Tuesday, December 31, 2013

News On The Horizon 12/31/2013


Birthday boy LeBron James caps road trip with win as Miami Heat tops Denver Nuggets--Miami Herald
DENVER -- Coach Erik Spoelstra joked before the game how most of his players were struggling with bumps and bruises.

Then Dwyane Wade and Norris Cole left the Heat’s game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center with injuries. Badly shorthanded, the Heat still defeated the Nuggets 97-94 in the final game of a difficult four-game road trip out west. The Heat (24-7) went 3-1 in a series of games that featured one injury after another.

It culminated in the span of a few minutes in the third quarter when Wade and then Cole were both knocked out of the game by hard fouls. Nuggets guard Jordan Hamilton left his feet after a vintage pump fake by Wade, and the two players collided in midair with 29 seconds off the clock in the period.

Wade crumpled to the ground and left the game with 10:55 remaining in the period. He was taken to the locker room for evaluation and was later ruled out with back spasms. But before the Heat’s trainers made a decision on Wade, Cole was being helped into the locker room as well.

Cole, who subbed in for Wade, was fouled by Ty Lawson on a fast break under the basket and, immediately, it was clear Cole had sustained a significant injury. Spoelstra jogged out on the court to check on his injured backup point guard before trainers helped Cole to the locker room with a towel over his face.

Cole said after the game that his mouthpiece saved his front teeth.

“Just a little cut on my lip and that’s it,” Cole said. “My teeth didn’t come out. They would have come out if I didn’t have my trays in, but they held them together. They’re a little loose, but they’re good…I put a lot of money into these things.”

Wade said his back “just locked up.”

“I don’t know,” Wade said. “I’m day-to-day at this point.”

The injuries to Wade and Cole were the latest setbacks on a road trip beset by injuries. Wade, Cole, LeBron James, Ray Allen and Chris Andersen all missed time, but despite all the hobbled players the Heat still managed to win a pair of close games and defeat the Lakers on a Christmas Day.

“We knew that guys had to step up with Norris and D-Wade being out and [Andersen] already being out,” James said. “We wanted to go 4-0 on the trip, but at the end of the day we played some really good basketball on the whole. We can definitely use this going into the New Year.”
James returns to lead Heat past Nuggets 97-94--Miami Herald
James scored 26 points and the Miami Heat beat the skidding Denver Nuggets 97-94 Monday night despite losing Dwyane Wade and Norris Cole during the game.
...
While the Heat got James back, they were without Wade and Cole for much of the game.

Cole left midway through the third quarter after taking a fall at the end of a driving layup attempt and hitting his face on the floor.

He had come into the game in place of Wade, who didn't return after halftime because of back spasms.

Cole went up for a shot against Lawson, who was called for a foul, and fell awkwardly face first to the floor. Cole remained down for several minutes while being tended to by trainers before being helped to his feet and assisted off the floor to the locker room for treatment.

"He went back and after a few minutes he was fine," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. "He is just going to have a fat lip tomorrow."

Joel Anthony came in for Cole and made both free throws.
Winderman's view: Heat 97, Nuggets 94--South Florida Sun Sentinel
-- He was then replaced by Norris Cole, who took a hard foul from Nuggets guard Ty Lawson and fell face front to the court along the baseline.

-- With Cole forced to the locker room and unable to shoot his free throws he was, by rule, lost for the game.

-- Nuggets coach Brian Shaw then selected Joel Anthony from the Heat's bench to shoot Cole's two free throws.
...
-- Ironically, the Heat were called for delay of game because Anthony had helped Cole to the locker room and was not immediately available to shoot the free throws.
Beasley's late three helps lift shorthanded Heat over Nuggets--South Florida Sun Sentinel
Cleveland State (8-6) Battles Green Bay (9-3)--Vikings Ball

Coleman Named Horizon League Player Of The Week--csuvikings.com

Detroit 73, Bethune-Cookman 53: Titans have cruise in final tune-up before Horizon schedule--The Detroit Free Press
Detroit Easily Defeats Bethune-Cookman 73-53--Titans Update
Titans Conclude Non-Conference with 73-53 Topping of Bethune-Cookman--detroittitans.com

Second Half Rally Comes Up Short--detroittitans.com

OU OPENS HORIZON LEAGUE PLAY AT WRIGHT STATE--ougrizzlies.com

On Campus: UIC’s Humes ready for swan song at Valparaiso--The Post-Tribune
UIC’s Pat Birt Wins Horizon League Freshman of the Week--The Catch and Shoot
Lightning doesn’t strike twice--Whoosh!Net
Pat Birt Named Horizon League Freshman of the Week--uicflames.com

