Michigan established a 10-1 advantage and created a 26-10 gap in under ten minutes into the game. In the second half, the Wolverines increased its lead to 30 points and decisively defeated Arizona, 91-73.

The Wolverines will take on UConn, who defeated Illinois 71-62, on Monday night for a chance to secure the title.

Michigan held a 30-point lead with 10:31 left in the game. The Wolverines excelled in the paint, scoring 36 points and successfully making 12 three-pointers.

Aday Mara scored 26 points and collected nine rebounds, guiding Michigan. Trey McKenney added 16 points, and Elliot Cadeau contributed 13 points along with 10 assists.

All-American forward Yaxel Lendeborg suffered a left ankle and knee injury during the first half but returned in the second half, scoring 11 points. He rolled his ankle and twisted his knee when he landed on Arizona’s center Motiejus Krivas’s foot while penetrating towards the rim.

Arizona encountered difficulties as it struggled to navigate through the larger Wolverines.

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Despite the unfavorable conditions on the concluding day of the 98th Clyde Littlefield Relays held at Mike Myers Stadium on the University of Texas campus, the schedule proceeded as planned. 

The cool, wet weather resulted in a downpour that left standing water on the track, necessitating a one-hour delay to allow for drying. The events resumed later in the afternoon. However, many unattached athletes and several teams chose to withdraw during the finals, opting not to risk potential injuries. Most of the top times were achieved during the preliminaries on Friday.

Annually, one of the nation’s top track and field meets showcase some of the nation’s top talented athletes from across the country, spanning from high school to professional ranks. Coverage in Texas’s capital city transitioned into anticipated celebrations as thrilling moments unfolded. Fans were eager, ready to witness the next significant highlight at the relays. 

Several colleges and universities made its presence known. Cal State Fullerton played a significant role in various events, including Abel Alejandro Jordan sprinting across the finish line to secure victory in the 100 Meter Dash with a time of 10.12 seconds. Luke Hitchcock claimed second place in the 1A Men’s 1500 Meter Run Finals, finishing in 3:49.46. The Titans took second place in both the 4×100 and 4×400 Meter Relays, with times of 39.08 and 3:06.85, respectively. Hawkin Miller achieved third place in the 1A Shot Put Finals with a throw of 60-5.00. A fierce competition for the top position in the men’s 5000 meters saw Texas Tech’s Victor Kipkoech outpace Odessa College’s Justus Soget Kiplagat, clocking in at 13:58.54 compared to Kiplagat’s 13:59.41. 

The University of Texas men’s team enjoyed a successful day. Kendrick Smallwood won the title for the Longhorns in the 110 Hurdles with a time of 13.16 seconds. UT’s Kody Blackwood triumphed in the 400 Meter Hurdles, finishing in 49.58 seconds. Chris Brinkley from Texas finished third in the 400 Meter Hurdles with a time of 50.06 seconds, while Hudson Bennett placed second in the men’s 3000 Meter Steeplechase Finals with a time of 9:06.24. The men’s 4×100 Meter Relay team finished in third place with a time of 39.10 seconds. Brandon Gorski finished second place in the men’s long jump with a leap of 23-7.75. Kelsey Daniel won both the 1A Men’s Long Jump and Triple Jump Finals with distances of 25-10.50 and 52-9.75, respectively. Agbonkonkon Osawese held on for third place in the 1A Men’s High Jump Finals with a height of 6-10.50. Benjamin Shue emerged victorious in the men’s Discus Finals with a throw of 178-1.00. Michael Pinones and Shaiquan Dunn claimed the top two positions in the 1A Men’s Shot Put Finals with throws of 64-5.00 and 60-8.25.

U-of-H claimed victories in the 4×100 and 4×200 Meter Relays with times of 38.69 and 1:22.48, respectively. Patrick Flowers achieved a commendable third place in the 3000 Meters Steeplechase with a time of 9:08.91, while Antrea Mita earned second place honors in the 1A Men’s High Jump with a height of 7-0.25. 

