio attempted to sign Elgton Jenkins, per the Houston Chronicle, however the Browns signed the two-time Pro Bowl left guard to a two-year, $24 million contract on March 10. ====================================================================== BASEBALL EUGENIO SUAREZ, VENEZUELA EDGE USA TO CAPTURE FIRST WBC CROWN MIAMI — Eugenio Suarez’s double in the top of the ninth drove in the tiebreaking run that led Venezuela to its first-ever World Baseball Classic championship with a 3-2 win over the United States on Tuesday night. Daniel Palencia sealed the victory in the bottom of the ninth when he worked a 1-2-3 inning to pick up his second save in as many nights and third of the tournament. Maikel Garcia, who drove in the game’s first run on a sacrifice fly, was named the MVP. He led the tournament with 10 hits while batting .385 with one homer and seven RBIs. “Every Venezuelan knows the effort we put in, and from where we come from,” said catcher Salvador Perez, the team captain. “Even in the smallest parts of Venezuela, people were supporting us. Even people watching on little black-and-white TVs, on their knees, supporting us. I just want to tell those people, ‘Thank you, from the bottom of my heart,’ for their support. We felt so much positivity. And even the ones who weren’t positive with us, I thank them for motivating us.” Team USA lost in the WBC final for the second consecutive time, again failing to win what would have been its second Classic championship. The United States, which won the 2017 title, lost 3-2 in the 2023 final to Japan. “I would love to do it again. I would love to get over the finish line. Not only two times, but (losing) 3-2 each time,” USA manager Mark DeRosa said after the loss when asked if he would manage the team again if asked to do so. “Why? Because if you saw how hurting those guys are in that locker room now, you’d know why. The tidal wave of emotion that this WBC has become. … It’s a special group to be a part of, and I’m proud of the way we represented the USA.” Venezuela, which had never previously advanced to the final, beat defending champion Japan in the quarterfinals, then knocked out the Cinderella team of the tournament, first-time semifinalist Italy, before defeating the U.S. “This is a moment of pride and it’s unforgettable,” Venezuela’s Luis Arraez said. “… Getting this win makes me so proud because we’re dedicating this to our country, which really needs to feel this right now. “It’s amazing to do this especially in Miami. We got so much support from the people from Venezuela and a lot of Latin people here.” Suarez belted a 3-2 changeup from Garrett Whitlock (0-1) into the left-center-field gap with no outs, driving in Javier Sanoja with the go-ahead run. Sanoja entered the game as a pinch runner after Arraez worked a leadoff walk. Sanoja stole second, setting up the scoring opportunity for Venezuela. “From the dugout, I was just making sure I supported my teammates and stayed ready,” Sanoja said. “My moment came and I was ready to steal that base. It was a pitch we felt we could run, and (Whitlock) made a slow delivery and I felt it was a perfect decision.” Venezuela’s ninth-inning rally came immediately after Bryce Harper’s 432-foot, two-run homer off reliever Andres Machado (1-0) put Team USA on the board, tying the game at 2 in the eighth. The home run broke a string of 21-plus scoreless innings by Venezuelan relievers. “I knew he was going to have a moment,” DeRosa said of Harper. “That’s who he is. He has the ability to have big moments in big spots. “It hurts. We spent a special moment in my office after the game. I’ve watched him grow up in his career. I was just proud he was part of the team.” Other than Harper’s home run, Venezuela pitchers combined to allow only two hits to the powerful United States lineup. Eduardo Rodriguez started for Venezuela and yielded just one hit and one walk over 4 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out four. Eduard Bazardo, Jose Butto and Angel Zerpa permitted only one hit over a combined 2 1/3 relief innings. Venezuela struck first with a run in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Garcia that scored Perez, who singled to start the frame. Wilyer Abreu’s 414-foot solo home run to center field off USA starter Nolan McLean in the fifth gave Venezuela a 2-0 lead. McLean gave up two runs on four hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings. He fanned four. SPRING TRAINING ROUNDUP: OFFSEASON ACQUISITIONS SHINE AS TIGERS, ORIOLES TIE Offseason acquisitions Justin Verlander and Chris Bassitt set the tone on the mound as the Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles battled to a 1-1 tie in spring training action Tuesday at Lakeland, Fla. The 43-year-old Verlander, who won his first of his three Cy Young Awards with the Tigers in 2011, returned to Detroit this offseason and struck out six while walking none over 4 1/3 innings of one-run work to lower his spring ERA to 5.40. Bassitt, 37, signed with the Orioles after spending the last three years with Toronto. He was even better in his start, allowing no runs on three hits with four strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings to lower his ERA to 2.51. Bryan Ramos provided Baltimore’s only run with a fifth-inning homer, while Detroit’s sole run came on an eighth-inning wild pitch from Jose Espada which scored Max Clark. The teams each stranded eight runners and were a combined 0-for-16 with runners in scoring position. Yankees 3, Rays 2 Jacob Morales’ two-run single in the ninth pushed New York past Tampa Bay in Port Charlotte, Fla. J.C. Escarra (3-for-4) added a solo homer for the Yankees, who preserved their one-run lead when Kervin Castro worked around the tying run at second base with no outs for his second save. Raynel Delgado cut the 3-1 lead in half with a ninth-inning single, and Ben Williamson drove in a run with an RBI groundout. Ryan Pepiot issued more walks (three) than strikeouts (two), but he allowed just one run over five innings to maintain his spring ERA at an impressive 0.90. Mets 5, Marlins 5 Bo Bichette drove in all five New York RBIs with two extra-base hits, but Jacob Jenkins-Cowart’s eighth-inning homer helped Miami come away with a tie in Jupiter, Fla. Bichette, who signed a three-year, $126 million contract in January, hit his unofficial first homer as a Met and surpassed his RBI total (three) from his first 11 spring games combined. Sean Manaea tossed four perfect innings in his start. Jenkins-Cowart’s three-run homer paired with an Esteury Ruiz sacrifice fly helped the Marlins rally from a 5-1 deficit in the final three innings. Ace Sandy Alcantara (5.63 ERA) continued an underwhelming spring showing, allowing two runs over four innings. Red Sox 4, Braves 3 Nate Eaton’s two-run single in the fourth put Boston ahead for good in its defeat of Atlanta in Fort Myers, Fla. Carlos Narvaez recorded the other two RBIs on a groundout and a single for Boston, which got a two-hit day that included a triple from Trevor Story. The No. 1 Red Sox prospect per MLB Pipeline, Payton Tolle, preserved the win with five strikeouts over four scoreless relief innings for a hold. Brett Wisely, Kyle Farmer and Jordan Groshans each had RBI singles for the prospect-laden Braves squad. Reynaldo Lopez struck out six and allowed three runs over 3 2/3 innings but still has a 2.84 ERA this spring. Nationals 1, Cardinals 0 Jake Irvin tossed five scoreless frames to set the tone for Washington’s four-hit shutout of St. Louis in West Palm Beach, Fla. Irvin struck out five and scattered three hits, while Brady House plated the only run of the game on a first-inning double, his sixth of spring. The Cardinals got a similarly strong start from former Dodgers and Red Sox pitcher Dustin May, who allowed one run over five innings. The top four hitters in the Cardinals’ lineup were 0-for-12 with six strikeouts. Phillies 2, Twins 0 Adolis Garcia knocked in both runs of Philadelphia’s shutout victory over Minnesota in Clearwater, Fla. The former Ranger, signed to be Nick Castellanos’ replacement, went 4-for-4 with a homer, accounting for over half of the Phillies’ seven hits. Jesus Luzardo’s five shutout innings headed the combined shutout by five different pitchers and lowered his ERA to 2.31. Brooks Lee had two of Minnesota’s six hits, all of which were singles. Bailey Ober suffered a tough-luck first loss of spring, allowing one run on two hits over four innings. Astros 10, Pirates 2 Top-11 Houston prospects Brice Matthews and Zach Cole cranked back-to-back homers to spark a runaway victory over Pittsburgh in Bradenton, Fla. Shay Whitcomb added a pair of RBI singles for the Astros, who also got a two-run single from Cavan Biggio, who signed a minor league contract with his dad’s longtime team this offseason. Lance McCullers Jr. (3.38 ERA) allowed one run over four innings. After a strong start to spring, Pirates starter Mitch Keller was lit up for six runs over four innings of work, striking out six but walking four. Pittsburgh mainstay Bryan Reynolds provided the team’s only run-scoring hit of the day, an RBI single in the third. WHITE SOX RHP MIKE VASIL TO HAVE TOMMY JOHN SURGERY Chicago White Sox right-hander Mike Vasil will have Tommy John surgery in the coming weeks, the team announced Tuesday. Vasil, who turns 26 on Thursday, will miss the entire 2026 season. He departed Saturday’s preseason game with right elbow soreness after throwing 3 2/3 scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing two hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Vasil made his major league debut last season and finished 5-3 with a 2.50 ERA in 47 games (three starts) for the White Sox, striking out 82 batters and walking 52 in 101 innings. He added four saves. The New York Mets drafted Vasil in the eighth round in 2021 out of Virginia. Chicago selected him off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays last March. ====================================================================== NHL NHL ROUNDUP: NIKITA KUCHEROV (3 G, 2 A) STEERS LIGHTNING PAST KRAKEN Nikita Kucherov scored three goals and added two assists as the Tampa Bay Lightning routed the host Seattle Kraken 6-2 on Tuesday. Brandon Hagel had a goal and three assists, Anthony Cirelli posted a goal and two assists and Gage Goncalves added one of each for the Lightning in the opener of a four-game trip. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 16 saves as Tampa Bay earned just its second win in five games. Bobby McMann and Jared McCann scored for Seattle, which had a modest two-game winning streak end. Philipp Grubauer stopped 19 of 24 shots. Wild 4, Blackhawks 3 (OT) Mats Zuccarello scored at 3:09 of overtime and Marcus Johansson had a goal and two assists as visiting Minnesota defeated Chicago to stop a three-game losing streak. Brock Faber earned three assists for the Wild, who ended an 0-2-1 run. Minnesota’s Ryan Hartman and Vladimir Tarasenko also scored, and Filip Gustavsson finished with 21 saves despite a brief exit. The Wild improved to 3-0-0 against the Blackhawks, with each meeting needing OT or a shootout and ending with the same final score. Chicago’s Frank Nazar forced overtime with a goal at 18:20 of the third period. Nazar and Louis Crevier each produced a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks, and Ryan Greene also scored. Sabres 2, Golden Knights 0 Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 28 saves en route to his first shutout of the season as Buffalo prevailed in Las Vegas. Josh Doan and Josh Norris scored the goals for the Sabres, who improved to 18-2-1 in their past 21 road games and earned their 10th win in 11 games overall since the Winter Olympics break. Luukkonen recorded his eighth career shutout. Vegas goalie Adin Hill, making his fifth consecutive start and coming off his first shutout of the season, stopped 23 of 24 shots. The Golden Knights had a two-game winning streak snapped. Blue Jackets 5, Hurricanes 1 Charlie Coyle collected a goal and three assists to help the surging Columbus extend its point streak to 10 games with a victory over visiting Carolina. Mason Marchment joined Coyle in converting on the power play in the first period. Danton Heinen and Denton Mateychuk scored 34 seconds apart in the second, and Mathieu Olivier tallied in the third as the Blue Jackets improved to 6-0-4 in their last 10 games. Adam Fantilli and Cole Sillinger each notched two assists for Columbus, and Jet Greaves made 27 saves. Andrei Svechnikov scored a goal in the second period and Brandon Bussi turned aside 25 shots for the Eastern Conference-leading Hurricanes, who have lost three of their past five games. Islanders 3, Maple Leafs 1 Calum Ritchie had a goal and an assist as visiting New York defeated Toronto. Brayden Schenn and Emil Heineman also scored for the Islanders, who have won four of five. Mathew Barzal posted three assists, and Ilya Sorokin stopped 26 shots. Steven Lorentz scored for the Maple Leafs, who are 2-1-1 in the past four games. Joseph Woll made 31 saves. Predators 4, Jets 3 (SO) Ryan O’Reilly scored the lone goal in the shootout as the Nashville battled for a win at Winnipeg. Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist for the Predators, who are 2-1-1 in their past four games. Erik Haula and Matthew Wood also scored while Jonathan Marchessault had two assists. Juuse Saros made 36 saves. Winnipeg’s Jonathan Toews tied the game with 1:01 remaining in regulation when Connor Hellebuyck (20 saves) was pulled for an extra skater. Gabriel Vilardi had a goal and an assist, Josh Morrissey scored and Kyle Connor tallied three assists for the Jets, who had won two straight home games. Canadiens 3, Bruins 2 (OT) Cole Caufield’s goal with 22 seconds left in overtime propelled Montreal to a win over visiting Boston. Caufield, who scored for the 40th time this season, and Nick Suzuki each logged a goal and an assist, Josh Anderson also scored, and Jakub Dobes made 26 saves for Montreal, which had lost back-to-back games. Pavel Zacha scored both goals for the Bruins, including one on the power play. Jeremy Swayman stopped 28 shots in Boston’s fifth game out of six decided beyond regulation (2-1-3). Canucks 5, Panthers 2 Marco Rossi had a goal and two assists for Vancouver in a win against visiting Florida. Elias Pettersson scored twice, Brock Boeser had three assists and Kevin Lankinen made 21 saves for the Canucks, who have won two of three. Vancouver also got goals from Aatu Raty and Drew O’Connor. Matthew Tkachuk registered a goal and an assist, Sam Bennett also scored, Carter Verhaeghe had two assists, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 17 saves for the Panthers, who have lost two in a row. Oilers 5, Sharks 3 Max Jones and Zach Hyman scored 3:23 apart early in the third period as Edmonton picked up two vital points in a victory over visiting San Jose. Adam Henrique had two assists for Edmonton, which won its second straight. Connor Murphy scored his first goal with the Oilers after being acquired ahead of the trade deadline, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Vasily Podkolzin also tallied. Connor Ingram made 27 saves to improve to 4-0-1 in March. Kiefer Sherwood and Dmitry Orlov each notched one goal and one assist for the Sharks, who fell seven points behind the Oilers. Pavol Regenda also scored and Alex Nedeljkovic turned away 32 shots as San Jose lost for the fifth time in seven games (2-3-2). ====================================================================== GOLF WEEKLY VALSPAR GETS A STRONG FIELD AFTER THE PLAYERS AND LIV GOLF GOES TO SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE FIRST TIME PGA Tour VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP Site: Palm Harbor, Florida. Course: Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead). Yardage: 7,352. Par: 71. Prize money: $9.1 million. Winner’s share: $1,638,000. Television: Thursday-Friday, 2-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (NBC). Defending champion: Viktor Hovland. FedEx Cup leader: Jacob Bridgeman. Last week: Cameron Young won The Players Championship. Notes: For a tournament that