Facility record headlines Beavers' day at UND Tune-Up
Feb. 23—GRAND FORKS, N.D. — The Bemidji State women's track and fiels team earned nine top-10 finishes at this year's North Dakota Tune-Up in Grand Forks, N.D., this Friday.
Sophie Rylance found her third event win of the season, marking a personal best and setting the new facility record in the 1000-meter run.
The Beavers now prepare for the final indoor meet of the season, the NSIC Indoor Championships, held at Minnesota State Feb. 27 and 28. The top three finishers in each event will earn All-NSIC recognition this season, along with the top three finishers in each relay event.
Kings end 16-game skid as Westbrook and Achiuwa lead the way in 123-114 win over Grizzlies
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Russsell Westbrook scored 25 points and Precious Achiuwa had 22 points and 12 rebounds as the Sacramento Kings snapped a 16-game losing streak — the longest in franchise history — with a 123-114 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
DeMar DeRozan and Daeqwon Plowden finished with 20 points each, with Plowden scoring 10 in the fourth quarter. Sacramento has the NBA's worst record and hadn't won since beating Washington on Jan. 16.
Javon Smalls led Memphis with 21 points and nine assists. Olivier-Maxence Prosper had 17 points and GG Jackson added 16 points.
The Grizzlies fought back to take the lead lead early in the third quarter, but the Kings answered with an 18-6 rally to build the game's first double-digit lead midway through the period.
Sacramento led 92-89 entering the fourth and took a comfortable advantage with a 15-4 run capped by a 3-pointer from Westbrook with 8:45 left.
Injuries to key players have left both teams pivoting to the future. Memphis sits in 11th place in the Western Conference and has played most games with lineups cobbled together from available players. Eight Grizzlies were on the injured list for Monday's matchup.
The Kings led 63-61 at the half as both teams shot better than 54%. With the Grizzlies lacking an active player taller than the 6-foot-9 Jackson, Sacramento's height advantage was apparent as Achiuwa had 14 points and 11 rebounds before the break.
Up next
Kings: Visit Houston on Wednesday night.
Grizzlies: Host Golden State on Wednesday night.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Pelicans' Dejounte Murray praises Jeremiah Fears: 'He is the future'
Jeremiah Fears has emerged as a franchise cornerstone for the New Orleans Pelicans, and the rookie guard recently earned some praise from veteran teammate Dejounte Murray.
Fears is averaging 13.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 31.4% from 3-point range in 58 appearances. He is fifth among all rookies in scoring and is one of four first-year players with at least 10 20-point games.
Murray is expected to make his season debut on Tuesday after recovering from a right Achilles rupture sustained on Jan. 31, 2025. Watching from afar, the 10th-year guard has been impressed with Fears and is eager to play alongside him.
He is the future. He is going to be great. My job is to continue to be a pro, work on my game and show him what it looks like. He is a confident young man. But he has just got to understand that there are a lot of ups and downs and he has got to enjoy his journey. We were all at that point and he will get to where he wants to go, as long as he continues to be a sponge and work on his game.
Fears earlier this season became the fourth-youngest player in history to register three consecutive 20-point performances, trailing Cooper Flagg, Kevin Durant and LeBron James (19 years, 51 days). It was the third-longest streak by a Pelicans rookie.
The seventh overall pick has filled in as a starter and reserve this season for Pelicans interim coach James Borrego. He is now providing valuable minutes off the bench, with his scoring, playmaking and ability to run the offense on the court.
Fears will now have the luxury of learning from Murray on and off the court, thanks to his work ethic and knowledge of the game. Borrego sees similarities between Fears and Murray, and believes his return to the court will only further help their first-year guard.
"It is on Fears to watch him," Borrego said. "I think that communication: Pick Dejounte's brain, watch him, sit by him, emulate exactly what he is doing out there on the floor. I think, if he does that, that is a great mentor to have as an example, but also someone he can talk to within the game. I think it is only going to elevate Fears' growth and development."
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Pelicans news: Borrego reveals how Dejounte Murray can help Fears