Horizon League watchguide Feb. 16-22 — and more

The week starts a little slow in terms of games with key implications for the upcoming conference tournament, but by the end of the week, there are plenty of games which greatly affect the final standings and seedings will have been played, capped off by Wright State taking on the surging defending champions. Here are five games to watch in the Horizon League’s penultimate week of the regular season.

Purdue Fort Wayne (15-12, 9-7 HL) at Northern Kentucky (16-11, 8-8 HL)

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m. ET, on ESPN+

A few weeks ago, the Mastodons were surging and seemed like a real threat to win the league title. Now, with just four games to play and a three-game difference from the top spot, Purdue Fort Wayne would essentially need to be perfect and get some help to have a chance at a regular-season championship. Regardless, the backcourt of Corey Hadnot II, DeAndre Craig Jr. and Mikale Stevenson is good enough to go on a run in the league tournament, so snapping out of a skid which has featured four losses in six games is critical.

Northern Kentucky, which sits a game back of the Mastodons entering the week, has an electrifying backcourt of its own. Donovan Oday and Dan Gherezgher are averaging a combined 35 points. Kael Robinson and LJ Wells are each averaging just under 14 per game, so the Norse have enough firepower to compete with anyone. As March is less than two weeks away, teams with elite backcourts often begin to establish themselves as potential Cinderellas, and this game has two teams that check that box.

Green Bay (15-13, 10-7 HL) at Oakland (14-13, 10-6 HL)

Friday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m. ET, on ESPN+

These teams met on Jan. 18 in a highly-anticipated matchup between two teams tied for second in the league. Entering this week, just a half game separates the two in the standings and as each aims to catch Wright State, this game has major implications. Isaac Garrett returned for Oakland last week, and his presence re-established the formidable trio of bigs for Greg Kampe. The frontcourt gave Green Bay a lot of problems in the first meeting where the Golden Grizzlies won handily, and it will be interesting to see what kind of adjustments Doug Gottlieb makes.

Beyond the frontcourts, the head-to-head matchup between Brody Robinson and Preston Ruedinger running the point for their respective teams is appointment television. Robinson is fifth in the league in scoring and first in assists, and Ruedinger is third in assists. As previously mentioned, guard play becomes increasingly valuable in the home stretch, and these two teams possess two of, if not the top two, best true point guards. To add importance to the game, Oakland is coming off a blowout loss to Robert Morris and Green Bay lost a heartbreaker to an in-state rival, so there will be no shortage of urgency for either team.

Green Bay (15-13, 10-7 HL) at Detroit Mercy (12-13, 9-7 HL)

Sunday, Feb. 22, 1 p.m. ET, on ESPN+

The Phoenix would need Wright State to fall apart down the stretch to win a Horizon League championship, but crazier things have happened. In a more realistic sense, this matchup between Green Bay and Detroit Mercy could have major implications on the upcoming league championship. Under the league’s new tournament format, five schools will play home games with a chance to advance to Indianapolis for semifinal games. Entering the week, Detroit Mercy is tied for fifth, with Green Bay just a half-game ahead. As both teams hope to make a run at an NCAA Tournament berth, playing a home game to get started in the postseason could prove instrumental to getting hot at the right time.

Tyler Spratt has come alive for the Titans as of late and hit a game-winner in the upset win over Wright State. He led the team in scoring in a win over Youngstown State. Albeit the championship stakes aren’t as high in this game as others this week, but these two teams are meeting for meaningful basketball in late February, a testament to the jobs both head coaches have done in righting the ship.

