Sports
Now healthy, No. 23 Illinois takes show on road vs. Rutgers
Feb 2, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Tomislav Ivisic (13) gets a hand from fans after an 87-79 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images Brad Underwood had plenty of reasons to crack a smile.
Illinois rode a healthy rotation to a second-half comeback win over visiting Ohio State on Sunday, and the Fighting Illini finally may have reached the other side of a challenging stretch.
Though they dropped five spots in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, the No. 23 Illini are feeling optimistic as they kick off a two-game road trip Wednesday against Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J.
Point guard Kasparas Jakucionis and center Tomislav Ivisic, both recruited from overseas last spring, are central to what Illinois (15-7, 7-5 Big Ten) does on a nightly basis. Jakucionis injured his hand and missed two games last month, including an upset loss to Southern California.
Jakucionis also sat for most of Illinois’ 80-78 loss at Michigan State on Jan. 19 due to foul trouble. Shortly after that game, Ivisic contracted mononucleosis. Illinois dropped two of the three games he missed.
Illinois was back to full strength Sunday, and it showed in an 87-79 win over the Buckeyes.
“I was going to play it by ear and see how (Ivisic) felt,” Underwood said afterward. “It puts a smile on my face to have him back.”
Ivisic contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes, while freshman Morez Johnson Jr. broke out for 14 points and a career-high 15 boards. Fellow freshman Will Riley poured in 20 of his 24 points during the second half, and Jakucionis supplied eight points and seven assists.
Riley and Ivisic, who were a combined 9-for-10 after halftime, were the biggest reasons the Illini outshot the Buckeyes 64.3 percent to 30.6 percent in the final 20 minutes.
At 51.7 percent for the game, this was Illinois’ first time making more than half its field goals since Jan. 2 at Oregon. It also clamped down defensively in a way it hadn’t been able to when Ivisic was unwell.
“I thought it was a game that resembled us first semester,” Underwood said. “Downhill driving, getting fouled, getting to the line. Tomi opens all of that up.”
Rutgers (11-11, 4-7) struggled against two versatile big men Saturday in a 66-63 loss to Michigan, and it could be a similar story this week against the 7-foot-1, 255-pound Ivisic and the 6-9, 255-pound Johnson.
The Scarlet Knights twice pulled within two points late in the second half, but Michigan bigs Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin carried their team the rest of the way. The Wolverines beat the Scarlet Knights 30-16 in paint points.
Rutgers got a career-high 20 points and four steals from guard Jamichael Davis in its third loss in four games. Tyson Acuff added 14 points, and both he and Davis made four 3-pointers.
For a Rutgers team that lost center Emmanuel Ogbole to a season-ending knee injury and once again could be without star freshman guard Dylan Harper (high ankle sprain), Wednesday represents one of its final chances to make a statement win at home and stay afloat in the Big Ten standings.
“They’re all so important,” coach Steve Pikiell said. “I know what it looks like, but we’ve been there before and we’ve got to figure it out.
“And I do like the improvement of our guys. I think we’re a better basketball team, much better. … We’re improving on (the) defensive end, we’re improving in our communication, we’re improving in a lot of things.”
–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
Sports
Report: RB David Montgomery 'wants out' of Detroit
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) looks on before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Lions running back David Montgomery “wants out” of Detroit after three seasons, ESPN reported on Sunday.
Montgomery, however, immediately appeared to refute the report on X, posting: “Damn, Dmo told you that?”
The ESPN report claims the Lions would want “a decent Day 3 pick (possibly a fifth-rounder)” in the 2026 NFL Draft in return for Montgomery, who turns 29 in June and is owed $6 million next season.
The report follows general manager Brad Holmes’ remarks after the season about Montgomery being unhappy with his playing time in 2025. Sharing a backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery rushed for a career-low 716 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (no starts).
“Those are conversations that we’re going to have to have because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player,” Holmes said of Montgomery in January. “He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized, and so yeah would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here then you’d just love to see where could work out best for him.”
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Holmes said the situation with Montgomery is “fluid.” He signed a two-year extension during the 2024 season that runs through the end of the 2027 campaign.
“Yeah, I have been in touch with David’s agent, and his representation,” Holmes revealed. “Obviously, we love David, he’s a great player, we love to have him, you know, kind of want to put last year in the rear view, and just move forward. But, obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. The conversations are still fluid, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Montgomery has rushed for 2,506 yards and 33 touchdowns in 45 games (28 starts) in three seasons with Detroit (2023-25). He has 76 catches for 650 yards in that span.
He began his career with the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, who drafted him in the third round in 2019. Montgomery rushed for 3,609 yards and 26 scores in 60 games (51 starts) with the Bears (2019-22).
–Field Level Media
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
