“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 =============================================================== MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES PURDUE 80 MICHIGAN 72 CAL BAPTIST 63 UTAH VALLEY 61 PENNSYLVANIA 88 YALE 84 OT VCU 70 DAYTON 62 ARKANSAS 86 VANDERBILT 75 SOUTH FLORIDA 70 WICHITA STATE 55 ================================================================== NCAA TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE ALL TIMES EASTERN FIRST FOUR TUESDAY, MARCH 17 AT DAYTON, OHIO NO. 16 UMBC VS. NO. 16 HOWARD, 6:40 P.M.NO. 11 TEXAS VS. NO. 11 NORTH CAROLINA STATE, 9:15 P.M. 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. WINNER, HOWARD/UMBC, 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. WINNER, NC STATE/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 ============================================================== WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES NO GAMES SCHEDULED =============================================================== COLLEGE BASEBALL SCORES LOUISVILLE 21 NOTRE DAME 12 EVANSVILLE 5 XAVIER 1 RUTGERS 8 MICHIGAN STATE 6 IOWA 12 PENN STATE 4 MARYLAND 10 PURDUE 9 OREGON 7 INDIANA 6 UCLA 7 MICHIGAN 2 WASHINGTON 5 OHIO STATE 4 AKRON 18 UMASS 17 BALL STATE 12 EASTERN MICHIGAN 9 TOLEDO 17 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 2 KENT STATE 6 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 4 WESTERN MICHIGAN 16 OHIO 7 MIAMI OHIO 13 BOWLING GREEN 7 GONZAGA 23 INDIANA STATE 16 VALPARAISO 13 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS EDWARDSVILLE 9 ============================================================== COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCORES NOTRE DAME 7 STANFORD 4 BUTLER 12 VILLANOVA 9 RUTGERS 14 INDIANA 11 PURDUE 12 OHIO STATE 6 OREGON 6 PENN STATE 5 UCLA 10 MICHIGAN STATE 2 WASHINGTON 8 MARYLAND 2 VALPARAISO 11 IU INDY 7 VALPARAISO 8 IU INDY 0 OHIO 10 TOLEDO 6 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 8 BOWLING GREEN 2 TOLEDO 10 OHIO 6 ============================================================== MEN’S COLLEGE HOCKEY SCORES #9 CORNELL 5 HARVARD 2 SACRED HEART 5 ROBERT MORRIS 0 ============================================================== MEN’S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL SCORES #6 PEPPERDINE 3 MENIO 0 ================================================================ DIVISION 1 MEN’S LAX SCORES NO GAMES SCHEDULED ================================================================= DIVISION 1 WOMEN’S LAX SCORES #22 PRINCETON 14 #18 PENN STATE 11 #11 STONY BROOK 18 MONMOUTH 8 PENNSYLVANIA 11 #19 GEORGETOWN 10 #8 JOHNS HOPKINS 15 RUTGERS 12 #14 COLORADO 18 STETSON 3 OHIO STATE 16 #4 NORTHWESTERN 15 #9 MICHIGAN 15 USC 11 ================================================================= NBA SCORES OKLAHOMA CITY 116 MINNESOTA 103 TORONTO 119 DETROIT 108 MILWAUKEE 134 INDIANA 123 DALLAS 130 CLEVELAND 120 PHILADELPHIA 109 PORTLAND 103 NEW YORK 110 GOLDEN STATE 107 SACRAMENTO 116 UTAH 111 ================================================================== NBA G-LEAGUE SCORES ================================================================== NHL SCORES MOTOR CITY 128 DELAWARE 119 WESTCHESTER 120 NOBLESVILLE 110 GRAND RAPIDS 131 OKLAHOMA CITY 125 OSCEOLA 126 LONG ISLAND 107 STOCKTON 106 AUSTIN 104 MEMPHIS 127 MEXICO CITY 109 SOUTH BAY 129 RIP CITY 122 ================================================================== MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL BALTIMORE 2 NY YANKEES 0 DETROIT 12 NY YANKEES 1 ATLANTA 1 PHILADELPHIA 0 BOSTON 7 MINNESOTA 2 ST. LOUIS 6 WASHINGTON 3 TAMPA BAY 6 PITTSBURGH 1 HOUSTON 1 MIAMI 0 NY METS 8 TORONTO 1 KANSAS CITY 10 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 4 LA DODGERS 5 TEXAS 3 SAN FRANCISCO 7 MILWAUKEE 2 CLEVELAND 12 LAS VEGAS 6 LA DODGERS 14 CHICAGO CUBS 8 SEATTLE 6 CINCINNATI 3 LA ANGELS 6 COLORADO 5 SAN DIEGO 4 ARIZONA 4 ================================================================== WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC SCORES UNITED STATES 2 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 1 ================================================================= WOMEN’S PRO VOLLEYBALL SCORES NO GAMES SCHEDULED ================================================================== MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER NEW ENGLAND 6 CINCINNATI 1 VANCOUVER 6 MINNESOTA 0 SEATTLE 1 SAN JOSE 0 ================================================================= NATIONAL SPORTS NEWS RELEASES MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL PURDUE PULLS OF UPSET OVER MICHIGAN IN BIG TEN TITLE GAME Braden Smith produced 14 points and 11 assists to move within one of Bobby Hurley’s NCAA record for career assists and direct No. 18 Purdue to an 80-72 upset of No. 3 Michigan in the Big Ten tournament title game Sunday afternoon in Chicago. Oscar Cluff (21 points) and Trey Kaufman-Renn (20 points) each scored 12 points in the second half as the seventh-seeded Boilermakers (27-8) used an 11-2 run at the second half’s outset to fuel their first Big Ten tournament title since 2023. Fletcher Loyer notched 14 points and five assists as Purdue committed just two turnovers to avenge its 91-80 regular-season home loss to Michigan on Feb. 17. Yaxel Lendeborg paced the top-seeded Wolverines (31-3) with 20 points. Aday Mara contributed 14 points and seven rebounds while Elliot Cadeau provided 10 points and 10 assists. Both teams started fast as Michigan canned three of its first four 3-point attempts — two by Nimari Burnett — to claim a 13-11 lead in the opening six minutes. Then the Wolverines missed seven straight 3-point tries while Purdue endured a 3:56 scoreless stretch. Worse yet for the Boilers, big men Kaufman-Renn and Cluff both spent time on the bench with two fouls. With more room available in the post, the teams resumed throwing haymakers. Michigan threw down dunks on three consecutive possessions — including alley-oops from Cadeau to Mara and Mara to Lendeborg — but Purdue countered with a Loyer 4-point play and two productive Cluff postups to stay within 28-26. But when Cluff picked up his third foul at the 3:14 mark and Morez Johnson Jr. cashed both free throws, Michigan pushed its lead to 32-26. That inspired the Boilers to reel off nine straight points over 1:28 to take a three-point edge. Cadeau’s hesitation drive with one second left made it 38-38 at the break. Purdue seized control early in the second half as Kaufman-Renn powered his way for six early points to build a 49-40 lead with 14:58 to go. When Smith pump-faked the 7-foot-3 Mara into the air and threw in a 6-footer while drawing a foul, Smith roared and flexed as he walked toward the Purdue bench and fan section. Smith canned the accompanying free throw to make it 58-46 with 12:06 left. While the Wolverines started having success feeding Mara in the post, they couldn’t get closer than eight until Lendeborg stroked a 3-pointer to cut the margin to 68-63 with 3:47 to go. Purdue answered with a Cluff post-up, two Loyer free throws to restore a nine-point margin. Michigan never got closer than seven. Smith pushed his career assists total to 1,075 in 145 career games — one helper shy of the 1,076 assists that Hurley amassed in 140 games for Duke from 1989-93. LATE RUNS SPARKS ARKANSAS OVER VANDERBILT IN SEC FINAL NASHVILLE — Tournament Most Valuable Player Darius Acuff Jr. scored 30 points and dished out 11 assists, leading 17th-ranked Arkansas to an 86-75 win over No. 22 Vanderbilt in the Southeastern Conference tournament final on Sunday. The third-seeded Razorbacks hit 62.5% of their 3-pointers (15 of 24) with five players making shots from beyond the arc. Trevon Brazile (16 points) was 4 of 5 on 3s, two of those coming on back-to-back possessions just after fourth-seeded Vanderbilt took a two-point lead with 3:41 remaining, and added nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Brazile also delivered a fastbreak dunk at the end of a 14-0 run that iced the game. Billy Richmond III chipped in 18 points for Arkansas (26-8). Duke Miles (19 points, nine assists, four steals) led the Commodores (26-8), who lost both their meetings with Arkansas this season by double digits. The Commodores’ Tyler Nickel broke out of a shooting slump, hitting 5 of 7 3-point attempts and scoring 19 points. Tyler Tanner had 15 points, but was 3 of 15 from the field and had just one assist. Tanner hit two free throws with 6:59 left as the Commodores went into the bonus. Nickel snapped a field-goal drought that lasted nearly eight minutes with a corner 3, tying the game at 66 with 6:40 remaining. But Arkansas sandwiched a Tanner layup with second-chance 3s by Acuff and D.J. Wagner on its next two trips. Miles put Vandy ahead at the 3:41 mark but Brazile buried 3s with 3:13 and 2:18 remaining. Jalen Washington got a putback of a Miles miss, giving Vanderbilt its biggest lead of the day to that point at 55-49. The Commodores then missed their next seven shots from the field as Arkansas went on an 11-0 run that spanned 3:03. Arkansas led 41-39 at the end of a first half that ended at a dizzying pace. The Razorbacks led by seven but Miles hit three layups in a span of 1:06, the last one putting Vanderbilt up two for the first time since early in the first half. Acuff hit a pair of 3s in the final 49 seconds to help Arkansas keep the lead. Richmond III led all scorers with 14 first-half points. Miles and Tanner both made the all-tournament team. DUKE, ARIZONA, MICH, FLORIDA GET TOP SEEDING FOR MARCH MADNESS, MIAMI (OHIO) SQUEAKS IN AS 11 SEED Duke received the top overall seed for March Madness on Sunday, followed by Arizona, Michigan and Florida, each of whom would love a repeat of last season when all four No. 1s made it all the way to the Final Four. The top line was the most predictable thing to come out of Selection Sunday, with Michigan’s placement at overall No. 3, not 2, possibly a result of the Wolverines’ loss to Purdue moments before the brackets were revealed. In the day’s biggest nail-biter, Miami (Ohio) made the field as a No. 11 seed, but just barely. The RedHawks, with a 31-1 record but the 339th-ranked strength of schedule, were one of the last teams in the field and they face a First Four game Wednesday against SMU in Dayton, Ohio, not terribly far from home. The tournament starts Tuesday with other play-in games, including one pitting bubble teams and No. 11 seeds Texas and North Carolina State. The national champion will be crowned at the Final Four in Indianapolis on April 6. ODDSMAKERS PEG TRIO OF TEAMS AS CLEAR FAVORITES TO WIN TOURNAMENT There may be four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament, but in the eyes of oddsmakers, three teams are a cut above the rest of the field. In the early futures released shortly after the tournament field was announced Sunday night, Duke, Arizona and Michigan were the clear favorites to take home the national championship, with all three slotted in the +300 to +400 range. (+300 means a successful bet would net a bettor $3 of profit for every $1 wagered.) The fourth No. 1 seed, defending national champion Florida, is slotted in the +650 to +750 range. Those four are only teams below +1000 (10-to-1) in the consensus odds. The Blue Devils (32-2) were the No. 1-ranked team in the last national rankings released before the tournament field was released. Duke won the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament and earned the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament, being slotted into the East Region. Arizona (32-2) won the Big 12 tournament and is the top seed in the West. The other top seeds failed to win their conference tournaments — Michigan (31-3) fell in the Big Ten championship game to Purdue on Sunday, a day after the Gators (26-7) lost to Vanderbilt in the Southeastern Conference tournament. After the 1 seeds is another clear rung for tournament-winning odds, with Houston, Iowa State and Illinois in the +1000 to +2000 range. The Cougars and Cyclones are 2 seeds while the Fighting Illini are a 3 seed and could face Houston in the Sweet 16. UConn, highly ranked all season but crushed by St. John’s in the Big East tournament final, and Big Ten tourney champ Purdue are the other 2 seeds. The pair fall a notch below in the +2500 to +3500, before another sizeable drop-off in odds. The first games upon which bettors can wager, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s First Four games in Dayton, Ohio, feature three games with point spreads within a bucket. UMBC is a 2.5-point favorite over Howard in Tuesday’s first game, a matchup of 16 seeds, with Texas a 1.5-point favorite over North Carolina State in Tuesday’s battle of 11 seeds. Lehigh is favored by 2.5 over Prairie View A&M in Wednesday’s clash of 16 seeds, with the final game featuring Miami (Ohio) a 7.5-point underdog to fellow No. 11 SMU. The RedHawks went undefeated in the regular season before suffering their first loss of the season to UMass in the first round of the Mid-American Conference tournament on Thursday. The first full day of action is Thursday, as 32 teams play that day and the other 32 teams play Friday. The tournament concludes in Indianapolis with the Final Four on April 4 and the championship game on April 6. Odds to win the NCAA Tournament Team (DraftKings / FanDuel)Duke (+300 / +380)Michigan (+360 / +390)Arizona (+390 / +340)Florida (+750 / +800)Houston (+1000 / +1300)Iowa State (+1500 / +1700)Illinois (+1900 / +2000)UConn (+2500 / +3500)Purdue (+2500 / +2700)Michigan State (+4000 / +6000)Virginia (+7500 / +6500)Gonzaga (+4000 / +7000)Arkansas (+6000 / +5000)St. John’s (+6000 / +10000)Kansas (+6000 / +10000) ONE TEAM FROM EACH SEED LINE WITH BEST CHANCE OF ADVANCING IN TOURNAMENT There’s nothing wrong with all four No. 1 seeds barging their way into the Final Four. When it happened last March for the first time since 2008, it led to a terrific Final Four in San Antonio that didn’t determine the champion until the title game’s final possession. So, if Duke, Arizona, Michigan and Florida reign supreme over the next two weekends and earn their way to Indianapolis, college basketball fans everywhere will relish the chance to watch them bash it out for the right to bask in One Shining Moment. But let’s be honest: As amazing as each No. 1 seed’s talent happens to be — not to mention their metrics — none of these teams are unbeatable. The Blue Devils and Wolverines are dealing with injuries that test their depth at point guard. The Gators’ 3-point prowess (or lack thereof) sank them in the SEC tournament semifinals. And, well, the Wildcats looked pretty phenomenal while blasting their way to the Big 12 tournament championship, but studs Jaden Bradley and Koa Peat have been dealing with injuries, including a wrist injury suffered by Bradley in the Big 12 title game. So which teams might knock off a No. 1 seed and take their place in Indy? Here’s the team from each seed line with the best chance of advancing: No. 2: Last year, Houston essentially had to be the road team in the Midwest Region in Indianapolis. The Cougars edged Purdue in the Sweet 16 before taking down Tennessee and the Big Orange Nation in the Elite Eight. For their troubles, the Cougars have the chance to play in Houston in the South Region this time. You think Florida is happy about this? No. 3: Michigan State isn’t the most talented 3 seed, but it boasts the toughest point guard in likely All-American Jeremy Fears Jr. and he sets the tone for his squad. If it comes down the Spartans and second-seeded UConn in the East Region semifinals, the Huskies have indicated in recent weeks they’re lacking a killer instinct. No. 4: Somehow the West Region features the Big 12 (Arizona), Big Ten (Purdue), West Coast (Gonzaga) and Southeastern Conference (Arkansas) tournament champions, with the Razorbacks the fourth seed. So everyone’s coming in hot, but nobody’s hotter than Arkansas freshman PG Darius Acuff Jr. In his last eight games, he has averaged 28.4 points and 7.4 assists while shooting 48.1% from 3-point range. No. 5: Wisconsin and Vanderbilt have been rolling and feature great guard combos that can make a difference in March, but St. John’s gets stuck with a 5 seed after smacking UConn by 20 in the Big East title game? Nothing against Northern Iowa and Cal Baptist, but can’t wait to watch St. John’s and Kansas in Round 2. No. 6: If you have the likely No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, then you’ve got a chance to make something happen in March. AJ Dybantsa leads the nation with 25.3 points per game and he seems to be getting more comfortable from 3-point range. He gives BYU a chance to reach the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row. No. 7: Saint Mary’s doesn’t have an easy draw. If the ultra-patient Gaels harness the Texas A&M whirlwind in the first round, then the Houston Cougars await in Round 2. But Saint Mary’s boasts terrific shooters (38.6% from 3) and a rock-ribbed defense. That’s the combo that can pay big in March. No. 8: The last few years, Ohio State showed an alarming talent for fading down the stretch. Not this year. With all-time leading scorer Bruce Thornton leading