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College Football

Miami’s Cam Ward earns the Manning Award as the top college QB, believing it will aid his NFL preparation

Cam Ward warms up before the game

Cam Ward received another honor on Wednesday, being named the winner of the Manning Award as the top quarterback in college football. Ward, who is likely to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft this spring after leading the highest-scoring offense in the country last season, believes the award will help him in his NFL journey.

“Once again, we’ve got just an outstanding young man who had an unbelievable year in Miami,” football legend Archie Manning said. “Their offense just lit up throughout the year. And now he’s preparing for the NFL draft where he’s going to be in a great position.”

Three of the 11 quarterbacks with at least 25 touchdown passes in the NFL this season — Washington’s Jayden Daniels (2023), Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow (2019), and Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield (2017) — were recent winners of the Manning Award.

“I think it’s going to help me in a tremendous way,” Ward said. “If you look at the past winners, specifically last year and Jayden Daniels and the rookie season that he’s had, it’s helped him a lot. And just being able to connect with the Mannings at all times — they’re only a phone call away from me — I just think this award is going to just help me just in the long run.”

Ward is the 20th player to win the award and the first quarterback from Miami to receive it. The Manning Award, created by the Sugar Bowl, honors the college football achievements of Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning. The Mannings, along with a panel of reporters, vote for the winner.

Ward ended his college career with a Division I (FBS and FCS level) record of 158 touchdown passes. His total of 18,189 passing yards — 6,908 at Incarnate Word, 6,968 at Washington State, and 4,313 at Miami — ranks third in NCAA history behind only Case Keenum and Dillon Gabriel.

Cam Ward throws a pass in the 1st half

During his single season at Miami in 2024, Ward set multiple school records, including single-season records for yards, completions (305), touchdown passes (39), and completion percentage, both for the season and in his career at 67.2%.

“I’m sure looking back on it now, Cam will admit, another year of college football just prepares you for that big transition to the NFL,” Archie Manning said. “Cam, he’s done it right and I think he’s got a great future.”

Ward was a zero-star recruit when he started college and worked his way up to become a Heisman Trophy finalist, an All-American, and now a likely top NFL draft pick.

“Hard work can do it, no matter what your journey is,” Ward said. “You’ve got to work. You’ve got to work hard, put one foot in front of the other, then just try to go make plays when you get on the field.”

Despite spending only 11 months with the Miami program, Ward leaves as a legend. As an All-American, his name will be featured on a banner in the Miami indoor practice facility.

The Hurricanes finished 10-3, missing out on the College Football Playoff and the Atlantic Coast Conference title game by just one win.

“I wish I had more time in Miami to be able to win a championship, whether it’s ACC or national,” Ward said. “At the end of the day, I believe everything happens for a reason.

And the teammates that I was surrounded by this year are the best group of teammates I’ve had, off the field more than on the field. The camaraderie we had, whether it was in the hotel or the locker room, that’s the thing I’m going to miss the most.”

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No. 6 Houston’s dominant defense powers their 13-game winning streak in Houston

Houston players in the 1st half

West Virginia’s Javon Small motioned and shouted for a teammate — anyone — to move closer to the basket. When that didn’t work, the Big 12’s leading scorer rushed a 3-pointer just before the shot clock ran out.

Clank.

Small was yet another player held in check by No. 6 Houston, which has made a habit of shutting down opposing teams’ strengths.

The Cougars (17-3, 9-0 Big 12) are on a 13-game winning streak, driven by the best defense in the nation. They take pride in stopping their opponents’ best players.

“We’re a defensive-minded team,” said Houston guard L.J. Cryer after the 63-49 victory over the Mountaineers on Wednesday night. “We go to practice and we emphasize defense a lot.

You achieve what you work on and what you emphasize. When the ball’s not going in, you’ve got to rely on your defense. And on the nights that the ball isn’t going in, we’re going to win because of that.”

Opponents are forced to change their strategy when Houston sends double and triple teams their way. Cryer, Joseph Tugler, J’Wan Roberts, and Terrance Arceneaux took turns making Small’s night difficult. Small attempted only seven shots and scored eight points, almost 12 below his average, which leads the league.

This has been a common trend lately.

UCF’s Keyshawn Hall, who scored a career-high 40 points in his last game, was held to just six points against Houston on 2-for-12 shooting. Utah’s Gabe Madsen managed only eight points on 3-of-10 shooting against the Cougars.