follows the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship, the field is remarkably strong. Xander Schauffele is the only player from the top 10, but Valspar has nine of the top 25. … The field includes 12 former major champions. … Brooks Koepka has tied for ninth and tied for 13th in his last two PGA Tour events. He is in the field, meaning two players (Seamus Power and Matt Kuchar) were added to the field. … Only two weeks remain before the top 50 in the world ranking not already eligible get Masters invitations. Among those on the bubble are Nicolai Hojgaard (No. 47) and Pierceson Coody (No. 52). … The Copperhead course at Innisbrook is regarded as among the top tournament courses in Florida with occasional elevation and tree-lined fairways. … Patrick Cantlay is playing for the first since he was runner-up in 2017 that sewed up his card as he returned from a severe back injury. Next week: Texas Children’s Houston Open. Online: https://www.pgatour.com/ ___ LPGA Tour FORTINET FOUNDERS CUP Site: Menlo Park, California. Course: Sharon Heights GC. Yardage: 6,542. Par: 72. Prize money: $3 million. Winner’s share: $450,000. Television: Thursday-Sunday, 6-9 p.m. (Golf Channel). Defending champion: Yealimi Noh. Race to CME Globe leader: Jeeno Thitikul. Last tournament: Mi Hwang Lee won the Blue Bay LPGA. Notes: The LPGA returns to the U.S. after three tournaments in Asia. The Founders Cup kicks off a stretch of four big tournaments leading up to its first major of the year at The Chevron. … A pair of major champions won last week when the LPGA was off. Hannah Green (2019 Women’s PGA) won the Women’s Australian Open and Jeongeun Lee6 (2019 U.S. Women’s Open) won on the Epson Tour. Lee6 is an alternate for the Founders Cup. … The field features eight of the top 10 from the women’s ranking, missing only Green and Charley Hull. … Nelly Korda plays for the first time since she won the season opener that was reduced to 54 holes. It was Korda’s first win since 2024. She has played only 34 times on the LPGA the last two years. … Sharon Heights is hosting top professionals for the first time. The club opened in 1962 and went through a renovation project that was completed two years ago. … The LPGA last visited the Bay Area in 2021 at Lake Merced. Next week: Ford Championship. Online: https://www.lpga.com/ ___ LIV Golf League LIV GOLF SOUTH AFRICA Site: Midrand, South Africa. Course: The Club at Steyn City. Yardage: 7,557. Par: 71. Prize money: $20 million. Winner’s share: $4 million. Television: Thursday-Friday, 6-8 a.m. (FS1), 8-11 a.m. (FS2); Saturday, 6-11 a.m. (FOX); Sunday, 6-11 a.m. (FS1). Defending champion: New event. Points leader: Jon Rahm. Last week: Bryson DeChambeau won LIV Golf Singapore. Notes: This is the third week in a row for LIV Golf and its first event in South Africa. Officials say 90,000 tickets had been sold going into the week. … Phil Mickelson makes his 2026 debut having missed the opening four LIV events with a family health matter. … Through four events this year, LIV Golf winners have been a young newcomer (Elvis Smylie), a great comeback story (Anthony Kim) and its two biggest stars (Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau). … 4Aces and Ripper are the only teams that have won this year, each with two team titles. … The Club at Steyn held a tournament in 2022 that was co-sanctioned by the European tour and Sunshine Tour and won by Shaun Norris. … This is the final LIV Golf event before the Masters. … The home team for this event will be Southern Guard (formerly Stinger) led by Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace, Charl Schwartzel and Dean Burmester. Next tournament: LIV Golf Mexico City on April 16-19. Online: https://www.livgolf.com/ ___ European tour HAINAN CLASSIC Site: Hainan Island, China. Course: Mission Hills Resort (Haikou). Yardage: 7,637. Par: 72. Prize money: $2.55 million. Winner’s share: $425,000. Television: None. Previous winner: Marco Penge. Race to CME Globe leader: Patrick Reed. Last tournament: Dan Bradbury won the Joburg Open. Notes: The Hainan Classic begins the Asia swing portion of the European tour schedule with China and India before the Masters, followed by China and Turkey. … Marco Penge won the first of his three European tour titles at Hainan Island last year. He wound up second on the Race to Dubai to earn a PGA Tour card. … Thriston Lawrence of South Africa is the only player from the top 100 in the world playing in China this week. Lawrence is at No. 89 and is coming off consecutive missed cuts in South Africa. … Calum Hill of Scotland had consecutive runner-up finishes during the Middle East swing in Bahrain and Qatar. He is in the field at the Hainan Classic and is at No. 10 in the Race to Dubai standings. … Five players from Europe’s winning Ryder Cup team finished in the top 10 at The Players Championship last week — Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Aberg, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood and Sepp Straka. Next week: Hero Indian Open. Online: https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/ ___ PGA Tour Champions COLOGUARD CLASSIC Site: Tucson, Arizona. Course: La Paloma CC. Yardage: 6,586. Par: 71. Prize money: $2.2 million. Winner’s share: $330,000. Television: Friday, 4-7 p.m. (Golf Channel app), 10 p.m. to midnight (Golf Channel-Tape Delay); Saturday, 3-6 p.m. (Golf Channel), 6-7 p.m. (Golf Channel app); Sunday, 3-6 p.m. (Golf Channel). Defending champion: Steve Alker. Charles Schwab Cup leader: Stewart Cink. Last tournament: Zach Johnson won the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational. Notes: The PGA Tour Champions starts a two-week swing in the west (Arizona and California) before returning to Florida for the first major of the year at the Senior PGA Championship. … This will be the third year at Paloma Country Club. … Zach Johnson makes his second start since turning 50. He won in his PGA Tour Champions debut in Florida two weeks ago. … The tournament began in 2015 after Tucson previously hosted a PGA Tour event that ended in 2006. … Now in its 12th year, the Cologuard Classic has never had a multiple winner. … The sponsor exemptions went to Mario Tiziani and Rob Labritz. … David Duval won in Tucson in 1998, a year in which he won a PGA Tour event in the winter, spring, summer and fall. … Stewart Cink still leads the Schwab Cup. … Americans make up two-thirds of the field on the PGA Tour Champions this week. … Fred Couples is in the field. He typically has played no more than 10 times a season the last couple of years. Next week: Hoag Classic. Online: https://www.pgatour.com/pgatour-champions ___ Korn Ferry Tour Last week: Doc Redman won the Astara Chile Classic. Next week: Club Car Championship. Points leader: Ian Holt. Online: https://www.pgatour.com/korn-ferry-tour ___ Other tours Epson Tour: Orlando Health Championship, Grasslands Golf & CC, Lakeland, Florida. Defending champion: New tournament. Online: https://www.epsontour.com/ Ladies European Tour: Australia WPGA Championship, Sanctuary Cove Golf and CC, Hope Island, Australia. Television: Saturday-Sunday, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. (Golf Channel app). Previous winner: Su Oh. Online: https://ladieseuropeantour.com/ Challenge Tour: DP World PGTI Open, Classic Golf & CC, Haryana, India. Defending champion: Quim Vidal. Online: https://www.europeantour.com/hotelplanner-tour/ Japan LPGA: V Point SMBC Ladies, Murasaki CC (Sumrie), Chiba, Japan. Defending champion: Yuri Yoshida. Online: https://www.lpga.or.jp/en/ =================================================================== INDIANA SPORTS TEAM RELEASES INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL CLASS 2A SEMI-STATE PREVIEW Follow the Tournament Every Day on IndianaSRN Sports Championship dreams are on the line as four winners from Saturday’s Semi-State will punch their ticket to the State Finals. Class 2A features several powerhouse programs along with teams making exciting tournament runs. CLASS 2A SEMI-STATE Muncie Fieldhouse – Saturday Game 1 – 10:00 AM FORT WAYNE BISHOP LUERS VS OAK HILL FORT WAYNE BISHOP LUERS KNIGHTS A program with strong tournament experience. Physical defense and disciplined half-court offense. Known for controlling tempo and playing smart basketball. Keys for Bishop Luers Limit Oak Hill’s transition game Strong defensive pressure Execute in the half court OAK HILL GOLDEN EAGLES One of the most balanced teams left in Class 2A. Excellent shooting and strong rebounding. Comfortable playing at a faster pace. Keys for Oak Hill Push the tempo Win the rebounding battle Shoot well from the perimeter Game Outlook Expect a contrast in styles: Bishop Luers wants to slow it down, while Oak Hill will try to speed things up. Game 2 – 12:00 PM WESTVIEW VS LAPEL WESTVIEW WARRIORS Strong defensive team that thrives in close games. Disciplined offense and excellent ball movement. Keys for Westview Control turnovers Make the extra pass Lock down defensively LAPEL BULLDOGS One of the most explosive offenses in the class. Strong outside shooting and quick transition offense. Keys for Lapel Push pace early Knock down threes Maintain defensive intensity Game Outlook This game could turn into a scoring battle if Lapel gets its offense rolling. CLASS 2A SEMI-STATE Southport Fieldhouse – Saturday Game 1 – 10:00 AM PARKE HERITAGE VS TRITON CENTRAL PARKE HERITAGE WOLVES A tough and disciplined squad. Plays strong defense and rebounds well. Keys for Parke Heritage Slow the pace Control the boards Limit turnovers TRITON CENTRAL TIGERS Athletic team capable of big scoring runs. Likes to play fast and create offense in transition. Keys for Triton Central Speed up the game Force turnovers Get easy transition points Game Outlook This matchup may come down to which team controls the tempo. Game 2 – 12:00 PM LINTON-STOCKTON VS AUSTIN LINTON-STOCKTON MINERS A proud basketball program with deep tournament history. Strong defense and excellent perimeter shooting. Keys for Linton-Stockton Defensive pressure Hit outside shots Experience in big moments AUSTIN EAGLES A team that has battled through the tournament with toughness. Balanced scoring and solid rebounding. Keys for Austin Physical play inside Limit second-chance points Control pace Game Outlook This matchup features two teams that know how to win in March. ===================================================================== IndianaSRN Tournament Coverage Follow IndianaSRN Sports every day for: Semi-State previews Tournament highlights Team breakdowns State Finals coverage Next Preview: Class 3A Semi-State Preview – Thursday on IndianaSRN Sports ===================================================================== COLTS FOOTBALL COLTS SIGN NOTRE DAME BASKETBALL PLAYER CARSON TOWT AS TE The Indianapolis Colts signed Notre Dame basketball player Carson Towt as a free agent tight end on Tuesday. Towt, 24, did not play football in high school or college. A 6-foot-8, 250-pound forward, he averaged 5.9 points and a team-high 9.0 rebounds in 31 games during his lone season with the Fighting Irish in 2025-26. Towt played four seasons at Northern Arizona before transferring to South Bend, leading all Division I players with 12.4 rebounds per game and 423 total rebounds in 2024-25. Indianapolis has a mentor in place with veteran tight end Mo Alie-Cox, who followed a similar path after playing college basketball at VCU and joining the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Alie-Cox, 32, has 127 career catches for 1,550 yards and 16 touchdowns in 125 games (53 starts) for the Colts. COLTS SIGN FREE AGENT CB CAM TAYLOR-BRITT The Colts on Tuesday signed cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt. Taylor-Britt, 26, spent the first four seasons of his pro career with the Cincinnati Bengals (2022-2025), who selected him in the second round (No. 60 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. From 2022-2024, Taylor-Britt played for current Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo with the Bengals. Taylor-Britt totaled 27 passes defensed (seven interception, 20 pass break-ups) between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, tied for eighth-most in the NFL in that span. The 5-foot-11, 200 pound Taylor-Britt also notched a pick-six in each of those two seasons. In 2025, Taylor-Britt appeared in eight games (two starts) and broke up five passes. Taylor-Britt is a native of Montgomery, Ala. and played his college ball at Nebraska. COLTS SIGN FREE AGENT S JONATHAN OWENS The Colts on Tuesday signed veteran safety Jonathan Owens. The 5-foot-11, 214 pound Owens is entering his eighth season in the NFL after spending time with the Houston Texans (2019-2022), Green Bay Packers (2023) and Chicago Bears (2024-2025). Over 82 games (35 starts), the 30-year-old Owens has two interceptions, eight pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, two sacks, three tackles for a loss and 295 tackles. Owens has played 2,401 snaps on defense and 990 snaps on special teams in his career. He’s played at least 230 snaps on special teams in each of the last three seasons, including a career high 264 in 2025 with the Bears. Owens in 2024 returned a block punt for a touchdown to help the Bears beat the Tennessee Titans in Week 1. Owens is married to 11-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles, who’s the most decorated gymnast in history. COLTS SIGN FREE AGENT DT JERRY TILLERY The Colts on Tuesday signed free agent defensive tackle Jerry Tillery. The 6-foot-6, 295 pound Tillery spent the first three-and-a-half seasons of his NFL career with the Los Angeles Chargers; the former first-round pick, selected No. 28 overall by the Chargers in the 2019 NFL Draft, appeared in 54 games (29 starts) for the Chargers and recorded 10.5 sacks, 106 tackles, 33 quarterback hits and 12 tackles for loss. After leaving the Chargers in 2022, Tillery spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings and, most recently, the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2025, Tillery appeared in 17 games for the Chiefs and tallied 2.5 sacks, 20 tackles and two quarterback hits. In his seven-year career, Tillery has played in a total of 117 games (53 starts), with career totals of 14 sacks, 195 tackles, four passes defensed, three fumble recoveries, 46 quarterback hits and 17 tackles for loss. Tillery played collegiately at Notre Dame from 2015-18, overlapping with current Colts guard Quenton Nelson from 2015-17. ===================================================================== INDY 500 HELIO CASTRONEVES TO CHASE RECORD FIFTH INDY 500 TITLE Helio Castroneves will once again attempt to become the first five-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 on May 24. The Brazilian driver, who turns 51 two weeks before the race, confirmed Tuesday he will drive for Meyer Shank Racing. “The drive for five is still alive,” Castroneves said in a short video released by the team. Castroneves claimed his record-tying fourth Indy 500 victory with Meyer Shank Racing in 2021. He previously won driving for Team Penske in 2001, 2002 and 2009. He shares the record with AJ Foyt, Rick Mears and Al Unser Sr. as the race’s only four-time winners. Castroneves will be making his 26th consecutive start in the Indianapolis 500. He finished 10th last year. =================================================================== INDIANA PACERS GAME REWIND: PACERS 110, KNICKS 136 Game Recap The Pacers (15-54) fell to the Knicks (45-25) on Tuesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 136-110. It was Indiana’s 14th straight loss, the longest losing streak in franchise history. The Pacers shot the ball well offensively on Tuesday, going 51.8 percent from the field and 17-for-38 (44.7 percent) from 3-point range. But they struggled to contain the Knicks, who had three players score 20 or more points. New York closed the half with a 15-2 run to take the lead and never relinquished it after halftime, quickly extending the margin to double digits. Six players — including all five starters — scored in double figures for Indiana in the loss. Jarace Walker scored a game-high 16 