Thursday's Daily News 'n Notes: Scoreboard, HS BKB playoffs; Mercer, Georgia College, Braves, Tech; Les Miles; BKB, baseball, more
Thursday's Central Georgia - and of interest to Central Georgia - news and notes, compiled from staff reports, email reports, the web, and social media. Updates will be noted, so check back.
Around/About Central Georgia
Mercer women take SoCon tournament opener
The second-seed Bears next get No. 6 Furman, at 2:15 p.m. on Friday.
Mercer’s path to a title improved, thanks in part to Furman, which beat No. 3 Chattanooga 58-40. It got better moreso courtesy of eighth-seed East Tennessee State’s 68-61 win over top seed Samford.
There is potential for an all-Atlantic Sun alum finale if Mercer and ETSU win.
Georgia College dumped in PBC semifinal
The host Bobcats never led, trailing from the 17:17 mark of the first half against third seed Georgia Southwestern in a Peach Belt Conference semifinal, at the Centennial Center.
The teams split during the season, GSW winning 79-66 on Jan. 13 and Georgia College by 75-67 a month later.
The men on Wednesday were ranked No. 3 in the South Region of Division II by the NCAA, a list used to determine the at-large picks for the NCAA Tournament. They were behind Flagler and Alabama-Huntsville, and ahead of Valdosta State and Georgia Southwestern.
The Division II field will be announced Sunday night at 10:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.
Georgia College baseball joins another poll
Mercer men set for prime time vs. Samford
Mercer softball in Bulldog Classic
FVSU women pick up exhibition games
Around/About Georgia/Southeast
Braves scratch Fried start because of exposure
Wilson brings confidence in hopes of starting
Georgia State AD on playoff committee
The latest on high football expectations at Georgia
And the expectations at receiver, with coach Hankton
Auburn fires women’s basketball coach
Former Georgia OC Chaney lands gig with the Saints
Two decades ago, Florida Gulf Coast athletics was only on paper and in dreams
Sports and racial/social awareness
Creighton coach working on amends after ‘plantation’ comment
But is suspended by the school
College Basketball
Michigan thumps Michigan State for title
No. 13 Kansas digs out of a big hole
Creighton coach working on amends after ‘plantation’ comment
Do-it-all guard leads Colorado to rankings
NBA
Shaq thrown down in AEW Dynamite match
Durant, James make All-Star team picks
Baseball
Mets’ GM: Some players aren’t geniuses on D
Learning why Tatis got the big deal?
Former Brave Swarzak signs with Arizona
NFL
Chiefs sell stadium naming rights
Steelers to bring Roethlisberger back
College Football
More damning information on Les Miles at LSU
Around the nation/world
Camping World helps NASCAR teams with travel
Being a fan in Houston – where players leave – is mighty tough these days
Men’s college basketball scoreboard
Women’s college basketball scoreboard