the way, the Buckeyes are 4-1 this March with a narrow loss to Michigan the only demerit. No. 9: As soon as the brackets were announced, the talking heads couldn’t wait to gush over Utah State. And with good reason. Led by Mountain West player of the year Mason Falslev, the Aggies are in the NCAAs for the fifth time in six seasons. No high-major would play them in nonconference. No. 10: We have a compelling group of 10 seeds, but Santa Clara sticks out in the school’s first NCAA Tournament since 1996 — when Steve Nash ran the show. Herb Sendek’s Broncos play fast, yet they found a way to defeat Saint Mary’s two out of three. No. 11: It has been 15 years since Shaka Smart led VCU to the Final Four from the 11 seed. That’s reason enough to single out VCU, but its band also delivers the tuffest song: “You don’t want to go to war with the Rams; Don’t start no stuff, won’t be no stuff.” Look it up on YouTube, people. No. 12: Basically, this is where we predict the annual 5-12 upset. Akron retained five key players from last year’s NCAA Tournament crew, then coach John Groce added the Mahaffey Bros. (Eric and Evan) for even more energy and defense. The Zips won’t be favored against Texas Tech, but they won’t be scared, either. No. 13: Hofstra traveled to Pittsburgh on Dec. 7 and Syracuse on Dec. 13 (bookending a classic trap game against Old Westbury on Dec. 10) and took care of those Atlantic Coast Conference squads. Speedy Claxton’s crew shoots the lights out (36.8% from 3) and protects the rim defensively. No. 14: Did you see the end of the Ivy League championship game? Then you know why Penn gets the nod here. TJ Power, a four-star prospect who began his career at Duke, hit two ridiculous 3-pointers to force OT and highlight his 44-point, 14-rebound performance. Fran McCaffery wasted no time refurbishing his alma mater. No. 15: Idaho finished seventh in the Big Sky, then promptly reeled off four tournament wins in five days to collect the school’s first NCAA bid since 1990. The Vandals don’t have any high-major transfers, but they have a balanced offense, they shoot the 3 well and they don’t turn it over much — but we imagine Houston will try to force a few miscues. No. 16: Anyone remember the last time UMBC made the NCAA field? Anyone? Tony Bennett? Wahoo Nation? The Retrievers are back for the first time since 2018, when they slayed No. 1 Virginia in the first round. UMBC isn’t even favored to win in Tuesday’s First Four game against Howard, but it enters riding a 12-game winning streak during which only two games were decided by single digits. AUBURN, NEW MEXICO, WAKE FOREST, TULSA EARN NO. 1 SEEDS IN NIT Auburn, the second team left out of this year’s NCAA Tournament, has accepted a bid to the National Invitation Tournament, serving as one of four No. 1 seeds for the 32-team tournament which begins on Tuesday. New Mexico (23-10), Wake Forest (17-16) and Tulsa (26-7) are the other No. 1 seeds, joining the Tigers (17-16) in having their entire path to the NIT semifinals playing out at home should they keep winning. The other three of the first four teams left out of the NCAA Tournament (Oklahoma, San Diego State, Indiana) declined NIT bids, along with the likes of Virginia Tech, Florida State, Belmont and Seton Hall. Auburn opens the NIT on Tuesday against South Alabama. The second-round game will be against the winner of No. 4 seed Seattle and St. Thomas (Minn.), while No. 2 Nevada hosts Murray State and No. 3 seed George Mason hosts Liberty. In the Albuquerque Region, New Mexico opens against Sam Houston, No. 4 seed Utah Valley hosts George Washington, second-seeded Cal will welcome in UIC and No. 3 Colorado State takes on Saint Joseph’s on Wednesday. The Winston-Salem (N.C.) Region is helmed by Wake Forest, which hosts Navy, No. 2 seed Dayton, which opens vs. Bradley, third-seeded Yale (UNC Wilmington) and No. 4 seed Illinois State (Kent State). All of the games are Wednesday except for Tuesday’s contest between Yale and UNC Wilmington. The final region, the Tulsa (Okla.) Region, will see the Golden Hurricanes open versus Stephen F. Austin, No. 2 seed Oklahoma State take on Davidson, No. 3 Wichita State battle Wyoming and fourth-seeded UC Irvine hosting UNLV on Tuesday. Of the teams in this year’s field, George Washington (2016), Wichita State (2011), Dayton (2010, 1968, 1962), Tulsa (2001, 1981), Wake Forest (2000), California (1999), and Bradley (1982, 1964, 1960, 1957) are the teams which have previously won the NIT. UC Irvine lost last year’s NIT championship game to Chattanooga. The first (March 17-18) and second-round games (March 21-22) as well as the quarterfinals (March 24-25) will be held on campus of the higher-seeded team before the semifinals (April 2) and championship (April 5) are contested in Indianapolis. ======================================================================= WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL UCONN, UCLA, TEXAS, SOUTH CAROLINA LEAD WOMEN’S NCAA FIELD UConn, UCLA, Texas and South Carolina are the four No. 1 seeds for the women’s 2026 NCAA Tournament, as revealed Sunday night. Undefeated UConn got the nod over one-loss UCLA as the top overall seed despite some conversation over whether the Bruins deserved the spot. UCLA had a tougher strength of schedule and 19 Quad 1 wins to UConn’s nine, but UConn was No. 1 in the NET and the Bruins sat at No. 2. “We watched a whole lot of good basketball between those two teams,” committee chair Amanda Braun said on ESPN. “The debate was pretty close the whole time … It went to a committee vote, and we watched a lot of UConn, we watched a lot of UCLA as a group. The vote ultimately gave the edge to UConn.” Head coach Geno Auriemma, national Player of the Year candidate Sarah Strong and the Huskies (34-0) enter the NCAA Tournament on a 50-game winning streak as they aim to defend their 2025 national title. They’ll host No. 16 seed UTSA (18-15) in the first round on Saturday, and with a win play either No. 8 Iowa State or No. 9 Syracuse in the second round in Storrs, Conn. Joining UConn in the Fort Worth Regional 1 are No. 2 seed Vanderbilt (27-4), No. 3 seed Ohio State (26-7) and No. 4 seed North Carolina (26-7). The top 16 overall seeds (four in each quadrant of the bracket) will host first- and second-round games at campus sites. UCLA (31-1) tops the Sacramento Regional 2 and opens against No. 16 Cal Baptist (23-10) on Saturday. Coach Kim Mulkey and LSU (27-5) are No. 2, Atlantic Coast Conference champion Duke (24-8) is No. 3 and Minnesota (22-8) is No. 4 in that region. Texas (31-3) earned the third No. 1 seed over South Carolina after the Longhorns beat the Gamecocks in two out of three meetings, including 78-61 in the Southeastern Conference championship game. The Longhorns will face the winner of a First Four game between Missouri State and Stephen F. Austin. No. 2 Michigan (25-6), No. 3 Louisville (27-7) and No. 4 West Virginia (27-6), the Big 12 champion, also occupy Fort Worth Regional 3 with Texas. South Carolina (31-3) leads the Sacramento Regional 4 and draws a First Four winner between Southern and Samford. Iowa (26-6) is the No. 2, TCU (29-5) is the No. 3 and Oklahoma (24-7) is the No. 4 seed in that quadrant of the bracket. The final four teams in the field were Virginia, Arizona State, Nebraska and Richmond. Virginia and Arizona State will face off in the First Four for a No. 10 seed to face No. 7 Georgia, while Nebraska and Richmond will play for a No. 11 seed and the right to face No. 6 Baylor. ===================================================================== NBA NBA ROUNDUP: KNICKS COME BACK FROM 21 DOWN TO TOP WARRIORS Jalen Brunson scored 30 points and added nine assists for the host New York Knicks, who mounted their biggest comeback of the season and edged the undermanned Golden State Warriors 110-107 on Sunday night. The Knicks went 22 of 23 from the line — the third time this season they’ve had one miss or fewer from the line while hoisting at least 20 attempts — as they overcame a 21-point second-quarter deficit. Karl-Anthony Towns posted a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while OG Anunoby had 14 points, including a pair of free throws for the game’s final points with 6.2 seconds left. Brandin Podziemski scored 25 points for the skidding Warriors, who played without injured leading scorers Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III and De’Anthony Melton, as well as hobbled veterans Draymond Green, Seth Curry and Al Horford. The Warriors suffered their fifth straight loss. Thunder 116, Timberwolves 103 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, to lift host Oklahoma City to a victory over Minnesota. Chet Holmgren added 21 points, Isaiah Joe finished with 20, Alex Caruso added 17 and Isiah Hartenstein finished with 12 rebounds as Oklahoma City extended its winning streak to eight games. Julius Randle scored 32 points for Minnesota, while Anthony Edwards scored 19 on 6-of-17 shooting. Ayo Dosunmu had 18 points off the bench for Minnesota, which lost for the fourth time in five games in a downturn that has come after an 8-1 stretch. Mavericks 130, Cavaliers 120 Rookie Cooper Flagg scored 27 points and dished out 10 assists, and Naji Marshall scored 25 points and as Dallas beat host Cleveland, splitting their home-and-home set. P.J. Washington collected 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Mavericks, who built a 111-90 lead in the fourth quarter and won for just the second time in their last 11 games. Rookie John Poulakidis scored his first 10 points in the NBA. Donovan Mitchell had 26 points and 11 assists for the Cavaliers. Max Strus scored 24 and made 6-of-7 3-point attempts in his season debut following left foot surgery. Evan Mobley posted 18 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots. Raptors 119, Pistons 108 Brandon Ingram scored 34 points and host Toronto defeated Detroit, which had won the previous seven games between the teams. RJ Barrett added 27 points and Jakob Poeltl had 21 points and a season-best 18 rebounds for the Raptors, who have won two in a row. Scottie Barnes tallied 14 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and three blocked shots. Cade Cunningham had 33 points and nine assists for the Pistons. Tobias Harris contributed 21 points while Jalen Duren added 20 points and 11 rebounds. 76ers 109, Trail Blazers 103 Quentin Grimes scored a season-high 31 points as Philadelphia notched a win over visiting Portland. Justin Edwards added 21 points for the Sixers, who have has won three of their last four games. Rookie VJ Edgecombe chipped in with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Andre Drummond grabbed 17 rebounds. Deni Avdija scored 25 points to pace the Trail Blazers, who were playing the opener of a five-game road trip. He dished out nine assists but also had seven of his team’s 19 turnovers. Jerami Grant pitched in with 20 points, while Donovan Clingan had 11 points and 15 boards. Bucks 134, Pacers 123 Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 and Bobby Portis added 29 off the bench to lead Milwaukee past visiting Indiana. It was a near triple-double for Antetokounmpo with 14 rebounds and eight assists. Ryan Rollins added 20 points with seven dimes. Milwaukee tied a season high with 23 3-pointers as a team. They also had just one more than their season low with nine turnovers against Indiana. Aaron Nesmith led Indiana, which was once again without Pascal Siakam (knee), with 32 points. Jay Huff added 16 while Jarace Walker scored 14 with eight rebounds and six assists as the Pacers lost their fifth straight against the Bucks. Kings 116, Jazz 111 DeMar DeRozan recorded season highs of 41 points and 11 assists to lead host Sacramento past Utah, which lost for the 11th time in the past 13 games. Precious Achiuwa added 20 points and 11 rebounds and Killian Hayes had 16 points and eight assists as the Kings won for the fourth time in their past five games. Nique Clifford had 10 points before fouling out and reserve Daeqwon Plowden also scored 10 points for Sacramento. Cody Williams scored a career-best 34 points to go with seven rebounds and seven assists for the Jazz. Brice Sensabaugh scored 22 points, Isaiah Collier added 21 and Elijah Harkless had 13 for Utah. ====================================================================== NHL NHL ROUNDUP: OILERS WIN BEHIND CONNOR MCDAVID’S 3 ASSISTS Matt Savoie scored the eventual game-winner, and Connor McDavid added three assists as the Edmonton Oilers topped the visiting Nashville Predators 3-1 on Sunday night. Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman also scored for the Oilers, who snapped a two-game skid and won for the fifth time in nine games (5-3-1). Connor Ingram made 27 saves to improve to 5-2-2 in nine career games against Nashville. Fedor Svechkov responded for Nashville, which dropped to 3-5-3 in its last 11 and 12-15-6 on the road this season. Justus Annunen stopped 27 shots in the loss. Predators forward Ozzy Wiesblatt caught Draisaitl with a hit at 15:36 of the first period and the Oilers forward immediately went to the locker room. Draisaitl — who opened the scoring 3:12 into the game — returned to finish the period but did not return for the remainder of the game. Maple Leafs 4, Wild 2 Bo Groulx scored a pair of goals and Toronto held on to beat host Minnesota in Saint Paul, improving to 2-0-1 in its past three games after going eight games in a row without a victory. Morgan Rielly and Matthew Knies scored one goal apiece for Toronto while Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz stopped 36 of 38 shots to earn the victory. Vladimir Tarasenko scored both goals for Minnesota, which lost for the second time in as many nights. The Wild dropped to 1-2-2 in their past five contests. Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt gave up three goals on 25 shots. Ducks 4, Canadiens 3 Cutter Gauthier’s goal with 2:30 left broke a tie and Anaheim held on for a win over host Montreal. Leo Carlsson had two goals and an assist and Troy Terry a goal and two assists in his return after missing nine games with an upper-body injury for the Ducks, who had lost three of their previous four. Chris Kreider had two assists and Lukas Dostal made 27 saves. Nick Suzuki had a goal and an assist and Alex Newhook and Cole Caufield also scored for the Canadiens, who lost their second straight. Jacob Fowler stopped 24 shots. Jets 3, Blues 2 Eric Comrie made 29 saves to win his fifth straight start, Haydn Fleury notched a goal and an assist, and host Winnipeg cooled off St. Louis. Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor each scored their 31st goals for the Jets, who, like the Blues, entered with 64 points and chasing the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Comrie recorded a career-high 11th win in his first action since Feb. 25. The Jets’ backup netminder has stopped 122 of 129 shots in his last five starts. He made 14 saves in the third, when the Blues posted 16 shots and got goals from Dalibor Dvorsky and Dylan Holloway to make things interesting. Prior to Sunday, St. Louis was 6-0-1 in March and had won five straight on the road. The Jets are 5-2-0 on an eight-game homestand. Senators 7, Sharks 4 Drake Batherson scored twice, including the go-ahead goal in the third period, as Ottawa stayed hot with a win over visiting San Jose. Fabian Zetterlund, Warren Foegele and Brady Tkachuk each had a goal and an assist, and Linus Ullmark made 19 saves for the Senators, who have won five of their past six games. Mario Ferraro and Tyler Toffoli each had a goal and an assist for the Sharks. Laurent Brossoit made 18 saves. Batherson put Ottawa ahead 5-4 when Artem Zub’s point shot deflected off his chest at 13:08 of the third period. Dylan Cozens scored from the top of the right circle to push it to 6-4 at 14:50, and Tkachuk sealed it with an empty-net goal at 17:43. Kraken 6, Panthers 2 Kaapo Kakko had a goal and two assists and Bobby McMann added one of each in his home debut as Seattle routed Florida. Berkly Catton, Ben Meyers, Ryan Winterton and Jamie Oleksiak had a goal and an assist apiece and goaltender Joey Daccord made 23 saves for the Kraken, who moved past San Jose and into the second and final wild-card spot in the Western Conference, although the Sharks have a game in hand. McMann had tallied twice in a 5-2 win on Saturday at Vancouver — his first game since being acquired from Toronto. Vinnie Hinostroza and Eetu Luostarinen scored for the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers, who had a three-game winning streak snapped. Goalie Daniil Tarasov stopped 19 of 25 shots. ======================================================================= BASEBALL USA GENERATES ENOUGH POWER TO EDGE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IN WBC SEMIFINALS MIAMI — Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony each hit solo home runs in the fourth inning and Team USA’s pitching kept the mighty Dominican Republic lineup in check enough to secure a 2-1 victory in a World Baseball Classic semifinal on Sunday night. The United States advanced to its third WBC final in a row and will try to win its second