On the high school circuit, two of the nation’s premier track athletes, Klein Collins’ junior Andrew Brown and C.E. King’s sophomore Dillion Mitchell, provided the audience with thrilling performances. Brown crossed the finish line in the 110 Hurdles, astonishing fans with a wind-aided time of 12.97 during the preliminaries. He also triumphed in the 300 Meter Hurdles, clocking in at 35.61. In the finals, Brown outperformed Houston Worthing’s Avonte Earl, a nationally ranked hurdler, finishing with a time of 13.15 compared to Earl’s 13.38. 

Mitchell followed suit with an impressive display, energizing the crowd as he sprinted to a wind-legal time of 10.10 in the 100 Meter Dash. Furthermore, Mitchell played a crucial role in anchoring the Panthers’ 4×200 Meter Relay team to victory, receiving the baton in third place behind Frisco Heritage and Long Beach Poly. He swiftly made up ground on Frisco and momentarily surged past the Jackrabbits, securing a first-place finish in the preliminaries. 

Atascocita’s Mariah Maxwell, representing APXP, a private college preparatory training program, crossed the finish line ahead of Howard University’s Yahnari Lyons, winning the Invitational Women 200 Meter Dash Finals with a time of 22.25. Mariah, who is a twin, is still attending high school and competes alongside her sister Mia, as both joined the APXP Training Group last May. 

The annual event, influenced by the participation of seven high schools from out of state saw Poly and Wilson from Long Beach, California, which have been long-time supporters of the relays and consistently demonstrate competitiveness. The other participating schools included El Cerrito, NC, Flossmoor (Homewood-), IL, IMG Academy, FL, La Jolla (SD), CA, and Rancho Cucamonga, CA. 

Flossmoor’s Zion Morrison kept pace for a third place tie in the 100 Meter Dash with a time of 10.58. However, he entered the finals with the second fastest time of 10.33, just behind Mitchell. William Bundy claimed the title in the triple jump with a distance of 46:9.75. 

IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, witnessed its girls’ distance runners joining forces to create remarkable memory on Friday, winning the 4000 Meter distance medley relay with a time of 11:37.38. Cy-Fair Bridgeland came in second with a time of 11:49.44.

Following the success of the girls, the IMG Boys also triumphed, winning both the 4000 Meter distance medley and the 4×400 Meter Relays with times of 10:09.91 and 7:46.66, respectively. The Home School Athletic Association challenged the Ascenders, finishing in second place with a time of 10:17.97. Additionally, Ascenders’ Matthew Dodds finished third in the finals of the 1600 Meter run with a time of 4:10.91. Winston Schroder contributed to the Ascenders’ achievements by grabbing second place in the long jump with a distance of 24-5.25. Gabriel Pelletier tied with several competitors, clearing a height of 16-0.50 in the pole vault. 

Long Beach Poly established its dominance with a time of 3:23.86, narrowly defeating Katy, which finished with a time of 3:24.17, to win the Boys Sprint Medley Relay.

Rancho Cucamonga secured the second position in the 4×100 Meter Relay. 

Despite dropping temperatures, the rain and wind on the final day did not hinder competition from meeting the fans’ expectations. A variety of athletes noted its progress as they recorded lower times, personal bests, and significant accomplishments both as individuals and as a team.

To view the full results of the meet, please follow the link below.

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UConn shot 35.5% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range, contrasting with last week’s 21.7% from beyond the arc in its victory against Duke. Despite a better shooting performance against the Blue Devils, the Huskies converted 15-of-17 free throws, and their defensive prowess was evident, leading to a 71-62 win over Illinois that propelled them into the championship game on Monday.

Tardis Reed Jr. led UConn with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Braylon Mullins scored 15 points, and Solo Ball contributed 13 points.

The combination of three-point shooting and solid defense enabled the Huskies to establish a 14-point lead, 57-43, with 9:43 remaining in the second half. Illinois, however, continued to battle.

On a different note, the Fighting Illini struggled from the field, shooting 33.9%, and were limited on the offensive boards, 41-36.

Keaton Wagler poured in 20 points for Illinois, and Tomislav Ivisic added 16.

Illinois narrowed the gap to four points, 57-53, with 1:38 remaining in the second half; however, Connecticut responded by converting free throws down the stretch.

