SYDNEY (AP) — Order restored. After losing for the first time in nearly 13 years two days earlier, the United States rebounded to outclass Canada 84-68 in a pre-World Cup exhibition basketball game Monday.

At the same arena where the Americans won Olympic gold at the Sydney 2000 Games the U.S. never trailed, leading 20-9 after the first quarter and 46-31 at halftime.

On Saturday, Australia stunned the U.S. 98-94 before a crowd of more than 52,000 in Melbourne, a result that ended the Americans’ 78-game winning streak.

The U.S. is missing top NBA players such as LeBron James, James Harden, Paul George and Stephen Curry. It was a dour scoring game after the exciting Saturday result in Melbourne, with both teams committing numerous turnovers Monday.

Jaylen Brown had 19 points to lead the Americans, who out-rebounded Canada 55-37. Donovan Mitchell added 12 points and four assists; Kemba Walker scored 12 points and Myles Turner finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds.

“We have to speed up that learning curve,” Brown said of the Americans with less than a week to go before the World Cup starts. “We have a lot of room for growth. It’s going to be good when it comes together, the sky is the limit for this group.”

Kyle Wiltjer had 21 points for Canada, while Orlando Magic forward Khem Birch — Canada’s lone NBA player in the game — had 13 points and six rebounds.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do, but we’ve enjoyed our time here,” Wiltjer said. “Let’s not forget these are practice games.”

Overall, the Canadians shot just 35% from the field and 6-for-23 (26 from three-point range.

Andrew Nembhard, who injured his knee last week, and Kaza Kajami-Keane (ankle) both returned for Canada, while Brady Heslip, a late arrival for the Canadians, played his first game in Australia.

The last time the Americans — counting major international tournaments and exhibitions with NBA players on the floor — lost a game was the semifinals of the 2006 world championships. The American program has won gold in every competition since, including three straight in the Olympics and two consecutive World Cup titles.

Still, Monday’s performance by the Americans was far from perfect. The U.S. made 19 turnovers — six more than Canada. It has now had double-digit numbers in turnovers in each of their exhibition games.

″’Tonight was another good lesson for them to realize what the mindset has to be going into these games,” U.S. coach Gregg Popovich said. “There’s a lot of improvement we can make I think. We’ve got good potential there if we continue to execute better than we are now. We competed, that wasn’t a problem but skill execution takes time.”

___

TIP-INS

Canada: It was the third head-to-head meeting between Canada coach Nick Nurse and Popovich. They went 1-1 against each other in NBA play last season, Nurse’s Toronto Raptors losing in San Antonio on Jan. 3 but beating Popovich’s Spurs in Canada on Feb. 22. Canada finished 4-3 in its pre-World Cup exhibitions, starting with a split of a two-game series with Nigeria before five games in Australia.

USA: The Americans finished their four-game World Cup warm-up tour 3-1 after beating Spain and splitting two games with Australia. The U.S. is planning to stay in Sydney until mid-week, then arrive in Shanghai early Thursday.

LOVING LOPEZ

Not even the Americans could figure out why Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks center, became a massive fan favorite late in the game. The 15,000-crowd began chanting: “We want Lopez” and “Loooppppeezzz.” And every time Lopez — who spent most of the game on the bench — was shown on the big video screen, the crowd erupted.

Popovich put him into the game in the closing minutes, to a huge roar of approval.

“He was trying to fight it a bit but he finally acquiesced,” Lopez said of his coach.

“What the hell was that all about?” Popovich said, smiling. “We screwed with it for a while, we were trying to keep our focus, because we don’t want to make anything silly. But, it got so ridiculous, that we finally, we succumbed to the crowd.”

NURSE TOUR

Nurse is getting the full tour of the other side of the world this year. The Canadians have been in Australia for a week or so, and now head to China for the World Cup. Then, Nurse will be in Japan when the world champion Raptors (albeit now without NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard) play preseason games against Houston on Oct. 8 and Oct. 10.

UP NEXT

Canada: Opens World Cup play Sept. 1 vs. Australia in Dongguan, China.

USA: Opens World Cup play Sept. 1 vs. Czech Republic in Shanghai.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Marcus Semien homered, tripled and drove in a career-high seven runs as the Oakland Athletics set season highs for runs and hits in a 19-4 thrashing of the Kansas City Royals on Monday night.

Jurickson Profar, Matt Chapman and Khris Davis also went deep for the A’s, who are locked in a tight race with Cleveland and Tampa Bay for the two American League wild cards. Josh Phegley drove in three runs and scored three times. Four players had three hits and every starter got at least one as Oakland finished with 22.

