(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Damian Lillard scored a game-high 28 points as the Trail Blazers beat the Clippers 104-96 in Los Angeles.  It was the first Clippers game since they dealt star Blake Griffin to Detroit.  Jusuf Nurkic had 14 points and 20 rebounds for Portland.  The Trail Blazers return to the Moda Center tonight, hosting the Bulls.

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Oregon State will tangle with Stanford on the road tomorrow in a Pac-12 game.  The Beavers have lost four of their past five games.  OSU is 11-and-9 overall and 3-and-5 in the Pac-12.

(Eugene, OR)  --  Oregon will go on the road tomorrow, playing a Pac-12 game at Cal-Berkeley.  The Ducks are 14-and-7 overall and 4-and-4 in the conference.
 

(Tucson, AZ)  --  The Portland Timbers will play the San Jose Earthquakes in their first preseason game today at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona.  The Timbers are training in Tucson.  They will open the MLS season on March 4th at the Los Angeles Galaxy.

(Undated)  --  In other area college basketball, Portland returns to the hardwood tomorrow, hosting Pepperdine.  The Panthers lost back-to-back WCC conference games last week to ranked Saint Mary's and Gonzaga.  The Panthers are 8-and-15 overall and 2-and-8 in conference.  Portland State will host Idaho on Thursday in a Big Sky game.  The Vikings are 13-and-8 for the season and 3-and-5 in the Big Sky.

High School basketball continues tonight in the area as teams are half-way through their League schedules and in the IMC this evening in Girl’s action, it’s the battle of The Views as Mountain View hosts #15 Ridgeview and Summit hosts 12th ranked Bend. The Lady Ravens own a ½-gme lead over the Lava Bears.

In the 4-A…8th ranked and League-leading Madras plays at Crook County holding a 1-game lead over Molalla for the Tri-Valley top spot. The Lady White Buffs are 15-and-2 on the season. La Pine’s girls are over the hill playing at Glide, and North Lake visits Paisley.

In Boy’s action, #5 Mt. View plays at Ridgeview. The Cougs lead the IMC Boys race by 1-game over 7TH ranked Bend, who plays at Summit leading the Storm by only a half-game.

Crook County hosts Madras to break a 2nd place tie in the Boy’s Tri-Valley Conference…tipoff in Prineville set for 7 O’clock.

Elsewhere…La Pine is at Glide, Central Christian hosts Trinity Lutheran in a battle of the 5th place Tigers, and 2nd place Trinity. Tipoff in Redmond is at 5. And, North Lake is at Paisley.

College basketball ratings still have Villanova on top of the Men’s poll, and University of Connecticut leading the Women’s rankings.

Virginia, Purdue, Duke and Michigan State make up the Men’s Top-5, followed by Xavier, Kansas, Cincinnati, Arizona, and Texas Tech the
Top-10.

St. Mary’s moves up to #13 and Gonzaga is 14th. And, Arizona State’s men’s are rated 25th, yet are in 8th place in the Pac-12.

Last night, 4th ranked Duke smashed Notre Dame, 88-66. #7 Kansas turned back Kansas State, 70-56, and #24 Michigan defeated Northwestern, 58-47.

On the Women’s poll…Mississippi State is keeping pace with U-Conn as the Lady Huskies are 20-and-0 and Mississippi State is 22-and-0 ranked 2nd in the nation.

Baylor, Louisville, and Notre Dame make up the Lady’s Top-5.
The Oregon Women’s team is up to #6 in the country with its 20-and-3 record.

UCLA is 9th and Oregon State is rated 16th with Stanford and Cal ranked 24th and 25th in this week’s AP poll.

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  The Trail Blazers will face the Clippers tonight in Los Angeles.  The Clippers traded Blake Griffin to the Pistons yesterday for three players.  Griffin hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer on October 26th in Portland for a 104-101 Clippers victory.  The Blazers have lost seven straight to the Clippers.  Portland, which has won five of their past six, will return home on Wednesday to face the Bulls.

(Eugene, OR)  --  Oregon will go on the road Thursday, playing a Pac-12 game at Cal-Berkeley.  The Ducks are 14-and-7 overall and 4-and-4 in the conference.

(Tucson, AZ)  --  The Portland Timbers will play the San Jose Earthquakes in their first preseason game tomorrow at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson.  The Timbers are training in Tucson.  They will open the MLS season on March 4th at the Los Angeles Galaxy.

(Undated)  --  In other area college basketball, Portland is off until Thursday after losing back-to-back WCC conference games last week to ranked Saint Mary's and Gonzaga.  The Panthers are 8-and-15 overall and 2-and-8 in conference.  Portland State will host Idaho on Thursday in a Big Sky game.  The Vikings are 13-and-8 for the season and 3-and-5 in the Big Sky.

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Oregon State will tangle with Stanford on the road Thursday in a Pac-12 game.  The Beavers have lost four of their past five games.  OSU is 11-and-9 overall and 3-and-5 in the Pac-12.

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Oregon State received two more verbal football commits.  They are linebacker Semisi Saluni and offensive lineman Ronald Audette.  Both are three-star recruits.  The Beavers have added five recruits within the past three days.

(Eugene, OR)  --  Oregon bested Oregon State 66-57 in a Civil War rematch Saturday in Eugene.  Elijah Brown led the Ducks with 20 points, while Paul White had 17.  The Beavers won the first contest 76-64 in Corvallis.  Oregon is 14-and-7 overall and 4-and-4 in the Pac-12.  OSU is 11-and-9 overall and 3-and-5 in conference.  Both teams are off until Thursday.
 

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  The Trail Blazers will face the Clippers tomorrow night in Los Angeles.  Portland is coming off a 107-93 victory on Friday at Dallas behind Damian Lillard's 29 points.  The Blazers have won five of their last six.  They are 27-and-22 overall and in third place in the Northwest Division.  They will return home Wednesday against the Bulls.
 

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Oregon State received three verbal football commits over the weekend.  They are linebacker and tight end John McCartan, running back Jermar Jefferson and Los Angeles Valley junior college defensive tackle Jeromy Reicher.  Jefferson is the first Beavers running back commitment for the 2018 recruiting class.

(Tucson, AZ)  --  The Portland Timbers will play the San Jose Earthquakes in their first preseason game on Wednesday at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson.  The Timbers are training in Tucson.  They will open the MLS season on March 4th at the Los Angeles Galaxy.

(Undated)  --  In other area college basketball, Portland finished the WCC gauntlet with a 77-52 road loss to number-18 Saint Mary's on Saturday.  This came two days after a 16-point home loss to number-15 Gonzaga.  The Panthers are off until Thursday when they host Pepperdine.  They are 8-and-15 overall and 2-and-8 in conference.  Portland State shot only 28-percent from the field in the second half in a 71-61 home loss to Sacramento State.  The Vikings are 13-and-8 for the season and 3-and-5 in the Big Sky.  They return to the hardwood on Thursday against Idaho.
 

