WWAY’s Tuesday night sports – March 18

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Tuesday night scoreboard

Girls Lacrosse
Ashley 20
New Hanover 12

Felecity Havens led the Eagles with 7 goals
Peyton LeCompte added 6 goals
Lucy Watkins and Campbell Cooper had 4 goals each for New Hanover

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DAYTON, OH (AP) — T.J. Warren scored 16 of his 25 points in the second half on Tuesday night, showing why he was the ACC’s player of the year, and North Carolina State led most of the way in a 74-59 victory over Xavier in the NCAA tournament’s First Four.

N.C. State (22-12) didn’t have much time to celebrate. The 12th-seeded Wolfpack headed to Orlando, Fla., for a game on Thursday against St. Louis in the Midwest Regional.

Warren had the most to do with it. The sensational sophomore made up for a freshman tournament flop on the same floor a year earlier, preventing Xavier (21-14) from getting any traction in the second half.

Center Matt Stainbrook led Xavier with 19 points and nine rebounds despite an injured left knee.

Warren and N.C. State took all the drama out of it in the last 11 minutes, helping the Wolfpack pull away.

(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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GREENVILLE, NC (ECU) — East Carolina saw its season come to an end on Tuesday evening, falling to Wright State, 73-59, in the opening round of the 2014 CollegeInsiders.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.

Prince Williams led the Pirates with 20 points on a 7-of-9 shooting and pulled down a team-high six rebounds and Michael Zangari scored 14 more on a 5-of-6 night from the floor.

Wright State (21-14) opened the game with a 7-0 run to the first media timeout, but Akeem Richmond’s first of only two 3-pointers on the night finally got ECU (17-17) on the board nearly five minutes into the contest. Zangari brought ECU within one at 18-17 with 8:07 left to play in the first half after converting a three-point play, but the Raiders answered with another 7-0 spurt to increase its lead to eight.

Following Zangari’s bucket with 8:07 on the clock, East Carolina endured a near six and a half minute field goal drought that was broken with 1:38 to go. Wright State used that time to its advantage and took a 31-24 lead into halftime.

The Pirates shot 8-for-24 (.333) from the floor and 3-for-12 (.250) from 3-point range in the opening 20 minutes. The Raiders shot 11-for-20 (.550) overall and 5-for-10 (.500) from beyond the arc.

ECU cut its deficit to three at 33-30 in the first two minutes of the second half, but Wright State continued its hot shooting by making five of its first seven shots in the period to generate a 13-0 run and take a 16-point lead with 14:57 left in the game.

Williams found a groove and scored eight of the Pirates’ next nine points to bring East Carolina back within 10, 50-40, with 12:30 to play, but the Raiders kept their lead in double digits until a 7-0 scoring spurt capped by a Williams jumper with 4:55 remaining brought the Pirates within four of Wright State, 61-57.

The Pirates could draw no closer however, as they went scoreless over the ensuing four minutes, resulting in the 14-point defeat.

ECU finished the night 20-for-50 (.400) overall from the field and just 4-for-23 (.174) from downtown. Wright State shot a scorching 61.4 percent (27-44) overall, 60.0 percent (9-15) from 3.

The Raiders placed four in double-figure scoring, led by A.J. Pacher’s 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting, while Matt Vest added 12 points, six rebounds and five assists.

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CONWAY, SC (CCU) — The Coastal Carolina University men’s basketball team is headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 21 years. The Chanticleers earned a 16 seed in the East Region and will face the No. 1 seed Virginia at 9:25 p.m. on Friday, March 21. The Chants and Cavaliers have met twice on the hardwood but not since Dec. 22, 2003 when Virginia won 89-74 in Charlottesville, Va.

The Chanticleers are making their third appearance in the NCAA Tournament and first since 1993. Coastal’s first trip to the tournament came in 1991. CCU defeated Augusta College 89-54 in the Big South Tournament Championship game and advanced to a play-in game against Jackson State. Coastal defeated the Tigers 78-59 to earn its first trip to the “Big Dance.” CCU drew the 15 seed in the Southeast Region and took on the second-seeded Indiana Hoosiers. The game took place in Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky. Indiana led by 16 at halftime but senior Brian Penny scored 25 points for Chanticleers in the second half and cut the lead to just three with 2:55 left in the game. The Hoosiers answered with a three and then hit free throws down the stretch to win the game 79-69. Penny went on to be named the CBS/Chevrolet Player of the Game.

