Thursday’s Snacks: Ohio State rolls past No. 16 Maryland

By Raphielle JohnsonJan 29, 2015, 9:38 PM EST

GAME OF THE NIGHT: Colorado 98, USC 94 (3OT)

They need three extra sessions to decide things at the Galen Center, with Colorado’s Askia Booker putting forth the best scoring night of his career in his hometown. Booker scored 43 points on the night, shooting 13-for-23 from the field. No other Buffalo scored more than 12 points. As for USC, Katin Reinhardt scored a career-high 35 and Nikola Jovanovic added 30 and nine rebounds in a losing effort.

IMPORTANT OUTCOMES

1. Ohio State 80, No. 16 Maryland 56: In a matchup of two of the nation’s best freshmen D’Angelo Russell got the better of Melo Trimble as the Buckeyes rolled in Columbus. Russell accounted for 18 points, 14 rebounds and six assists to help lead the way for Ohio State, with Marc Loving (19 points) and Jae’Sean Tate (16 points, eight rebounds) also playing well. As for Trimble, he missed all eight of his field goal attempts and finished with three points and one assist. But it was a tough night for all of the Terrapins, as Mark Turgeon’s team shot just 31.1% from the field.

2. UCLA 69, No. 11 Utah 59: The Utes picked up their second conference loss of the season, falling to the Bruins at Pauley Pavilion. Norman Powell scored 23 points and Bryce Alford added 14 and seven assists for UCLA, which was blown out in Salt Lake City earlier this month. Utah was a minus-8 in turnover margin and also shot 7-for-22 from three.

3. Cincinnati 70, UConn 58: With Tulsa currently sitting atop the American Athletic Conference standings with an 8-0 record, Thursday’s meeting between the Bearcats and Huskies (with both having three league losses) was an important one. Larry Davis’ Bearcats picked up the win, with Tory Caupain (before he was ejected) and Gary Clark Jr. leading the way. Caupain scored 20 points and Clark Jr. added 12 and ten rebounds for the Bearcats, who are now in sole possession of third place. Ryan Boatright scored 20 of his 22 in the second half for UConn, but it wasn’t enough as they shot 32.8% from the field.

4. No. 1 Kentucky 69, Missouri 53: Twenty up, twenty down for the top-ranked Wildcats as they took care of the Tigers in Columbia. Andrew Harrison scored 15 and twin brother Aaron added 11 to lead the way offensively for Kentucky, while Missouri’s Wes Clark led all scorers with 19. There wasn’t much flow to this game, thanks in large part to a total of 54 personal fouls and 57 free throw attempts, but Kentucky controlled the action for most of the night.

STARRED

1. Kris Dunn, Providence: Dunn posted the first triple-double for a Providence Friar since 2006 (Geoff McDermott), finishing with 27 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists in the Friars’ 83-72 win over DePaul.

2. Askia Booker, Colorado: Booker scored 43 points in the Buffaloes’ 98-94 triple overtime win at USC.

3. Belmont: Rick Byrd’s Bruins shot 17-for-24 from three in their 103-82 win over Jacksonville State. Reserve Nick Smith made five threes, and Evan Bradds (the lone starter who didn’t make a three) went for 19 points and 18 rebounds.

4. Stephen Maxwell, CSUN: Maxwell shot 8-for-13 from the field and 12-for-16 from the foul line in the Matadors’ 84-73 loss to Hawaii, finishing with 28 points and 17 rebounds.

STRUGGLED

1. Melo Trimble, Maryland: Trimble accounted for just three points (0-for-8 FG) and one assist in Maryland’s loss at Ohio State.

2. Justin Burrell, Holy Cross: Averaging 10.4 points per game, Burrell missed all six of his shot attempts and went scoreless in the Crusaders’ 64-54 loss at Loyola (MD).

THE REST OF THE TOP 25

No. 3 Gonzaga took care of business, beating Portland 64-46 in Spokane. Big men Przemek Karnowski and Domantas Sabonis combined for 23 points and 22 rebounds, and the Bulldogs limited Portland to 29.5% shooting from the field.

NOTABLES

In a game originally scheduled for Tuesday, Michigan State took care of Rutgers 71-51 with Bryn Forbes’ 18 points leading the way offensively.
North Florida remains in sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Sun thanks to their 86-67 win over Kennesaw State.
In a matchup of two of the best teams in Conference USA, Louisiana Tech handed Western Kentucky its first conference loss in Ruston, 69-56. Those two teams are now 7-1, with UAB a game behind them at 6-2.
High Point has now won eight of its last nine games after taking care of Liberty, 72-53. Devante Wallace scored 19 for the winners, making five of seven from beyond the arc.
Wofford moved to 8-1 in SoCon play with their 58-42 win over UNCG. And with Mercer holding off Chattanooga in overtime, the Terriers are alone in first place.
UMass held off Dayton, 66-64 in Amherst. With the Flyers losing their second conference game, VCU has a tw0-game lead in the loss column in the Atlantic 10.
Rodney Pryor went off for Robert Morris in their 87-65 win over Fairleigh Dickinson, making seven three-pointers and finishing with 28 points and 11 rebounds. RMU is tied for first in the NEC with St. Francis-Brooklyn.
Georgia Southern remains in sole possession of first in the Sun Belt thanks to their 84-46 win over Appalachian State. Jelani Hewitt led the way with 17 points.
Mike Caffey 25 of his career-high 34 points in the second half and overtime of Long Beach State’s 91-85 overtime win at Cal-State Fullerton, with David Samuels chipping in with 22 points and 13 boards. With the win the 49ers tied atop the Big West standings with UC Davis and preseason favorite UC Irvine.

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.