WICHITA, Kan.
https://www.neworleansfootballshop.com/85-Jersey . -- Wichita State will carry its pursuit of perfection into the Missouri Valley tournament. Cleanthony Early scored 19 points, Ron Baker added 13 and the second-ranked Shockers rolled to a 68-45 victory over Missouri State on Saturday, easily putting away a team that had given them fits this season. Relying on the same stubborn defence that carried it on last years improbable March run, Wichita State (31-0, 18-0) became the first team since Saint Josephs in 2004 to enter its league tournament unbeaten. The Shockers will have a first-round bye in St. Louis next week. Missouri State (19-11, 9-9) had them in trouble when they met Jan. 11 in Springfield, Mo., but the Bears blew a 19-point second-half lead and ultimately lost 72-69 in overtime. They never came close to making it a game Saturday, trailing by double-digits in the opening minutes. The Shockers are off to the best start since UNLV began 34-0 and lost in the 1991 national title game. Theyre also off to the best start by a Missouri Valley team since Indiana State, led by Larry Bird, won its first 33 games and fell to Michigan State in the 1979 title game. The Shockers last loss came in the Final Four, too -- to eventual champ Louisville last year. Putting this one away early gave a sellout crowd that had braved the threat of freezing rain ample opportunity to celebrate. Waving signs that applauded their unblemished record, fans packed inside Koch Arena serenaded a senior class led by Early that managed to elevate the program from a solid mid-major into a national power in the midst of a memorable season. Along with fellow seniors Chadrack Lufile, Kadeem Coleby and Nick Wiggins, Early gave coach Gregg Marshall a bear hug when he checked out for the final time in the closing minutes. Jarmar Gulley scored 15 points to lead Missouri State, which was dominated on the boards, in transition and just about everywhere else in losing its 10th straight against ranked teams. Unlike the first meeting, when it was Wichita State that stumbled early, Missouri State missed 18 of its first 22 shots, suffocated under token pressure and never got into a rhythm. When the Bears werent blowing layups, they were turning the ball over, leading to some easy baskets at the other end. Wichita State shot 57 per cent from the field in the first half, a big reason why it had built a 20-point lead just before the break. The trio of Early, Baker and Fred VanVleet picked up where it left off out of the locker room, Early scoring quickly and Baker hitting a long 3-pointer to keep Missouri State at bay. In fact, the only interesting moment of the second half came when Lufile was fouled with about 10 minutes to go. After missing his first seven free throw attempts, the big senior forward -- with the crowd rising to its feet -- finally got one to rattle home. Of course, it hardly mattered that Lufiles foul shooting wasnt perfect. Everything else about Wichita State is these days.
https://www.neworleansfootballshop.com/23-Jersey . After making his All-Star debut in Fridays Rising Stars Challenge, the Raptors sophomore centre wont be sticking around for the duration of the weekends festivities, thinking about the big picture instead.
https://www.neworleansfootballshop.com/48-Jersey .She struggled with a hacking cough, she was sick, and she twice celebrated too early, but she held her composure in a 6-3, 7-6 (5) victory on Saturday.On her third match point, she let her racket go before hearing a let call to what she thought was an ace.MILWAUKEE -- Nearly a month into the season, Matt Garza got his first win for the Milwaukee Brewers against his former team, the Chicago Cubs. Garza, who signed a four-year, $50 million deal with the Milwaukee in the off-season, retired the Cubs in order in four of the first six innings. He gave up two runs and four hits while striking out seven and walking one over seven innings as Milwaukee defeated Chicago 5-2 Friday night. "Im just happy that I was in control of my mechanics all game," Garza said. "I just wanted to go and establish my game plan and not get too over-amped." Garza insisted facing the Cubs, for whom he pitched in 2011 and 2012, as well as part of last season, didnt generate any added emotion for him. "Its another game. Ive been on five different teams. If I had to get up for everybody, Id be tired by mid-season," Garza said. Brewers manager Ron Roenicke liked what he saw from Garza. "He really went after guys." Roenicke said. "His command was good. He had really good stuff today." Lyle Overbay homered and Carlos Gomez and Ryan Braun each had three hits and a stolen base for the Brewers, who have a Major League best 17-6 record. Garza (1-2) said hes enjoying finally playing on a winning team. "When you go through years of constantly hoping, you kind of run out of hope," he said. "Were going out with the attitude that we are going to win. It brings up a lot better emotion. Its confidence. That what were playing with a lot of right now." Garzas ability to keep pitches down in the zone made it tough on Chicagos hitters, Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "He doesnt rattle very easily. He goes right after hitters. You have to tip your cap to him," Renteria said. Francisco Rodriguez pitched a scoreless inning to pick up his 10th save in 10 chances. Cubs starter Carlos Villanueva (1-5) gave upp five runs and 11 hits in five innings.
https://www.neworleansfootballshop.com/9-Jersey. The Brewers when Cubs left fielder Junior Lake appeared set to make a routine catch of Scooter Gennetts line drive but the ball sailed past Lakes glove and rolled to the fence, allowing Gomez to score. Brauns single drove in Gennett, who scored as Lake airmailed a throw to the plate, giving the Brewers a 2-0 lead. The Cubs cut the lead to 2-1 in the third on Emilio Bonifacios run-scoring single. The Brewers extended their lead to two runs again in the bottom half of the inning. With Gomez on first, Braun hit a ground ball deep in the hole at short. Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro made a strong throw and umpires initially ruled Braun out at first. After a delay of two minutes and 20 seconds, Braun was ruled safe. Jonathan Lucroy followed with a single to score Gomez. Overbay led off the fourth with a homer, giving the Brewers a 4-1 lead. Aramis Ramirezs sacrifice fly in the fifth extended the lead to 5-1. Ryan Sweeneys ground-out plated a run for the Cubs in the seventh. Notes: The Brewers unveiled a statue of Hall of Fame radio announcer Bob Uecker, situated in the last row of the upper deck behind home plate, that pays tribute to the classic Miller Lite ad campaign in which he starred. .. Rodriguez tied Robb Nen for 18th place with his 314th career save. ... Brewers manager Ron Roenicke applauded Major League Baseballs attempt to eliminate the confusion that has surrounded the "transfer" rule this season by returning to the previous interpretation for when a fielder loses possession of a ball while trying to shift it from his glove to his hand. "I like what they did. I think it makes sense and it is the right way," Roenicke said. ... Chicago reliever Neil Ramirez made his Major League debut. ... The Brewers Marco Estrada (1-1) will face the Cubs Travis Wood (1-2) on Saturday. ' ' '