Late Night Snacks: North Florida, USC Upstate advance to Atlantic Sun title game

By Raphielle JohnsonMar 5, 2015, 10:23 PM EST

GAME OF THE NIGHT: Bucknell 90, Holy Cross 83 (OT)

Holy Cross was one stop away from upsetting the top seed in the Patriot League tournament, but a Chris Hass three-point play with 25 seconds remaining forced overtime. From there it was all Bucknell, as Hass finished with a team-high 32 points and Steven Kaspar came off the bench to play some solid defense down the stretch on Holy Cross’ Malcolm Miller. Miller finished the game with 34 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four blocks for the Crusaders, but he missed a three that would have won the game in the final seconds of regulation.

IMPORTANT OUTCOMES

1. USC Upstate 63, FGCU 62

For the second straight year FGCU fell short of its goal of returning to the NCAA tournament, this time falling to the Spartans in the A-Sun semis. Bernard Thompson was fouled on a three-point attempt by Ty Greene with one second remaining and the Eagles trailing by three, but he missed the third attempt after making the first two. Greene, the A-Sun Player of the Year, led the Spartans with 20 points while Thompson scored a game-high 25. Next up for USC Upstate is top-seed North Florida Sunday afternoon, as the Ospreys beat Lipscomb 71-57. And regardless of who wins the title game, the Atlantic Sun’s NCAA tournament representative will be making its first appearance in the Big Dance.

2. No. 6 Wisconsin 76, Minnesota 63

Frank Kaminsky accounted for 25 points, seven assists and six rebounds as the Badgers wrapped up the outright Big Ten regular season title in Minneapolis. Sam Dekker added 20 points and five rebounds, and Nigel Hayes contributed 12 points and nine boards for Wisconsin. Freshman guard Nate Mason paced the Golden Gophers with 15 points, but it’s incredibly tough to beat Wisconsin when they shot 50 percent from the field and 10-for-20 from beyond the arc.

3. Davidson 82, VCU 55

Davidson took another step towards earning an NCAA tournament berth few deemed possible before the season began, as they blew out the Rams to move into a tie for first place in the Atlantic 10 with Dayton. Bob McKillop’s team led from start to finish in this one, shooting 50 percent from the field and 11-for-26 from beyond the arc. Tyler Kalinoski led four starters in double figures with 22 points and reserve forward Jordan Barham tallied 13 points and 14 rebounds off the bench. VCU, which has struggled offensively in recent games, shot 39.6 percent from the field and 1-for-15 from three.

STARRED

1. Delaware State’s Kendall Gray and Amere May

In the Hornets’ 104-92 win over Coppin State, Gray and May stole the show. While May scored 40 points on 13-for-24 shooting from the field, Gray (the nation’s top rebounder) accounted for 33 points and 30 rebounds.

2. Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky

25 points on 10-for-15 shooting from the field, seven assists and six rebounds in a win at Minnesota.

3. North Florida’s Dallas Moore

Scored 36 points in the Ospreys’ 71-57 win over Lipscomb in an Atlantic Sun semifinal.

STRUGGLED

1. UConn’s Rodney Purvis

One game after scoring a career-high 28 points, Purvis missed all seven of his field goal attempts and scored three-points in a home loss to Memphis.

2. ULM’s Tylor Ongwae

Ongwae made just two of his fourteen field goal attempts, scoring eight points and committing seven turnovers in the Warhawks’ 58-50 loss to Georgia State.

3. VCU’s Treveon Graham

Graham continues to struggle offensively, and in the Rams’ loss at Davidson he score just four points on 2-for-7 shooting from the field.

THE REST OF THE TOP 25

No. 18 Arkansas erased an 11-point second half deficit to win 78-74 at South Carolina. Bobby Portis led the Hogs with 24 points and eight rebounds, and Anthlon Bell scored 17 off the bench.
No. 5 Arizona rolled to a 99-60 win over California, as Brandon Ashley scored 21 points and five other players scored in double figures for the Wildcats. Arizona wraps up the outright Pac-12 title with the win.
Delon Wright tallied 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists and No. 13 Utah came back to win 67-59 at Washington State. Jordan Loveridge and Brandon Taylor both made some key shots in the second half as the Runnin’ Utes erased an eight-point deficit.

CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS

Atlantic Sun: USC Upstate and North Florida advanced, setting up Sunday’s title game at UNF.
MAAC: Siena advances with a 71-57 win over Niagara, setting up a quarterfinal matchup with top-seed Iona Saturday afternoon. And with the game being played on Siena’s home court, things could get interesting. Saint Peter’s (over Fairfield) and Marist (over Quinnipiac) were the other winners. Saturday’s quarterfinal matchups: Siena vs. Iona, Canisius vs. Monmouth, Saint Peter’s vs. Rider and Marist vs. Manhattan.
Missouri Valley: Deion Lavender led three starters in double figures with 12 points as Southern Illinois beat Missouri State 55-48. In the nightcap Bradley beat Drake 52-50 in overtime, with two Tramique Sutherland free throws being the difference. Friday’s quarterfinal matchups: Southern Illinois vs. Wichita State, Evansville vs. Illinois State, Bradley vs. Northern Iowa and Loyola (IL) vs. Indiana State.
Ohio Valley: Morehead State won its second straight, moving to the semifinals with a 76-65 win over UT Martin. In the nightcap Belmont blew out Eastern Illinois. Friday’s semifinal matchups: Morehead State vs. Murray State and Belmont vs. Eastern Kentucky.
Patriot League: American was the lone road team to win Thursday night, as they won 68-62 at Lehigh. The other winners: top-seed Bucknell (in overtime over Holy Cross), two-seed Colgate (over Navy) and four-seed Lafayette (over Boston University). Sunday’s semifinal matchups: Lafayette at Bucknell and American at Colgate.

NOTABLES

Temple took care of business on the road, winning 70-56 at East Carolina. The Owls, who beat Kansas in December, host UConn this weekend.
North Carolina Central completed a 16-0 run through the MEAC with a win over North Carolina A&T. LeVelle Moton’s record in regular season conference games over the last three seasons: 46-2.
Old Dominion hasn’t been discussed all that often when it comes to bubble teams, but they’re 23-6 after taking care of Marshall. Among their non-conference wins: LSU and VCU, with the latter having Briante Weber and being ranked 14th in the country at the time.
Shaq Goodwin’s basket with 8.1 seconds remaining gave Memphis a one-point win at UConn. The win gives Memphis a sweep of the season series after they lost to the Huskies three times a season ago.
Stephen F. Austin clinched a share of the Southland regular season title with a 92-66 win over Northwestern State, and they can win it outright with a victory over Sam Houston State on Saturday.
Sacramento State lost 69-65 at Southern Utah, and they drop into a three-way tie atop the Big Sky with Eastern Washington and Montana as a result. The top seed in the conference tournament receives the added benefit of hosting the event.
Texas Southern, which picked up its seventh straight win Thursday night, clinched the outright SWAC title. Mike Davis’ team has an automatic bid to the NIT if they don’t win the conference tournament.
UC Davis wrapped up the outright Big West title with a two-point win over UC Riverside. Jim Les’ team finished last in the conference last season.
Stanford’s already slim at-large chances took another hit, as the Cardinal lost at Arizona State. Even with a win at No. 5 Arizona on Saturday, Stanford will likely need to win the Pac-12 tournament if they’re to return to the NCAA tournament.

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.