UIC Women's Basketball Participates in Adopt-A-Family Program--uicflames.com
Flames Look for Ten Straight Wins Tuesday at Northern Illinois--uicflames.com

NOTEBOOK: Sykes Concludes Memorable Teenage Years--GreenBayPhoenix.com

Women's basketball: Missed chances, UW sink Phoenix--Green Bay Press Gazette
Wisconsin Slips Past Green Bay in Overtime, 65-61--GreenBayPhoenix.com

Milwaukee (10-4) Takes On Youngstown State (9-6)--UWM Update

Crusader Women Look to Rebound as South Dakota Makes First Visit to Valpo--valpoathletics.com

YSU faces road test to start league play--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
Shawn Amiker Named Horizon League Men's Basketball Player of the Week--ysusports.com

Kelsea Newman Named Horizon League Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Week--ysusports.com

YSU's Amiker, UIC's Birt Tabbed for Men's Basketball Honors--Horizon League Network
Detroit Closes 2013 by Rolling Past Bethune-Cookman--Horizon League Network

Coleman Named Player of the Week, Newman Earns Freshman Honors--Horizon League Network

Monday, December 30, 2013

News On The Horizon 12/30/2013


Anton Grady turns corner for Cleveland State; Akron, Kent State seek answers - The week ahead in local colleges--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Women's Basketball Falls At Miami University--csuvikings.com

Oakland (5-10) and Wright State (8-7) Face Off--Grizz Gang
OAKLAND FALLS AT MINNESOTA 79-43--ougrizzlies.com

Oakland women fall at Minnesota--The Oakland Press

Illinois College Basketball Rankings for the Week of December 30--The Catch and Shoot
6. UIC (5-9), 22 points. Last week: 6

UIC was lights out in the first half against Illinois, but the Flames could not keep it up for 40 minutes as they lost by 14 points. They will look to start anew with the Horizon League season beginning at Valparaiso on Thursday.
UIC (5-9) Squares Off with Valparaiso (8-7)--Flame Fanatic

Men's basketball: UWGB trounces St. Francis with league opener on deck--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay Trounces St. Francis (IL) 91-41--Phoenix Fever
Green Bay (9-3) Faces Cleveland State (8-6)--Phoenix Fever

Women's basketball: UWGB relishes 'rivalry game' at Wisconsin--Green Bay Press Gazette

Milwaukee (10-4) Battles Youngstown State (9-6)--UWM Update

Bulldogs pull away in second half to beat Panthers--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Second-Half Scoring Run Sends Drake Past Milwaukee--uwmpanthers.com

Men’s basketball: Turnovers doom Valpo once again--The Post-Tribune
Slow starts again haunts Valparaiso men's hoops--The NWI Times
Valparaiso Falls to East Tennessee State 73-62--Valpo Daily
Valparaiso (8-7) Takes On UIC (5-9)--Valpo Daily
Crusaders Can’t Complete Comeback Sunday at ETSU--valpoathletics.com

Women’s basketball: Valpo falls at home to Western Michigan--The Post-Tribune
Jessica Carr returns to floor in Valpo women's hoops loss--The NWI Times
Broncos Run Past Crusaders in Carr's Debut--valpoathletics.com

Wright State holds off Bowling Green--Dayton Daily News
Wright State defense leads the way over BGSU 46-43--RaiderRoundball.com
Wright State Gets by Bowling Green 46-43--Rowdy Review
Wright State (8-7) vs. Oakland (5-10)--Rowdy Review
Men’s Basketball: WSU’s defense prevents Falcons from completing rally--The Guardian
Men Hang On for 46-43 Win Over Bowling Green--wsuraiders.com

Women Pull Away at Chicago State--wsuraiders.com

Coyote ugly: YSU drubs South Dakota--Youngstown Vindicator
Youngstown State Beats Up South Dakota 85-59--Guin Report
Youngstown State (9-6) vs. Milwaukee (10-4)--Guin Report
First-Half Flurry Carries Penguins to Win Over South Dakota--ysusports.com

Hirsch’s foul trouble dooms YSU women--Youngstown Vindicator
Penguins Can’t Keep Pace in 91-75 Loss at Akron--ysusports.com

Youngstown State and Wright State Enter New Year with Wins--Horizon League Network

UIC and Wright State Win on Final Weekend of 2013--Horizon League Network

Sunday, December 29, 2013

News On The Horizon 12/29/2013


Kent State Falls at Home Again to Cleveland State--Hustle Belt
Miami Heat’s LeBron James sits out vs. Portland with groin injury--Miami Herald
The loss snapped a 10-game winning streak for the Heat against the Kings (9-19). James finished with 33 points, going 12 of 23 from the field, and Chris Bosh had 18 points. Chalmers and Norris Cole combined for 24 points.
Chris Bosh hits game winner, drops 37 points in Miami Heat’s win over Portland--Miami Herald
On Bosh’s game-winning play, Dwyane Wade received the side-out-of-bounds pass from Norris Cole and looped around the perimeter of the paint, essentially pulling LaMarcus Aldridge away from Bosh and leaving him open behind the three-point line. Of course, everyone is open from 28 feet. The official game box will dispute this, but Bosh was a good four feet behind the three-point arc when he received a behind-the-back pass from Wade with less than five seconds on the clock. Bosh gathered the ball and heaved a shot that arced so high and so long that Moda Center went still and quiet while the ball was in flight.