On the high school hardwood this evening, 4th ranked Mt. View boys will try to go to 5-and-0 in IMC play when the Cougars host Redmond at the Black Hole on campus at Mt. View High. The Cougs have won 8-straight heading into the battle with the Panthers.

Bend, which trails Mt. View by one-half game for the league lead is idle this evening. Meanwhile, Summit hosts Ridgeview. The Girls play at opposite venues in the IMC.

In the 4-A division…league-leading Crook County travels to Gladstone to settle an early first-place tie in the Tri-Valley. Madras hosts Corbett. In the Sky-Em, Sisters travels to play at Sutherlin where the Outlaws have a 1-game lead over Sutherlin for the conference’s top spot.

In the 3-A, La Pine is at home with Creswell. Culver visits Weston-McEwen.
Trinity Lutheran plays at North Lake, Central Christian hosts Paisley, and Gilchrist entertains Triad.

 

(Undated)  --  Portland guard Damian Lillard will play for Team Curry in the NBA All-Star Game.  The Warriors' Stephen Curry and the Cavaliers' Lebron James picked the teams after earning the most fan votes.  This will be Lillard's third All-Star game.  The game will be played February 18th in Los Angeles.

(Dallas, TX)  --  The Trail Blazers are on the road tonight facing the Mavericks in Dallas.  The Blazers beat the Mavs 117-108 last weekend at the Moda Center with Damian Lillard hitting his first nine shots and scoring 31 points.  Lillard has averaged 32.3 points in his last three games against the Mavs.  Portland has lost its last four road games.

(Eugene, OR)  --  Oregon and Oregon State will have a Civil War rematch tomorrow in Eugene.  Tipoff is 5 p.m. The Beavers won the first contest 76-64 in Corvallis.  Oregon is 13-and-7 overall and 3-and-4 in the Pac-12.  The Ducks are 10-and-3 at Matthew Knight Arena.  OSU is 11-and-8 overall and 3-and-4 in conference.  This will be the 350th game of the series, which dates to 1903.

(Undated)  --  In other area college basketball, number-15 Gonzaga crushed Portland 95-79 in a WCC game at the Chiles Center.  Marcus Shaver Junior led the Pilots with 16 points.  Portland dropped to 8-and-14 overall and 2-and-7 in the WCC.  Gonzaga is 18-and-4 and 8-and-1 in the WCC.  Portland will play tomorrow night at 18th-ranked Saint Mary's.  Portland State returns to the court tomorrow when it will host Sacramento State in a Big Sky game.  The Vikings are 13-and-7 and 3-and-4 in the conference.
 

(Eugene, OR)  --  Former Michigan State head coach Bobby Williams is joining the Oregon Ducks football staff as an assistant.  He signed a two-year contract for 300-thousand-dollars annually.  He has been on the Alabama staff the past two years as a special assistant to Nick Saban.
 

(Portland, OR)  --  All-Star selection Damian Lillard scored 31 points to lead the Trail Blazers to a 123-114 victory over the Timberwolves in Portland.  CJ McCollum poured in 28 Portland points.  The Blazers, who scored 43 points in the third quarter, won their seventh straight at the Moda Center.  The Blazers will play tomorrow night in Dallas.

(Seattle, WA)  --  Former Mariners slugger  Edgar Martinez did not hear his name called as one of the 2018 National Baseball Hall of Fame Class inductees.  Martinez received more than 70 percent of votes, right behind Trevor Hoffman for the final spot in the class.  Martinez came up 20 votes shy.  Chipper Jones, Vladimir Guerrero and Jim Thome were the other members who were voted into the 2018 National Baseball Hall of Fame.  Martinez has one more year of eligibility remaining to be elected into the Hall of Fame.
 

(Undated)  --  In other area college basketball, Portland will host number-15 Gonzaga tonight in a WCC game.  The Bulldogs blew out the Pilots 103-57 on January 11th in Spokane.  Portland won its last two and is 8-and-13 overall and 2-and-6 in the WCC.  Gonzaga is 17-and-4 and 7-and-1 in the WCC.  The Zags have won 18 of their last 19 games in the Chiles Center.  Portland State is off until Saturday when it will host Sacramento State in a Big Sky game.  The Vikings are 13-and-7 and 3-and-4 in the conference.

(Eugene, OR)  --  Oregon and Oregon State will have a Civil War rematch on Saturday in Eugene.  The Beavers won the first contest 76-64 in Corvallis.  Oregon is 13-and-7 overall and 3-and-4 in the Pac-12.  The Ducks are 10-and-3 at Matthew Knight Arena.  OSU is 11-and-8 overall and 3-and-4 in conference.

(Eugene, OR)  --  Oregon and Oregon State will have a Civil War rematch on Saturday in Eugene.  The Beavers won the first contest 76-64 in Corvallis.  Oregon is 13-and-7 overall and 3-and-4 in the Pac-12.  OSU is 11-and-8 and 3-and-4.
 

(Undated)  --  Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard was voted a reserve for the NBA All-Star Game.  It is the third time in his six seasons to be selected to the All-Star Game.   He is averaging 25.2 points and 6.6 assists.  The game will be February 18th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
 

(Portland, OR)  --  The Trail Blazers will face the Timberwolves tonight at the Moda Center.  Tipoff is 7 o'clock.  Minnesota has won two straight and have 31 victories, matching their total for last season.  Portland has dropped the first two meetings against Minnesota this season.  The Blazers are coming off a 104-101 loss in Denver on Monday that snapped a three-game winning streak.

(Tucson, AZ)  --  The Giovanni Savarese era for the Timbers is underway.  The MLS club reported to Tucson, Arizona for their first training camp under Savarese, who is beginning his first season as the Timbers coach.  He replaces Caleb Porter, who stepped down as coach after the Timbers had the best regular season record in the Western Conference.  The club will be in Tucson for most of next month before the season starts on March 4th.

(Undated)  --  In other area college basketball, Portland will host number-15 Gonzaga tomorrow night in a WCC game.  The Bulldogs blew out the Pilots 103-57 on January 11th in Spokane.  Portland won its last two and is 8-and-13 overall and 2-and-6 in the WCC.  Gonzaga is 17-and-4 and 7-and-1 in the WCC.  Portland State is off until Saturday when it will host Sacramento State in a Big Sky game.  The Vikings are 13-and-7 and 3-and-4 in the conference.