Last week, Illinois knocked off Iowa, 71-59, to earn a berth in the final four, yet it lacked the firepower to get past the experienced Huskies, who are playing in their third final four in the last four years.

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Victor Lopez knows a lot about track and field. Though retired, the longtime Rice Owls coach remains a respected figure in the university’s athletics community.

The Victor Lopez Classic, which began in 1983 and is now in its 43rd edition, is one of the nation’s premier track and field meets, drawing top college and high school athletes from across the country to Rice University.

Anthony Roberts, who became a member of the Rice staff in 2022 as the assistant director of communications, shared his insights regarding this season’s classic.

The quartet of Christian Greyling, Colin Hayden, Elton Martin, and Brady Meredith recorded the nation’s fastest time in the 4×800 Meter Relay (7:46.88), propelling the Woodlands to victory. St. Thomas and Kingwood followed in second and third place, respectively, with times of (7:56.59) and (8:00.84).

In the 4×100-meter relay, the Woodlands achieved a time of 41.00, securing third place behind Summer Creek and Katy, which clocked in at 40.92 and 40.96, respectively.

As Saturday approaches, the meet is set to conclude, with most finals commencing in the evening.

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Photo by Undre/ossports

Mia and her twin sister, Mariah Maxwell, beamed with joy after completing the 100-meters, achieving two of the fastest times in the nation this season.

The soft-spoken twins participated in the Invite Men’s 100-meters / Mixed Gender 100-meters, which featured four men in the six-tandem event. As expected, the men finished ahead of the twins, but improving as the season progresses is the goal for the twins.

Although the conclusion did not reach Mia’s top time of 11.04, Mariah recorded the second-best time in Texas history, 11.16. Her previous best was 11.28. Mia achieved a time of 11.18.

“It means a lot. It’s my season opener”, said Mariah of APXP. A big PR from 11.2 to 11.1. It’s crazy. It makes me excited for the season. It’s really fun coming out here competing against these boys, giving everyone a show (speaking of the four guys who competed in the 100 Meter dash)

Despite not matching Mia’s top time of 11.04 seconds, Mariah ran 11.16 seconds, the second-fastest in Texas history. Her previous personal best was 11.28 seconds, while Mia finished with a time of 11.18 seconds.

The annual event saw participation from 40 colleges, high schools, middle schools, and unattached athletes, showcasing a diverse range of talent and competition.

The Maxwell twins were not the only highlights, as Texas Southern men’s and women’s teams showcased its strength, securing multiple top-three finishes.

Competing away from home proved advantageous for the Tigers, who began its outdoor season at Turner Stadium during the 74th TSU Relays, necessitated by the resurfacing of Dudley Stadium at Texas Southern University.

Texas Southern took matters into its own hands, keeping itself in contention in most events.

Texas Southern’s Alyvia Brown had an impressive evening, securing victories in both the 800-meter run with a time of 2:17.56 and the 1,500-meter run, 4:45.68. She achieved a commendable second-place finish in the triple jump, recording a distance of 36-11. The Tigers followed up with two other finishers, including Katherine Canchola, who also performed well, finishing second in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 5:05.82 and second in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 19:34.19. Stacy Guerrero trailed closely behind, taking third in the 5,000-meter with a time of 19:39.29.

In the 400-meter hurdles, Desirae Roberts and Tyler Moore finished first and second, clocking 1:05.04 and 1:10.71, respectively. Its convincing performance contributed significantly to the team’s overall success during the event.

Kennedy Haynes excelled in the discus throw, winning with a distance of 126-8, while also earning a bronze medal in the shot put with a throw of 36-9. Bria Lawson and Mikayla Ball followed closely behind in the discus, finishing second and third with throws of 118-6 and 118-3, respectively. Ball later added to her achievements by winning gold in the hammer throw with a mark of 134-8.

Other victors comprised Calle Fisher, who achieved victory in the Long Jump with a distance of 17-1.5 feet. Destinee Payne secured the second position with a jump of 16-11.5. Ryann Richards also attained a second-place finish in the pole vault, clearing a height of 6-6.25.

