Shabazz, Roberts lead San Francisco over Pacific 76-68

Khalil Shabazz scored 26 points, Tyrell Roberts added 25 and San Francisco beat Pacific 76-68. Shabazz made 6 of 14 shots with three 3-pointers and 11 of 12 free throws for the Dons (17-12, 6-8 West Coast Conference). Roberts hit 9 of 14 shots with three 3-pointers. Shabazz added five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Roberts had five rebounds and three steals. Keylan Boone had 18 points to lead the Tigers (13-15, 6-7).

No. 13 Gonzaga avenges loss with rout of Loyola Marymount

Julian Strawther scored 28 points and No. 13 Gonzaga avenged an earlier loss to Loyola Marymount with a 108-65 rout. Loyola Marymount snapped Gonzaga's 75-game home winning streak with a 68-67 victory on Jan. 19, but the Lions were no match this time. The Bulldogs led the entire game and had a 51-point advantage less than six minutes into the second half. Anton Watson had 16 points and Drew Timme scored 13 for Gonzaga, which remained one game behind first-place Saint Mary's in the West Coast Conference. Cam Shelton led Loyola Marymount with 15 points and Keli Leaupepe had 13.

New Orleans beats Texas A&M-Commerce 84-78 to snap long skid

Jamond Vincent had 20 points in New Orleans' 84-78 win against Texas A&M-Commerce, which snapped a nine-game skid for the Privateers. Vincent added eight rebounds for the Privateers (7-18, 4-10 Southland Conference). Jordan Johnson scored 14 points and added five assists. Khaleb Wilson-Rouse recorded 11 points. Jerome Brewer Jr. led the way for the Lions (11-16, 7-6) with 16 points.

Gueye, Rodman lead Washington State over Oregon State 80-62

Mouhamed Gueye scored 21 points, DJ Rodman added 18 and Washington State hit eight straight 3-pointers to start the game in an 80-62 victory over Oregon State. Gueye sank all nine of his shots and added four assists for the Cougars (12-15, 7-9 Pac-12 Conference). Rodman made 7 of 12 shots and grabbed four rebounds. TJ Bamba had 14 points and Andrej Jakimovski scored 13 with eight rebounds. Rodman and Jakimovski both made four 3-pointers. Tyler Bilodeau came off the bench to score 18 points and grab five rebounds for the Beavers (10-17, 4-12). Reserve Michael Rataj pitched in with 11 points and six boards.

No. 4 UCLA rallies to beat Stanford 73-64 behind Jaquez

Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 26 points and No. 4 UCLA rallied in the second half to beat Stanford 73-64 and improve to 14-0 at home this season. Jaylen Clark added 16 points for the first-place Bruins, who improved to 22-4 overall and 13-2 in the Pac-12. They have won 22 consecutive home games dating to last season, which is the nation's longest active winning streak. Michael Jones scored 15 points to lead Stanford. The Cardinal dropped to 11-15 overall and 5-10 in league play. Spencer Jones, the Cardinal's leading scorer at 13.7 points per game, was held to six.

Gourde's 3-point game powers Kraken to 6-2 win over Flyers

Yanni Gourde had two goals and an assist and the Seattle Kraken beat the Philadelphia Flyers 6-2. Jared McCann, Justin Schultz, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Matty Beniers also scored for Seattle. Philipp Grubauer had 17 saves. Travis Konecny scored twice and Noah Cates had two assists for Philadelphia, which has dropped three straight. Ivan Provorov also had an assist. Carter Hart (15 saves) allowed four goals on 19 shots before giving way to Samuel Ersson (nine saves) in the second period.

Carrier's late goal gives Golden Knights 2-1 win over Sharks

William Carrier scored with 17.7 seconds left to give Vegas a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks and extend the Golden Knights' winning streak to four games. Chandler Stephenson set up Carrier with a pinpoint pass to the front of the net, where Carrier was stationed. Paul Cotter scored the other Vegas goal and Adin Hill made 26 saves. Hill outdueled San Jose's Kaapo Kahkonen, who stopped 36 shots and was tested by the Knights going on the power play seven times.

All-Star George, Mann lead Clippers past Suns 116-107

Paul George and Terance Mann each scored 26 points and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Phoenix Suns 116-107 on Thursday night in the final NBA game before the All-Star break. Kawhi Leonard added 16 points, all in the second half, and nine rebounds. Ivica Zubac and Eric Gordon each scored 13 points and Zubac had 12 rebounds. The Suns missed nine of their first 10 3-point attempts, with only Josh Okogie warming up later in the game. Okogie led Phoenix with 24 points. He was 6 of 12 from behind the arc, but the rest of the Suns made five combined. Devin Booker had 19 points and nine assists.

Peterson, Ellis spark USC in 97-60 rout of California

Drew Peterson scored a career-high 30 points and USC set a season-high for points as the Trojans blew out California, 97-60. USC led by as many as 40 points in the final minutes of the game and the 37-point margin of victory is its largest in Pac-12 Conference play since 2009.

Red Wings beat Flames 5-2, extend winning streak to 5 games

Dominik Kubalik scored twice, Tyler Bertuzzi had a goal and two assists and the Detroit Red Wings extended their winning streak to a season-best five games with a 5-2 win over the Calgary Flames. Robby Fabbri and Pius Suter also scored for Detroit. Dylan Larkin had three assists, extending his point streak to six games (six goals, six assists). Magnus Hellberg made 33 saves. Elias Lindholm and Dillon Dube scored for Calgary. Dan Vladar stopped 19 of 24 shots.

Kriisa scores 17, No. 8 Arizona dominates Utah 88-62

Kerr Kriisa had 17 points and six assists, Courtney Ramey added 13 points and No. 8 Arizona routed Utah 88-62. Arizona bounced back from a loss at Stanford last weekend and avenged a loss in Salt Lake City earlier this season. Arizona shot 56% overall, went 9 of 18 on 3-pointers and outscored Utah 38-10 in the paint. Azuoulas Tubelis finished with 11 points and nine rebounds after being called for a technical foul in a frustrating first half. Branden Carlson scored 19 points to lead Utah, which shot 32% from the floor.

Iowa hands Ohio State seventh straight defeat 92-75

Tony Perkins scored 24 points, Kris Murray added 20 and Iowa handed Ohio State its seven straight loss with a 92-75 victory. Perkins sank 11 of 16 shots from the floor with two 3-pointers for the Hawkeyes (17-9, 9-6 Big Ten). Murray made 8 of 13 shots with three 3-pointers. Ahron Ulis added 12 points, while Filip Rebraca and Payton Sandfort scored 10 apiece. Sixth-year senior Conner McCaffery had a career-high 13 assists to go with seven points and six rebounds. Reserve Sean McNeil led the Buckeyes (11-15, 3-12) with 20 points. McNeil hit all four of his 3s, giving him 200 for his career. Brice Sensabaugh scored 16 points and Bruce Thornton 11.

Kyrou, Schenn lift Blues past Devils 4-2

Jordan Kyrou and Brayden Schenn each had a goal and an assist and the St. Louis Blues extended their winning streak to three games with a 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Pavel Buchnevich and Alexey Toropchenko also scored for the Blues who swept the two-game season series and won for the ninth time in their last 10 homes games against the Devils. Robert Thomas had a pair of assists. Jordan Binnington made 34 saves. Dawson Mercer and Erik Haula scored for the Devils, who had their five-game point streak snapped. Mackenzie Blackwood made 31 saves.

No. 23 UNLV women grab MWC crown beating San Jose St.