The Utes, who have scored over 80 points 10 times this season, were limited to just 36 points, their lowest total since 2011. BYU’s Richie Saunders, who had scored a career-high 30 points in his previous game, was held to just nine points against Houston.

Joseph Tugler runs up in the 2nd half

Houston, with an 18-game conference winning streak dating back to last season, is allowing only 55.6 points per game. That’s 2.4 fewer points than the next best defensive team, Drake. Opponents are shooting just 36% against the Cougars, the worst shooting percentage in the country.

Houston began the season ranked No. 4 but started 4-3, losing in overtime to San Diego State and No. 4 Alabama in Las Vegas, as well as falling to top-ranked Auburn by five points. They haven’t lost since.

Kelvin Sampson, who has been Houston’s coach since 2014, said defense has been the team’s strength for nearly a decade. He’s especially proud that in this era of the transfer portal and NIL opportunities, he has managed to keep the same players. Eight of Houston’s top 10 players returned this season, including four starters.

“And that does make a difference,” Sampson said. “Part of our secret sauce is our program. And then having great kids. Character matters. Having kids you don’t mind losing with.

There’s some teams, whether it’s bad attitudes or wrong attitudes or what, you’re always having to coach that. I never have to worry about effort or attitude. I’m blessed that way. I’ve got a great staff. That’s buoyed us here for a long time.”

Cryer, Houston’s top scorer, is averaging 13.5 points per game, which ranks 18th in the Big 12, closely followed by Emanuel Sharp with 13.4 points per game. Despite this, Houston is scoring enough to lead the nation with a 21-point average margin of victory. They’re also forcing 6.1 more turnovers than they commit, ranking fourth in the country.

“Defensively, they’re just well connected,” said West Virginia coach Darian DeVries. “They’re very aggressive. They really load to the ball. It’s hard to really crack them.”

“Not many teams have.”

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NHL (National Hockey League)

NHL roundup: In Newark, the Devils scored four goals in the second period to shut out the Flyers 4-0

Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers

Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes, brothers on the New Jersey Devils, each had a goal and an assist as the Devils scored four goals in the second period to beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-0 on Wednesday night in Newark, N.J.

The Devils won their third game in four outings, managing to do so for the second consecutive game without captain Nico Hischier, who is sidelined with an upper-body injury. Hischier is week-to-week and will likely miss at least two more games.

Jack Hughes reached 20 goals for the fourth time in his career when he finished a 2-on-1 play with Jesper Bratt 1:58 into the third period. Timo Meier, Brett Pesce, and Bratt each had two assists for the Devils, who had lost the first two meetings of the season against the Flyers.

Jake Allen made 24 saves to earn his third shutout of the season and 27th career shutout. He made key saves, including stopping Tyson Foerster on a breakaway late in the first period after earlier denying Sean Couturier twice.

For the Flyers, Samuel Ersson allowed four goals on 16 shots and was pulled after Mercer’s goal. Ivan Fedotov replaced him and stopped nine of 10 shots.

Penguins 3, Utah Hockey Clubs 2 (OT)

Sidney Crosby scored in overtime to help Pittsburgh beat Utah 3-2 in Salt Lake City. Crosby finished with two points in the game, and the Penguins snapped a three-game losing streak.

Marcus Pettersson and Erik Karlsson also scored for Pittsburgh, which erased two deficits in the game. Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic made 27 saves, and Pittsburgh finished 3-4-0 on their seven-game road trip.

Mikhail Sergachev and Michael Carcone scored for Utah, which lost its third consecutive game. Goalie Connor Ingram made 25 saves.

Sidney Crosby celebrates after a goal

Panthers 3, Kings 0

Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves for his 46th career shutout, helping Florida beat Los Angeles 3-0 in Sunrise, Fla. Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and two assists, and Sam Bennett and Aleksander Barkov also scored for Florida.

The win marked coach Paul Maurice’s 899th career victory, and his next win will make him only the fourth NHL coach with 900 victories. The Panthers won their fourth game in six tries.

Darcy Kuemper made 36 saves for the Kings, who have lost seven of their last nine games and scored just 19 goals in their past 11 games.

Wild 3, Maple Leafs 1

Jared Spurgeon scored the game-winning goal in the first period, and Minnesota went on to beat Toronto 3-1. Marat Khusnutdinov and Marcus Foligno (empty net) also scored for the Wild.