(Denver, CO)  --  Jamal Murray scored a career-high 38 points to lead the Nuggets to a 104-101 victory over the Trail Blazers in Denver.  Damian Lillard had 25 points and eight assists for Portland.  Jusuf Nurkic had 19 points and a dozen rebounds as the Trail Blazers had their three-game winning streak snapped.  Portland returns home tomorrow night to face the Minnesota Timberwolves.

(Portland, OR)  --  Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard is looking into the future.  According to ESPN, Lillard met with Portland owner Paul Allen last week to discuss the future of the franchise.  The meeting lasted about an hour.  Lillard asked for the meeting to make sure the Blazers' goal is still to win a championship.  The 27-year-old did not request a trade and the dialogue was productive.  Portland is seventh in the West at 25-and-22.

(Undated)  --  Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard was selected the NBA Western Conference player of the week.  He averaged 29.3 points and eight assists as Portland won all three games it played last week.  Lillard made 52-percent of his three-point shots and did not miss a free throw.  This is his fourth career player of the week honors.

(Seattle, WA)  --  Defensive assistant Travis Jones, is the latest member of the Seahawks coaching staff that will be seeking employment elsewhere.  Seattle has parted ways with Jones, making him the fifth member of its coaching staff to be fired this offseason.  Jones has been a member of the Seahawks coaching staff since 2013.
 

(Portland, OR)  --  The Timbers have obtained the homegrown-player rights of midfielder Eryk Williamson in a trade with D.C. United.  Multiple-outlets reported the deal.  Williamson had 14 goals and 13 assists in three seasons at Maryland.

(Undated)  --  In other area college basketball, Portland will host number-15 Gonzaga on Thursday in a WCC game.  The Bulldogs blew out the Pilots 103-57 on January 11 in Spokane, Washington.  Portland won its last two and is 8-and-13 overall and 2-and-6 in the WCC.  Gonzaga is 17-and-4 and 7-and-1 in the WCC.  Portland State is off the court until Saturday when it will host Sacramento State in a Big Sky game.  The Vikings are 13-and-7 and 3-and-4 in the conference.

(Undated)  --  Former Seahawks defensive coordinator Kris Richard is headed to Dallas.  The Cowboys hired Richard as their defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator after Seattle let him go last week.  Richard was yet another casualty this offseason as the Seahawks continue to overhaul their coaching staff.  Richard served as the Seattle defensive coordinator since 2015.

(Undated)  --  Ex-Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is a candidate to fill a coaching vacancy for divisional foe Arizona.  Bevell was fired by Seattle after seven years as the team's offensive coordinator.  The Cardinals are seeking a offensive coordinator to serve under newly hired head coach Steve Wilks.

(Eugene, OR)  --  Oregon staved off UCLA 94-91 in a Pac-12 game Saturday before a sold-out Matthew Knight Arena crowd.  Payton Pritchard made four free throws in the final seven seconds to protect the lead.  The Ducks improved to 13-and-7 and 3-and-4 in conference play.  Dana Altman picked up his 200th victory as the Oregon coach.  The Ducks are off until this Saturday when they will host Oregon State.  The Beavers won the first matchup 76-64 in Corvallis.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Trail Blazers will play tonight at Denver after winning their past three games at the Moda Center.  They concluded the homestand with a 117-108 victory over the Mavericks behind Damian Lillard's 31 points and nine assists on Saturday.  The Nuggets have lost two straight and six of their past eight games.

(Undated)  --  In other area college basketball action, Portland won 72-65 at Loyola Marmound in a WCC contest in Los Angeles.  Franklin Porter led the Pilots with 16 points off the bench.  Portland improved to 8-and-13 and 2-and-6 in the WCC.  The Pilots will host ranked Gonzaga on Thursday.   Deontae North scored 22 points and hauled in nine rebounds, but it was not enough as Portland State fell 84-79 at Weber State in Ogden, Utah on Saturday.  The Vikings dropped to 13-and-7 overall and 3-and-4 in the Big Sky.

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Oregon State lost to USC 74-67 in a Pac-12 game Saturday in Corvallis.  Tres Tinkle led OSU with 21 points.  The Beavers slipped to 11-and-8 overall and to 3-and-4 in the Pac-12.  They do not play again until this Saturday when they face Oregon in Eugene.

(Undated)  --  The Portland Timbers selected four players in the MLS SuperDraft on Sunday.  They chose defender Caleb Duvernay and forwards Timmy Mueller, forward Stuart Holthusen and Mamadou Guirassy in the third and fourth rounds.  Mueller logged 23 goals and 10 assists in 67 games at Oregon State.  The Timbers did not pick anyone in the first two rounds.

(Eugene, OR)  --  Cort Dennison will be the next Oregon outside linebackers coach.  Several outlets have reported Oregon has hired Dennison, who led the Pac-12 in tackles when he was a Washington linebacker.  He has been on the Louisville staff since 2014.  The 28-year-old Dennison will be the youngest Ducks' assistant.

4th ranked Mt. View boys basketball team will host Summit tonight at the Black Hole on campus as the Cougars look to win their 8th straight game and maintain first-place in the IMC conference race.

Mt. View leads Bend by 1-game for the conference lead as the Lava Bears play at Redmond this evening. Same matchups for the Girl’s teams but at opposite venues.

In the 4-A division…Sisters shares the early lead with Sutherlin in the
Sky-Em conference and hosts Junction City tonight. In the 4-A Tri-Valley, Madras host Estacada, and Crook County plays at Corbett.

In the 3-A Mountain Valley, La Pine looks for its first win of League play as they host Harrisburg.

And in the class 1-A Mountain Valley League, 2nd place Trinity Lutheran is at Paisley. Gilchrist hosts Central Christian and North Lake travels south to Prospect.  
 

(Eugene, OR)  --  The Ducks could not hold a late lead as they lost 75-70 to the USC Trojans in a Pac-12 game in Eugene.  Oregon had won its 14 previous matchups against USC.  Oregon, which went to the Final Four last year, fell to 12-and-7 and 2-and-4 in the Pac-12.  USC improved to 14-and-6 and 5-and-2.  The Ducks will host UCLA tomorrow with a 7:15 p.m. tipoff.

(Portland, OR)  --  Damian Lillard scored a game-high 26 points as the Trail Blazers topped the Pacers 100-86 in Portland.  Jusuf Nurkic added a season-high 19 points and 17 rebounds in the victory, while C.J. McCollum scored 16 points.  The Blazers have won five straight home games.  Victor Oladipo and Darren Collison each scored 23 points for Indiana.  Forward Myles Turner missed his fifth straight Pacers games with a right elbow injury.  Indiana had its three-game winning streak snapped.  The Blazers will meet the Dallas Mavericks tomorrow night at the Moda Center.