Seth Brown singled in the first two at-bats of his big league career, scored twice and drove in a run.

Homer Bailey (12-8) threw six innings, allowing three runs and eight hits, to get the win against his former team.

Oakland scored five runs in both the second and third, backed by Semien’s big hits.

Royals starter Brad Keller (7-14) lasted just 1 1/3 innings, exiting after Semien’s bases-loaded triple put Oakland up 5-0. After retiring his first four hitters, Keller let six straight reach — including three consecutive walks that forced in two runs prior to Semien’s triple.

Brett Phillips curled his first home run of the season, a two-run shot, inside the right field foul pole in the bottom of the inning.

Semien punctuated the five-run third with a two-out, three-run homer. And the A’s kept right on scoring. Matt Olson ripped a two-run double in the fifth and Profar added a solo shot in the sixth to make it 15-3. Oakland scored in every inning except the first.

Royals outfielder Alex Gordon made his first career appearance on the mound, throwing 1 1/3 innings giving up three runs on five hits. Gordon walked off to a standing ovation from Royals fans.

Kansas City infielder Humberto Arteaga pitched the final 1 2/3 innings and allowed just a solo home run to Davis in the ninth.

Bubba Starling had three hits for the Royals.

CANHA EARNS AL HONOR

Oakland outfielder Mark Canha hit .474 (9 for 19) with four home runs and seven RBI in five games last week en route to being selected the American League player of the week. Canha has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball in August, batting .370 with five homers and 15 RBI.

HOME PLATE UMP LEAVES EARLY

Plate umpire Chris Guccione left the game with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. He was hit in the mask by a foul ball earlier. First base ump Mike Everitt took over behind home plate.

ROSTER MOVE

The Athletics placed OF Stephen Piscotty on the 10-day injured list with a sprained right ankle and called up Brown from Triple-A Las Vegas. Brown made his major league debut, starting in left field.

The 27-year-old Brown was second in the minor leagues this season with 37 home runs and 104 RBI.

To make room on the 40-man roster, Oakland designated OF Nick Martini for assignment.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Manager Ned Yost said LHP Danny Duffy will likely start on Saturday. Duffy has been on the injured list since Aug. 6 with a left hamstring strain. He threw five innings Sunday for Double-A Northwest Arkansas, allowing one run and four hits. … Yost also said he expects SS Adalberto Mondesi to rejoin the team on Sept. 1, when the rosters expand. Mondesi hasn’t played since July 16 because of a shoulder injury.

UP NEXT

The teams play the second game of their four-game series Tuesday night. Mike Montgomery (3-6) pitches for Kansas City against Mike Fiers (12-3).

 MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State head coach Bruce Weber announced changes to his coaching staff on Monday (August 26), which included the promotion ofMike Furlong to director of student-athlete development and the additions of Jordan Henriquez-Roberts, Mason Schoen and Nate Michael as graduate student managers.

“We are excited to promote Mike into the role of director of student-athlete development,” said Weber. “He has been a part of our program as both a graduate assistant and as our video coordinator these last four years, so he knows what we expect from our players on and off the court. I know that he will continue to demand the same type of excellence from our players both in the classroom and in the community.”

Furlong, who enters his fifth season on the coaching staff, was elevated to director of student-athlete development after a two-year stint (2017-19) as video coordinator. He previously served as a graduate student manager (2015-17) after his playing career (2011-15) at Division II Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan.

Furlong has been a part of 88 wins during his time on the coaching staff, including back-to-back 25-win seasons, a Big 12 regular-season title (2018-19) and three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

In his position as the director of student-athlete development, Furlong will be responsible for a variety of areas, including basketball-related matters, handling special projects for the coaching staff and assisting with community service projects and the Life Skills program. He will also be involved in student-athlete academic development as well as career planning and goal setting.

Furlong earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing management from Hillsdale in June 2015, while he received his Master’s degree in Academic Advising from Kansas State in 2017.

Furlong replaces former Wildcat Shane Southwell, who left to be an assistant coach at Robert Morris.

“We’re obviously excited for Shane that he is getting the opportunity to be a full-time assistant coach at such a young age,” said Weber. “I have said before that I knew as a player that he was going to be an excellent coach. He has a great feel and IQ for the game of basketball. Once he got the experience working with USA Basketball at the FIBA World Cup, I knew it wouldn’t be long before he would get a chance at a full-time coaching position.”