Filip Gustavsson stopped 32 shots for Minnesota, securing his second consecutive win. The Wild have won the first two games of a five-game road trip after a rough stretch of five losses in six games.

William Nylander scored for the Maple Leafs, who have lost three straight games and been held to just one goal in each. Joseph Woll made 22 saves.

Canucks 3, Predators 1

Thatcher Demko made 31 saves, and Linus Karlsson scored his first NHL goal as Vancouver beat Nashville 3-1 for its third consecutive win. Nils Hoglander and Pius Suter also scored for the Canucks.

Quinn Hughes had two assists, extending his points streak to seven games with 11 points during that stretch.

Tommy Novak scored Nashville’s lone goal, and Juuse Saros made 19 saves on 21 shots. The Predators have lost two straight after a season-best five-game winning streak.

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NBA (Basketball)

NBA roundup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 52, but Thunder fall short in Oklahoma City

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (NBA)

Stephen Curry bounced back from a quiet first half with just four points by hitting five 3-pointers in the second half. The Golden State Warriors came from behind to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-109 on Wednesday night in San Francisco, despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 52-point effort.

Andrew Wiggins led the Warriors with 27 points, while Curry finished with 21 points. This was the second time this season that the Warriors beat the top team in the Western Conference. Kevon Looney contributed 18 points off the bench, tying his career high, as Golden State secured its third win in four games.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 52 points, marking his second career 50-point game. He had 54 points in a win over Utah on January 22. Gilgeous-Alexander outscored the Warriors in the first quarter with 21 points, and finished the game 16-for-29 from the field and 18-for-21 at the free-throw line.

Raptors 106, Wizards 82

Scottie Barnes scored 24 points as Toronto dominated Washington for its fifth straight win. Barnes made 10 of 19 shots and surpassed 20 points for the fourth game in a row. Jakob Poeltl added 12 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.

Kyle Kuzma had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Wizards, who lost their 15th game in a row, just one short of their longest losing streak this season.

Celtics 122, Bulls 100

Kristaps Porzingis scored a season-high 34 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Boston to a comfortable win over Chicago. Porzingis made 10 of 18 field goals, including 8 of 14 from beyond the arc, tying his career-high in 3-pointers. Jaylen Brown contributed 28 points, six rebounds, and six assists, and Derrick White added 22 points.

Chicago played without its leading scorer, Zach LaVine, and Coby White returned from an ankle injury to score 16 points in 31 minutes.

Knicks 122, Nuggets 112

Jalen Brunson posted 30 points and 15 assists to lead New York to a win over Denver. Brunson helped spark a key third-quarter run with 15 points. The Knicks have now won five straight after a 3-6 slump. Karl-Anthony Towns added 14 points and 10 rebounds, and OG Anunoby scored 23 points.

Jamal Murray had 33 points for the Nuggets, who lost their third straight game. Nikola Jokic added 17 points, six rebounds, and six assists but was limited to 33 minutes due to foul trouble.

Cavaliers 126, Heat 106

Donovan Mitchell scored 34 points and Evan Mobley had 22 points and 15 rebounds to lead Cleveland to a wire-to-wire victory over Miami. Ty Jerome added 20 points and Georges Niang contributed 15 off the bench for the Cavaliers, who shot 54% from the field and dominated in the paint, 68-38.

Terry Rozier scored 22 points off the bench for the Heat, while Tyler Herro added 22 points and Bam Adebayo contributed 21 points and nine rebounds. Miami has lost six of its last nine games.

Mavericks 137, Pelicans 136

P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford posted double-doubles, and four other Dallas players scored in double figures as the Mavericks defeated New Orleans. Washington finished with 25 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists, while Gafford had 22 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks. Kyrie Irving had 25 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, while Klay Thompson added 20 points.

Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers

Trey Murphy III scored 32 points, Zion Williamson had 29 points and seven assists, Dejounte Murray scored 27 points, and CJ McCollum added 23 points and eight assists for New Orleans, which lost its fourth straight game.

Timberwolves 121, Suns 113

Minnesota rode a strong fourth-quarter performance to defeat Phoenix in a game with many technical fouls. Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 23 points off the bench, and Anthony Edwards led the team with 33 points. Julius Randle scored 28 points and grabbed seven rebounds to match Edwards. Randle also had three steals and six assists.

