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Indiana football absorbed violent contact from Miami early — featuring a missed Fernando Mendoza targeting call. But IU became the aggressor during the second quarter, culminating in a rare fullback touchdown. Mendoza put together a lengthy 14-play drive in turning to the trenches. Nine came through handoffs. And the ninth witnessed some poetry in motion. Curt Cignetti rolled with an offensive tackle motion as the lead blocker. Tight end Riley Nowakowski lined up as a rare fullback. Indiana punched it in for the first touchdown of the evening. INDIANA STRIKE FIRST! Riley Nowakowski BATTLES his way into the endzone for the TD pic.twitter.com/vafku8s2PP — ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 20, 2026 Indiana went straight after the heart of Miami’s defense by reverting to old school, bully ball tactics. The end result became a 10-0 lead at halftime. Secret Indiana FB Riley Nowakowski draws reactions against Miami Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Mendoza walked into Hard Rock Stadium drawing the most attention among Hoosier players. He had his homecoming to Miami and faced the school he grew up near. Nowakowski, though, emerged as an unsung hero during Indiana’s sudden rise. Dane Brugler of The Athletic shared a screenshot involving some praise for the glorified fullback and tight end. Riley Nowakowski. Ready to die on this hill. pic.twitter.com/ApkqH0tg8L — Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 20, 2026 The FB/TE even draw loud cheers all the way from Bloomington — as fans roared loud at a watch party inside Assembly Hall. Assembly Hall’s reaction to Riley Nowakowski’s touchdown#iufb pic.twitter.com/T8ehG8bEhg — Cruz Martin (@cruzmartinvoice) January 20, 2026 The versatile IU weapon is among the College Football Transfer Portal weapons Cignetti helped bring over. Except Nowakowski left a certain Big Ten rival fanbase furious — as he came via Wisconsin. Nowakowski entered Hard Rock Stadium with 30 catches for 370 yards and two touchdowns. But his last rushing touchdown arrived on Sept. 6 against Kennesaw State. He clearly caught Miami off guard with his short-yardage score. The post Indiana powers through Miami D for fullback rushing TD appeared first on ClutchPoints.

V.J. Edgecombe hasn’t been in the league long, but he already knows how to make a Philadelphia crowd explode. During Monday night’s matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Indiana Pacers at Xfinity Mobile Arena, the rookie shooting guard provided a highlight that will be playing on a loop for weeks. In a display of pure raw athleticism, Edgecombe drove through the lane and rose up for a massive poster dunk over Pacers center Tony Bradley. The sheer force of the play brought the Philly fans to their feet, injecting a massive dose of energy into a tightly contested game. VJ EDGECOMBE WITH THE AND-1 THROWDOWN pic.twitter.com/xDEfHjAJNG — ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 20, 2026 As the third quarter winds down, the 76ers hold a slim 82-81 lead in what has become a physical, back-and-forth battle. Philadelphia is leaning heavily on Tyrese Maxey, who is once again carrying the offensive load. Maxey, currently one of the NBA’s top scorers at 30.3 points per game, has been the engine for a Sixers team trying to protect their home court. The Indiana Pacers, despite missing star Tyrese Haliburton, are refusing to go away. Andrew Nembhard has stepped up in a big way, tallying 18 points on efficient 7-of-13 shooting to keep Indiana within striking distance. Pascal Siakam has also been a handful, contributing 18 points and six assists as he directs the Pacers’ offense through the post. With the game coming down to the wire, every possession is critical. Philadelphia is looking to Joel Embiid to anchor the defense in the closing minutes, while Indiana is finding success through secondary scoring from the likes of T.J. McConnell. Whether the Sixers can pull away or the Pacers steal one on the road, Edgecombe’s dunk has already claimed the title of the night’s biggest moment. The post 76ers’ VJ Edgecombe sends fans to their feet with monster dunk over Pacers appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Dallas Mavericks routed the New York Knicks 114–97 at Madison Square Garden despite entering the matchup severely shorthanded. With Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford all sidelined, head coach Jason Kidd leaned on veteran Dwight Powell to stabilize a depleted frontcourt and maintain structure on both ends of the floor. The win continued a steady turnaround for the Mavericks after a bumpy opening stretch to the season. Over their first 18 games, Dallas struggled to establish rhythm as injuries and rotation instability disrupted continuity. Recent performances suggest progress, with improved execution, sharper defensive focus, and clearer offensive roles emerging across the lineup. Powell logged 28 minutes and provided a steady presence despite modest box score production. He finished with two points, five rebounds, and two assists, but his screening, positioning, and defensive discipline played a key role in limiting Karl-Anthony Towns offensively. The Knicks welcomed back superstar Jalen Brunson from injury but failed to capitalize on interior mismatches. The Mavs controlled the tempo throughout the second half, stretched the lead in the third quarter, and silenced the crowd as execution tightened on both ends. Following the road win, StatMuse highlighted a statistical trend tied to Powell’s expanded role this season. The analytics outlet posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), noting the squad is undefeated when Powell plays at least 25 minutes. “Fun fact: The Mavericks are undefeated this season when Dwight Powell plays at least 25 minutes.” Fun fact: The Mavericks are undefeated this season when Dwight Powell plays at least 25 minutes. pic.twitter.com/LMFVoayyCW — StatMuse (@statmuse) January 13, 2026 That mark now stands at 9–0. Kidd has relied on the 11-year veteran’s experience to anchor rotations while younger players handle increased scoring responsibilities. His communication, screening, and positioning have helped simplify reads for guards and wings during extended minutes. Dallas is navigating a tough Western Conference, currently sitting 12th with over half the season complete. The dominant performance on the road Monday reinforced the importance of execution over star power. As roles solidify and health improves, the Mavericks aim to build momentum and position themselves for a meaningful late-season push. The post Mavericks improve perfect trend after embarrassing Knicks at MSG appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Tennessee Titans teammates Cam Ward and Xavier Restrepo pulled up at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday to cheer for their alma mater, Miami, in the national championship game against Indiana. The Hurricanes are playing for the much-coveted title for the first time since winning it in 2001, and Ward and Restrepo want to make sure that they are on hand to witness the team’s possible return to the mountaintop. Ward and Restrepo, who starred for Miami in 2024, were spotted chatting on the field before the game, as shown in a video on X. Cam Ward and Xavier Restrepo together at the Natty (via 305sportss/IG) pic.twitter.com/o77aq4bIfy — Cam Ward Muse (@CamWardMuse) January 20, 2026 While the 23-year-old Ward only played one year at Miami, his impact was immediate, elevating the team to one of the country’s most explosive offenses. He set multiple records, including most passing yards (4,313) and most passing touchdowns (39) in a single season. The star quarterback’s performance earned him major recognitions, including ACC Player of the Year and a nod to the All-America First Team. The Titans drafted Ward as the No. 1 overall pick in 2025. The 23-year-old Restrepo, meanwhile, had a five-year stint at Miami, becoming one of the school’s most beloved players. He arrived as an unheralded wide receiver in 2020 before having a breakout campaign in 2023. By the end of his run with the Hurricanes in 2024, he owned the most career receptions (200), most receiving yards (2,844), and most receiving touchdowns (21) in school history. The Titans plucked Restrepo from free agency after going undrafted. Ward and Restrepo may have failed to give Miami a national title, but their presence should give the current players an extra boost in battling the Hoosiers. As of writing, Miami is down by 10 points in the first half, 10-0. The post Titans’ Cam Ward, Xavier Restrepo take in national championship game in Miami reunion appeared first on ClutchPoints.