Australian soccer club sanctioned after pitch invasion

The Melbourne Victory soccer club has been prevented from selling tickets to home games and fans cannot attend away matches under Football Australia's preliminary sanctions for a violent pitch invasion. The Victory were put on notice after 150 spectators stormed the AAMI Park pitch in last Saturday's A-League match against Melbourne City, forcing the match to be abandoned. City goalkeeper Tom Glover sustained a concussion and facial lacerations when he was hit with a metal bucket wielded by a pitch invader. Referee Alex King, a television cameraman and two security guards were also injured. Football Australia has not fully determined final sanctions but has put Friday's temporary measures in place until Jan. 15.

Coleman scores 22, Hepa 19 as Hawaii beats Pepperdine 76-70

Noel Coleman scored 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting, Kamaka Hepa made 7 of 11 from the field and finished with 19 points and Hawaii beat Pepperdine 76-70 at the Diamond Head Classic. Hawaii improved to 7-3 with the win and Pepperdine fell to 6-6.

Pettersson has 5-point night, adds SO winner for Canucks

Elias Pettersson scored his second goal of the game to tie it with 1:20 left in regulation and added the shootout winner in the Vancouver Canucks' 6-5 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night. Pettersson, who also had three assists, drilled a hard shot from above the faceoff circle to tie it with goalie Spencer Martin off for an extra attacker. Andrei Kuzmenko had a goal and two assists for Vancouver, Lane Pederson scored his first goal in his third NHL game and added an assist, and Brock Boeser also connected. The Canucks have beaten the Kraken all six times they've met. Martin stopped 31 shots for Vancouver. Daniel Sprong scored twice for Seattle.

Kempe strikes in OT, Kings top Flames after giving away lead

Adrian Kempe scored in overtime, Pheonix Copley made 27 saves to win his fourth straight start and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Calgary Flames 4-3 on Thursday night. Los Angeles fought back after squandering a two-goal lead in the third period, with Kempe scoring his 13th goal on the rush from Viktor Arvidsson at 3:23 of overtime. The Kings swept a three-game homestand and won their fourth in a row. Gabe Vilardi had a goal and an assist, and Phillip Danault and Blake Lizotte scored 10 seconds apart early in the third period for Los Angeles. Tyler Toffoli had a power-play goal, and Dillon Dube and Jonathan Huberdeau also scored.

Karlsson has goal and 3 assists, Sharks beat Wild 5-2

Erik Karlsson had a goal and three assists, and the San Jose Sharks beat Minnesota 5-2 on Thursday night to snap the Wild's six-game winning streak. Karlsson scored on a one-timer 44 seconds into the game to extend his points streak to nine games. Noah Gregor, Timo Meier, Kevin Labanc, and Oscar Lindblom also scored for San Jose, and James Reimer made 24 saves. Joel Eriksson Ek and Mats Zuccarello scored for Minnesota, and Filip Gustavsson made 20 saves. Wild forward Mason Shaw was assessed a major penalty and ejected for kneeing Sharks forward Evgeny Svechnikov in the second period.

Wilson's poor performance has Jets in quite a QB quandary

Zach Wilson had another lousy performance for the New York Jets and was replaced by Chris Streveler, who was elevated from the practice squad a few hours before a disappointing 19-3 loss to Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Wilson went 9 of 18 for 92 yards with an interception and a dismal 41.9 rating for the Jets, whose playoff hopes took a devastating hit with their fourth straight loss. Wilson was making his second start after a three-game benching because Mike White is sidelined with a rib injury. Coach Robert Saleh said he's not prepared to consider who'll start the next game.

Top 25 roundup: Mizzou manhandles No. 16 Illinois

Fourth-year guard Kobe Brown set career highs with 31 points and eight assists to lead Missouri to a 93-71 nonconference romp over No. 16 Illinois on Thursday night in the Braggin' Rights Classic in St. Louis.

Harkless scores 19, Rodriguez 18; UNLV beats Southern Miss

Led by Elijah Harkless' 19 points, the UNLV Rebels defeated the Southern Miss Golden Eagles 74-63. The Rebels moved to 11-1 with the victory and the Golden Eagles dropped to 11-2.

Traore's 17 help BYU beat Weber State 63-57

Led by Fousseyni Traore's 17 points, the BYU Cougars defeated the Weber State Wildcats 63-57. The Cougars are now 10-5 with the victory and the Wildcats fell to 5-8.

Parker scores 15 in Portland State beats Cal Baptist 74-72

Led by Cameron Parker's 15 points, the Portland State Vikings defeated the Cal Baptist Lancers 74-72 on Thursday. The Vikings are now 6-7 with the victory and the Lancers dropped to 8-5.

Kent State beats UTEP 47-46

Led by Sincere Carry's 15 points, the Kent State Golden Flashes defeated the UTEP Miners 47-46 at the Sun Bowl Invitational. The Golden Flashes are now 10-3 on the season, while the Miners moved to 8-4.

Ingram, Keefe help Stanford beat Loyola Chicago 75-62

Harrison Ingram scored 15 points, James Keefe added 14 points and Stanford beat Loyola Chicago 75-62 at Kaiser Permanente Arena. The Cardinal, who played five games at the arena during the COVID-altered 2020-21 season, improved to 6-0 at the home of the the G-League's Santa Cruz Warriors. Ben Schwieger stole a pass under the basket and took it the other way for a coast-to-coast dunk that gave the Ramblers a 6-4 lead but Maxime Raynaud answered 18 seconds later with a 3-pointer and Stanford (5-7) led the rest of the way. Braden Norris led Loyola Chicago with 18 points. The Ramblers (6-5) shot just 33% from the field, made 2 of 9 (22%) from 3-point range and committed nine of its 12 turnovers in the first half.

Thursday's Scores

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Thursday's Scores

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Bruins vow player-vetting overhaul after Miller signing

An independent review of the Boston Bruins' player-vetting process found gaps in the system that led to the signing of a prospect who was convicted of assault in 2016 for bullying a Black classmate with developmental disabilities in middle school. The team said it would overhaul the process that collapsed when it gave Mitchell Miller an entry-level deal last month even though the Arizona Coyotes previously relinquished their rights after drafting him in 2020. Bruins President Cam Neely said afterward the team "dropped the ball" and Boston rescinded its offer after harsh criticism around the hockey community, including the Bruins own locker room. The Bruins commissioned an independent review by a law firm led by former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

Pierre scores 18, Wichita St. beats Texas Southern 65-56

Jaron Pierre Jr. scored 18 points off of the bench to lead the Wichita State Shockers over the Texas Southern Tigers 65-56. The Shockers moved to 7-5 with the win and the Tigers fell to 3-9.