(Undated)  --  In other area college basketball action, Portland earned its first West Coast Conference victory, beating San Diego 55-49 on the road.  Josh McSwiggan led the Pilots with 15 points. They improved to 7-and-13 and 1-and-6 in league play.  Portland will play tomorrow against Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles.  Portland State overcame a 16-point second half deficit to win 87-83 at Idaho State in a Big Sky game at Pocatello, Idaho.  Ryan Edwards led the Vikings to the comeback victory with 19 points and 10 rebounds.  PSU is 13-and-6 and 3-and-3 in conference play.  The Vikings will play tomorrow at Weber State in Ogden, Utah.
 

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Oregon State beat UCLA 69-63 at Gill Coliseum in a Pac-12 contest.  Tres Tinkle led the Beavers with 16 points.  All five Oregon State starters landed in double figures.  The Beavers improved to 11-and-7 overall and 3-and-3 in conference.  The Bruins fell to 13-and-6 and 4-and-3 in the Pac-12.  Oregon State will host USC tomorrow with a 5 p.m. tipoff.

(Eugene, OR)  --  The Ducks will host USC tonight in a Pac-12 contest.  Oregon is coming off a 90-83 loss to 22nd-ranked Arizona on Saturday in Tucson.  Oregon is 12-and-6 overall and 2-and-3 in conference play.  The Trojans are 13-and-6 and 4-and-2.

 

(Portland, OR)  --  The Trail Blazers will host the Indiana Pacers tonight.  Tip-off is at 7 o'clock at the Moda Center.  Portland won the first matchup 114-96 on October 20th in Indianapolis.  The Pacers have won three straight to climb above .500 at 23-and-21.  Damian Lillard scored 31 points in the Blazers' 118-111 win over the Suns on Tuesday.

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Oregon State will welcome UCLA to Gill Coliseum tonight in a Pac-12 matchup.  The Beavers will attempt to rebound from losing two games last week in Arizona to the Sun Devils and Wildcats.  That dropped OSU to 10-and-7 overall and 2-and-3 in the Pac-12.  The Bruins are 13-and-5 overall and 4-and-2 in conference.  UCLA leads the overall series, holding a 94-38 advantage, but the Beavers have won three of the past five matchups in Corvallis.
 

(Undated)  --  In other area college basketball action, Portland is still looking for its first West Coast Conference win.  The Pilots will play tonight at San Diego.  Portland is 6-and-13 overall and 0-and-6 in the WCC.  San Diego is 13-and-5 and 4-and-2.  Portland State returns to the hardwood tonight at Idaho State in a Big Sky game.  The Vikings are 12-and-6 overall and 2-and-3 in the Big Sky.  Idaho State is 8-and-8 and 3-and-2.

(Seattle, WA)  --  The Mariners are making final preparations for the opening of spring training in Arizona.  The M's announced 22 players not on their 40-man roster have received invitations.  Spring training starts on February 14th with pitchers and catchers reporting for physicals.  Position players report on the 19th with the team's first full-squad workout the next day.  Cactus League play opens on February 23rd against the Padres at Peoria Stadium.

University of Oregon Athletic Director Rob Mullens yesterday was named the chairman of the College Football Playoff selection committee.

Mullens has served as Oregon's AD since 2010 and joined the selection committee two years ago. He will follow outgoing chairman Kirby Hocutt, the athletic director of Texas Tech.

Mullens will guide a committee with six new members next season. New members include Georgia Tech and former Oregon State athletic director Todd Stansbury; former Arizona Republic columnist Paola Boivin; Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione; former Rice, Air Force, Arkansas and Clemson coach Ken Hatfield; former USC and NFL safety Ronnie Lott; and Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin.

Mullens will be the public voice of the committee that picks the four playoff teams.
 

(Eugene, OR)  --  The Ducks are home tomorrow night, facing USC in a Pac-12 contest.  Oregon is coming off a 90-83 loss to 22nd-ranked Arizona on Saturday in Tucson.  Oregon is 12-and-6 overall and 2-and-3 in conference play.  The Trojans are 13-and-6 and 4-and-2.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Trail Blazers jumped out to a 27-point lead in the third quarter as they held on for a 118-111 win over the Suns at the Moda Center.  Damian Lillard recorded 31 points, seven assists and five rebounds for the Blazers, who snapped a three-game skid.  C.J. McCollum contributed 27 points in the victory.  Devin Booker dropped in 43 points for Phoenix, which outscored Portland by 13 in the fourth quarter.  Portland will host the Pacers tomorrow night.

(Undated)  --  In other area college basketball action, Portland is still looking for its first West Coast Conference.  The Pilots' next game is tomorrow at San Diego in the Jenny Craig Pavilion.  Portland is 6-and-13 overall and 0-and-6 in the WCC.  Portland State will return to the hardwood tomorrow playing at Idaho State in a Big Sky game.  The Vikings are 12-and-6 overall and 2-and-3 in the Big Sky.  Idaho State is 8-and-8 and 3-and-2.  The Bengals are 6-and-1 at their Pocatello, Idaho home arena.

(Undated)  --  Oregon basketball recruits Bol Bol and Louis King have been selected to the McDonald's All-American Game.  The game will be played on March 28th in Atlanta.  Bol and King are five-star prospects who have signed with the Ducks.  Bol is 7-foot-1 and ranked as the Number One center in the country for the 2018 recruiting class.

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Oregon State will return home tomorrow night to host UCLA in a Pac-12 matchup.  The Beavers are 10-and-7 overall and 2-and-3 in the Pac-12 after losing two games last week in Arizona to the Sun Devils and Wildcats.  The Bruins are 13-and-5 overall and 4-and-2 in conference.

(Eugene, OR)  --  The Ducks are home on Thursday, facing USC in a Pac-12 contest.  Oregon lost 90-83 to 22nd-ranked Arizona on Saturday in Tucson.  Oregon is 12-and-6 overall and 2-and-3 in conference play.  The Trojans are 13-and-6 and 4-and-2.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Trail Blazers return to the Moda Center tonight to face the Suns in the opener of a three-game homestand.  Tipoff is 8 o'clock.  Portland will attempt to snap a three-game skid.  The Blazers are 10-and-10 at home.  Phoenix is 7-and-7 in its last 14 games.

High School basketball players are back in school and back on the court after the MLK Holiday yesterday, and tonight the top-2 teams in the IMC meet to break the early first-place tie.

The third-ranked Bend Lava Bears host 7th ranked Mt. View at 7pm. Both clubs are 2-and-0 in League, and both are 10-and-3 overall. The Cougars have a 6-game win streak heading in to the clash this evening while Bend has won 3-straight. It’s the first of three meetings between the two rivals and the Lava Bears enjoy the homeport hosting 2 of those matches.

