Valparaiso's Caitlin Morrison, right takes a shot while being guarded by Northern Iowa's Cynthia Wolf on Friday at the Athletics-Recreation Center in Valparaiso.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Valpo's upset bid wiped out: Brice Calip scored her final three of a game-high 23 points at the free throw line with 0.8 seconds left to end Valparaiso's upset bid on Sunday. The Missouri State senior was fouled on a 3-point attempt by Maya Dunson, allowing Calip to give Missouri State a 74-73 win. The Bears outscored Valparaiso by nine in the fourth quarter to pull off the comeback win and stay unbeaten in Missouri Valley Conference play. Carie Weinman and Caitlin Morrison each scored 20 points for the Crusaders (6-8, 2-5). Morrison scored 14 of her 20 points in the fourth, hitting all five of her shots and four 3s in the frame. Missouri State (11-2, 7-0) received votes in the latest Associated Press poll.
AUTO RACING
Wayne Taylor Racing wins record-tying third consecutive Rolex: Wayne Taylor Racing won its record-tying third consecutive Rolex 24 at Daytona, using a new car and a new lineup to beat some of the best racers in the world. Filipe Albuquerque held off Kamui Kobayashi and Renger van der Zande — both part of WTR's winning teams the last two seasons and both seeking to become the first winners of three consecutive Rolex races — to give the overhauled Taylor team its fourth win in the last five years at Daytona International Speedway. Albuquerque was challenged over the final 25 minutes by van der Zande, driving a Cadillac for Chip Ganassi Racing, until a punctured tire sent van der Zande to the pits with seven minutes remaining. Kobayashi cycled into second but didn't have enough to catch Albuquerque, who closed out the first overall Rolex victory for Acura in the prestigious twice-round-the-clock endurance race. Wayne Taylor left General Motors after 28 years at the end of last season to become a factory Acura program. He brought his oldest son, Ricky, back to the team for the refresh and they celebrated the overall victory as youngest son, Jordan, earned a class victory Sunday with Corvette Racing.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Region natives help Drake reach 16-0: Darnell Brodie scored 20 points on 10-of-10 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds and Drake remained undefeated by beating Illinois State 78-76 in overtime on Sunday. The Bulldogs became the third Missouri Valley Conference team in the last 50 seasons to win their first 16 games. The other two legendary teams were Wichita State, which started 35-0 in 2013-14, and Larry Bird's 1978-79 Indiana State team that won 33 games before falling to Magic Johnson and Michigan State in the NCAA championship game. Up four heading into the final minute, Howard Fleming's putback with 16 seconds makes the score 78-76. Garrett Sturtz was fouled with six seconds left but he missed a free throw. Dedric Boyd missed the tying layup at the buzzer. Dusan Mahorcic made 1 of 2 free throws for Illinois State with five seconds left in regulation to force the overtime tied at 71 after the Bulldogs missed a shot and tipin as time ran out. Tremell Murphy (Griffith) had 13 points for Drake (16-0, 7-0 Missouri Valley Conference). D.J. Wilkins (Merrillville) added 11 points. Roman Penn (Bishop Noll) had 10 points and nine assists.
Valpo grad, Newman, leads Purdue: Purdue guard Brandon Newman’s first-half struggles landed him on the bench to start the second half Saturday. When coach Matt Painter gave the redshirt freshman a second chance, Newman delivered like a veteran. He scored 21 of his career-high 29 points in the second half, Trevion Williams added 17 points and 14 rebounds and Purdue overcame an early 14-point deficit to blow out No. 21 Minnesota 81-62.
Gallery: The Regions's All-NCAA Tournamen team
The Region's All-NCAA tournament team
Spike Albrecht (Crown Point), Michigan/Purdue
Spike Albrecht, Crown Point — As a freshman, Albrecht scored 17 points in first half of 2013 championship game for Michigan, and played for the team that reached the Elite Eight as a sophomore. He returned once more to the tournament with the Purdue Boilermakers — Albrecht transferred in the summer of 2016 — and reached the Sweet 16.
Tyrone Appleton (Roosevelt), Kansas
Tyrone Appleton, Roosevelt - Played for Kansas during the 2009 season, in which the Jayhawks reached the Sweet 16 before losing to Michigan State.
Orsten Artis (Froebel), Texas Western
Orsten Artis, Froebel — The 6-foot-1 guard was on the 1965–66 Texas Western team that became the first in history to win an NCAA championship with five African-American players in the starting lineup.
Tony Branch (Elston), Louisville
Tony Branch, M.C. Elston — Captained the 1979-80 Louisville team to the championship win over UCLA at Market Square Arena.
Brandon Brantley (Andrean), Purdue
Brandon Brantley, Andrean — The East Chicago native played on three NCAA tournament teams, including the 1996 Boilermakers that earned a No. 1 seed in the West Region. He was a sophomore on the 1994 Sweet 16 team that lost in the regional final to Duke.
Junior Bridgeman (E.C. Washington), Louisville
Junior Bridgeman, E.C. Washington — Played for Louisville, reaching the 1975 semifinals before falling to UCLA.