Classic championship and first since 2017 when it takes on the winner of the Venezuela-Italy semifinal on Tuesday night in Miami. Venezuela and Italy play their semifinal game on Monday night in Miami. The Dominican Republic fell short in its bid to win its second WBC title and what would have been its first since 2013. A lineup, which came in averaging 10.2 runs per game in the tournament, was held to just Junior Caminero’s two-out solo home run over the left field wall on an 1-2 count in the bottom of the second inning off USA starter Paul Skenes (2-0), the reigning National League Cy Young winner. Caminero’s homer was his third of the Classic and 15th for the Dominican Republic, breaking the record for most home runs in a single WBC. USA closer Mason Miller struck out Caminero to open the bottom of the ninth, then walked Julio Rodriguez, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Rodriguez moved to third on a groundout by pinch hitter Oneil Cruz. But Miller struck out Geraldo Perdomo looking to end the game and pick up his second save of the WBC. Dominican starter Luis Severino pitched 3 1/3 innings and allowed the tying home run by Henderson to lead off the top of the fourth. Severino gave up five hits but struck out six and did not issue a walk. Anthony then gave the U.S. a 2-1 lead when he blasted a solo homer 421 feet to right center off reliever Gregory Soto (0-1). Anthony, who grew up in South Florida, played his first game at loanDepot park as a pro and first since 2018 when he played there with his high school, Stoneman Douglas High from nearby Parkland, Fla. USA’s bullpen allowed only two hits over 4 2/3 shutout innings. Aaron Judge helped keep the Dominican Republic from adding to its lead in the third when the right fielder threw out Fernando Tatis Jr. at third base trying to advance on Ketel Marte’s single. Skenes ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth when he gave up a double to Vlad Guerrero Jr., and an infield single to Manny Machado. After a fielder’s choice out at second, Skenes hit Rodriguez with a pitch to load the bases. But Skenes got Austin Wells to fly out to left to end the threat. Skenes lasted 4 1/3 innings, struck out two, walked none and allowed six hits overall. Tatis Jr. and Marte knocked Skenes out of the game after hitting consecutive singles in the fifth with one out. Tyler Rogers replaced Skenes and induced Juan Soto to ground into an inning-ending double play. SPRING TRAINING ROUNDUP: TYLER TOLVE’S HOMER LIFTS BRAVES OVER PHILLIES 1-0 Reliever JR Ritchie pitched a shutout over the final four innings and Tyler Tolve homered in the ninth as visiting Atlanta improved to an MLB-best 15-5 this spring with a 1-0 victory Sunday afternoon over Philadelphia in Clearwater, Fla. Ritchie (1-1) permitted no hits and struck out six. He walked none and lowered his spring ERA to 2.25 over four games and 12 innings. Tolve’s home run came with one out in the top of the ninth, off Genesis Cabrera (0-2). Brett Wisely went 2-for-4 in the leadoff spot for the Braves. The Phillies got five strong innings from starter Taijuan Walker. He gave up no runs and three hits, walking two and striking out three, to drop his ERA to 1.29 over two games and seven innings. Tigers 12, Yankees (ss) 1 Visiting Detroit banged out 18 hits — including two apiece from Trei Cruz, Dillon Dingler and Javier Baez — and pinch hitter Jordan Yost hit a grand slam in the rout of a New York split squad in Tampa. The Tigers had three other home runs — a three-run shot by Spencer Torkelson, a two-run blast by Matt Vierling, and a solo shot by Riley Greene. For New York, starter Luis Gil (2-1) surrendered seven runs and nine hits over three innings. Jonathan Ornelas brought it in the lone run for the Yankees with a RBI single in the ninth. Cardinals 6, Nationals 3 Nelson Velazquez hit his fourth home run of the spring and drove in four runs to lead host St. Louis past Washington in Jupiter, Fla. Velazquez’s homer was a three-run shot in the first inning. He has nine RBIs this spring and is batting .333 in 33 at-bats. Winning pitcher Richard Fitts (2-1) gave up two runs and one hit over the first 4 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out five. The Nationals committed four errors. They were led by Joey Wiemer, who hit a three-run homer in the second inning. Rays 6, Pirates 1 Cedric Mullins went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and four RBIs, while Jake Fraley went 3-for-3 with two runs as host Tampa Bay beat Pittsburgh in Port Charlotte, Fla. Starter Shane McClanahan (2-0) earned the victory, surrendering no runs and no hits — with seven strikeouts — over 3 2/3 innings. Pittsburgh had four hits and scored its run in the ninth inning on a homer by Konnor Griffin. Red Sox 7, Twins 2 Caleb Durbin had two of Boston’s 10 hits, and Jason Delay hit a solo homer in his only at-bat as the Red Sox beat visiting Minnesota in Fort Myers, Fla. Durbin is batting .400 in 30 at-bats this spring, with seven RBIs and three stolen bases. For Minnesota, Alan Roden went 2-for-3 with an RBI, and starter Zebby Matthews (0-2) pitched five innings, giving up two runs (none earned) and four hits. Astros 1, Marlins 0 Shay Whitcomb’s line-drive double in the eighth provided Houston with its only hit and run of the game, but it was enough to send the host Astros past Miami in West Palm Beach, Fla. Houston starter Cristian Javier threw a shutout over four innings, giving up two hits and striking out five, with only one walk. AJ Blubaugh, the fifth Astros pitcher of the day, got his first decision of the spring after surrendering one hit over two shutout innings. He struck out three. Marlins starter Eury Perez pitched hitless ball over four innings, walking one and striking out five. Mets 8, Blue Jays 1 Mike Tauchman went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Marcus Semien homered and drove in three runs as host New York defeated Toronto in Port St. Lucie, Fla., in a game called after six innings because of rain. Semien’s home run was a solo shot in the first inning. Toronto had only four hits, and starting pitcher Grant Rogers gave up eight runs (five earned) and seven hits over 2 1/3 innings to drop to 0-2 with an 8.59 ERA this spring. ===================================================================== GOLF CAMERON YOUNG WINS PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP BY 1 SHOT IN WILD FINISH PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Cameron Young clinched his second PGA Tour title and the biggest win of his career with a sensational one-shot victory at The Players Championship on Sunday after a drama-laden afternoon at TPC Sawgrass. One stroke behind England’s Matt Fitzpatrick with two holes to play, Young drew level with a birdie at the par-3 17th after hitting a brilliant tee shot to 9 1/2 feet and then coolly parred the last to card a 4-under-par 68. That left the New York native at 13-under 275 in the PGA Tour’s flagship event and one ahead of Fitzpatrick, who also closed with a 68 after his tee shot at the 18th wound up on pine straw in the tree line to the right of the fairway and led to a bogey 5. Former U.S. Open champion Fitzpatrick had a chance to force a three-hole playoff after lining up a par putt from 8 1/2 feet on the 18th green, but his attempt slid past the right edge of the cup and he had to settle for second place. Two-time major champion Xander Schauffele closed with a 69 to claim third place at 11 under, a stroke in front of World No. 8 Robert MacIntyre of Scotland, who also signed off with a 69. “I feel like we just kept ourselves in a really good spot all day today, really all week,” Young said after the relief of knocking in his short par putt on the 18th green. “The nerves kicked in over the 8-inch putt on the last. That hole looked really, really small there from pretty close range. So happy to have finished it off, and just really excited to have played the way I did.” Young, whose first PGA Tour victory came at the 2025 Wyndham Championship, was delighted to emerge triumphant in a tournament that attracts one of the deepest fields in golf and is unofficially called the fifth major. “To have now put my name on two different tournaments, and a big one like The Players, I mean, it’s incredibly special and I’m hoping that I can continue that throughout the season,” the 28-year-old smiled. Fitzpatrick, in pursuit of a third PGA Tour win, made a fast start to the final round with three birdies in the first four holes and he led Young by a shot after sinking a 13-foot birdie putt at the par-4 15th. “I just felt like I did a ton of really good stuff,” Fitzpatrick said after a round that included six birdies and two bogeys. “It’s obviously frustrating not to come away with a little bit better.” The 31-year-old Englishman felt that he had hit a good tee shot on 18, given that the wind was coming in off the right. “I know Cam hits a draw,” Fitzpatrick said. “His moved a little bit, as well. Figured mine would do the same … but mine has just gone dead straight there and just run through. Like I say, I felt like I hit a good drive, and once you’re out of position it’s difficult to make your par.” Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, who had led the tournament by three shots overnight, was two ahead with eight holes to play on Sunday before his title bid dramatically unraveled with a bogey at the par-5 11th and a double bogey at the par-4 12th. He had to settle for a share of fifth place at 9 under after returning a 76. “Obviously I’m really disappointed,” said Aberg, who was seeking his third PGA Tour victory. “I felt like I was striking it OK early on. But overall pleased with the week. Today the back nine was not good, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.” Aberg, the tournament leader after the second and third rounds, offset a birdie at the par-5 second with a bogey at the par-4 fourth to reach the turn two shots ahead of Fitzpatrick and MacIntyre. However, his title bid was severely shaken when he bogeyed the 11th after his second shot sailed right into a water hazard. Fitzpatrick, in the group ahead, made a birdie at the par-4 12th after hitting his approach to 3 feet and that moved him into a two-way tie at the top with the Swede at 12 under. Fitzpatrick then seized the outright lead at 13 under with another birdie at the par-3 13th, striking a superb tee shot there to 4 feet and coolly sinking the putt. Even worse was to follow for Aberg at the 12th, where he ran up a double-bogey 6 after hooking his tee shot way left into water, and that dropped him to 10 under — three strokes off the pace. From there, the tournament effectively came down to a battle between Young and Fitzpatrick. “It got away from me quick there,” Aberg said of Nos. 11 and 12. “Yeah, it was just poor swings … Obviously really disappointed. I would have loved to be standing where Cameron is standing right now. But overall I still felt like I saw some nice things in my game this week.” World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the Players champion in 2023 and 2024, ended his week at TPC Sawgrass with a 1-under 71 to finish in a tie for 22nd at 5 under. Defending champion Rory McIlroy, the World No. 2, was left to reflect on “not the week that I wanted” after he signed off with a 71 and an even-par total, tied for 46th. The Northern Irishman withdrew from last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational after two rounds due to a back injury and he did not play a single practice round at TPC Sawgrass after only arriving at the venue on the eve of the tournament. “Happy I got through four days and my body feels good,” McIlroy said after mixing five birdies with two double bogeys in the final round. “I feel like my game sort of progressively got a little bit better as the week went on, even though the scores probably didn’t reflect it over the weekend. I hit the ball well. I just didn’t make anything on the greens. “Happy to come through four rounds and feel like my body held up well. A couple little things to work on but, overall, not the week that I wanted. Just trying to take the positives.” Chad Ramey had a final round to remember, closing with a 71 that included an ace at the par-3 13th where he holed out with a 7-iron from 169 yards. It was the first ace of his PGA Tour career. “I was hitting kind of a smooth 7-iron and it landed perfectly, almost pin high right on the slope and fed right down to the hole,” said the 33-year-old American, who tied for 27th at 3 under. “It was great, especially in the moment. I couldn’t get any putts to fall, so to not have to putt, that was nice.” BRYSON DECHAMBEAU WINS LIV SINGAPORE IN PLAYOFF Bryson DeChambeau forced a playoff with a birdie on No. 18, then saved par on the first playoff hole to win LIV Golf Singapore on Sunday. But DeChambeau’s joy was Richard T. Lee’s heartbreak. Lee, a LIV wild card who qualified for the league by winning LIV Golf Promotions in January, missed a 2-foot putt for par as the duo played the 18th hole again, giving DeChambeau the win after he scrambled for his own par. Both recorded rounds of 66 to finish at 14-under 270 for the tournament at Sentosa Golf Club. Delighted by his fourth LIV Golf League victory, DeChambeau also was disconsolate when it came to Lee, a 35-year-old Canadian who has spent most of his career on the Asian Tour. “It was a bit of shock for sure. I thought he was just going knock it in, and OK, on we go,” DeChambeau said about Lee’s putt. “He had been playing great golf. He’s beaten me numerous times throughout the season already when I’ve played with him, so he plays great golf, and he deserves to be out here. Honestly, he deserves to be on a team after this performance. “But it was sour for sure to see him miss that. You never want to see that happen. I wanted to go another hole and have a chance to play great golf on that second playoff hole. Just unfortunately didn’t go his way today, and that’s just the way the cards sometimes fall.” The weather didn’t make it easy for the players, who had to battle heat, humidity and a pair of rain delays. The stop-and-start nature of the day took its toll on defending champion Joaquin Niemann of Chile, who entered the day atop the leaderboard. After four birdies on the front nine, he struggled on the back nine, with three bogeys leaving him with a round of 70 and a fourth-place finish, three shots back. England’s Lee Westwood carded a 69, which earned him third place at 12-under — his best finish in his LIV career. “Really proud,” said Westwood, 52. “It’s a while since I’ve been in the final group when it’s meant something.” Jon Rahm of Spain finished fifth after his round of 68. DeChambeau’s trip around Sentosa Golf Club was an adventure. After an eagle on the par-5 No. 4, he immediately gave a stroke back with a bogey on the following hole. He finished regulation with four birdies. And then he arrived at the playoff hole. DeChambeau hit his drive into the water left of the fairway. After a penalty drop, DeChambeau’s third shot found the rough over the green, but he was able to save par. Lee’s drive landed in a fairway bunker on the right, and he laid up his second shot. His third shot landed 10 feet from the hole, giving him a birdie opportunity on the par-5 hole. But he missed and was left with the 2-footer that he couldn’t convert. “There’s some slick putts out there. There’s some little lies out there,” Lee said. “It was a short putt and I wanted to just hit it hard, and I hit it a little too hard. I think the adrenaline was pumping a little bit. Then again, I felt like I had it this week. I played really well.” Lee’s showing was the first top-10 result for a LIV wild-card player. In the team event, captain Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces finished first at 27-under, five strokes ahead of Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC and six in front of Rahm’s Legion XIII. 4Aces have won back-to-back team events and has been on the podium four times this season. The team had not won in 32 weeks before LIV Hong Kong last week. “Obviously the league gets better every single year. It gets harder to win,” Johnson said. “You’ve got to have four really good players if you want to have a chance to win. Right now, I feel like we do.” ===================================================================== AUTO RACING DENNY HAMLIN OVERCOMES PENALTY TO SECURE 1ST 2026 WIN AT LAS VEGAS Denny Hamlin was too fast Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Literally. Hamlin overcame a Lap 84 speeding penalty and later beat Chase Elliott in a 50-lap final run Sunday to become the third different winner in the NASCAR Cup Series season, capturing the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube in Las Vegas, Nev. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver, who was victorious in Vegas last October in an emotional performance, passed Christopher Bell shortly after a restart and beat Elliott to the checkers by 0.502 seconds for his first 2026 victory and third at Vegas. The 61st win for the 45-year-old Hamlin broke a tie for 10th place with Kevin Harvick. He also became the fifth NASCAR driver to win a race in 20 different Cup seasons, joining Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Bobby Allison and Richard Petty. William Byron, Bell and Ty Gibbs followed as JGR put three cars in the top five. “I knew it took a few weeks to feel like driving, and over the last couple of weeks I’ve definitely regained my love of it and got refocused,” said Hamlin, who was joined on the frontstretch by daughters Taylor and Molly and mother, Mary Lou. “These are great opportunities for us.” Said his mother as she rushed over to hug him, “That’s my boy, that’s my boy.” Mary Lou Hamlin received severe injuries in a Dec. 28 house fire in Stanley, N.C., that eventually claimed the life of Hamlin’s father, Dennis. “This is a family sport, and my family obviously had so much sacrifice to help me get here,” said Hamlin, who led a race-best 134 laps. “It’s great that Mom gets to see us. I know Dad’s still saying, ‘That’s my boy.’ “Hell of a day.” Starting from his fourth Vegas pole situation, Bell led them to the checkers and began clicking off the laps, with the only anxious moment in the field occurring on Lap 1 when Shane van Gisbergen made a great save off Turn 4 after his car swung sideways. However, Hamlin snared the top spot from teammate Bell by Lap 4 and paced the way until pit stops began just short of halfway through the 80-lap Stage 1. Bell stayed out two laps later and dropped three spots to Hamlin after pit service cycled around. Kyle Larson’s No. 5, by far the best of the Chevrolets to that point, came to life toward the end of the stage and finished second to Bell’s Toyota. Fighting a tight handling condition, Hamlin was third followed by Gibbs and Bubba Wallace. Bad luck hit Hamlin and Gibbs, though, as each was penalized for pit-road infractions, and Larson took the lead by passing Bell. Following pit work in the middle of Stage 2, Larson emerged with the point and consistently led Bell by a second. Byron, Wallace and Tyler Reddick trailed, but Hamlin worked his No. 11 Toyota to seventh after the earlier penalty. Byron passed Larson inside the final 10 laps of Stage 2 and earned his first segment win of 2026. Bell, Wallace and Hamlin finished the top five. Hamlin was in control by over a second, but he was passed by Byron as Connor Zilisch spun on the frontstretch in the race’s first caution for cause on Lap 211 but Hamlin reclaimed the lead two laps after the green flag waved and was ahead the rest of the way. KYLE KIRKWOOD WINS INAUGURAL GRAND PRIX OF ARLINGTON Kyle Kirkwood won the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington Sunday, edging Alex Palou to make himself the first-ever winner of the Texas-based race. Situated on the streets surrounding the stadiums of the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers, the 14-turn, 2.73-mile circuit provided a memorable outcome for its debut. The win gave Kirkwood an early lead in the IndyCar standings, where he leads Palou by 26 points after three races. Kirkwood paced an Andretti Global trio of top-four finishers, with Will Power finishing third and Marcus Ericsson landing in fourth. Fifth-place finisher Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren summed up the team’s dominance afterward. “This Andretti Honda camp is fricking strong on street courses,” O’Ward said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do if we want to start winning races on outright pace against them.” Kirkwood executed an impressive pass of Palou on Lap 55, then built a time advantage of five seconds over the ensuing laps. That effort was nearly for naught when a yellow was issued on Lap 68, bunching the drivers back together. Despite that, Kirkwood sprinted ahead at first opportunity, and when a second yellow warning flew on the 70th and final lap, the victory was his. “That was so incredible,” Kirkwood said. “Man, did we have some pace. This JM Bullion Honda, Andretti, all these guys right here, they gave me the tools today. It’s because of this race car we won today, because of teamwork.” Palou acknowledged Kirkwood’s fantastic day, quickly pushing away talk of him potentially catching Kirkwood on Lap 70 if no caution had occurred. “Not today,” Palou said. “(Kirkwood) did an awesome pass; hats off to him. It was super clean, and it was pretty impressive. We’ll get them in a couple weeks.” Previous standings leader Josef Newgarden could not make it two wins in a row, finishing 15th to drop to third in the standings. KIMI ANTONELLI, 19, WINS CHINESE GRAND PRIX FOR FIRST F1 VICTORY Kimi Antonelli, a 19-year-old Italian, won his first Formula 1 race Sunday, driving to victory in the Chinese Grand Prix. Antonelli finished ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell by 5.515 seconds, while Lewis Hamilton placed third for his first podium with Ferrari. The McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri suffered catastrophic electrical failures prior to the race, and both cars were done and out before the green flag dropped. At the finish, the day belonged to Antonelli, who became the second-youngest winner of a Grand Prix race. Max Verstappen is the youngest, having won the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix at the age of 18. “Thank you so much to my team because they have helped me to achieve this dream,” Antonelli said through tears after the race. Russell maintains the overall championship lead by four points over Antonelli by strength of his runner-up finish. Russell won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix with Antonelli second. Hamilton’s podium finish capped a spirited back-and-forth battle with Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. The pair exchanged positions several times before Hamilton prevailed for third. Leclerc finished fourth. At the start, Antonelli, who had won the pole in record fashion, gave up the lead as the Ferraris took command early. But Antonelli reclaimed the lead on Lap 2 and never looked back. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff attempted to put Antonelli’s accomplishment in perspective, telling Sky Sports, “It’s rarely that I’m overwhelmed but that is such a moment. I think it’s [the first victory] maybe come earlier than I thought because last year we said that it’s going to be a difficult year with many ups and downs, and mistakes. “Then bang, second race [this season], he’s controlled it from the front, driven very well today. So he’s probably a little bit better than the trajectory that I thought.” Rounding out the top 10 were Haas driver Oliver Bearman in fifth, followed by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, Carlos Sainz of Williams and another Alpine driver, Franco Colapinto, in 10th. Formula 1 will next race at the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29. The two events scheduled to follow — the Bahrain Grand Prix (April 12) and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (April 19) — were canceled due to war in the Middle East. F1 will take a break until the Miami Grand Prix on May 3. MAX VERSTAPPEN SOUNDS OFF AFTER ‘FRUSTRATING’ RESULT AT CHINESE GP Max Verstappen wasn’t too happy after he retired from the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday following 45 laps due to a car issue. That abbreviated finish came on the heels of the 28-year-old Dutchman’s “disaster” during Saturday’s Sprint. “Same problem as yesterday in the start, so we were last again, and then tried to find my way forward but again (we had) the same problem as in the Sprint, where there was just a lot of deg, a lot of graining on the tires,” Verstappen said. “That always makes it very complicated, and then we had to retire the car with the ERS (Energy Recovery System) cooling issues.” When pressed about how Red Bull can respond following an uneventful weekend, the four-time Formula 1 world champion (2021-24) was quick with a response. “Yeah, I mean a lot to learn from,” he said. “It’s definitely not where we want to be, of course, but I also know that the team is giving it everything, so it’s frustrating for me but also frustrating for them. “At the end of the day we need to try and figure it out together. We’ll of course try to be a bit better for Japan, but after that we have a bit of a bigger break now that hopefully we can use to sort some stuff out.” Kimi Antonelli, a 19-year-old Italian, won his first Formula 1 race by driving to victory in the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. Antonelli finished ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell by 5.515 seconds, while Lewis Hamilton placed third for his first podium with Ferrari. ====================================================================== INDIANA SPORTS TEAM RELEASES INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GEAR UP FOR THE IHSAA BOYS STATE FINALS! The road to the State Finals is heating up, and Semi-State coverage begins Tuesday morning right here on the IndianaSRN Sports Page! Eight teams remain in the hunt — 4 battling in the North Bracket and 4 in the South — and the matchups are loaded with big-time talent and even bigger stakes. Every game matters, every possession counts, and the path to the State Finals is on the line. IndianaSRN has coverage everywhere. Our staff reports will be breaking down every Semi-State matchup, giving fans insight into the teams, the players, and the keys to victory. Whether it’s the powerhouse programs in the North or the hard-nosed battles in the South, IndianaSRN will have the analysis and updates you need to follow it all. Watch the Semi-State games starting Saturday, March 21 at IHSAAtv.org and experience the excitement as teams fight for their chance to play for a State Championship. Why IndianaSRN? Because when it comes to high school basketball coverage, IndianaSRN Sports delivers the best coverage anywhere — in-depth previews, expert analysis, and passionate storytelling that brings Indiana basketball to life. Stay tuned all week as we break down the Semi-State matchups and get you ready for one of the best weekends in Indiana high school sports! ======================================================================= INDIANA PACERS GAME REWIND: PACERS 123, BUCKS 134 The Indiana Pacers made their final trip to Milwaukee of the season as they matched up with the Bucks on Sunday. The Bucks played on no rest after falling to the Hawks, 122-99 on Saturday, and had lost four straight entering Sunday’s matchup. Indiana sought to exploit that fatigue, but battled availability due to injuries. Aaron Nesmith’s career-high 32 points kept Indiana competitive, but the Pacers fell to the Bucks in Milwaukee, 134-123. Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, and Ben Sheppard were all sidelined for Indiana, but Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo was available for the Bucks. Kevin Porter Jr. and Ousmane Dieng were ruled out for Milwaukee with injuries. Nesmith stepped up in the absence of Nembhard and Siakam as he recorded a 14-point first quarter. He opened the contest shooting 3-of-4 from 3-point range in his first nine minutes, and helped Indiana to a 34-26 lead heading into the second quarter. Jalen Slawson – a second year player out of Furman University in South Carolina – earned his first career start on Sunday. Slawson recently inked a two-way contract with the Pacers following Quenton Jackson’s elevation to a standard NBA contract. Slawson swatted a layup attempt by Antetokounmpo off the glass early in the second quarter, leading to a triple for Nesmith in transition. Indiana led by six points, 43-37, with just over nine minutes to play in the first half. Jay Huff secured another double-digit scoring night by the halfway point of the second quarter as he knocked down a 3-pointer to bring his total to 11 points. Huff has scored in double figures in seven of Indiana’s last eight contests. Antetokounmpo notched a first half double-double for the Bucks with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Bobby Portis contributed 13 points off Milwaukee’s bench. Aaron Nesmith’s 24 first half points led all scorers, and led Indiana to a 65-62 lead at halftime. The Pacers shot 48 percent from the field and from 3-point range, and recorded 19 assists on 21 made baskets throughout the first half. Milwaukee matched Indiana’s 12 made 3-pointers, but shot 46.8 percent from the field. The Bucks recaptured the lead early in the third quarter as Rollins’ shot gave them a 66-65 advantage. Jarace Walker found a rhythm in the third as he notched 14 points in the frame. Indiana held on to score 31 points in the quarter, but the Bucks erupted for 40 points. The Pacers trailed after three, 102-96. Milwaukee executed a 9-0 run to open the fourth quarter, and the Pacers were down 13 points early in the fourth frame. The Bucks extended their lead to as many as 19 points before the final buzzer, but went on to defeat the Pacers, 134-123. The loss marks Indiana’s 13th straight. Nesmith’s career-high 32 points led all scorers, and Walker contributed 14 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 31 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists. The Pacers head to New York following the contest with Milwaukee, and prepare for the Knicks on Tuesday, March 17, 7:30 PM ET. Inside the Numbers Eighty-one percent of Indiana’s field goals were assisted – the Pacers recorded 34 assists on 42 made field goals. The battle on the glass was knotted at 40 rebounds each for the Pacers and Bucks. T.J. McConnell had a game-high 11 assists. He was the only player on either team to record double-digit assists. After leading by three points at halftime, Indiana allowed Milwaukee to score 72 points in the second half. You Can Quote Me on That “We’ve been putting the ball in his hands a lot…We know the guy is an amazing shooter, and right now during this stretch, this is an opportunity for him to get that rhythm and also to bear down defensively. Each night he’s going to be taking a matchup…He’s doing some great things right now.” – coach Rick Carlisle on Aaron Nesmith’s career-night “Slawson’s got more size, he’s shown some signs of being a very good, solid, defender within the system. But it’s tough…he had a great vibe about [guarding Giannis]. He’s an enthusiastic kid…He did a great job of playing without fouling to finish the game. He’s done a nice job in these games.” – Carlisle on Jalen Slawson defending Giannis Antetokounmpo in his first NBA start “A versatile performance, [he] did some very good things defensively as well. He shows more and more signs of becoming the player that he can become. You know, we’re seeing more consistency. We’re seeing more focus and concentration on details. And he’s smart. He knows his teammates, he knows who they are. He’s a tremendous passer.” – Carlisle on Jarace Walker’s recent play Stat of the Night Aaron Nesmith recorded a new career-high 32 points on 10-for-14 shooting, including 7-for-10 from 3-point range. Noteworthy The Bucks swept the season series with the Pacers, 4-0. T.J. McConnell recorded his 900th career steal in Sunday’s game with the Bucks. Aaron Nesmith set a new career-high of 32 points. Andrew Nembhard, Ben Sheppard, and Pascal Siakam were sidelined with injuries on Sunday. Up Next The Pacers are off to New York to rematch with Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks on Tuesday, March 17, 7:30 PM ET. ================================================================== INDIANA BASEBALL LATE LEAD LOST IN WEEKEND FINALE EUGENE, Ore. – The Indiana Baseball team (7-12, 1-5 B1G) saw a five-run lead slip away on Sunday (March 15) afternoon at PK Park. Oregon’s potent offense woke up late, scoring six unanswered runs in a 7-6 victory over the Hoosiers. With two on and no outs in the ninth inning, outfielder Angel Laya singled through the right side to finish off a series sweep in Eugene. IU jumped out to a big lead, scoring twice in each of the first three innings. An RBI groundout from redshirt freshman Brayden Ricketts and an RBI single from sophomore Cooper Malamazian in the first inning gave the Hoosiers an advantage they would hold until Oregon tied the game in the bottom of the eighth. IU scored all six of its runs in the opening three frames but got just one runner to third base in the final six innings of the ballgame. Sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley and sophomore outfielder Caleb Koskie each had multi-hit days. Sophomore southpaw Brayton Thomas gave IU a solid start even while battling some fatigue issues. He went four innings of one-run baseball. The Indiana native struck out a career high five batters and issued just one walk. He worked around some trouble to hand the ball over to the bullpen with a 6-1 lead. Oregon did its heavy damage in the sixth behind a bases-clearing double from infielder Ryan Cooney. The Ducks tied it in the eight and walked it off in the ninth. The Hoosiers will finish off their spring break road trip by heading to Nashville to play Vanderbilt on Tuesday (March 17) evening at Hawkins Field. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. against the second SEC foe of the year. IU will return home to Bart Kaufman Field next week (March 20-22) for a three-game set against Minnesota. Scoring Recap Bottom First IU scored in the opening frame after Brayden Ricketts picked up an RBI on a groundout to the second baseman. Cooper Malamazian added a second run on an RBI single. Indiana 2, Oregon 0 Top Second The lead was extended in the second inning with an RBI fielder’s choice groundout from T.J. Schuyler. Hogan Denny drove in a fourth run on a sacrifice fly. Indiana 4, Oregon 0 Bottom Second The hosts got on the board via a long single to the wall from Burke-Lee Mabeus. One runner came around to score but IU got the second runner out at the plate on a relay throw. Indiana 4, Oregon 1 Top Third Two more runners came around to score on a sacrifice bunt that turned into a pair of throwing errors. It was the last runs that IU would score. Indiana 6, Oregon 1 Bottom Sixth Ryan Cooney cleared the bases with a three-run double to trim the lead. Dominic Hellman closed the gap to just one with a double over the head of IU’s centerfielder. Indiana 6, Oregon 5 Bottom Eighth Hellman would strike again with a single up the middle to tie the game in the eighth. Indiana 6, Oregon 6 Bottom Ninth Angel Laya won the game with an RBI single through the right side. Oregon 7, Indiana 6 Top Hoosier Performers #14 Thomas, Brayton 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 5 K #34 Hanley, Jake 2-5, R #17 Koskie, Caleb 2-3, 2B, R Notes to Know • For the first time in the head coach Jeff Mercer era, IU rolled out a starting lineup – and a starting pitcher – that were all recruited out of high school to Bloomington. Nine of the 10 total players in the game were underclassmen. Junior T.J. Schuyler was the only starter with more than one year of experience in college. • Sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley recorded a pair of base knocks in the defeat to Oregon on Sunday. He’s just two hits away from reaching 100 in his young career in Bloomington. The weekend finale was also the 75th-straight start he’s made. Hanley has started every possible game of his career for the Hoosiers. • Even while not pitching at full strength, sophomore left-handed pitcher Brayton Thomas turned in a fantastic start for IU. He recorded a career-high five strikeouts with a good mix of fastballs and off-speed pitches. He went four innings of one-run baseball and allowed just three hits. He’s allowed just one run in four of his five starts this year. Up Next Midweek action awaits the Hoosiers on Tuesday (March 17) evening in Nashville. IU will play Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+. It can also be heard on the radio and at IUHoosiers.com/Audio. ==================================================================== PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL #18 PURDUE WINS BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TITLE OVER #3 MICHIGAN #18 Purdue 80, #3 Michigan 72 (Postgame Notes) 7 seed Purdue won its third Big Ten Tournament championship, and second in four years, with an 80-72 win over top-seeded and No. 3-ranked Michigan. The Boilermakers also won Big Ten Tournament titles in 2009 and 2023. Purdue is now 3-4 in Big Ten Tournament championship games, including 3-3 under Matt Painter. The tournament title was the eighth Big Ten title for Matt Painter (5 regular season; 3 tournament). Purdue became the first No. 7 seed to win the Big Ten Tournament. In fact, the Boilermakers were the first 7-seed to play in the title game. Purdue improved to 27-8 on the season and finished the season with 11 quad-1 wins, the fifth most in the country. Purdue snapped a three-game losing streak to the Wolverines. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Purdue has won 114 games, the fourth-most victories in the country. Purdue trailed for just 8 minutes and 53 seconds in four Big Ten Tournament games, not trailing in the second half of any of the four games. Both of Purdue’s last two Big Ten Tournament championships have come in Chicago. The Boilermakers have won seven straight games in the United Center. Purdue improved to 15-3 away from Mackey Arena this season, including 7-0 in neutral-site games. According to BartTorvik.com, Purdue ranks as the second-best team in games played away from home (behind Duke) with the nation’s best offense and 12th-ranked defense. Purdue took over the top spot in nationally in offensive efficiency via KenPom, scoring 1.36 points / possession against the nation’s top-ranked defense. Purdue is 11-3 in the Big Ten Tournament over the last five seasons, the sixth-most wins nationally in conference tournament games. Purdue seniors scored 69 of Purdue’s 80 points in the win over Michigan. Braden Smith recorded his 27th career double-double with 14 points, 11 assists, five rebounds and three steals. Smith dished out 46 assists in the four games in Chicago, the most assists for a player in the conference tournament in 30 years, eight ahead of the next closest player, Doug Gottlieb (38). Smith now has 1,075 career assists, needing one to tie Bobby Hurley and two to pass him for the NCAA career assists mark. Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff combined for 41 points on 17-of-26 (.654) from the field, adding eight rebounds and two assists. Fletcher Loyer scored 14 points with five assists and four rebounds, making 3-of-4 from 3-point range. In the Big Ten Tournament, Loyer went 13-of-30 (.433) from 3-point range and he has made at least two 3-pointers in 15 straight games. CHICAGO (AP) — Oscar Cluff scored 21 points, Trey Kaufman-Renn had 20 and No. 18 Purdue topped No. 3 Michigan 80-72 on Sunday for the Big Ten Tournament championship. Braden Smith had 14 points, 11 assists and three steals as Purdue (27-8) added to an impressive turnaround after closing the regular season with four losses in six games. Fletcher Loyer made three 3-pointers and finished with 14 points. The Boilermakers won the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 2023 and third time overall. They lost to the Wolverines in the final in 1998 and 2018. Yaxel Lendeborg scored 20 points for top-seeded Michigan (31-3), which beat Purdue 91-80 in their regular-season meeting on Feb. 17. Aday Mara had 17 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots. Wearing No. 41 after his No. 3 jersey ripped early in the game, Smith helped the Boilermakers seize control by deftly running the pick and roll with Kaufman-Renn in the second half. The senior point guard has 1,075 career assists, just one shy of Bobby Hurley’s NCAA record. Two jumpers by Kaufman-Renn off passes from Smith powered Purdue to a 55-44 lead with 12:55 left. After Elliot Cadeau scored for Michigan, the 6-foot Smith drove inside, drew a foul on the 7-3 Mara and scored, drawing a big cheer from the Purdue fans in the crowd at the United Center. #2 SEED BOILERMAKERS TO FACE #15 QUEENS IN NCAA TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND ON FRIDAY IN ST. LOUIS WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Big Ten Tournament champion Purdue men’s basketball team will play in the NCAA Tournament for the 11th straight time, taking on No. 15 seed Queens on Friday in the first round in St. Louis. Tip is slated for 7:35 p.m. ET, on TRUTV at the Enterprise Center. Seventh-seeded Miami (FL) will face No. 10 seed Missouri in the other game on Friday. The Boilermakers enter the 2026 NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed in the West Region. Purdue has been a top-four seed in their last nine NCAA Tournament appearances, marking the longest active streak in the nation and the fourth longest in history (19 – Kansas, 2001-19; 12 – Duke, 2008-19; 11 – North Carolina, 1989-99). No. 18 Purdue downed No. 3 Michigan, the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region, 80-72 to claim its fourth Big Ten Tournament title. Braden Smith was named the Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player after finishing with a 14-point, 11-assist double-double and pulled within one assist of Bobby Hurley’s NCAA all-time record of 1,076 career assists. The Boilermakers enter the tournament with a 27-8 record and 17 wins against Quad 1 and 2 teams. In its first year eligible to make the NCAA Tournament after transitioning from Division II, outlasted Central Arkansas 98-93 in overtime to claim their first ASUN Tournament Championship. The Royals are 21-13 on the year, including a 13-5 mark in conference action to finish third in the ASUN. Queens features the 19th-ranked scoring offense at 84.9 points per game and are 17th nationally with an effective field goal percentage of 56.7%. Boasting a balanced attack, the Royals are one of two teams in the country to have six players average double figures this season (Miami (OH)). =================================================================== PURDUE SOFTBALL WIN STREAK REACHES 14, BOILERS SWEEP OHIO STATE WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Boilers continue their historic run, sweeping the Buckeyes in game three on Sunday morning at Bittinger Stadium. The Boilers took down Ohio State 12-6, moving to a 14-game win streak, and took the sweep over the Buckeyes after clinching the series in game two. BOILER BITS Offensive Highlights Anna Moore: 3-for-4, HR, 5 RBI, R Moriah Polar: 3-for-5, 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R Kylie Franks: 2-for-4, R, RBI Khloe Banks: 2-for-4, 3 R, Ashlynn Campbell: 2-for-2, RBI, 2 R Pitching Breakdown Malone Moore: (W, 2-0) 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 BB, 6 K, 22 BF Brianna Fontenot: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 BF Brooke Perez: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 K, 5 BF Purdue jumped out to a hot start in the bottom of the first, plating three runs in an unusual manner. Khloe Banks led off the game with an infield single, before Moriah Polar joined her after reaching on an error. Freshman, Anna Moore, then hit one over the fence, originally called a home run, but was brought back after she passed the preceding runner on the bases. The official ruling was a single with two of the original three runs scoring. The Boilers took a 2-0 lead, and added one more in the inning after a walk from Haley Painter who then scored on a double from Julia Gossett. In the second, Ohio State added one run back on a dropped ballfrom the Boiler first baseman, which allowed a Buckeye to come around and score. The Buckeyes continued to score in a similar manner in the third, plating two more runs on the back of two more Purdue errors. Through two and a half, the Buckeyes scored three runs on no hits. In the bottom of the third, the Boilers broke the game open, plating four runs on four hits and one Buckeye error. Bella Douglas led off the inning being hit by the pitch, before Delaney Reefe added another runner aboard as the Buckeye pitcher was called on an illegal pitch. With one away. Kylie Franks hit her first double of the season, scoring the first run of the inning. Ashlynn Campbell followed it up with an RBI single and was moved over on a fielder’s choice by Banks. Polar earned her second hit of the day, an RBI single to bring the Boilers ahead 6-3, before Moore plated another run on a single of her own. The Boilers closed out the inning with a four-run lead. The Buckeyes decreased the deficit in the top of the fourth, earning their first hit of the game, a triple to the left field wall. The run eventually scored on the fourth error of the day for the Boilers, another dropped ball at first. The Boilers exploded offensively again in the fifth, plating five more runs to bring them out to an eight-run lead. Polar added her third hit of the day with a bases-clearing double. Moore, having already hit one ball out of the park, hit her first official home run of the day, a two-run shot over the left field wall. Although the Buckeyes earned two back in the fifth and sixth, the deficit was too much to overcome, and the Boilers earned their first series win over Ohio State since 2021. For updates on Purdue Softball, follow the Boilermakers on Twitter (@PurdueSoftball), Instagram (@purduesoftball), and Facebook (Purdue Softball). =================================================================== PURDUE BASEBALL BASEBALL DROPS BACK & FORTH FINALE AT MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The lead changed hands four times across the sixth through eighth innings as Maryland rallied to take a back and forth series finale, defeating Purdue Baseball 10-9 Sunday. The Boilermakers (12-6, 3-3 Big Ten) led 5-0 entering the bottom of the fifth but were unable to hold on to the lead and complete the three-game series sweep. Purdue hit four home runs Sunday and 10 long balls in the series. Ali Banks and Brandon Rogers went deep to left field to open the seventh and eighth innings. Banks hit a game-tying blast and Rogers’ homer gave the Boilers a 9-8 lead. The Terrapins (11-8, 1-2 Big Ten) strung together four singles and an RBI fielder’s choice to score twice in the bottom of the eighth and retake the lead. Two of the four hits were of the infield variety, including a two-out RBI infield single to third base off the bat of Ty Kaunas, who dove in head first at first base. Like Banks and Rogers, CJ Richmond and Dylan Drake both hit their second home runs of the series Sunday. Richmond connected for a two-out, two-run shot in the first inning and Drake hit a solo shot the following frame. Banks and Drake hit safely in all three games of the series. Purdue’s 10 home runs in the series were its most in a weekend since hitting 11 during the 2023 season-opening series vs. Holy Cross in Sugar Land, Texas. Starting pitcher Jarvis Evans posted four consecutive zeros to begin the game, working 4 2/3 innings of two-run ball. The runs came on a home run by Jordan Crosland as Evans faced the UMD leadoff man for a third time. Maryland went on to score in each of the final four innings in which it batted. The Terps scored four times on four singles, a walk and an error in the sixth inning, taking their first lead at 6-5. Jackson Bessette delivered the big hit in Purdue’s three-run seventh inning, a two-out, two-run single that gave the Boilermakers an 8-6 lead. The line drive hit off the glove of a leaping Kaunas at shortstop and caromed into left center. Purdue used six pitchers Sunday, with four of the five relievers making their second appearance of the series. Trevor Kester-Johnson made a highlight-reel play when he speared a line drive off the bat of UMD’s 3-hole hitter and doubled off the runner at second for an inning-ending twin killing. Jackson Greer struck out the only batter he faced, coming back from a 3-0 count to finish off the bottom of the seventh with the go-ahead run on first base. The Boilermakers are scheduled to be back in action Tuesday at Butler. Should the game get canceled due to temperatures in the mid-20s, Purdue would look to add a home game Wednesday. Big Ten play continues next weekend with Penn State paying a visit to Alexander Field. STREAKS EXTENDED • Brandon Rogers: 12-game on-base; 11-game on-base in Big Ten play (since April 27, 2025) • Aaron Manias: 9-game on-base • Ali Banks: 5-game hit • Sam Flores: 5-game on-base SERIES LEADERS AT THE PLATE • Eli Anderson: 4-for-7, 2B, 3 RBI, BB, 2 R, SB • Dylan Drake: 4-for-10, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, HBP, 5 R • Sam Flores: 5-for-13, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB, HBP, 3 R, SB • Ali Banks: 5-for-13, 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, BB, 4 R, SB • Brandon Rogers: 4-for-11, 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 4 R, Sac Bunt, SB • CJ Richmond: 3-for-13, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 3 R ======================================================================= NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL IRISH COLUMBUS BOUND FOR FIRST ROUND OF NCAA TOURNAMENT SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame women’s basketball team will travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on the No. 11 Fairfield for the first round of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET at Value City Arena and it will air on ESPN. Notre Dame enters the tournament with a record of 22-10 on the season and 12-6 in ACC play. The Fighting Irish have won nine of their last 11 games coming into the first round matchup. The last time the Irish played in Columbus for the NCAA Tournament they won the 2018 national championship, defeating UConn and Mississippi State in the Final Four and national title game, respectively. The winner of Notre Dame’s first-round contest will take on the winner of the first-round tilt between No. 3 seed Ohio State and No. 14 Howard in the second round on Monday, March 23. The Irish are in the Fort Worth regional, which will be played on either Friday, March 27 or Saturday, March 28. NOTRE DAME IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT The Irish have won two national championships in program history, coming in 2001 and 2018. Notre Dame owns a 75-28 record in its 30 previous trips to the NCAA Tournament. The Irish have now made each of the last five NCAA Tournament fields. Notre Dame has an all-time record of 26-4 in NCAA