Kennedy exits Ole Miss early

Saturday night figured to be just Andy Kennedy’s final game against Mississippi State.

It turns out it was Kennedy’s final game at Ole Miss period. Kennedy announced he would step down at the end of the season on Monday. A day after the Rebels lost 79-62 to in-state rival Mississippi State, Kennedy decided to step down immediately.

“It has become readily apparent to me that my continued presence as the head coach is proving detrimental to these players finishing this season in a fashion that is representative of the standard for this program that has been clearly established and maintained for over a decade,” Kennedy wrote in a statement. “Therefore, I believe that it is in everyone’s best interest that I exit in my role as head coach effective immediately.”

The Rebels (11-16, 4-10 SEC) has lost seven consecutive games and nine of their past 10. The defeats have become worse with each passing game.

It will be Kennedy’s first losing campaign in his 12-season tenure at Ole Miss. He finishes his career with 245 victories, the most in program history.

NBA

Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard J.J. Redick said he was “tongue tied” in a video where he appeared to use a racial slur while wishing Chinese fans a happy new year.

The video shows numerous NBA players, but Redick, a former player for the Milwaukee Bucks, seems to slipup when his part is featured.

“Clearly I was tongue tied as the word I purportedly said is not in my vocabulary,” he wrote on Twitter.

NHL

The NHL condemned the “unacceptable and reprehensible behavior” of several fans in Chicago who were ejected for racist comments directed at Washington Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly during Saturday night’s game.

Smith-Pelly, who is black, was in the penalty box at the United Center when a group of four fans chanted, “basketball, basketball, basketball” at him, according to The Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan. Smith-Pelly became visibly upset and picked up his stick to confront them.

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Amani Wilburn’s layup with 1:12 left gave Marquette the lead and Natisha Hiedeman’s two free throws with three seconds left secured Marquette’s 71-68 victory over Georgetown.

Hiedeman and Allazia Blockton each scored 15 points for Marquette (19-8, 13-3 Big East).

Iowa 88, Wisconsin 61: The Badgers fell behind, 45-23, at halftime and could not recover.

Cayla McMorris led the Badgers (9-19, 2-13 Big Ten) with 14 points. Iowa’s Megan Gustafson paced all scorers with 25 points.

COLLEGE BASEBALL

The UW-Milwaukee baseball team dropped a pair of games at the Snowbird Baseball Classic, falling to Canisius and Ohio State on Sunday in Port Charlotte, Fla.

The Panthers (1-3) lost, 3-2, to the Golden Griffins (2-2) in the opener. In the second game, they fell to the Buckeyes (3-1), 13-3.

Trevor Schwecke hit his first collegiate home run — a two-run shot — to give the Panthers an early lead against Canisius.

SOFTBALL

Wisconsin scored three runs in the second inning, fueling a 6-0 shutout victory over North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Brooke Wyderski homered and drove in a pair off runs for the Badgers (4-4).

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

Charlotte McGuire scored four goals while Riley Hill and Grace Gabriel added hat tricks as Marquette (2-2) defeated Kennesaw State, 15-10.