points to go along with five rebounds and five assists. Obi Toppin added 15 points off the bench on 6-of-8 shooting (3-of-5 from 3-point range). T.J. McConnell recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists. Knicks forward Josh Hart was brilliant, scoring a season-high 33 points while going 12-for-13 from the field and 5-for-5 from 3-point range. Hart also tallied seven rebounds and five assists. OG Anunoby added 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting (4-of-5 from beyond the arc), eight rebounds, and four assists, while Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 22 points, 11 boards, and three steals. Both teams were without key players on Tuesday. Knicks All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson missed the contest with ankle and neck injuries, while the Pacers were without All-Star forward Pascal Siakam (knee), starting point guard Andrew Nembhard (calf), and backup big man Micah Potter (triceps). The Pacers led 10-8 early in Tuesday’s contest before the Knicks reeled off 11 unanswered points — eight coming from Anunoby — to surge ahead. Former Knick Toppin provided a nice spark off the bench, scoring seven quick points after checking in. Indiana went 14-for-20 (70 percent) in the first quarter and 5-for-8 from 3-point range, but they couldn’t slow down Anunoby and the Knicks. Anunoby scored 15 points and went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc in the first quarter to propel New York to a 38-34 lead after the opening frame. The Pacers retook the lead in the second quarter behind a barrage of 3-pointers. Walker and Kobe Brown each made two threes, while Jalen Slawson and Aaron Nesmith each knocked down a trey of their own. Indiana led by as many as six points in the frame, but the Knicks charged back nine straight points late in the half to retake the lead. Ben Sheppard’s putback layup with 48.5 seconds left cut New York’s lead to 66-64, but Hart made a pair of threes in the final minute to put the hosts up by eight at the intermission. Hart opened the second half with his fifth three of the night. Nesmith countered with a 3-pointer of his own and T.J. McConnell converted a layup to pull Indiana within six. But Towns then scored eight points to power a 10-2 Knicks run to go up by double digits. Hart scored 14 points in the third quarter to help preserve the margin and the Knicks took a 105-91 lead into the fourth quarter. New York continued to pull away in the fourth quarter as the Pacers never threatened. Nesmith finished with 14 points while going 4-for-6 from 3-point range, while Brown added 13 points and five boards. Ivica Zubac had 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting, seven rebounds, and two blocks in 26 minutes in his fourth game as a Pacer. Jose Alvarado had 16 points and 10 assists starting in place of Brunson. Mikal Bridges and Jordan Clarkson added 10 points apiece for New York. It was the second win in five days for the Knicks over the Pacers, who they also defeated 101-92 on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Indiana will return home to host Portland on Wednesday on the second night of a back-to-back. The Pacers will then hit the road for two more games — in San Antonio on Saturday and in Orlando on Monday — before tipping off a three-game homestand against the Lakers on Wednesday, March 25. Inside the Numbers Walker has scored in double figures in four straight games, nine of his last 10, and 22 of his last 24 contests. Toppin scored in double figures for the third time in nine games since recovering from a foot injury. Brown’s 13 points were two shy of his career high, set on Feb. 22 against Dallas. After making a season-high 21 3-pointers in Sunday’s loss in Milwaukee, the Pacers made 17 more treys on Tuesday. It was Indiana’s ninth game this season making at least 17 threes. Hart had the second-highest scoring game of his career on Tuesday. His career high is 44, which he scored for Portland against Washington on March 12, 2022. New York shot 54 percent from the field and went 18-for-41 (43.9 percent) from 3-point range. The Pacers had 18 turnovers, while the Knicks had just nine. GAME PREVIEW: PACERS VS TRAIL BLAZERS The Pacers (15-54) return home to Indianapolis to host the Portland Trail Blazers (33-36) on Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Indiana will be on the second night of a back-to-back after falling 136-110 to the Knicks in New York on Tuesday. The Blazers last played on Monday night in Brooklyn. It will the second meeting in two weeks between the two teams. The Blazers won 131-111 on March 8 in Portland behind 28 points from Scoot Henderson. The Blue & Gold shot the ball well on Tuesday in Madison Square Garden, converting 51.8 percent of their attempts while going 17-for-38 (44.7 percent) from 3-point range. But they couldn’t slow down the Knicks, who shot 54 percent as a team and 18-for-41 (43.9 percent from 3-point range). Defense has been the biggest issue for the Pacers during their 14-game skid — the longest losing streak in franchise history. Indiana has allowed its opponent to score 130 or more points in eight of those 14 contests. The Blazers are led by 25-year-old forward Deni Avdija, a first-time All-Star this season and one of the leading candidates for the Most Improved Player award. Avdija ranks 16th in the NBA in scoring at 24 points per game — over seven points higher than his previous-best average. Avdija also contributes 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game and has the Blazers in position to make the Play-In Tournament and compete for their first playoff berth since 2021. Projected Starters Pacers: G – T.J. McConnell, G – Aaron Nesmith, F – Jarace Walker, F – Kobe Brown, C – Ivica Zubac Knicks: G – Jrue Holiday, G – Toumani Camara, F – Deni Avdija, F – Jerami Grant, C – Donovan Clingan Injury Report Pacers: Quenton Jackson – questionable (right calf strain), T.J. McConnell – questionable (sore right hamstring), Andrew Nembhard – questionable (right calf contusion), Aaron Nesmith – questionable (right ankle injury management), Micah Potter – questionable (right triceps strain), Ben Sheppard – questionable (left ankle sprain), Obi Toppin – questionable (right foot injury management), Ivica Zubac – questionable (left ankle sprain), Pascal Siakam – doubtful (right knee sprain), Tyrese Haliburton – out (right Achilles tear), Johnny Furphy – out (right ACL tear) Trail Blazers: Vit Krejci – questionable (left calf contusion), Robert Williams III – questionable (left knee injury management), Damian Lillard – out (left Achilles tendon injury management), Shaedon Sharpe – out (left fibula stress reaction), Hansen Yang – out (G League assignment) Last Meeting March 8, 2026: The Trail Blazers used a strong close to the first half to create separation en route to a 131-111 win over the Pacers in Portland. The Blazers outscored Indiana 20-2 run late in the second quarter to build a double-digit lead they never relinquished. The Blazers outscored Indiana 39-22 in the frame. Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 22 points in the loss. Jay Huff scored 16 points, while Andrew Nembhard added 14 points and nine assists. Scoot Henderson scored 28 points off the bench for Portland, going 10-for-15 from the field while also dishing out six assists. Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday added 21 points apiece, while Deni Avdija tallied 18 points and eight assists. Noteworthy The Pacers are 3-8 on the season when playing on the second night of a back-to-back. They have one back-to-back remaining after Wednesday. The Trail Blazers have won four of the last five games with the Pacers. With a win on Tuesday, Portland would win the season series for the second time in three years. Broadcast Information (Where to Watch and Listen to Pacers Games >>) TV: FanDuel Sports Network – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host) Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host) ==================================================================== INDY IGNITE IGNITE LAND LEAGUE-BEST FIVE PLAYERS ON MLV ALL-STAR ROSTER FISHERS, Ind. (March 17, 2026) – Fitting for the team that claimed the best start in Major League Volleyball history, the Indy Ignite have the most players selected of any team for the 2026 AdventHealth MLV All-Star Match. Five members of the Ignite will compete in the March 28 match in Orlando led by libero Elena Scott, who received the most votes in fan balloting over the past three weeks. Scott, the athletic and acrobatic second-year pro from the University of Louisville, will be joined in the second annual all-star affair by four Ignite teammates: opposite hitter Azhani Tealer, setter Mia Tuaniga and middle blockers Lydia Martyn and Blake Mohler. It’s the second straight year Tealer has been named an all-star and the first time for the other Ignite players. “Many of our athletes have shown exceptional performances so far this season,” Ignite head coach Lauren Bertolacci said. “I am happy they are able to get the recognition they deserve and compete in the prestigious all-star competition. It was incredible to see Elena as the top vote getter amongst fans. She is one of the best players in this league and I am thankful that is being recognized nationwide!” All-star selections were determined through a combination of fan voting, player input and league selection, recognizing the players who have delivered exceptional performances and made a significant impact this year. Every MLV team is represented on the two 12-person rosters, led by the Ignite with five players and followed by Dallas and Orlando with four apiece. A pair of volleyball coaching icons will lead the all-star squads – Dan Meske of Louisville and Beth Launiere, longtime coach at Utah. The match airs live on CBS and Paramount+ at noon ET Saturday, March 28. A league-record of more than 12,000 votes were cast online, with Scott garnering the most of any player. She is fourth in MLV in digs (226), averaging 3.48 per set, but her value to the Ignite ranges far beyond that. A former setter with an innate sense of the game, she’s also one of the best passers in MLV and is adept at running the offense when the Ignite are out of system. Honored to receive the most votes, Scott hopes her play can highlight the significance of liberos, which is often overlooked since the position cannot score points or serve. “It’s really cool that liberos are starting to get a little bit more credit than they maybe have in the past,” Scott said. “I’m just glad I’m one of those and can maybe change the way people see liberos and the perspective on how much we provide to the game.” Ignite teammate Tealer needs no convincing that Scott is worthy of the honor as top vote-getter. “She’s the most talented libero I’ve ever played with in my life,” Tealer commended. “She’s just that good. So, no shock to anyone. She deserves it. I’m really excited for her. The season she’s having, she’s incredible.”Tealer, Martyn and Tuaniga will play for the all-star team coached by Launiere, who retired in 2025 after 36 seasons at Utah. Scott and Mohler have been designated to play for the team coached by Meske, who was an assistant at Louisville when Scott played there before he became the Cardinals’ head coach in 2025. Having more Ignite all-stars than any other MLV team, Scott added, is proof positive Indy is doing the right things this season. The Ignite have a league-leading 14-3 record. “It just says a lot about our team in general,” Scott said. “We have so many stud players on our team, so being able to compete against them day in and day out in practice really helps when it comes to games. You’re being pushed to your max capacity every day in practice, and it makes you better. I think it’s a big statement for our team this year.” Here’s what the other Ignite all-stars said about their selection: Lydia Martyn, middle blocker, leads MLV in kill percentage (51.2%), second in efficiency (37.2%), sixth in blocks (31): “It’s amazing, I’m so excited for the opportunity. I was a little surprised. Last year, I had no expectations. Coming into this year, I didn’t want to have any expectations again just because anything can happen and there are a lot of strong players in this league. So, hearing my name called out, it’s a little bit shocking. But I’m really excited just to compete with some of the best athletes in this league.” Blake Mohler, middle blocker, third in kill percentage (46.4%), fourth in blocks (33), fifth in efficiency (35.2%): “I’m super excited and just grateful for the opportunity. I’ve been putting in a lot of hard work the last year and a half, and I feel like it’s finally paying off. Orlando’s not too far from my hometown (in Mississippi), so I’ll get to see family at the match and just other teammate friends, past teammates from other teams, being able to spend time with them. And then I think ‘Z’ (Tealer) and I might go to Disney World on our off day.” Azhani Tealer, opposite hitter, one of eight MLV players named to all-star team for second straight year, ninth in kill percentage (43.1%), 12th in kills (159): “It was a lot of fun (in the 2025 all-star match) to compete alongside people that you haven’t played with. Volleyball is a small world, and you know everyone but you don’t really know everyone, so it’s fun to play next to people you’ve never done it with before. This league’s uber-talented, so getting to hit off the different setters and play next to different outsides will be a really great experience. I’m excited.” Mia Tuaniga, setter, second in assists per set (12.02), sixth in service aces (13): “The first thing that really came to my mind was just how blessed I am to really be called an all-star and to be called up into this position. Last year, I was at the Atlanta Vibe and I wasn’t playing that much. Now this season, I’ve been having more opportunities to get out on the court and it’s kind of a full-circle moment for me to hear my name being announced. It’s really nice to just go out there and play the sport I love with people that I love.” ======================================================================= INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CIEZKI NAMED USBWA ALL-AMERICAN HONORABLE MENTION INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana women’s basketball senior guard Shay Ciezki has been named a 2026 USBWA All-America honorable mention, announced by the organization on Tuesday. Ciezki is the third Hoosier to be honored and first since 2023-24. In one of the most impressive single seasons in IU women’s basketball history, Ciezki averaged 23.2 points per game and scored 708 points while knocking down 79 3-pointers She finished second in a single season in school history while setting the school record for points per game in a single season. She is the second player in NCAA Division I women’s basketball to average a 50/40/90 while scoring 20+ or more (Eva Hodges, William & Mary 2019). The Buffalo, N.Y. native shot 52.6 percent from the floor, 44.6 percent from the 3-point line and 90.8 percent at the free throw line. She scored in double figures in 30 of 31 games played in her senior season, scoring 20 points or more 23 time and had seven 30-point games. She became the fastest player to 1,000 points in IU history in 2025-26, hitting the career mark in her 60th game played for the program. She sits 30th all-time in scoring (1,097). Ciezki was named the Big Ten Player of the Week twice which led to All-Big Ten honors in 2025-26. She earned a place on the first team from the league’s media and second team from the league’s coaches. ====================================================================== INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL WILKERSON VOTED NABC ALL-GREAT LAKES DISTRICT FIRST TEAM BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana redshirt senior guard Lamar Wilkerson was named All-Great Lakes District First Team, the National Association of Basketball Coaches announced on Tuesday morning. Wilkerson averaged 20.9 points per game, the highest scoring rate for a Hoosier guard since Eric Gordon (2007-08). He