Associated Press

As a big, beefy kid, Jared Sullinger adapted his game to the competition.

Playing with his brothers and older kids, he was a mini Magic, working what everyone in the neighborhood called the slow break, lingering around the perimeter when the action turned into a half-court game.

Salina Journal

Rodney McGruder is making a habit of putting his best foot forward against Texas.

Fortunately for the Kansas State Wildcats, that foot appears to be healing just in time.

Salina Journal

To their chagrin. the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes had little time to celebrate their 78-67 upset of Southwestern on Thursday.

The victory ended a 19-game losing streak and was KWU's first win since Nov. 15 against Peru State (Neb.).

Salina Journal

Shelby Babcock couldn't believe what her coach, Gordon Reimer, was saying during Wednesday's practice session in advance of Kansas Wesleyan's crucial Kansas Conference game Thursday against No. 17-ranked Southwestern.

"(Wednesday) was a tough practice,'' Babcock said. "Every mistake we were getting yelled at. He said if we don't play hard we're going to get beat by 50. You take that to heart. 'We're not going to lose by 50, coach.' I think that really motivated us. We never want that to happen.''

Salina Journal

Seth Smith didn't quite know what to say. But the smile on his face said plenty.

So did the scoreboards in Mabee Arena.

LINDSBORG -- Trenton Stutzman continued his shooting roll of recent weeks Thursday night as the 6-0 Hutchinson senior splashed nine 3-point goals on his way to 33 points as he shot the Sterling Warriors past Bethany, 87-66, in Hahn Gym.

But Stutzman wasn't all that the Warriors turned loose on the Swedes. When Stutzman wasn't draining the long ball from NBA range, Cody Brazelton and Adam Brown were doing it inside, combining for 34 more points.

"It's a nice inside-outside combination," said Dean Jaderston, Sterling coach. "Trent can stretch the floor which means it's hard for the doubles (teams) to come. (Brazelton and Brown) are so athletic they can play above the rim or they can get to the rim from the perimeter."

Salina Journal

When Penn Valley made one final run at Brown Mackie and the Lions needed a steady hand, they turned to sophomore guard James Brown.

The rest of the time, Adam Mughmaw and Thaddeus Rideau provided all the necessary firepower.

The Associated Press

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A M has had trouble maintaining its intensity once it gained big leads this season.

On Wednesday night they finally fixed that problem.

San Francisco Chronicle

CARMEL, Calif. -- Tiger Woods showing up at the Pebble Beach AT T Pro-Am after 10 years away creates a buzz. It's kind of like Elvis (if he were alive) showing up to perform at a convention of Elvis impersonators.

Ticket sales for the tournament are up 30 percent to 35 percent, officials say. Their quirky little event is the center of the golf world this weekend, because, you never know, this could be the rebirth of Woods' legend.

AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND -- Chauncey Billups will only watch as the Clippers continue their promising season without him.

This isn't going to be easy.

AP College Football Writer

The Big East has acquired all the pieces needed to build a new coast-to-coast conference. Putting them all together, though, is going to take a while.

The conference wanted to rebuild itself into a 12-team football league that can hold a championship game, and Memphis officially became that 12th member on Wednesday when it accepted an invite it has long coveted.

Salina Journal

Kansas Wesleyan's postseason aspirations will be greatly impacted during the final 10 days of the Kansas Conference regular season, starting tonight with a game against conference co-leader Southwestern at Mabee Arena. Tip-off is 6 p.m.

The Coyote women are tied with Sterling for third place at 9-5. They play McPherson (8-6) on Saturday at Mabee Arena and close out the regular season next week with games at Friends (12-2) on Feb. 16 and Ottawa (8-6) on Feb. 18.