Sports
Oklahoma State facing roster questions ahead of NIT game vs. Wichita State
Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Kanye Clary (1) puts up a shot during a first-round basketball game in the National Invitational between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Davidson Wildcats at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Oklahoma State won 84-80. Oklahoma State is seeking a trip to the quarterfinal round of the NIT for the second consecutive year.
But its hopes for victory could hinge on who is on the court for the second-seeded Cowboys (20-14) Sunday night against third-seeded Wichita State (23-11) in Stillwater, Okla.
Three players, including leading scorer Anthony Roy (17.2 points per game), were suspended for Oklahoma State’s 84-80 opening round win over Davidson.
Vyctorius Miller, as well as Isaiah Coleman, also didn’t play due to their suspensions, which were for a violation of team rules. It’s uncertain if those two, or Roy, will be available against the Shockers.
“I haven’t decided yet. We’re still working through the process,” head coach Steve Lutz told reporters. “They’ve got to meet the standards and the expectations of the program. And they’re working towards that right now.”
The Shockers are coming off a 74-70 win over Wyoming in the opening round thanks to a 17-point, 14-rebound effort from TJ Williams, who is averaging 8.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game and takes pressure off Kenyon Giles.
“We put the ball in his hands there and let him operate,” head coach Paul Mills said. “We needed a second playmaker. His assertiveness at the rim was terrific.”
Giles scored 15 in Tuesday’s win despite shooting only 5 of 17 from the floor and is averaging 19.1 points per outing.
Giles agreed that Williams is someone the Shockers can count on.
“You can trust this guy down the stretch,” Giles said.
Oklahoma State had only eight active players in its first round win due to the suspensions and injuries but showed it has others it can count on as well, including Kanye Clary, who poured in 20 points.
Daniel Guetta finished with 11 and became the 12th player this season to score in double figures in a game. He had played for a total of 18 minutes since New Year’s.
The Cowboys and Shockers are meeting in the NIT for the second straight year. Oklahoma State won 89-79 last season at home in the first round.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cole Caufield's hat trick leads Habs' demolition of Islanders
Mar 21, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki (14) plays the puck against New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech (3) during the first period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images Cole Caufield had a hat trick and finished with five points, and the Canadiens beat the New York Islanders 7-3 in Montreal on Saturday night
It was the first career five-point game for Caufield, who has 43 goals on the season.
Juraj Slafkovsky had two goals and two assists for his first career four-point game, and Kaiden Guhle had a goal and two assists for the Canadiens (38-21-10, 86 points). Nick Suzuki had four assists and Jacob Fowler made 19 saves.
Emil Heineman, Simon Holmstrom and Matthew Schaefer scored for the Islanders (39-26-5, 83 points). Ilya Sorokin allowed six goals on 32 shots before being lifted in the third period.
Slafkovsky gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead at 4:10 of the first period when he scored on a one-timer from the slot off a pass from Suzuki during a power play.
Heineman tied it 1-1 at 6:46, getting to a loose puck in the left circle on the rush and beating Fowler far side on a power play.
Holmstrom gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead at 13:19, scoring on a breakaway when he deked around Fowler before sliding the puck home.
The Canadiens regained the lead with a pair of goals late in the second period.
Alex Newhook tied the game when he scored on a one-timer from the bottom of the right circle at 17:49.
Caufield gave the Canadiens a 3-2 lead at 19:08. He took a return pass from Suzuki along the goal line and lifted a shot over Sorokin’s right shoulder.
Schaefer tied it 3-3 just 45 seconds into the third period, scoring a power-play goal on a one-timer from the center point off a return pass from Mathew Barzal.
The Canadiens regained the lead at 3:17 when Guhle scored on slap shot through traffic from the center point.
Slafkovsky made it 5-3 at 8:08 when he scored on a one-timer from the low slot off a pass from Caufield behind the net.
Caufield pushed the lead to 6-3 when he scored from the slot off a pass from Slafkovsky in the right circle at 11:20.
Caufield capped the hat trick with a goal on a 2-on-1 rush at 14:59 for the 7-3 final.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Andrej Stojakovic, No. 3 Illinois blow past No. 11 VCU
Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) scores near VCU Rams forward Michael Belle (8) March 21, 2026 during the first half of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament second round East Region game at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. GREENVILLE, S.C. – Andrej Stojakovic scored 16 of his 21 points in the first half to help No. 3 Illinois breeze past No. 11 VCU for a 76-55 win in a second-round South Region matchup on Saturday night.
