Late Night Snacks: SoCon favorite Wofford defeats NC State

By Raphielle JohnsonDec 14, 2014, 9:05 PM EST

GAME OF THE DAY: Wofford 55, NC State 54

With Trevor Lacey’s (18 points) last-second shot being waved off, Mike Young’s Terriers moved to 8-2 on the season. Justin Gordon’s layup with 1.9 seconds remaining proved to be the difference, and Karl Cochran led the way offensively for Wofford with 14 points. Wofford was the preseason pick to win the SoCon, and should they get to the NCAA tournament a win like this could potentially help from a seeding standpoint.

IMPORTANT OUTCOMES

1. Tennessee 67, No. 15 Butler 55

What Donnie Tyndall’s team lacks in depth they make up for with attributes such as heart and effort, and that was on display in their comeback win over the Bulldogs in Knoxville. Josh Richardson scored a game-high 20 points and Kevin Punter added 18 for Tennessee, which also limited Butler to 33.3% shooting from the field.

2. Syracuse 71, Louisiana Tech 69

Trevor Cooney scored 25 points and Tyler Roberson added 14 points and 15 rebounds as the Orange defeated the Bulldogs at the Carrier Dome. Rakeem Christmas’ jump hook with 2.8 seconds remaining was the difference, as was Syracuse grabbing 20 offensive rebounds. However turnovers remain a problem for Syracuse, which committed 19 with freshman Kaleb Joseph accounting for eight of those. Down the stretch it was Cooney who was asked to initiate things offensively, so that’s something to keep an eye on moving forward. Alex Hamilton led the way offensively for the Bulldogs with 20 points.

3. No. 17 Washington 81, Eastern Washington 77

The Huskies (8-0) trailed by as many as 14 points before coming back to beat the Eagles in Seattle. Robert Upshaw contributed 21 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks off the bench, and he was one of four Huskies to finish the game in double figures. The one concern for Upshaw moving forward: foul shooting, as he shot 5-for-14, but given what he gives Washington in the paint that’s something Lorenzo Romar and his staff likely have no problem working through. Tyler Harvey scored 21 to lead the way for Eastern Washington, which drops to 8-2 on the season. Jim Hayford’s team will undoubtedly be a contender in the Big Sky, and given their ability on the offensive end of the floor the Eagles are a team to keep in mind when considering teams capable of springing an upset should they reach the NCAA tournament.

STARRED

1. Amida Brimah (UConn)

Brimah put forth the best performance of his career in the Huskies’ 106-85 win over Coppin State, as he scored 40 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Brimah made all 13 of his field goal attempts, surpassing Kirk King (10-for-10) for the best single-game performance in UConn history.

2. Derrick Marks (Boise State)

With Anthony Drmic (back) out for the third consecutive game Marks accounted for 30 points, three rebounds and three assists in the Broncos’ 79-60 win over Southern Utah.

3. Dorian Finney-Smith (Florida)

25 points (10-for-15 FG) and six rebounds in the Gators’ 79-34 win over Jacksonville.

STRUGGLED

1. Joe McDonald and Kethan Savage (George Washington)

The Colonials’ starting guards combined to score ten points on 2-for-12 shooting in their 64-51 loss at Penn State.

2. Bernard Thompson (FGCU)

Thompson scored 12 points but did so on 3-for-14 shooting in the Eagles’ 69-63 home loss to FIU.

3. Jacksonville

The Dolphins scored just 34 points, ten in the second half, in their 79-34 loss at Florida.

NOTABLES

Penn State is now 10-1 — yes, you read that correctly — as senior D.J. Newbill had 20 points in a 64-51 win over George Washington.
Kadeem Jack had a season-high 24 points to go along with nine rebounds at Rutgers topped Manhattan, 63-55 at Madison Square Garden.
Senior forward Brandon Mobley stepped up and scored 21 points to pace Seton Hall against St. Peter’s.
No. 7 Villanova moved to 3-0 in Big Five play with an 85-62 win over Temple. Josh Hart and Darrun Hilliard scored 20 points apiece for the Wildcats, who can wrap up their second straight Big Five title with a win over Penn January 17.
Boston College improved to 5-0 at home as Dimitri Batten had 18 points in an easy win over Binghamton.
No. 24 St. John’s moved to 8-1 on the season with a 74-53 win over Fordham at Madison Square Garden. Rysheed Jordan scored 24 points off the bench.
No. 4 Louisville didn’t play particularly well, but they still managed to beat UNCW 68-57.
Rod Hall scored 20 points and Damarcus Harrison added 19 as Clemson beat Auburn, 72-61. Trayvon Reed made his debut for Auburn but was ineffective, committing four fouls in eight minutes of action.
Two Juwan Staten free throws with seven seconds left preserved a 69-66 win over Marshall for No. 22 West Virginia. Staten scored 15 points and Jonathan Holton added 14 along with six rebounds.
A technical foul for dunking in pregame warmups didn’t derail No. 14 Iowa State, as the Cyclones beat Southern 88-78. All five starters reached double figures for the Cyclones, with Bryce Dejean-Jones and Georges Niang scoring 18 apiece.
Northwestern ended its three-game skid with a 101-49 win over Mississippi Valley State.
Nino Williams scored 20 points to lead Kansas State to a 73-53 win over Savannah State.
Denzel Valentine scored 19 points and Branden Dawson 15 as Michigan State took care of Oakland, 87-61.
Eric Reveno’s Portland Pilots moved to 7-2 with an 80-75 win at Sacramento State, with Thomas Van der Mars scoring 20 points. Mikh McKinney led the Hornets with 32 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and seven steals.