Elsewhere…Ridgeview hosts Redmond, and Summit has the bye but will play at Mt. View Friday night.

In the 4-A ranks…Madras hosts Molalla in the Tri-Valley tipoff for both teams, and Sisters entertains Sweet Home in the Sky-Em.

La Pine looks for its first league win on the road at Pleasant Hill in the ever-tough Mountain Valley Conference. And, Gilchrist travels to Hosanna Christian in 1-A action.

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Oregon State will return home on Thursday night to host UCLA in a Pac-12 matchup.  The Beavers are 10-and-7 overall and 2-and-3 in the Pac-12 after losing two games last week in Arizona to the Sun Devils and Wildcats.  The Bruins are 13-and-5 overall and 4-and-2 in conference.

(Undated)  --  In other area college basketball action, Portland is still looking for its first West Coast Conference.  The Pilots'  next game is Thursday at San Diego in the Jenny Craig Pavilion.  Portland is 6-and-13 overall and 0-and-6 in the WCC.  Portland State will play again Thursday at Idaho State in a Big Sky game.  The Vikings are 12-and-6 overall and 2-and-3 in the Big Sky.  Idaho State is 8-and-8 and 3-and-2. The Bengals are 6-and-1 at its Pocatello, Idaho home arena.

In one of the most shocking endings in playoff history, the Vikings
pulled off a 61-yard touchdown pass on the final play for a
miraculous 29-24 victory over the Saints to secure a trip to the
NFC championship game. Stefon Diggs hauled in Case Keenum's pass
along the sideline at the 34 and somehow completely avoided a
tackle by rookie safety Marcus Williams and ran untouched into the
end zone to send Minnesota to Philadelphia for its first NFC title
game since 2009. The game saw several lead changes down the
stretch, with the Saints going up 24-23 on Wil Lutz's 43-yard field
goal with 25 seconds remaining.

The Jaguars are moving on to the AFC championship game for the
third time in franchise history after stunning the Steelers in a
wild 45-42 win at Heinz Field. Jacksonville raced out to a 21-0
lead early in the second quarter, partially thanks to a Ben
Roethlisberger interception, then returned a Roethlisberger fumble
50 yards for a touchdown. Pittsburgh pulled to within a touchdown
early in the third and twice in the fourth, but didn't get closer
until the game's final play. Roethlisberger threw for 469 yards and
five TDs while trying to play catch-up, but Blake Bortles was
efficient and Leonard Fournette ran for 109 yards and three
touchdowns despite missing some time with an ankle injury.
Jacksonville will visit the Patriots next week as it looks to go to
the Super Bowl for the first time.

Ben Roethlisberger says he'll return in 2018. After saying last
offseason he was contemplating retirement, the Steelers quarterback
got out in front of a similar situation when questioned after his
team's loss to Jacksonville. "I have a desire to play football,"
Roethlisberger said. "I don't know about (player) contracts, who's
coming back, but I know the guys up front are, and that makes it
good for me. And I look forward to next year with those guys."

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that the Lions are likely to hire
Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia as their new head
coach. Patricia, one of six candidates who were known to have
interviewed for the Lions' position, has a strong relationship with
Detroit general manager Bob Quinn, the Patriots' former director of
pro scouting. The Lions will have to wait until after New England's
playoff run before working on contract details with Patricia. The
Patriots will host the AFC title game next weekend.

The Bills have hired former Alabama offensive coordinator Brian
Daboll to fill that some role for an offense that ranked 29th in
yards per game in 2017. Daboll, who spent one season with the
national champion Crimson Tide, replaces Rick Dennison, whom the
Bills fired last week after one season. Daboll previously was the
offensive coordinator of the Browns, Dolphins and Chiefs, and spent
two stints as an assistant with the Patriots.

Titans right tackle Jack Conklin has been diagnosed with a torn
left ACL after exiting Saturday's 35-14 playoff loss to the
Patriots in the first quarter. Conklin, a first team All-Pro
selection as a rookie in 2016, is expected to begin next summer's
training camp on the physically unable to perform list and may not
be ready for the start of the regular season.

(Minneapolis, MN)  --  Damian Lillard scored 21 points in the Trail Blazers' 120-103 loss to the Timberwolves in Minneapolis.  C.J. McCollum and reserve Pat Connaughton each scored 18 points for Portland.  The Blazers missed 13 of 15 shots in a 10-point second quarter.  They return tomorrow night to the Moda Center to host the Phoenix Suns.
 

(Eugene, OR)  --  The Ducks are home on Thursday, facing USC in a Pac-12 contest.  Oregon lost 90-83 to 22nd-ranked Arizona on Saturday in Tucson.  Oregon is 12-and-6 overall and 2-and-3 in conference play.

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Oregon State will return home on Thursday night to host UCLA.  The Beavers went 0-and-2 in their Arizona trip.  The lost 77-75 to number-11 Arizona State on Saturday after leading by 13 points in the second half.  They fell to number-22 Arizona 62-53 in Tucson on the first stop.  OSU is 10-and-7 overall and 2-and-3 in the Pac-12.
 

(Undated)  --  In other area college basketball action, Portland is still looking for its first West Coast Conference.  The Pilots lost 66-54 to Pacific at home on Saturday to fall to 0-and-6 in league play.  Their next game is Thursday at San Diego in the Jenny Craig Pavilion.  Portland State fell 92-89 to Montana on Saturday in a Big Sky game.  The Vikings fell to 12-and-6 overall and 2-and-3 in the conference.  They will return to the court Thursday playing Idaho State in Pocatello, Idaho.
 

In the IMC, 3rd ranked Bend boys play across town on the west side against #11 Summit, while 7th ranked Mt. View heads hosts Ridgeview. Redmond travels to The Dalles for a non-league game.

Same schedule for the Girls, but at opposite locations.

In the 4-A Sky-Em, Sisters is on the road at Cottage Grove….
La Pine hosts #8 Coquille in the 3A Mountain Valley League. In 2-A ball, Culver entertains Pilot Rock And, in the Single-A ranks…North Lake is at Central Christian, and Gilchrist travels to Trinity Lutheran in Klamath Falls.
 

(Tempe, AZ)  --  The Ducks upset number-11 Arizona State 76-72 in Tempe in a Pac-12 game.  Elijah Brown and Payton Pritchard each scored 18 points for Oregon.  The Ducks improved to 12-and-5 overall and 2-and-2 in Pac-12 play.  The Sun Devils fell to 13-and-2 and 1-and-3 in the Pac-12.  The Ducks will play number-22 Arizona tomorrow in Tucson.

(New Orleans, LA)  --  The Trail Blazers will face the Pelicans tonight in New Orleans.  It will be their third road game in four days.  They lost 121-112 on Wednesday in Houston to snap a three-game winning streak.  Portland is 12-and-9 on the road.  The Blazers have scored at least 110 points in six straight games.
 