Alyssa Brown scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Desi-Rae Young had a double-double and No. 23 UNLV clinched its second straight Mountain West Conference regular-season championship, beating San Jose State 77-60. Nailea Nicholas scored 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for San Jose State. Nicholas' basket reduced the Spartan's deficit to 22-18 with 6:52 left before halftime. But after a two-and-a-half minute scoring drought by both squads, UNLV erupted on a 15-0 run with Brown scoring eight points

Thursday's Scores

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Thursday's Scores

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Saxen, No. 17 Gaels hold off determined San Diego 62-59

Mitchell Saxen had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Aidan Mahaney added 13 points for the No. 17 Saint Mary's Gaels, who didn't score in the last 7:05 yet held off hobbled but determined San Diego 62-59 for their 14th win in 15 games. The Gaels improved to 23-5 overall and 12-1 in the West Coast Conference and continue to lead Gonzaga atop the WCC with three games to play. They led the Toreros 54-31 on a 3-pointer by Mahaney with 14:17 left but let the Toreros slowly get back into the game.

Reese scores season-high 36, No. 5 LSU tops Ole Miss 69-60

Angel Reese had a season-high 36 points and 20 rebounds, carrying No. 5 LSU to a gritty 69-60 victory over Mississippi. Reese reached double-digit points and rebounds for the 24th time this season, and LSU bounced back from its lone loss this season at South Carolina on Sunday to improve to 24-1. Reese grabbed eight offensive rebounds and often converted those into put-backs off the glass. LSU had 22 second-chance points and the 6-foot-3 Reese accounted for 16 of those. She also hit 12 of 14 foul shots. Angel Baker scored 21 and Madison Scott added 13 for Ole Miss as the Rebels fell to 20-6 on the season and lost to LSU for the 10th straight time.

Eastern Washington takes down Northern Arizona 72-55

Led by Angelo Allegri's 15 points, the Eastern Washington Eagles defeated the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 72-55 on Thursday night. The Eagles improved to 20-7 with the victory and the Lumberjacks fell to 7-21.

Truong, Maxwell lead No. 20 Gonzaga women past Pacific 69-58

the Bulldogs lead 20-7 after one quarter. Gonzaga won its 19th straight at home with the nation's leading 3-point shooting team (41.4%) going 12 of 23 behind the arc and shooting 47% overall despite a 3 of 13 fourth quarter. Liz Smith scored 13 points for the Tigers.

NC State rallies past No. 19 North Carolina in OT, 77-66

Aziaha James led North Carolina State back from a 10-point deficit with just over four minutes to play in regulation, then scored seven points in overtime to carry the Wolfpack to a 77-66 win over No. 19 North Carolina. North Carolina was held to just seven points over the final four minutes of regulation and did not score a field goal in overtime until Paulina Paris converted a layup with 20 seconds left.

Defense helps No. 2 Indiana women down No. 12 Michigan 68-52

Mackenzie Holmes scored 27 points and No. 2 Indiana forced 21 turnovers to beat No. 12 Michigan 68-52 for its ninth victory over a ranked team this season. Indiana went scoreless for the first six minutes of the fourth quarter, but an 11-0 run by Michigan only cut the deficit to 11 and the Hoosiers then comfortably closed out the game. Emily Kiser led the Wolverines with 12 points. Chloe Moore-McNeil had 13 points for Indiana, including four 3-pointers.

Thursday's Scores

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Smart scores 14 as SE Missouri State tops E. Illinois 78-64

Led by Aquan Smart's 14 points, the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks defeated the Eastern Illinois Panthers 78-64 on Thursday night. The Redhawks improved to 14-14 with the victory and the Panthers fell to 9-19.

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Jeremy Swayman makes 29 saves, Bruins blank Predators 5-0

Jeremy Swayman made 29 saves, Patrice Bergeron had a goal and an assist and the Boston Bruins defeated the Nashville Predators 5-0. Brad Marchand, Craig Smith, Derek Forbort and Trent Frederic also scored for the Bruins, winners of three of four. Nick Foligno and Hampus Lindholm each had two assists.  Juuse Saros made 25 saves for Nashville. The Predators have dropped three of four coming out of the All-Star break. Nashville's hopes of getting back into contention for a playoff spot in the tough Western Conference are fading.

Thursday's Scores

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Murdix scores 25, Texas A&M-CC edges Nicholls 78-74

Terrion Murdix scored 25 points to help Texas A&M-Corpus Christi hold off Nicholls 78-74. Murdix added three steals for the Islanders (18-9, 11-3 Southland Conference), who have won seven straight. Trey Tennyson totaled 17 points and five rebounds. Owen Dease recorded 13 points. The Colonels (13-12, 8-5) were led by Lance Amir-Paul with 20 points and five assists.

Franklin's game-winning layup lifts Memphis past UCF, 64-63

Elijah McCadden scored 16 points to lead the Memphis Tigers and Damaria Franklin hit the game-winning layup with seven seconds left as the Tigers beat the UCF Knights 64-63. The Tigers are now 20-6 with the victory and the Knights dropped to 15-10.

Beal, Wizards overcome 20-point deficit to beat Timberwolves

Bradley Beal had 13 of his 35 points over the final 4 1/2 minutes to help the Washington Wizards rally from a 20-point first-quarter deficit to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-106. Kyle Kuzma swished a top-of-the-key fadeaway from deep for a 107-106 lead that was Washington's first of the game with 1:14 to go. Beal followed with a 3-pointer with 37 seconds left after a miss by Minnesota's Anthony Edwards. Beal topped the 30-point mark for the third time in four games. Kuzma had 16 points on 6-for-21 shooting. Edwards had 18 of his 34 points in the first quarter.

Colorado returns favor in 67-59 victory over Arizona State

Tristan da Silva scored 23 points, KJ Simpson added 12 and Colorado snapped a six-game road losing streak by surprising Arizona State 67-59. Colorado outscored the Sun Devils 17-3 over the final 5:37 to secure the win. DJ Horne scored 15 points with five 3-pointers for ASU.

Buggs scores 23 as UTSA knocks off Rice 84-79

Led by John Buggs III's 23 points, the UTSA Roadrunners defeated the Rice Owls 84-79 on Thursday night. The Roadrunners moved to 8-19 with the victory and the Owls fell to 16-10.

Fidler has 27 in Omaha's 80-72 win over South Dakota

Led by Frankie Fidler's 27 points, the Omaha Mavericks defeated the South Dakota Coyotes 80-72 on Thursday night. The Mavericks are now 8-20 with the victory and the Coyotes fell to 11-16.

Australian governments agree funding split for 2032 Olympics

The federal and the Queensland state government in Australia have agreed on an almost 50-50 funding split to build or revamp venues for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. The total spend is estimated at 7 billion Australian dollars ($4.8 billion). Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the Queensland state capital Friday to make the formal announcement. Albanese said in a radio interview that the venues would leave a legacy for the region and "Queensland is such a fantastic tourist destination and this will really showcase the state." The International Olympic Committee in July 2021 awarded Brisbane and neighboring cities the hosting rights to the 2032 Summer Games.

Jarvis' hat trick carries Hurricanes past Canadiens 6-2

Seth Jarvis had three goals for his first career hat trick and the Carolina Hurricanes scored three times in the first five minutes of the third period to beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-2. Jarvis scored in the first and third periods for his first multigoal game of the season, capping his night with a short-handed goal with 19.8 seconds left. He has 11 goals this season, but had just two since Christmas before this outburst. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal also scored for Carolina. The Hurricanes have won nine of their last 10. Michael Pezzetta and Rafael Harvey-Pinard scored for the Canadiens, but their three-game winning streak ended.

Charleston earns 88-66 victory over Elon

Led by Reyne Smith's 15 points, the Charleston (SC) Cougars defeated the Elon Phoenix 88-66 on Thursday night. The Cougars improved to 26-3 with the win and the Phoenix fell to 7-21.

Taylor scores 28 as Marshall beats Georgia Southern 84-83

Andrew Taylor scored 28 points and his layup with 14 seconds left were the game's final points and Marshall beat Georgia Southern 84-83. The Thundering Herd are now 22-6 with the victory and the Eagles dropped to 14-14.

Moore scores 16, South Alabama defeats Southern Miss 85-54

Led by Isaiah Moore's 16 points, the South Alabama Jaguars defeated the Southern Miss Golden Eagles 85-54 on Thursday night. The Jaguars improved to 14-14 with the victory and the Golden Eagles fell to 23-5.

