Australian Open 2025: Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic lead the men's field

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic lead the men's field at the 2025 Australian Open. The year's first Grand Slam tournament begins on the hard courts of Melbourne Park on Sunday morning local time, which is Saturday night in the United States. The No. 1-ranked Sinner won his first Grand Slam title last year in Australia. The Italian was cleared in a doping case in August, but the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed his exoneration. Alcaraz is a four-time major champion who is trying to complete a career Grand Slam at age 21. Djokovic has won 10 of his 24 major titles in Australia.

Stojakovic's 23 points pace Cal to 75-61 win over Virginia and first ever ACC win

Andrej Stojakovic scored 23 points and Cal secured its first win in the ACC beating Virginia 75-61. Andrew Rhode scored 14 points for Virginia. The Bears started the second half on an 8-0 run and reached their first double-digit lead when Stojakovic's jump shot with 17:50 left made it 43-32. Stojakovic was the game's first double-digit scorer when he made two foul shots to make it 45-34 a little more than two minutes later and the Bears stayed ahead by double digits for the remainder.

Boqvist nets 2 in 3rd period as Panthers beat Utah 4-1

Jesper Boqvist scored twice in the third period and the Florida Panthers beat the Utah Hockey Club 4-1. Sam Reinhart and Eetu Luostarinen each had a goal for the reigning Stanley Cup champions. Matthew Tkachuk finished with two assists, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves. Boqvist scored at 1:48 of the third to make it 2-0, then again at 17:59 from his own end into an empty net to make it 3-1. Luostarinen added another empty-netter with 22 seconds remaining. Reinhart opened the scoring at 1:05 of the second. It was his 67th power-play goal for the Panthers, passing Scott Mellanby for second place in franchise history. Utah got on the board at 13:41 of the third with Logan Cooley's power-play goal.

Boyd scores 16, San Diego State downs Air Force 67-38

Led by Nicholas Boyd's 16 points, the San Diego State Aztecs defeated the Air Force Falcons 67-38 on Wednesday. The Aztecs improved to 10-3 with the win and the Falcons fell to 3-12.

Australian Open 2025: How to watch on TV, betting odds and more to know

Play in the year's first Grand Slam tennis tournament is scheduled to begin at the Australian Open on Sunday local time and will run for 15 days. The draw to set the brackets for the singles fields was held on Thursday in Melbourne. The defending champions at the hard-court tournament are Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner. They are both ranked No. 1 and are the betting favorites at Melbourne Park this year. The 2025 women's and men's singles champions each will earn about $2.15 million. This is the first Grand Slam tournament to be held since Rafael Nadal's retirement.

Poulin scores `Superwoman' goal, Victoire beat Sceptres 4-2 in front of 19,038 fans in Vancouver

Marie-Philip Poulin scored a spectacular "Superwoman" goal and added an empty-netter to help the Montreal Victoire beat the Toronto Sceptres 4-2 on Wednesday night in a PWHL Takeover Tour game in front of a capacity crowd of 19,038 at Rogers Arena. Poulin gave Montreal a 3-0 lead at 7:48 of the second, controlling the puck while down on both knees, then snapping a shot past goalie Kristen Campbell into the top right corner. Poulin's follow through left her stretched out over the ice as the puck sailed in. Mikyla Grant-Mentis scored on a breakaway and added an assist, Claire Dalton also scored and Ann-Renée Desbiens made 29 saves for the league-leading Victoire. Jesse Compher and Daryl Watts scored for last-place Toronto.

Victory over Maryland caps a successful sweep on USC's first big East Coast trip in the Big Ten

No. 4 USC completed a two-game eastern sweep. The Trojans handed No. 8 Maryland its first loss, 79-74. The victory came after the Trojans decimated Rutgers 92-42 on Sunday. USC is in its first season in the Big Ten and logged quite a few miles even before conference play. The Trojans beat Mississippi in Paris in November. Last month they traveled to Connecticut and beat UConn. Wednesday was their first matchup with Maryland since 1995. The game drew 14,735.

Lillard scores 26 points, Antetokounmpo adds 25 points and 16 rebounds as Bucks beat Spurs 121-105

Damian Lillard had 26 points and eight assists, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the San Antonio Spurs 121-105. Brook Lopez scored 22 points, including 17 in the first half, and AJ Green and Gary Trent each added 14 as the Bucks won their second consecutive game after losing four of five. Keldon Johnson scored 24 points to lead the Spurs. Chris Paul added 18 points, Harrison Barnes had 14 and Devin Vassell 11. Victor Wembanyama had 10 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

Wright scores 21 as North Texas takes down Rice 81-59

Led by Atin Wright's 21 points, the North Texas Mean Green defeated the Rice Owls 81-59

Ben Humrichous scores 21 points, No. 13 Illinois routs Penn State 91-52

Ben Humrichous scored a season-high 21 points, Morez Johnson Jr. had a career-high 20 points along with 11 rebounds and No. 13 Illinois beat Penn State 91-52 on Wednesday night for its fifth straight victory. Tre White also had 20 points to help Illinois (12-3, 4-1 Big Ten) win with scoring leader Kasparas Jakucionis sidelined by a bruised forearm. Penn State star Ace Baldwin Jr. aggravated a back injury early in the first half and didn't play in the second half. He didn't score, missing all six of his shots. Nick Kern Jr. had 13 points for the Nittany Lions (12-4, 2-3).

Minessale and St. Thomas defeat South Dakota State 73-72

Nolan Minessale scored 17 points to lead the Saint Thomas Tommies and Drake Dobbs secured the victory with a free throw with 13 seconds remaining as the Tommies knocked off the South Dakota State Jackrabbits 73-72 on Wednesday night. The Tommies improved to 13-5 with the win and the Jackrabbits fell to 10-7.

Gregg scores 23 and No. 18 Gonzaga downs San Diego 93-80

Ben Gregg scored 23 points and Khalif Battle added 20 to lead No. 18 Gonzaga to its fourth straight win, 93-80 over San Diego. Graham Ike had a career-high 19 rebounds to go with 15 points for Gonzaga (13-4, 4-0 West Coast Conference). Ryan Nembhard added 11 points and as many assists, finishing with just two turnovers. Kjay Bradley Jr. had 21 points to lead the Toreros (4-13, 1-3), who lost their third straight.

White's 17 help Omaha knock off UMKC 77-58

Led by JJ White's 17 points, the Omaha Mavericks defeated the UMKC Kangaroos 77-58

Sinner, Djokovic in opposite halves at the Australian Open, Sabalenka vs Stephens in 1st round

Defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic have landed in opposite sides of the draw for the season's first major, ruling out a replay of last year's semifinal encounter. Sinner upset Djokovic in the semifinals in Melbourne last year before coming back to beat Daniil Medvedev in the final for his first Grand Slam singles title. Aryna Sabalenka will be attempting to win a third consecutive women's singles title at Melbourne Park, something last accomplished by Martina Hingis from 1997 to 1999. Sabalenka drew a tough opening match against 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens.

Raynaud's 12th double-double sparks Stanford past Virginia Tech 70-59 in first ACC home game

Maxime Raynaud scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half as Stanford overcame a nine-minute first-half scoring drought to edge Virginia Tech 70-59 in the first Atlantic Coast Conference contest played at Maples Pavilion. Jaylen Blakes' jumper with two minutes gone by gave the Cardinal a 4-2 lead, but they did not score again for nine minutes and trailed 16-6. Stanford didn't break into double-figures until Oziyah Sellers' three-point play with 6:22 left got the Cardinal within 19-12, and his two 3-pointers in the final two minutes of the half made it 30-25 at intermission.

Phelps scores career-high 34 and hits go-ahead 3 as No. 10 Texas A&M rallies past No. 17 Oklahoma

Zhuric Phelps scored a career-high 34 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 19 seconds remaining, and No. 10 Texas A&M rallied from 18 down in the second half to defeat No. 17 Oklahoma 80-78. The Aggies won their ninth straight while leading scorer Wade Taylor IV sat out with an undisclosed injury. Oklahoma reserve Brycen Goodine had a season-best 34 points in 27 minutes. Jeremiah Fears scored 13 and Jalon Moore added 11 for the Sooners, who have lost two in a row after a 13-0 start.

Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook help the Nuggets rout the Clippers, 126-103

Jamal Murray had 21 points and nine assists, Russell Westbrook added 19 points and eight assists and the Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Clippers 126-103 on Wednesday night in a matchup of short-handed teams. Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard was not available after he flew back to Los Angeles before the game to help his family deal with the wildfires. Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was out for the second straight game due to an illness. Denver is 2-3 without him this season. Norman Powell scored 30 points to finish with a 27.6 average in the Clippers' four games against the Nuggets. James Harden had 16 points.

Wednesday's Scores

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No. 11 Kansas shuts down Arizona State in 2nd half to win 74-55

Zeke Mayo scored 23 points and No. 11 Kansas held Arizona State to 13 in the second half of a 74-55 victory. Hunter Dickinson added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Jayhawks, who started the second period with a 20-3 spurt that turned a six-point deficit into an 11-point lead at the second media timeout. Kansas outscored the Sun Devils 38-13 after halftime. Arizona State didn't score its 10th point of the half until 3:09 remained. ASU was led by Alston Mason with 19 points. BJ Freeman had 10, and Jayden Quaintance added nine points and 11 rebounds.

Nutter's 22 help Georgia State down Georgia Southern 82-78 in OT

Led by Zarigue Nutter's 22 points, the Georgia State Panthers defeated the Georgia Southern Eagles 82-78 in overtime on Wednesday night. The Panthers are now 6-10 on the season, while the Eagles fell to 8-8.

JuJu Watkins scores 21 as No. 4 USC tops No. 8 Maryland 79-74, handing the Terps their first loss

JuJu Watkins scored 21 points before fouling out in the final minute, and No. 4 Southern California held on to hand No. 8 Maryland its first loss, 79-74. Shyanne Sellers scored 26 points for Maryland, but the Terrapins came up empty down the stretch after leading by seven in the fourth quarter. A three-point play by Kiki Iriafen gave USC a 75-72 lead with 1:28 to play. Then Rayah Marshall blocked a jumper by Sellers. Watkins fouled out on an offensive foul with 31 seconds left, but Maryland's Saylor Poffenbarger missed from 3-point range.

Sundell scores 15, Lee hits milestone and No. 12 Kansas State women rout No. 22 Utah 71-47

Serena Sundell scored 15 points, Ayoka Lee reached another milestone and No. 12 Kansas State dominated No. 22 Utah 71-47, the Wildcats' 11th straight win. Lee had 14 points to reach 2,450 for her career, which moves her into the top 100 career scorers in NCAA history. Wildcats' coach Jeff Mittie tied Judy Akers for second on the Kansas State wins list with 206. Gianna Kneepkens scored 12 points for the Utes. An 18-2 run in the first half, when Lee reached her milestone with four points, helped the Wildcats lead 18-4 and take a 20-7 lead into the second quarter. The game was settled in the third quarter when K-State outscored the Utes 26-13.

Markowski scores 28, Nebraska women top No. 21 Michigan State 85-80

Alexis Markowski scored a career-high 28 points and Nebraska got its first win over a ranked team, topping No. 20 Michigan State 85-80. The Cornhuskers made 11 of 16 free throws in the fourth quarter, 17 of 24 in the second half and 28 of 35 for the game while the Spartans were 14 of 19 for the game and had three players foul out.Nebraska  won two straight home games after losing three straight road games to ranked teams. Julia Ayrault scored 21 points for the Spartans, who have lost three of four since setting the school record with a 11-0 start. Michigan State scored the first 11 points of the game and led 21-15 after one quarter. Nebraska had a 15-0 run in the second quarter and led 43-33 at the half.

Taylor Heise's overtime goal lifts Minnesota Frost over Boston Fleet 2-1 in PWHL

Taylor Heise scored her second goal of the season 3:20 into overtime to give the Minnesota Frost a 2-1 victory over the Boston Fleet. Heise led a breakaway and approached Boston goalie Emma Soderberg head-on, then blasted the puck past Soderberg's right pad for the winner. It was the third time Minnesota has defeated Boston by one goal this season, two of them in overtime. High-scoring Minnesota, the league-leader with 29 goals in nine games, was held to one goal in regulation by Soderberg, who allowed Denisa Krizova's tying goal midway through the first period. Hannah Bilka scored for Boston.

Brent Rooker and Athletics finalize a $60 million, 5-year contract

Brent Rooker and the Athletics finalized a $60 million, five-year contract  for the designated hitter and outfielder, a deal that could be worth up to $92 million over six seasons if he regularly finishes high in MVP voting. Rooker gets a $10 million signing bonus and salaries of $2 million this year, $6 million in 2026, $12 million in 2027, $13 million in 2028 and $17 million in 2029. The team has a $22 million option for 2030 that has three ways to become guaranteed.

Pierre-Luc Dubois scores twice as the Capitals beat the Canucks 2-1 in overtime

Pierre-Luc Dubois scored his second goal of the game late in overtime, Logan Thompson made 30 saves and the Washington Capitals beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 despite another sluggish performance. Dubois ended it with 40.3 seconds left in the 3-on-3 OT, long after scoring on Lankinen with 32.7 seconds remaining in the first period. Thompson stopped 20 of the 21 shots he faced in the second period alone, and Washington was lucky to avoid another loss while managing just 18 on net. Lankinen made 16 saves and Conor Garland scored the only goal for the Canucks, who have lost three in a row and eight of their past 10 games. Alex Ovechkin was held without a goal for back-to-back games and remains at 872 —23 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL record.

Wednesday's Scores

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Comer scores 19 in Evansville's 69-51 win over Illinois State

Led by Tayshawn Comer's 19 points, the Evansville Purple Aces defeated the Illinois State Redbirds 69-51 on Wednesday night. The Purple Aces improved to 6-10 with the victory and the Redbirds fell to 10-6.

Deni Avdija scores 26 as the Trail Blazers down the Pelicans 119-100

Deni Avdija scored 26 points, Shaedon Sharpe added 21 and the Portland Trail Blazers led from start to finish in a 119-100 victory over the struggling New Orleans Pelicans. New Orleans played without power forward Zion Williamson, who was held out as a precaution after playing a night earlier for the first time in 28 games. Brandon Ingram missed his 14th straight game with a left ankle sprain. Anfernee Simons scored 17 points and Toumani Camara 15 for Portland, which led 75-42 at halftime. Deandre Ayton grabbed 13 rebounds for the Blazers. CJ McCollum scored 23 points and Dejounte Murray 20 for New Orleans.

Wednesday's Scores

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Wednesday's Scores

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Saint Louis wins 73-68 against Saint Bonaventure

Led by Gibson Jimerson's 28 points, the Saint Louis Billikens defeated the Saint Bonaventure Bonnies 73-68 on Wednesday night. The Billikens improved to 10-6 with the win and the Bonnies fell to 14-2.

Towns has 27 points and 13 rebounds, Anunoby scores 27 as Knicks beat Raptors 112-98

Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points and 13 rebounds, OG Anunoby scored 27 points, and the New York Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors 112-98. Josh Hart added 21 points and 11 rebounds while Jalen Brunson had 13 points for the Knicks, who snapped a three-game losing streak that followed nine consecutive victories. Towns shot 9 for 14 from the field, including 3 for 3 on 3-pointers, in 34 minutes after missing Monday's loss against Orlando due to patellar tendinopathy in his right knee. Immanuel Quickley scored 22 points against his former team and Scottie Barnes had 18 for the Raptors, who have lost two straight and 14 of 15.

Connor Bedard scores as Blackhawks top Avalanche 3-1

Connor Bedard had a goal and an assist, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-1. Frank Nazar and Ilya Mikheyev also scored for Chicago, which had lost six of seven. Petr Mrazek made 35 saves. Bedard made it 3-1 when he beat Trent Miner for his 11th goal 11:54 into the third period. The 19-year-old center has four goals and seven assists during an eight-game point streak. Juuso Parssinen scored for Colorado in the opener of a three-game trip. Miner stopped 17 shots in his first career start.

Gardner-Webb secures 89-83 victory against Winthrop

Led by Anthony Selden's 20 points, the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs defeated the Winthrop Eagles 89-83 on Wednesday night. The Runnin' Bulldogs improved to 7-9 with the victory and the Eagles fell to 11-7.

Mark Sears scores 22 points, No. 5 Alabama beats South Carolina 88-68 for 7th straight win

to help No. 5 Alabama beat South Carolina 88-68 on Wednesday night for its seventh straight victory. Aden Holloway added 13 points for the Crimson Tide (13-2, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) in their 10th straight victory over the Gamecocks (10-5, 0-2). Jacobi Wright led South Carolina (10-5, 0-2) with 20 points. Jamarii Thomas added 15. Former Alabama forward Nick Pringle had 13 points and six rebounds.