(Undated)  --  In other area college basketball action, 14th-ranked Gonzaga routed Portland 103-57 in a West Coast Conference game in Spokane.  Portland native Silas Melson scored a career-best 23 points for the Zags.  The Pilots dropped to 6-and-12 overall and 0-and-5 in league play.  Portland will host Pacific tomorrow.  Portland State beat Montana State 93-74 at home in a Big Sky game.  The Vikings are 12-and-5 overall and 2-and-2 in the Big Sky.  They will host Montana tomorrow.
 

(Tucson, AZ)  --  Oregon State fell 62-53 to number-21 Arizona in a Pac-12 game in Tucson.  The Beavers have lost 33 of 34 at the McKale Center.  Arizona converted 17 Oregon State turnovers into 20 points.  The Beavers will play number-11 Arizona State tomorrow in Tempe.  OSU slipped to 10-and-6 overall and 2-and-2 in conference play.

(Seattle, WA)  --  The Mariners are avoiding salary arbitration with catcher Mike Zunino.  ESPN reports the two sides have agreed to a one-year contract worth just under three-million-dollars.  The 26-year-old hit .251 with 25 home runs and 64 RBI for Seattle last season.

(New York, NY)  --  The Seattle Seahawks will be heading overseas for a game next season.  They will square off with the Oakland Raiders October 14th at Tottenham Stadium in London.  The NFL is cutting back from four games in London this past season to three games in 2018.

The Chicago Bears once again looked to the college ranks to bolster their coaching staff.

The Bears have hired former Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich as the team's offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports Thursday.

The move comes one day after Chicago hired Harry Hiestand as its offensive line coach as part of the team's staff under new coach Matt Nagy.

Helfrich served as the offensive coordinator for the Ducks from 2009-12 before being elevated to head coach after Chip Kelly left for the Philadelphia Eagles. Helfrich won 33 games in his first three seasons and went to the first College Football Playoff championship game before being fired after going 4-8 during the
2016 campaign.

The 44-year-old Helfrich has not worked in the NFL but has spent time as an assistant under Kelly and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter. He worked under Koetter at Boise State in 1998 and then followed him to Arizona State.

Hiestand returned to the Bears after stints at the University of Tennessee (2010-11) and Notre Dame (2012-17). He also previously served as Chicago's offensive line coach from 2005 to 2009.

The Bears are looking to become more offensive-minded under Nagy, who served as the offensive coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs prior to becoming the Bears' new head coach on Monday.

The Bears finished 5-11 in 2017 and have missed the postseason in 10 of the last 11 years. They have resided in last in the NFC North four straight seasons.

(Houston, TX)  --  Chris Paul had 37 points and 11 assists to lead the Rockets to a 121-112 victory over the Trail Blazers in Houston.  Damian Lillard scored 29 points as he returned to the Portland lineup after missing the previous two games with a right calf strain.  CJ McCollum had 24 points in the loss.  Portland had its three-game winning streak snapped and will play tomorrow night in New Orleans.
 

(Tucson, AZ)  --  Oregon State has already won two conference games, which is one more than it won last year.  The Beavers went 1-and-17 in Pac-12 play last season. The Beavers, coming off a 76-64 victory over the Ducks, will play Number-21 Arizona tonight in Tucson.  The Beavers are 10-and-5 and 2-and-1 in the Pac-12.  The Wildcats are 12-and-4 and 2-and-1 in conference play.

(Tempe, AZ)  --  The Ducks will face number-11 Arizona State tonight in Tempe.  The last time Oregon was in the Phoenix area was in the Final Four's 77-76 loss to North Carolina in Glendale.  The Ducks are 11-and-5 overall and 1-and-2 in the Pac-12.  The Sun Devils are 13-and-2 and 1-and-2 in the Pac-12.
 

(Undated)  --  In other area college basketball action, Portland will try to snap a four-game losing streak tonight when it plays at 14th-ranked Gonzaga in Spokane, Washington in a West Coast Conference tilt.  The Zags are 14-and-3 overall and 4-and-0 in conference.  The Pilots are 6-and-11 and 0-and-4.  Portland State will host Montana State tonight in a Big Sky game.  The Vikings are 11-and-5 overall and 1-and-2 in conference action.
 

We start with high school boys basketball where last night in the IMC, both Mt. View and Summit scored easy wins as the 8th ranked Cougars cruised past Redmond, 79-62 and the 11th rated Storm won at Ridgeview, 68-54.

Madras edged Sisters in a 4-A interleague battle, 67-64 and Glide defeated
La Pine 50-39.

On the girl’s scoreboard, Ridgeview beat Summit 69-63 and Redmond downed the Lady Cougars of Mt. View 56-40. 11th ranked Madras improves to 11-and-2 with its 63-33 drubbing of Sisters, and Glide beat La Pine
48-32.

(Eugene, OR)  --  The Ducks will face number-11 Arizona State tomorrow night in Tempe.  The last time Oregon was in the Phoenix area was in the Final Four's 77-76 loss to North Carolina.  The Ducks are 11-and-5 overall and 1-and-2 in the Pac-12.  The Sun Devils are 13-and-2 and 1-and-2 in the Pac-12.
 

(Oklahoma City, OK)  --  Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard sat out the 117-106 victory over the Thunder with a right calf strain.  He has missed seven of the past nine games with leg injuries.  He strained his right hamstring on December 20th and missed five games.

(Oklahoma City, OK)  --  CJ McCollum scored a game-high 27 points as the Trail Blazers beat the Thunder 117-106 in Oklahoma City to begin a four-game trip.  Shabazz Napier [[ Shuh-BAZZ NAY-pier ]] contributed 21 points and Jusuf Nurkic [[ you-SOOF nur-KITCH ]] 20 points to the Portland victory.  The Blazers won their third straight.  They are 6-and-2 in their past eight games to move into second place in the Northwest Division.  They will play tonight in Houston and Friday in New Orleans.

(Undated)  --  In other area college basketball action, Portland will try to snap a four-game losing streak tomorrow night when it plays at 14th-ranked Gonzaga in Spokane, Washington in a West Coast Conference.  The Zags are 14-and-3 overall and 4-and-0 in conference.  The Pilots are 6-and-11 and 0-and-4.  Portland State will host Montana State tomorrow in a Big Sky game.  The Vikings are 11-and-5 overall and 1-and-2 in conference action.

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Oregon State has already won two conference games, which is one more than it won last year.  The Beavers went 1-and-17 in Pac-12 play last season. The Beavers, coming off a 76-64 victory over Oregon, will play Number-21 Arizona on tomorrow night in Tucson.  The Beavers are 10-and-5 and 2-and-1 in the Pac-12.  The Wildcats are 12-and-4 and 2-and-1 in conference play.