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Biden celebrates LSU women’s and UConn men’s basketball teams at separate White House events

Associated PressMay 26, 2023, 11:56 PM EDT

Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK

WASHINGTON – All of the past drama and sore feelings associated with Louisiana State’s invitation to the White House were seemingly forgotten or set aside Friday as President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed the championship women’s basketball team to the mansion with smiles, hugs and lavish praise all around.

The visit had once appeared in jeopardy after Jill Biden suggested that the losing Iowa team be invited, too. But none of that was mentioned as both Bidens heralded the players for their performance and the way they have helped advance women’s sports.

“Folks, we witnessed history,” the president said. “In this team, we saw hope, we saw pride and we saw purpose. It matters.”

The ceremony was halted for about 10 minutes after forward Sa’Myah Smith appeared to collapse as she and her teammates stood behind Biden. A wheelchair was brought in and coach Kim Mulkey assured the audience that Smith was fine.

LSU said in a statement that Smith felt overheated, nauseous and thought she might faint. She was evaluated by LSU and White House medical staff and was later able to rejoin the team. “She is feeling well, in good spirits, and will undergo further evaluation once back in Baton Rouge,” the LSU statement said.

Since the passage of Title IX in 1972, Biden said, more than half of all college students are women, and there are now 10 times more female athletes in college and high school. He said most sports stories are still about men, and that that needs to change.

Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in federally funded education programs and activities.

“Folks, we need to support women sports, not just during the championship run but during the entire year,” President Biden said.

After the Tigers beat Iowa for the NCAA title in April in a game the first lady attended, she caused an uproar by suggesting that the Hawkeyes also come to the White House.

LSU star Angel Reese called the idea “A JOKE” and said she would prefer to visit with former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, instead. The LSU team largely is Black, while Iowa’s top player, Caitlin Clark, is white, as are most of her teammates.

Nothing came of Jill Biden’s idea and the White House only invited the Tigers. Reese ultimately said she would not skip the White House visit. She and co-captain Emily Ward presented team jerseys bearing the number “46” to Biden and the first lady. Hugs were exchanged.

Jill Biden also lavished praise on the team, saying the players showed “what it means to be a champion.”

“In this room, I see the absolute best of the best,” she said, adding that watching them play was “pure magic.”

“Every basket was pure joy and I kept thinking about how far women’s sports have come,” the first lady added, noting that she grew up before Title IX was passed. “We’ve made so much progress and we still have so much more work to do.”

The president added that “the way in which women’s sports has come along is just incredible. It’s really neat to see, since I’ve got four granddaughters.”

After Smith was helped to a wheelchair, Mulkey told the audience the player was OK.

“As you can see, we leave our mark where we go,” Mulkey joked. “Sa’Myah is fine. She’s kind of, right now, embarrassed.”

A few members of Congress and Biden aides past and present with Louisiana roots dropped what they were doing to attend the East Room event, including White House budget director Shalanda Young. Young is in the thick of negotiations with House Republicans to reach a deal by the middle of next week to stave off what would be a globally calamitous U.S. financial default if the U.S. can no longer borrow the money it needs to pay its bills.

The president, who wore a necktie in the shade of LSU’s purple, said Young, who grew up in Baton Rouge, told him, “I’m leaving the talks to be here.” Rep. Garret Graves, one of the House GOP negotiators, also attended.

Biden closed sports Friday by changing to a blue tie and welcoming the UConn’s men’s championship team for its own celebration. The Huskies won their fifth national title by defeating San Diego State, 76-59, in April.

“Congratulations to the whole UConn nation,” he said.