Orioles trade INF Lewin Díaz to Braves for cash

The Baltimore Orioles have traded infielder Lewin Díaz to the Atlanta Braves for cash. Díaz hit .169 with five home runs and 11 RBIs in 58 games this year for the Miami Marlins. The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed him off waivers from the Marlins last month, then the Orioles claimed him off waivers from the Pirates in early December. Baltimore designated Díaz for assignment earlier this week when the team acquired reliever Mychal Givens. Díaz made his big league debut in 2020 for the Marlins. He has hit .181 in 112 games.

Beasley, Clarkson lead Jazz to 120-112 victory over Wizards

Malik Beasley scored 25 points and Jordan Clarkson added 23 to power the Utah Jazz past the reeling Washington Wizards 120-112. Lauri Markkanen had 21 points and Collin Sexton returned from missing seven games with a right hamstring injury to finish with 18 while playing just 17 minutes due to a medical minutes restriction. Bradley Beal scored 30 points and Kyle Kuzma had 21, but the Wizards lost for the 14th time in their last 16 games. Beal scored Washington's first 12 points of the fourth quarter but the Wizards couldn't stop the Jazz. The Wizards fell to 2-8 when Beal is their leading scorer.

Mullins' late 3 gets WSU over GW, 66-64 at Diamond Head

Jabe Mullins hit a 3-pointer with 3.1 seconds left to give Washington State a 66-64 victory over George Washington in the Diamond Head Classic. Mouhamed Gueye scored on a putback layup with 24 seconds to go that tied it 63-all. E.J. Clark then made the first of two free throws to give George Washington a one-point lead. On the ensuing possession, TJ Bamba scooped up a loose ball near the three-point arc and passed to Mullins for the uncontested game-winner. Gueye scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Washington State (5-6). Brendan Adams scored 17 points for George Washington (6-5).

Hawthorne scores 20, San Francisco takes down Hartford 85-53

Led by Isaiah Hawthorne's 20 points, the San Francisco Dons defeated the Hartford Hawks 85-53 on Thursday night. The Dons improved to 11-4 with the victory and the Hawks fell to 4-11.

Lawrence, Jaguars continue playoff push, outclass Jets 19-3

Trevor Lawrence leaped for a touchdown and the Jacksonville Jaguars continued their push toward the playoffs with their third straight victory, 19-3 over an embarrassed Zach Wilson and the New York Jets on a rainy, windy night. Lawrence finished 20 of 31 for 229 yards and ran for 51 yards and the score on seven carries for the Jaguars. Wilson was booed frequently before he was replaced in the third quarter by Chris Streveler, elevated from the practice squad before the game. Jacksonville would win the AFC South title with victories in its final two games.

Brown scores 31, Missouri upsets No. 16 Illinois 93-71

Kobe Brown set career highs with 31 points and eight assists, and D'Moi Hodge added 20 points to lead Missouri to a 93-71 upset of No. 16 Illinois in their annual neutral site contest. Brown's 31 points were the most in school history against Illinois. Terrence Shannon Jr scored 22 points and Matthew Mayer added 16 but Illinois (8-4) has dropped two of three contests since upsetting then-No. 2 Texas on Dec. 6 at Madison Square Garden in New York. DeAndre Gholston added 15 points and Ronnie DeGray III scored 10 for Missouri (11-1).

Thursday's Scores

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Air Force beats Baylor 30-15 in chilly Armed Forces Bowl

Haaziq Daniels had a short scoring run and threw a touchdown pass in Air Force's 30-15 victory over Baylor in cold conditions Thursday night in the Armed Forces Bowl. The game kicked off with a temperature of 13 degrees and a wind chill of minus 4 at Amon G. Carter Stadium, the home of TCU, Baylor's Big 12 rival. Baylor officials announced it was the coldest kickoff temperature in the history of the program. Daniels had a 2-yard touchdown run and a 15-yard scored pass out of Air Force's run-oriented triple-option offense. Brad Roberts rushed for two touchdowns, and Matthew Dapore had a 37-yard field goal for the Falcons. Robert ran for 116 yards, his school-record 20th career game with triple-digit rushing yardage.

Saint Francis (BKN) defeats Medgar Evers 89-66

Led by Larry Moreno's 20 points, the Saint Francis (BKN) Terriers defeated the Medgar Evers Cougars 89-66 on Thursday night. The Terriers are now 6-6 on the season, while the Cougars moved to 3-5.

Kalkbrenner has 19 as Creighton takes down Butler 78-56

Led by Ryan Kalkbrenner's 19 points, the Creighton Bluejays defeated the Butler Bulldogs 78-56 on Thursday night. The Bluejays improved to 7-6 with the victory and the Bulldogs fell to 8-5.

McCollum scores 40, Pelicans top Spurs 126-117 to end skid

CJ McCollum scored a season-high 40 points and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the San Antonio Spurs 126-117 to end their four-game losing streak. Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Pelicans. New Orleans won despite Zion Williamson being scratched from the lineup because of NBA health and safety protocols. The Pelicans combined to hit 13 3-pointers and led by as many as 23 points. The Spurs got back in the game with a 10-0 fourth-quarter run but McCollum kept the Spurs at bay with 19 points in the final 10 minutes. McCollum hit four 3s during that spurt including one while being fouled for a 4-point play.

Ousmane's 37 lead North Texas past UTSA 78-54

The North Texas Mean Green defeated the UTSA Roadrunners 78-54 on Thursday night led by Abou Ousmane's 37 points. The Mean Green are now 10-2 with the victory and the Roadrunners dropped to 6-6.

Walker's 25 lead UAB past Charlotte 76-68

Led by Jordan Walker's 25 points, the UAB Blazers defeated the Charlotte 49ers 76-68 on Thursday night. The Blazers are now 10-2 with the victory and the 49ers fell to 9-3.

Ovechkin stuck at 800 goals, Capitals beat Senators in OT

Alex Ovechkin went without a goal for the fourth straight game, while Marcus Johansson scored 2:04 into overtime to give the Washington Capitals a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night. Ovechkin is stuck at 800 goals, one short of tying Gordie Howe for second place in NHL history behind Wayne Gretzky. The Russian star had two assists. Evgeny Kuznetsov and Sonny Milano also scored for the Capitals. Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves in his first start since sustaining an upper-body injury Dec. 3. Alex DeBrincat and Drake Batherson scored for Ottawa and Cam Talbot stopped 37 shots.

Yale beats Monmouth 76-44

Led by EJ Jarvis' 16 points, the Yale Bulldogs defeated the Monmouth Hawks 76-44. The Bulldogs are now 10-3 on the season, while the Hawks fell to 1-12.

Cal Poly wins 72-59 against San Diego Christian

Led by Chance Hunter's 12 points, the Cal Poly Mustangs defeated the San Diego Christian 72-59 on Thursday night. The Mustangs improved to 6-6 with the victory and San Diego Christian fell to 0-6.