Giannis sets assists mark, hurts wrist; Bucks beat Bulls

Giannis Antetokounmpo broke Milwaukee's career assists record before leaving the game because of a sprained right wrist, and the Bucks won their 12th straight, beating the Chicago Bulls 112-100. Brook Lopez scored a season-high 33 points. Antetokounmpo's injury early in the second quarter cast a cloud over a team that appeared to have so much going for it heading into the All-Star break. The two-time MVP was hurt trying to block a finger roll attempt by Chicago's Coby White. He jammed his wrist against the stanchion and stayed down grimacing in pain. Antetokounmpo finished with a season-low two points and three assists, giving him 3,274 over 10 seasons to break Paul Pressey's record of 3,272 from 1982 to 1990.

Miles hits buzzer-beater, No. 10 Notre Dame beats Louisville

Olivia Miles made a fadeaway jumper from just inside the 3-point line at the overtime buzzer to give No. 10 Notre Dame a 78-76 victory over Louisville. The Cardinals' Olivia Cochran had tied the game on a layup with 3.8 seconds remaining. The Irish called timeout to advance the ball to midcourt. Miles took a pass at the top of the key, drove to her right and hit the contested shot from the wing. Miles finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Kylee Watson led the Irish with 20 points on 8-of-8 shooting. Hailey Van Lith led Louisville with 19 points.

Johnson scores in 3rd period, Blue Jackets beat Jets 3-1

Kent Johnson's third-period goal was the tiebreaker, Joonas Korpisalo had 36 saves and the Columbus Blue Jackets rallied to beat the Winnipeg Jets 3-1. The Blue Jackets overcame a terrible first period, tying a season-low with just two shots on goal in the frame. They tied the game in the second period and moved ahead at 9:40 of the third with Johnson's shot through a screen. Patrik Laine also scored for Columbus, and Boone Jenner had an empty-net goal with 3 seconds left. Kyle Connor scored for the Jets, and David Rittich had 21 saves.

Youngblood's 22 help Kennesaw State down Liberty 88-81

Led by Chris Youngblood's 22 points, the Kennesaw State Owls defeated the Liberty Flames 88-81 on Thursday night. The Owls improved to 21-7 with the win and the Flames fell to 21-7.

Cozart scores 16 as Eastern Kentucky beats Central Arkansas

Led by Isaiah Cozart's 16 points, the Eastern Kentucky Colonels defeated the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears 74-58 on Thursday night. The Colonels improved to 18-10 with the victory and the Bears fell to 9-19.

Johnson puts up 15 as North Alabama beats Bellarmine 70-57

Led by KJ Johnson's 15 points, the North Alabama Lions defeated the Bellarmine Knights 70-57 on Thursday night. The Lions moved to 17-11 with the win and the Knights dropped to 12-16.

Pember scores 19, UNC Asheville takes down Radford 63-54

Led by Drew Pember's 19 points, the UNC Asheville Bulldogs defeated the Radford Highlanders 63-54 on Thursday night. The Bulldogs improved to 21-7 with the win and the Highlanders fell to 17-11.

White's 26 lead UNC Wilmington over Drexel 72-71 in OT

Led by Trazarien White's 26 points, the UNC Wilmington Seahawks defeated the Drexel Dragons 72-71 in overtime on Thursday night. The Seahawks are now 21-7 on the season, while the Dragons moved to 15-13.

Minor, Reid propel Merrimack to 67-59 victory over Hartford

Jordan Minor finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds, Ziggy Reid scored 24 and Merrimack defeated Hartford 67-59. Reid sank 5 of 6 shots from 3-point range for the Warriors (12-16). Javon Bennett recorded 13 points. Briggs McClain finished with 18 points for the Hawks (5-22).

Galette's 27 lead Sacred Heart by Fairleigh Dickinson in OT

Led by Nico Galette's 27 points, the Sacred Heart Pioneers defeated the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights 94-86 in overtime on Thursday night. The Pioneers improved to 14-14 with the victory and the Knights fell to 15-13.

Panthers beat Capitals 6-3 in matchup of playoff contenders

The Florida Panthers beat the Washington Capitals 6-3 in a big game in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. The Panthers have closed an 11-point gap since New Year's Day and have now tied the Capitals at 62. Veteran defenseman Marc Staal scored his first goal with the Panthers to end a 75-game drought dating to March 2022. Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves to continue his strong play of late that has helped Florida claw into the playoff chase. Darcy Kuemper allowed four goals for Washington, which went 0-3-0 on its three-game homestand.

Middle Tennessee knocks off No. 25 Florida Atlantic, 74-70

Camryn Weston scored 16 points, Elias King added 15 and Middle Tennessee beat No. 25 Florida Atlantic 74-70 for the Blue Raiders' first win over a ranked opponent since 2016. Middle Tennessee avenged an 85-67 loss to then-No. 21 FAU on Jan. 26 in its first home game against a ranked team since the 2008-09 season. Middle Tennessee's previous victory over a Top 25 squad came on March 18, 2016, against No. 2 Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament. FAU twice got within three in the final minute, on 3-pointers by Alijah Martin and Jalen Gaffney, but Middle Tennessee made free throws at the other end each time to regain a two-possession lead. Eli Lawrence finished with 13 points and Justin Bufford added 12 for Middle Tennessee.

McMahon's double-double leads No. 13 Buckeye women past PSU

Cotie McMahon scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for her first double-double and No. 13 Ohio State defeated Penn State 67-55. The Buckeyesscored the last nine points of the third quarter to lead 51-31 and scored the first nine of the fourth quarter. Makenna Marisa scored 22 points for Penn State. The Nittany Lions fell to 0-6 against ranked teams. The Nittany Lions were within 38-30 in the first minute of the third quarter but then missed missed their last 14 shots in the quarter and their first three of the fourth quarter.

Stony Brook slips past William & Mary 71-66 in overtime

Tyler Stephenson-Moore scored 17 points and Stony Brook held off William & Mary 71-66 in overtime. Stephenson-Moore added five assists for the Seawolves (10-18, 6-9 Colonial Athletic Association). Keenan Fitzmorris finished with 14 points and four blocks. Frankie Policelli scored 13. Ben Wight finished with 21 points and nine rebounds to pace the Tribe (10-18, 5-10).

Telfort has 17, Northeastern defeats Monmouth 77-62

Led by Jahmyl Telfort's 17 points, the Northeastern Huskies defeated the Monmouth Hawks 77-62 on Thursday night. The Huskies improved to 9-17 with the win and the Hawks fell to 6-22.

US women beat Canada 2-0, show support in labor dispute

Mallory Swanson scored a pair of first-half goals and the United States beat Canada 2-0 in a SheBelieves Cup match clouded by a labor dispute between the Canadian players and their federation. The Canadian women wore purple shirts during the pregame national anthems that read "Enough Is Enough." Before kickoff, U.S. players linked arms with their Canadian counterparts in the center circle in a show of solidarity. Canada's women are negotiating for a new collective bargaining agreement that would give them equal pay with their male counterparts.

Central Connecticut State defeats Wagner 58-57

Led by Jayden Brown's 10 points, the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils defeated the Wagner Seahawks 58-57 on Thursday night. The Blue Devils are now 9-19 with the victory and the Seahawks fell to 13-11.

Khalifa hits in OT, Charlotte defeats Western Kentucky 68-64

Aly Khalifa scored 24 points, including six in the overtime, as the Charlotte 49ers took down the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 68-64. The 49ers improved to 15-11 with the victory and the Hilltoppers fell to 14-12.

Walton puts up 21 in Wichita State's victory against Temple

Led by Jaykwon Walton's 21 points, the Wichita State Shockers defeated the Temple Owls 79-65 on Thursday night. The Shockers are now 14-12 on the season, while the Owls fell to 14-13.