added 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.0 steal per outing and finished the season as one of three Hoosiers to start all 32 games. Wilkerson shot 46.3% (227-of-490) from the floor, 37.8% (104-of-275) from the 3-point line, and 88.8% (111-of-125) from the free throw line. The Ashdown, Ark., native made 104 shots behind the arc during his lone season with the Cream and Crimson, the second most in program history behind only Steve Alford’s total of 107 during the 1986-87 campaign. His 70 made 3-pointers in conference play established a program record. His free throw percentage of 88.8% ranked fourth in Indiana history for players with more than 100 made free throws in a single season. He upped his averaged to 23.2 points per game in Big Ten Conference play, the ninth-highest average in program history and the most points per contest in league games since George McGinnis (29.9) during the 1970-71 season. Wilkerson (464 points) broke the program record for points scored in a single season of Big Ten Conference play set by Don Schlundt (459) during the 1952-53 season. The Sam Houston State transfer scored 669 total points, the 11th-most in a single season in program history. He tallied at least 10 points in 29 games, topped 20 points on 16 occasions, and cleared 30 points four times. He produced two of the most prolific scoring performances in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall history with 41 points against Oregon (Feb. 9) and a career-best 44 points against Penn State (Dec. 9), a building record. =================================================================== INDIANA WRESTLING SIX HOOSIERS SET FOR NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS CLEVELAND, Ohio ––– The Indiana Wrestling program will compete in the NCAA Wrestling Championships from March 19-21 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The Hoosiers will have Jacob Moran (125), Bryce Lowery (157), Tyler Lillard (165), Derek Gilcher (174), Sam Goin (184) and Gabe Sollars (197) will represent the Cream and Crimson. ELEVATING AT BIG TENS: -For the fourth consecutive season, Indiana Wrestling continued to make strides at the Big Ten Championships. -Indiana earned a 10th place finish with 40.0 points scored at Big Tens at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa. -It was the best showing from the Hoosiers since 2012 when the team scored 41.0 points and tied for 10th place. -The Hoosiers had three wrestlers finish on the podium with Jacob Moran and Gabe Sollars taking fourth place and Bryce Lowery earning sixth place. -Moran and Sollars finishing in fourth marked the best finish by an individual Hoosier since Elijah Oliver took fourth place at 125 lbs. in 2019. -Moran reached the semifinals before dropping his match to No. 1 Luke Lilledahl (Penn State). He then defeated No. 9 Diego Sotelo (Michigan) before losing in a tight 4-2 decision to No. 2 Nic Bouzakis (Ohio State) in the 3rd Place match. -Sollars lost in the quarterfinals before working his way all the way to the 3rd Place match on the backside of the bracket. He knocked off two higher ranked seeds en route to a battle with No. 5 Seed Luke Geog (Ohio State). Sollars got down early but pushed the pace before narrowly losing in a 7-5 decision. THE NATIONAL SCENE: -Indiana will have six wrestlers at the National Tournament for the third-consecutive year. -That mark ties for the most under Angel Escobedo in his time as head coach of the program. -Of the six Hoosiers, Jacob Moran (125) and Gabe Sollars (197) each enter the tournament with the best seed at No. 14 at their weight. -Tyler Lillard (165) and Derek Gilcher (174) each got the No. 26 seed while Bryce Lowery (157) is No. 29. Sam Goin (184) will wrestle in the pigtail match to start the tournament at the No. 33 spot. -This is Lillard’s third NCAA Tournament and the second for Moran, Sollars and Gilcher. It is the first trip to Nationals for Lowery and Goin. -Last year, Sollars reached the Blood Round and Moran made it to the Round of 16. NCAA HOOSIER HISTORY: -In 2025, DJ Washington became the program’s first All-American since 2017. -Washington, the No. 22 Seed at 184 lbs. last year lost his opening round match before winning four-straight to claim All-American status. -He defeated No. 10 Edmond Ruth (Illinois) in the Blood Round to earn his spot in Hoosier lore. -The Hoosiers also finished with 18.5 points to tie for 24th place, the program’s best showing since 2011. -Indiana is seeking its first National Champion since 2008 when head coach Angel Escobedo earned first place at 125 lbs. as a redshirt sophomore. -In the program’s history, Indiana has 11 NCAA Champions and 81 All-Americans. The Hoosiers also have won NCAA Team Title, winning the 1932 NCAA Championship. =================================================================== PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL SMITH NAMED AP ALL-AMERICAN; TRIO TABBED TO ALL-DISTRICT TEAM WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue senior point guard Braden Smith was voted a second-team All-American by the Associated Press, and was joined by Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer on the NABC All-Great Lakes District team. It marks the second, second-team All-American honor for Smith after being named a second-team selection by The Sporting News. Meanwhile, Kaufman-Renn and Smith were on the first-team all-Great Lakes District team, while Loyer was tabbed to the second team. Smith, a first-team All-Big Ten selection and the Big Ten Tournament MVP, is having an outstanding senior season. He is averaging 14.0 points, 9.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game, leading the country and setting the Big Ten single-season record with 317 assists. He is the first high-major player to average at least 14.0 points, 9.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game since LSU’s Randy Livingston in 1995. He is one of two players in NCAA history to have at least 300 assists in two different seasons (Southern’s Avery Johnson; 1987 and 1988) and is the only player in NCAA history to have three seasons of at least 450 points, 250 assists and 125 rebounds. Smith is just two assists away from becoming the NCAA’s all-time leader in career assists. Entering the NCAA Tournament with 1,075 career assists, Smith is about to surpass Duke legend Bobby Hurley, who holds the record with 1,076. Smith is the only player in NCAA history to have at least 1,500 points, 1,000 assists and 500 career rebounds, currently with 1,865 points, 1,075 assists and 661 rebounds. Kaufman-Renn was named a first-team all-Great Lakes District selection after averaging 13.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He is 1-of-2 high-major players (Duke’s Cameron Boozer) to average 13.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and shoot over 55.0 percent from the field. Kaufman-Renn currently ranks 24th on Purdue’s career scoring list and 14th on the rebounds list, and is 1-of-6 players in Purdue history to have at least 1,500 points, 700 rebounds and 225 assists. He was at his best in the Big Ten Tournament, averaging 15.3 points and 7.0 rebounds, while shooting 69.2 percent from the field. Loyer was voted to the second team after averaging 13.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game and shooting 42.1 percent from 3-point range and 86.2 percent from the free throw line. Since February 1, Loyer is 50-of-104 (.481) from 3-point range and the 50, 3-pointers during that span are the fourth most in the country in that span. Loyer enters the NCAA Tournament having scored at least 10 points in 14 of the last 15 games, including seven straight games. Over the last 15 games, he is averaging 15.9 points, 2.6 assists and 2.5 rebounds. The Boilermakers will battle Queens University in the NCAA Tournament first-round game on Friday in St. Louis, Missouri, tipping at 7:35 p.m. ET / 6:35 p.m. CT. =================================================================== PURDUE SWIMMING 3 BOILERS SET TO REPRESENT PURDUE WOMEN AT NCAAS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MEET INFORMATION Purdue Women at the NCAA Championships Wednesday to Saturday, March 18-21 / ESPN+ Swimming Events: Prelims at 10 a.m., Finals at 6 p.m. Springboard Diving Prelims at 12:15 p.m. Platform Diving Prelims at 12 p.m. Diving Consolation Finals at TBA (5:15 p.m. last year) Springboard Diving Championship Finals at 7:10 p.m. Platform Diving Championship Final at 7 p.m. McAuley Aquatic Center / Atlanta, Ga. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A trio of Boilermakers are set to represent Purdue Women’s Swimming & Diving in a quartet of events on the national stage of the NCAA Championships. Divers Avery Worobel (1-meter & 3-meter) and Daryn Wright (3-meter & platform) join distance swimmer Reagan Mattice (1650 freestyle) to give the Purdue women NCAAs qualifiers in both swimming and diving events in the same year for the first time since 2019. With the mile moving to Wednesday in the revamped event format debuting this season at the NCAA Championships, a Boilermaker will be competing on all four days of the national championship meet. Wright is closing out her collegiate career out as a four-year NCAAs qualifier (2023-26). Worobel qualified in both springboard events for the second year in a row and his halfway to joining Wright in that exclusive club of four-year qualifiers. Mattice has finished strong as a senior and is set to become the first Boilermaker to race in the mile at NCAAs since 2018. She has enjoyed a time drop of one minute and 12.28 seconds from her 2021 season (17:26.98) at Zionsville High School through her top-10 time (16:14.70) at Big Tens last month that earned her a berth at the NCAA Championships. The top 16 finishers in the preliminaries clinch All-America honors and advance to finals. The mile remains a timed-finals event where swimmers only compete once. Mattice is in heat 2 Wednesday morning. The top eight compete for the national championship in the evening finals. Diving remains the final individual event of the finals sessions and now begins in a window of approximately 7 to 7:15 p.m. Consolation finals were held at 5:15 p.m. ET the last few seasons as the first event of the evening sessions after previously being held immediately after prelims for many years. PURDUE SCHEDULE AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS • Wednesday, March 18 in 1650 Freestyle (Heat 2) – Reagan Mattice • Thursday, March 19 on 1-Meter – Avery Worobel • Friday, March 20 on 3-Meter – Avery Worobel, Daryn Wright • Saturday, March 21 on Platform – Daryn Wright Purdue has had at least one women’s diver earn All-America honors at the NCAA Championships in 20 of the last 21 years the meet has been held. That run dates back to 2004, with 2012 being the only year a Purdue diver did not qualify for the national championship meet. The Purdue women have had a championship finalist on the tower in eight consecutive NCAA Championships dating back to 2017. Wright is a four-time All-American, qualifying for the championship final of both 3-meter and platform last season. She became just the Boilermakers’ fifth female diver to be a full-fledged (top 8) All-American on a springboard and the platform in the same year – joining Carrie McCambridge (2005), Amanda Miller (2007), Emily Bretscher (2021) and Sophie McAfee (2024). Bretscher, McAfee and Wright have teamed up to give Purdue three such female achievers this decade. In her debut at NCAAs last season, Worobel was an honorable mention All-American while finishing 12th overall 1-meter. She returns to the national championship meet this week as a Big Ten champion on 3-meter. Wright has finished fourth (2025) and fifth (2024) on platform at NCAAs the last two seasons. The four-time Big Ten medalist was 12-for-12 in career top-10 finishes at the Big Ten Championships, finishing top five in all three events each of her upperclassman seasons. Georgia Tech’s McAuley Aquatic Center is hosting both the women’s and men’s NCAA Championships over the final two weekends of March. It’s the second year in a row and third time since 2022 that the same facility is hosting both national championship meets – the McAuley Aquatic Center also pulled double duty in 2022. Purdue has 11 qualifiers – divers Max Miller, Kaden Springfield, Zach Welsh and Tyler Wills plus swimmers Evan Mackesy, Lucas Byrd Jānis Dzirkalis, Alex Hotta and Nathaniel Thomas – for the men’s NCAA Championships next week in Atlanta. ===================================================================== BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL AJAYI VOTED AS AP ALL-AMERICA HONORABLE MENTION SELECTION Michael Ajayi continues to haul in accolades after being named an AP All-America honorable mention selection. The Associated Press teams were announced Tuesday, March 17. The 61 voters that select the weekly Top 25 for The Associated Press also vote for three All-American teams. Honorable mention recognition is awarded to the next 10 players and ties after the first three All-American teams. Earlier this month, Ajayi earned All-BIG EAST first-team recognition. Ajayi ranks fifth nationally in rebounding (11.1 per game) and fourth with 19 double-doubles on the season. In addition to leading the BIG EAST in rebounding, he is fourth in scoring (16.4 points per game) and also ranks among the conference’s Top 15 in minutes played (third), field goal percentage (sixth), blocked shots (eighth), and assists (12th). Ajayi’s 356 rebounds this season set a new Butler single-season record. First Team Cameron Boozer, Duke **unanimous selection AJ Dybantsa, BYU Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas JT Toppin, Texas Tech Second Team Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State Braden Smith, Purdue Jeremy Fears, Michigan State Keaton Wagler, Illinois Caleb Wilson, North Carolina Third Team Kingston Flemings, Houston Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama Thomas Haugh, Florida Christian Anderson, Texas Tech Graham Ike, Gonzaga Honorable Mention (alphabetical order, next 10 vote totals and ties) Michael Ajayi, Butler; Jaden Bradley, Arizona; Brayden Burries, Arizona; Rueben Chinyelu, Florida; Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s; PJ Haggerty, Kansas State; Ebuka Okorie, Stanford; Darryn Peterson, Kansas; Bennett Stirtz, Iowa; Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt; Bruce Thornton, Ohio State. AJAYI EARNS NABC ALL-DISTRICT HONORS Butler graduate student Michael Ajayi earned 2025-26 All-District honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The NABC announced all-district teams Tuesday, March 17. Ajayi, who earlier this month earned All-BIG EAST first-team recognition, is a second-team All-District selection by NABC-member coaches. The Great Lakes District includes universities based in Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The All-District honors are voted on by NABC-member coaches across NCAA Division I. Ajayi ranks fifth nationally in rebounding (11.1 per game) and fourth with 19 double-doubles on the season. In addition to leading the BIG EAST in rebounding, he is fourth in scoring (16.4 points per game) and also ranks among the conference’s Top 15 in minutes played (third), field goal percentage (sixth), blocked shots (eighth), and assists (12th). Ajayi’s 356 rebounds this season set a new Butler single-season record. 