>>Illinois Routs Valpo In NIT First Round
(Champagne, IL) — Illinois is moving on to the second round of the NIT. Malcolm Hill had 25 points to lead the second-seeded Fighting Illini to an 82-57 win over Valparaiso in a first-round game at the State Farm Center. Leron Black added 13 points and 12 rebounds for Illinois, which will play Boise State in the second round.
>>Cactus League Roundup
(Undated) — In Cactus League play yesterday, the Cubs played to a 7-7 tie with the Brewers. Willson Contreras and Kris Bryant hit solo homers for Chicago. The White Sox suffered a 7-6 loss to the Mariners. Everth Cabrera homered and plated three in defeat. Today, the Cubs face the D’backs and the White Sox meet the Royals.
>>K-State Too Much For Wake
(Dayton, OH) — Kansas State is moving on to the Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats were too much for Wake Forest in a 95-88 win in a First Four matchup in Dayton, Ohio. K-State clashes with sixth-seed Cincinnati in the South Regional Friday in Sacramento.
>>Mount St. Mary’s Edges New Orleans
(Dayton, OH) — Mount St. Mary’s is also living to see another game in the “Big Dance.” The Mountaineers nipped New Orleans 67-66 in the other First Four game. Mount St. Mary’s reward is a date with defending champion and top overall seed Villanova in the East Regional in Buffalo tomorrow.
>>Westbrook Leads Thunder Past Nets
(Brooklyn, NY) — Russell Westbrook’s 33rd triple-double of the season led the Thunder to a 122-104 win over the Nets. Westbrook put up 25 points, 12 rebounds, and 19 assists. Westbrook is averaging 31.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 10.1 assists per game this season.
>>Blackhawks Take Over Top Spot In West
(Montreal, Quebec) — There’s a new leader in the NHL’s Western Conference. The Blackhawks took over the top spot with a 4-2 win over the Canadiens. Chicago moved a point ahead of Minnesota with the victory. The ‘Hawks have won 14 of their last 17 games.
>>Seahawks Agree To One-Year Deal With Lacy
(Seattle, WA) — The Seahawks are adding a big body to their backfield. Seattle has agreed to a one-year deal with running back Eddie Lacy. The 26-year-old Lacy spent his first four NFL seasons with the Packers. He appeared in only five games last year due to an ankle injury.