Avery puts up 20, New Mexico State beats N.C. A&T 85-76

Led by Marchelus Avery's 20 points, the New Mexico State Aggies defeated the North Carolina A&T Aggies 85-76 at the Sun Bowl Invitational. The Aggies moved to 7-5 with the victory and the Aggies dropped to 5-8.

No. 5 Arizona overpowers Morgan State for 93-68 victory

Azuolas Tubelis scored 26 points, Oumar Ballo added 21 and No. 5 Arizona closed out its nonconference schedule by overpowering Morgan State 93-68. Arizona scored 28 more points in the paint and used a 17-2 run spanning halftime to give coach Tommy Lloyd tie second-best start after 50 games in Division I history at 45-5. Only Wisconsin's Doc Meanwell had a better start at 49-1 in the early 1900s. Arizona shot 58% and had 25 assists on 34 field goals to stretch the nation's third-longest active home streak to 27 games. Malik Miller kept Morgan State in it early with 3-point shooting and finished with 23 points.

Slavin scores in OT, streaking Hurricanes beat Penguins 4-3

Jaccob Slavin scored 23 seconds into overtime to give the Carolina Hurricanes a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night. Carolina won its seventh straight game and has points in 13 consecutive contests to match the franchise record. Martin Necas scored his 14th goal, Jordan Staal his 10th and Jalen Chatfield added his first NHL goal for the red-hot Hurricanes. Antti Raanta stopped 24 shots for Carolina, which has points in 18 of its last 20 games overall. Sidney Crosby scored  his 19th goal, Bryan Rust his ninth and Brock McGinn added a short-handed goal for the Penguins.

Miguel scores 23 as South Florida knocks off NJIT 92-73

Selton Miguel scored 23 points off of the bench to help lead the South Florida Bulls past the NJIT Highlanders 92-73 on Thursday night. The Bulls are now 7-6 on the season, while the Highlanders moved to 2-10.

Rider earns 77-71 win over Marist

Led by Allen Betrand's 19 points, the Rider Broncs defeated the Marist Red Foxes 77-71 on Thursday night. The Broncs moved to 5-5 with the victory and the Red Foxes fell to 4-7.

Kakko scores late to lead Rangers to 5-3 win over Islanders

Kaapo Kakko scored the tiebreaking goal with 2:47 remaining and the New York Rangers rallied for a 5-3 win over the crosstown-rival Islanders for their eighth win in nine games. Barclay Goodrow had a goal and two assists, Julien Gauthier had a goal and an assist, and Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck also scored for the Rangers. Igor Shesterkin stopped 15 shots. Mathew Barzal and Alexander Romanov each had a goal and an assist, and Anders Lee also scored for the Islanders, who lost for the fifth time in six games. Ilya Sorokin finished with 29 saves.

Brittney Griner asks supporters to advocate for Paul Whelan

Brittney Griner has asked her supporters in a social media post to advocate for Paul Whelan. Whelan is a former Marine serving a 16-year prison term in Russia for espionage charges the United States are baseless. Griner is a WNBA star who was detained in Russia in February and released in December in a prisoner swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. The U.S. had sought to exchange Bout for both Whelan and Griner, but Russia would only agree to swap Griner. In a handwritten letter posted to Instagram, Griner urged her supporters to advocate for Whelan and send letters to him.

Nick Foligno breaks 3rd-period tie, Bruins beat Jets 3-2

Nick Foligno broke a tie midway through the third period, Jeremy Swayman stopped 25 shots and the NHL-leading Boston Bruins rallied to beat the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 on Thursday night. The Bruins improved to 26-4-2 and 18-0-2 at home. Foligno scored from the left circle off a feed from Charlie Coyle. David Pastrnak and Jake DeBrusk also scored for the Bruins. Mark Scheifele and Jansen Harkins scored for Winnipeg and Connor Hellebuyck made 37 saves.

Faure's 17 lead Loyola (MD) past Goucher 99-53

Led by Alonso Faure's 17 points, the Loyola (MD) Greyhounds defeated the Goucher Gophers 99-53 on Thursday night. The Greyhounds improved to 5-8 with the win and the Gophers fell to 2-8.

Johnson's 6 3s, 25 points help South Carolina beat WKU 65-58

and freshman Gregory Jackson II added 12 points and a season-high 16 rebounds to help South Carolina beat Western Kentucky 65-58. The Gamecocks shot 34% (22 of 64) from the field and made just 12 of 25 (48%) from the free-throw line but hit nine 3-pointers and outrebounded Western Kentucky 51-31. Jacobi Wright and Johnson each hit a 3-pointer in a 15-2 spurt that culminated when Johnson converted a traditional three-point play that gave South Carolina a 10-point lead with 2:15 remaining. Dayvion McKnight scored 28 points with eight rebounds and three steals for Western Kentucky.

Brown scores 24 as Saint Joseph's downs Cent. Conn. 83-66

Led by Charlie Brown's 24 points, the Saint Joseph's Hawks defeated the Central Connecticut Blue Devils 83-66. The Hawks are now 6-6 on the season, while the Blue Devils dropped to 2-12.

Queens defeats Fairleigh Dickinson 82-73

Led by AJ McKee's 20 points, the Queens Royals defeated the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights 82-73 on Thursday night. The Royals are now 10-3 with the win and the Knights dropped to 6-8.

Wright State earns 88-80 victory against Miami (OH)

Led by Trey Calvin's 27 points, the Wright State Raiders defeated the Miami (OH) RedHawks 88-80 on Thursday night. The Raiders are now 7-6 with the victory and the RedHawks dropped to 5-7.

Colts still playing to win as Chargers chase playoff spot

The Indianapolis Colts haven't changed the game plan. They're still trying to run first. They're still relying on a stout defense. And they're still playing to win Monday night when they face the Los Angeles Chargers. It's the reason interim coach Jeff Saturday changed quarterbacks this week, benching Matt Ryan in favor of Nick Foles. Indy hopes to make life difficult for the Chargers, who are hoping to clinch their first playoff spot since 2018. Los Angeles' defense has improved lately, and the offense is more explosive thanks to the return of receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen.

N.C. State makes 10 3-pointers to beat Louisville 76-64

Casey Morsell scored 15 points from five 3-pointers and North Carolina State pulled away early in the second half to beat Louisville 76-64 on for its third straight win. Terquavion Smith made three 3-pointers, Morsell added two more and Jack Clark converted a three-point play during a 20-2 run that gave N.C. State a 53-35 lead with 13:05 remaining.  Louisville pulled within 10 points twice inside the final two minutes but didn't get closer. Sydney Curry had 16 points for Louisville (2-11, 0-3).