2025-26 NABC Great Lakes All-District Teams First Team John Blackwell, Wisconsin Nick Boyd, Wisconsin Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan Nick Martinelli, Northwestern Nolan Minessale, St. Thomas Braden Smith, Purdue Keaton Wagler, Illinois Lamar Wilkerson, Indiana Second Team Michael Ajayi, Butler Corey Hadnot II, Fort Wayne Jaquan Johnson, Bradley Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan Fletcher Loyer, Purdue Aday Mara, Michigan David Mirkovic, Illinois Brody Robinson, Oakland Cade Tyson, Minnesota Chase Walker, Illinois State ==================================================================== BUTLER BASEBALL BULLDOGS MAKE QUICK TRIP TO MUNCIE FOR MIDWEEK CONTEST WITH BALL STATE INDIANAPOLIS – Butler will travel to Muncie, Ind. to take on the Ball State Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch at Shebek Stadium is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+. GAMEDAY INFORMATION DATE: March 18 GAME TIME: 3PM LOCATION: Muncie, Ind. LIVE STATS: Butlersports.com ABOUT THE BULLDOGS Butler (4-16) is coming off a 0-4 weekend at Wichita State. Against Morehead State, Matthew Rhoades was sensational for Butler. In 16 at-bats, he recorded nine hits, 10 runs scored, one double, five home runs, eight RBIs, one walk and two hit by pitches. Rhoades hit .563 over the course of the week for BU. The junior earned BIG EAST Player of the Week honors after his spectacular weekend for the Dawgs. David Ayers had a sensational series for Butler against Morehead State that began with the junior tying a program record for most RBIs in a game with eight to his credit in Friday’s 20-5 victory over the Eagles. Ayers hit .500 on the week with five runs scored, seven hits, one double, three home runs, 10 RBIs and a hit by pitch. For his efforts, Ayers earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll. Logan Crock was named to the Brooks Wallace Award Watchlist earlier this season. The award honors the nation’s top shortstop and will be presented by the College Baseball Foundation later this year. The top 100 shortstops in the country made the list, which featured Butler shortstop Crock. The sophomore has had a solid start to 2026, slashing .292/.479/.854 in 15 games for the Dawgs. Crock has 14 hits, three doubles, two homers and 12 RBIs to his credit on the young season. Ayers leads Butler at the dish, slashing .342/.685/1.100 on the season. The junior has 25 hits and 18 runs scored to his credit and leads the team in RBIs (23) and is second on the team in doubles (5) and home runs (6). Max Winders has been dominant on the mound for the Bulldogs. In five appearances (two starts), Winders has posted a 3.75 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. The sophomore leads Butler with 29 strikeouts and has yet to issue a walk. Butler returns 17 letterwinners from a year ago and welcomes 21 new faces to the squad for 2026. Butler welcomed Ty Neal to the coaching staff this offseason as the program’s pitching coach. Neal was an assistant coach at Michigan in 2025, helping the Wolverines post a 33-23 overall record. They went 16-14 in the Big Ten standings and held a 4.92 team ERA. Neal has made stops at Michigan, Arizona State, Cincinnati, Indiana, Miami Ohio, and Southern Illinois. He brings nearly 20 years of coaching experience to the program and has assisted in the recruiting and development of over 50 MLB draft picks. Freshman Grayson Bradberry was named the BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year by D1Baseball and Perfect Game prior to the start of the season. Bradberry hails from Columbia City, Indiana and earned All-Conference honors (3x), Pre-Season All-State honors, team MVP (2x), NE8 Conference Player of the Year and was chosen as a two-time team captain. In 2025, Butler saw Jack Moroknek get drafted in the 11th round by the Washington Nationals. Moroknek led the team in hits (81), batting average (.372), total bases (153), RBIs (57), home runs (18), runs scored (57), slugging percentage (.702) and OPS (1.145) while posting one of the best individual seasons in Butler history. Moroknek was the first Bulldog drafted since Ryan Pepiot was taken in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft. Head Coach Blake Beemer enters his fourth season at the helm of the Bulldogs. Beemer helped coach back-to-back BIG EAST Freshman of the Year winners Joey Urban (2023) and Kade Lewis (2024) in his first two seasons with the Bulldogs. Beemer played a pivotal role in developing Jack Moroknek who earned All-BIG EAST second team honors a season ago before being selected by the Washington Nationals in the 2025 MLB Draft. SCOUTING BALL STATE Ball State (10-8) is coming off a weekend sweep over Eastern Michigan. The Cardinals won 17-13, 9-4 and 12-9, marking Ball State’s first series sweep of the season. Jacob Gillis leads Ball State at the plate, slashing .354/.615/1.044. Gillis leads the team in hits (23), home runs (5) and walks (8). On the mound, Owen Quinn leads the Cardinals with a 1.89 ERA and a 1-0 record in six appearances. Quinn has tossed 19 innings and has allowed only four earned runs. UP NEXT The Bulldogs will return to action this weekend as BU travels to Columbus, Ohio to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. Game one is slated for Friday, March 20, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. More information will be available on butlersports.com. ==================================================================== BUTLER WOMEN’S LAX BULLDOGS HEAD TO TENNESSEE FOR NEUTRAL SITE GAME AGAINST WOFFORD The Butler women’s lacrosse team is back on the road to play a neutral site match against Wofford on Friday at 2 p.m. Game Time Friday, March 20 vs. Wofford Maryville, Tenn.- Heritage High School 2:00 PM ET BULLDOG BITS Butler is 3-6 heading into this week’s road trip. Freshman Kerrin McGovern sits third in the BIG EAST in draw controls per game averaging 4.44. She totals 40 on the season. Elise Latham leads the team in goals (25). Riley Ryan leads the team in assists (13) and points (28). Olivia DiCarlo leads the team in ground balls with 19 on the season. SCOUTING WOFFORD The two teams have met once back in 2019, when Butler took the win 17-10. Wofford enters the game 1-6 on the season. McKenzie Moeller leads the team in goals (16) and points (23). Katie Brosseau leads the team in assists (11). Goalies Hannah Taylor and Norah Teff total 63 saves on the season. UP NEXT The Butler women’s lacrosse team will return home on March 28 to start conference play against Denver at 11:30 a.m. ===================================================================== IU INDY TENNIS MEN’S TENNIS FALLS TO BELLARMINE, 4-3 LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The IU Indianapolis men’s tennis team dropped a narrow 4-3 decision at Bellarmine on Tuesday afternoon, coming up just short in a tightly contested road match. The Jaguars claimed three singles victories but were unable to overcome a deficit after doubles play, as Bellarmine secured the match with four total points. Bellarmine opened the day by taking the doubles point, winning at Nos. 1 and 2. The Jaguars picked up a point by default at No. 3 doubles, but the Knights carried momentum into singles with the early edge. In singles action, IU Indianapolis battled throughout the lineup. Owen Nguyen rallied for a three-set win at No. 2, bouncing back after dropping the first set to defeat Eli Wood, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Eli Mercer added another point for the Jaguars at No. 4, grinding out a straight-set tiebreak victory, 7-6, 6-4. The Jaguars also earned a point at No. 6 singles by default. However, Bellarmine secured wins at Nos. 1, 3 and 5 singles to clinch the match. Cameron Kryscio pushed his match to three sets at No. 3 before falling 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, while Konner Gunwall battled in a second-set tiebreak at the top spot but came up short in straight sets. The Jaguars will now begin Horizon League play when they host Cleveland State on March 21. WOMEN’S TENNIS DEFEATS BETHUNE-COOKMAN, 4-3 ORLANDO, Fla. – The IU Indianapolis women’s tennis team earned a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday (March 17), using three singles wins and a doubles point to secure the match. The Jaguars claimed the early advantage by taking the doubles point. The tandem of Sara Jankovic and Calli Sokolowski notched a 6-3 win at No. 2, while Hanan Awale and Bella Duncan picked up a forfeit victory at No. 3 to seal the point. In singles play, IU Indianapolis delivered in key spots to clinch the match. Kally Kadzinski set the tone with a strong 6-1, 6-3 victory at No. 1, and Elle Kotre followed with a dominant 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 5. Duncan added another point via forfeit at No. 6, which ultimately proved decisive in the narrow team win. Bethune-Cookman picked up three singles victories at the No. 2, 3 and 4 positions, but the Jaguars’ early doubles success and depth in the lineup allowed them to hold on for the 4-3 decision. IU Indianapolis will next face Marist, tomorrow, March 18 as they continue their spring break trip in Florida. =================================================================== BALL STATE MEN’S GOLF HARRIS AND JOHNSTON TIE AS BALL STATE LEADER THROUGH FINAL ROUND IN TALLAHASSEE TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Samuel Harris finished his final round at the Seminole Intercollegiate on Tuesday afternoon, right where he started on Sunday — tied with fellow freshman Luke Johnston at the top of the Ball State Cardinals’ leaderboard. Harris’ 1-over par 73 in Sunday’s opening round remained Ball State’s best round of the 56-hole competition, as tournament scores rose higher and higher as play continued. Johnston caught Harris late Tuesday to tie for the Cardinals’ low tournament score, despite shooting 5-over par 77. Anticipating inclement weather through most of Monday, tournament play in round two took place late on Sunday before weather and darkness suspended play. Golfing was delayed until late Monday to finish that second round. But even in 40 degree temperatures for Tuesday’s final round, scores remained high as only host Florida State remained below par over the final 18 holes at Seminole Legacy Golf Club. Aside from the host Seminoles, team scores ranged from Even to +29 on Tuesday, with Ball State’s +27 (315) an reflection of course conditions after the Cardinals shot 299 and 300 in their opening rounds. For Ball State in the final round, Johnston and Brody Sorrell both shot 5-over par. It was Johnston’s highest round of the tournament, but given the conditions and Harris’ highest round, 81, the duo tied at +13 for the tournament. Harris’ 18-hole scores rose from 73 to 75 to 81 on the final day, but they mirrored the same rise by the rest of his team and the 112 players overall. Johnston, meanwhile, was consistent with 76 in each of his first two rounds, and 77 through a tough final round of his own. The Cardinals break for two weeks before the Don Benbow Invitational in Indianapolis, March 30 and 31. Hosted by Butler, the Benbow Invitational begins a stretch of four straight weeks of tournament play prior to the 2026 Mid-American Conference Championships in Zionsville, Indiana, May 3-5. ==================================================================== BALL STATE GYMNASTICS GYMNASTICS PLACES FIVE ON ALL-MAC TEAMS CLEVELAND – – Five members of the Ball State gymnastics program were honored for their work over the course of the 2026 season Tuesday when the Mid-American Conference announced its annual All-MAC awards. Representing the Cardinals on the All-MAC First Team were juniors Ava Molina and Ashley Szymanski. Earning All-MAC Second Team honors were junior Delaney McMahon and senior Zoe Middleton. Freshman Carley Stalder was also recognized on the inaugural All-MAC Freshman Team. AVA MOLINA – ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM – FLOOR Junior Ava Molina earns All-MAC honors for the first time in her career after leading the squad and ranking second among all league gymnasts with a floor NQS of 9.870 … Of her 11 floor routines this season, nine have scored at least 9.800 with season-highs of 9.900 versus Bowling Green (Jan. 18) and at the SEMO Quad (Feb. 1) … Her 9.900s on floor tie as the best floor score in the MAC this season … She also has three wins on floor this season. Molina has also been a staple on both bars and beam for the Cardinals this season … She has a bars NQS of 9.750 and a beam NQS of 9.615 … Molina recorded a season-high bars score of 9.800 versus Eastern Michigan (Feb. 15) and a career-best beam score of 9.825 at Northern Illinois. ASHLEY SZYMANSKI – ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM – BEAM Junior Ashley Szymanski earns All-MAC honors for the third time in her career and for the first time on beam … A four-time MAC Specialist of the Week this season, she led all league gymnasts with a 9.870 beam NQS, earning 9.800-or-higher in all 11 of her beam routines … A seven-time beam winner, Szymanski tied the program record with a score of 9.925 at Western Michigan (Feb. 22) … She also earned a 9.900 one week earlier at Eastern Michigan (Feb. 15). Along with her beam numbers, Szymanski finished the regular season ranked second in the MAC with a bars NQS of 9.895 … She scored at least 9.800 in eight of her bars routines, led by marks of 9.950 at the second Ball State Tri (Feb. 8) and versus Eastern Michigan (Feb. 15) … She also captured six event wins on bars. DELANEY McMAHON – ALL-MAC SECOND TEAM – BEAM Junior Delaney McMahon earns All-MAC honors for the first time in her career after ranking second in the league with a beam NQS of 9.860 … A four-time event winner on beam, McMahon tied the program record with her second career 9.925 at Western Michigan (Feb. 22) … She also earned a 9.900 one week earlier versus Eastern Michigan (Feb. 15), while earning seven scores of 9.800-or-higher on the year. McMahon also made her collegiate debut on bars during the 2026 season, including registering a career-high 9.800 at the second Ball State Tri (Feb. 8) … Of her 11 bars routines this season, five scored 9.725-or-higher. ZOE MIDDLETON – ALL-MAC SECOND TEAM – ALL-AROUND Senior Zoe Middleton earns All-MAC honors for the third straight season and for the first time on vault … She turned in the league’s best individual vault this season with a score of 9.925 at the Maryland Quad (March 7) and ranks third in the MAC with a vault NQS of 9.835 … Of her nine vaults this season, six scored at least 9.800. In addition to shining on vault, Middleton ranks second in the league with an all-around NQS of 39.150 … In fact, she is the only MAC gymnast to register a score of at least 9.900 on all four apparatus this season … A MAC Specialist (Jan. 12) and MAC Gymnast of the Week (Feb. 24) honoree, Middleton’s pair of 9.900s on floor also tie as the best floor scores in the MAC this season … In addition, she also ties for the fourth-highest beam score (9.900) and fifth-best bars score (9.900) among MAC gymnasts in 2026 … The effort has helped her capture six all-around titles, as well as six individual event wins, again with at least one win in all four events. CARLEY STALDER – ALL-MAC FRESHMAN TEAM Freshman Carley Stalder earns All-MAC Freshman honors after being the highest ranked freshman in the league on vault this season with an NQS of 9.815 which was fifth among all MAC gymnasts … She opened her career by winning her very first collegiate event with a career-best vault score of 9.850 in the first Ball State Tri (Feb. 11) … It was her first three vault wins on the season and five overall victories as she also claimed one win each on beam and floor. A staple on all three events for the Cardinals this season, Stalder won her beam title with a career-best 9.875 at Northern Illinois and claimed her floor win with a career-best 9.875 at the Maryland Quad … Overall, Stalder collected 13 scores of 9.800-or-higher in her first collegiate season. 