Timberlake scores 29, Towson knocks off Delaware 95-72

Led by Nicolas Timberlake's 29 points, the Towson Tigers defeated the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens 95-72 on Thursday night. The Tigers are now 18-10 on the season, while the Fightin' Blue Hens dropped to 13-15.

Gregory leads Appalachian State over Texas State 82-75

Donovan Gregory scored 21 points to guide Appalachian State to an 82-75 victory over Texas State. Gregory shot 8 of 14 from the field and 5 for 8 from the line for the Mountaineers (15-13, 8-7 Sun Belt Conference). Tyree Boykin sank all 10 of his free throws and scored 12, while CJ Huntley made three 3-pointers and scored 11. The Bobcats (12-16, 5-10) were led by Mason Harrell with 17 points, five assists and two steals.

North Texas earns 72-62 win over Louisiana Tech

Led by Abou Ousmane's 20 points, the North Texas Mean Green defeated the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 72-62 on Thursday night. The Mean Green are now 22-5 on the season, while the Bulldogs dropped to 13-13.

What's the beef? McDonald's, Wendy's spat over Daytona 500

The fast-food burger wars were on the menu in the run-up to the Daytona 500. McDonald's and Wendy's bickered this week over the paint schemes for their respective drivers. Bubba Wallace races with McDonald's golden arches on the car. Noah Gragson has Wendy's on his car. Wendy's took a shot at McDonald's ubiquitous logo selection and called it McBland. McDonald's retorted it had better results this week at Daytona.

No. 2 Houston beats SMU 80-65, eyes No. 1 in AP Top 25 poll

Marcus Sasser scored 20 points, freshman Jarace Walker added 14 and No. 2 Houston cruised to an 80-65 victory over SMU. With a win at home over Memphis on Sunday, the Cougars could be in line for their third stay atop the AP Top 25 poll this season. No. 1 Alabama and third-ranked Purdue already have losses this week. Houston took control with a 12-0 run on either side of halftime. Zhuric Phelps had 22 points, six rebounds and five assists to lead the Mustangs.

Estrada scores 21, Hofstra downs Hampton 73-43

Led by Aaron Estrada's 21 points, the Hofstra Pride defeated the Hampton Pirates 73-43 on Thursday night. The Pride are now 21-8 with the win and the Pirates fell to 6-22.

AP sources: Cole Hamels gets minor league deal with Padres

Two people with knowledge of the deal say left-hander Cole Hamels has agreed to a minor league contract with his hometown San Diego Padres that will pay him $2 million if he reaches the big league roster. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal is contingent on Hamels passing a physical. He's expected to report this weekend to spring training in Peoria, Arizona. The 39-year-old Hamels made one start for the Atlanta Braves in 2020 and hasn't pitched since then. He had shoulder surgery in 2021.

Cooke scores 22, No. 1 South Carolina women beat Florida

Zia Cooke scored 22 points and No. 1 South Carolina won its 32nd straight game, 87-56 over Florida. The unbeaten Gamecocks showed no hangover from their 88-64 win over then-third-ranked LSU this past Sunday and moved a step closer to their seventh regular-season league title under coach Dawn Staley. South Carolina led 29-15 after the first quarter and 51-21 at the break. Reigning Associated Press player of the year Aliyah Boston played just 15 minutes due to the lopsided score, finishing with four points and six rebounds. Nina Rickards scored 16 points for the Gators.

Zegarowski scores 30, Stonehill beats Long Island 75-60

Max Zegarowski scored 30 points to lead Stonehill over Long Island University 75-60. Zegarowski also had six rebounds for the Skyhawks (14-15, 10-4 Northeast Conference). Isaiah Burnett added 12 points, five rebounds and four steals. Shamir Johnson scored 10. The Sharks (3-23, 1-13) were led by Tre Wood with 20 points, five assists and two steals.

Kitley, Amoore lead No. 11 Virginia Tech past No. 9 Duke

Elizabeth Kitley and Georgia Amoore each scored 20 points to lead No. 11 Virginia Tech to a 61-45 victory over No. 9 Duke. Taylor Soule added 11 points for the Hokies (21-4, 11-4 Atlantic Coast Conference), who have won five straight and eight of their past nine games. For the first time in program history, Virginia Tech has registered wins over ranked opponents in three consecutive games. Celeste Taylor scored 12 points for the Blue Devils (22-4, 12-3), who had their four-game winning streak halted.

Young's 20 help Maryland surge past No. 3 Purdue 68-54

Jahmir Young scored 20 points and Maryland used a dominant stretch in the middle of the second half to rally past No. 3 Purdue 68-54 and deal the Boilermakers their second consecutive loss. The Terrapins trailed 37-29 before erupting on a 29-4 burst to take control. Hakim Hart added 13 points for Maryland, which defeated a top-three team for the first time since toppling then-No. 3 Iowa 74-68 on Jan. 28, 2016. Maryland improved to 14-1 at home this season. Students stormed the court, and one fan even climbed onto the basket after Maryland earned its fourth victory of the season over a ranked team. Zach Edey and Braden Smith both scored 18 points for Purdue. The Boilermakers have lost three of four, all on the road.

IndyCar's Daly makes Daytona 500 for Floyd Mayweather

IndyCar driver Conor Daly raced Floyd Mayweather into the Daytona 500 for a second consecutive year by bobbing and weaving his way through myriad issues for the ill-prepared team. Daly's attempt to make his first Daytona 500 was only announced last week. Daly will become the 62nd driver in history to race in both the Daytona 500 and the Indy 500. In May, he can become the 29th driver to compete in both races in the same year. His chances seemed slim from the moment Daytona International Speedway opened because of problems with his car.

Latson, Howard lift No. 24 Florida State women past Orange

Ta'Niya Latson scored 19 points and Erin Howard drilled a critical 3-pointer in the final minute and No. 24 Florida State defeated Syracuse 78-65 to end a two-game losing streak. Howard's 3 from the right corner with 48.1 seconds to go gave Florida State a 74-65 lead. On the play, a foul was called on Dariauna Lewis of Syracuse as she tried to fight through a screen to get to Howard. The Orange needed to commit a couple fouls to get into the bonus and with 44 seconds left Makayala Timpson made two free throws for a 76-65 lead. Dyaisha Fair had 19 points, her 27th straight double-figure game, for the Orange.

Thiem, Schwartzman beaten at Argentina Open

Dominic Thiem and Diego Schwartzman were eliminated from the Argentina Open on Thursday. Thiem, the 2020 U.S. Open champion who is trying to regain his form after falling to 99th in the rankings, lost 6-4, 6-4 to Juan Pablo Varillas. Schwartzman, the local favorite, was beaten by Bernabe Zapata Miralles, 6-1, 6-3. Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz returns to action in Friday's quarterfinals, facing Dusan Lajovic.

Giannis breaks Bucks' assists mark, leaves with wrist injury

Giannis Antetokounmpo broke the Milwaukee Bucks' career assists record Thursday night against the Chicago Bulls. The two-time MVP came in needing two assists to break Paul Pressey's record of 3,272 from 1982 to 1990. Antetokounmpo also is the Bucks' career leader in blocks, triple-doubles, free throws made, free throws attempted and minutes. Antetokounmpo matched the assist mark when he fed Brook Lopez for a 3-pointer two minutes into the game and broke it when he passed to Jevon Carter for another 3 that bumped Milwaukee's lead to 19-10 in the first quarter.

NFL's Kamara, Lammons indicted in 2022 Vegas nightclub fight

A grand jury in Nevada has indicted New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara and Cincinnati Bengals newly acquired cornerback Chris Lammons in connection with an alleged beating at a Las Vegas nightclub last February. The Clark County grand jury handed up the indictment in Las Vegas on Wednesday on the same two battery charges prosecutors filed last year against the NFL players and two others. KLAS-TV first reported the indictment Thursday. Kamara was arrested Feb. 6, 2022, after he played in the NFL Pro Bowl at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The others turned themselves in the days following when warrants were issued for their arrests.