Devin Booker scored 28 points and added eight assists for Phoenix. Bradley Beal had 17 points and six assists, and Grayson Allen contributed 11 points and seven rebounds.

76ers 117, Kings 104

Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points and handed out eight assists to lead Philadelphia to its fourth straight win against Sacramento. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 15 points and four steals for the 76ers, who played without Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (finger).

Sacramento lost its third game in four despite all five starters scoring in double figures. Malik Monk scored 21 points and recorded eight assists, while Domantas Sabonis posted his third consecutive triple-double with 13 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists.

Nets 104, Hornets 83

Keon Johnson scored 18 points to help Brooklyn end a seven-game losing streak with a win over Charlotte. Jalen Wilson added 15 points, and Nic Claxton had 12 points, eight rebounds, and six blocked shots.

Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 23 points and 13 rebounds. The Hornets, who have lost four of their last five games, were without LaMelo Ball (ankle) and Mark Williams (foot).

Clippers 128, Spurs 116

Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 27 points, and Ivica Zubac recorded 21 points and 22 rebounds as Los Angeles pulled away late to beat San Antonio. Norman Powell also scored 27 points, and James Harden finished with 21 points and 11 assists.

Victor Wembanyama scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Spurs, who have lost five of their last six games.

Pacers 133, Pistons 119

Pascal Siakam scored a season-high 37 points, and Tyrese Haliburton added 30 points to help Indiana beat Detroit in a hard-fought game. The Pacers fought off a strong challenge from the Pistons, who had six technical fouls, including one for Isaiah Stewart, who was ejected for a flagrant foul on Thomas Bryant in the second quarter.

Indiana has an NBA-best 10-2 record in 2025, with all 10 wins coming by double figures. Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 32 points, while Myles Turner had 24 points for the Pacers.

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Top 25 roundup: Maryland defeats No. 17 Wisconsin in College Park

Maryland and No. 17 Wisconsin

Ja’Kobi Gillespie led a balanced Maryland team with 16 points, seven rebounds, and five assists to secure a 76-68 win over No. 17 Wisconsin on Wednesday in College Park, Md.

Rodney Rice also scored 16 points, and Selton Miguel added 12 points with four 3-pointers, leading the Terrapins (17-5, 7-4 Big Ten) to their fourth straight victory.

Julian Reese scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Derik Queen contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds as Maryland beat a Wisconsin team that had won eight of its last nine games.

No. 1 Auburn 87, LSU 74

Johni Broome led Auburn to its 12th straight win with 26 points and 16 rebounds in Baton Rouge, La.

Miles Kelly added 13 points, and Chad Baker-Mazara finished with 11 points and seven assists for Auburn (19-1, 7-0 Southeastern Conference). The Tigers built a 12-point halftime lead and kept at least a five-point lead throughout the second half.

Cam Carter led LSU (12-8, 1-6) with 24 points, Dji Bailey scored 13, and Jordan Sears added 11.

No. 4 Alabama 88, No. 14 Mississippi State 84

Chris Youngblood scored a season-high 23 points on a career-best seven 3-pointers to help Alabama hold off Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss.

Mark Sears added 17 points and nine assists, while Grant Nelson had 15 points, seven rebounds, and three blocked shots for Alabama (18-3, 7-1 Southeastern Conference), which won for the 12th time in the last 13 games. Aden Holloway chipped in 12 points.

Josh Hubbard scored a career-high 38 points for Mississippi State (16-5, 4-4), who lost for the fourth time in six games, all to teams ranked No. 6 or higher.

No. 6 Houston 63, West Virginia 49

L.J. Cryer scored a game-high 17 points to help Houston hold off a second-half rally from West Virginia in Morgantown, W.Va.

The Cougars (17-3, 9-0 Big 12) extended their winning streak to 13 games despite blowing most of their 20-point halftime lead.

Houston Cougars and West Virginia Mountaineers

Joseph Yesufu led West Virginia (13-7, 4-5) with nine points off the bench.

No. 22 Texas Tech 71, TCU 57

JT Toppin posted a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Chance McMillian scored 16 points as Texas Tech held off TCU in Lubbock, Texas.

Elijah Hawkins added 13 points for Texas Tech (16-4, 7-2 Big 12), which has won five straight since a one-point overtime loss to Iowa State on Jan. 11.