The Tiger men’s track and field team demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving nine first-place finishes. Jalen Walker excelled in both the Hammer Throw and Shot Put, recording distances of 187-5. Ahmad Muhammad triumphed in the Triple Jump with a leap of 47-8.

Additional winners included Joshua Brown in the 100-meter with a time of 10.43, Michael Strange Jr. in the 400-meters with a time of 48.09, Manual Garza, who was a double winner in the 1,500-meters with a time of 4:14.87 and the 5,000-meters with a time of 16:09.10, Te’Drick Robinson took the 110-meter Hurdles with a time of 14.66, Tyler Johnson in the High Jump with a height of 6-6, and Xavier Bellard won the long jump with a distance of 22-2.5.

“It feels good to knock the rust off”, Tigers 110-meter Hurdler Te’Drick Robbinson elaborated. “We had a pretty long break. We had a little wind out here today. But it was good to go one, two, speaking of teammate, Donyea Jarmon, who finished second in a time of 14.73.

“It was hard getting loose after the long break”, Jarmon said. “We’ve been working hard at practice.”

Harvard University’s men’s and women’s track teams excelled in the 4×100-meter relays, finishing first with impressive times of 39.72 and 44.42 seconds, respectively.

“Going into this meet, we know we have some strong guys in the run. Our angle leg, he’s been running good. He did well indoors. Timmy just ran a school record, and Jonus has run the same time. We have high expectations for ourselves, and we are constantly pushing for something more.

“I’m new to the mix”, Amari Turner Crimson’s 4th leg on the 4×100-meter Relay spoke. “We are working on continuity, getting timing, handoffs, and rhythm down. We change up the lineup to stay consistent and try to get a national or regional qualifying mark. We came out and did pretty good.”

“Spring break brings us here, and many alumni are willing to host us”, Crimson’s first leg of the 4×100-meter Relay, LeRoy Horton explained. We are thankful for that and the warm weather; we are stuck in the cold weather up in Boston. This is nice warm weather to practice in. We’ve been working here for a week. We leave here tonight

“It means great, it’s just the beginning”, says Saige Forbes. I’m a senior on this team, these are our younger members, and they really pushed us every day to come out and do the best we can, and we pushed each other.” Mfoniso Andrew, who grew up in Missouri City, where she attended Elkins High School.

“I’m from Texas, Mfoniso Andrew, Harvard’s 4×100-meter Relay first leg.” “I definitely know what this stadium means. A lot of fast times are run on this track.”

Several high school athletes celebrated outstanding finishes, particularly Worthing’s remarkable Avonte Earl, who won both the 110-meter Hurdles with a time of 13.52 seconds and the 300-meter Hurdles with a time of 37.67 seconds. Harold Clewis from Churchill Fulshear also excelled, winning the 400-meters in 48.51 seconds.

West Fork’s Jailen Jones won a head-to-head battle in the 100-meter Dash against Keaton Bookman of Churchill Fulshear with times of 10.33 and 10.34.

“I’m not satisfied with my time”, Jones explained. “I believe I can always do more and better. I felt loose when he said set (referring to the starter). I relaxed, took a deep breath, and ran.”

Summer Creek’s Brook Lloyd and Phoenix Phillips both claimed first place in their respective events. Lloyd excelled in the girls’ 400-meters with a time of 52.84 seconds, while Phillips finished first in his event with a time of 14.03 seconds.

In middle school competitions, West Lake from Atascocita, Texas, set a record in the Boys 4×200-meter Relay, posting a time of 1:35.69, which elevated the team to second nationally. The Irons Junior High Boys from Conroe, Texas, finished first in the 4×100-meter relay with a time of 44.80 seconds.

“We are trying to improve our time in every race, West Lake Middle School first leg of the 4×100-meter Relay team, Niles Stoneham explained. “Our best time is 44.24 in the 4×100-meter relay”, said Adaris Baldwin, who runs the third leg on the 4×100-meter relay. We’ve run better than this before. “I think we could have done better on the exchange of the last leg. The fourth leg took off too fast, which obviously took off a little time. I feel honored to be here. A lot of colleges and high schools are here. U of H is one of my favorite colleges.”