2026 All-MAC First Team Vault – Charlie Behner, Senior, Kent State (9.845) Bars – Lia Kmieciak, Graduate Student, Central Michigan (9.905) Beam – Ashley Szymanski, Junior, Ball State (9.870) Floor – Ava Molina, Junior, Ball State (9.870) All-Around – Luciana Alvarado-Reid, Senior, Central Michigan (39.345) 2026 All-MAC Second Team Vault – Zoe Middleton, Senior, Ball State (9.835) Vault – Jersey Bingman, Sophomore, Kent State (9.835) Bars – Reese Samuelson, Junior, Western Michigan (9.855) Bars – Kaitlyn Schwab, Sophomore, Central Michigan (9.835) Beam – Delaney McMahon, Junior, Ball State (9.860) Beam – Heidi Schultz, Senior, Kent State (9.850) Floor – Kayla Shaw, Sophomore, Bowling Green (9.855) Floor – Brooke Gelesko, Junior, Western Michigan (9.850) All-Around – Kyrie Lowe, Senior, Eastern Michigan (39.000) 2026 All-MAC Freshman Team Vault – Carley Stalder, Ball State (9.815) Bars – Lana Mast, Kent State (9.745) Beam – Isabella Ciolfi, Western Michigan (9.740) Floor – Macy Nihart, Eastern Michigan (9.790) All-Around – N/A ================================================================= BALL STATE BASEBALL BASEBALL TO HOST BUTLER WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AT SHEBEK STADIUM The Ball State baseball team takes a break from Mid-American Conference play to host Butler at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Shebek Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and WMUN 92.5 FM / 1340 AM. Links to both broadcasts and live stats can be found above and on the schedule page. Ball State (10-8, 5-1 MAC) swept Eastern Michigan last weekend behind an offense that scored a combined 38 runs in the three games. Ryan Muizelaar was named the MAC Player of the Week after hitting 9-for-14 with two home runs and 13 RBI against the Eagles. Butler (4-16) has dropped eight games in a row including being swept in a four-game series at Wichita State in Kansas last weekend. Former Ball State student-athlete and assistant coach Blake Beemer is in his fourth season as the head coach of the Bulldogs, who were picked to finish eighth in the eight-team Big East preseason poll. Butler leads all of NCAA Division I in double plays turned (26) and double plays per game (1.30) and paces the Big East in total hits (183), home runs (30) and slugging percentage (.459). Junior first baseman Matthew Rhoades leads the league in home runs (12, No. 4 nationally), total bases (65, No. 13), slugging percentage (.833, No. 24) and runs scored (22). Fellow junior David Ayers tops the Bulldogs in batting average (.342) and RBI (23) while tallying five doubles and six home runs so far this year. Ball State is next set to play at Western Michigan starting Friday afternoon for its first road series of the conference season. ==================================================================== INDIANA STATE TRACK MARTIN NAMED MVC WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD COACH OF THE YEAR ST. LOUIS – Indiana State Cross Country and Track and Field Program Director and Head Coach Angela Martin was selected as the 2026 MVC Women’s Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year, as announced Tuesday morning by the conference office. Martin, who is in her 16th season in charge of the women’s track and field program and her 10th as the head coach of the men’s program, led the Sycamores to their third straight conference title and their fourth MVC Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championship in the last four years (2022, 2024, 2025, 2026). It was the program’s sixth women’s indoor title under Martin’s leadership (2014, 2015, 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026). Indiana State set a program record for points scored at a women’s indoor championship with 152. Under Martin’s tutelage, Rachel Mehringer broke Indiana State and Missouri Valley Conference records in the 60m hurdles at 8.16, while Janiya Bowman was named MVC Indoor Championships MVP after scoring 20 points across three different events as part of the Sycamores’ title run. Bowman also broke the school record in the long jump (6.15m/20-2.25), while Jahnel Bowman was named MVC Most Outstanding Field Athlete for her career-best mark of 12.80m (42-2) in the triple jump. Reneisha Andrews (60m), Amy Luttrell (pole vault), Janiya Bowman (long jump), Jahnel Bowman (triple jump) and Aliseonna Garnett (shot put) all won individual conference titles, with Indiana State student-athletes earning 12 all-conference accolades for top-three finishes. Sycamore student-athletes broke a pair of program records and set 21 program top-10 marks over the course of the 2026 indoor season. Tuesday’s announcement marks Martin’s 16th career MVC Coach of the Year honor (seven men’s, nine women’s), with nine of those honors (six women’s – 2014, 2015, 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026, three men’s – 2022, 2023, 2024) being Indoor Coach of the Year accolades. BETTENHAUSEN NAMED MVC WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR ST. LOUIS – Indiana State assistant track and field coach Brandan Bettenhausen was selected as the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Indoor Track and Field Assistant Coach of the Year, the league office announced Tuesday morning. Bettenhausen, who is in his ninth season coaching the Sycamores’ throwers, coached three all-conference honorees at the 2026 MVC Indoor Championships. The Sycamore throwers scored 45 points between the shot put (21) and weight throw (24), outscoring six entire team totals, and Bettenhausen had each of his five athletes score points at the MVC Indoor Championships. Aliseonna Garnett was responsible for 18 points on her own at the MVC Indoor Championships, with her career-best and top-40 national mark of 16.32m (53-6.5) in the shot put earning first place and her toss of 19.67m (64-6.5) in the weight throw placing second. Niesha Anderson also earned all-conference accolades in the weight throw, placing third with a mark of 19.51m (64-0.25). Anderson also placed in the top five in the shot put with a mark of 14.04m (46-0.75) and was one of three Sycamores in the top five in the event, alongside Garnett and Olivia Marshall (14.01m/45-11.75). Marshall, who also placed sixth in the weight throw (17.98m/59-0), was named the MVC’s Elite 18 Award winner as the highest GPA among finalists at the conference championships. Also scoring in both throws events under Bettenhausen’s tutelage was Emma Yoder, who placed fourth in the weight throw (18.62m/61-1.25) and seventh in the shot put (13.74m/45-1). Cora Williams added a seventh-place finish in the weight throw (17.92m/58-9.5) in her first MVC Championship appearance. Tuesday’s honor is the second MVC Assistant Coach of the Year award for Bettenhausen, who was previously named 2024 MVC Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Assistant Coach of the Year. ===================================================================== INDIANA STATE BASEBALL INDIANA STATE TO HOST ILLINOIS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State continues its seven-game home stand this week as the Sycamores welcome Illinois to Bob Warn Field on Wednesday, March 18, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. ET. The game will be streamed live via ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend. Recapping The Weekend Indiana State fell in all three games this past weekend against Gonzaga in their home opening weekend series at Bob Warn Field. The Sycamores fell by scores of 7-4, 7-4, and 23-16, over the three-game series against the Bulldogs. Mason Roell (.429) was the top Indiana State batter over the weekend with three hits over seven at-bats over two games at the plate. He added a .600 on-base percentage and a .429 slugging percentage, while adding a team-high three stolen bases all coming on Sunday afternoon. Carter Beck hit .333 from the plate with four extra-base hits over the three game series, including a pair of doubles and two home runs. Beck posted a three-hit game in the Sunday finale including his first multi-homer game of 2026, while adding four runs scored. Nick Sutherlin came off the bench on Sunday afternoon with a pinch-hit grand slam late in the contest and added a three-run home run on his way to posting a team-high eight RBIs over the series. Emil Estrella and Caden Miller both homered over the weekend as the Sycamores combined to hit six home runs over the three games, including five on Sunday afternoon. Four different Sycamores scored at least four runs over the games with Carter Beck, Emil Estrella, Andrew Ortiz, and Eddie Alonso all touching home four times. Weston Fulk went 3-for-8 over the weekend on his way to posting a .375 batting average with a double and two RBIs. Indiana State utilized 13 different pitchers on the mound over the weekend series against Gonzaga with Colby Morse and Hunter Small both making multiple appearances. Ryan Karst went a career-high 4.0 innings allowing one hit while striking out four batters in an extended relief outing on Friday night. Colby Morse worked 3.0 innings over two appearances allowing two hits and a run while striking out three. Ty Brooks (5.40 ERA) went at least 5.0 innings for the fifth time in the 2026 season, while Jack Armstrong and Grant Parson both recorded weekend starts. Indiana State posted a 10.93 ERA as a pitching staff on the mound, while posting 22 strikeouts over 28.0 innings. Season Spotlight Mason Roell (.355) leads the team’s hitting efforts over the 2026 season through the first 19 games of the season. Mason Roell has posted five extra-base hits, including two home runs, two doubles, and a triple, while scoring 14 runs and driving in eight RBIs. He currently leads the team in on-base percentage (.535) and slugging percentage (.677). Carter Beck remains among the team leaders in batting average (.289), while leading the Sycamores in hits (22), doubles (eight), runs scored (19), while adding three home runs and driving in 14 RBIs. Caden Miller (.284) enters the game on an 11-game on-base streak and is currently second on the team in RBIs (19), while adding four doubles, a triple, and a pair of home runs on the year. Nick Sutherlin is the team’s home run (4) and RBIs (21) leader while adding 16 runs scored and five doubles. Emil Estrella (.269) is also among the team leader in extra-base hits on the season with six doubles, two triples, and three stolen bases, while adding 16 RBIs and 17 runs scored. Mason Roell and Emil Estrella are tied for the team lead with five stolen bases apiece. Indiana State leads the Missouri Valley in team doubles (44) and doubles per game (2.32), with Carter Beck leading the MVC individually in doubles with eight. Two Sycamores have been in the Indiana State starting lineup in all 19 games on the year with Carter Beck and Emil Estrella penciled in every game. Caden Miller and Nick Sutherlin have also played in all 19 games on the year. Indiana State’s pitching efforts have been led by Ty Brooks (3-0, 2.53 ERA) on the season as the sophomore right-hander has pitched 32.0 innings with a 22:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a .168 opponent batting average. Jack Armstrong (2-1, 3.72 ERA) has also been among the team’s pitching leaders with 20 strikeouts over 19.1 innings allowing opponents to hit just .189 from the plate. Colby Morse (2-0, 5.52 ERA) and Hunter Small (0-2, 8.49 ERA) lead Indiana State in total appearances on the mound this season. Overall, the Sycamores have posted a 7.33 team ERA on the season with a 152:97 strikeout-to-walk ratio while allowing opponents to hit .282 from the plate. Sycamores Against Illinois Indiana State and Illinois have lined up 92 times over their respective program histories with Illinois holding the 48-42-2 all-time advantage over the Sycamores. Illinois swept the season series against Indiana State last season claiming the 8-6 win on March 18, 2025, in Urbana-Champaign, before recording the 19-8 (7 inn.) win on April 22, 2025 in Terre Haute. The teams first lined up back on May 12, 1906, in Terre Haute with Illinois claiming the 3-2 win in the inaugural contest. Indiana State’s last win against the Fighting Illini came at the 2024 Lexington Regional as the Sycamores topped Illinois, 13-2, in an elimination game. Sycamores Against the Big Ten Conference Indiana State has an all-time mark of 165-170-5 against the current iteration of the Big Ten Conference. The Sycamores are 2-1 against the Big Ten this season after taking two of three games against Penn State at the inaugural 2026 Atlantis Collegiate Baseball Series played over February 27-March 1 at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas. Indiana State is scheduled to continue annual home-and-home series with Illinois, Indiana, and Purdue over the 2026 season. About the Fighting Illini Illinois enters the midweek contest with a 10-8 overall record on the season and is coming off a series win over Minnesota after taking two of three from the Golden Gophers this past weekend at Illini Field. Illinois has added wins over South Florida, VCU, Coastal Carolina, Lindenwood, Michigan State, College of Charleston, and Albany on the year. Illinois was not ranked among the top six teams recognized in the Big Ten Preseason Poll. The Fighting Illini put three players on the Big Ten Players to Watch List with Nick Groves (OF), Regan Hall (LHP), and Collin Jennings (OF) all garnering accolades prior to the start of the year. Outfielder/Left-handed pitcher Brayden Mazzacano was recognized on the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award Watch List as recognized by the College Baseball Foundation earlier this month. Relievers Zach Bates and Mitch Dye were both honored on the preseason NCBWA Stopped of the Year Award watch list prior to the start of the 2026 season. AJ Putty (.394) has been the team’s leading hitter through the first part of the season posting team-highs in hits (28), doubles (8), and RBIs (26). Nick Groves (.339), Michael Farina (.314), and Will Johannes (.306) are all hitting above the .300 mark on the season. Collin Jennings is tied for the team lead with five home runs, while Will Johannes has four homers and 16 RBIs to his totals. Illinois is hitting .263 as a team from the plate on the year. The Illinois pitching staff has utilized 17 different pitchers over the 2026 season and has combined to post a 4.05 ERA over 160.0 innings. Overall, the Illinois staff has recorded a 136:49 strikeout-to-walk ratio and allowed opponents to hit .225 from the plate. Indiana State Baseball Season Tickets on Sale Now Season tickets for the 2026 Indiana State baseball season are now on sale as the Sycamores head into their second season under Head Coach Tracy Archuleta. The Sycamores will play 21 home games inside Bob Warn Field this season, starting on March 4 against Lindenwood. Reserved chairback season tickets can be purchased for $110. General admission season tickets will go on sale as well with adult ($75), seniors ($55), and youth ($40) tickets also being available for purchase. There will be a $5 surcharge added to those wanting tickets printed. The Sycamores have teamed up with Pacesetter Sports and the Spirit Shop for the third consecutive season for a season ticket deal. Fans will receive a $50 Pacesetter gift card for each $110 reserved chairback season ticket, $35 gift card for each $75 general admission season ticket, $25 gift card for each $55 senior general admission ticket, and $20 gift card for each $40 youth season ticket sold. ==================================================================== INDIANA STATE SWIMMING CUMMINGS SET TO MAKE INDIANA STATE HISTORY AT 2026 NCAA SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State freshman Grace Cummings is set to make Sycamore program history as the freshman heads to Atlanta, Ga. and the McAuley Aquatic Center for the 2026 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships. Cummings will take on the field in the 1650-yard Freestyle event starting on Wednesday, March 18, as the Kent, England native will compete in Session 1of the event hosted by Georgia Tech. The event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. ET and will be carried live on ESPN+, while live results will be posted on Meet Mobile. The Sycamore distance freestyle swimmer earned Indiana State’s first spot in the NCAA Championships after topping the field and setting a school record with a time of 16:17.25 at the 2026 MVC Swimming & Diving Championships. “Having a swimmer qualify for the NCAA Championships is a huge milestone for our program,” head coach Josh Christensen said. “We’re really proud of Grace for qualifying, but also to all the teammates that have supported her, challenged her, and trained with her throughout the year. Nobody does this alone. We’re excited for the race tomorrow!” Cummings set two Indiana State records this season in the 500-yard and 1650-yard Freestyle events as the freshman set both marks at the MVC Championships. Cummings