Sports
No. 14 Mississippi State bids to keep guard up vs. No. 20 Missouri
Jan 29, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs guard Josh Hubbard (12) drives to the basket against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half at Humphrey Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Wesley Hale-Imagn Images No. 14 Mississippi State has suffered two close losses at home this season against top-tier Southeastern Conference teams.
But the league will provide the Bulldogs (16-5, 4-4) many more opportunities to win at home, such as Saturday afternoon against No. 20 Missouri in Starkville, Miss.
The Bulldogs will try to respond positively to their 88-84 home loss to No. 4 Alabama on Wednesday. As with their 95-90 defeat to then-No. 6 Kentucky on Jan. 11, they let a potential hallmark victory slip away.
“At this point, I would just say we are not a Top 10 team,” Mississippi State coach Chris Jans said. “I don’t like saying or admitting that because I like this team. I am confident and believe in this group. We have to stay the course.”
The Bulldogs already have a strong case for an NCAA Tournament bid, given their victories at Memphis and Vanderbilt and at home against Pitt and Ole Miss.
Now Mississippi State is in a stretch of facing four ranked teams in a span of five games. Missouri (16-4, 5-2) has two Top 10 victories this season, over Kansas at home and at Florida, in addition to wins over conference foes Vanderbilt and Ole Miss at home.
The challenges just keep coming in the SEC.
“We just have to stay the course,” Mississippi State guard Claudell Harris Jr. said. “Just keep our head in the right space and remember we are still that team who has beat ranked teams. SEC play is a gauntlet, and you will have your ups and downs, but at the end of the day, you just have to keep fighting. We will get back.”
The Bulldogs are led by guard Josh Hubbard, who averages 17.3 points and 3.0 assists per game. He scored 38 points against Alabama.
KeShawn Murphy (10.8), Harris (10.6) and Riley Kugel (10.2) also are averaging in double figures in scoring.
Missouri, meanwhile, rebounded from a 61-53 loss at Texas on Jan. 21 by beating then-No. 16 Ole Miss 83-75 at home last Saturday.
After bogging down offensively against the Longhorns, the Tigers re-established their ball movement vs. the Rebels. Missouri coach Dennis Gates wants his team attacking the basket in its half-court offense and earning free throws.
Against Ole Miss, the Tigers did a better job of passing the ball out to 3-point line after drawing double-teams in the lane.
“I felt like there was a lot of times where someone drove in there, they played off two feet, they drew two (defenders), kick, kick, and we were getting open looks when we were attacking the paint,” said Missouri guard Caleb Grill, who scored 22 against the Rebels.
Missouri has been a much-improved defensive team this season, which has helped them overcome stretches of cold shooting.
“Our mindset was to not let the defensive side of the ball be dictated on if we were making or missing shots or not,” said Tigers guard Tamar Bates, who scored 26 points against Ole Miss. “Because we came in with a mindset to get stops and play defense, and to stop the man in front of us, and to help the helper if somebody gets beat, that in turn gave us energy and gave the ball energy and just helped us make shots.”
Bates leads the balanced Missouri offense with an average of 13.5 points per game. Mark Mitchell (13.1), Grill (12.7) and Anthony Robinson II (10.2) also are averaging in double digits.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Hannah Green wins her 2nd HSBC Women's World Championship
Aug 21, 2025; Mississauga, Ontario, CAN; Hannah Green plays her tee shot at the third hole during first round play at the CPKC Women’s Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Australia’s Hannah Green held off Auston Kim on Sunday to win the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore for the second time.
Green, the 2024 champion, balanced three birdies and three bogeys on an eventful back nine to finish with a 3-under 69 and a final score of 14-under at Sentosa Golf Club. The 2019 Women’s PGA Championship winner tapped in for bogey at the 18th for her seventh LPGA Tour title.
“When I did win Singapore two years ago, I went on to win two other tournaments that season and pretty much had my best season on tour,” said Green, 29. “So having a win so early in the season gives me a bit more flexibility with the tournaments that I can play. So I’m hoping that this puts me in good stead for the rest of the year.”
Green was at 16-under after birdies at the first, 11th and 13th holes and an eagle at the par-5 eighth hole. Her birdie at the par-3 15th helped her survive a bogey-bogey finish.
“I knew that I had enough of a lead to be able to get away with making mistakes coming down the stretch. But I think 15 was the real turning point,” she said.
First- and second-round leader Kim nearly chased down her first title, matching the low round of the day with a 67 to finish one shot behind Green in the 72-hole, no-cut tournament.
Kim carded six birdies and an eagle at No. 8, but a bogey at the par-3 15th proved costly for the 25-year-old American.
“Overall, I think it was a really solid week,” Kim said. “A great way to start the year. I hit a lot of bad shots but I also hit a lot of good ones, and it was really confidence boosting. I hit all these bad shots, and I didn’t feel like I had anything chose to my A game, but I was still able it pull off a result like this and play some really solid golf.”
Australia’s Minjee Lee (72 on Sunday), Angel Yin (71) and France’s Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (68) tied for third place at 11-under with South Korea’s Haeran Ryu (72) another shot back in solo sixth.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand finished with a 73 and tied for 31st at 2-under, one shot behind defending champion Lydia Ko (72) of New Zealand.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on from inside the dugout against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol received a two-year contract extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Sunday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, which holds an option for the 2029 season.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time — and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said.
“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow. I am energized to continue working with him towards the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”
Marmol, 39, has guided the Cardinals to a 325-323 record during his four seasons as the skipper. He led St. Louis to the National League Central title in 2022 before the team fell in the wild-card series to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last season, the Cardinals posted a 78-84 record to finish in fourth place in the NL Central.
Marmol was a coach with St. Louis from 2017-21 under previous managers Mike Shildt and Mike Matheny.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
Oct 31, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Reif (41) during the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion after Saturday night’s street race in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reif, 18, was transported to an area medical facility after finishing 16th in the race in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. He was later released.
“Tyler and his family would like to express their gratitude to the NASCAR officials, track medical workers and the local medical facility staff for their care,” Niece Motorsports said in a release.
Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2025. Saturday’s race was just his third on the circuit, including a 17th-place finish at Atlanta on Feb. 21.
–Field Level Media
Hannah Green wins her 2nd HSBC Women's World Championship
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
