Nova Southeastern reaches first Division II semifinal
For the first time in program history, the Nova Southeastern University men’s basketball team has advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals.
Will Yoakum scored a career-high 34 points to lead the Sharks past Missouri-St. Louis 82-75 on Tuesday night in Evansville, Indiana, site of the final eight. The Sharks, who are 34-0 and ranked No. 1 in the nation, will play sixth-ranked Cal State Bernadino (31-3) on Thursday night at 7.
The other semifinal will match fifth-ranked West Liberty (32-3) against No. 21 Black Hills State (29-5). West Liberty was previously coached by NSU’s Jim Crutchfield. Black
Hills eliminated NSU in the Elite Eight last year.
USML took a 41-38 lead in the second half with two dunks by Drew Cisse. Then Yoakum took charge for NSU, driving for a layup while being fouled and converting the threepoint play. Later, Jake Maranville hit a threepointer for the Sharks to tie the score at 51-51. The Sharks finally seized momentum as both Maranville and Yoakum hit three-pointers, giving NSU a 71-63 advantage with three-minutes remaining.
Dallas Graziani hit a clutch jumper with less
than a minute remaining and the Sharks sealed the win from the free throw line.
ETC.
— WALTER VILLA
Death: Basketball Hall ● of Famer and legendary New York Knicks center/ power forward Willis Reed died Tuesday. He was 80.
Per multiple reports, he suffered from congestive heart problems over the past year.
Reed is best known for the iconic moment in which he emerged from the tunnel at Madison Square Garden to take the court for Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals against
the Los Angeles Lakers. His availability for that game was unknown — reportedly even to his teammates — given he was nursing a right thigh injury.
Reed provided an emotional lift for the Knicks in their 113-99 victory over the Lakers. He finished with just four points and three rebounds in that game.
“Willis Reed was the ultimate team player and consummate leader,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “My earliest and fondest memories of NBA basketball are of watching Willis, who embodied the winning spirit that defined the
New York Knicks’ championship teams in the early 1970s. He played the game with remarkable passion and determination, and his inspiring comeback in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals remains one of the most iconic moments in all of sports.
“We send our deepest condolences to Willis’ wife, Gale, his family and his many friends and fans.”
A league MVP in 1970, Reed was named the NBA Finals MVP that season as well as in 1973. The Knicks won the NBA title in both seasons — the last two in the franchise’s history.
A seven-time All-Star, Reed averaged 18.7 points and 12.9 rebounds in 650 career games, all with
New York. He was the first member of the Knicks to have his number retired.
“The Knicks organization is deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved Captain, Willis Reed,” the Knicks said in a statement. “As we mourn, we will always strive to uphold the standards he left behind — the unmatched leadership, sacrifice and work ethic that personified him as a champion among champions. His is a legacy that will live forever.”
Reed was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.
NBA: Los Angeles
●
Clippers forward Paul George suffered a right knee sprain that will sideline him for at least 2-3 weeks, the team said, a diagnosis that puts his availability for the upcoming playoffs into question. The 32-year-old George, who earned his eighth All-Star selection this season, sustained the injury during the fourth quarter of the Clippers’ 101-100 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. With the score tied at 91 with less than five minutes to play, George rose to grab a defensive rebound in the paint. As George descended with the ball, Thunder guard Lu Dort gave chase, and Dort’s right leg contacted George’s right leg before he landed. … Jayson Tatum scored 36 points, Jaylen Brown added 27 and the Boston Celtics beat host Sacramento 132-109 to finish 4-2 on a cross-country trek. Derrick White added 20 points for the Celtics, and Marcus Smart scored 17. … Memphis Grizzlies star point guard
Ja Morant returned to action and came off the bench during Wednesday’s home game against the Houston Rockets. Morant missed the previous nine games, eight due to a suspension for detrimental conduct. This will mark his first time as a reserve during his four NBA seasons.
MLB: Houston Astros
● second baseman Jose Altuve underwent surgery on his right thumb in Houston on Wednesday.
Altuve sustained the fracture to his right thumb when he was struck in the hand by a pitch in the fifth inning of Venezuela’s 9-7 quarterfinal loss to Team USA on Saturday in Miami.
Astros general manager
Dana Brown previously said there is no timetable for his return, however USA Today reported Altuve is expected to be sidelined 8-to-10 weeks with the injury.