topped the field in the 500-yard event after posting a time of 4:45.98 in addition to her win in the mile. For the 2025-26 season, Cummings recorded the two fastest times in school history in the 1650-yard Freestyle posting a time of 16:23.09 at the Miami Invitational midseason event, while posting her 16:17.25 in the finals. She also has recorded six of the seven fastest times in program history in the 1000-yard Freestyle, as well as six of the top 20 times in the 500-yard Freestyle event. The NCAA record holder in the 1650-yard Freestyle is Stanford’s Katie Ledecky set back in 2017 (15:03.31), while the NCAA Championship record is 15:07.70, set by Ledecky at the 2017 NCAA Championships. Wednesday, March 18 10 a.m. – 1650-yard Freestyle ================================================================== PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S BASKETBALL COREY HADNOT II NAMED TO NABC ALL-DISTRICT SECOND TEAM KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) announced the 2025-26 Division I All-District Teams on Tuesday (March 17) with Purdue Fort Wayne junior Corey Hadnot II making the All-Great Lakes Second Team. Hadnot led the league in scoring at 20.4 points per game. He also ranked third in steals (1.8 per game) and seventh in field goal percentage (52.0 percent). He led the league in field goals (245). He was named to the All-Horizon League First Team. The 654 total points he scored in 2025-26 ranks third in program history for single season scoring. Only Bryson Scott (746 in 2017-18) and Bruce Roland (272 in 1987-88) scored more points in a single campaign. Hadnot helped the Mastodons to their fifth consecutive winning season in 2025-26. ==================================================================== EVANSVILLE BASEBALL BASEBALL WELCOMES SEMO FOR MIDWEEK CONTEST EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team returns to Charles H. Braun Stadium on Wednesday, hosting SEMO for a midweek contest. First pitch is set for 6 PM. Evansville vs. SEMO | Wednesday, March 18 | 6 PM CTSite | LocationGerman American Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium | Evansville, Ind.LinksWednesday, 6 PM CT: Live Stats | TV: N/A | Radio: SEMO ESPN Expected Pitching Match-Up: UE RHP Drue Young (0-1, 15.19 ERA) vs. SEMO RHP RHP John-Paul Sauer (0-1, 7.63 ERA) Follow the Aces Baseball Site | Twitter | Game Notes Series History – Evansville and SEMO are playing for the 35th time, with SEMO holding a 20-12-2 edge – Evansville and SEMO have played a home and home midweek series the last three seasons – SEMO won the first meeting this season, a 13-4 victory in Cape Girardeau – The Aces have taken three of the last five meetings, including the last two in Evansville Series Win – Evansville took two of three games at Xavier this weekend to secure their second series win of the year as well as their first road series win – The Aces dropped the first game of the series before taking games on Saturday and Sunday – Max Hansmann and Kevin Reed turned in a pair of quality starts, working 5.1 innings of 2-run baseball with seven strikeouts on Saturday before Reed tossed a career-high eight innings of 1-run ball on Sunday to win the rubber match – Tanner Graham provided a strong effort in relief on Saturday, picking up his third save of the year with 3.2 innings of work, allowing one run while striking out four Chuck Nasty – Charlie Longmeier got hot at the plate last week, going 8-for-17 (.471) in four games – Longmeier had three multi-hit performances, including a 3-for-4 day in Saturday’s win over the Musketeers – The redshirt sophomore was Evansville’s offensive catalyst in the series win, scoring or driving in seven of the Aces’ 11 runs in Saturday and Sunday’s wins Another Milestone for Skipper – Head Coach Wes Carroll recorded his 450th career win on Sunday against Xavier – Carroll is the second-winningest coach in program history, trailing only the legendary Jim Brownlee – The 2026 season is Carroll’s 18th season at the helm of the Purple Aces, making him the second-longest tenured active skipper in the Missouri Valley Conference, trailing only Belmont’s Dave Jarvis (29 years) ===================================================================== EVANSVILLE SOFTBALL SOFTBALL HOSTS INDIANA STATE FOR WEDNESDAY DOUBLEHEADER EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In a rescheduled doubleheader, the University of Evansville softball team is set to welcome Indiana State to Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at James and Dorothy Cooper Stadium on Wednesday. The doubleheader will begin at 2 p.m. with the second contest slate to begin at approximately 4:30 p.m. with both games being televised on ESPN+. Evansville vs. Indiana StateGame OneWednesday, March 18 | 2:00 p.m. CST | Live Stats | ESPN+Game TwoWednesday, March 18 | 4:30 p.m. CST | Live Stats | ESPN+UE SoftballSoftball Home Page | Twitter | Game Notes All Over the Rankings– Brooke Voss has enjoyed a stellar start to the 2026 season and is near the top of the MVC in multiple statistical categories– Those rankings include home runs (T-10th | 4), total bases (10th | 44), slugging percentage (13th | .603), runs (T-21st | 16), extra-base hits (T-12th | 10)– Voss’ season batting average of .329 is second on the team and she is batting .375 over the last 12 contests– She hit a leadoff home run in the contest at Louisville while her top performance of the year was a 4-for-5 game with three RBI, two runs, a walk, and triple in the victory over Saint Louis Doubling Down– Niki Bode hit two doubles in the finale at Belmont and leads the conference with 10 on the season– She leads the team with a .367 batting average, which is 16th in the MVC– Her on-base tally of .446 puts her just inside the top 20 in the conference at 19th– Between Feb. 22 and March 10, Bode had an 8-game hit streak where the batted .440 with 11 hits in 25 at-bats– In the win over Illinois State, Bode picked up two hits a day after posting a pair of doubles in game two of the doubleheader Walk This Way– Despite going hitless in six at-bats in the Belmont series, Morgan Adams still managed to find her way on base– Adams drew three walks in the series and has a team-best 15 in 2026, which puts her 9th in the league– Prior to the Belmont series, Adams had one of her top performances of the year at Louisville going a perfect 3-for-3 ===================================================================== UINDY SOFTBALL GREYHOUNDS CRACK TOP 10 IN COACHES POLL LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Riding a 12-game winning streak, UIndy softball came at No. 9 in this week’s NFCA/GoRout Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, released Tuesday. Sitting at 23-1, the Greyhounds’ .958 win percentage is good for second in the nation.NFCA DII COACHES POLL RKTEAM (1st-place votes)PTSRECPREV1.West Texas A&M (16)40025-322.Cal State San Marcos36924-313.Missouri Southern36625-344.Cal State East Bay36121-335.North Georgia33823-456.AUM32422-467.Southern Arkansas30326-278.Saint Leo28722-2-199.UIndy26523-11110.Angelo State25825-6811.Pittsburg State23026-11612.Oklahoma Christian22523-51213.Colorado Christian19426-21514.Oklahoma Baptist18925-21415.Lenoir-Rhyne16117-5NR16.McKendree15323-52117.Central Oklahoma14921-51718.West Florida13619-61319.Francis Marion9423-81920.Cal State Monterey Bay9121-62021.Shippensburg8810-42122.Concordia5126-102223.Montevallo4622-62324.Carson-Newman3521-62425.East Stroudsburg3312-6RV Others receiving votes: Winona State (29), Florida Tech (17), Cal State Dominguez Hills (7), Northwest Nazarene (1). ====================================================================== UINDY WOMEN’S GOLF HOUNDS WIN OLDFIELD INTERCOLLEGIATE, WHALLON CAPTURES SECOND CAREER INDIVIDUAL TITLE OKATIE, S.C — For the second time in the last two seasons, the UIndy women’s golf team earned a first place team finish and a first place individual finish. Caroline Whallon captured her second career individual title after shooting a +1 (73) in Tuesday’s final round. “I’m super proud of our team, it is great to get our first team win of the season as we get closer to postseason play,” head coach Andy Serketich said. “We played pretty solid for the 9 holes on Monday. This morning we didn’t play great after the restart but really regrouped in the final round.” The Greyhounds blew the field away by 13 shots, its largest team win since 2024 when the team won the Flyers Fall Intercollegiate by 14 strokes over McKendree. Hosted by USC Beaufort, the annual event was held at the par-72 Oldifeld Golf Club in Okatie, S.C. UIndy won this event in just its second trip to Oldfield Golf Club, and bested its T3 team finish from last season. This year’s event was shortened to 36-holes after rain forced yesterday’s round to be postponed after just nine holes. INS & OUTS The Hounds cleared the field by 13 strokes in this shortened event, carding team scores of 309 and 294, which led to them leading the tournament from wire-to-wire. The first round featured a 75 (+3) from Paige Giovenco along with a 76 (+4) from Whallon, while round two was headed by Macey Brown who shot the lone under par round of Tuesday at 71 (-1), and Whallon making her charge up the leaderboard with a 73 (+1). Whallon made her charge on Tuesday to vault into the lead after four birdies in her first nine holes of the second round. With three holes to play Whallon finished with two pars to stay even with Columbus State’s Sydney Himes, and SCAD Savannah’s Yunyi Luo to share first place after 36 holes. “Huge congrats to Caroline for the co-medalist honors,” Serketich said. “She really got it going in the final round and I am super happy she got her 2nd collegiate win.” Along with Whallon at the top of the leaderboard, Brown and Giovenco also shared eighth place at +7. Today’s T8 finish marks the fourth top-10 for each girl on the season, and is the 11th top-10 finish of Brown’s four year stint at UIndy. “Macey played awesome, with 71 being the best score of the entire tournament,” Serketich said. “And Paige got another top 10 finish to continue her solid spring season.” Ava Ray and Abby Stone were the other two Greyhounds competing in the Greyhounds five man squad this week, coming away with T23 (+11) and T30 (+13), respectively. In Stone’s second appearance since returning from injury, posted her best finish since a T22 at last year’s UMSL Spring Invitational. “Ava (Ray) had a solid round two,” Serketich said. “She is a warrior as she continues battling a tough injury and so it’s great to see her fight through it and play so well.” The freshman duo of Valentina Cortez and Lucile Ceolin both competed individually this week, and posted T20 (+10) and T40 (+16) finishes, respectively. UP NEXT UIndy will return back to Indiana on Mar. 30 for the Findianapolis Intercollegiate, which the Hounds will be hosting in Laconia, Ind. at the Chariot Run Golf Course. ===================================================================== MARIAN TENNIS NO. 15 MARIAN FALLS TO NO. 8 HOLY CROSS IN RANKED SHOWDOWN Indianapolis, Ind. – The Marian men’s tennis team falls to No. 8 Holy Cross 4-0. After the loss, Marian moves to 8-5 overall on the year. The Crusaders got off to an early lead over Marian, taking the 6-1 win over Marc Soriano and Iyan Cresens at No. 3 doubles. They recorded the doubles point with the 6-0 win over Ben O’Brien and Juan Garcia-Tunon at No. 2 doubles. James Ashworth and Mateo Guerin put up a tough fight at No. 1 singles, leading 4-3 before going unfinished. In singles action, Soriano was the first to finish, falling 6-3, 6-7 (6), and 6-4 after a three-set fight. Ashworth was the next to finish, falling 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-0 at No. 1. With the 3-0 lead Holy Cross clinched the win with their 6-2, 6-7(6), and 6-4 wins at No. 2 singles over Guerin. After the clinch, Marcos Ramos Cabrera, Bogdan Precupescu, and Garcia-Tunon went unfinished in the rest of the matches. Marian will be back in action as they host (RV) Goshen on Friday, March 20th at 3 PM at the Healthplex. ======================================================================= SMALL INDIANA COLLEGE SPORTS WEB SITES UINDY ATHLETICS: https://athletics.uindy.edu/ MARIAN ATHLETICS: https://muknights.com/ INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/ EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/ WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/ FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/ ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/ ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/ DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/ HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/ MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/ HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/ OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/ IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/ IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/ PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/ INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/ ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/ GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/ HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/ VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index ========================================================= “SPORTS EXTRA” TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY 1937 Ending his holdout, Lou Gehrig, who had initially asked for $50,000, agrees to sign with the Yankees for $36,000 and a $750 signing bonus. The new deal for the Bronx Bombers’ first baseman, last season’s American League MVP, makes him baseball’s highest-paid player. 1942 During spring training, Jackie Robinson and Nate Moreland work out with the White Sox in Pasadena, California. Manager Jimmie Dykes, who reluctantly granted their request for a walk-on tryout, dismisses the black players without making an offer. 1943 Spring training camps began opening in northern locations due to wartime travel restrictions. Some of the locales include Bear Mountain, NY (Dodgers); French Lick Springs, IN (Cubs and White Sox); Asbury Park, NJ (Yankees); Medford, MA (Red Sox); and Wallingford, CT (Braves). 1953 The Braves end their 77-year-old association with Boston, becoming the first major league club to move since Baltimore shifted to New York in 1903. After listening to Lou Perini’s hour-long impassioned plea, the National League owners unanimously approved the franchise’s change of venue to Milwaukee, where the club will stay for a dozen seasons, setting attendance records before moving again in 1966 to Atlanta. 1953 “Braves Win Last Game for Boston, Milwaukee Loses It.” – BOSTON GLOBE, headline lamenting the city National League franchise move to Milwaukee. When the National League owners officially approve the Braves’ move from Boston, the team is on the field, beating the Yankees in the fifth inning, 3–0. The club now representing Milwaukee, as of 2:33 PM, blows the lead, dropping a 5-3 decision to the Yankees in the Bradenton (FL) exhibition game. 1957 Indian general manager Hank Greenberg turns down the Red Sox’s million-dollar offer for pitcher Herb Score. The former slugger says the Tribe is building for the future, not for selling its premier players. 1958 The Dodgers, playing their first season in LA, do not renew the contract of Emmett Kelly, the team’s resident ‘tramp’ in Brooklyn. The veteran circus performer believes the size of the Coliseum, the club’s new venue on the West Coast, is just “too big for one clown.” 1974 Country singer Charley Pride, best known for the songs I’m Just Me and Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’, plays for the Texas Rangers in an exhibition game at the team’s Pompano Beach training camp. The former Negro League right-hander grounds out and singles in two at-bats in the team’s 14-2 loss to Jim Palmer and the Orioles. 