CCU’s second trip came in 1993. Coastal defeated Winthrop University in the Big South Tournament Championship 78-65 to earn a berth into the NCAA Tournament. Coastal earned a 16-seed in the West Region where it faced the number one seed Michigan. The “Fab Five” were sophomores in 1993 and defeated the Chanticleers 84-53 en route to a NCAA Championship game appearance. CCU’s Mohammed Acha was named the CBS/Chevrolet Player of the Game.

Head coach Cliff Ellis is just the 10th coach in NCAA Division I history to lead four different programs in the NCAA Tournament and holds a career 6-7 record in the NCAA Tournament. He has taken two teams to the “Sweet 16” including his 1990 Clemson squad and his 1999 Auburn team.

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MEMPHIS, TN (MEMPHIS TIGERS) — The University of Memphis will play George Washington Friday in the Second Round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in Raleigh, N.C. The Tigers (23-9) learned their fate during the Division I Men’s Basketball Selection Show broadcast by March Madness Live and CBS on Sunday.

Memphis is the East Region’s No. 8 seed. The winner of Friday’s game between No. 9 seed George Washington and the Tigers will take on the winner of Friday’s game pitting No. 1 Virginia vs. No. 16 Coastal Carolina on Sunday. The games in Raleigh will be played at PNC Arena.

Times for Thursday and Friday’s NCAA Second Round games are still to be determined.

Memphis will be playing in the NCAA Tournament for the eighth time in the last nine seasons and 10th time in the last 12 years.

The Tigers are one of four teams from the American Athletic Conference to receive bids to the 2014 NCAA Tournament. This is Memphis’ 26th overall NCAA Tournament appearance. The Tigers have a 33-25 record in NCAA Tournament play. In its history, Memphis had made three Final Four appearances (1973, 1985, 2008), six Elite Eights and 11 Sweet Sixteens.

Memphis advances to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-straight year under head coach Josh Pastner. Last year Memphis was placed in the Midwest Regional. The Tigers defeated Saint Mary’s 54-52 before falling to Michigan State 70-48 in Second and Third Round games played in Auburn Hills, Mich.

This is Pastner’s 17th trip to the NCAA Tournament in his 18 seasons in college basketball as a player, staff member, assistant coach and head coach. During his time at Arizona, Pastner was part of 13-straight trips to the NCAA Tournament (1997-2008), including the 1997 NCAA championship squad. He was an assistant on the Memphis staff when the Tigers advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 2009.

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WINSTON-SALEM, NC (ST. AUG RELEASE) — Led by the strength of its sprinters and two first place finishes by DeJon Wilkinson, Saint Augustine’s University claimed the NCAA Division II Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championship at the JDL Fast Track on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

The title is the latest achievement in the illustrious history of the famed St. Aug track and field program. The Falcons have won 13 men’s indoor crowns and 34 national championships overall under legendary Head Coach George Williams.

“It’s always a team effort,” remarked an ecstatic Williams. “Every championship is a different championship. I have a good group of kids who believed. When they believe, they can conceive. It was very close, but we pulled it out.”

The Falcons scored 84.50 points to earn the title. Adams State was second with 83 points and Ashland finished third with 48 points. In the women’s division, Adams State was the winner with 67 points followed by fellow CIAA member Johnson C. Smith with 59 points and Lincoln (Mo.) with 47 points.

The Falcons produced two national individual champions in the running events. Ty’reak Murray won the 60 meter hurdles while Roxroy Cato captured the 400 meter dash.

Heading into the 3000m, the Falcons had a 12 point lead, but at that point it was still very close. Adams State placed three in the top eight of the 3000m, giving them a slim five point lead with two events to go. It came down to placement in the men’s high jump which was still being contested. Eddie Shelton finished tied for seventh giving him 1.5 points. Adams State’s Justin Bethea cleared the bar at 6-11 ¾ giving him a fourth place finish and more importantly five points.

Once the 3000m was over, the Falcons knew all they had to do was win the 4×400 meter relay. They did so in convincing fashion (3.14.10) to win their signature event and claim the ultimate prize of the national championship.

The Falcons, who entered Saturday with sixteen points, got off to a brilliant start. DeJon Wilkinson won the triple jump and David Shaw Jr. was fourth to give the Falcons 15 points in the first event. Wilkinson leaped 51-10 and Shaw Jr. jumped 49-8 ½.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Williams of Wilkinson who won the field most valuable player award. “He’s a good kid and he deserves it. Hopefully he continues to have a stellar career.”

