Sports
Caleb Grill, No. 15 Missouri take aim at No. 4 Tennessee
Feb 1, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Missouri Tigers guard Caleb Grill (31) drives to the basket against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first half at Humphrey Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Wesley Hale-Imagn Images Missouri just posted the most decisive road victory over a ranked opponent in school history.
Now the No. 15 Tigers take a trek into a supremely tough venue as they battle No. 4 Tennessee in Southeastern Conference play on Wednesday night at Knoxville, Tenn.
The Tigers (17-4, 6-2 SEC) have been huge surprises in a formidable conference and have won six of their past seven games.
One of the most impressive victories was Saturday’s 88-61 dismantling of then-No. 14 Mississippi State in Starkville.
It was the biggest road win over a ranked team for the Tigers since a 13-point victory (85-72) over Kansas State on March 3, 1956.
Standout guard Caleb Grill was impressed with the one-sided whipping of the Bulldogs.
“I think that was the best basketball we can play,” Grill said. “Just how we were able to move the ball and make shots, and we were getting open looks from everybody. And everybody stepped up and played well.”
The Tigers shot 55.0 percent from the field and made 15 of 32 3-point baskets. Grill knocked down six 3-pointers off the bench and scored 20 points.
It was Grill’s second straight effort of 20 or more points and his fifth of the season. It marked the fourth time Grill has made six or more treys this season.
“That’s something that we’ve seen already in practice,” Tigers coach Dennis Gates said of Grill’s marksmanship. “That’s why he always has the opportunity to shoot it. I want these guys to play with confidence, and that’s what he was doing, just playing with confidence, and his team rewarded him with open shots.”
Grill (team-best 49 3-pointers) ranks second nationally in 3-point percentage (49.0). He averages 13.2 points, second on the Tigers behind Tamar Bates (13.5). Mark Mitchell (12.8) is Missouri’s third-leading scorer.
Tennessee (18-4, 5-4) hopes to have floor leader Zakai Zeigler (knee) and big man Igor Milicic Jr. (flu-like symptoms) in the starting lineup after both players missed Saturday’s 64-44 home wipeout of then-No. 5 Florida.
Zeigler injured the knee late in the first half of a 78-73 home loss to then-No. 12 Kentucky on Jan. 28. He returned to play in the second half but was unable to practice Thursday and Friday and coach Rick Barnes said Zeigler underwent an MRI exam on Friday night that displayed no structural damage.
Zeigler and Milicic were both formally ruled out Saturday, leaving the Volunteers with just seven scholarship players against the Gators.
Zeigler insists that will be the lone game he misses.
“I’m good,” Zeigler said. “I’ll be back next game. Simple as that.”
Tennessee got along well without either player while avenging a 73-43 loss in the first matchup with Florida on Jan. 7 at Gainesville.
Florida made just 24.5 percent (13 of 53) of its attempts in the rematch and was a measly 14.8 percent (4 of 27) from behind the arc.
“I think it felt great for us,” Volunteers forward Jahmai Mashack said of the convincing victory. “I think going into the game, you know, I think a lot of people kind of counted us out, just because of the people that were down.
“… We knew how tough we had to play. We knew what Florida did to us when we were there, and we knew how we were coming into this game.”
Chaz Lanier leads Tennessee with a 17.9 scoring average as well as 79 3-point baskets. Zeigler averages 12.3 points and a team-leading 7.4 assists. Jordan Gainey averages 11.0 points and Milicic contributes 10.4 points and a team-high 8.1 rebounds per outing.
The Tigers have won three of the past five meetings, including a 72-67 home victory last season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Stars run win streak to 8 with OT defeat of Predators
Feb 28, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) stops a shot by Nashville Predators right wing Jonathan Marchessault (81) during the first period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Jason Robertson’s goal 1:47 into overtime capped a comeback and gave the host Dallas Stars a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.
Wyatt Johnston had a goal and an assist and Nathan Bastian also scored for the Stars, who trailed 2-0 with less than four minutes left in the second period. Jake Oettinger stopped 25 shots.
It was Dallas’ eighth win in a row.
Michael Bunting and Steven Stamkos scored the goals for the Predators, who are 1-1-2 in their last four. Luke Evangelista had two assists and Juuse Saros made 22 saves.
Robertson converted a cross-crease pass from defenseman Miro Heiskanen for the OT winner.
Bastian tied the game at 2 5:31 into the third period. He controlled and deposited the rebound of a shot by defenseman Thomas Harley.
Johnston’s power-play goal with 3:42 remaining in the second period put Dallas on the board and made it 2-1. He put in a cross-crease pass from Jamie Benn. It was Johnston’s 20th power-play marker of the season. He has 32 goals overall.
The Predators took a 2-0 lead in the first period with goals 1:09 apart.
Bunting opened the scoring with a power-play goal with 5:34 left in the opening period when he whipped in a shot from the left circle.