Former Wildcats Henriquez-Roberts (2009-13) and Schoen (2014-18) return to K-State as graduate student managers, along with Michael, who recently concluded his playing career at Division II McKendree College in Lebanon, Illinois.

“It’s always great when former players want to come back to the program and join the coaching profession,” said Weber. “Jordan and Mason have been a part of some of the most successful teams in K-State history and they know what it takes to be successful in our championship culture. Nate is someone that I have known for a long time with his dad, Tom, having played and worked at Illinois. He enjoyed an impressive playing career at McKendree, finishing among the best in several categories, and brings a solid understanding of the game.”

Henriquez-Roberts is a part of the winningest senior class in school history (101-38) and just the second class in school history to advance to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013). He collected more than 500 points (589) and 500 rebounds (562) in his 126-game playing career to go with a school-record 210 blocked shots.

A native of Baldwin, New York, Henriquez-Roberts still reigns as the leader in nearly every category for blocked shots, including single season (77 in 2011-12) and career (210) records and the most by a sophomore (43), junior (77) and senior (64) in school history.

As a senior in 2012-13, Henriquez-Roberts helped the Wildcats to a 27-win season and their first conference championship in 36 seasons in Weber’s first season as head coach. He averaged 5.0 points on 50.7 percent shooting to go with 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.

Upon his graduation from K-State, Henriquez-Roberts played professional in the G-League (Rio Grande Valley and Westchester) as well as internationally in pro leagues in Finland, Germany, Japan, Argentina, Panama, Uruguay, Vietnam and Mexico. Most recently, he played for Rayos de Hermosillo in the Mexican pro league CIBACOPA in 2018, averaging 14.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.

The only senior on the 2017-18 Wildcat squad that advanced to the Elite Eight, Schoen returns to his alma mater after spending the past season (2018-19) as a graduate assistant at Clemson. He helped the Tigers post a 20-14 overall record, including a 9-9 mark in the rugged Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and advance to the second round of the Postseason NIT.

A native of Overland Park, Kansas, Schoen played a significant leadership role as a four-year walk-on, guiding the Wildcats to consecutive 20-win seasons and NCAA Tournament appearances as a junior and senior, including serving as co-captain during the run to the Elite Eight. An eight-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll, he was twice named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team (2017, 2018).

Schoen earned two bachelor’s degrees as an undergraduate at K-State, including a finance degree in May 2017 and a marketing degree in May 2018 while also taking classes towards an MBA.

Michael just concluded a five-year playing career (2014-19) at McKendree College in Lebanon, Illinois, where he finished 22^nd on the Bearcats’ all-time scoring list with 1,528 points. One of the school’s best all-around shooters, he drained 226 three-pointers in his career, which ranks sixth on the program’s career chart, while he connected on 86.2 percent (344-of-399) from the free throw line, which ranks fifth all-time at the school.

As a junior in 2017-18, Michael poured in a school-record 51 points in the school’s regular-season finale at Quincy University on February 24, 2018 to break the 62-year-old school mark of 47 by Rich Herrin. As a fifth-year senior in 2018-19, he led the Bearcats in multiple categories, including scoring (13.8 ppg.), 3-point field goals (66), free throw percentage (91.3), to go along with averages of 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 31.3 minutes per game. He also set the single season mark for free throw percentage at 91.3 percent (84-of-92).

Michael earned Master’s degree in Psychology (2018) and an MBA (2019) while at McKendree.

A native of St. Joseph, Illinois, Michael finished as the career leader in 3-point field goals (192) at St. Joseph-Ogden High School with 1,244 points. He was a first team All-State selection as a senior in 2013-14, averaging 18 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists per game.

Michael’s father, Tom, who is currently the director of athletics at Eastern Illinois, played basketball at Illinois (1991-94) before spending 12 years (2001-14) in various roles at his alma mater.

–www.kstatesports.com–

TOM GILBERT
Director for Men’s Basketball Communications | K-State Athletics

WACO, Texas – Coming off a second-consecutive MIAA Championship in 2018, Fort Hays State Football enters the 2019 season ranked No. 11 in the AFCA Division II Top 25 Poll, released by the organization on Monday (Aug. 26). Fort Hays State finished 9-3 overall in 2018 and seeks a third-straight conference title, as well as a berth in the NCAA Division II Playoffs for a third-straight year.

The Tigers produced their two-highest win totals in program history each of the last two years. The 2017 team won a school-record 11 games, finishing at 11-1 overall, while the 2018 team’s nine wins is second most. Over the two-year span, FHSU is 20-4 overall, including a 20-2 mark in MIAA play. Fort Hays State finished at No. 22 in the AFCA Poll last year.

