Chicago State Achieve Consecutive Road Wins at Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State appears to be close to resolving its issues as it prepares for Big 12 Conference play, judging by its performance in the last four games.

Since their 70-68 defeat at Southern Illinois on December 5, the Cowboys have secured four consecutive victories and performed exceptionally from the three-point line, scoring at least 13 in each of the last three wins.

They will aim to continue this momentum on Wednesday night as they face Chicago State in their final nonconference matchup in Stillwater, Okla.

Oklahoma State (7-5) is coming off an 86-70 home triumph over South Carolina State on Sunday, where their 3-point shooting reached 48.1 percent (13 of 27), raising their season success rate to 38 percent, ranking 27th in Division I as of Monday.

Coach Mike Boynton attributes the recent success in 3-point shooting to effective ball movement. The Cowboys registered 21 assists on Sunday, marking their third consecutive game with 20 or more assists.

“I thought our offensive movement was really good when we were in motion,” he said. “And of course, I thought we once again shot from the three-point line quite effectively.”

Javon Small and Bryce Thompson are the top offensive contributors for Oklahoma State, averaging 15.5 and 12.4 points per game, respectively. Small has a 3-point shooting success rate of 44.8 percent, while Thompson is at 42.9 percent from long range.

Meanwhile, the Cougars (7-13) are facing their second game in less than 24 hours after suffering a 62-55 defeat on Tuesday night at Kansas State. Chicago State had a 30-27 lead at halftime before the Wildcats initiated an 11-2 run at the beginning of the second half, securing a lead that they maintained till the end.

Wesley Cardet Jr. led the team with 19 points on Tuesday and maintains a season average of 18.8 ppg. Jahsean Corbett, who recorded 12 points and eight rebounds at Kansas State, contributes 13 ppg and holds the team’s highest average of 7.1 rebounds.

The Cougars are the last independent team in Division I but their status will soon change. Chicago State, after departing from the Western Athletic Conference after the 2021-22 season, is set to join the Northeast Conference next season.

  1. College Sports News

    WCC to Add Grand Canyon and Seattle in 2025

    WCC adding Seattle U and Grand Canyon University

    WCC adding Seattle U and Grand Canyon University

    Seattle and Grand Canyon will be leaving the Western Athletic Conference and moving to the West Coast Conference starting July 2025.

    The nine current members of the conference are private universities with a religious affiliation. Seattle is a Jesuit institution, while Grand Canyon, situated in Phoenix, is a Christian college.

    Grand Canyon’s basketball achievements were a significant factor in attracting WCC commissioner Stu Jackson. The team has participated in the last two NCAA Tournaments and three of the previous four under the leadership of coach Bryce Drew.

    As the 12th-seeded Antelopes defeated fifth-seeded Saint Mary’s before losing to Alabama in the tournament this season.

    Saint Mary’s is currently a member of the West Coast Conference.

    The WCC, while also integrating Oregon State and Washington State this autumn (excluding football), will expand from 11 to 13 members by the 2025-26 season.

    The future beyond 2026 looks uncertain, with Oregon State and Washington State appearing unlikely to continue with the WCC.

    The former Pac-12 schools are under a two-year contract, expiring on June 30, 2026. Sources from CBS Sports suggest that the odds of the two Pacific Northwest institutions staying are slim, with a move to the Mountain West or a new conference formation being more probable.

    Following the departures of Sam Houston and New Mexico State last year, Seattle and Grand Canyon’s exit from the WAC will reduce the conference’s membership to just eight by July 2025.

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  2. College Sports News

    Ex-Cal State Fullerton G Max Jones Commits to Kansas State

    Kansas State adds athletic wing in left-handed shooter Max Jones

    Kansas State adds athletic wing in left-handed shooter Max Jones

    Former guard of Cal State Fullerton Max Jones has made a decision to join Kansas State for his upcoming collegiate season, according to reports.

    Notable alternatives that Jones purportedly pondered were New Mexico, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Florida Atlantic, and Loyola Chicago.

    During the previous season with the Titans, Jones maintained an average of 15.3 points and 3.0 rebounds across 24 games, in which he started 21. He secured the second-highest scoring position within the team, alongside being the second in 3-pointers with 42 baskets and 41 steals.

    In the season prior, Jones held an average of 12.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 32 games, amassing 34 three-pointers and 30 steals.

    Before making his way to Cal State Fullerton post the 2021-22 season, Jones spent two years at Division II Tampa, where he managed to achieve an average of 21.9 points across 21 games during his sophomore year with the Spartans.

    In the recent offseason, Kansas State acquired Dug McDaniel, a former player from Michigan recognized as one of the premier point guards available in this year’s transfer portal.

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  3. College Sports News

    Stanford Names Basketball Court in Honor of Tara VanDerveer

    View From The Top with Tara VanDerveer, Former Coach of Stanford Women’s Basketball

    View From The Top with Tara VanDerveer, Former Coach of Stanford Women’s Basketball

    Tara VanDerveer’s legacy at Stanford will now be visibly acknowledged, with the school revealing on Thursday that the basketball arena’s floor will bear the name of the esteemed Hall of Fame coach.

    At the age of 70, VanDerveer stepped down following her 38th season at the helm of the Cardinal.

    She steered Stanford to 14 Final Fours and secured three national championships (1990, 1992, 2021). VanDerveer embarked on her coaching journey at Idaho (1978-80) and later coached at Ohio State (1980-85).

    In January, she surpassed Mike Krzyzewski to clinch the title of the most successful college basketball coach in history, across both men’s and women’s teams. VanDerveer concluded with a remarkable 1,216-271 record, boasting a 1,064-220 tally with the Cardinal.

    Alongside the unveiling of the Tara VanDerveer Court at Maples Pavilion this November, Stanford also established an endowed position in women’s basketball for an assistant coach in VanDerveer’s honor.

    VanDerveer said in a statement, “This endowment will go a long way to strengthening the future of Stanford women’s basketball. I have many wonderful memories of leading the women’s basketball program at Maples Pavilion.”

    “It’s an honor, and a little surreal, to know that my name will be linked to both in these ways, and I look forward to celebrating with all our fans this fall.”

    Last month, Stanford appointed Kate Paye, one of VanDerveer’s longtime assistant coaches who played for the Cardinal from 1991-95 and began coaching under VanDerveer in 2007, as the new head coach.

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