(New York, NY)  --  The NFL UK will announce on Thursday morning the teams scheduled to play in London next season.  The Seahawks could be one of them.  According to reports, the NFL UK's managing director is focusing on the six NFL teams who have yet to play in London as options for the 2018 schedule.  Seattle is among those six along with Philadelphia, Houston, Green Bay, Carolina and Tennessee.

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Oregon State has already won two conference games, which is one more than it won last year.  The Beavers, coming off a 76-64 victory over Oregon, will play Number-21 Arizona on Thursday night in Tucson.  The Beavers are 10-and-5 and 2-and-1 in the Pac-12.  The Wildcats are 12-and-4.
 

(Eugene, OR)  --  The Ducks will face Number-11 Arizona State on Thursday in Tempe.  The last time Oregon was in the Phoenix area was in the Final Four's 77-76 loss to North Carolina.  The Ducks are 11-and-5 overall and 1-and-2 in the Pac-12.  The Sun Devils are 13-and-2.

(Oklahoma City, OK)  --  The Trail Blazers will play the Thunder tonight in Oklahoma City, but without guard Damian Lillard.  He will miss his second straight game with a right calf injury.  Portland has won three of four and is 21-and-18 overall.  The Thunder are 22-and-18.  The Blazers will continue this four-game trip by playing tomorrow night in Houston, Friday in New Orleans and Monday at Minnesota.

(Undated)  --  In other area college basketball action, Portland will try to snap a four-game losing streak on Thursday when it plays 14th-ranked Gonzaga in Spokane, Washington in a WCC game.  Portland State will host Montana State on Thursday in a Big Sky game.  The Vikings are 11-and-5 overall and 1-and-2 in conference action.
 

(Undated)  --  Miami, Florida defensive end D.J. Johnson announced he is transferring to Oregon.  He went to high school in Sacramento, California.  He played sparingly as a Hurricanes freshman, but did not redshirt.

Looking back at our Friday Night Fastbreaks prep rewind…Bend defeated Ridgeview 65-42. Summit stopped Redmond by 20, 70-50 and Mt. View ran by Madras 105-71. Both Sister and Crook County boys scored non-league wins as the Outlaws beat Burns, 38-28 and the Cowboys downed Sweet Home 58-48. And, Creswell beat La Pine 73-56.

On the Girl’s side, Ridgeview stops Bend, 50-47 and Summit holds off Redmond, 48-45. Madras blew by Mt. View 59-46. Crook County stomps Sweet Home 51-18 and Burns handles Sisters 57-33.

(Portland, OR)  --  CJ McCollum scored 25 points, including the game-winner with five seconds left, as the Trail Blazers nipped the Spurs 111-110 in Portland.  Maurice Harkless scored 19 points off the Portland bench, while Jusuf Nurkic contributed 17 points and 13 rebounds.  Portland guard Damian Lillard did not play because of a right calf strain.  The Blazers have won three of four and will play tomorrow night in Oklahoma City.
 

The Beavers won the first of two Civil War hardwood series clashes Friday night in Corvallis as Oregon State controlled Oregon all evening to secure a 76-64 win.

Tres Tinkle led all scorers with 19 points for OSU while the Ducks shot a dismal 27-percent mark from the floor. The Beavers shot 53-percent and made 6 of 13 three point shots to improve OSU’s record to 2-and-1 in the Pac-12 and 10-and-5 overall. Oregon drops to 1-and-2 and 11-and-5 on the season. The Beavers play at 14th ranked Arizona and the Ducks visit #4 Arizona State Friday night.

#19 Gonzaga grabs two wins in southern California over the weekend to improve to 4-and-0 in the W-C-C, and 14-and-3 overall. The Zags ran past Pepperdine 89-59 and beat Loyola Marymount 85-66. Gonzaga hosts the University of Portland Thursday night in Spokane.
In top-ranked play, #1 Michigan State knocked off by Ohio State, 80-64.
#4 Arizona State grabbed its first League win at Utah beating the Utes 80-77 and #9 Wichita State beat South Florida, 95-67.

In Women’s action…9th ranked Oregon won at #14 UCLA 70-61. Meantime, Oregon State (2-2/11-4) dropped two in L-A losing at UCLA Friday night, 84-49 and being defeated by USC yesterday, 65-61.The Oregon schools welcome the Arizona schools this weekend.

The college football season comes to a close with the National Championship as the finale in Atlanta with #1 Georgia, 13-1 facing #4 Alabama, 12-1 in an all-SEC Title game. Kickoff is set for 5pm on ESPN TV.

The NFL Conference Semifinal playoffs are set for this coming weekend as the Rams, Chiefs, Bills, and Panthers were eliminated in the Wild Card playoffs over the weekend.

Saturday will see the Eagles host the Falcons in the NFC and the Patriots host the Titans in the AFC semis. On Sunday, the Steelers greet the Jags, and the Vikings host the Saints.

The winners meet on Sunday the 21st in the AFC & NFC Title games. The Superbowl is set for US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday,February 4th.

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Oregon and Oregon State will face off tonight in Corvallis.  Tipoff is 7 p.m.  It will be the 349th meeting between the two rivals.  Oregon State holds a 186-162 advantage.  The Beavers are 9-and-5 on the season, while the Ducks are 11-and-4.  Both teams are 1-and-1 in the Pac-12.  Oregon crushed Oregon State twice last season winning by 42 and 21 points.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Trail Blazers will host the Hawks tonight.  Tipoff is 7 o'clock at the Moda Center.  Portland guard Damian Lillard is listed as probable with a strained calf.  Lillard played Tuesday in a 127-110 loss in Cleveland after missing five games, but had a compression sleeve on his right calf in a Thursday practice.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Timbers will play their first home game on April 14th against Minnesota United at Providence Park, which is undergoing stadium expansion.  The Timbers will face MLS rival Seattle three times, including two in Portland on May 13th and August 26th.  The Timbers will play 22 Saturday games, nine on Sunday and three on Wednesday.

(Eugene, OR)  --  Former Nebraska assistant Donte Williams has been hired as the Oregon outside linebacker coach.  Williams played at Idaho State. He was an Arizona assistant in 2016 before joining the Cornhuskers staff last season.
 

(Undated)  --  Portland lost in overtime 81-74 to San Diego at the Chiles Center.  Tahirou Diabate led Portland with 13 points.  The Pilots have lost three straight to fall to 6-and-10 and 0-and-3 in the West Coast Conference.  They return to the court tomorrow to play at Santa Clara.  Portland State fell 81-74 to Eastern Washington in a Big Sky game in Cheney, Washington.  Deontae North scored 21 points in the defeat.  The Vikings fell to 10-and-5 and are 0-and-2 in conference play.  They will play tomorrow night at Idaho.