Defending national champion Valdosta State (Ga.) starts the year at No. 1 in the nation. The Blazers went undefeated last year to win the national title, knocking off Ferris State (Mich.) in the national title game. Ferris State starts the year at No. 2.

Fort Hays State is one of two MIAA programs in the Top 25 of the poll, joining Northwest Missouri State. The Bearcats are No. 6 in the nation to start the year. The Tigers are the highest-ranked team of any in the poll that finished with less than 10 wins overall last year. FHSU claimed the last two meetings with Northwest Missouri over the past two years, both wins occurring in Maryville. FHSU and NWMSU will meet in Week 10 for the fourth straight year, but this time in Hays on November 9. The perennially strong MIAA looks to end a two-year drought of having a member reach the national championship game after Northwest Missouri won national titles in both 2015 and 2016.

The MIAA looks to be tough once again this year with six teams referenced in the AFCA Poll. FHSU and NWMSU are inside the Top 25, while four other teams are in the receiving votes section. That group includes Pittsburg State (65 pts), Central Missouri (15 pts), Emporia State (11 pts), and Central Oklahoma (9 pts). Five of the six finished with at least eight wins last year.

Fort Hays State will open the season with one of the six referenced in the poll, heading to Central Missouri in Week 1 on Thursday, September 5. The Mules were very close to upsetting the Tigers in the season opener last year in Hays. Down by 10 with five minutes to go in the game, the Tigers rallied for a pair of touchdowns and won 20-16. The Tigers’ home opener is set for September 12 against Missouri Western.

See the AFCA Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll below.

*Indicates Ranking in 2018 Final AFCA Division II Poll.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs lost backup quarterback Chad Henne to a fractured ankle in their penultimate preseason game, and they signed veteran Matt Moore on Monday to provide depth behind starter Patrick Mahomes.

Henne will have surgery on the ankle he broke during Saturday night’s game against San Francisco.

The Chiefs have two other quarterbacks on their roster in Chase Litton and Kyle Shurmur, but neither has distinguished himself in the preseason. The two were competing for a No. 3 job behind Mahomes and Henne, with Shurmur appearing to have the edge heading into Thursday night’s game in Green Bay.

The 35-year-old Moore sat out last season after playing 10 seasons with the Dolphins and Panthers. He started 30 games and threw 45 touchdown passes with 36 interceptions.

Monday Morning Sports with KWBW’s Rob Dreher.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Hutchinson Community College Sports calendar start off on Monday with Rion Rhoades Dragon Talk Show with Rob Dreher on KWBW Radio (1450am/98.5fm) at 6:00pm.  Friday is a full day to start the weekend with soccer facing Redlands CC at the Salthawk Soccer Comples at 6pm.  Volleyball returns home to take on Dodge City at 6:30 pm at the Sports Arena.  Fun Valley will be the site of the Cross Country Terry Masterson Twighlight event from 8:30-9:15 pm.  Saturday is the home opener for Blud Dragon Football at high noon when the Dragons face Independence CC at Gowens Stadium.  Countdown to kickoff begins at 11:30 pm on KHUT 102.9 fm/KWBW 1450 am/98.5 fm.  Then the week wraps up with Soccer vs Navarro Texas at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.

Steve Carpenter – Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Locked in a tough defensive battle, the only mistake the Hutchinson Community College women’s soccer team made ended being a big one on Saturday afternoon.

Indian Hills scored in the 72nd minute and in a game where shot attempts were at a premium, the Warriors defeated the Blue Dragons 1-0 at Don Michael Field to close out opening weekend.

The Blue Dragons were playing shorthanded as injuries limited the use of the bench. Add to that fact that each team’s overall speed negated any true offensive possession. There were a combined 13 shot attempts and only six made it on goal.

But in the middle stages of the second half, the Warriors struck.

Kiri Chiba played a long ball into the box. Hutchinson goalkeeper Chiara Soergel came out to play the ball, but Indian Hills’ Miranda Kurtt beat her to the ball and headed home the game’s only goal into the lower right corner.

Other than that, Hutchinson’s defense was superb, limiting the Warriors to just seven total shots, four were on goal. Soergel made three saves. Indian Hills’ keeper Elani Mears had two saves.

Hutchinson’s only good scoring opportunity came early in the second half when Esther Karahayu was able to beat her defender near the left corner of the box. After making that initial move, she couldn’t get the ball to settle like she wanted and her shot was wide right.

Now 1-1, the Blue Dragons will play host the Redlands at 6 p.m. on Friday at the Salthawk Sports Complex.