Tournament first round games. The Irish have advanced to at least the Sweet 16 on 21 occasions, including in each of their last 14 tournament appearances. This marks the second time the Irish have earned a No. 6 seed in the tournament with the other time occurring in 1997 when the team made a run to the Final Four. Notre Dame has advanced to the NCAA Tournament Final Four nine times and has played in seven national title games. Notre Dame and Fairfield have played one time prior in program history, with the Irish defeating the Stags 75-62 in Villanova, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 28, 1987. ================================================================== NOTRE DAME SOFTBALL IRISH TAKE SERIES AT NO. 19/20 STANFORD STANFORD, Calif. – Behind a four-run seventh inning, the University of Notre Dame softball team defeated 19th/20th ranked Stanford 7-4 Sunday afternoon, securing the first series of the season for the Irish. Notre Dame is now 12-16 on the year and 2-4 in conference play. It’s the first time since 2021 that Notre Dame has won a ranked series on the road, having not done so since sweeping No. 15/13 Virginia Tech from April 23-25. The successful weekend marks the second ranked series win under head coach Kris Ganeff (No. 24/22 Virginia, March 28-30, 2025). Freshman Ava Zachary extended her hitting streak to 11 games, logging a pair of hits, including a double in the massive seventh inning. Zachary scored a career-high three runs in the game and stole a base. Fellow freshman Hayden Kyne had two RBI singles in the game, while sophomore Rebecca Eckart hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to extend the Irish lead late. Brianne Weiss got the win in the circle, her sixth of the season. The sophomore left hander threw 1.1 innings in relief, striking out two and securing the victory. Micaela Kastor made the start and pitched well, striking out five Cardinal in 5.2 innings. The senior allowed two earned runs and only walked one. After 28 games on the road to begin the year, Notre Dame is back in South Bend this week as the Irish will play host to Oakland Wednesday night for a doubleheader in the team’s home opener before hosting Clemson next weekend at Melissa Cook Stadium. How it happened Stanford jumped on top early, hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the first off Irish starting pitcher Micaela Kastor to take an early 1-0 lead after the opening frame. Notre Dame tied the game in the top of the second solely on being patient at the plate. The Irish drew four walks in the inning, including one from Tenley Sweet with the bases loaded, to plate a run and tie the rubber match up at one. After a scoreless second, the Irish took the lead in the top of the third after Hayden Kyne hit a looping single into left center field to score Ava Zachary from second. Two innings later, Kyne did it again, hitting her second RBI single of the game back up the middle to score Zachary for the second time in the game to give Notre Dame a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth. The Cardinal scored a run in the bottom of the fifth before tying the game up in the bottom of the sixth on an unearned run. That’s when the Irish responded with a four-spot in the top of the seventh inning. Caroline O’Brien led off the inning with a single and then scored on a wild pitch later in the inning to regain the lead. After that, Olivia Levitt hit a sacrifice fly to score Zachary. But it was Rebecaa Eckart who blew the game wide open with a two-run home run, a moonshot out to left field that scored Kyne from second base as Notre Dame took a 7-3 lead. The Cardinal, down to their last out, managed to scratch across a run but a fly out to Sydny Poeck in right field sealed the the ranked series win for the Irish. ================================================================== NOTRE DAME BASEBALL IRISH FALL IN SERIES FINALE TO CARDINALS LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Notre Dame baseball team fell in a 21-12 final at Louisville in the series rubber match on Sunday afternoon. Ty Uber took care of all three outs in the bottom of the first. The grad transfer righty got a strikeout, picked off a runner at second and added another strikeout to retire the Cardinals early. Louisville took the first lead of the game with a three-run spot in the bottom of the second. The Irish quickly responded in the top of the third. Drew Berkland led off with a single, and Noah Coy drew a walk to put two runners on base for Notre Dame. Mark Quatrani blasted the first pitch of his at-bat well beyond the left field wall to knot the game at 3-3. Jayce Lee kept the inning alive with a two-out single on the first pitch of his at-bat, and Davis Johnson belted the second homer of the inning and his third of the weekend to put the Irish up 5-3. The Cardinals plated four runs in the bottom half of the inning as the lead changed hands again with Louisville leading 7-5 through three complete. The back-and-forth battle continued to wage on in the top of the fourth. Mark Quatrani drew a lead-off walk, and Bino Watters continued to beat the shift with a single through the left side of the infield. Two batters later, Jayce Lee hit a single to load the bases. Davis Johnson then delivered his second home run of the day and his second grand slam of the weekend to put the Irish up 9-7. The bottom half of the fourth saw Louisville knot up the score at 9-9 with a two-run single. A five-run fifth inning by Louisville put the Cardinals up 14-9. Notre Dame cut into the deficit in their next at-bats. Jayce Lee hit a single, Davis Johnson reached on a fielder’s choice and Mason Barth was hit by a pitch. Jamie Zee then delivered a single up the middle to drive in Lee and Johnson to make it a 14-11 score. Drew Berkland laced an RBI single up the middle while Mason Barth raced around from second base to score to make it a 14-12 game. Chase Van Ameyde put up a pair of strikeouts on the mound and forced the Cardinals into stranding two runners on base in the bottom of the sixth. Louisville, however, scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh for a 17-12 lead. Mason Barth drew a walk, but a diving catch by the Cardinals’ left fielder on a hard-hit ball by Drew Berkland cut short a scoring chance for the Irish in the top of the eighth. The Cardinals then plated four in the eighth to go ahead by the final 21-12 margin. Davis Johnson went 2-for-5 with two home runs – including a grand slam – and six RBI. Mark Quatrani added a home run with three RBI, a single, a walk and two runs. Jayce Lee had three hits and scored three runs. Drew Berkland tallied two hits, two walks, an RBI and a run. Jamie Zee had a hit with two RBI, and Mason Barth added a hit, two walks and a run. Bino Watters notched a hit and a run while Noah Coy scored once and walked twice. Ty Uber went 3.0 innings with four strikeouts. Eli Thurmond went 1.0 on the mound and suffered the pitching loss in the contest. Will Jaisle went 1.0, and Chase Van Ameyde added 1.2 innings of work with three strikeouts. Noah Rooney added a third of an inning, and Garret Snyder went two-thirds of an inning with a strikeout. Radek Birkholz retired the lone batter he faced in the bottom of the eighth. The Irish (11-6, 3-3 ACC) are scheduled to host Central Michigan on Tuesday, March 17 starting at 4:30 p.m. ================================================================= BUTLER SOFTBALL BULLDOGS COMPLETE SWEEP OF VILLANOVA WITH EXTRA-INNING VICTORY VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Butler softball team came from behind to defeat Villanova in ten innings, completing the series sweep with a 12-9 game-three victory. The Wildcats (5-22, 2-4 BIG EAST) held a 5-0 lead after two innings and a 9-6 lead after six. The Bulldogs (10-9, 3-0 BIG EAST) scored three runs in the seventh to extend the game and then produced three in the tenth to secure the win. Makena Alexander led Butler at the plate, going four-for-five with two doubles, a home run, and six RBIs. Her three-run home run in the tenth inning provided the winning margin. After a scoreless first inning, Villanova used four hits and an error to score five runs in the second. One inning later, Butler loaded the bases with one out. Kayla Preiss put the ball in play, and Paxton Law was able to cross and get the Dawgs on the board. One batter later, Alexander doubled to shallow right field and two more came across. The deficit was now two. In the fourth, a Law single allowed Kieli Ryan to score from second. The gap was now just one. In the bottom half, with two runners on, a Villanova double pushed its lead back to two, at 6-4. After Preiss led off the fifth with a double, Alexander singled to allow her to score. Later, with Rachel Hunt on third, Ryan doubled to push Hunt home and tie the game at six. Villanova loaded the bases in the sixth and drew a walk to retake the lead. One batter later, a two-RBI single extended the lead to 9-6. Butler needed three in the top of seventh, and the Dawgs delivered. Preiss singled and Alexander doubled to put runners on second and third. Olivia Robards put the ball in play, allowing Preiss to score. Then, with two outs, Ryan doubled to send Alexander across, and with the game on the line, Erin Clark singled in the game-tying run. A Butler double play in the bottom half was key to sending the game to extra innings. In the bottom of the ninth, Villanova loaded the bases with only one out. Katie Petran produced a strike out and an infield fly to end the threat. In the tenth, after bunt singles from Cate Lehner and Hailey Conger, Alexander sent one over the right field wall. The Dawgs retook the lead, 12-9. Petran retired the side in the Wildcats’ final at bat. Kate Murray (1.1-IP, 5R, 4ER, 5H, 3BB, K) started in the circle for Butler and lasted into the second inning. Maren Berger (4.2-IP, 4R, 6H, 4BB, K) provided relief and pitched through the seventh. Petran (4-3) entered at the top of the eighth, finished the game, and picked up the win. In 3.0 innings, she allowed only three hits and struck out a pair. Bulldog Bits Alexander’s home run was her third in the past two games. She now has eight this season and 20 in her career. Her pair of doubles gives her five this season and 17 in her career. Ryan’s two doubles give her six this season and 19 in her career. The double by Preiss was her second in as many games and her third this season. Petran’s win in the circle was her fourth this season and the 26th of her career. This was Butler’s second series sweep over Villanova. The first came in 2017. Up Next Due to the forecast of cold weather, Butler’s game vs. Ohio State at Earlham College on Tuesday, March 17, has been canceled. Next on the schedule, the Bulldogs will host Seton Hall in a BIG EAST series from Friday through Sunday, March 20-22. ===================================================================== IU INDY SOFTBALL JAGS DROP TWO TO VALPO ON SUNDAY INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indy softball team dropped both games of a Sunday doubleheader to Valparaiso at the IU Indy Softball Field, falling 11-7 in game one before an 8-0 loss in five innings in game two. IU Indy battled throughout the opener but Valparaiso used late offense to secure an 11-7 win. The Beacons jumped out early with three runs in the first inning and added two more in the second to take a 5-1 lead. IU Indy responded with a big third inning, scoring four runs to briefly take the lead. After the Jags took the lead with a Tori Candler home run in the third, Valpo tied the game at 6-6 in the top of the fourth. IU Indy regained the lead with a homer from Callie Dickerson in the bottom half of the fourth frame. After a scoreless fifth inning, Valpo blew the game open with two runs in the sixth and two runs in the seventh to take the win. Paige McPhearson led the Jags in game one going 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs. Candler, Pallas Dominion and Dickerson also each added a home run with Candler leading the Jags with three RBI. Valparaiso carried its momentum into the second game, scoring in the first inning before breaking things open with three runs in the third and four more in the fifth to secure an 8-0 run-rule victory. The Jaguars recorded four hits in the game. Kennedy Cowan led the Jags going 2-for-2 while Molly Kable and Dickerson each added a hit. IU Indy will return to action on Wednesday, March 18 when the Jaguars travel to face Indiana. =================================================================== BALL STATE BASEBALL PINCH HIT GRAND SLAM LEADS CARDINALS TO SERIES SWEEP OVER EASTERN MICHIGAN MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State baseball team put up seven runs in the seventh inning, including a go-ahead pinch hit grand slam from DJ Scheumann, to power its way to a 12-9 win against Eastern Michigan on Sunday afternoon at Shebek Stadium. Trailing 6-5 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Cardinals (10-8, 5-1 Mid-American Conference) loaded the bases on a Ryan Muizelaar double plus a hit by pitch and walk to set up Scheumann, who came off the bench and blasted a 2-0 pitch a projected 444 feet over the left center field fence to put the hosts ahead 9-6. Ball State tacked on three insurance runs on an RBI single by Gavin Balius, who later scored on a wild pitch, and an RBI knock from Muizelaar to extend the edge to 12-6. Eastern Michigan (4-16, 0-6 MAC) started the scoring with two runs in the first frame, but the Cardinals responded with single tallies in the bottom half of the first (Muizelaar RBI single) and second (Taber Stokes solo home run) to knot the score. Brett Griffiths hit a two-run homer to left in the third to give Ball State a 4-2 lead. The Eagles got three runs in the fourth and one in the sixth to gain a 6-5 advantage before Ball State’s big seventh inning. Muizelaar went 4-for-4 at the dish with three RBI to cap a week where he collected 10 hits and 14 runs batted in. Balius and Griffiths both collected two hits for the Cardinals, and Balius stole a base. Zach Kwansy (2-0) went 4.2 innings of four-run ball in relief to earn the win, and Zander Bretza worked a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts to get the save. Fischer Hendershot (0-1) surrendered four runs in 3.1 frames to suffer the loss for the Eagles. Ball State’s next scheduled game is Tuesday afternoon at Valparaiso. ===================================================================== INDIANA STATE BASEBALL GONZAGA WINS EXTRA-INNING SLUGFEST AGAINST INDIANA STATE IN SUNDAY SERIES FINALE TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Gonzaga’s Ricky Sanchez connected on three home runs, including the game-tying three-run shot in the top of the ninth inning and the Bulldogs scored seven runs in the top of the 10th as Indiana State fell in the series finale to the Bulldogs at Bob Warn Field on Sunday afternoon, 23-16. Indiana State (7-12) went ahead 16-12 in the bottom of the eighth as the Sycamores utilized the long ball themselves with Nick Sutherlin connecting on a three-run shot over the left field wall for his second homer of the game. Sutherlin previous connected on a pinch-hit grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game up at 11-11. Gonzaga (7-11) rallied back in the bottom of the ninth as the Bulldogs took advantage of an Indiana State throwing error allowing Tommy Eisenstat to score, before Sanchez lifted a ball into the wind and into the trees behind the left field wall for the game-tying three-run home run. With wind gusts of up to 50 miles-per-hour at the game, Bob Warn Field turned into a launching pad on the day with a combined 12 home runs between the two teams. Carter Beck and Sutherlin both homered twice in the contest, while Sanchez (3) and Noah Meffert (2) both recorded multi-homer games on Sunday afternoon. Tied 16-16 after the Sycamores were held scoreless in the bottom of the ninth, Gonzaga sent 11 batters to the plate in the top of the 10th on their way to posting a seven-run frame. The Bulldogs took advantage of five walks, while Jacob Wrubleski (RBI single), Ricky Sanchez (RBI single), Noah Meffert (RBI sacrifice fly) and Mikey Bell (two-run double) all drove in runs in the inning to go ahead 23-16. Caleb Niehaus led off the bottom of the 10th with a double to the wall in left center, but Gonzaga reliever Justin Feld (1-0) retired the final three Sycamores in order to secure the win and the Bulldogs’ series sweep. Carter Beck led Indiana State with three of the team’s 13 hits in the contest, connecting on a double and two home runs while scoring three runs and driving in three RBIs. Nick Sutherlin homered twice and drove in seven RBIs, while Caden Miller also homered in the loss. Mason Roell added a career-high three stolen bases in the game. Aaron Moss (0-1) took the loss on Sunday afternoon as the Sycamore reliever was the pitcher of record when Gonzaga took the lead in the 10th. Grant Parson worked 4.2 innings allowing six hits and seven runs while striking out five. Colby Morse worked 2.0 innings in effective relief allowing two hits and a run while striking out three. Ricky Sanchez powered the Gonzaga lineup