M.D. Jones Middle School girls took part in two 4×100 and two 4×200-meter relays, clinching first and second place in times of (54.04) and (54.42), along with (1:53.29) and (1:54.93), respectively.

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San Antonio is poised to welcome one of the most essential Final Fours in college basketball history. Being the seventh largest city in the United States and the second largest in Texas, Houston is a popular choice among fans and is expected to garner substantial support.

San Antonio is renowned for landmarks such as the Alamo, its military heritage, the River Walk, Sea World, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Nevertheless, these popular attractions and their associated celebrations will play a secondary role during the weekend of the Final Four.

Auburn (32-5), Duke (35-3), Florida (34-4), and Houston (34-4) all secured the top seeds in their respective regions, fulfilling expectations. Auburn overcame Michigan State with a score of 70-64, Duke defeated Alabama 85-65, Florida staged a comeback to beat Texas Tech 84-79, and Houston concluded Tennessee’s remarkable season with a 69-50 victory.

All four top-seeded teams reached the Final Four, a scenario reminiscent of 2008 when Kansas, Memphis, North Carolina, and UCLA all progressed to this stage. Per Sportsline Consensus, Florida, a 2.5-point favorite, will face SEC rival Auburn, who will meet on Saturday at 6:09 PM Eastern. The game between Duke and Houston will take place later that evening. Despite Auburn being the overall top seed in the tournament, Duke is considered the frontrunner to claim the championship, according to ESPN Bet.

The championship will be decided on the following Monday night in San Antonio.

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Coach Sarkisian acknowledged the strengths of the Wildcats, particularly emphasizing its formidable defensive capabilities, which he described as among one of the finest in the conference. This recognition highlights the importance of a strong defense in competitive play.

In the latter half of the game, spectators witnessed Kentucky’s defense successfully forcing two turnovers, one of which was returned for a touchdown, while the Longhorns (9-1, 5-1) regained possession of a pair of fumbles. This surge in defensive performance gave the Wildcats a renewed sense of hope, suggesting that it might be poised to shift the momentum in its favor.

However, the Wildcats’ offense struggled to find a solution against Texas’ defense, which currently ranks first in the nation for the fewest yards allowed, averaging just 249.0 per game. This defensive prowess enabled quarterback Quinn Ewers to exploit opportunities, connecting with tight end Gunner Helm for a second touchdown. It extended the lead to 21-7, and the game ultimately concluded with a score of 31-14 on Saturday at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

The Longhorns’ defense provided crucial support, enabling Ewers to execute a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Gunner Helm. It established a lead for Texas that it would maintain throughout the game.

The defensive unit, featuring standout performances from lineman Alfred Collins, cornerback Jahdae Barron, linebacker Anthony Hill, and Colin Simmons, was instrumental in the team’s success. While the offense faced challenges, the defense remained steadfast, achieving six sacks and limiting Kentucky to 21 rushing yards. This relentless pressure from the front line afforded the Longhorns’ secondary time to cover Kentucky’s receivers.

In addition to its defensive prowess, Quintervion Wisner and Jaydon Blue significantly contributed to the running game, each finding the end zone with a touchdown. Their efforts complemented the offensive strategy, further solidifying Texas’s commanding performance.

Ewers, who achieved a remarkable feat by throwing a touchdown in 22 consecutive games, completed 20 of 31 passes for a total of 191 yards and two touchdowns. Wisner contributed significantly with 26 carries, amassing 158 yards and scoring a touchdown, while Blue added 96 yards on 15 carries. Additionally, Matthew Golden, a key target, had seven receptions for 86 yards.

Despite its (4-7, 1-6) record, Kentucky demonstrated resilience and determination on the field, refusing to concede defeat. The team moved the ball on offense, and its defense disrupted several of the Longhorns’ drives. However, Texas regained its composure by executing an impressive 86-yard drive over 15 plays, which stunned the home crowd of 102,811. The one-yard touchdown run by Quintrevion Wisner allowed the Longhorns to establish a two-possession lead of 31-14.

The drive’s success rested on a solid running game, especially given the challenges faced by the passing game. Maintaining momentum through the ground game proved crucial in regaining control and solidifying Texas’s position as the game progressed.