Saints place veteran receiver Landry on injured reserve

The New Orleans Saints have placed veteran receiver Jarvis Landry on injured reserve because of a nagging ankle injury. The move virtually ends the season for Landry and perhaps his stint with his hometown NFL club. Landry grew up near New Orleans and joined the Saints on a one-year free-agent deal. The Saints play Saturday in Cleveland. That's where Landry spent his previous four seasons. New Orleans also will be without leading receiver and former Ohio State standout Chris Olave in that game because of his hamstring injury. This was Landry's ninth NFL season out of LSU. He's played in nine games and caught 25 passes for 272 yards and one touchdown.

Panthers look to revive run game vs Lions improving defense

The Carolina Panthers are coming off a rough weekend running the football, held to 21 yards on 16 carries in a 24-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. But that won't deter the run-first Panthers from trying to control the line of scrimmage with some smash-mouth football. D'Onta Foreman had just 9 yards on 10 carries against the Steelers, but hopes to get back on track against a suspect Lions defense that is 26th in the league against the run. The Lions have given up just 72 yards rushing over the past two games and an average of 84 over five games.

Kneepkens, No. 12 Utah women swamp Southern Utah 90-56

Gianna Kneepkens scored 17 points and No. 12 Utah used a hot second half to race past Southern Utah 90-56 as the Utes matched the best start in school history. The 2018-19 team also started 12-0. The chance to set the record comes when the Utes resume Pac-12 Conference play at Washington State on Dec. 30. Teya Sidberry added a career-high 16 points. Cherita Daugherty scored 19 points for the Thunderbirds. Sidberry had back-to-back layups in a 12-0 run for a 16-8 lead midway through the first quarter that was enough to take the lead for good. The Utes led 41-28 at the half. Then came the third quarter, which included 11-0 and 12-0 runs as Utah shot 12 of 19 with four 3-pointers for a 73-42 lead.

Ashworth scores 17 as Utah State knocks off Seattle U 84-56

Led by Steven Ashworth's 17 points, the Utah State Aggies defeated the Seattle U Redhawks 84-56 on Thursday night. The Aggies are now 10-1 on the season, while the Redhawks moved to 8-3.

Maryland snaps 3-game losing streak, beats Saint Peter's

Hakim Hart scored 20 points, Cam Young added 14 points and Maryland beat Saint Peter's 75-45 to snap a three-game losing streak. It was Maryland's second game this season holding an opponent under 50 points after beating Niagara 71-49 in a season opener. Saint Peter's made just three of its opening 16 shots, including eight straight misses, and the Peacocks trailed 24-10 after turning it over nine times. Maryland led 35-19 at the break after shooting 50% and holding Saint Peter's to 25%. Saint Peter's finished 14 of 49 from the field with 17 turnovers. Patrick Emilien added 10 points for Maryland.

Rally-record Vikings host Giants in possible playoff preview

The Minnesota Vikings host the New York Giants in a potential preview of an NFC wild-card round playoff game. The Vikings are 11-3 and have won the NFC North. The Giants are 8-5-1. They can clinch a playoff spot this week with a win at Minnesota and losses by two of their three closest pursuers: Detroit, Seattle and Washington. The Giants beat the Commanders last week. The Vikings beat the Colts with the biggest comeback in NFL history from 33 points down. Vikings are favored by 3½ points according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Chargers close in on playoff spot against injuries, history

Derwin James is on his way back to the Los Angeles Chargers' lineup after returning to practice. Joey Bosa isn't there yet, but he must be getting closer. The Chargers defense came together over the past two weeks even without its big stars, and it can carry the Bolts toward a playoff spot if it can shut down Nick Foles and the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night. James missed the past two games with a quadriceps injury. Chargers coach Brandon Staley didn't confirm James will play, but the Bolts clearly hope that's the case.

Johnson, West Virginia hold off Stony Brook 75-64

Kedrian Johnson scored 18 points and West Virginia turned back persistent Stony Brook 75-64. The Mountaineers only led 28-24 at the half and after building a 19-point lead in the second half the Seawolves got within nine with more than 2 1/2 minutes to go. Seth Wilson was 3-for-3 shooting from 3-point range in the second half, including a clutch basket to blunt the last Stony Brook rally. Tyler Stephenson-Moore scored 16 points to pace the Seawolves. Wilson hit consecutive 3s in a 15-2 run that made it 60-41. Stony Brook made a last push, scoring seven straight and then hit a jumper to cut it to 66-57 with 2 1/2 minutes to go. Wilson hit another 3 and that restored the double-figure lead down the stretch.

Trevor Bauer reinstated by MLB's independent arbitrator

Trevor Bauer has been reinstated by Major League Baseball's independent arbitrator, allowing the pitcher to resume his career at the start of the 2023 season. The Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher was given an unprecedented two-season suspension without pay by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on April 29. The suspension was for violating the league's domestic violence and sexual assault policy after a San Diego woman said Bauer beat and sexually abused her last year. Bauer denied the accusation. Major League Baseball said arbitrator Martin Scheinman upheld a 194-game suspension but reinstated Bauer immediately. The suspension will cost Bauer more than $37 million in salary.

Georgia adds transfer WRs Lovett, Thomas from SEC rivals

No. 1 Georgia has bolstered its depth at wide receiver for the 2023 season by landing commitments from two wide receiver transfers from other Southeastern Conference teams. Missouri's Dominic Lovett and Mississippi State's  Rara Thomas announced their decisions on their Twitter accounts. Each ranked among the SEC's top 15 in yards receiving in 2022. Lovett, a sophomore, ranked fourth in the league with 846 receiving yards on 56 catches. He had three touchdown catches. Thomas, also a sophomore, was 14th with 610 yards on 38 catches, including seven for touchdowns. They aren't eligible to play for the Bulldogs in this season's College Football Playoff.

After flip from ND to Oregon, 5-star signs with Oklahoma

Highly rated defensive back Peyton Bowen, who backed off a verbal commitment to Notre Dame and said he was going to attend Oregon, ended up signing with Oklahoma. Bowen's flip from the Fighting Irish to the Ducks during a ceremony at his high school in Denton, Texas, was one of the biggest stories Wednesday, the opening day of college football's early signing period. Bowen was one of several high-profile recruits to make a last-minute pivot to Oregon. But the five-star safety was never officially announced as part of Oregon's class. Bowen posted a statement on social media, saying he regretted some of his actions and apologizing to the fans of the schools he jilted.

Pullin scores 19, UC Riverside downs Portland 76-65

Led by Zyon Pullin's 19 points, the UC Riverside Highlanders defeated the Portland Pilots 76-65 on Thursday night. The Highlanders moved to 7-5 with the victory and the Pilots dropped to 8-7.