UCF overcomes late gaffe then uses Hall's defensive stop at the end to beat Colorado 75-74

Jordan Ivy-Curry scored 22 points and Keyshawn Hall scored 18 and his lone blocked shot helped preserve UCF's 75-74 frantic-finish win over Colorado. Julian Hammond III scored a career-high 26 points for Colorado. Out of a timeout following a UCF turnover with four seconds left, Colorado inbounded the ball underneath its own basket to center Elijah Malone. Malone made a pivot, spun and had his jump-hook shot attempt thwarted by Hall to the end the game.

Oumar Ballo's 23 points help Indiana power past USC, 82-69 for best start since 2015-16

Oumar Ballo powered his way to 23 points and Indiana overcame an early double-digit deficit to beat USC 82-69. The Hoosiers (13-3) earned their fourth win in five Big Ten Conference games, the program's best start since the 2015-16 season.

O'Connor's 16 lead George Mason over Richmond 64-58

Led by Brayden O'Connor's 16 points, the George Mason Patriots defeated the Richmond Spiders 64-58 on Wednesday night. The Patriots moved to 11-5 with the win and the Spiders dropped to 7-9.

High Point defeats Charleston Southern 93-79

Led by Kezza Giffa's 22 points, the High Point Panthers defeated the Charleston Southern Buccaneers 93-79 on Wednesday night. The Panthers are now 14-4 with the victory and the Buccaneers fell to 5-13.

Malik Beasley scores 23 and Pistons win 5th straight, 113-98 over Nets

Malik Beasley scored 23 points, Cade Cunningham had 13 points and the Detroit Pistons won their fifth straight game, 113-98 over the Brooklyn Nets. Detroit's bench outscored Brooklyn's 50-20, led by reserves Simone Fontecchio with 17 points and Marcus Sasser, who added 15 points. Detroit has won eight of its last nine games to climb above .500 at 19-18. Noah Clowney finished with a game-high 29 points, and Tyrese Martin scored 12 points and had 10 rebounds for the Nets, who dropped their third straight and seventh in a row at Barclays Center.

Inside the numbers of Cleveland's 129-122 win over Oklahoma City

pushing the NBA's best record to 32-4 and snapping the Thunder's 15-game winning streak. It was the first time in NBA history that a team with a winning streak of at least 15 games faced a team with a streak of at least 10 straight wins.

Cavaliers beat Thunder 129-122 to end OKC's 15-game winning streak in matchup of NBA's top teams

Jarrett Allen scored 25 points, Evan Mobley added 21 and the Cleveland Cavaliers ended Oklahoma City's 15-game winning streak by beating the Thunder 129-122 in a marquee meeting between the NBA's top two teams. The Cavs extended their winning streak to 11, improved the league's best record to 32-4 and moved to 19-1 at home. They did it on an off night for leading scorer Donovan Mitchell, who had just 11 points on 3 of 16 shooting. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 and Jalen Williams 25 for the Thunder, who lost for the first time since Dec. 1. Darius Garland added 18 points and Max Strus 17 for Cleveland.

Hill, Middlebrooks lead last-minute rally and N.C. State edges Notre Dame 66-65

Ben Middlebrooks made the go-ahead free throw with 11 seconds left to cap N.C. State's rally from a late seven-point deficit and the Wolfpack defeated Notre Dame 66-65. Marcus Hill's layup with 1:07 remaining tied the score and Middlebrooks made 1 of 2 free throws nearly a minute later to put the Wolfpack ahead for the first time since 7:40 remained in the second half. Notre Dame's Markus Burton missed a jumper and Hill rebounded as time ran out. A 3-pointer by Braeden Shrewsberry gave Notre Dame a seven-point lead with 3 1/2 minutes remaining but the Fighting Irish managed only two points the rest of the way.

Maxey scores 29 points to lead 76ers past Washington 109-103

Tyrese Maxey scored the go-ahead basket with 23.7 seconds left and finished with 29 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 109-103 win over the Washington Wizards. Guerschon Yabusele scored 21 points and blocked a potential tying layup with 14 seconds left to preserve the win for the Sixers. Joel Embiid, Paul George, Kyle Lowry and Andre Drummond all sat out for Philadelphia while Washington played without leading scorer Jordan Poole and Malcolm Brogdon. Jared Butler scored 26 points for the Wizards and Corey Kispert had 23.

Coleman and Seton Hall win 85-80 in OT against DePaul

Isaiah Coleman scored 24 points and Dylan Addae-Wusu added eight points in the overtime as the Seton Hall Pirates defeated the DePaul Blue Demons 85-80 on Wednesday night. The Pirates improved to 6-9 with the victory and the Blue Demons fell to 9-7.

Pascal Siakam scores 26 points in the Pacers' 129-113 victory over the Bulls

Pascal Siakam scored 26 points, Thomas Bryant added a season-high 22 and two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton had 16 points and 13 assists in the Indiana Pacers' 129-113 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night. Siakam made 11 of 17 shots from the field to help Indiana win its fourth straight, all by 10 or more points. Bryant had eight rebounds as the Pacers continued climbing the Eastern Conference standing with their 10 win in 13 games. Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 31 points. Coby White had 19 points and five assists as Chicago lost for the first time in three games and just the second time in six.

Arnett scores 16, Cleveland State downs Robert Morris 80-69

Led by Dylan Arnett's 16 points, the Cleveland State Vikings defeated the Robert Morris Colonials 80-69 on Wednesday night. The Vikings moved to 11-6 with the win and the Colonials fell to 10-7.

No. 23 Mississippi knocks off Arkansas 73-66 for first win in Fayetteville since 2015

Malik Dia scored 21 points to lead No. 23 Mississippi to a 73-66 win over Arkansas, the Rebels' first win in Fayetteville since 2015. Sean Pedulla scored 16 and Dre Davis 10. Pedulla and Dia made back-to-back buckets with less than nine minutes left to build Ole Miss' lead to double digits after Arkansas (11-4, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) had cut it to six. Adou Thiero led the Razorbacks with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting. The rest of the Arkansas team shot just 32%.

Fudd and Strong dominate as No. 7 UConn rolls past Xavier without All-American guard Paige Bueckers.

Azzi Fudd had 18 of her 23 points in the first half as No. 7 UConn rolled to an 81-27 win over Xavier on Wednesday night. Sarah Strong added 15 points _ all in the first half _ with seven rebounds and five steals for UConn (14-2, 5-0 Big East). UConn played without leading scorer Paige Bueckers. Bueckers suffered a knee injury in Sunday's win over Villanova. There is no timetable for her return but UConn coach Geno Auriemma thought there was a chance Bueckers could return next week. Irune Orio led Xavier (5-10, 0-4) with 10 points. The Musketeers, who didn't score their 10th point until 26 seconds were left in the first half, lost their 45th straight Big East game. Xavier trailed 43-10 at that point.

Dean scores 23 as South Carolina Upstate beats Presbyterian 77-67

Led by Mister Dean's 23 points, the South Carolina Upstate Spartans defeated the Presbyterian Blue Hose 77-67 on Wednesday night. The Spartans improved to 5-12 with the victory and the Blue Hose fell to 8-10.

Quinerly scores 21, Harrison adds 20, No. 17 West Virginia women rout Texas Tech 89-53

JJ Quinerly scored 17 of her 21 points in the first half when No. 17 West Virginia held Texas Tech to 17 points, and the Mountaineers beat the Lady Raiders 89-53. The Mountaineers scored the first 11 points of the game and led 20-2 before settling for a 24-8 lead after one quarter with Quinerly scoring 11. Then West Virginia ended the second quarter on a 14-2 run to lead 42-17 at halftime. West Virginia shot 54.5% and went 16 of 16 from the foul line in the first half, while the Lady Raiders shot 28% with just two free throw attempts and had 14 turnovers. Jordan Harrison added 20 points, going 12 of 12 from the foul line, for the Mountaineers. Bailey Maupin scored 15 points for Texas Tech

Huntley scores 21 in Appalachian State's 74-51 win over Coastal Carolina

Led by CJ Huntley's 21 points, the Appalachian State Mountaineers defeated the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 74-51 on Wednesday night. The Mountaineers improved to 8-7 with the win and the Chanticleers fell to 8-8.

Colgate defeats Lehigh 67-62

Led by Jeff Woodward's 20 points, the Colgate Raiders defeated the Lehigh Mountain Hawks 67-62 on Wednesday night. The Raiders improved to 5-11 with the win and the Mountain Hawks fell to 6-8.