MLB: Bally network troubles could lead to end of blackouts

Commissioner Rob Manfred says Major League Baseball can produce games digitally in conjunction with MLB.TV if Bally Sports regional networks are no longer broadcasting them. He says this is a chance to address the game blackouts that inspire so much anger among fans. Diamond Sports Group is the parent company of 19 Bally Sports networks. It skipped about $140 million in interest payments due Wednesday, starting a 30-day grace period that could be the prelude to a bankruptcy filing. Manfred acknowledged some teams could be at risk of losing revenue. He says MLB is prepared to help those teams.

Buccaneers hire Dave Canales to guide Tom Brady-less offense

Tampa Bay is counting on Dave Canales to help the Buccaneers remain relevant following Tom Brady's retirement. The former Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks coach was hired as Bucs offensive coordinator Thursday, replacing Byron Leftwich. The 41-year-old Canales was among 10 candidates interviewed for the position that opened when Leftwich and five other members of coach Todd Bowles' staff were fired on Jan. 19. Three other assistants announced their retirements in a major shakeup that followed a lopsided playoff loss to Dallas in the NFC wild-card round.

Gottlieb has No. 25 Trojans back on track in second season

Southern California women's basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb has the 25th-ranked Trojans in position to end their nine-year NCAA Tournament drought. USC is in The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2016 and one of six teams from the Pac-12 to appear in the rankings. USC visits third-ranked Stanford on Friday. The Trojans' biggest win this season came on Jan. 15 when they posted a 55-46 victory over the Cardinal, snapping Stanford's 39-game conference winning streak.

Man United shares rise amid reported Saudi buyout bid

Shares of Premier League club Manchester United rose sharply ahead of the deadline for takeover bids and reported interest from Saudi Arabia. The stock rose almost 10% in U.S. trading Thursday. Potential buyers are expected to submit initial offers Friday to merchant bank Raine Group, which is handling the sale for United's current owners the Glazer family. With a bid also expected to come from Qatar, reports of a move from Saudi Arabia could heighten the possibility of the sale price reaching an estimated $6 billion. British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe is the only contender to publicly confirm his intention to bid but there has been increased speculation about wider interest in recent days.

Giants re-sign WR Isaiah Hodgins, who had breakout season

The New York Giants re-signed wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins. He was scheduled to become an exclusive rights free agent next month. Hodgins was one of the Giants' biggest surprises this season as they ended a five-year postseason drought. The 24-year-old Hodgins was claimed off waivers from Buffalo on Nov. 2 and quickly became a favorite target of Daniel Jones in New York's offense. Hodgins finished with 33 receptions for 351 yards in just eight regular-season games, and tied Richie James for the most touchdown catches with four. Hodgins also caught eight passes for 105 yards and another touchdown in New York's 31-24 wild-card win at Minnesota.

Debinha gives Brazil 1-0 win over Japan in SheBelieves

Debinha scored off a pass from Marta in the second half and Brazil won the opening match of the SheBelieves Cup 1-0 over Japan. Marta came in as a second half substitute for Brazil. The game was Marta's first since tearing the ACL in her left knee last March during a preseason National Women's Soccer League's tournament, which caused her to miss the entire 2022 season for the Orlando Pride. The United States was set to play Canada in the late game at Orlando's Exploria Stadium. The four-team round-robin tournament moves to Nashville on Sunday.

Slingsby aims Flying Roo toward Sydney Harbor hat trick

Tom Slingsby and Team Australia can count on two things when they sail their Flying Roo foiling catamaran on Sydney Harbor: raucous support from their home fans and a pretty good chance of a victory. The Aussies will go for a hat trick on home waters Saturday and Sunday in the Australia Sail Grand Prix, the third-to-last regatta of SailGP's third season. Team Australia is the two-time defending champion in the  global league and has a nine-point lead in the season standings over New Zealand.

Durant cheered by fans, says Suns have 'all the pieces'

Kevin Durant watched the Phoenix Suns from afar over the past few years, admiring the budding nucleus of Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton. Now he's thrilled to be a part of it. The 13-time All-Star was introduced on Thursday on the floor at Footprint Arena in front of about 3,000 fans, who showed up in the middle of the afternoon just to hear the veteran forward answer a few questions. Many were already wearing the his No. 35 jersey in Suns purple. It's been a hot seller at the downtown fan store since general manager James Jones pulled the blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets just before last week's trade deadline.

Melon Man signs new deal that keeps Chastain with Trackhouse

Ross Chastain has signed a long-term contract extension that keeps the Melon Man driving for Trackhouse Racing. The deal announced Thursday ahead of the season-opening Daytona 500 locks down Trackhouse's two-car lineup. The team announced a long extension a day earlier for Daniel Suarez. Chastain and Suarez both won races last year for Trackhouse, both made the playoffs and Chastain finished second in the Cup championship race.

Florida allows universities to help set up athlete pay deals

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill to allow universities to help set up endorsement deals for college athletes in the state. Florida was one of the first states to pass a law allowing college athletes to profit off their name, image or likeness, but it didn't allow people affiliated with universities to help secure endorsement deals. The new law signed Thursday lifts that provision to make Florida more competitive with other states that don't have the restriction. The legislation passed unanimously through the House and Senate during a recent special session.

Same ol' same ol': No progress for Black head coaches in NFL

After completing the latest round of coaching hires, the NFL won't look any different on the sidelines in 2023. DeMeco Ryans was the lone Black candidate to land one of the five vacancies. That means the 32-team league will remain stuck at just three Black coaches going into a new season for the fifth year in a row. The NFL also maintained the status quo with six minority head coaches overall. That includes Miami's Mike McDaniel, who has a Black father and identifies as multiracial. Still, it remains a stubbornly low number when nearly 57% of the players are Black.

American around-the-world sailboat can replace damaged foils

The American boat in The Ocean Race has received permission to replace its cracked foils before the next leg of the around-the-world race. The next leg is a 12,750-nautical mile run to Itajai, Brazil. It's the longest leg in the history of the event. 11th Hour Racing Team skipper Charlie Enright says heading into the Southern Ocean for a month with two damaged foils "would be foolhardy and not a risk that I am prepared to take." Foils are curved appendages protruding from the hull that lift the boat above the waves in certain conditions to reduce drag and make it sail faster. They have been incorporated into the America's Cup and other major sailing races but are being used for the first time in The Ocean Race.

Tiger opens with 69 at Riviera, trails Homa, Mitchell by 5

Tiger Woods had a loud and successful return to PGA Tour competition. Woods finished with three straight birdies for a 69 in the Genesis Invitational. That leaves him five shots behind co-leaders Max Homa and Keith Mitchell. Woods is playing for the first time against the world's best since he missed the cut in the British Open last July at St. Andrews. He looked to be losing ground with two bogeys in three holes, leaving him over par through 12 holes. And then he was flawless at the end. Woods says he hasn't heard such noise in a long time.

Gasly feeling new motivation in French duo at Alpine in F1

Pierre Gasly says he's feeling reinvigorated as part of a French driver lineup at Alpine after spending all of his Formula One career to date as part of the Red Bull organization. Gasly partners fellow French driver Esteban Ocon for 2023 at Renault-owned Alpine. Ocon says at the launch of the 2023 Alpine car that the two have known each other since they were 6-year-old rivals in go-karting. Gasly says the team has massive potential as it aims to close the gap to last season's top three teams, Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes.

Why did DA drop felony charge against ex-Texas coach Beard?

Texas basketball coach Chris Beard was arrested and charged with choking his fiancee and fired less than a month later when the university said he was "unfit" to lead the program. Now the third-degree felony charge is dismissed, and so is the threat of up to 10 years in prison. Prosecutors announced that after reviewing the evidence and the fiancee's wishes not to prosecute they likely could not get a conviction. Domestic violence experts say prosecutors had little room to maneuver without a cooperative witness.