Jets' Quinnen Williams active, Jags' Travon Walker sidelined

New York Jets Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams will play against the Jacksonville Jaguars after a calf injury sidelined him last Sunday. Williams was selected to his first career Pro Bowl on Wednesday and leads the Jets with a career-high 11 sacks. The Jaguars will be without rookie outside linebacker Travon Walker, the first overall pick in this year's draft, for the second straight game because of a high ankle sprain. Jacksonville previously ruled out left tackle Cam Robinson, who tore the meniscus in his right knee against Dallas.

Bradley defeats Akron 74-55

Led by Rienk Mast's 15 points, the Bradley Braves defeated the Akron Zips 74-55 on Thursday night. The Braves are now 9-4 with the victory and the Zips fell to 7-5.

Nixon providing unexpected spark to Packers return units

Keisean Nixon has emerged as a pleasant surprise in the Green Bay Packers' otherwise disappointing season. The Packers signed the former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback in the offseason in hopes of upgrading their special teams. They didn't know at the time Nixon would provide that spark with the ball in his hands. Nixon arrived at Green Bay with a reputation for his skills in kick coverage. He has spent the past several weeks establishing himself as one of the NFL's top kick returners.

Hunt's 13 lead Wagner over Gwynedd Mercy 89-55

Led by Delonnie Hunt's 13 points, the Wagner Seahawks defeated the Gwynedd Mercy Griffins 89-55 on Thursday night. The Seahawks are now 7-4 with the victory and the Griffins fell to 5-6.

Santa Clara wins 73-58 against Boise State

Led by Carlos Stewart's 25 points, the Santa Clara Broncos defeated the Boise State Broncos 73-58 on Thursday night. Santa Clara improved to 12-3 with the victory and Boise State fell to 10-3.

At 32, Broncos tailback Latavius Murray still running strong

Three months ago, Broncos running back Latavius Murray was at home thinking his career may be done. The 32-year-old even started coaching at a local high school. That assignment lasted all of one day before New Orleans brought him in. Denver later signed him off the Saints practice squad and he turned into the Broncos leading rusher this season. He had a 130-yard, one-touchdown performance against Arizona that earned him a game ball in the locker room. The Broncos play in Los Angeles against the Rams on Christmas Day in a matchup of 4-10 teams.

Pickett just misses triple-double, Penn St tops Quinnipiac

Jalen Pickett finished an assist shy of a triple-double and Penn State defeated Quinnipiac 77-68. Moving the game time up by four hours because of weather didn't affect Pickett, who is the only player in the country averaging 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. He scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to go with nine assists in his bid for his second triple-double of the season. Tyrese Williams scored 16 points for the Bobcats.  Pickett capped a 9-0 run with a jumper for an 11-5 lead. Over the last five minutes of the first half Penn State had a 13-3 run to lead 33-23 at the break.

Wright scores 31, CSU Northridge defeats San Diego 83-78

The CSU Northridge Matadors defeated the San Diego Toreros 83-78 on Thursday night led by Atin Wright's 31 points. The Matadors are now 3-8 on the season, while the Toreros moved to 7-7.

Reliever Seth Lugo, Padres finalize $15M, 2-year contract

Free-agent reliever Seth Lugo and the San Diego Padres finalized a $15 million, two-year contract. Lugo gets a $7.5 million salary next season, and his deal includes a $7.5 million player option for 2024. He could earn $500,000 in performance bonuses for games as a relief pitcher: $1.5 million for starts. A 33-year-old right-hander, Lugo went 3-2 with a 3.60 ERA and three saves over 62 outings and 65 innings with the Mets last season. A converted starter, the versatile right-hander spent his first seven big league seasons with New York.

Charleston Southern defeats Kentucky Christian 126-67

The Charleston Southern Buccaneers defeated the Kentucky Christian Knights 126-67 on Thursday night led by Tahlik Chavez's 33 points. The Buccaneers are now 4-7 on the season, while the Knights dropped to 0-4.

Vanderbilt closes on 10-3 run, beats Alabama A&M 70-62

Liam Robbins had 14 points and nine rebounds and Vanderbilt closed on a 10-3 run to beat Alabama A&M 70-62. Alabama A&M got within 63-62 with 2:36 remaining, on a long 3-pointer by Messiah Thompson, but the Bulldogs didn't score again while turning it over on three straight possessions in the final minute. Jordan Wright rattled in a wide open 3-pointer from the wing with 42.4 seconds left, off a nice pass from the 7-footer Robbins, to extend Vanderbilt's lead to 66-62. Wright made a steal at the other end and added two free throws with 31.5 left for a six-point lead. Wright and Ezra Manjon each added 12 points for Vanderbilt.

Seahawks down 2 defensive starters; Walker expected to play

The Seattle Seahawks will be without starting defensive tackle Al Woods and safety Ryan Neal for Saturday's game at Kansas City because of injuries. Running back Kenneth Walker III, tight end Noah Fant, wide receiver Marquise Godwin and running back DeeJay Dallas were all listed as questionable, but Seattle coach Pete Carroll says that all should be able to play. Woods will miss his second straight game with an Achilles injury, while Neal is dealing with a sore knee that he was able to play through the past couple of games. Seattle had already ruled out wide receiver Tyler Lockett because of a broken bone in his left hand.

Brandon Drury agrees to 2-year, $17 million deal with Angels

Infielder Brandon Drury has agreed to a $17 million, two-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels. Right-hander Oliver Ortega was designated for assignment to make room on the Angels' 40-man roster for Drury. He hit a career-best 28 homers last season while playing for Cincinnati and San Diego. He won the Silver Slugger award as a utility player. Drury played all four infield positions last season, and his signing adds talent and depth to the Angels, who struggled offensively last season after several regulars went down with injuries.

Haaland scores as Man City beats Liverpool 3-2 in League Cup

Erling Haaland scored his 24th goal of the season but it was Nathan Ake's first that clinched Manchester City's 3-2 win over Liverpool in the English League Cup. Kevin De Bruyne set up both goals and Riyad Mahrez scored just after halftime to help City reach the quarterfinals. De Bruyne crossed to Haaland to open the scoring in the 10th minute and later sent a cross to the far post where Ake headed home in the 58th. Liverpool twice fought back to equalize on goals by Fabio Carvalho and Mohamed Salah but its title defense is over after Darwin Nunez missed several good chances in front of the net at the Etihad Stadium.

Maple Leafs hold off Flyers 4-3 in weekday matinee

William Nylander scored his 20th goal and had two assists to help the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on Thursday night. The Maple Leafs (21-7-6) have won six straight at home. Mitch Marner added a goal and an assist, Michael Bunting and Calle Jarnkrok also scored and Ilya Samsonov made 16 saves. Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee scored 1:23 apart for Philadelphia in the third to make it a one-goal game. Tony DeAngelo also scored for the Flyers.

Dolan has 25, Cornell beats Colgate 91-80

Led by Greg Dolan's 25 points, the Cornell Big Red defeated the Colgate Raiders 91-80 on Thursday. The Big Red are now 9-3 with the victory and the Raiders fell to 6-7.