(Seattle, WA)  --  Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin will replace Arizona wideout Larry Fitzgerald at the NFL Pro Bowl.  Fitzgerald withdrew from the game with an injury, and Baldwin got the call after initially being named a Pro Bowl alternate.  He caught 75 passes for 991 yards and eight touchdowns and will play in his second straight Pro Bowl, which kicks off January 28th in Orlando.
 

(Portland, OR)  --  The Trail Blazers will host the Hawks tomorrow night.  Tipoff is 7 o'clock at the Moda Center.  The Trail Blazers lost last week 104-89 to the Hawks in Atlanta.  Portland is coming off a 1-and-2 trip after a 127-110 loss on Tuesday to the Cavaliers in Cleveland.

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Oregon and Oregon State will face off tomorrow in Corvallis.  Tipoff is 7 p.m.  It will be the 349th meeting between the two schools.  Oregon State holds a 186-162 advantage.  The Beavers are 9-and-5 on the season, while the Ducks are 11-and-4.  Both teams are 1-and-1 in the Pac-12.  Oregon knocked off Oregon State in both matchups last season.

(Seattle, WA)  --  The Seahawks signed free agent kicker Jason Myers to a futures contract.  Blair Walsh, who made only 21 of 29 field goals attempts last season, is not expected back and will become and unrestricted free agent in March  Myers made 64 of 79 field goals from 2015-17 with Jacksonville.  He was released after six games last season after three misses of 52 yards or longer.

(Undated)  --  In local college basketball, Portland will host San Diego tonight at the Chiles Center.  The Pilots have dropped two in-a-row to fall to 6-and-9.  The Toreros have won their last three to sit at 11-and-3.  Portland is 0-and-2 in WCC play, while San Diego is 2-and-0.  Portland State will play tonight at Eastern Washington in Cheney in a Big Sky game.  The Vikings are 10-and-4 overall and 0-and-1 in conference.
 

(Seattle, WA)  --  Seahawks defensive coordinator Kris Richard is a candidate for the vacant Indianapolis Colts head coaching job.  NFL Network reports Richard is scheduled to interview with the Colts tomorrow.  Richard joined Seattle in 2010 as the defensive backs coach and was promoted to DC in 2015.

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Oregon State running back Ryan Nall announced he would forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL draft.  Nail finishes with 2,216 yards rushing for the Beavers and 24 touchdowns.  He also had 56 catches for 563 yards and four scores.

(Cleveland, OH)  --  Damian Lillard returned to the Trail Blazers lineup and scored a team-high 25 points, but it was not enough in a 127-110 loss to the Cavaliers in Cleveland.  Lillard had missed five games with a hamstring injury.  Jusuf Nurkic scored 23 points on 10 of 12 shooting for Portland.  The Blazers went 1-and-2 on their trip, playing three games in four nights.  They return home for a Friday game with the Hawks.

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Oregon and Oregon State will face off Friday in Corvallis.  Tipoff is 7 p.m.  The Beavers are 9-and-5 on the season, while the Ducks are 11-and-4.  Both teams are 1-and-1 in Pac-12 action.  Oregon knocked off Oregon State in both matchups last season.

(Undated)  --  In local college basketball, Portland will host San Diego tomorrow night at the Chiles Center.  The Pilots have dropped two in-a-row to fall to 6-and-9.  The Toreros have won their last three to sit at 11-and-3.  Portland is 0-and-2 in WCC play, while San Diego is 2-and-0.  Portland State will play tomorrow night at Eastern Washington in Cheney in a Big Sky game.  The Vikings are 10-and-4 overall and 0-and-1 in conference.

(Canton, OH)  --  Two former Seahawks are part of 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2018.  Offensive lineman Kevin Mawae and Steve Hutchinson made the cut from 27 semifinalists.  Mawae played in Seattle from 1994-through-97 and Hutchinson played from 2001-through-2005 with the Hawks.  Finalists must receive at least 80-percent of the vote from the selection committee to be elected.  The Class of 2018 will be revealed during Super Bowl weekend in Minneapolis.

(Renton, WA)  --  The Seahawks are signing six players to futures contracts.  Seattle is holding onto offensive linemen Isaiah Battle and Willie Beavers, quarterback Trevone Boykin, defensive back Alex Carter, wideout Cyril Grayson Jr., and defensive end Noble Nwachukwu.  All six players finished the season on the practice squad and will be on the team's 90-man offseason roster.

(Renton, WA)  --  Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has some doubt when it comes to the futures of strong safety Kam Chancellor and defensive end Cliff Avril.  Carroll said Tuesday that both players are going to have a hard time playing football again because of their neck injuries.  Avril and Chancellor suffered season-ending neck injuries a month-and-a half-apart.  Carroll also revealed in his season-ending press conference that cornerback Richard Sherman, who's recovering from a ruptured right Achilles, will have a clean-up procedure on his other ankle area.
 

(Chicago, IL)  --  CJ McCollum scored a game-high 32 points to lead the Trail Blazers over the Bulls 124-120 in overtime at the United Center.  Al-Farouq Aminu chipped in with a season-high of 24 points for Portland, which has won three of its last four.  The Blazers will battle the Cavaliers tonight in the second game of their back-to-back.  Portland is 19-and-17 on the season, while Cleveland is 24-and-12.
 

(Undated)  --  In other college basketball news, Portland is staying at home to prepare for a matchup with San Diego on Thursday.  The Pilots have dropped two in-a-row to fall to 6-and-9 overall.  The Toreros have won their last three to sit at 11-and-3 on the season.  Portland is 0-and-2 in WCC play, while San Diego is 2-and-0.

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Regional rivals, Oregon and Oregon State will go head-to-head in Corvallis on Friday for local supremacy.  The Beavers are 9-and-5 on the season, while the Ducks are 11-and-4 overall.  Both teams are 1-and-1 in Pac-12 action so far this season.  Oregon knocked off Oregon State in both meetings between the two teams last season.

(Renton, WA)  --  The Seahawks are heading into the offseason without a playoff appearance for the first time since 2011.  After a disappointing 9-and-7 campaign Seattle has plenty of questions surrounding the roster.  Tight end Jimmy Graham, left guard Luke Joeckel, wide receiver Paul Richardson, and defensive end Sheldon Richardson highlight a long list of free agents entering the offseason.
 

(Undated)  --  The Seahawks know who their home and away opponents will be next season.  The Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, and Dallas Cowboys highlight the non-divisional opponents visiting CenturyLink Field.  The Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, and Carolina Panthers are part of the road slate.  The full 2018 schedule will be released in April.