College basketball undergoing a big man revival

The Golden State Warriors changed the way the NBA game was played by playing small, spreading the floor and relying heavily on the 3-point shot. The successful tactic dribbled down to college basketball. Now that the NBA is starting to a shift with a resurgence of the big man, the college game is following suit. College basketball is filled with talented big men this season, including Purdue's Zach Edey, Arizona's Oumar Ball and Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis. They've become the focal point for their teams, scoring inside or creating opportunities for their teammates while forcing opposing defenses to adjust.

Paul Jerrard, former NHL assistant, dies of cancer at 57

Omaha assistant hockey coach Paul Jerrard has died after a battle with cancer. He was 57. A spokesperson for the college team confirmed Jerrard's wife told the school he died Wednesday at a hospital in Omaha. Jerrard spent two seasons as an assistant with the NHL's Calgary Flames from 2016-18 and the Dallas Stars from 2011-13 and one with the Colorado Avalanche in 2002-03. During his stint with the Flames, Jerrard was the only Black assistant coach in the league. A longtime minor league defenseman as a player who skated in five NHL games with the Minnesota North Stars in 1988 and '89, Jerrard has spent the past five seasons on coach Mike Gabinet's staff at Omaha.

Burnes stung by Brewers' words in salary arbitration loss

Corbin Burnes attended his salary arbitration case and was stung hearing the words the Milwaukee Brewers used during the proceedings to determine his 2023 salary. The 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner came away with hard feelings. He lost his hearing and will receive $10.01 million from the Brewers rather than his $10.75 million request. A five-year veteran, Burnes is 35-19 with a 3.21 ERA. He is eligible for free agency after the 2024 World Series. Last season, he led the National League with 243 strikeouts in compiling a 12-8 record.

New Rangers ace deGrom says tightness in side `very minor'

New Rangers ace Jacob deGrom says the tightness in his left side is very minor. The Rangers have delayed the start of camp workouts for their prized acquisition. The right-hander's past two seasons with the New York Mets were shortened significantly by injuries. DeGrom says he is already further ahead than normal this spring. He says he had already thrown about six times off a mound before getting to spring training, after usually only getting two or three such sessions before getting the camp. The 34-year-old deGrom signed a $185 million, five-year deal with Texas in December.

Matt Moore agrees to $7.55M, 1-year contract with Angels

Left-hander Matt Moore and the Los Angeles Angels agreed to a $7.55 million one-year contract. Moore was a fulltime reliever for the first time last season, going 5-2 with a five saves and a 1.93 ERA for Texas. He struck out 83 and walked 38 in 74 innings, holding opponents to a .187 batting average. Moore is 61-62 with a 4.45 ERA in 11 big league seasons for Tampa Bay, San Francisco, Texas, Detroit and Philadelphia (2021).  Right-hander Davis Daniel was put on the 60-day injured list with a strained right shoulder, opening a roster spot.

Taillon working on new slider in spring training with Cubs

Jameson Taillon had been thinking about a new slider for a couple of years. When his new team also brought up the idea, he was more than ready to give it a shot. Taillon is working on a new sweeper slider in his first spring training since he finalized a four-year contract with the Chicago Cubs that is worth roughly $68 million. The 6-foot-5 right-hander is hoping his new version can essentially replace his previous slider. Taillon said he felt like his slider had underperformed for a while. But the COVID-19 pandemic and baseball's labor lockout hampered his ability to try a new version.

Ohtani to start opener, not thinking of free agency yet

Shohei Ohtani is concentrating on what could be his final season with the Los Angeles Angels and not on free agency next fall. Angels manager Phil Nevin said the two-way star will be on the mound for the March 30 opener at Oakland, which Ohtani called "a great honor." While Ohtani said he is open to a long-term contract with the Angels, he said repeatedly he wants to focus on 2023. He says: "I'm not really an expert on the free-agent market. I've never been through it, so I don't know what it feels like."

NHLPA names Labor Secretary Marty Walsh executive director

The NHL Players' Association has hired U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh as its executive director. The union said its executive board with representatives from all 32 clubs unanimously approved Walsh's appointment. Walsh will begin his new role in mid-March. The NHLPA had been searching for a new executive director to take over for Don Fehr since April. A fan of the Boston Bruins, Walsh showed an encyclopedic knowledge of the sport in videos posted online during his tenure from 2014 to 2021 as mayor of Boston. Walsh is the first of President Joe Biden's Cabinet secretaries to leave.

Gannon ready to lead Cards after whirlwind interview process

Jonathan Gannon has officially been introduced as the Arizona Cardinals' new coach. His introduction comes just four days after the Super Bowl, his final game as defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles lost 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs. Gannon now teams with new Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort on a franchise overhaul following a 4-13 season that included an avalanche of injuries and off-the-field distractions. Gannon's hiring comes after a meandering coaching search that took more than a month and included multiple candidates.

Barcelona, Man United play 2-2 thriller in Europa League

Barcelona and Manchester United served up a thrilling 2-2 draw in the Europa League knockout playoffs. It outranked anything seen in the Champions League this week. The former European champions traded leads in a back-and-forth second half of their first-leg game. Barcelona struck in the 50th minute on Marcos Alonso's header and leveled in the 76th when Raphinha's cross curled in untouched. In between, Marcus Rashford beat goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen at his near post with a shot and forced an own goal from Jules Koundé with a low cross that ricocheted off the defender's chest.

Hawkeyes' Clark is on mark from prodigious 3-point distances

Fans in the stands and opposing teams hold their collective breath when Iowa's Caitlin Clark crosses halfcourt. She just might shoot. The 3-point arc is just over 22 feet from the basket. Of the 83 shots Clark has made from 3-point range 66 were launched from at least 24 feet. That's according to Synergy Basketball data provided by Iowa. Clark made a pair of 29-footers in seventh-ranked Iowa's 91-61 win over Wisconsin on Wednesday and she's hit three from 30 feet this season. Clark is the second-leading scorer in the nation at just over 27 points per game.

Alabama appears once again poised for 1-week stay on top

Alabama's basketball team appears likely to enjoy a brief stay at No. 1 after rising to the top of the rankings for the second time in program history. These Crimson Tide are hoping that's where the similarities end with the only other Alabama team to top the rankings, their predecessors from 2002-03, who struggled after rising to No. 1. Nate Oats and the Tide fell to No. 10 Tennessee 68-59 on Wednesday night two days after reaching the top spot. Oats knew the billing would be "a maturity test" for a team led by three freshmen and a transfer.

New Astros GM Dana Brown hopes for more long-term contracts

New Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown hopes some of Cristian Javier's teammates follow the pitcher's example and agree to longterm contracts. Javier agreed last week to a $64 million, five-year deal. Brown said he's in negotiations with the agents for outfielder Kyle Tucker and pitcher Framber Valdez. Tucker lost in salary arbitration and is slated to earn $5 million, and Valdez agreed last month to a $6.8 million, one-year contract. Both are eligible for free agency after the 2025 World Series. Brown also contacted Scott Boras, the agent for second baseman Jose Altuve and third baseman Alex Bregman.

Thomson to NL champ Phillies as camp begins: Ease into this

Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson had a simple message before the National League champions took the field for their first spring training workout for pitchers and catchers. It was to make sure they ramp up appropriately and don't push it to try to impress anybody. Thomson replaced previous manager Joe Girardi on June 23, with the Phillies at 22-29. Under him, Philadelphia went 65-46 before their run ended in a six-game World Series loss to Houston. There already is a sense of excitement at camp, with right-hander Zack Wheeler saying he hungry to get back as quickly as possible.

John Veitch, trainer of Triple Crown runner-up Alydar, dies

Hall of Fame horse trainer John Veitch has died. He is best known for training Alydar to narrow losses in all three Triple Crown races against rival Affirmed in 1978. Veitch trained four champion horses during his career that began in 1974 and ended in 2003. Against Affirmed, Alydar lost the Kentucky Derby by 1 1/2 lengths, the Preakness by a neck and the Belmont by a head in one of racing's most storied rivalries. Veitch had 410 career winners and earnings of over $20 million. He was elected to racing's Hall of Fame in 2007. Veitch's family says he died Tuesday of natural causes at home in Lexington, Kentucky. He was 77.