Northern Kentucky (16-11, 8-8 HL) at Youngstown State (13-14, 6-10 HL)

Sunday, Feb. 22, 2 p.m. ET, on ESPN+

Northern Kentucky, like previously mentioned teams, still has a real chance to earn a home game in the league championships, and a win over Purdue Fort Wayne would go a long way. To close the week, the Norse visits Youngstown State, which is tied for ninth place in the league. For the Penguins, Cris Carroll remains one of the better players in the league and averages 17. 2 points per game, which ranks fourth in the league. Imanuel Zorgvol leads the league in blocks which has helped on the interior, but outside of Caroll, Youngstown State just hasn’t had enough consistent production to place itself in the league’s upper-echelon. It has, however, proven dangerous in upset wins over Green Bay, Purdue Fort Wayne and Oakland. Carroll and Northern Kentucky’s Oday are two of the better players in the league, but with neither team competing for a title, they have flown under the radar. This game is a chance to get to see the two go head-to-head, with the Norse playing for seeding and the Penguins looking to play spoiler.

Robert Morris (18-10, 10-7 HL) at Wright State (17-10, 12- HL)

Sunday, Feb. 22, 2 p.m. ET, on ESPNU

Robert Morris fell to 3-5 in league play about a month ago and was fighting for anything to build a little momentum. Entering the week, the Colonials have won seven of their last nine, including four straight and look as formidable as any team in the league. Nikolaos Chitikoudis and DeSean Goode have been double-double machines in the frontcourt. Ryan Prather Jr., who holds NCAA Tournament experience, has been consistent both scoring and setting others up.

Wright State, despite last week’s loss to Detroit Mercy, remains alone atop the standings. The Raiders have been led in scoring by seven different players, and the balance has been key in holding onto the top spot. The frontcourt matchup, featuring veterans Chitikoudis and Michael Imariagbe and underclassmen Kellen Pickett and Goode, provides significant intrigue.

Having met on Feb. 4, there will be no unfamiliarity between the teams, and this is simply a game between the league’s best. Robert Morris is within striking distance, and Wright State is closing in on a championship, making this a perfect game to be broadcast to a national audience.

A coach said seeing one of her athletes win gold at the UK Athletics Championships was magic.

Joel Clarke-Khan cleared 2.19m to win the men's high jump at the Birmingham competition after an injury-plagued couple of years which saw him miss out on taking part in the Paris Olympics.

During that time he reunited with coach Deidre Elmhurst after they took a break a few years ago. The Worcester-based pair first started working together when Clarke-Khan was just 13.

"It's magic and it's the reward for all the hard work, the planning and the training," Elmhurst said of his victory.

The high jumper had previously broken his metatarsal three times, the last time being so bad he required screws to repair it.

"It's hugely difficult [coming back from injury], Elmhurst said.

"Joel had a major knee injury when he was with me and we worked through that together and I think that cemented a trust in each other.

"You have to keep the athlete incredibly positive but not looking too far ahead."

Speaking at the UK Athletics Championships Clarke-Khan said it had been a rough few years but he felt like he was getting back to where he'd been before.

"For me, that's the most important thing now and to cement that feeling with a British Championship win, it just means the world to me."

He added: "I've working with my new-old coach Deidre from Worcester and I think we've just clicked.

"Everything we knew about each other before, the chemistry, it's just working so well."

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More on this story

• High jump title 'means the world' to Clarke-Khan
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• Asher-Smith wins 60m title with championship record

Luke lights up PDC Players Championship with super display to claim event 4 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

2024 World Champion Luke Humphries picked up a first ranking title of 2026 when he denied Wessel Nijman a second Players Championship of the season yesterday, as the reigning Premier League defeated the Dutchman 8-6 to claim the crown in Wigan.

Humphries - who was without a Players Championship title since October 2024 - claimed his first title of the year with a dazzling display of darts, reaffirming his status as one of the premier players in world darts.

The world number two scooped the £15,000 top prize with an average of 104 against Nijman - his sixth ton-plus average of the day.

The Englishman trailed early in the contest, as Nijman rattled off back-to-back legs to take a two-leg lead, before Humphries responded in kind to level the contest at two apiece.

PDC

Nijman - who had already picked up a title this year in Hildesheim the week before - took the lead once again with a trio of five-visit legs, before Humphries claimed four legs on the spin, with winning legs of 12, 12, 14 and 12 darts to take a 7-5 lead.

Humphries sealed the victory two legs later, pinning a brilliant 13-dart leg to claim his fifth straight win over the Dutchman.