Stamkos started the rush on his goal by stealing the puck from Benn along the boards just outside the Dallas blue line. After taking a pass from Evangelista, Stamkos fired in his 30th goal from the inside edge of the right circle with 4:25 remaining in the first. It’s the 10th time in his career that Stamkos has reached the 30-goal mark.
Saros made a spectacular save on Johnston with a little less than nine minutes left in the opening period. Johnston took a pass cutting in off the right wing and skated across the top of the crease. But Saros used his right pad and stick to deny Johnston’s shot.
Nashville defenseman Adam Wilsby left early in the second period with a lower-body injury.
The Stars’ Roope Hintz missed his second consecutive game due to an illness.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Crew earn draw vs. Sporting KC on late goal
Feb 28, 2026; Kansas City, Kansas, USA; Sporting Kansas City forward Shapi Suleymanov (93) controls the ball during the first half against the Columbus Crew at Children’s Mercy Park. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images Diego Rossi scored in the 82nd minute Saturday night, allowing the visiting Columbus Crew to salvage a 2-2 draw with Sporting Kansas City.
Rossi took advantage of a failed clearance by defender Wyatt Meyer, who tried to head a crossing pass out of danger but instead deflected the ball right to Rossi. Given time to settle the ball and fire, Rossi wired a dart by goalie John Pulskamp and into the left corner for his second goal in as many matches.
Wassou Abou Ali also tallied for the second straight game for the Crew (0-1-1, 1 point). Dejan Joveljic registered a brace for Kansas City (0-1-1, 1 point), giving it a 2-1 lead in the 72nd minute when he gathered in a loose ball in the box and threaded a shot through a defender’s legs that rolled into the left corner.
Joveljic brought his team level in the 48th minute, finishing a beautiful counterattack. Jacob Davis fed him directly in front of the net and Joveljic toed a shot that goalie Patrick Schulte (two saves) had no chance to stop.
After a slow start, Columbus finished the match with slight advantages of 10-8 in shots and 5-4 in shots on frame. The Crew possessed the ball 52.5% of the time and attempted 16 crosses, 11 more than Kansas City.
Both teams opened the season last weekend with road losses. Columbus gave up a late goal to fall 3-2 against Portland and Kansas City experienced a lapse just before halftime, giving up two quick goals in a 3-0 defeat against San Jose.
Kansas City had the run of play for most of the first half-hour before Pulskamp made a shocking mistake in the 33rd minute. He tried to play the ball off the ground and offered up a nonchalant pass that Abou Ali was able to intercept, giving him an easy right-footed kick into an open net.
That play aside, Pulskamp (three saves) might have been the difference in enabling Kansas City to at least earn a draw. Columbus generated enough quality chances to log 3 1/2 expected goals, according to the league’s statistical service.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Henri Veesaar, No. 18 North Carolina hold off Virginia Tech
Feb 28, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar (13) and Virginia Tech Hokies forward Amani Hansberry (13) fight for the ball in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Henri Veesaar matched his career high with 26 points as No. 18 North Carolina pulled away from Virginia Tech in the second half for an 89-82 victory on Saturday night in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Seth Trimble put up 20 points as the Tar Heels (23-6, 11-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) won for the fourth time in their last five games without top scorer and rebounder Caleb Wilson, a star freshman who is out with a broken left hand.
Reserves Jonathan Powell and Zayden High added 15 and 12 points, respectively, as the North Carolina bench outscored its counterparts from Virginia Tech 32-13.
The Tar Heels shot 55.8% from the floor (29 of 52) as they remained perfect at home, marking the first season they’ve won their first 17 home games since the Dean E. Smith Center opened 40 years ago.
Veesaar also pulled down seven rebounds to help North Carolina to a 34-22 edge on the boards and an 11-2 margin on second-chance points.
Neo Avdalas supplied 19 points and five assists for Virginia Tech (18-11, 7-9), which came up short of gaining its third Quad 1 victory in its pursuit of a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Tobi Lawal and Ben Hammond scored 16 points apiece and Amani Hansberry provided 11 points in 19 minutes before fouling out for the Hokies, who have not won at North Carolina since 2007.
After a 3-pointer by Virginia Tech’s Jaden Schutt tied it 57-57 with 13:51 left, North Carolina took the lead for good with a seven-point run.
Veesaar triggered it with a two-handed slam off an alley-oop feed from Powell, who followed with a 3-pointer. Trimble finished off the burst, spinning free off his dribble for a driving layup that made it 64-57.
A 3-pointer by Veesaar with 6:22 left gave North Carolina a 76-65 lead, which matched its largest of the game.
In the first half, the teams traded nine-point runs and finished a fast-paced period tied 44-44.
The Tar Heels’ run came midway through the half and was fueled by reserves including Kyan Evans, who drilled a 3-pointer to cap the burst and give North Carolina a 21-16 lead.
Powell later made a triple to give the Tar Heels the biggest lead of the half at 30-22.
But the Hokies answered with a 9-0 spurt triggered by a 3-pointer from Schutt.
–Field Level Media
Stars run win streak to 8 with OT defeat of Predators
Crew earn draw vs. Sporting KC on late goal