Malique Ewin's double-double and Taylor Bol Bowen's hot shooting lead Florida State past Miami 80-65

Malique Ewin had 20 points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double this season, Taylor Bol Bowen scored 16 points and made four 3-pointers on a perfect shooting night, and Florida State beat Miami 80-65. Florida State (11-4, 2-2 ACC) beat the Hurricanes for the 14th time in the last 15 meetings, a streak that began with a 103-94 win on Jan. 27, 2018. Leonard Hamilton won his 193rd regular-season game in the ACC, moving past former Maryland coach Gary Williams for fourth on the conference list. Miami (4-11, 0-4) has lost 14 straight ACC games since an 82-74 victory over Virginia Tech on Feb. 3, 2024. The Hurricanes have not won a home game against Florida State series since Jan. 7, 2018.

Jayden Dawson and Sheldon Edwards each score 20 as Loyola Chicago beats La Salle 79-68

Led by Jayden Dawson's 20 points, the Loyola Chicago Ramblers defeated the La Salle Explorers 79-68 on Wednesday night. The Ramblers are now 10-5 with the victory and the Explorers dropped to 8-7.

Jaloni Cambridge 29 points, helps No. 9 Ohio State come back and beat No. 25 Michigan 84-77 on road

Jaloni Cambridge scored 22 of 29 points in the second half, leading No. 9 Ohio State in a comeback 84-77 win against No. 25 Michigan on Wednesday night. The Buckeyes are off to their best start since opening 19-0 two years ago. The Wolverines led by 16 points in the first half and were ahead after each of the first three quarters, but could not hold on for their first win over a top-10 team in five attempts this season. Ohio State's Chance Gray scored 16 and Cotie McMahon had 13 points.

Dixon heats up in 2nd half to lead Villanova to 68-66 win over No. 9 UConn

Eric Dixon scored 18 of his 23 points in the second half and Villanova held on for a 68-66 victory over No. 9 UConn after the Huskies' Alex Karaban missed two free throws with 3.1 seconds left. Wooga Poplar added 18 points for Villanova (11-5, 4-1 Big East), which led by as many as 12 points in the second half. Solo Ball scored 16 points to lead UConn (12-4, 4-1). The Huskies had won eight in a row since dropping all three games in the Maui Invitational in November. Karaban finished with 10 points.

Rucker has 26, Army downs Loyola Maryland 74-72

Led by Jalen Rucker's 26 points, the Army Black Knights defeated the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds 74-72. The Black Knights are now 7-8 on the season, while the Greyhounds dropped to 6-8.

Texas and Ohio State arrive for CFP semifinal at Cotton Bowl ahead of a winter storm

Texas and Ohio State arrived for the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Cotton Bowl before the snow expected to hit the North Texas area. Both teams got into the Dallas area as scheduled Wednesday, a day before an expected winter storm forecast to bring 2 to 4 inches of snow on Thursday, along with sleet and rain. That is a day before the game that will be played inside at AT&T Stadium, the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. With the roof closed Friday night, there will be no direct impact on the outcome of the game that will determine which team advanced to the national title game.

Clippers' Kawhi Leonard leaves team before game in Denver because of wildfires in LA area

Kawhi Leonard left the Los Angeles Clippers in Denver on Wednesday to be with his family in Los Angeles after they were evacuated from their Pacific Palisades home because of wildfires. Said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue: "You definitely have to take care of home. ... Totally had my support 100%," Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.  "Going back, checking on his family and kids, making sure they're well. And he got back, and they're doing OK, so just happy and thankful for that." Leonard missed the first 34 games of the season while rehabbing from offseason surgery on his right knee. He scored 12 points in a victory over Atlanta on Saturday and 10 points in a loss at Minnesota on Monday night.Denver was without star center Nikola Jokic because of illness. Jokic sat out Tuesday night in a loss.

Allen leads Bills into playoffs for 6th straight year in overcoming his doubters -- Elway included

Josh Allen has faced numerous doubters since the Buffalo Bills selected the raw but athletic quarterback in the first round of the 2018 draft. Not often has Allen had the chance to confront one of them in amusing fashion as he did with former Broncos GM John Elway during a golf tournament 18 months ago. Elway has called his decision to pass on Allen in the draft as probably the biggest mistake as GM. Allen's OK with the decision and happy to be in Buffalo, where he has the Bills making their sixth straight playoff appearance. Buffalo hosts Denver in the wild-card round on Sunday.

Chargers QB Justin Herbert looks to add playoff victory to list of accomplishments

Justin Herbert has accomplished several personal milestones during his first five years in the league. However, it hasn't resulted in playoff success for the Los Angeles Chargers. Herbert can change that on Saturday when the Chargers travel to Houston for an AFC wild-card round game. It will be Herbert's second postseason start. Herbert and the Chargers raced out to a 27-0 first-half lead two years ago at Jacksonville in a wild-card round game, only to have the Jaguars rally for a 31-30 victory. One thing Herbert is trying not to do is make sure what happened in that game doesn't impact what happens on Saturday.

Brock Purdy's contract will be one of the biggest issues for the 49ers this offseason

Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers' brass have a similar mindset regarding one of the biggest offseason questions around the organization. Both sides would like to get a long-term extension done with Purdy as soon as possible and not have the contract talks still hanging over the team when the offseason program begins in mid-April. Purdy is nearing the end of one of the NFL's biggest bargains for the 49ers, with one year left on the rookie deal that has paid him about $1 million a year. Purdy is in line for a contract that will pay him in excess of $50 million a year.

Bears interview Mike Vrabel for their head coaching job

The Chicago Bears interviewed former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel for their head coaching job. Vrabel led Tennessee to a 54-45 record and three playoff appearances from 2018 to 2023. The 2019 team advanced to the AFC championship game, losing to Patrick Mahomes and the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Tennessee combined to go 23-10 the next two seasons while capturing back-to-back AFC South championships, only to finish 7-10 in 2022 and 6-11 in 2023. The Bears are counting on the next coach to help Caleb Williams develop into a franchise quarterback and lift a team that finished last in the NFC North at 5-12. Chicago fired Matt Eberflus on Nov. 29 with the team in the middle of a 10-game losing streak.

Vikings appreciate Cam Akers as a backup running back so much they traded for him twice

The Minnesota Vikings have a strong sense of appreciation for Cam Akers. Coach Kevin O'Connell's fondness runs deep, back to their days together with the Los Angeles Rams. Fellow running back Aaron Jones called Akers a "positive light" around the team. Akers was acquired in a trade with the Houston Texans by the Vikings earlier this season for the second straight year. He tore his Achilles tendon last season six weeks after he was dealt to the Vikings by the Rams. The Vikings play at the Rams this week in an NFC wild-card round playoff game.

Panthers fire 3 defensive coaches after surrendering most points in NFL history, AP source says

The Carolina Panthers have begun to make changes to their defensive staff after giving up the most points in NFL history this season. According to a person familiar with the situation, the team has fired secondary coach Bert Watts, outside linebackers coach Tem Lukabu and quality control coach Bobby Maffei. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the Panthers have not yet confirmed the moves. Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Monday that defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero would be back next season, saying that he likes his defensive schemes. The Panthers have allowed 534 points, the most in a 17-game season. Carolina allowed 31.4 points per game, the sixth-worst average in league history.

Packers hope to fix passing game going into playoffs against Eagles defense

weren't both dealing with injuries that affected their ability to throw the ball during the team's loss to the Chicago Bears in last Sunday's regular-season finale. Love said his elbow was still sore on Wednesday, when he did some limited throwing and acknowledged feeling pain when he did so. Asked if he is definitely playing on Sunday, Love replied, "We'll see. Yeah, I'm hopeful."

Rookie class led by Bucky Irving and Jalen McMillan helps the Buccaneers reach the playoffs

Baker Mayfield had the best statistical year of his career, Mike Evans topped 1,000 yards receiving again and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are NFC South champions for the fourth straight time. But it would be safe to say that the Bucs wouldn't be in the playoffs for a fifth year in a row without the contributions of a solid rookie class. Bucky Irving, Jalen McMillan, Graham Barton, Tykee Smith and Chris Braswell have helped the team withstand key injuries and rebound from a four-game skid to go 6-1 over the final seven weeks of the regular season. The Bucs host the Washington Commanders in a wild-card game on Sunday night.