with a 5-for-6 effort at the plate. The Bulldog shortstop finished a two-run home run short of the homer cycle on Sunday afternoon on his way to scoring four runs and driving in nine RBIs. Tommy Eisenstat added a home run and four runs scored, while Noah Meffert homered twice, drove in three runs and scored three times. Jacob Wrubleski added the final Gonzaga home run in the win. Feld (1-0) recorded the win on Sunday afternoon as the right-handed reliever worked 2.1 scoreless innings allowing one hit while striking out three. Karsten Sweum held the start on the mound for the Bulldogs allowing seven hits and seven runs while walking four and striking out six over 4.0 innings. How They Scored Gonzaga took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Noah Meffert connected on a solo home run to left field. Indiana State answered in the bottom of the first inning as Carter Beck connected on a double off the wall and left center and Emil Estrella drew a walk, before Mason Roell drove in both with a two-run single back up the middle. Ray Jesse added a two-run single later in the frame driving in Eddie Alonso and Mason Roell to make it 4-1 Sycamores early. Tommy Eisenstat put Gonzaga back on the board in the top of the second with a solo home run over the wall in left center to make it a 4-2 game. Gonzaga retook the lead in the top of the third inning as the Bulldogs plated three runs in the frame. Ricky Sanchez connected on a solo home run to left field and Ryder Young added a two-run double down the third base line scoring Noah Meffert and Bo Shinkle to put Gonzaga up 5-4. The Bulldogs added to the lead in the top of the fifth as Landon White drew a bases loaded walk scoring Tommy Eisenstat, before Ricky Sanchez connected on a grand slam over the wall down the left field line to make it a 10-4 Gonzaga lead. Indiana State took three runs back in the bottom of the fifth as Carter Beck led off the inning with a solo home run over the center field wall, while Caden Miller connected on a two-run shot to left field scoring Emil Estrella to make it a 10-7 ballgame. Gonzaga added to the lead in the top of the seventh as Jacob Wrubleski led off the inning with a solo home run over the wall in right center to put the score at 11-7. Indiana State took the lead in the bottom of the seventh as Nick Sutherlin connected on a pinch-hit grand slam to left field to tie the game, before Carter Beck drilled a two-run homer to left center to put the Sycamores ahead 13-11. Gonzaga took one back on Noah Meffert’s solo home run to center field in the top of the eighth to put the score at 13-12. The Sycamores added to the lead in the bottom of the eighth as Nick Sutherlin launched a three-run home run over the wall in left center scoring Caleb Niehaus and Mason Roell to make it a 16-12 lead. Gonzaga rallied back in the top of the ninth as Tommy Eisenstat scored on an Indiana State throwing error, before Ricky Sanchez connected on his third home run of the game with his three-run shot over the left field wall tying the contest at 16-16 and sending the game into extra innings. The Bulldogs retook the lead in the top of the 10th inning on Jacob Wrubleski’s RBI single through the left side of the infield plating Brandon Cabrera, while Ricky Sanchez (RBI single) and Mikey Bell (two-run double) both added run-scoring hits in the seven-run inning to take the 23-16 lead. News and Notes Caden Miller ran his on-base streak to 10 consecutive games following his home run in the bottom of the fifth inning on Sunday afternoon. Miller’s double-digit on-base streak marks the second double-digit streak for the Sycamores this season joining Carter Beck who reached safely in the first 15 games of 2026. Sunday’s game featured the second time Indiana State has had multiple players homer in the same inning this season as Carter Beck (solo) and Caden Miller (two-run) both left the yard in the fifth inning. The first time came back on February 22 against UMass Lowell when Nick Sutherlin, Eddie Alonso, and Jeremy Martinez all homered in the fifth inning against the River Hawks. Indiana State made it three innings on the season with multiple homers when Nick Sutherlin (grand slam) and Carter Beck (two-run) both homered in the bottom of the seventh inning. It marked Indiana State’s first game with multiple homers in multiple innings in the same game since April 11, 2021, when Max Wright and Brian Fuentes homered in the eighth, Miguel Rivera and Ellison Hanna II homered in the ninth against Illinois State. Mason Roell stole multiple bases for the first time in his collegiate career after swiping second in both the third, fifth, and eighth innings. It marked the first time a Sycamore stole multiple bases since Nomar Garcia stole two on May 6, 2025, at Tennessee. Roell’s trio of stolen bases marked the first time an Indiana State player stole three bases in the same game since Nomar Garcia swiped three against Valparaiso last season on March 22, 2025. Caleb Niehaus become the second Sycamore to be hit by multiple pitches in the same game after getting plunked in the first, fifth, and eighth innings on Sunday. He joins Carter Beck (Feb. 15 vs. Wake Forest) to be hit by multiple pitches in the same game. Niehaus getting hit three times marked the first time a Sycamore has been hit by three pitches in the same game since Mike Sears was hit a trio of times on April 5, 2024, against Murray State. Nick Sutherlin connected on Indiana State’s first pinch-hit home run of the season after connecting on a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh on Sunday afternoon. It marked his third home run of the season and the Sycamores’ third grand slam of the year. Nick Sutherlin’s grand slam joins Carter Beck (Feb. 20 vs. Miami (Ohio)) and Emil Estrella (Mar. 7 at Western Kentucky) as Sycamores to clear the bases with one swing on the season. Nick Sutherlin homered again in the bottom of the eighth with a three-run shot marking his first multi-homer game of the 2026 season. Nick Sutherlin and Carter Beck both connected on multiple home runs in the same game, marking the first time a Sycamore duo has both homered at least twice in the same game since May 17, 2024, when Luis Hernandez and Randal Diaz both homered twice against Valparaiso. Up Next Indiana State continues its home stand on Tuesday, March 17, as the Sycamores host Illinois in a midweek nonconference matchup. First pitch between the Sycamores and the Fighting Illini is set for 6:30 p.m. ET and will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend. ===================================================================== PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PURDUE FORT WAYNE WBB ACCEPTS POSTSEASON WNIT BID FORT COLLINS, Colo. – There will be more basketball for Purdue Fort Wayne fans to enjoy. The Mastodon women’s basketball has accepted a bid to play in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. The Mastodons will find out their opponent and location of the opening round on Monday (March 16), when the WNIT announces the full bracket. The tournament’s opening round takes place on March 19-21 and runs through the championship game on April 4. This is the Mastodons’ third trip to the Postseason WNIT in as many seasons and fifth postseason tournament in the program’s Division I history. Prior to the Mastodons’ three WNIT appearances, the ‘Dons played in the WBI in 2011 and 2014. The 2025-26 Purdue Fort Wayne squad is 20-13 after finishing fourth in the Horizon League. The Mastodons fell in the semifinal of the Horizon League Championship to eventual winner Green Bay. ===================================================================== EVANSVILLE BASEBALL REED DOMINATES AS ACES TAKE SERIES OVER XAVIER CINCINNATI – The University of Evansville baseball team used a dominant start from junior Kevin Reed (Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville) to take take Sunday’s rubber match over Xavier by a score of 5-1, securing a series win. Reed limited the Musketeers to one run over a career-high eight innings. Freshman backstop Spike Magill (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three RBI and hitting his first collegiate home run. Charlie Longemeier (Seymour, Ind./Seymour) went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored three runs, while Ryan Seddon (Joliet, Ill./St. Laurence) delivered a pinch-hit RBI double in the eighth. Reed got the win for Evansville, his team-leading third of the year, while Xavier’s Ashton Chronister took the loss. HOW IT HAPPENED Evansville took the lead in the top of the first, with Magill delivering a two-out single to drive in Wyatt Pennington (Avon, Ind./Avon) before a throwing error scored Longmeier. Reed was locked in from the start, striking out two in a 1-2-3 first inning. Evansville added to their lead in the third, as Magill lifted his first career home run to left, a two-run blast to make it 4-0. Xavier got a run back in the third, using a sac fly to bring the game back within three. From there, however, Reed was lights-out, allowing just two singles and two walks in the next five innings. For the day, Reed worked eight innings, limiting the Musketeers to one run on five hits (one XBH) and two walks while striking out three. After going quiet in the middle innings, the Evansville offense took advantage of a pair of walks in the eighth to add an insurance run. With two on and two out, Seddon pinch-hit and came through, doubling to right field to score Longmeier and make it 5-1. Kellen Roberts (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) relieved Reed in the ninth and closed things out, striking out the first batter he faced before inducing a 3-6-3 double play to end the game. The series win was Evansville’s second of the year and the first to come on the road, improving their record on the year to 5-13. UP NEXT Evansville returns to German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium this week for a pair of midweek contests, taking on Lipscomb on Tuesday before playing SEMO on Wednesday. ===================================================================== SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL USI WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SELECTED FOR 2026 WNIT EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball has been selected into the 48-team field for the 2026 Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), powered by Triple Crown Sports, marking USI’s third consecutive appearance in the WNIT. The field of teams was announced Sunday evening, with the official bracket to be revealed on Monday along with the official matchups, dates/times, and locations for the opening round. After the Screaming Eagles made their first-ever appearance in the WNIT in 2024, reaching the second round, USI Women’s Basketball followed in the 2025 edition by reaching the Super 16. Last year, USI had a first-round bye before defeating Campbell University in the second round, 60-51. USI came up short in the Super 16 round against the eventual WNIT champion University at Buffalo, 76-64. The Eagles have hosted all four WNIT games they have competed in over the last two seasons. USI Women’s Basketball (21-10, 14-6 OVC) is coming off a third straight OVC Tournament berth while also reaching at least the semifinal round for the third season in a row. Plus, USI has won 20 or more games for three straight seasons. At the OVC Tournament, the Screaming Eagles were the No. 3 seed and defeated Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the quarterfinals, 72-44, before coming up just short in the semifinals against Lindenwood University, 82-79. The 2026 WNIT is the 28th edition of the Postseason WNIT, powered by Triple Crown Sports and first held in 1998. The tournament field is made up of automatic qualifiers and at-large programs, featuring a mix of Power 4 conferences and ascending mid-major programs to reflect the depth and competitive excellence found throughout women’s college basketball. Games are played at campus locations, helping create unique and electric environments for the women’s game that have led to remarkable record-breaking crowds over the years. In USI’s two WNIT home games last year, USI totaled nearly 4,000 fans in attendance and averaged over 1,900 between the two contests. Here’s the 2026 schedule for each round: Round 1 – March 19-21, 2026 Round 2 – March 22-24, 2026 Super 16 – March 25-27, 2026 Great 8 – March 28-30, 2026 Fab 4 – March 31-April 1, 2026 Championship – Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 3 p.m. ET Fans can follow the 2026 Postseason WNIT through X/Twitter (@WomensNIT), Facebook (womensNIT), and the hashtag #WNIT. ==================================================================== VALPO SOFTBALL BEACONS BREAK OUT BATS IN SWEEP OF IU INDY The Valpo softball team closed out its week-long spring break trip with an outpouring at the plate in a doubleheader sweep at IU Indy in Indianapolis Sunday afternoon. The Beacons won a slugfest in very windy conditions in the opener, 11-7, before Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) put together an impressive performance in the circle in the nightcap, keeping the Jaguars off the board in an 8-0 run-rule win. Madison Vrastil (Oak Forest, Ill./Andrew) scored four runs in the opener, matching the program record for runs scored in a game for the second time this weekend. How It Happened – Game One After Valpo’s first two batters of the game were retired, the next five in a row all reached as the Beacons plated three runs in the top of the first — Mack Gallagher (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East [MSU Moorhead]) had an RBI single and Kaia Garnica (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) delivered a two-run single. IU Indy put a run on the board in its first at-bat with a solo homer, but Valpo responded in the second with a two-run blast from Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) to take a 5-1 lead. The Jaguars connected on another solo homer in their half of the second and then plated four in the third, including a three-run homer, to pull ahead, 6-5. Vrastil single-handedly tied the game in the top of the fourth, coming up with a one-out double before stealing third and scoring on an error by the IU Indy catcher. The Beacons loaded the bases with two outs on a single and two walks later in the inning in an effort to take the lead before a flyout kept the score tied at 6-6. The tie score lasted one pitch into the bottom of the fourth, as the Jaguars’ leadoff hitter went deep to regain the lead, 7-6. After the first scoreless frame both ways in the fifth inning, Valpo jumped back in front in the sixth. The Beacons tied the game in unlikely fashion, as Vrastil connected on a homer, and then took the lead in more normal fashion, as Gallagher delivered a two-run homer to make it 9-7 Beacons. Valpo added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh thanks to a two-run double by Kayden Krug (Milford, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame). How It Happened – Game Two The top of the first saw Valpo score for the second time in its first turn at bat on Sunday, with Garnica connecting on a two-out RBI single. This time, however, the lead would stand throughout the entire game. Gallagher pushed it to a four-run edge with a three-run homer in the top of the third. The Beacons plated four in the top of the fifth to push the game into run-rule territory. Lopez connected on an RBI double as the third batter of the inning as Valpo’s first five batters of the frame reached base. Later, Sophia Leitzen (Orfordville, Wis./Brodhead) registered an RBI single and Vrastil with a run-scoring grounder to push the lead to 7-0. With Krug on first and Leitzen on third with two out, Krug got herself into a rundown long enough to allow Leitzen to scamper home with the all-important eighth run in regards to the run rule. The bottom of the fifth brought a bit of drama however, as after Lopez struck out the first two batters of the inning, the next two walked to bring the potential game-extending runner into scoring position. The Jaguars’ next batter recorded a single to left, but Krug was able to register an outfield assist to end the game, firing home to nab the IU Indy runner attempting to score. Inside the Games Valpo’s 11 runs scored in the opener tied a season high and was the team’s fourth double-figure run output of the season. The Beacons connected on three home runs in the opener, the program’s most in a single game since going deep three times in the nightcap at Indiana State March 17, 2018. Meanwhile, the nightcap brought the third shutout by the Beacons this season and their second run-rule win. Given the windy conditions Sunday, it was an impressive shutout in the circle from Lopez, who gave up just four hits and struck out five in the blanking of the Jaguars. Lopez also earned the win in the opener with four innings of relief work, allowing just one hit and one run as she picked up two wins in one day for the second time in the Valpo uniform, improving to 4-3 on the season. For the second time in three days, Vrastil tied the program record for runs in a single