Girona upset at 4th-tier rival in Copa; Atlético advances

Girona has been upset at a fourth-tier rival in the Copa del Rey's round-of-32. Girona, which is 13th in the Spanish league, was upset 2-1 at tiny Cacereño in western Spain. Atlético almost suffered another surprise before rallying for a 3-1 win at Arenteiro. Álvaro Morata had a penalty saved in a game that Atlético only took control of in the 77th from a goal by 19-year-old Pablo Barrios. This week's Copa del Rey games are the first involving teams from the first division since they stopped play for the World Cup.

Safety Landon Collins gets another chance with Giants

Safety Landon Collins has had two stints with the Giants. The first was in 2015 when New York jumped up in the second round of the draft and made a trade with the Tennessee Titans for the the first pick in the round and grabbed Collins. The Alabama product had four outstanding seasons. The Giants let Collins test free agency in 2019 and he signed a six-year, $84 million contract with Washington. The Giants signed Collins to their practice squad in October and added him to the active roster Thursday.

Brady, Bucs push for playoffs against struggling Cardinals

Tampa Bay's Tom Brady and Arizona's Trace McSorley are two quarterbacks making their Christmas Day debut on Sunday. That's about where the similarities end. The Bucs have had a tough season but are somehow still clinging to a one-game lead in the mediocre NFC South. The 45-year-old Brady will be making his 331st career start, giving Tampa Bay a wealth of experience as it tries to snap a two-game skid. McSorley isn't just making his Christmas Day debut, but his NFL starting debut. The Cardinals are limping down the stretch, turning to their third-string quarterback.

Garcia scores 18, Minnesota edges Chicago State 58-55

Dawson Garcia scored 18 points, Jamison Battle had 14 points and Minnesota beat Chicago State 58-55. Wesley Cardet Jr. gave Chicago State a 53-52 lead with 3:34 left but the Cougars didn't make another field goal the rest of the way. Garcia converted a layup in traffic with 3:14 left to give Minnesota the lead. He nearly scored two minutes later but his shot rolled off the rim and teammate Treyton Thompson slammed it home to cap the scoring at 1:14. Ta'lon Cooper added nine assists for Minnesota. The Gophers hadn't played since snapping a five-game losing streak on Dec. 14 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Minnesota was 12 of 27 from 3-point range against UAPB but went 4 for 20 against Chicago State.

Baltimore star Lamar Jackson to miss 3rd straight game

Lamar Jackson will miss a third straight game when the Baltimore Ravens host the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday. Jackson was ruled out Thursday because of a knee injury. He was hurt in a win over Denver on Dec. 4. The Ravens have split two road games since then, beating Pittsburgh and losing to Cleveland with Tyler Huntley starting at quarterback. Huntley is listed as questionable for this weekend because of right shoulder issues, but coach John Harbaugh said he is likely to start against the Falcons.

Hernán Losada hired to coach Montreal in Major League Soccer

Hernán Losada was hired as coach of Montreal in Major League Soccer following his firing by D,C. United in April. Losada, 40, was introduced a day after team announced a two-year contract that includes an option for 2025. He replaced Wilfried Nancy, who left Montreal to coach the Columbus Crew. Losada was hired by D.C. before the 2021 season and led the team to eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 14 wins, 15 losses and five draws. He was fired following a 2-4 start this season and replaced by Wayne Rooney.

Steelers QB Kenny Pickett ready to go after 2nd concussion

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is taking extra precautions as he returns from the concussion protocol for a second time this season. Pickett will wear a larger helmet that offers more protection for the back of his head when the Steelers face Las Vegas on Christmas Eve. Pickett says each of the two concussions he's sustained this season came when the back of his head hit the Acrisure Stadium turf. Pickett added he's not worried that he's become concussion prone and believes the decision to have him miss a win over Carolina on Dec. 18 was the right call.

Titans' Tannehill out vs. Texans, rookie QB Willis to start

Tennessee rookie Malik Willis will start his third NFL game Saturday against the Houston Texans with veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill ruled out with an injured right ankle. Titans coach Mike Vrabel refused to discuss Tannehill's future beyond this game. Vrabel said Thursday that Tannehill is only out this week. The Titans coach said he doesn't have to issue an injury report for next week until next week. The Titans (7-7) sit atop the AFC South looking for a third straight division title, yet their once four-game lead is down to one with three games remaining.

Italy rugby investigates racist gift, club suspends a player

Italy's rugby federation has opened an investigation after a Black player at Benetton Treviso was given a rotten banana as a holiday gift. Benetton says it also suspended a player for the duration of the probe as a "precautionary" measure. The actions come a day after Cherif Traore aired his frustrations on social media. The 28-year-old prop who was born in Guinea described the anonymous gift from a Secret Santa event as an "offensive gesture" that later prompted apologies from teammates.

Falcons will try again for first road victory over Ravens

The Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens haven't met all that often, and the Falcons have never beaten the Ravens on the road. Atlanta also never beat the Colts in Baltimore when that franchise played there. The Ravens host the Falcons on Saturday. Both teams are struggling to pass the ball and cold weather is expected. So it certainly feels as if whoever moves the ball more effectively on the ground could have the edge. Baltimore's running game is ranked second in the NFL and Atlanta's is third.

White Sox acquire reliever Santos from San Francisco

The Chicago White Sox have acquired reliever Gregory Santos from the San Francisco Giants for minor league pitcher Kade McClure. Santos has made five appearances over the past two years for San Francisco. The 23-year-old right-hander has a 4.63 ERA over 35 appearances between Triple-A Sacramento and the Arizona Complex League Giants Black last season. He has a 3.56 ERA over 97 appearances, including 44 starts, in six minor league seasons with the San Francisco and Boston organizations. The 28-year-old McClure has a 4.03 ERA over 108 games and 59 starts in five minor league seasons with the White Sox.

AP source: Cubs, C Tucker Barnhart agree to $6.5M contract

The Chicago Cubs have bolstered their defense again, agreeing to a contract with Gold Glove-winning catcher Tucker Barnhart. A person familiar with the negotiations confirmed the deal to the AP on condition of anonymity because it was pending a successful physical. Barnhart's deal includes a $3.25 million salary for 2023 and a $3.25 million player option for 2024. The agreement includes escalators and performance bonuses that could make it worth $9.5 million over two seasons. The addition of Barnhart comes one day after the Cubs finalized a $177 million, seven-year contract with All-Star shortstop Dansby Swanson.