Then Cato won the 400m dash (47.66) alongside Josh Edmonds who placed fourth (47.94). Ty’reak Murray won a tight race in the 60 hurdles. He ran 7.78 to hold off Dennis Bain of Claflin, who was second in 7.79. Moussa Dembele of the Falcons placed eighth in the event in 8.72, giving the Falcons 11 more points and moving them closer to Adams State’s lead.

Jones, Edmonds, and Burkheart Ellis, Jr. gave the Falcons their first lead when the trio finished fourth, fifth, and eighth in the 200m. The only event left was the 4×400 meter relay and the Falcons won that event in grand fashion.

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RALEIGH, NC (ST. AUG RELEASE) — Saint Augustine’s University garnered three of the four Division II men’s Atlantic Region indoor track & field awards given by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday, March 10, 2014.

Sophomore sprinter Jermaine Jones (Wilmington, NC) was named Track Athlete of the Year and senior triple jumper DeJon Wilkinson (Summerville, SC) was chosen Field Athlete of the Year. The legendary George Williams was selected Head Coach of the Year. The awards winners were selected by the USTFCCCA member coaches.

Jones is the top-ranked Division II sprinter in the men’s 200 meters at 21.31 seconds. He is also tied for 10th in the nation in the 60 meters. The track and football standout swept both events at the CIAA Indoor Championships and won the 200 at the Virginia Tech Invitational this season. The 2013 USTFCCCA Division II Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, Jones was the anchor on the record-setting 4×100 relay team which ran a blistering 38.91 seconds at the 2013 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships in Pueblo, Colo.

Wilkinson is the top-ranked Division II men’s triple jumper with a leap of 52-6½, which is tied for 10th best in Division II history. He also ranks 12th in Division II in the men’s long jump this season. Wilkinson is the CIAA indoor champion in the triple jump and finished fourth in the long jump.

Williams led St. Aug to its 17th straight CIAA men’s title this year. St. Aug also won its 17th CIAA women’s crown in 18 seasons. The defending NCAA men’s indoor champions, the Falcons are second nationally in the men’s rankings entering the 2014 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships this weekend in Winston-Salem, N.C. They are tied with the second-most men’s entries (17) in the NCAA Championships, which will be held at JDL Fast Track on Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15.

St. Aug has won 33 NCAA Division II men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor titles combined under Williams.

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WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — It’s official. The PGA Tour is coming to Wilmington.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem announced today that the Wells Fargo Championship will be played in 2017 at Eagle Point Golf Club.

“We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to showcase Wilmington to the rest of the world, and bottom line, we are going to knock it out of the park,” Eagle Point president Bobby Long said.

Long, who has served as chairman of the foundation that runs the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, said the team at Eagle Point is well into planning for logistics, including things like parking and the volunteers that will be needed. He said the exposure Wilmington should get out of the international broadcast of the Wells Fargo Championship should be a big positive for the area.

The news came during an announcement that the Wells Fargo Championship will continue to be played at Charlotte’s Quail Hollow Club through 2019. That course will host the PGA Championship in 2017, which made moving the Wells Fargo to Wilmington necessary.

“We are fortunate to have such an outstanding facility as Eagle Point to serve as our home for 2017,” Finchem said.

Finchem said he is personally excited about the PGA’s return to the Port City because he attended his first professional golf tournament as an 8-year-old in Wilmington watching Arnold Palmer play in the Azalea Open.

This will mark the PGA’s first tour stop in Wilmington since the last Azalea Open in 1970. The tournament was an unofficial PGA event in 1971.

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WILMINGTON, NC (UNCW) -– Sophomore Christine Kharkevich (pronounced Cark-ah-vich) of UNCW has been selected the Colonial Athletic Association’s women’s tennis singles Player-of-the-Week.
The Houston, Texas, product rolled past North Carolina Central’s Ekaterina Nekrasova, 6-0, 7-5, at No. 3 singles in the Seahawks’ 6-1 dismantling of the Eagles last week. Kharkevich has reeled off eight straight matches while playing at the No. 3, 4 and 5 spots and stands 10-1 overall this spring.

The Seahawks carry an 8-3 record and three-match winning streak into Saturday’s 2 p.m. match against Colonial Athletic Association rival Towson at the UNCW courts.