1981 Carlton Fisk signs a $3.5 million deal with the White Sox, after being declared a free agent because the Red Sox mailed his contract one day past the contractual deadline. On Opening Day, the 33-year-old catcher will hit an eighth-inning three-run home run to tie the score, 3-3, which proves to be the difference in Chicago’s eventual 5-3 victory over his old team at Fenway Park. 1984 Renown hitting coach Charlie Lau dies in Key Colony Beach (FL) at the age of 50 after a yearlong bout with colorectal cancer. The former catcher and pinch-hitter who batted .255 in 527 games as a catcher and pinch hitter over 11 seasons for four clubs, suggested to his hitters, including Hall of Famer George Brett and Carlton Fisk, not to fully extend their arms during their swings. 1985 Commissioner Peter Ueberroth reinstates Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle (banned in 1983) and Willie Mays (banned in 1983), stating it was unfair to banish these two baseball legends from the sport due to their roles as goodwill ambassadors for Atlantic City casinos. Ueberroth noted that while he supported former commissioner Bowie Kuhn’s strict policy toward gambling, he would work on new guidelines to separate baseball from gambling, taking into account the changing world. 1990 The players and owners agree on a four-year contract after a 32-day lockout, the sport’s seventh work stoppage and its second-longest since 1972. Although the season will start a week later, teams plan to play a complete schedule, including the 78 games canceled by the work stoppage. 2000 Construction workers install a 15-foot-high, 56-foot-long replica of an 1862 steam locomotive, 90 feet above the field, onto the rails that run alongside the moveable roof at Enron Field, Houston’s new downtown ballpark, partially located on the former site of the city’s Union Station. The 60,000-pound train, with its cargo of oranges, makes a 40-second trip back and forth on its track every time an Astro player hits a home run. 2000 After reacquiring Jesse Orosco from the Orioles in December, the Mets will send the veteran left-hander to the Cardinals for utility player Joe McEwing. In 1978, the eventual four-decade hurler (1979-2003) was the player to be named later in the trade when New York dealt veteran southpaw Jerry Koosman to Minnesota. 2005 After Mark McGwire, who had previously denied using steroids, refused to answer the questions concerning his involvement during the congressional hearings, U.S. Representative William Lacy Clay (D-MO) wants to remove the slugger’s name from a stretch of highway in his state. The legislators officially renamed a five-mile segment of Interstate-70, approximately as long as the 70 home runs, the Mark McGwire Highway as a tribute to ‘Big Mac’ hitting a record 70 home runs in 1998. 2008 In an attempt to be part of a healing process on the campus where 32 students and staff became victims of a deadly shooting spree last April, the Yankees play the Hokies at Virginia Tech’s English Field. George Steinbrenner, moved by coverage of the massacre, donated $1 million to a memorial fund and arranged for his team to participate in an exhibition game at the school. 2008 The Players Association will examine the possibility of collusion among major league owners against Barry Bonds, who has pleaded not guilty to four perjury counts and one count of obstruction of justice. The San Francisco slugger, who hit .276 last year with 28 home runs, has not been offered a contract by any major league team. 2009 The Cubs announce that the team will retire its fifth number on May 3, when the team sets aside #31 to honor both Fergie Jenkins (1966-73, 1982-83) and Greg Maddux (1986-92, 2004-06). The hurlers will join Ron Santo (#10), Ernie Banks (#14), Ryne Sandberg (#23), and Billy Williams (#26) as honorees chosen by the Chicago club. 2010 Free-swinging slugger Mark Reynolds (.260, 44, 102) and the Diamondbacks agree to a new three-year, $14.5 million contract. The deal covers the 26-year-old third baseman’s first two arbitration years. 2011 The Mets make a symbolic but expensive roster move when they release their second baseman, Luis Castillo. The oft-injured, embattled 35-year-old, best remembered by New York fans for the dropped popup in a 2009 Subway Series game at Yankee Stadium, is still owed the remaining $6 million on the four-year, $25 million contract he signed before the 2008 season. 2014 In a Cactus League game, all nine batters Jose Quintana faces reach base and eventually score in the White Sox’s 16-6 loss to the A’s at Camelback Ranch. The southpaw starter gives up seven hits, including a homer by Jed Lowrie and a triple by Sam Fuld, and issues two walks before exiting the game without retiring a batter. ========================================================= TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY On March 18 in … 1892 – Lord Frederick Arthur Stanley of Preston proposes silver challenge cup for hockey (Stanley Cup). 1922 – First US intercollegiate indoor polo championship (Princeton versus Yale). 1930 – Boston Bruins win record 20th NHL home game. 1933 – US Ladies Figure Skating Championship won by Maribel Vinson. 1933 – US Men’s Figure Skating Championship won by Roger Turner. 1942 – Two black players, Jackie Robinson and Nate Moreland, request a tryout with the Chicago White Sox; they are allowed to work out. 1945 – Maurice “Rocket” Richard becomes the first NHL player to score 50 goals. 1951 – Pat O’Sullivan wins LPGA Titleholders Golf Championship. 1953 – 15th NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: Indiana beats Kansas 69-68. 1953 – National League approves Boston Braves’ move to Milwaukee (first shift since 1903). 1970 – NFL selects Wilson as official football and scoreboard as official time. 1972 – AIAW first basketball championship, Immaculata beats West Chester State 52-48. 1972 – Cornell NCAA hockey team shut out for first time in 225 games (Boston University). 1972 – Memphis Pros’ Larry Miller sets ABA record of 67 points in a game. 1973 – Sandra Haynie wins LPGA Orange Blossom Golf Classic. 1979 – Joanne Carner wins LPGA Honda Civic Golf Classic. 1981 – Buffalo Sabres sets NHL record of 9 goals in one period (they beat Toronto Maple Leafs 14-4). 1984 – Chris Johnson wins LPGA Tucson Conquistadores Golf Open. 1985 – Baseball Commissioner Peter Ueberroth reinstates Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays. The two had been banned from associating with major league baseball due to their employment with Atlantic City casinos. 1986 – Exciting draw in final gives New South Wales the Sheffield Shield over Queensland. 1989 – Dino Ciccarelli sets Washington Capitals’ record of 7 points in a game. 1989 – Investor group led by George W Bush and Edward W Rose purchases controlling interest of Texas Rangers. 1990 – After a 32-day lockout, Major League Baseball players and owners reach an agreement on a four-year contract. 1990 – A Tampa Florida little league player dies after being struck by a pitch. 1990 – Colleen Walker wins Circle K Tucson LPGA Golf Open. 1990 – Loyola Marymount beats Michigan Wolverines 149-115, highest NCAA score. 1991 – Mike Tyson beats Razor Ruddock in the 7th round. 1991 – Philadelphia ’76ers retire Wilt Chamberlain’s #13 jersey. 1991 – Reggie Miller (Indiana) ends NBA free throw streak of 52 games. 1992 – Zimbabwe beats England by nine runs in World Cup at Albury. 1993 – Sri Lanka beat England in Test match by five wickets. 1995 – Basketball superstar Michael Jordan announces he’s returning to basketball with his former team, the Chicago Bulls. 2007 – The 2007 Formula 1 World Championship Begins with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. 2017 – At the Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida, USA, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring race is held, round 2 of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship series. Finishing 1st in Prototype class and 1st overall is the Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 driven by Ricky Taylor, Alex Lynn, and Jordan Taylor. Finishing 1st in Prototype Challenge class and 5th overall is the Performance Tech Motorsports #38 ORECA FLM09 driven by Patricio O’Ward, Kyle Masson, and James French. Finishing 1st in GT Le Mans class and 7th overall is the Corvette Racing #3 Corvette C7.R driven by Jan Magnussen, Mike Rockenfeller, and Antonio Garcia. Finishing 1st in GT Daytona class and 16th overall is the Mercedes-AMG Team Riley Motorsports #33 Mercedes-AMG GT3 driven by Jeroen Bleekemolen, Mario Farnbacher, and Ben Keating. 2022 – At SAP Center in San Jose, California, USA, NHL regular season game: Colorado Avalanche beats San Jose Sharks by score 5-3. 2022 – At Honda Center in Anaheim, California, USA, NHL regular season game: Florida Panthers beats Anaheim Ducks by score 3-0. 2022 – At Scotiabank Saddledrome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, NHL regular season game: Buffalo Sabres beats Calgary Flames by score 1-0. 2022 – At Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, NHL regular season game: Boston Bruins beats Winnipeg Jets by score 4-2. 2022 – At PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, NHL regular season game: Washington Capitals beats Carolina Hurricanes by score 4-3. 2022 – At Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, NHL regular season game: Ottawa Senators beats Philadelphia Flyers by score 3-1. Births of sports figures on March 18 1877 – Birth of Clem Hill; cricket player (all-time great Australian batsman). 1881 – Birth of Oliver Seibert; hall of fame hockey player (elected 1963). 1919 – Birth of Laila Schou Nilsen in Norway; downhill skier (Olympics-gold-1936). 1919 – Birth of Len Johnson; cricket player (Australian fast bowler played Test in 1948). 1924 – Birth of Madhussudan Rege; cricket player (15 runs in only Test India versus West Indies 1948-49). 1927 – Birth of George Plimpton in New York City, New York, USA; sports writer (Paper Lion), actor (dies 2003). 1936 – Birth of Tony Nash in England; bobsled (Olympics-gold-1964). 1937 – Birth of Mark Donohue; auto racer (1972 Indianapolis 500). 1942 – Birth of Ann Packer in England; 800 metre runner (Olympics-gold-1964). 1945 – Birth of Aleksey Vakhonin in USSR; bantam weight (Olympics-gold-1964). 1947 – Birth of David Lloyd; cricket player (England opener, 214 versus India 1974). 1948 – Birth of Eknath Solkar; cricket player (India 1969-77, brilliant short-leg fielder). 1953 – Birth of Nicholas Wisdom; cricket player (son of comic Norman, two games Sussex 1974). 1955 – Birth of Graham Porter; cricket player (one day international for Australia 1979). 1956 – Birth of Ingemar Stenmark in Sweden; slalom skier (Olympics-2 gold-1980). 1958 – Birth of Andreas Wenzel in Liechtenstein; skier (Olympics-silver-1980). 1960 – Birth of Guy Carbonneau in Sept-Iles, Québec, Canada; NHL center (Dallas Stars). 1961 – Birth of Kevan James; cricket player (all-rounder four wickets/4 balls and ton versus India 1996). 1962 – Birth of Trevor Franklin; cricket player (opened for New Zealand mid-1980s). 1964 – Birth of Bonnie Blair in Champaign, Illinois, USA; speed skater (Olympics-5 gold/bronze-1988, 1992, 1994). 1965 – Birth of Geronimo Berroa in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; outfielder (Oakland Athletics). 1967 – Birth of Andre Rison; NFL wide receiver (Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs). 1967 – Birth of Derrick Graham; NFL tackle (Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks). 1968 – Birth of Joseph Ouellet; hockey forward (Team France 1998). 1968 – Birth of Pat Terrell; NFL strong safety (Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers). 1969 – Birth of Michael Dumas; NFL free safety (San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars). 1969 – Birth of Shaun Udal; cricket player (Hants off-spinner, England tourist to Australia 1994-95). 1969 – Birth of Sheila Taormina; 4X200 metre freestyle swimmer (Olympics-gold-1996). 1971 – Birth of Mariaan de Swardt in Johannesburg, South Africa; tennis star (1996 third round Australia). 1973 – Birth of Marlon Kerner; NFL cornerback (Buffalo Bills). 1973 – Birth of Rob Johnson; NFL quarterback (Jacksonville Jaguars). 1974 – Birth of Petra Kamstra in Rotterdam, Holland; tennis star (1995 Surabaya doubles). 1974 – Birth of Tina Krizan in Maribor, Slovenia; tennis star (1995 Surabaya doubles). 1974 – Birth of Torrian Gray; safety (Minnesota Vikings). 1975 – Birth of Kimmo Timonen; hockey defenseman (Team Finland Olympics-Bronze-1998). 1978 – Birth of Dionne Bainbridge in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; New Zealand 200 metre swimmer (Olympics-1996). Deaths of sports figures on March 18 1917 – William Shalders, South African cricket batsman (12 Tests 1895-1907), dies. 1954 – Walter Mead, cricket player (one Test for England 1899), dies. 1971 – George Wood, England cricket wicketkeeper (versus South Africa 1924), dies. 1980 – Herman Griffith, cricket player (13 Tests for West Indies, 44 wickets), dies. 1984 – Death of Charlie Lau, American baseball player/coach (Chiacgo Cubs), at age 50 (born 1933). ========================================================== TV SPORTS TODAY Wednesday, 3/18/26 MLB SPRING TRAININGTIME ETTVBoston Red Sox vs New York Yankees1:05pmMLBNSan Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers4:05pmMLBNNBA REGULAR SEASONTIME ETTVGolden State Warriors vs Boston Celtics7:00 PMNBCS-BAYNBCS-BOSPortland Trail Blazers vs Indiana Pacers7:30pmRip CityFanDuel Sports INDOklahoma City Thunder vs Brooklyn Nets7:30pmFanDuel Sports OKCYESToronto Raptors vs Chicago Bulls8:00pmCHSNnSNLos Angeles Clippers vs New Orleans Pelicans8:00pmFanDuel Sports SoCalGCSNUtah Jazz vs Minnesota Timberwolves8:00pmKJZZFanDuel Sports NorthAtlanta Hawks vs Dallas Mavericks8:30pmKFAAFanDuel Sports ATLDenver Nuggets vs Memphis Grizzlies8:30pmFanDuel Sports MEMALTLos Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets9:30pmESPNESPN UnlimitedNHL REGULAR SEASONTIME ETTVNew Jersey Devils vs New York Rangers7:00pmTNTMAXPittsburgh Penguins vs Carolina Hurricanes7:00pmATTSN-PITFanDuel Sports SouthOttawa Senators vs Washington Capitals7:30pmMNMTSNSt. Louis Blues vs Calgary Flames9:30pmFanDuel Sports MWMSG-BUFDallas Stars vs Colorado Avalanche9:30pmTNTMAXPhiladelphia Flyers vs Anaheim Ducks10:00pmNBCS-PHIVictory+MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALLTIME ETTVNCAA First Four: 16 Prairie View vs 16 Lehigh6:30pmtruTVMAXNIT First Round: Navy vs Wake Forest7:00pmESPNUNIT First Round: Bradley vs Dayton9:00pmESPNUNCAA First Four: 11 Miami (OH) vs 11 SMU9:15pmtruTVMAXNIT First Round: Illinois-Chicago vs California11:00pmESPN2NIT First Round: Saint Joseph’s vs Colorado State11:00pmESPNUSOCCERTIME ETTVUEFA Europa League: Sporting Braga vs Ferencváros11:30amParamount+VIXUEFA Champions League: Barcelona vs Newcastle United1:45pmParamount+VIXUEFA Champions League: Bayern München vs Atalanta4:00pmParamount+VIXUEFA Champions League: Liverpool vs Galatasaray4:00pmParamount+VIXUEFA Champions League: Tottenham Hotspur vs Atlético Madrid4:00pmParamount+VIXUS Open Cup: Chattanooga vs Kalonji6:00pmYoutubeUS Open Cup: Asheville City vs Greenville Triumph6:30pmYoutubeUS Open Cup: Charleston vs Florida Badgers6:30pmYoutubeUS Open Cup: Louisville City vs Southern Indiana7:00pmYoutubeUS Open Cup: Naples vs Red Force7:00pmYoutubeUS Open Cup: FC Motown vs Hartford Athletic7:00pmCBSSNParamount+CONCACAF Champions Cup: Inter Miami vs Nashville SC7:00pmVIXUS Open Cup: Vistula vs One KnoXVille7:30pmYoutubeUS Open Cup: Little Rock Rangers vs FC Tulsa8:00pmYoutubeUS Open Cup: Bohfs St. Louis vs Union Omaha8:00pmParamount+US Open Cup: San Antonio vs New Stars8:30pmYoutubeCONCACAF Champions Cup: América vs Philadelphia Union9:00pmVIXUS Open Cup: New Mexico vs Cruizers9:30pmYoutubeUS Open Cup: Sacramento Republic vs El Farolito10:00pmYoutubeLiga MX: Guadalajara vs León10:07pmPrimeUS Open Cup: Av Alta vs Valley 559 FC10:30pmYoutubeUS Open Cup: Ventura County Fusion vs Spokane Velocity10:30pmYoutubeCONCACAF Champions Cup: Toluca vs San Diego11:00pmVIXCONCACAF Champions Cup: Seattle Sounders FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps11:00pmVIX About The Author troyderengowski61@gmail.com See author's posts Post navigation THE INDIANA SRN “SCOREBOARD” MARCH 17 THE INDIANA SRN “SCOREBOARD” MARCH 18