Leading 24-7, the Longhorns initiated a drive in its territory. However, this possession was short-lived when Tre’vonne Rybka, a defensive lineman for the Wildcats, successfully stripped the ball from Blue. Kentucky’s defensive tackle, Deone Walker, recovered the fumble at the Longhorns’ 32-yard line.

Following the turnover, Kentucky’s quarterback, Cutter Boley, adeptly evaded pressure and delivered a precise pass to tight end Willie Rodriguez at the seven-yard line. Despite this promising start, the Texas defense responded immediately, forcing Kentucky to attempt a field goal that unfortunately veered off to the left.

In the subsequent Longhorn series, momentum faltered when junior running back Jarrick Gipson fumbled the ball on the opening play. Fortunately for Texas, a teammate recovered the loose ball. The following play proved pivotal for the Wildcats, as a defender disrupted the quarterback’s throwing motion, leading to an errant pass that was ruled a fumble. Linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson seized the opportunity, intercepting the ball mid-air and sprinting untouched to the end zone, narrowing the score to 24-14 after a successful extra point.

Following Blue’s fumble, Wisner took charge of Texas’ rushing attack, effectively gaining yards between the tackles and advancing the ball into Wildcat territory. Nevertheless, Kentucky’s defense tightened its grip, halting the drive after Bert Auburn’s field goal attempt veered wide right.

In the subsequent possession for the Wildcats, Texas again forced a punt. This time, receiver Silas Bolden misplayed the punt return after signaling for a fair catch at the 11-yard line. Remarkably, he recovered the ball after it touched the ground, falling on it to secure possession.

The focus remained on Texas’s defense, which held the Wildcats scoreless in the second half. The defensive line of Collins, Hill, Simmons, and Sorrells consistently pressured Boley, who showed his best under the circumstances by completing 10-of-18 passes for 160 yards and two interceptions. The Wildcats’ final chance evaporated when Texas cornerback Andrew Mukuba intercepted a pass at the four-yard line with 39 seconds remaining, igniting a jubilant celebration among the crowd and the Longhorns’ sideline.

Texas initiated the scoring, executing a 75-yard drive over eleven plays. Ewers scrambled to the left and delivered a precise pass to tight end Gunner Helm in the end zone. Following Auburn’s successful bonus kick, Texas established an early lead of 7-0 with 13:41 remaining in the first quarter.

The Kentucky offense struggled to find its rhythm, mainly due to the efforts of Simmon and Alfred, until Brock Vandagriff connected on a 32-yard pass to Ja’Mori Maclin. Shortly after, the Wildcats faced a critical fourth down and two from the four-yard line. In a moment of composure, Vandagriff evaded pressure and located Josh Kattus in the end zone, leveling the score at 7-7 after Alex Raynor’s extra point kick with 11:36 left in the second quarter.

Texas’ defense proved formidable, limiting the Wildcats to seven points for the remainder of the half.

Blue exploited the left side of the Wildcat’s defense and broke free for a six-yard touchdown run with 6:39 remaining in the second quarter as Texas reclaimed the lead, 14-7.

Next week, the Longhorns will travel to College Station to meet former Big 12 and Southwest Conference rival Texas A&M.

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College basketball is in full swing, and it’s time to dive into the rankings. While the top ten teams are pretty much what everyone expected, the top 25 has seen some new contenders making its mark this season. 

Seeing how the landscape shifts as teams battle on the court is always exciting. In the opening week, most of the top ten teams secured wins, but No. 8 Baylor faced a tenacious loss, getting crushed 101-63 by No. 6 Gonzaga. This Saturday, the Bears will have another challenge as it prepares for No. 16 Arkansas. It’ll be interesting to see if Baylor can bounce back and regain its footing against another ranked team. 

On a different note, three of the four top 20 ranked Texas teams stumbled in its first games. No. 13 Texas A&M lost a nail-biter to UCF, 64-61, while the Longhorns fell 80-72 to Ohio State. The University of Houston was the only Texas team to come out on top, dominating Jackson State with a 97-40 victory. However, the Cougars will get its first test of the young season when it faces No. 11 Auburn this Saturday.