Delray Brooks (M.C. Rogers), Indiana/Providence
Delray Brooks, M.C. Rogers — (at right) Played for IU during the 1985 runner-up season, then transferred to Providence and reached the Final Four with Providence in 1987.
Carson Cunningham (Andrean), Purdue
Carson Cunningham, Andrean — Reached the Sweet 16 in 1999 and Elite Eight in 2000 with Purdue.
Dan Dakich (Andrean), Indiana
Dan Dakich, Andrean — (shown center) Played in three NCAA tournaments for Indiana, guarding Michael Jordan in an upset of then-No. 1 ranked North Carolina in the 1984 East Semifinal. He held Jordan to 13 points and Jordan fouled out of the game.
Jamaal Davis (Merrillville), Purdue/Cincinnati
Jamaal Davis, Merrillville — Played at Purdue in 1999, which reached the Sweet 16 before losing to Temple. He transferred to Cincinnati and reached the Sweet 16 in 2001.
Branden Dawson (Lew Wallace), Michigan State
Branden Dawson, Lew Wallace — Played at Michigan State for four seasons, during which the Spartans reached the Final Four in 2015, and the Sweet 16 the first two years. He played in 12 tournament games, going 9-3.
Bryce Drew (Valparaiso High), Valparaiso
Bryce Drew, Valparaiso High — Played for the 1998 Valparaiso University team, hitting "the shot" to defeat Ole Miss. The team reached the Sweet 16.
Al Fleming (Elston), Arizona
Al Fleming, Elston — Played in the 1976 tournament for Arizona, losing in the regional final to UCLA
Harry Flournoy (Emerson) Texas Western
Harry Flournoy, Emerson — The forward captained the 1965–66 Texas Western team that became the first in history to win an NCAA championship with five African-American players in the starting lineup. He is shown here at the team's induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Roger Harden (Valparaiso High), Kentucky
Roger Harden, Valparaiso High — He played four years at Kentucky, reaching the Final Four in 1984 and the Elite Eight in 1983. He set a single-season assists record as a senior in 1985-86 at 232.
Robbie Hummel (Valparaiso High), Purdue
Robbie Hummel, Valparaiso High — Played in four NCAA tournaments with Purdue over five years, including two Sweet 16 appearances. Scored 26 points in his final NCAA game in 3-point, Round of 32 loss to Kansas.
Kenny Lofton (E.C. Washington), Arizona
Kenny Lofton, E.C. Washington — Played for Arizona in the 1988 Final Four, one of only two players to play in a World Series and an NCAA Final Four.
Ron Loneski (Bishop Noll), Kansas
Ron Loneski, Bishop Noll — Wilt Chamberlain's roommate on the 1957 NCAA runner-up Kansas team.
Kenneth Lowe (West Side), Purdue
Kenneth Lowe, West Side — Played four years at Purdue, named the Big Ten defensive player of the year as a junior. He was a freshman as Purdue reached the Elite Eight in 2000.
Mitch McGary (Chesterton), Michigan
Mitch McGary, Chesterton — As a freshman, he averaged 14.3 points and 10.6 rebounds in the six-game tournament as Michigan reached the title game in 2013. He was named to the all-regional team.
Greg McQuay (West Side), Purdue
Greg McQuay, West Side — Was a junior college transfer that played for Purdue on the 1999 team that reached the Sweet 16 and the 2000 team that played in the Elite Eight.
E'Twaun Moore (E.C. Central), Purdue
E'Twaun Moore, E.C. Central — led Purdue to 4 NCAA tournament berths in four years, reached Sweet 16 in 2009 and 2010.
Matt Nover (Chesterton), Indiana
Matt Nover, Chesterton — Played in Final Four as a junior, Elite Eight as a senior and Sweet 16 as a sophomore at IU.
Glenn Robinson II (Roosevelt), Purdue
Glenn Robinson II, Roosevelt — As a junior, led Purdue to Big Ten conference title and Elite Eight appearance; led nation in scoring in 1993-94, winning the Wooden Award, Naismith Award and was the USBWA College Player of the Year.
Glenn Robinson III (Lake Central), Michigan
Glenn Robinson III, Lake Central — Played in a National Championship game for Michigan in 2013, and reached the Elite Eight as a sophomore.
Tim Stoddard (E.C. Washington), N.C. State
Tim Stoddard, E.C. Washington — won an NCAA championship with North Carolina State in 1974, and is one of only two players to play in a World Series and an NCAA Final Four.
Renaldo Thomas (Roosevelt), Houston
Renaldo Thomas, Roosevelt — Played for Phi Slama Jamma at Houston, reaching the Final Four in 1983.
Pete Trgovich (E.C. Washington), UCLA
Pete Trgovich (E.C. Washington) — won NCAA titles with UCLA in 1973 and 1975, and is the only player from Indiana to win a state championship as a player and a coach, and win an NCAA national title.
*Pete Trgovich, EC Washington - won NCAA titles with UCLA, 1973, 1975
Rich Valavicius (Hammond), Indiana/Auburn
Rich Valavicius, Hammond — Was a freshman on the 1976 undefeated National Championship team at Indiana, then transferred to Auburn.