Tomislav Ivisic added 14 points and 11 rebounds for Illinois (26-8), which advanced to its second Sweet 16 in 21 years. It will face No. 2 Houston on Thursday in Houston.
Keaton Wagler scored 14 and Kylan Boswell finished with 12 for the Fighting Illini, who won their first two NCAA Tournament games by a combined 56 points.
Terrence Hill Jr. led VCU (28-8) with 17 points and seven boards, while Barry Evans and Tyrell Ward had 11 apiece. The Rams shot just 7-for-32 (21.9%) on 3-point attempts in the lopsided loss.
Holding a seven-point halftime lead, Illinois opened the second half with Wagler and David Mirkovic’s back-to-back 3-pointers to extend the margin to 13.
Zvonimir Ivisic’s dunk and Boswell’s trey were part of a 7-0 Illinois spurt that put the Fighting Illini ahead 50-32 with 13:24 left. Five straight points from Hill sparked a brief Rams rally, but Wagler’s consecutive baskets, Stojakovic’s dunk and Tomislav Ivisic’s triple gave the Fighting Illini a 59-37 lead.
Illinois’ overwhelming cushion ballooned to 23 on Tomislav Ivisic’s dunk, which was answered by Ward’s 3-pointer at the 3:31 mark. Ben Humrichous’ 3-pointer with 1:52 remaining punctuated the Fighting Illini’s resounding win.
Mirkovic’s layup stamped an early 9-0 run to give Illinois an 11-2 lead. After Boswell’s 3-pointer pushed the margin to 12, VCU stormed back with a 15-3 spurt, tying the game at 23 on Ward’s putback layup.
The Rams grabbed their first lead on Hill’s mid-range jumper with 3:09 left in the first half. From there, Stojakovic answered with a personal 9-0 run to close the half and give the Fighting Illini a 35-28 lead at the break.
– Jack Batten, Field Level Media
Sports
Andrej Stojakovic, No. 3 Illinois blow past No. 11 VCU
Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) scores near VCU Rams forward Michael Belle (8) March 21, 2026 during the first half of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament second round East Region game at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. GREENVILLE, S.C. – Andrej Stojakovic scored 16 of his 21 points in the first half to help No. 3 Illinois breeze past No. 11 VCU for a 76-55 win in a second-round South Region matchup on Saturday night.
Tomislav Ivisic added 14 points and 11 rebounds for Illinois (26-8), which advanced to its second Sweet 16 in 21 years. It will face No. 2 Houston on Thursday in Houston.
Keaton Wagler scored 14 and Kylan Boswell finished with 12 for the Fighting Illini, who won their first two NCAA Tournament games by a combined 56 points.
Terrence Hill Jr. led VCU (28-8) with 17 points and seven boards, while Barry Evans and Tyrell Ward had 11 apiece. The Rams shot just 7-for-32 (21.9%) on 3-point attempts in the lopsided loss.
Holding a seven-point halftime lead, Illinois opened the second half with Wagler and David Mirkovic’s back-to-back 3-pointers to extend the margin to 13.
Zvonimir Ivisic’s dunk and Boswell’s trey were part of a 7-0 Illinois spurt that put the Fighting Illini ahead 50-32 with 13:24 left. Five straight points from Hill sparked a brief Rams rally, but Wagler’s consecutive baskets, Stojakovic’s dunk and Tomislav Ivisic’s triple gave the Fighting Illini a 59-37 lead.
Illinois’ overwhelming cushion ballooned to 23 on Tomislav Ivisic’s dunk, which was answered by Ward’s 3-pointer at the 3:31 mark. Ben Humrichous’ 3-pointer with 1:52 remaining punctuated the Fighting Illini’s resounding win.
Mirkovic’s layup stamped an early 9-0 run to give Illinois an 11-2 lead. After Boswell’s 3-pointer pushed the margin to 12, VCU stormed back with a 15-3 spurt, tying the game at 23 on Ward’s putback layup.
The Rams grabbed their first lead on Hill’s mid-range jumper with 3:09 left in the first half. From there, Stojakovic answered with a personal 9-0 run to close the half and give the Fighting Illini a 35-28 lead at the break.
– Jack Batten, Field Level Media
Cole Caufield's hat trick leads Habs' demolition of Islanders
Andrej Stojakovic, No. 3 Illinois blow past No. 11 VCU