The top-ranked Jayhawks are eager to turn things around this season after a taxing year where it started strong but ended up at No. 4, ultimately falling to Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. This season, Kansas has its sights on making a deep run and reaching the Final Four.

Conversely, No. 2 Alabama had a fantastic showing against UNC Asheville, winning decisively with a score of 110-54. The Tide plans to build on last season’s success, where it advanced to the Final Four as a 4th seed but was bounced from the tournament by the eventual champions, UConn. 

3. Meanwhile, No. 24 Ole Miss is determined to improve its standings in the SEC after finishing last season with a 20-12 record and a disappointing 7-11 in conference play. Lastly, No. 25 Rutgers started its season with a solid 75-52 victory over Wagner, especially after a bumpy previous year that ended with a 15-17 record and an early exit in the conference tournament against Maryland.

Down below is a listing of the AP Top 25 College Basketball Rankings 

1 Kansas

2 Alabama

3 UConn

4 Houston

5 Iowa State

6 Gonzaga

7 Duke

8 Baylor

9 North Carolina

10 Arizona

11 Auburn

12 Tennessee

13 Texas A&M

14 Purdue

15 Creighton

16 Arkansas

17 Indiana

18 Marquette

19 Texas

20 Cincinnati

21 Florida

22 UCLA

23 Kentucky

24 Ole Miss

25 Rutgers

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The Texas Southern Track and Field team set the bar high with several competitive showings to kick off the early outdoor season. Bayli George and Chaunzavia Lewis had huge performances, among many other Tiger athletes.

It poured at times as expected, but timing prevailed. Local and national meteorologists predicted thunderstorms for the Houston area, which meant the weekend could suffer a washout. Though heavy showers covered the area, competitors took advantage of precise moments. However, reaping the most out of the moment meant more for most student-athletes competing in the 72nd Annual Coast Guard TSU Relays at Alexander Durley Stadium on Friday and Saturday on the Campus of Texas Southern.

Several athletes including Jessica Williams, who took third in the Women’s 5000 Meter University, posting a time of (20:40.75). Diamond Barrett placed third in the 200 Meter University (25.47). Barrett joined Erica Grant, Tyeler Moore, and Avia Trammell to help edged rival Prairie View in the 4×100 Meter Relay University with a time of (47.91) opposed to (48.33) while placing fourth. George dashed through the finish line first in the 400 Meter University, recording a time of (56.26). Adayshia Coleman took fourth (15.34), and Kayla Jenkins was fifth (15.39), earning back-to-back finishes at the 100-meter Hurdles University. Lyrid Ray also helped the Tigers land three runners in the top ten of the event by placing seventh (16.16). Trammell finished sixth in the 100 Meter University (12.52). Lyrid placed seventh in the 100 Meter Hurdles University (1:12.64)

The men were equally impressive, with competitive finishes. The showing gives the Tigers a solid foundation to build on heading into the season when the competition only gets stiffer.

Brandon Washington pulled out a second-place finish in the Men’s 800-Meter University. Javon Bucklly, Isaac Henderson, William Perry, and Trevon Ridley finished third in the 4×100 Meter Relay University with a time of (41.10). Michael Strange Jr. (49.28) and Kaseem Ibraheem-Washington (49.63) finished back-to-back, third and fourth in the 400 Meter University.

The Tiger men shared similarities with the women’s team by sweeping second, third, and fourth in the 110-meter Hurdles University when Hilton Smith, Donyea Jarmon, and Chaunkiveon Lewis respectfully took the honors. The Tigers also grabbed three of the top-five spots in the 100 Meter University. Chaunzavia Lewis took gold (10.67), William Perry captured bronze (10.80), and Henderson (10.84) finished fifth. Jose Gonzales took fourth in the 1-mile university (4:18.40). Chaunzavia Lewis, Perry, Strange Jr., and Kaseem Ibraheen-Washington team up for a second-place finish in the 4×400 Meter Relay University (3:17.08).