Steelers' Russell Wilson back in the playoffs trying to focus on present, not an uncertain future

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson is trying to enjoy the ride as he prepares for the playoffs. Wilson and the Steelers head to Baltimore in the first round searching for the franchise's first postseason victory in eight years. Wilson's play has dipped in recent weeks, one of the reasons Pittsburgh heads into the playoffs on a four-game losing streak. The 36-year-old will be a free agent in March. How he fares in the playoffs could determine whether he comes back to Pittsburgh. Wilson says the future will take care of itself and he's trying to embrace what he calls a "special" time of the season.

Commanders players who went through Washington 'darkness' savor the chance to take part in playoffs

Jayden Daniels' NFL playoff debut also will be the first chance for Brian Robinson Jr., Sam Cosmi and a handful of other Washington holdovers to play in the postseason. The Commanders' wild-card round game Sunday night at Tampa Bay will be Washington's third playoff appearance over the past decade. Players who say they have "been through the wringer" of recent losing seasons are cherishing this opportunity. And Daniels' ability to take over in crucial situations has teammates believing it's not just one and done this weekend.

NASCAR asks federal judge to dismiss antitrust suit filed by 2 teams, one owned by Michael Jordan

NASCAR went before a federal judge Wednesday and asked for the antitrust suit filed against the stock car series to be dismissed. Should it proceed, NASCAR asked that the two teams suing be ordered to post a bond to cover fees they would not be legally owed if they lose the case. NASCAR also asked for chairman Jim France to be dismissed as a defendant in the suit filed by 23XI Racing, a team co-owned by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, and Front Row Motorsports, which is owned by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins. The judge promised a fast ruling but indicated he was unlikely to dismiss the suit when he closed the 90-minute hearing by saying "this case is going to be tried this year, and deserves to be tried this year."

Jets interview Chiefs' Nagy and Borgonzi and Eagles' Halaby for vacancies

The New York Jets interviewed Kansas City offensive coordinator Matt Nagy for their head coach vacancy and Chiefs assistant general manager Mike Borgonzi and Philadelphia Eagles assistant general manager Alec Halaby for their GM job. Nagy has overseen the Chiefs' offense led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes the past two seasons. He met with the Jets during a video call. Nagy went 34-31 in four seasons as Chicago's head coach and made the playoffs twice. He was the AP NFL Coach of the Year in 2018. Borgonzi has been the Chiefs' assistant GM since 2021. Halaby has been the Eagles' assistant GM since 2022.

US women's team coach Emma Hayes invites 24 players to 'Futures Camp'

Coach Emma Hayes has invited 24 players into a Futures Camp to run concurrently with the U.S. women's soccer team's annual January training camp. Fourteen professional players and 10 college players are on the roster, including 13 from the National Women's Soccer League and one from the USL Super League. Seventeen players have represented the U.S. youth national teams in World Cups. The futures roster was announced a day after Hayes revealed the senior players invited to training camp in Carson, California, starting next week.

At the end of another stellar season, Ravens' Lamar Jackson will still face doubters in the playoffs

Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens return to the postseason with a lot of the same strengths they had a year ago. That's when they hosted Kansas City in the AFC championship game but couldn't overcome the Chiefs. This time Baltimore will need two wins just to reach that round. As the No. 3 seed in the conference, the Ravens face Pittsburgh on Saturday night. And it goes without saying that their star quarterback is under pressure to deliver. Jackson recently became the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for at least 4,000 yards and rush for at least 900 in one season. Now a different stat hangs over him. That's his 2-4 record in playoff games.

Pro Picks: Texans, Ravens, Bills, Eagles, Bucs and Vikings will advance to the next round

The NFL's wild-card weekend features divisional rivals facing off, two NFC rematches from Week 1 and the Harbaugh brothers coaching on the same day. Jim Harbaugh leads the Chargers against the Texans in the season's first playoff game on Saturday afternoon. Then it's John Harbaugh's Ravens against Mike Tomlin's Steelers in the nightcap. Sean Payton has the Broncos in the playoffs for the first time in nine years, against the Bills on the road. Next, the Packers visit the Eagles in a rematch from the season opener in Brazil. The Commanders take on the Buccaneers in another rematch from the first week of the season. Sean McVay and the Rams host Kevin O'Connell and the Vikings in the last wild-card game of the weekend.

Tottenham beats Liverpool 1-0 in English cup semis after a serious injury and in-stadium ref call

Lucas Bergvall's first goal for Tottenham secured a 1-0 win over Liverpool in the English League Cup semifinals. The first-leg match notable for a serious-looking injury to Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur and the first in-stadium announcement by a referee in the English game. The 18-year-old Bergvall slotted home the winner in the 86th minute following a pass from Dominic Solanke. Solanke thought 10 minutes earlier that he had given Tottenham the lead. That goal was ruled out after a VAR check for offside and referee Stuart Attwell communicated the decision via a wireless microphone to spectators. Bentancur landed awkwardly when attempting a header from a corner. He was carried off on a stretcher but was conscious and talking.

Sedona Prince records 30 points and 14 rebounds as No. 11 TCU women beat Kansas 80-73

Sedona Prince had 30 points and 14 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season, Hailey Van Lith added 19 points and six assists, and No. 11 TCU beat Kansas 80-73. TCU secured its second four-game conference winning streak under head coach Mark Campbell. Van Lith completed a three-point play with 6:41 left in the fourth quarter for a 68-56 lead. Kansas scored eight of the next 10 points to get within six points before TCU guard Taylor Bigby sank a wide open 3-pointer from the corner with 2:25 remaining to make it 73-64. S'Mya Nichols scored Kansas' final nine points to cut the deficit to 76-73 with 30.7 seconds left. But Van Lith and Madison Conner sealed it by making 4 of 4 free throws down the stretch.

Referee makes in-stadium announcement to rule out a goal in a first for English soccer

A referee has made an NFL-style in-stadium announcement about the outcome of a video review for the first time in English soccer. Stuart Attwell was the referee for Tottenham against Liverpool in the English League Cup. He used the public address system to announce that a goal by Spurs striker Dominic Solanke in the 76th minute had been ruled out for offside. Attwell communicated the decision via a wireless microphone to spectators inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and to TV viewers. Attwell spoke after VAR review lasting around two minutes and said Solanke had been in an offside position for the goal.

McKibbin coy about reports linking him with move to LIV Golf

Tom McKibbin could be headed to LIV Golf just a few weeks after securing a card to play on the PGA Tour. The Northern Irish golfer was asked about a potential move to the Saudi-funded breakaway circuit and told Gold Digest Middle East: "I'm not going to make any comments this week." The No. 110-ranked McKibbin was speaking while preparing to play in the Team Cup. It is an unofficial event to get prospective European players ready for the Ryder Cup in September. McKibbin will be playing for Britain and Ireland, captained by Justin Rose, against Continental Europe under the gaze of European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.

Marlins left-hander Braxton Garrett to miss 2025 season after elbow surgery

Marlins left-hander Braxton Garrett will miss the 2025 season after undergoing revision surgery with an internal brace on the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow, the team said. The 27-year-old made just seven starts in 2024 after being limited by arm injuries. He went 2-2 with a 5.35 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 37 innings. Garrett had the UCL surgery in December. The news was first reported by SportsGrid.

Yamal and Gavi lead Barcelona to 2-0 win over Atheltic Bilbao and into Spanish Super Cup final

Lamine Yamal and Gavi Páez scored to lead Barcelona past Athletic Bilbao 2-0 and into the Spanish Super Cup final. Gavi scored in the 17th minute of Wednesday's semifinal for his first goal since the midfielder returned to playing in October after a serious leg injury that sidelined him for nearly a year. Gavi then helped Yamal put the result away in the 52nd with a pass that the 17-year-old controlled while twirling toward the goal. Real Madrid and Mallorca will play the other semifinal also in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday. The final is on Sunday.

Tyler Van Dyke is heading to SMU after a major knee injury cut short his only season at Wisconsin

Tyler Van Dyke is moving on to SMU after his only season at Wisconsin was cut short by a major knee injury. The quarterback's transfer destination was reported by multiple media outlets and his agent congratulated him on social media. Van Dyke was a three-year starter at Miami. He transferred to Wisconsin after the 2023 season and won the starting job in preseason practice. He led the Badgers to two wins before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in a Sept. 14 loss to Alabama. SMU is expected to bring back 2024 starter Kevin Jennings.