“Except for that first game, I thought I was really good today,” reflected Humphries, who recorded a tournament average of 102.19.

“I’ve had some really, really tough games to play today. A couple of really tough ones early on, and then Stephen Bunting and Gerwyn Price; these are Premier League players.

“I missed a few doubles today, but I’m really pleased with myself and feeling really good about my game.

"I feel elated! For me, these are big. It gives me a lot of confidence because it’s the first tournament I’ve won in a long time.

“I think my son will be watching me at home. He loves watching on the screen, I’m sure he will be very happy as well!

“There’s going to be a lot of graft this year, but if I keep playing like that then the rewards will come.”

Having kicked off his campaign with a deciding-leg victory over Martijn Dragt, Humphries produced averages of 103 and 104 to reach the last 32, with wins over Marvin Kraft and Luke Woodhouse respectively.

The world number two would then beat his Premier League rival Stephen Bunting, before producing a sublime 108 average in a 6-2 victory over Niels Zonneveld to book his place in the semi-finals.

LUKE HUMPHRIES CAREER STATS: Check out full profile on dartsdatabase

This set-up a scintillating clash against Gerwyn Price, as the 31-year-old produced yet another ton-plus average to defeat the Welshman 7-4.

Nijman, meanwhile, registered two ton-plus averages of his own, his first coming in his opening round game against Yorick Hofkens, before beating Ryan Meikle and Cor Dekker to book his place in the last 16.

The 25-year-old then averaged 107 in a whitewash victory over Marvin van Velzen, before denying Daryl Gurney and Callan Rydz prior to coming up short against Humphries.

Price edged closer to his first ranking title of the season, as the Welshman beat the likes of Sebastian Bialecki, Kim Huybrechts and Ricky Evans, before falling to Humphries with yet another ton-plus average.

Rydz also impressed at the Robin Park Leisure Centre, beating TV title winners Noppert and De Decker on his way to reaching his first ProTour semi-final since February 2025.

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The Riot produced back-to-back ton-plus averages against Ryan Joyce and Andrew Gilding, registering an average of nearly 108 in his whitewash victory against Joyce.

Price and Rydz were joined in the quarter-finals by Niels Zonneveld, who found himself continuing his good form into the new year in Wigan, whilst a resurgent De Decker made it to the quarter-finals for the first time in nine months.

Elsewhere, former World Grand Prix winner Gurney beat Dominik Gruellich and Dave Chisnall on the way to his quarter-finals, before succumbing to a deciding-leg defeat against Nijman. 

Bialecki, meanwhile, recovered from his opening round defeat against Nathan Aspinall on Monday by advancing to the last eight, claiming an early victory against his compatriot Krzysztof Ratajski, before averaging upwards of 104 to beat Alan Soutar in the last 16.

The 2026 PDC ProTour season will resume in Leicester next week, as Players Championships 5-6 take place at the Mattioli Arena on February 24-25.

Coverage will be broadcast live through PDCTV and bookmakers’ websites worldwide, with German commentary also provided on Stream One.

2026 Players Championship Four

Tuesday February 17

Robin Park Leisure Centre, Wigan
Last 16
Luke Humphries 6-3 Stephen Bunting
Niels Zonneveld 6-5 Joe Cullen
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Kim Huybrechts
Sebastian Bialecki 6-2 Alan Soutar
Wessel Nijman 6-0 Marvin van Velzen
Daryl Gurney 6-4 Dave Chisnall
Callan Rydz 6-4 Andrew Gilding
Mike De Decker 6-2 Ross Smith

Quarter-Finals
Luke Humphries 6-2 Niels Zonneveld
Gerwyn Price 6-4 Sebastian Bialecki
Wessel Nijman 6-5 Daryl Gurney
Callan Rydz 6-2 Mike De Decker

Semi-Finals
Luke Humphries 7-4 Gerwyn Price
Wessel Nijman 7-3 Callan Rydz

Final
Luke Humphries 8-6 Wessel Nijman

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