Swish.

And then more silence.
...
Mario Chalmers had nine points, nine rebounds and nine assists and Norris Cole scored 11 points off the bench. Rashard Lewis had 10 points and Ray Allen had nine.
Groin injury keeps LeBron James out against Blazers--South Florida Sun Sentinel
James' absence leaves backup point guard Norris Cole as the lone Heat player to appear in all 30 games this season. James had been the lone Heat player to start each of the first 29 games.
Bosh goes for jugular, LeBron-less Heat stun Blazers--South Florida Sun Sentinel
Through it all, the Heat moved within 94-93 on a Norris Cole layup midway through the fourth quarter, with Wade watching from the bench while taking a quick breather. A Bosh 3-pointer then tied it 96-96 with 4:05 to play.

Aldridge then converted a jumper for a 98-96 Portland lead, with a goaltending call on a Cole drive allowing the Heat to tie it 98-98 with three minutes to play.
Cleveland State knocks out Kent State at the line for a 78-70 victory--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State rolls; Akron and Kent State reel - local college basketball this morning--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State Picks Up Win over Kent State 78-70--Vikings Ball
Vikings Win at Kent State, 78-70, With Five in Double Figures--csuvikings.com

Ducks aim to enter Pac-12 play undefeated--The Register-Guard
Joseph Young (19.8), Mike Moser (14.6) and Jason Calliste (12.5) lead the Ducks in scoring with sophomore guard Damyean Dotson fourth at 11 points per game.

Oakland University's "Coach K" Keeps Winning, for 30 Years and Counting--Bleacher Report

FINAL: Illinois Fighting Illini 74, UIC Flames 60--The Champaign Room
Illinois Holds Off UIC’s Upset Bid at United Center--The Catch and Shoot
Photos: Illinois 74, UIC 60--The Chicago Tribune
Illinois rallies in 2nd half to drub UIC 74-60--The Chicago Tribune
Flames lose momentum versus Illini--UIC News
UIC Stumbles with Loss to Illinois 74-60--Flame Fanatic
UIC Falls to rv/rv Illinois After Leading Majority of the Game, 74-60--uicflames.com

Women’s basketball scores win No. 9--UIC News
Flames Defeat Denver, 80-68, For Ninth Straight Win--uicflames.com

Men's basketball: UWGB trounces St. Francis with league opener on deck--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay Trounces St. Francis (IL) 91-41--Phoenix Fever
Green Bay (9-3) and Cleveland State (8-6) Square Off--Phoenix Fever
Green Bay Uses 30-2 Spurt En Route to 91-41 Rout--GreenBayPhoenix.com

Milwaukee Closes Out 2013 With Road Game At Drake--uwmpanthers.com

Men’s basketball: Valparaiso (8-6) at Eastern Tennessee State (6-6)--The Post-Tribune
Peters and the Crusaders look to bounce back against ETSU--The NWI Times
Men's Basketball Looks to End 2013 On High Note Sunday--valpoathletics.com

Women’s basketball: W. Michigan (3-7) at Valparaiso (2-8)--The Post-Tribune

Wright State faces Bowling Green in last non-conference game--Dayton Daily News
Preview: Bowling Green at Wright State--Dayton Daily News

Men's Basketball Hosts South Dakota in Final Game of 2013--ysusports.com

CSU, Green Bay Claim Saturday Wins--Horizon League Network

Saturday, December 28, 2013

News On The Horizon 12/28/2013


Undermanned Miami Heat falls to Sacramento Kings in overtime, snapping Western Conference win streak--Miami Herald
The loss snapped a 10-game winning streak for the Heat against the Kings (9-19) and Miami entered the game with 19-straight victories against teams in the Western Conference. James finished with 33 points, going 12 of 23 from the field, and Chris Bosh had 18 points. Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole combined for 24 points.
Winderman's view: Kings 108, Heat 103 (OT)--South Florida Sun Sentinel
-- With the Heat limited, the featured scorers at the start of the fourth quarter were Michael Beasley and Norris Cole.
Kent State hosts Cleveland State tonight with Akron on the road - Local college basketball today--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Updated: Cleveland State (7-6) Takes On Kent State (9-2)--Vikings Ball