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David Wright is hoping Juan Soto helps Mets win World Series title that eluded him

David Wright is rooting for Juan Soto and the New York Mets to win the World Series title that eluded him. Speaking during a Zoom news conference that followed the team's announcement that his No. 5 will be retired on July 19, the former Mets captain praised the moves under owner Steve Cohen. He says "it seems like the will to win within the organization is incredible" and called it "a win-at-all-costs, do-whatever-you-can-to-win type mentality." Wright's number will be the 10th retired by the Mets, the sixth since Cohen bought the team ahead of the 2021 season.

Spanish government provisionally allows Dani Olmo to continue playing for Barcelona

Spain's government has stepped to provisionally allow midfielder Dani Olmo and forward Pau Víctor to continue playing for Barcelona following the Spanish league's refusal to do so. Barcelona appealed the decision by the league to Spain's Higher Council for Sport. The council has initially ruled in Barcelona's favor to allow the two players to continue in official competitions while it studies the appeal and makes a definitive ruling. Last summer, the two players were registered only through the end of 2024, and the financially troubled Barcelona failed to meet the league's financial fair-play rules by the end-of-year deadline.

Nationals and infielder Amed Rosario agree to $2 million, 1-year contract

Infielder Amed Rosario and the Washington Nationals have agreed to a $2 million, one-year contract. Rosario, 29, hit .280 with 18 doubles, three triples, three home runs, 32 RBIs, 13 stolen bases and 29 scores over 103 games last season with Tampa Bay, Cincinnati and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Washington in a corresponding roster move designated right-hander Joan Adon for assignment. Rosario is the latest addition by the Nationals after they acquired first baseman Nathaniel Lowe in a trade with Texas and signed Josh Bell as a free agent.

Bentancur 'conscious' and taken to hospital after injury during Tottenham-Liverpool match

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou says midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was "conscious" after being carried off on a stretcher in the 14th minute of a match against Liverpool in the English League Cup semifinals after falling to the ground at a corner. Medical staff immediately ran onto the field as the Uruguay international lay face down on the turf with players from both teams looking concerned. The 27-year-old Bentancur had tried to head a ball that had been curled in from the right in the sixth minute. Fans applauded as he was carried off the field. Postecoglou said Bentancur "is conscious. He was conscious going off to the dressing rooms." Postecoglou says Bentancur would be going to the hospital "to get checked over."

LHP Martín Pérez agrees to 1-year contract with the Chicago White Sox, AP source says

The Chicago White Sox have added Martín Pérez to their rotation, agreeing to a one-year contract with the veteran left-hander, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical. The 33-year-old Pérez played for Pittsburgh and San Diego last season, going 5-6 with a 4.53 ERA in 26 starts. He is 90-87 with a 4.44 ERA in 314 major league appearances, including 269 starts. Pérez made his major league debut with Texas in 2012 and helped the Rangers win the 2023 World Series.

Ending 8-year playoff drought is sweet for Broncos veterans Sutton and Bolles

The Denver Broncos are back in the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season. And that's especially sweet for eighth-year veteran Garett Bolles and seventh-year veteran Courtland Sutton. They are the longest-tenured members of the team and both played big roles in Denver finally getting over the hump. The Broncos (10-7) will face the Buffalo Bills (13-4) Sunday in the wild-card round.

Bournemouth striker Enes Unal tears his ACL and needs surgery

Bournemouth striker Enes Unal has torn his ACL and is expected to miss the rest of the season. The Premier League club says the 27-year-old Turkey international injured his right knee in a training session Tuesday. Unal had a similar injury in 2023. The club says Unal will undergo surgery. The striker joined the Cherries on loan nearly a year ago before the move was made permanent last summer. He has scored two goals in 17 appearances this season for Bournemouth, which is in seventh place in the Premier League.

See how players have qualified for the Masters

The field for 89th Masters on April 10-13 with the announcement that Joaquin Niemann and Nicolai Hojgaard received special invitations. There now are 87 players expected to compete.

Browns approve the Titans' request to interview Catherine Hickman for GM, AP source says

The Tennessee Titans have been granted permission to interview Catherine Hickman by the Cleveland Browns as the team looks for a new general manager. That's according to a person familiar with the request who spoke Wednesday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither team is commenting on interview requests. Hickman has been assistant general manager and vice president of football operations with the Browns since 2022 after being hired in 2019 as the football operations coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. Meeting with Hickman will help Tennessee meet the Rooney Rule. The Titans controlling owner is Amy Adams Strunk.

Sounders acquire forward Jesús Ferreira in trade with Dallas

The Seattle Sounders have acquired U.S. team forward Jesús Ferreira in a trade with FC Dallas. Ferreira played in 163 MLS regular season games with Dallas, scoring 53 goals with 34 assists. He has 15 goals in 23 appearances for the United States, and was on the squad that played in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.  The Sounders sent Dallas winger Leo Chu and $1 million in general allocation money, with additional general allocation money over the next two seasons if performance metrics are met.

Outdoor hockey is coming to Florida. The NHL will have games in Miami and Tampa next season

Hockey. Outdoors. In Florida. Next season, the NHL is making it happen twice. The NHL announced Wednesday that the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will play host to the New York Rangers at loanDepot Park in Miami on Jan. 2, 2026, in the Winter Classic, with the Tampa Bay Lightning playing host to the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1, 2026, in a Stadium Series game. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says "Stanley Cups, strings of sellouts and the exponential growth of youth and high school hockey throughout the state have demonstrated that Florida is a hockey hotbed."

Raiders request interviews with Lions and Chiefs coordinators for head coaching position

The Las Vegas Raiders have requested interviews with Detroit Lions coordinators Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson and Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo for the vacant head coaching position. The requests come a day after Antonio Pierce was fired following just one full-time season in which he went 4-13. Pierce was 5-4 as the interim coach in 2023. Glenn is the Lions' defensive coordinator and Johnson holds the same position on the offensive side.

NHL postpones LA Kings' home game against Calgary due to wildfires while NFL, NBA monitor situation

The NHL postponed the Los Angeles Kings' home game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday with several massive wildfires still burning across the greater Los Angeles area. The Kings and Flames were scheduled to play Wednesday night at the Kings' downtown arena. The NBA's Los Angeles Lakers are scheduled to host the Charlotte Hornets in the same arena on Thursday night. The NFL is also monitoring the potential impact of the fires on the two Los Angeles teams' playoff preparations and the Rams' wild-card postseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night at SoFi Stadium.

Pelicans' Zion Williamson ruled out for rest against Portland a night after his return from injury

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has been ruled out for their game against the Portland Trail Blazers as he continues his comeback from a left hamstring strain. Williamson returned on Tuesday night following a 27-game absence and scored 22 points in a little less than 28 minutes in a 104-97 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Following the game, Williamson said he felt fine but was uncertain whether he'd be cleared to play on consecutive nights so early in his return from injury. After Wednesday night's home date with Portland, the Pelicans play at Philadelphia on Friday night.

Squabble grows as US government holds back 2024 funding from world anti-doping watchdog WADA

The U.S. government did not pay the more than $3.6 million due to the World Anti-Doping Agency in 2024, making good on a long-running threat anchored in unhappiness with the global watchdog's handling of cases involving Chinese swimmers and others. Those funds, normally distributed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, represent about 6% of WADA's annual budget. WADA statutes say representatives of countries that don't pay are not eligible to sit on the agency's top decision-making panels. U.S. drug czar Rahul Gupta is listed as a member of the WADA executive committee.

Briefly a Buckeye, Texas QB Quinn Ewers returned to his roots to lead Longhorns' resurgence

Texas quarterback and Texas native Quinn Ewers once played for Ohio State. After spending a semester deep on the depth chart in Columbus, Ewers headed back home to become the leader of Steve Sarkisian's rebuilding project with the Longhorns. Ewers and Texas will face his former team on Friday at the Cotton Bowl in a College Football Playoff semifinal. The winner advances to the national championship game.

Pitcher Luis Garcia agrees to $1,875,000 deal with Astros as he returns from Tommy John surgery

Pitcher Luis Garcia and the Houston Astros avoided arbitration when they agreed to a one-year contract for $1,875,000, matching the salary he earned last year when he didn't pitch in the major leagues as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. The 28-year-old Garcia had surgery on May 19, 2023, and made a pair of minor league appearances last year, on June 28 and July 4, but was slow to recover. Garcia is 28-19 with a 3.61 ERA in 63 starts and six relief appearances from 2020-23. He pitched for Venezuela in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Popov gives Bulgaria's ski team its first win in 45 years with victory in night slalom

Albert Popov has given Bulgaria's ski team its first World Cup victory in 45 years by triumphing in a men's slalom as four of the favorites skied out of the night race in Madonna Di Campiglio. Popov put down a brilliant second run on the Canalone Miramonti course and the 27-year-old tipped his head back and let out a scream of joy after crossing the finish line. Reigning slalom World Cup champion Manuel Feller looked set to challenge him but he lost his balance and hit a gate. Atle Lie McGrath had dominated the first run but he threw away his colossal lead as he straddled a gate. Popov finished 0.44 ahead of Loic Meillard and 0.46 ahead of Samuel Kolega.

