Sports briefs
Meadows to begin racing season
The Meadows Racetrack & Casino kicks off its 2021 harness racing season today with a 13-race card beginning at 12:45 p.m.
The Meadows will race each Wednesday, Thursday and Friday through the end of March with first post at 12:45 p.m. each day. Tuesday cardswill be added in April. The multirace wagering menu includes: Pick 3 (race 2); Early Pick 4 (race 4); Pick 5 (race 8); Late Pick 4 (race 10); Super Hi-5 (day’s final race). The Super Hi-5 offers a 20-cent minimum wager while the minimum bet for the other multirace wagers listed is 50 cents.
The highlight of the racing season is the $500,000 (estimated) Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids, one of harness racing’s premier tests for 3-year-old pacers that is set for July 24 for eliminations and July 31 for the final.
College basketball
Derek Culver had 22 points and 19 rebounds to help No. 14 West Virginia come all the way back from 19 down in the second half to beat Oklahoma State 87-84 late Monday night.
Miles McBride scored 19 of his 21 points after halftime for West Virginia (2-2 Big 12, 9-3), including 14 in the final four minutes. Taz Sherman added 20 points for the Mountaineers.
Freshman star Cade Cunningham had 25 points and nine rebounds before fouling out in the final minute for Oklahoma State (1-3, 7-3). Isaac Likekele added a season-high 22 points and seven rebounds for the Cowboys.
Oklahoma State led by 10 at halftime and increased its advantage to 68-49 when Rondel Walker knocked down two free throws with 11:15 remaining. But the Mountaineers responded with a stunning 18-3 run over the next four minutes that pulled them within four and silenced the socially distanced crowd of 3,350.
- Penn State men’s basketball’s road game against Ohio State scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed because of positive COVID-19 results.
The institutions will work with the Big Ten Conference to identify rescheduling options.
- No. 6 Baylor canceled its anticipated home women’s basketball game Thursday night against No. 3 UConn after Bears coach Kim Mulkey tested positive for COVID-19.
Baylor said it began restricting team activities after Mulkey tested positive Monday, the same day she had been planning to rejoin the team.
The 58-year-old Mulkey missed Baylor’s win Saturday at TCU because of contact tracing after being exposed Christmas Day to a family member who tested positive.
WVU QB Kendall to transfer
West Virginia quarterback Austin Kendall plans to play elsewhere next season.
West Virginia football spokesman Mike Montoro confirmed Tuesday that Kendall has put his name into the NCAA’s transfer database.
Kendall came on in relief of Jarret Doege in the second half of the Liberty Bowl and threw two touchdown passes to lead the Mountaineers (6-4) to a 24-21 victory over Army. Kendall also appeared in a backup role in the season opener against Eastern Kentucky.
Kendall came to West Virginia from Oklahoma as a graduate transfer a year ago and started the first nine games, throwing for 1,989 yards with 12 TDs and 10 interceptions, before Doege finished out the 2019 season.