Tim McCarver, big league catcher and broadcaster, dies at 81

The famed broadcaster and former St. Louis Cardinals star Tim McCarver has died. He was 81.  During 60 years in major league baseball, McCarver played in two All-Star games and on two World Series championship teams. He was the preferred catcher for Bob Gibson in the 1960s and Steve Carlton in the 1970s. He later had a long run as one of the country's most recognizable, incisive and talkative television commentators. For years, he teamed with Joe Buck on Fox sports telecasts. The Baseball Hall of Fame honored his on-air work in 2012.

Conte staying in Italy to fully recover from surgery

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte will remain in Italy to fully recover from gallbladder surgery. The 53-year-old Conte was on the touchline for his team's 1-0 loss at AC Milan on Tuesday in the Champions League. It was his second game back after having surgery on Feb. 1. Conte had a checkup Wednesday in Italy and will remain there for the foreseeable future. Conte says, "My body has suffered my impatience, and now I am forced to stop until my entire recovery." Assistant coach Cristian Stellini will handle first-team duties. Fifth-place Tottenham hosts West Ham on Sunday.

Carlos Beltrán, let go as Mets manager, joins front office

Carlos Beltrán is joining the Mets as a special assistant to general manager Billy Eppler, his first work with a team since he lost his job as New York's manager for his role in the Houston Astros' cheating scandal. Beltrán was hired on Nov. 1, 2019, to replace Mickey Callaway as Mets manager. The Mets announced Beltrán's departure the following Jan. 16 after Beltrán was the only Astros player mentioned by name in Major League Baseball's report that concluded the team broke rules by using electronics to steal signs en route to the 2017 World Series title.

Johnson, Pastrana seeking new thrills in Daytona 500 run

Jimmie Johnson and Travis Pastrana are seeking some more thrills Sunday in the Daytona 500. Johnson and Pastrana were not guaranteed spots in the 40-car field. But they were both fast enough in Wednesday's qualifying to claim two of the four open spots. There were six drivers vying for the spots, with Johnson and Pastrana earning the two awarded through time trials. Pastrana and Johnson are long-time friends that are thrilled to race the Daytona 500 together.

Orioles' Henderson, D-backs' Carroll among top MLB rookies

Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson and Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll are among the majors' most promising rookies heading into the season. The 21-year-old Henderson made his big league debut last summer, batting .259 with four homers and 18 RBIs in 34 games. The 22-year-old Carroll hit 24 homers and swiped 31 bases in the minors last year and then was promoted by Arizona in August and hit .260 in 32 games in the majors. Two Japanese rookies, New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga and Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida, also are worth watching in 2023.

League: Sanctions over reports not possible for Barcelona

The Spanish league says Barcelona is not facing sanctions for having made payments for technical reports on referees to a company that belonged to the vice president of the refereeing committee. League president Javier Tebas says sports sanctions such as loss of points or relegation are not possible because there was a three-year statute of limitations for the alleged irregularities that occurred through 2018. Tebas says separate corruption charges would depend on the outcome of an investigation being conducted by prosecutors. The payments are under investigation as part of a tax probe into the company of the former member of the Spanish federation's refereeing committee.

Ukrainian boys already winners at Peewee hockey tournament

The coach of a boys hockey team of Ukrainian refugees has told his players they've already won no matter their outcome at the International Peewee Tournament in Quebec City. Evgheniy Pysarenko says his players have symbolized peace and hope to people around the world, including those following them back in Ukraine. The Selects are three wins from playing for the Class AA tournament championship, starting with an elimination game against the Vermont Flames Academy on Friday.

Wacha deal with Padres could be worth $26M for 4 years

Right-hander Michael Wacha and the San Diego Padres finalized a contract that guarantees $26 million over four seasons and could be worth $39 million over three years. Wacha gets a $3.5 million signing bonus and a $4 million salary this year. San Diego must decide after this year's World Series whether to exercise $16 million options for both 2024 and 2025. If the Padres decline their options, Wacha would decide whether to exercise player options at $6.5 million for 2024 and $6 million for each of the following two years.

All-Star weekend arrives, as NBA heads to Salt Lake City

If so inclined, and if fellow captain LeBron James was to cooperate with his own selections, Giannis Antetokounmpo could pick Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Lauri Markkanen to play on his team Sunday night. Imagine an All-International All-Star starting lineup. It's one of the many possibilities for this weekend's events in Salt Lake City. NBA All-Star weekend is almost here, with many of the principals arriving in Utah on Thursday and a few more set to arrive on Friday in time for the official three-day lineup to begin.

Red Wings sign Olli Maatta to 2-year, $6 million extension

The Detroit Red Wings have signed defenseman Olli Maatta to a two-year, $6 million extension to keep him under contract through the 2024-2025 season. The Red Wings announced the deal on Thursday, two weeks before the NHL trade deadline. Maatta has five goals and 17 points this season, entering Thursday night's game in Calgary. The 28-year-old Finn previously played for Pittsburgh, Chicago and Los Angeles. He has scored five goals and has 27 points in 85 playoff games, helping the Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017.

USA Basketball picks roster for last 2 World Cup qualifiers

USA Basketball has picked the 12 players for the final two games of World Cup qualifying later this month. They are tasked with giving the Americans a berth in this summer's tournament and moving them one step closer to the Paris Olympics. Of the 12, four have been in past games during qualifying for this year's World Cup. Langston Galloway has played in eight of the 10 games, Will Davis II has played in five and Elijah Pemberton and Craig Sword have been in two apiece.

Gaudin to follow Caray as Braves' new play-by-play announcer

Brandon Gaudin, the former voice of Georgia Tech broadcasts, is the new play-by-play announcer for the Atlanta Braves on Bally Sports South and Bally Sports Southeast. Gaudin replaces Chip Caray, who on Jan. 30 was named the television play-by-play voice of the St. Louis Cardinals, following the path set by his grandfather, Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Caray. Gaudin has called MLB, NFL, college football and college basketball games for FOX Sports and the Big Ten Network for the last seven years. He has remained an Atlanta resident since calling football, men's basketball and baseball games at Georgia Tech from 2013-16.

Norwegian aims for historic win for women in UEFA election

Lise Klaveness is aiming to become one of the few women in world soccer politics to win an election against men. The Norwegian Football Federation president is running for a seat on UEFA's executive committee. Klaveness is among 11 European officials aiming to win one of seven seats with a four-year mandate on the UEFA ruling committee. UEFA's executive committee has 20 members in total but currently includes only one woman, who holds a seat that is especially reserved for women. No woman has ever been elected to a seat open for men. Klaveness is a lawyer and former national-team player.

Jury: NCAA not liable in ex-Grand Valley quarterback's death

An Indiana jury has found the NCAA not liable in the death of former Grand Valley State quarterback Cullen Finnerty, whose widow accused the college sports governing body of failing to warn athletes about the risks of head injuries while playing football. The NCAA argued that Finnerty's death did not result from a concussion while playing for the Michigan college or smaller blows to the head during his playing days, but from other health problems and addictions. ESPN reports that a Marion County jury agreed Wednesday with the NCAA's arguments. Finnerty's widow sued the Indianapolis-based NCAA after his May 2013 death, arguing that it did not properly protect college athletes and warn them of the risks of head injuries while playing football.

MLS games will be available to bars, restaurants via DirecTV

Bars and restaurants with DirecTV can still show Major League Soccer games. The satellite service announced on Thursday that it has reached an agreement to provide MLS Season Pass to commercial establishments through DirecTV for Business. DirecTV's residential customers will still need to access MLS Season Pass through the Apple TV app. MLS and Apple began a 10-year agreement on Feb. 1 to carry games worldwide without blackout restrictions. The agreement allows thousands of restaurants, bars, hotel lounges, retail shops and other venues to access the games through their satellite equipment.