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Penn State coach James Franklin calls for college football to have uniformity

The Big Ten plays nine conference games in football. So does the Big 12. The Southeastern Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference are among those playing eight-game league schedules. The Mountain West played a seven-game league slate. Notre Dame doesn't have a league. Enough, Penn State coach James Franklin says. Franklin said Wednesday on the eve of his team's matchup with Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Orange Bowl that the sport needs uniformity.

Eagles QB Hurts returns to practice for the first time since he suffered a concussion

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was a limited participant in practice for the first time since he suffered a concussion in Week 16, clearing the way for him to start this weekend in an NFC wild-card playoff game. Hurts could return for Sunday's home game against the Green Bay Packers. He threw for 2,903 yards this season with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions.

A plot twist from what college football has become: A player who stayed

When Penn State moved a different linebacker into what had been Tyler Elsdon's starting spot, Elsdon made a choice that doesn't really fit into the storyline college football has been selling these days. He stayed right where he was. In an era in which NIL money, playing time and the promise of the transfer portal are a phone call away, Penn State's fifth-year senior decided to stay because he feels loyal to his teammates and loves his school. Elsdon and the Nittany Lions take on Notre Dame on Thursday in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Matthew Seidler denies allegations of wrongdoing from wife of late Padres owner Peter Seidler

One of the brothers sued by the wife of late San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler for control of the team says her allegations of wrongdoing are untrue. Sheel Seidler sued brothers-in-law Matthew and Robert Seidler on Monday, attempting to prevent another brother, John, from taking control of the team rather than her. Sheel alleged Peter Seidler, who died at age 63 on Nov. 14, 2023, wanted her to succeed him as the team's control person. Matthew Seider writes in a letter released publicly: "Sheel's claims against Bob and me are entirely untrue, and we will vigorously defend ourselves against them."

UCLA's Mick Cronin calls his players 'soft' and 'delusional' after losing for 3rd time in 4 games

UCLA coach Mick Cronin ripped into his players following the 22nd-ranked Bruins' third loss in four games, saying they don't give enough effort and lack toughness. UCLA, which won 10 of its first 11 games and started 2-0 in the Big Ten, has dropped two straight following Tuesday night's 94-75 home loss to No. 24 Michigan. The Bruins lost 66-58 at Nebraska on Saturday. Cronin says "I have the most energy of anybody in practice every day. I'm upset with everybody in that locker room, my assistant coaches and my players." Cronin says his team is "too soft to play hard enough."

British track and field body charged with corporate manslaughter over Paralympic athlete's death

The governing body for track and field in Britain and a sports official have been charged with manslaughter over the death of a Paralympic athlete who was hit on the head by a metal pole during training in 2017. The 36-year-old thrower Abdullah Hayayei, who represented the United Arab Emirates, was injured at Newham Leisure Center in east London on July 11, 2017, and was pronounced dead at the scene. He was training in preparation to represent his country in the F34 class discus, javelin and shot put at the World Para Athletics Championships in London when part of a throwing cage fell on him.

Costa Rica hires Miguel Herrera as coach for 2026 World Cup qualifiers

Former Mexico coach Miguel Herrera has been hired as coach of the Costa Rica men's national team. The 56-year-old Herrera led Mexico to the 2014 World Cup. He was appointed late Tuesday by the Costa Rican soccer federation. The veteran Mexican coach will fill the vacancy after Gustavo Alfaro resigned in August to coach Paraguay. Under Herrera, Mexico won a playoff against New Zealand in 2013 to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil where the Mexicans were eliminated in the round of 16. The next round of qualifying matches for 2026 World Cup begins next September.

Right-hander Michael Lorenzen and Kansas City Royals finalize $7 million, 1-year contract

Right-hander Michael Lorenzen and the Kansas City Royals have finalized a $7 million, one-year contract that includes a mutual option for 2026 and $2.5 million in annual performance bonuses. Lorenzen gets a $5.5 million salary this year, and the Royals have a $12 million option for 2026 with a $1.5 million buyout. He can earn $1.5 million for innings in each season and $1 million for pitching appearances. The 33-year-old was acquired by Kansas City in a trade with Texas just before the deadline last July and was 2-0 with a 1.57 ERA in six starts and one relief appearance.

Former Baltimore Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz dies at 37, no cause of death announced

Former major league left-hander Brian Matusz has died. He was 37. Matusz spent eight seasons in the majors, mostly with the Baltimore Orioles as they returned to prominence a decade ago. The Orioles and the University of San Diego announced the death, with USD saying it received word from Matusz's family. They did not announce a cause of death. The Orioles drafted Matusz with the fourth overall pick in 2008. He made his major league debut in 2009 and was a starter until shifting to the bullpen in 2012. That was the season Baltimore earned a wild card for its first playoff appearance in 15 years.

West Ham fires manager Julen Lopetegui with Graham Potter in line to replace him

Julen Lopetegui has been fired by West Ham after less than a year in the job and with the Premier League club in danger of being dragged into a relegation fight. West Ham said the process to find a replacement was underway, with former Chelsea coach Graham Potter reportedly set to take over. Lopetegui paid the price for a run of just three wins in his last 11 games, with West Ham 14th in the standings and seven points above the drop zone.

Coastal Carolina hires record-setting quarterback Grayson McCall as an offensive analyst

Former record-setting quarterback Grayson McCall is returning to Coastal Carolina as an offensive analyst. Coach Tim Beck announced this week that McCall would work under new coordinator Drew Hollingshead. McCall said he was fired up about the opportunity. McCall was a three-time Sun Belt Conference player of the year. He transferred to North Carolina State for the 2024 season and appeared in only four games. He had concussion issues dating to his playing days at Coastal Carolina. He retired from playing in October after getting knocked out of two games.

Masters gives another invitation to Niemann. Hojgaard invitation means Augusta gets twins

Joaquin Niemann is headed back to the Masters. He's still the only LIV Golf player to get a special invitation from Augusta National. The club also has invited Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark. That means twins will be playing in the Masters together for the first time. Rasmus Hojgaard qualified by being among the top 50 in the world at the end of last year. Niemann received an invitation last year by playing outside LIV Golf and winning in Australia. He did the same this year and had another good finish. He won the Saudi International on the Asian Tour.

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LOVB Salt Lake tips off Wednesday. Here's what to know about Utah's newest pro sport

LOVB Salt Lake opens its inaugural season Wednesday on the road against LOVB Atlanta. Here's what to know about the newest pro sport on the Wasatch Front.

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Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty of Boise State to enter NFL draft

Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty has announced he is leaving Boise State to enter the NFL draft. Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards this season for the second-highest total in a season in major-college football history. Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders ran for 2,628 yards in 11 games in 1988. Jeanty ran for 100 yards in every game this season and went over 200 in six. He averaged just under seven yards per carry on a school-record and nation-leading 374 attempts.

Indonesia hires former Barcelona star Patrick Kluivert as head coach

Patrick Kluivert is unlikely to experience much culture shock when he starts his time as head coach of Indonesia. The majority of players on the men's national team were born or raised in the Netherlands, where Kluivert made his name as a successful striker. Indonesia's appointment of Kluivert came two days after Shin Tae-yong was dismissed despite him taking the Southeast Asian nation to within sight of a first World Cup appearance since 1938. Kluivert had a stellar playing career, winning the Champions League with Ajax, and has prior international coaching experience.

France goalkeeper Brice Samba joins Rennes from rival Lens

France's second-choice goalkeeper Brice Samba is joining Rennes from French league rival Lens. The Brittany club said Wednesday that Samba signed until 2029. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The 30-year-old Samba could make his league debut with Rennes this weekend against Marseille, his former club. Samba joined Lens in 2022 after helping Nottingham Forest gain promotion to the Premier League. He will be replaced by Spanish goalkeeper Pau Lopez,  who has been loaned by Marseille until the end of the season with an option to make the move permanent.