Michigan's Oluwatimi endured a heavy heart in standout year

Michigan center Olu Oluwatimi lost three friends and former teammates at Virginia and four days later, his father had surgery to remove a brain tumor. Oluwatimi endured the heartache and finished off a college football season that was better than his dreams. The graduate transfer wasn't surprised the Wolverines had a successful season and that he won the Rimington Award as the college football's best center. Oluwatimi didn't expect to become the first Michigan player to win the Outland Trophy, which recognizes the top interior lineman on either side of the ball. Michian plays TCU in the Fiesta Bowl for a shot a national title.

Bengals looking for 7th straight win as they face Pats

The Cincinnati Bengals will look to extend their winning streak to seven when they visit the New England Patriots. New England has lost three of its past four games and enters the week eighth in the AFC. The Patriots have won three straight meetings with the Bengals and eight of the past 10. New England is 10-2 at home all time in the series, including 4-0 at Gillette Stadium. Cincinnati is one of 11 teams the Patriots have a perfect home record against.

Bears CB Johnson questionable for Bills game with injury

Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson is questionable for Saturday's game against the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills because of a ring finger injury. Johnson was limited in practice on Thursday after being a full participant the previous day. Assuming he plays, Johnson has another tough assignment facing Stefon Diggs after going against Philadelphia's A.J. Brown last week. Brown had nine receptions for a career-high 181 yards. Johnson made him work for it and broke up a season-best three passes.

Three-time Olympic champion Lyu tests positive for doping

Three-time Olympic weightlifting champion Lyu Xiaojun of China has tested positive in a doping case. The International Testing Agency says Lyu tested positive for the endurance boosting hormone EPO on Oct. 30 while he was training. The substance which helps produce more red blood cells is banned in sports. The Chinese star is provisionally suspended while a disciplinary case is prosecuted. Lyu is now aged 38 and was the oldest-ever weightlifting Olympic gold medalist winning the men's 81-kilogram category in Tokyo last year. He said then he would target the 2024 Paris Olympics.

French federation plans contract talks with coach Deschamps

France coach Didier Deschamps will meet with French soccer federation president Noël Le Graët next week to discuss a new contract. Deschamps has been in charge for 10 years. He has led Les Bleus to three major finals and won the 2018 World Cup. France lost a thrilling World Cup final to Argentina on Sunday in Qatar and was beaten in the European Championship final by Portugal six years ago. His contract expires at the end of this year and Le Graët is confident Deschamps will continue. Le Graët told Ouest-France newspaper "He holds all the cards" after being set a target of reaching the semifinals in Qatar.

Yule wins Madonna di Campiglio night slalom for 3rd time

Daniel Yule is a specialist when it comes to the World Cup slalom on the steep and icy Canalone Miramonti course. The Swiss skier won the night race for the third time by surging up from fourth place after the opening run with a flawless second trip down. Yule matched Alberto Tomba and Henrik Kristoffersen in second place on the all-time wins list for the Italian race trailing only Ingemar Stenmark's five victories. Three of Yule's five career wins have come in Campiglio. Kristoffersen finished 0.08 seconds behind in second and new father Linus Strasser was third 0.18 back. First-run leader Lucas Braathen finished fourth.

FIFA reviews chef's 'undue access' to hold World Cup trophy

FIFA says it's taking "appropriate internal action" to address breaches of World Cup protocol by a celebrity chef who held the gold trophy on the field. The chef is known as Salt Bae and is regularly seen with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. He mingled with Argentina players and posed for photos after their victory over France on Sunday in Qatar. FIFA says that was "undue access to the pitch." FIFA describes the trophy as "a priceless icon" which "can only be touched and held by a very select group of people." That includes World Cup-winning players and heads of state.

Boras: Giants wouldn't seal Correa deal, so he called Mets

Agent Scott Boras says the San Francisco Giants asked for more time to investigate and discuss medical records of Carlos Correa and let a 1 p.m. PST deadline Tuesday pass to finalize that deal. Boras then struck a $315 million, 12-year deal with the free-spending Mets and Correa headed to New York for a physical Thursday. Boras said results usually come back within 24-48 hours and timing of an announcement was up to the team. A news conference likely won't be scheduled until next month, after the holiday break.

Wil Myers, Curt Casali join Reds. who cut Mike Moustakas

Wil Myers agreed to a $7.5 million, one-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds, joining his third big league club after spending the previous eight seasons with San Diego. Veteran catcher Curt Casali reached a $3.25 million, one-year deal with Cincinnati. The contracts for Myers and Casali each have a mutual option for 2024. Veteran infielder Mike Moustakas was designated for assignment. The 34-year-old Moustakas hit .214 with seven homers and 25 RBIs in 78 games in his last season with the Reds.

Gonzaga ponders future with realignment beckoning

Gonzaga is being discussed as a potential target for bigger conferences that never would have looked toward the small school in Spokane, Washington. The courtship opens up the possibility of a future somewhere other than the West Coast Conference, where Gonzaga has been a member since 1979. There are no known offers to date, but there seems to be interest from the Big 12 Conference. The Pac-12 is also considered to be a potential option but still needs to finalize its next media deals. Gonzaga has become a national brand and it seems there could be an opportunity to capitalize on that.

Wilson returns as Broncos visit Mayfield, Rams on Christmas

The Denver Broncos will visit the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday as two of the most disappointing teams in the NFL meet for a nationally televised Christmas Day game. Quarterback Russell Wilson will return for the Broncos after being held out of their 24-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals as a precaution after sustaining a concussion. The Rams, who are coming off a 24-12 loss at the Green Bay Packers on Monday, are the second team to lose 10 games after winning the Super Bowl the previous season.

Records: Ishbia pledged $14M to MSU on top of bigger gift

Under court order, Michigan State University has released records related to multimillion-dollar donations by two wealthy alumni. Mortgage executive Mat Ishbia pledged $14 million to MSU a year ago, on top of a $32 million gift announced earlier in 2021. The documents don't reveal much that's new. But Michigan State nonetheless fought their disclosure in a public records lawsuit filed by the Detroit Free Press. The newspaper won. Ishbia played on Michigan State's 2000 national championship basketball team. He's now in line to buy a majority stake in the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury for $4 billion.

Saints, Browns brace for brutal cold with slim playoff hopes

The weather will be frightful for the Saints and Browns. Their playoff chances are already there. With a forecast for temperatures in single digits and wind gusts up to 50 mph, both teams will lean heavily on their running games. The conditions would figure to hurt New Orleans, which plays in a dome. The Saints still have a path to the postseason, but they can't afford any more losses. The Browns have a 1% chance of making the playoffs and could be eliminated even with a win. This will be quarterback Deshaun Watson's fourth game back since returning from his 11-game NFL suspension.

US House passes equal pay bill in latest women's soccer win

The House has passed a bill that ensures equal compensation for U.S. women competing in international events. It is a piece of legislation that came out of the U.S. women's soccer team's battle to be paid as much as the men. The Equal Pay for Team USA Act now heads to President Joe Biden's desk. It will require all athletes representing the United States in global competition to receive equal pay and benefits in their sport. Earlier this year, the women's national team signed a labor deal that includes identical pay structures for men and women and equitable distribution of World Cup prize money.