Detroit (6-8) and Bethune-Cookman (2-13) Square Off--Titans Update

Ring In The New Year With Detroit As Titans Host Madonna In Monday Doubleheader--detroittitans.com

Oakland 87, Defiance 66: Golden Grizzlies roll in final tune-up before Horizon League play--The Detroit Free Press
Oakland vs. Defiance College pregame notes--Grizzlies Den
Oakland Smashes Defiance 87-66--Grizz Gang
BADER'S 34 CARRIES OAKLAND PAST DEFIANCE, 87-66--ougrizzlies.com

OAKLAND CLOSES 2013 AT MINNESOTA ON SUNDAY--ougrizzlies.com

Illinois vs. UIC Preview: I Hate This Game--The Champaign Room
Preview: UIC vs. Illinois - Can Tracy Abrams Stay Hot?--BT Powerhouse
Illinois Game Day: UIC leads 44-34 at half--The Chicago Tribune

Women’s basketball aims for win No. 9--UIC News

Men's basketball: Fulton starting to find rhythm off bench for UWGB--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay (8-3) Squares Off with St. Francis (IL)--Phoenix Fever
Green Bay Looks for Fourth-Straight Win on Saturday--GreenBayPhoenix.com

Valparaiso (8-6) Squares Off with East Tennessee State (6-6)--Valpo Daily

Crusader Women Back in Action Sunday vs. Western Michigan--valpoathletics.com

Wright State (7-7) vs. Bowling Green (6-5)--Rowdy Review

Youngstown State (8-6) vs. South Dakota (3-8)--Guin Report
Dollar General Admission Tickets Available for Sunday's Game vs. USD--ysusports.com
Men's Basketball Hosts South Dakota in Final Game of 2013--ysusports.com

Oakland Cruises in Return from Break, 87-66--Horizon League Network

Thursday, December 26, 2013

News On The Horizon 12/26/2013


Heat beats Lakers 101-95 for 6th straight victory--Miami Herald
Young's basket tied the game for the last time at 83-all. The Heat promptly took off on a 13-5 run. Wade, Norris Cole and James scored all of the Heat's points.

Illinois College Basketball Rankings for the Week of December 23--College Sports Madness
6. UIC (5-7), 31 points. Last week: 7

UIC lost a heartbreaker to UC Riverside on Friday, 57-56. The Flames continue their four-game road trip at Colorado State tonight.
Colorado State Downs UIC Behind Behind Jon Octeus’ 18 Points--The Catch and Shoot
Wisconsin Transfer George Marshall Plans To Visit UIC--The Catch and Shoot

Mid-Major Rankings for the Week of December 23--The Catch and Shoot
9. Green Bay (8-3). Last week: 12

Green Bay has won three games in a row since being upset by Eastern Michigan. In the Phoenix’s win against Fairfield on Saturday, senior Alec Brown went for 40 points on 12-of-17 shooting.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

News On The Horizon 12/24/2013


Miami Heat orchestrates late escape plan to overcome Atlanta Hawks at home--Miami Herald
The Heat originally went with with Allen, Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole, Chris Andersen and James for the final Atlanta possession, a smaller lineup that could defend from distance.
James' 38 help Heat survive without Wade against Hawks--South Florida Sun Sentinel
For James, it was the ultimate team effort, with Allen offering 19 points in place of Wade, and Beasley, Roger Mason Jr., Chris Andersen and Norris Cole all also having their moments.

"It definitely wasn't just me," he said. "The contributions come from Bease coming off the layoff he had, Mase and of course Bird, those guys and Norris, those guys always step up."
Anton Grady leads Cleveland State past La Roche--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland State 89, LaRoche 42: Gary Waters passes Kevin Mackey to move into second place on all-time CSU victory list--Cleveland State Hoops
Cleveland State Punishes La Roche 89-42--Vikings Ball
Vikings Defeat LaRoche, 89-42--csuvikings.com

Detroit Mercy beats Indiana Tech by 43--The Detroit Free Press

College basketball roundup--The Detroit Free Press
Players of the Week: Oakland University senior guard Travis Bader is the Horizon League co-player of the week. Freshman of the week went to OU guard Kahlil Felder.

Rams too tough for Flames--Whoosh!Net
UIC Slips with Loss to Colorado State 74-61--Flame Fanatic
UIC (5-8) and Illinois (10-2) Square Off--Flame Fanatic
Flames Drop Road Contest at Colorado State, 74-61--uicflames.com

Tavares Sledge story: The Polar Express--Through the Arch

Game Recap: St. John's 96, Youngstown State 87--Big East Coast Bias