The Tigers didn’t leave it all on the track. It made its presence felt in the field events. Donovan Brooks got off to a great start, winning the high jump (6-0) and placing second in the Discuss (152-0), while Kellen Garion finished fifth (135-11). Garion also picked up bronze in the Hammer (126-2) as Jalen Walker won the event (155-10). Malachi Byrd grabbed the third spot in the javelin (118-4) ahead of a fourth place finish by Jaylan Johnson (112-0) and fifth place Tyree Newman (106-4). Blaine Nunn finished third in the shot put (47-10)

Texas Southern nailed down five of the top ten spots in the long jump as Donyae Castaneda took gold with a jump of (24’5.5″), Hilton Smith (22’11”) 5th, Brooks (21’3.5″) 8th, Ahmad Muhammad (21’0.75″) 9th, and Byrd (20’11.75) 10th helped.

Tigers will travel to Rice University’s next Thursday through Saturday to compete in the 41st Victor Lopez Classic.

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Before Prairie View opens against arch-rival Texas Southern in the Labor Day Classic on September 02, 2023, it will have a plan in place. Last season, the Panthers defeated Texas Southern 40-23.

The Panthers’ recent bragging rights date back to March 16, 2021, when it defeated Texas Southern twice in one year. The final decision, 20-19, and September 4, 2021, 40-17, as the Corona Virus outbreak carried an output that strained the world. 

This season’s experience is on the Panthers’ side, with 11 players named to the Phil Steele preseason all-SWAC team. Second-team running back Ahmad Antoine, quarterback Trazon Connley, and linebacker Keyshawn Johnson will provide help. The third team features offensive linemen Eric Dunn and Arrington Taylor, linebackers Trevion Green and Warren Shankle, free safety Tario Mulmore, running back Caleb Johnson, kicker Carlos Villagomez and receiver Brian Jenkins, Jr.

Duo threat Connolly led the offense last season, passing for 1,478 and 11 touchdowns. He compiled 661 rushing yards.

After day one of training camp, coach McDowell felt good about the quarterback position. All three performed well, according to McDowell. 

Still, other things could have gone better, McDowell explained.

McDowell reminded his team to avoid mental mistakes and play up to their experience ahead of its matchup versus Texas Southern. 

With 18 incoming recruits, McDowell and his staff expect to have its hands full. 

Please view the list below.

Caden Bowers | OL | 6-4| 350 lbs. | Mesquite High School | Mesquite, Texas

Pedro Da Silva | OL | 6-1| 305 lbs. | Tompkins High School | Katy, Texas

Jahiem O’Hara | OL | 6-6 | 255 lbs. | Cypress Woods HS | Cypress, Texas

Freddie Byrd | DB | 6-1| 185 lbs.| Pearl River JC | Woodville, Miss.

Treylan James | DB | 6-3 | 200 lbs. | Madison Prep Academy | Baton Rouge, La.

Jailyn Robertson | TE | 6-3| 240 lbs. | Tyler JC| Gladewater, Texas

Robert Edmonson, Jr. | LB | 6-3 | 205 lbs. | Shadow Creek High School | Pearland, Texas

Jayven Jackson | LB | 6-0 | 210 lbs.| Cypress Springs High School | Katy, Texas

Caleb Johnson | RB | 5-10| 220 lbs. | Mississippi Valley State | Memphis, Tenn.

Ronald Young | RB | 6-1 | 195 lbs. | Iowa High School | Iowa. La.

Brian Jenkins, Jr. | WR | 5-8 | 160 Ibs. | Alabama A&M | Daytona Beach, Fla.

Trealyn Porchia | WR | 6-5 | 210 lbs.| Beaumont United HS| Beaumont, Texas

Dagostino Saintal | WR | 6-2 | 195 Ibs. | West Hills CC | Coalinga, Calif.

Shemar Savage | WR | 6-3 | 215 Ibs. | Mt. Sac | Lompoc, Calif.

Tavonn Alexander | DL | 6-4 | 290 lbs.| Kilgore JC| Alexandria, La.

Calvin Pressley | DL | 6-4 | 285 lbs. | Villanova | Philadelphia, Pa.

Tiago Sumbo | DL | 6-2 | 310 lbs. | Kilgore College | Kilgore, Texas

Guillermo Garcia Rodriguez |K/P | 6-1 | 185 Ibs. | Oklahoma Baptist | Dickinson, Texas

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