game as she crossed the plate four times in the opener. She is just the third player in program history to score four runs in a game twice, joining Sara Strickland and Sam Stewart. Vrastil also racked up a career-best four hits in the opener, including two doubles and her first collegiate home run. The four hits are tied for second-most in a single game in program history. Her nine total bases are tied for third in a single game in program history as well. Not to mention, the sophomore stole two bases in the opener to give her 19 on the season — ninth-most in a single season in program history — and 36 for her career — seventh in program history. Vrastil added a double in the nightcap as well for her fourth extra-base hit of the day. Gallagher became the first Valpo player to connect for a homer in two games in the same day since Lauren Kehlenbrink at Bradley April 3, 2022, as she hit a two-run homer in the opener and a three-run homer in the nightcap. Gallagher’s round-tripper in the opener was the highlight of a performance which saw her reach base four times, going 2-for-2 with a walk, a hit by pitch, two runs scored and three RBIs. Her three-run homer in the nightcap not only gave her four three-RBI games this season, it extended her season-opening on-base streak to 26 straight games — second-longest by a Valpo player in the last two decades. Rodas finished with three hits, two runs scored and two RBIs in the opener and picked up her third career homer run. She followed by drawing three walks in the nightcap, tied for third-most in a game in program history. Krug had her fifth multi-hit game of the season in the opener, tallying two hits and driving in a pair of runs before scoring two runs in the nightcap. Garnica had a two-RBI game in the opener and followed with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate in the nightcap, her second three-hit game of the year. Marissa Jackson (Willis, Mich./Huron) tallied her seventh multi-hit game this season with a two-hit effort in the nightcap. Next Up Valpo (12-14) is slated to host its home opener against DePaul Wednesday afternoon. Game updates will be delivered via Valpo Athletics social media. ====================================================================== UINDY SOFTBALL QUINCY, Ill. – Winners of its last 12 games, the No. 11 UIndy softball team kept rolling with a doubleheader sweep at Quincy Sunday, taking down the host Hawks by scores of 18-8 and 9-0. Shortstop Cara Cooper drove in seven runs in game 1, while starting pitcher Caitlin Bunte tossed a one-hitter in game 2. UP NEXT UIndy’s much-anticipated home opener finally comes next weekend. The Greyhounds host William Jewell on Saturday, March 21 at noon for Alumni Day. GAME 1 | UIndy 18, QU 8 For the second time in as many days, sophomore Brooklyn Willis started the day with a leadoff home run. That set the tone for the Greyhound offense, which proceeded to notch its sixth double-digit scoring game of the season. Monster rallies came in the second and the fifth innings, with the Hounds racking up six and seven runs, respectively. In the second, Cara Cooper had a two-run single while Josie Jager and Christina Stankus each drew a bases-loaded walk. Later, four more walks and three doubles highlighted the fifth. Cooper was a terror at the plate, driving in multiple runs on each of her three hits. She finished with a career-high seven RBIs, one off the program’s single-game record. Sophomore Sydney Oliver flashed some rare pop, hitting her career home run with a solo shot in the third. She finished 2-for-4 with a team-high four runs scored. Willis amassed four walks and three runs, Shelby Cook had two doubles and two ribbies, and Maya Rodriguez scored twice and drove in two. In the circle, sophomore ace Cheyenne Eads (12-0) tossed 6 1/3 innings to get the win and keep her perfect pitching record intact. She allowed three runs and struck out 11. GAME 2 | UIndy 9, QU 0 Freshman starter Caitlin Bunte (10-1) continued her stellar rookie campaign. She spun a one-hitter on her way to the shutout win, with a second-inning walk and a fourth-inning single representing the Hawks’ only base runners of the game. Bunte’s season ERA now stands at a tidy 1.05. Offensive, the bats remained hot, racking up 12 hits and nine runs. Both Willis and Jager homered in the fourth inning, with the former going yard for the fourth time on the weekend. Five Greyhounds recorded two hits and Jager led the team with four RBIs. ====================================================================== 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 1907 Ty Cobb quarrels with Bungy Cummings, a black groundskeeper who made a friendly gesture toward the Tiger outfielder. When the groundskeeper’s wife intercedes, the ‘Georgia Peach’ reportedly chokes her, and according to Charlie Schmidt, he allegedly stopped the assault by knocking out his teammate. 1908 Pirates legend Honus Wagner comes out of retirement when Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss makes him the highest-paid player in the league, offering him $10,000 yearly. The 34-year-old shortstop earns his salary, leading the National League in batting average, hits, total bases, doubles, triples, RBIs, and stolen bases, completing the campaign that historian Bill James cites as the greatest single-season for any player in baseball history. 1932 Due to the economic depression gripping the nation, Babe Ruth signs a deal for $75,000, a five-thousand-dollar pay cut from last season, and 25 percent of the Yankees’ exhibition games’ net receipts. Legend has it that the Bambino signed a blank contract, with the amount filled in later by Yankee owner Jacob Ruppert. 1953 At the owners’ meeting in Tampa (FL), the American League rejects Bill Veeck’s request to shift the Browns to Baltimore, voting 6-2 to keep the failing franchise in St. Louis. The lack of support from his fellow owners, except for Charles Comiskey of the White Sox, is an effort to oust the independent-minded maverick from the Junior Circuit. 1961 The state of New York approves a bond issue for constructing a 55,000-seat stadium on the 1939-40 World’s Fair site in the Flushing Meadows area of Queens. The Mets’ future home will be named Shea Stadium, in honor of attorney William Shea, who brought the National League back to New York. 1994 Former major league starter Eric Show dies of an accidental drug overdose in his room at the Rancho L’Abri, a private rehab center in San Diego (CA). The 37-year-old right-hander finished his 11-year career with Oakland, pitching the first ten years with the Padres, where he established the franchise record for most career wins (100) when he left the team as a free agent in 1990. 2001 Slammin’ Sammy Sosa signs a four-year contract extension keeping the Cub right fielder in the Windy City until 2006. The prolific home run hitter has averaged nearly 60 home runs (179 HRs) over the last three seasons. 2006 At Angel Stadium in front of 38284 enthusiastic fans, Oliver Perez and seven relievers combined to lead Mexico to a stunning defeat of Roger Clemens and the United States 21 The second-round loss eliminates Team USA from the inaugural World Baseball Classic. 2006 Roy Halladay (12-4, 2.41) agrees to a $40 million, three-year contract extension, which could keep the ‘Doc’ with the Blue Jays through the 2010 season. The 2003 American League Cy Young winner’s season was cut short after getting drilled by a line drive hit by Ranger Kevin Mench, resulting in a broken leg. 2006 At 5:00 p.m. EST, during the Daily News Live! show, the Mets begin transmitting Sportsnet New York, which will later become better known as SNY. The club modeled the team-owned network after similar regional cable television ventures by the Red Sox (NESN, 1984) and the Yankees (YES, 2002). 2010 Former L.A. outfielder Willie Davis, the team leader in hits, extra-base hits, and runs, is fondly remembered by his family and friends, including many teammates, at a memorial service in Dodger Stadium. The 69-year-old, known as 3 Dog, was found dead in his home last week. 2010 The Red Sox announce that 19-year-old prospect Ryan Westmoreland has undergone a five-hour surgical procedure to remove a cavernous malformation in his brain. After leaving spring training earlier this month, the highly touted minor league outfielder received the diagnosis at Mass General. 2015 The Grapefruit League game between the Phillies and Twins marks the first time two current Hall of Fame players have managed against each other. Minnesota manager Paul Molitor, enshrined in 2004, opposes Philadelphia skipper Ryne Sandberg, an inductee a season later. 2019 The Fix, a two-act opera inspired by the Black Sox scandal, premieres at the Ordway Theater in St. Paul (MN). The dramatic work composed by Joel Puckett portrays the century-old events surrounding the White Sox fix of the 1919 World Series against the Reds. ========================================================= TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY On March 16 in … 1872 – First FA Cup Final: Wanderers-Royal Engineers 1-0 in Bolton, England. 1876 – Nelly Saunders and Rose Harland fight first female boxing match (New York). 1877 – Charles Bannerman completes first Test cricket century, 165 versus England. 1900 – American League meets in Chicago, Illinois; Ban Johnson announces that American League teams will be in Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Detroit, Cleveland, and Buffalo. 1907 – First first-class cricket game between New South Wales and Western Australia. 1911 – Stanley Cup: Ottawa Senators beat Port Arthur (Ontario) 13-4. 1939 – NHL record ten goals in one period-New York Rangers (7), New York Americans (3) and a record 26 points in the third period. 1952 – Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins LPGA Titleholders Golf Championship. 1953 – American League rejects Bill Veeck’s request to move Saint Louis Browns to Baltimore. 1956 – US Ladies Figure Skating Championship won by Tenley Albright. 1956 – US Men’s Figure Skating Championship won by Hayes A Jenkins. 1957 – Patty Berg wins LPGA Titleholders Golf Championship. 1957 – Toronto Maple Leafs tie NHL record 37 points beating New York Rangers 14-1. 1958 – Beverly Hanson wins LPGA Titleholders Golf Championship. 1964 – Paul Hornung and Alex Karras reinstated in NFL after one year suspension. 1969 – Boston Bruins scores a NHL record eight goals in one period. 1980 – Joanne Carner wins LPGA Honda Civic Golf Classic. 1983 – Smallest crowd (1814) at Cleveland Coliseum for NBA game, Cleveland Caviliers versus New Jersey Nets. 1985 – Denny McLain, pitcher, convicted of racketeering, sentenced to 25 years. 1986 – Chris Johnson wins LPGA GNA/Glendale Federal Golf Classic. 1991 – New Jersey Nets’ coach Bill Fitch is fourth coach to win 800 NBA games. 1994 – In Portland, Oregon, Tonya Harding pleads guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution for trying to cover-up an attack on figure skating rival Nancy Kerrigan. She is fined $100,000 and banned from the sport. 1995 – Manhattan upsets fourth seeded Oklahoma 77-67. 1995 – World best 7th wicket stand 461 by Bhupinder Singh Junior and P Dharmani. 1996 – Mike Tyson knocks out Frank Bruno in second round. 1997 – Donna Andrews wins LPGA Welch’s/Circle K Championship. 1997 – New Jersey Devils’ Dave Andreychuk is 26th NHL player to score 500 goals. 1997 – Stuart Appleby wins Honda Golf Classic. 2006 – In the second round of the World Baseball Classic, Mexico defeats Team USA 2-1, eliminating the US from the tournament. 2006 – Roy Halladay agrees to a $40 million, three-year contract extension with the Toronto Blue Jays. 2008 – In the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, Tiger Woods sinks a 24-foot putt on the 18th hole to win with 10 under par. 2009 – Jo Jackson wins the 400m freestyle in a new world record time of 4:00.66 at the British Swimming Championships. 2019 – At the Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida, USA, the 67th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring race is held, round 2 of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship series. Finishing 1st in DPi class and 1st overall is the Whelen Engineering Racing #31 Cadillac DPi driven by Felipe Nasr, Eric Curran, and Pipo Derani. Finishing 1st in GT Le Mans class and 10th overall is the Porsche GT Team #911 Porsche 911 RSR driven by Nick Tandy, Fred Makowiecki, and Patrick Pilet. Finishing 1st in LMP2 class and 17th overall is the Performance Tech Motorsports #38 ORECA LMP2 driven by Kyle Masson, Andrew Evans, and Cameron Cassels. Finishing 1st in GT Daytona class and 19th overall is the GEAR Racing #11 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 driven by Mirko Bortolotti, Rik Breukers, and Rolf Ineichen. 2022 – At Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, USA, NHL regular season game: Tampa Bay Lightning beats Seattle Kraken by score 4-1. 2022 – At Scotiabank Saddledrome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, NHL regular season game: Calgary Flames beats New Jersey Devils by score 6-3. 2022 – At Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA, NHL regular season game: Minnesota Wild beats Boston Bruins by score 4-2. 2022 – At Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, NHL regular season game: Columbus Blue Jackets beats Ottawa Senators by score 4-1. Births of sports figures on March 16 1910 – Birth of Aladar Gerevich in Hungary; sabres (Olympics-gold-1948). 1910 – Birth of Iftikhar Ali Khan; cricket player (Nawab of Pataudi, England and India). 1920 – Birth of Percy Mansell; cricket player (leg-spin all-rounder in 13 Tests for South Africa). 1923 – Birth of George Bean; cricket player (92 runs in 3 Tests for England versus Australia). 1936 – Birth of Thelma Hopkins in England; high jumper (Olympics-silver-1956). 1954 – Birth of Dav Whatmore; cricket player (Colombo Australia bat 1979, Sri Lanka coach 1995-). 1954 – Birth of Hollis Stacy in Savannah, Georgia, USA; LPGA golfer (US Open 1977, 1978). 1956 – Birth of Ozzie Newsome; NFL tight end (Cleveland Browns). 1957 – Birth of Pearl Moore; Women’s Professional Basketball League guard (New York Stars). 1961 – Birth of Mel Gray; NFL wide receiver/kick returner (Houston/Tennessee Oilers). 1962 – Birth of Marcel Brands; soccer player (RKC). 1965 – Birth of Cindy Brown; American basketball player (Olympics-gold-1988). 1966 – Birth of Brad Bergen in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada; hockey defenseman (Team Germany 1998). 1966 – Birth of Catarina Pollini; WNBA forward (Houston Comets). 1966 – Birth of David Nascimento; soccer player (Roda JC/FC Utrecht). 1966 – Birth of Rodney Peete; NFL quarterback (Philadelphia Eagles). 1967 – Birth of Dan Owens; NFL defensive tackle (Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions). 1967 – Birth of John Mangum; NFL safety (Chicago Bears). 1968 – Birth of Jason van Blerk; soccer player (Go Ahead Eagles). 1969 – Birth of Ottis Gibson; cricket player (Barbados fast bowler, West Indies 1995). 1969 – Birth of Pat Harlow; NFL tackle (New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders). 1969 – Birth of Steve Israel; NFL cornerback (San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots). 1970 – Birth of Kelli James in Medford, New Jersey, USA; field hockey forward (Olympics-1996). 1971 – Birth of Brett Carolan; NFL tight end (San Francisco 49ers). 1971 – Birth of Eric Ravotti; NFL linebacker (Pittsburgh Steelers). 1973 – Birth of Bert Zuurman; soccer player (SC Heerenveen). 1974 – Birth of Heath Streak; cricket player (Zimbabwean pace bowler 1993-). 1974 – Birth of Lamont Burns; guard (New York Jets). 1984 – Birth of Hosea Gear, New Zealand Rugby Union player. 1989 – Birth of Theo Walcott, English football player. Deaths of sports figures on March 16 1958 – Leon J Cadore, pitched the 26-inning game, dies at age 65. 1971 – Leslie “Chuck” Fleetwood-Smith, cricket player (Victoria and Australia), dies. 1972 – Harold “Pie” Traynor, hall of fame third baseman (Pittsburgh Pirates), dies at age 72. ========================================================== TV SPORTS TODAY Monday, March 16 BASEBALL 8 p.m. FS1 — 2026 World Baseball Classic: Venezuela vs. Italy, Semifinal, Miami COLLEGE GYMNASTICS (MEN’S) 6 p.m. BTN — Michigan at Ohio St. COLLEGE LACROSSE (MEN’S) 6 p.m. ESPNU — Navy at Johns Hopkins COLLEGE SOFTBALL 7 p.m. SECN — Texas A&M at LSU MLB BASEBALL 1 p.m. MLBN — Spring Training: Toronto vs. Miami, Jupiter, Fla. 4 p.m. MLBN — Spring Training: Milwaukee vs. L.A. Dodgers, Phoenix 8 p.m. MLBN — Spring Training: Chicago White Sox vs. Texas, Surprise, Ariz. NBA BASKETBALL 7 p.m. NBCSN — Orlando at Atlanta PEACOCK — Orlando at Atlanta 9:30 p.m. NBCSN — L.A. Lakers at Houston PEACOCK — L.A. Lakers at Houston 10 p.m. PEACOCK — San Antonio at L.A. Clippers NHL HOCKEY 7 p.m. ESPN — Boston at New Jersey 9:30 p.m. ESPN — Pittsburgh at Colorado SOCCER (MEN’S) 4 p.m. USA — English Premier League: Wolverhampton Wanderers at Brentford FC About The Author troyderengowski61@gmail.com See author's posts Post navigation THE INDIANA SRN “SCOREBOARD” MARCH 15 THE INDIANA SRN “SCOREBOARD” MARCH 16