USOPC, NCAA collaborate to raise profile of Paralympians

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and NCAA announced new programming in an attempt to employ college sports settings to increase visibility and possible gold-medal pathways for Paralympians. The organizations are planning a wheelchair college All-Star event featuring the U.S. Paralympic team at the women's Division II and III Final Fours for basketball and a 100-meter para-college wheelchair title race at the Drake Relays for track. Sarah Wilhelmi, the USOPC's senior director of collegiate partnerships, said more than half the 2021 U.S. Paralympic team competed collegiately across 76 schools in 14 sports.

Celtics remove interim tag, name Joe Mazzulla head coach

The Boston Celtics have named Joe Mazzulla their full-time head coach, removing the interim tag he has held throughout the season after stepping in for Ime Udoka. Udoka was initially given a yearlong suspension before training camp for having an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the organization. The 34-year-old Mazzulla was an assistant under Udoka last season and will now replace his former boss, who won't return. He is the NBA's youngest head coach. The Celtics beat the Pistons 127-109 on Wednesday night and head into the All-Star break with the NBA's best record at 42-17.

AP source: Kevin Love discussing possible buyout from Cavs

A person familiar with the situation says Kevin Love has had discussions with the Cleveland Cavaliers about a contract buyout. The five-time All-Star was recently dropped from the rotation and approached the team about a potential buyout, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because negotiations continue. Love is in the final year of a four-year, $120 million contract. The 34-year-old hasn't played in the last 12 games. He's been with Cleveland since 2014 and had a major role in the team winning the 2016 title, the city's first pro sports championship since 1964.

Domínguez and Phillies agree to $7.25M, 2-year contract

Right-handed reliever Seranthony Domínguez and the Philadelphia Phillies agreed to a $7.25 million, two-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Dominguez gets $2.5 million this season and $4.25 million next year. The deal includes an $8 million team option for 2025 with a $500,000 buyout. Domínguez had Tommy John surgery on July 30, 2020, and returned to a major league mound on the final day of the 2021 season. The 28-year-old was 6-5 with a 3.00 and nine saves in career-high 54 relief appearances last year and held opponents to a .197 batting average

At 103, Sister Jean publishes memoir of faith and basketball

She's known simply as Sister Jean -- the Catholic nun who captured the sports world's imagination as chaplain for the Loyola Chicago men's basketball team that reached the NCAA Final Four in 2018. Now, at age 103, she is publishing her first book, offering spiritual guidance and sharing her life story. The title is long, but catchy: "Wake Up with Purpose: What I've Learned in My First Hundred Years,"  She has been featured by newspapers and TV stations across America, and her likeness appears on socks, bobbleheads, even a Lego statue at Loyola's art museum. She sees the attention as a holy opportunity to share the lessons she's learned.

Valimaki, Simonsen share 1st-round lead at Thailand Classic

Sami Valimaki of Finland has carded a bogey-free 8-under 64 to share the lead with Martin Simonsen of Denmark after the opening round of the Thailand Classic. The 24-year-old Valimaki made five birdies on the front nine, including on his opening three holes, before picking up three more after the turn. Simosen highlighted his round at the Amata Spring Country Club with an eagle on the 11th hole, to go with seven birdies and a lone bogey on the 13th. The Thailand Classic returned to the European tour for the first time since 2016, when it was held in Hua Hin.

Potential buyers of Manchester United crunching the numbers

British businessman Martin Broughton knows how potential buyers will be feeling ahead of the deadline to submit bids for Manchester United. The former chairman of British Airways went through all that when heading a consortium last year that tried to buy Chelsea. Now he says Jim Ratcliffe is prepared to spend big on United amid an expected move from Qatar for the storied Premier League club. The price is estimated to reach as $6 billion after Chelsea was bought by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital for $3 billion. Broughton says "Jim wants it. He's prepared to pay properly for it."

Bellingham fits leadership role as Dortmund racks up wins

Jude Bellingham captained Borussia Dortmund to a 1-0 win over Chelsea in the Champions League and looked a mature leader at the age of just 19. The England midfielder is the second-youngest player to captain a team in the Champions League knockout stages. His performances in midfield and his leadership have helped Dortmund put together a winning run to start 2023. That has kept its title challenges alive in the Bundesliga and in Europe. Bellingham is at the center of speculation over a likely transfer at the end of the season.

Olympics in 2018 showed glimpses of future NHL stars

The 2018 Olympics without NHL stars offered a glimpse of things to come for players who hadn't yet reached the best hockey league in the world. Five years later, Kirill Kaprizov is starring for Minnesota. Wild teammate Jordan Greenway played on the U.S. team with Seattle's Ryan Donato. Finnish forward Eeli Tolvanen broke out in those Olympics and is now scoring with Donato and the Kraken. Czech goaltender Pavel Francouz helped Colorado win the Stanley Cup after beating the U.S. in an elimination shootout.

Streamline Hotel provides glimpse into NASCAR's storied past

The Streamline Hotel, which opened in 1941, is widely recognized as the birthplace of NASCAR because it hosted meetings between drivers and officials during the racing series' formative years. It had become a dilapidated building after years of neglect. But after a massive makeover that included reimagining it as a boutique hotel, the historic building has once again become a landmark overlooking the "World's Most Famous Beach." It stands as one of the few remaining reminders of the series' roots and a gathering spot for anyone wanting a glimpse of what those olden days of racing on the beach must have looked and felt like.

Ben Yedder in terrific form as Monaco chases PSG

Monaco striker Wissam Ben Yedder has quickly recovered from the disappointment of being left out by France coach Didier Deschamps for the World Cup. Since the league resumed at the end of December, the former Toulouse and Sevilla forward has scored eight goals and has embodied Monaco's resurgence as the club bids for a Champions League berth. Last weekend, Ben Yedder moved up to 14 goals for the season following his brace in a 3-1 win over leader Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco has moved up to third place.

Shiffrin wins gold, thanks former coach after surprise split

American skier Mikaela Shiffrin won the gold medal in the women's giant slalom at the world championships. Shiffrin held on to her first-run lead to beat Italian skier Federica Brignone by 0.12 seconds. Ragnhild Mowinckel of Norway took bronze. It's Shiffrin's seventh world title and 13th medal overall from 16 career world championship races. Shiffrin's victory came a day after an unexpected split with longtime coach Mike Day. Shiffrin was the 2018 Olympic champion in the event and won five of the last six giant slaloms on the World Cup circuit. The victory makes her only the fourth female skier to win world titles in four different disciplines.

Southern Utah puts home win streak on the line against Utah Tech

Southern Utah enters a matchup against Utah Tech as winners of nine games in a row at home. The teams meet Friday for the second time this season. Southern Utah is 9-4 against the WAC, and Utah Tech is 3-10 against conference opponents.

Menifield with 27, Washington beats Oregon in 72-71 in OT

Freshman Keyon Menifield had a career-high 27 points, Jamal Bey scored a layup with 28 seconds left in overtime and Washington beat Oregon 72-71 to end a four-game losing streak. N'Faly Dante's layup with 50 seconds left gave Oregon a 71-70 lead before Bey answered on the ensuing possession. Koren Johnson blocked Will Richardson's layup attempt to seal it for the Huskies, who entered having lost 12 of the last 14 meetings against the Ducks. Menifield scored 18 points in the second half and finished 11 of 15 from the floo for Washington (14-13, 6-10 Pac-12). Dante finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds for Oregon (15-12, 9-7).

Emirates signs 3-year deal to sponsor British team in SailGP

Emirates is expanding its sponsorship in sailing with a three-year deal to become the title partner of Sir Ben Ainslie's British team in the SailGP global league. The squad will be known as Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team starting with this weekend's regatta on Sydney Harbor. The airline's red and white branding was unveiled on the wingsail and hulls of the foiling 50-foot catamaran on Thursday. It's a breakthrough team title sponsorship in SailGP, which was co-founded by tech tycoon Larry Ellison and five-time America's Cup winner Russell Coutts and has three regattas left in its third season.