Australian Open 2025: There really isn't much time off in the offseason for tennis players

If it seems as though the 2025 professional tennis year started pretty much immediately right after 2024 ended, that's because that's exactly what happens in a sport where the offseason really does not leave players much time to be "off." For tennis, 2025 began while the calendar still read 2024. Count 2023 U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff among those who wish there were more time for rest and relaxation, practice and preparation, before the Australian Open. The year's first Grand Slam tournament starts this weekend. Gauff got ready for that by winning the United Cup, a 2025 event that began in December.

Nigeria hires ex-Mali coach Éric Chelle amid World Cup qualifying struggles

Nigeria has made Éric Chelle the latest in a series of coaches for its men's national team as it risks missing out on the 2026 World Cup. The Nigeria Football Federation says its executive committee decided Tuesday to hire Chelle. He has international experience after coaching Mali from 2022 through last year. The 47-year-old Chelle takes over a team which has just three points from its first four World Cup qualifying games. Nigeria next plays Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March. Nigeria last qualified for the men's World Cup in 2018.

Stephen Curry, Warriors struggle again in 2nd straight embarrassing home loss

The Golden State Warriors are soul searching after another embarrassing defeat at home, this time to the Miami Heat two days after a 30-point pounding from the Sacramento Kings. After a promising 12-3 start, Golden State is 18-18 and tied for ninth place in the jammed-up Western Conference. Coach Steve Kerr criticized his team Tuesday night for being down and lacking a competitive spirit. Draymond Green is calling for the Warriors to rediscover their soul. Stephen Curry is making it clear he can hardly do it all himself and said the team needs urgency.

Daniels and Nix will become a rare rookie QB duo to start in the same postseason

The impressive feats from the 2024 rookie quarterback class will carry over into the postseason. Washington's Jayden Daniels and Denver's Bo Nix are expected to make their playoff debuts on Sunday in a rare case of two rookie starting quarterbacks in the same postseason. While there are a few examples of fill-in rookies getting the nod in the playoffs, this will be just the fourth time that two rookie quarterbacks start in the same postseason after making at least six starts during the regular season.

Javon Small leads the Big 12 in scoring to fuel West Virginia's return to the Top 25

three more points than anyone else. Two of his five career double-doubles have come in the past week.

Big kicks, big misses and big returns: special teams creating game-changing moments in the CFP

Special teams have produced some nerve-wracking, game-changing and game-clinching moments so far in the College Football Playoff. The potential for more pressure gets even bigger heading into the semifinals with Notre Dame-Penn State on Thursday night in the Orange Bowl and then Ohio State-Texas on Friday night in the Cotton Bowl. Notre Dame's kicking woes looks resolved. Texas' look to be getting worse. And big kick returns have delivered game-changing touchdowns.

Notre Dame adapts on the fly to its longest season and changing schedule as CFP semifinal arrives

The  postseason for Notre Dame has been all about adapting to circumstances. Taking finals before their first-round victory over Indiana, celebrating the Christmas holiday before taking on Georgia, the Sugar Bowl postponement because of a terrorist attack in the French Quarter and now a shorter week before facing  Penn State in the Orange Bowl. The winner advances to the national championship game.

Belgian Grand Prix gets contract extension but set to be dropped from F1 schedule in 2028 and 2030

Formula 1 has extended its contract with the Belgian Grand Prix but one of the sport's most established races is set to be dropped from the schedule in 2028 and 2030. F1 said Wednesday that the extension starting from next year includes races only in 2026, 2027, 2029 and 2031. F1's push in recent years to expand the schedule with more races in the United States and Asia has meant more competition for traditional venues in Europe seeking to keep their places on the calendar. The Spa-Francorchamps circuit, a favorite with drivers, was on the F1 schedule for the first championship season in 1950 and has been on the calendar every year since 2007.

Utah Valley hosts Grant-Foster and Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon visits the Utah Valley Wolverines after Tyon Grant-Foster scored 23 points in the Antelopes' 82-71 win over the Southern Utah Thunderbirds. The teams meet Thursday for the first time this season. Utah Valley is 1-0 against the WAC, and Grand Canyon is 1-0 against conference opponents.

Southern Utah faces Tarleton State after Ford's 22-point game

Southern Utah plays the Tarleton State Texans after Dominique Ford scored 22 points in Southern Utah's 82-71 loss to the Grand Canyon Antelopes. The teams play Thursday for the first time this season. Southern Utah is 0-1 against the WAC, and Tarleton State is 1-0 against conference opponents.

No. 12 Kansas State visits Toure and No. 22 Utah

No. 22 Utah plays the No. 12 Kansas State Wildcats after Maye Toure scored 24 points in Utah's 75-67 win against the Iowa State Cyclones. The teams play Wednesday for the first time this season. Utah is 3-0 against the Big 12, and Kansas State is 3-0 against conference opponents.

Houston takes on BYU on 3-game skid

Houston looks to end its three-game losing streak with a victory over BYU. Wednesday's meeting is the first this season between the two squads. BYU is 0-3 against the Big 12, and Houston is 0-3 against conference opponents.

Sacramento State visits Hassmann and Idaho

Idaho plays the Sacramento State Hornets after Hope Hassmann scored 20 points in Idaho's 63-50 victory over the Montana Grizzlies. The teams meet Thursday for the first time this season. Idaho is 1-1 against the Big Sky, and Sacramento State is 1-0 against conference opponents.

Utah Valley visits Grand Canyon after Durazo-Frescas' 21-point game

Grand Canyon hosts the Utah Valley Wolverines after Alyssa Durazo-Frescas scored 21 points in Grand Canyon's 75-57 win over the Southern Utah Thunderbirds. The teams square off Thursday for the first time this season. Grand Canyon is 1-0 against the WAC, and Utah Valley is 1-0 against conference opponents.

Utah Tech visits UT Arlington following Love's 29-point game

UT Arlington takes on the Utah Tech Trailblazers after Koi Love scored 29 points in UT Arlington's 87-79 win against the Tarleton State Texans. Thursday's meeting is the first of the season for the two squads. UT Arlington is 1-0 against the WAC, and Utah Tech is 0-0 against conference opponents.

Rosborough and Tarleton State host Southern Utah

Tarleton State takes on the Southern Utah Thunderbirds after Arieona Rosborough scored 28 points in Tarleton State's 87-79 loss to the UT Arlington Mavericks. Thursday's matchup is the first this season between the two squads. Tarleton State is 0-1 against the WAC, and Southern Utah is 0-1 against conference opponents.

Barnes and Wyoming host New Mexico

Wyoming faces the New Mexico Lobos after Tess Barnes scored 24 points in the Cowgirls' 68-59 win against the Fresno State Bulldogs. The teams square off Wednesday for the first time this season. New Mexico is 3-0 against the MWC, and Wyoming is 2-0 against conference opponents.

Boise State heads to Utah State for conference matchup

Utah State and Boise State will square off in a matchup of MWC opponents. Wednesday's meeting is the first of the season for the two squads. Utah State is 0-2 against the MWC, and Boise State is 1-2 against conference opponents.

Robinson leads UT Arlington against Utah Tech after 21-point showing

UT Arlington visits the Utah Tech Trailblazers after Brody Robinson scored 21 points in the Mavericks' 77-74 loss to the Tarleton State Texans. The teams square off Thursday for the first time this season. Utah Tech is 0-0 against the WAC, and UT Arlington is 0-1 against conference opponents.

Final chapter: France's greatest coach Didier Deschamps says he'll leave after 2026 World Cup

Didier Deschamps says he won't continue as France coach after the next World Cup. The 56-year-old Deschamps said in an interview Wednesday with broadcaster TF1 that he will leave when his contract expires in the summer of 2026. "It's going to stop, because it has to stop at some point," Deschamps said in an interview with broadcaster TF1. "I did my time, with the same desire and the same passion to keep the French team at the highest level." Deschamps started in his role in 2012 and led France to victory at the 2018 World Cup, also reaching the final in 2022 and at the 2016 European Championship.

Sacramento State takes home win streak into matchup with Idaho

Sacramento State aims to continue its three-game home win streak with a victory over Idaho. Thursday's matchup is the first this season for the two squads. Sacramento State is 1-0 against the Big Sky, and Idaho is 1-1 against conference opponents.

Utah faces Miami, aims to end home losing streak

Utah is looking to stop its 8-game home losing streak with a win over Miami. Thursday's matchup is the first this season for the teams. Utah is 2-13 at home, and Miami is 8-10 on the road.