Devon's Journey: Gales takes unique path after tragic injury

Devon Gales was paralyzed during a game against Georgia back in 2015. Now, the former Southern University receiver is attending the school he was facing that fateful day. Gales moved to the state after his injury, taken in by a Georgia fan base that helped build a large, accessible home for Gales and his family not far from the school's Athens campus. When Gales decided to resume his college studies, he was accepted into Georgia ahead of the fall semester in 2021. Now, he's working toward a communications degree as a Georgia Bulldog.

Former Broncos RB Ronnie Hillman dies at 31

Running back Ronnie Hillman, who was part of the Denver Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50, has died. He was 31. Hillman's family posted on his Instagram account Wednesday that he was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer called renal medullary carcinoma and was under hospice care. The family later posted that he died surrounded by family and close friends. The Broncos have expressed their condolences on social media. Hillman was picked by the Broncos in the third round of the 2012 draft following a standout career at San Diego State.

Injured Eagles QB Hurts expected to be sidelined at Dallas

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is not expected to play Saturday against Dallas because of a sprained right shoulder. Philadelphia will instead start Gardner Minshew. Hurts was injured on a hard tackle in Sunday's win at Chicago. The Eagles have the best record in the NFL at 13-1 and can clinch the NFC East title and the No. 1 seed in the conference with a win against the Cowboys.

EXPLAINER: Why are baseball teams spending so much money?

It has been an epic holiday season already for several major league teams and players a year after baseball trudged through an ugly labor dispute. Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa and Trea Turner combined for almost $1 billion in player contracts. Xander Bogaerts, Jacob deGrom, Dansby Swanson, Carlos Rodón, Brandon Nimmo and Willson Contreras added up to another billion. Major League Baseball's March labor deal with the players' union is a major engine behind the spending, along with a deep group of free agent options.

Carlos Rodón, newly shaved, puts on Yankees pinstripes

Carlos Rodón appeared without beard at a Yankee Stadium news conference, a day after his $162 million, six-year contract was announced, complying with the team grooming rules. Rodón gets a $5 million signing bonus payable within 30 days of approval by MLB, a $22 million salary next year and $27 million in each remaining season. He joins a rotation headed by Gerrit Cole and projected to include Nestor Cortes, Luis Severino and Frankie Montas.

Missouri, Wake Forest conclude season in Gasparilla Bowl

Missouri is looking for its first bowl win in eight years in the Gasparilla Bowl against Wake Forest. The Tigers' last bowl triumph came when Gary Pinkel coached the team past Minnesota in the 2014 Capital One Bowl. Missouri has lost three postseason games in a row since then, including a 24-22 loss to Army in last year's Armed Forces Bowl. Wake Forest looks to rebound after losing four of its final five regular-season games. Seven of the Demon Deacons' 17 bowl appearances have come in the last seven years under coach Dave Clawson.

YouTube, NFL strike deal to stream Sunday Ticket package of games

Google-owned YouTube has signed a multi-year deal to exclusively stream the National Football League's Sunday Ticket package of games in the United States, the video service said, as more content moves to streaming from traditional TV.

NFL 'Sunday Ticket' headed to YouTube beginning next season

The NFL has announced a multiyear agreement with Google for "NFL Sunday Ticket." The package of out-of-market Sunday afternoon games will be distributed on YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels. The NFL was seeking $2.5 billion per season for the package, which has been on DirecTV since 1994. The satellite provider has paid $1.5 billion per year on an eight-year contract that expires at the end of this season. Besides Amazon, Apple and ESPN also expressed interest in "NFL Sunday Ticket."

Men can compete in artistic swimming at Paris Olympics

Men can compete in Olympic artistic swimming for the first time at the 2024 Paris Games. World Aquatics says approval has been given by the International Olympic Committee. A maximum of two men can be selected among eight athletes in the team event at Paris that is due to include 10 nations. Adding men to the sport once known as synchronized swimming will leave rhythmic gymnastics as the last women-only event on the Summer Games program. Men have competed in artistic swimming at the biennial aquatics world championships since 2015.

Poland coach loses job after team's World Cup performance

The Polish soccer association says it will not extend the contract of national coach Czesław Michniewicz after an analysis of the team's performance at the World Cup in Qatar. Michniewicz's contract ends on Dec. 31. The soccer association says it will soon start looking for a new coach. The association acknowledges that Michniewicz took over at a difficult time and says he has achieved some success. He led the team to the knockout rounds of the World Cup for the first time in 36 years. But it also says it considers others issues. Those include the "further functioning of the national team and the direction of its development."

Extra days off leave Brock Purdy in good shape for 49ers

Brock Purdy wasn't sure he'd make it through his second NFL start or if a hard hit to his sore ribs and oblique would force him out. Purdy survived just fine, delivering another winning performance for the San Francisco 49ers and now has the benefit of a few extra days off to feel much healthier before start No. 3 on Saturday against Washington. Purdy couldn't even throw in practice before last Thursday's 21-13 win at Seattle that clinched the NFC West title but has been able to do much more the first two days of practice this week.

Argentina only No. 2 in new FIFA rankings led by Brazil

Winning the World Cup was not enough to lift Argentina atop the FIFA world rankings. Brazil keeps the No. 1 position ahead of the new champion. Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Croatia. But it built enough rankings points from results over recent years that feed into FIFA's calculation. Argentina moved up one place to No. 2 and beaten finalist France also rose one to No. 3. Surprise semifinalist Morocco is the best-placed African nation at No. 11. The United States at No. 13 is the best of the CONCACAF region teams, rising three places.

Audit finds Tokyo Olympic costs 20% higher than announced

The cost of the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics is 20% higher than organizers said when they announced official cost figures more than a year ago. That is the conclusion of a report released this week by the Board of Audit of Japan. The report says there was a lack of full disclosure and transparency on the part of the government and the organizing committee. The audit put the cost at $12.9 billion. Organizers last year put that figure at 10.7 billion. The audit report comes the same week that Sapporo city officials and the Japanese Olympic Committee said they are "pausing" their bid for the the 2030 Winter Games.

Utah Tech takes home win streak into matchup with Lindenwood

Utah Tech will try to keep its five-game home win streak intact when the Trailblazers face Lindenwood. The teams square off Thursday for the first time this season. Utah Tech is 4-0 at home, and Lindenwood is 1-5 on the road.

NBA roundup: Pascal Siakam (52) powers Raptors past Knicks

Pascal Siakam scored a career-high 52 points Wednesday night and sank the go-ahead free throw with 2:01 left for the visiting Toronto Raptors, who snapped a six-game losing streak and ended the New York Knicks' winning streak with a 113-106 victory.