Marquette’s Prosper says he will stay in draft rather than returning to school

Associated PressMay 26, 2023, 7:08 PM EDT

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

MILWAUKEE — Olivier-Maxence Prosper announced he is keeping his name under NBA draft consideration rather than returning to Marquette.

The 6-foot-8 forward announced his decision.

“Thank you Marquette nation, my coaches, my teammates and support staff for embracing me from day one,” Prosper said in an Instagram post. “My time at Marquette has been incredible. With that being said, I will remain in the 2023 NBA Draft. I’m excited for what comes next. On to the next chapter…”

Prosper had announced last month he was entering the draft. He still could have returned to school and maintained his college eligibility by withdrawing from the draft by May 31. Prosper’s announcement indicates he instead is going ahead with his plans to turn pro.

Prosper averaged 12.5 points and 4.7 rebounds last season while helping Marquette go 29-7 and win the Big East’s regular-season and tournament titles. Marquette’s season ended with a 69-60 loss to Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament’s round of 32.

He played two seasons at Marquette after transferring from Clemson, where he spent one season.

Kansas’ Kevin McCullar Jr. returning for last season of eligibility

Associated PressMay 25, 2023, 9:18 PM EDT

Jeffrey Becker/USA TODAY Sports

Kevin McCullar Jr. said that he will return to Kansas for his final year of eligibility, likely rounding out a roster that could make the Jayhawks the preseason No. 1 next season.

McCullar transferred from Texas Tech to Kansas for last season, when he started 33 of 34 games and averaged 10.7 points and 7.0 rebounds. He was also among the nation’s leaders in steals, and along with being selected to the Big 12’s all-defensive team, the 6-foot-6 forward was a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award.

“To be able to play in front of the best fans in the country; to play for the best coach in the nation, I truly believe we have the pieces to hang another banner in the Phog,” McCullar said in announcing his return.

Along with McCullar, the Jayhawks return starters Dajuan Harris Jr. and K.J. Adams from a team that went 28–8, won the Big 12 regular-season title and was a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where it lost to Arkansas in the second round.

Perhaps more importantly, the Jayhawks landed Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson, widely considered the best player in the portal, to anchor a lineup that was missing a true big man. They also grabbed former five-star prospect Arterio Morris, who left Texas, and Towson’s Nick Timberlake, who emerged last season as one of the best 3-point shooters in the country.

The Jayhawks also have an elite recruiting class arriving that is headlined by five-star recruit Elmarko Jackson.

McCullar declared for the draft but, after getting feedback from scouts, decided to return. He was a redshirt senior last season, but he has another year of eligibility because part of his career was played during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is a big day for Kansas basketball,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said. “Kevin is not only a terrific player but a terrific teammate. He fit in so well in year one and we’re excited about what he’ll do with our program from a leadership standpoint.”

Clemson leading scorer Hall withdraws from NBA draft, returns to Tigers

Associated PressMay 25, 2023, 9:15 PM EDT

Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports

CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson leading scorer PJ Hall is returning to college after withdrawing from the NBA draft on Thursday.

The 6-foot-10 forward took part in the NBA combine and posted his decision to put off the pros on social media.

Hall led the Tigers with 15.3 points per game this past season. He also led the Tigers with 37 blocks, along with 5.7 rebounds. Hall helped Clemson finish third in the Atlantic Coast Conference while posting a program-record 14 league wins.

Clemson coach Brad Brownell said Hall gained experience from going through the NBA’s combine that will help the team next season. “I’m counting on him and others to help lead a very talented group,” he said.

Hall was named to the all-ACC third team last season as the Tigers went 23-10.

George Washington adopts new name ‘Revolutionaries’ to replace ‘Colonials’

Associated PressMay 24, 2023, 7:12 PM EDT

Getty Images

WASHINGTON — George Washington University’s sports teams will now be known as the Revolutionaries, the school announced.

Revolutionaries replaces Colonials, which had been GW’s name since 1926. Officials made the decision last year to drop the old name after determining it no longer unified the community.

GW said 8,000 different names were suggested and 47,000 points of feedback made during the 12-month process. Revolutionaries won out over the other final choices of Ambassadors, Blue Fog and Sentinels.

“I am very grateful for the active engagement of our community throughout the development of the new moniker,” president Mark S. Wrighton said. “This process was truly driven by our students, faculty, staff and alumni, and the result is a moniker that broadly reflects our community – and our distinguished and distinguishable GW spirit.”

George the mascot will stay and a new logo developed soon for the Revolutionaries name that takes effect for the 2023-24 school year. The university is part of the Atlantic 10 Conference.