Noah Reynolds led TCU (10-10, 3-6 Big 12) with 14 points before fouling out.

No. 23 Ole Miss 72, Texas 69

Sean Pedulla scored 19 points, and Davon Barnes grabbed a key rebound and hit two late free throws to lift Ole Miss past Texas in Oxford, Miss.

Jaemyn Brakefield added 18 points, and Dre Davis scored 17 for Ole Miss (16-5, 5-3 SEC), which snapped a three-game losing streak with only four turnovers.

Tre Johnson led Texas (14-7, 3-5) with 22 points, and Arthur Kaluma added 12. Johnson missed a corner 3-point shot with two seconds left.

No. 25 UConn 72, DePaul 61

Solo Ball and Tarris Reed Jr. each scored 16 points to help UConn defeat DePaul in Hartford, Conn.

UConn (15-6, 7-3 Big East) rallied from a 14-point deficit in the first half, taking their first lead on Ball’s three-point play that sparked a 14-0 run with 9:38 remaining.

Layden Blocker led DePaul (10-12, 1-10) with 18 points and five rebounds, and CJ Gunn scored 14.

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Virginia Tech jumps ahead early to beat Florida State in Blacksburg

Virginia Tech and Florida State

A strong start and a double-double from Tobi Lawal helped Virginia Tech earn a 76-66 win over Florida State on Wednesday in Tallahassee, Fla.

Virginia Tech went on a 12-2 run in the first five minutes, building a 20-point halftime lead that never fell below six in the second half.

The Hokies (9-12, 4-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) took advantage of Lawal’s 17 points and 13 rebounds to secure coach Mike Young’s 400th career victory. Young is 101-76 at Virginia Tech after going 299-244 at Wofford.

Virginia Tech led 35-15 at halftime, holding Florida State to just 6-for-28 shooting (21.4 percent), including 0-for-8 from 3-point range.

Jaden Schutt added 16 points, hitting three 3-pointers, helping the Hokies end a three-game losing streak. Jaydon Young also hit three 3-pointers in the first half for nine points, and Mylyjael Poteat scored nine points.

Duke’s Cooper Flagg, right, attempts a shot ahead of Virginia Tech’s Jaden Schutt, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham

Florida State (13-8, 4-6) lost its third straight game. After struggling in the first half, the Seminoles shot better in the second half, making 19 of 34 shots (55.9 percent), including 8 of 17 (47.1 percent) from 3-point range.

Taylor Bol Bowen led Florida State with 14 points and nine rebounds. Jerry Deng scored 13 points off the bench, and Jamar Watkins added nine points, though he struggled with a 4-for-13 shooting performance.

Florida State briefly tied the game at 2 with a Bowen jumper but then watched Virginia Tech go on a 10-point run to take the lead. Florida State cut it to 12-7 with a jumper from Watkins, but Virginia Tech responded with a 13-4 run, capped by a fastbreak dunk from Ben Burnham.

In the second half, Florida State cut the lead to 49-43 with 8:08 left on a layup from Daquan Davis. However, Virginia Tech answered with 3-pointers from Ben Hammond and Schutt before Lawal’s three-point play pushed the lead to 61-45.

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JT Toppin leads No. 22 Texas Tech to a win over TCU in Lubbock

Texas Tech and Red Raiders

TCU gave Texas Tech a challenge on Wednesday, but once the 22nd-ranked Red Raiders were fully alert, they returned to their winning ways as one of the Big 12’s top teams.

JT Toppin recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 18 points and 14 rebounds, and Chance McMillian scored 16 points as Texas Tech held off a late scoring drought to secure a 71-57 win at home.

The Red Raiders (16-4, 7-2 Big 12) have now won five straight games since a one-point overtime loss to Iowa State on January 11.

Noah Reynolds led TCU (10-10, 3-6 Big 12) with 14 points, but he fouled out after struggling with foul trouble throughout the second half.

Texas Tech led 32-29 at halftime but started the second half a bit shaky, falling behind 39-38 when TCU’s Brendan Wenzel made a 3-pointer with 16:36 remaining.

Houston vs TCU (NCAAB)

That 3-pointer was one of the few successful attempts from beyond the arc for the Horned Frogs, who shot just 2-for-13 from deep in the second half and 5-for-18 overall. Wenzel finished with 11 points, but that was his only field goal in the second half.

In contrast, Texas Tech regained its shooting touch from 3-point range when it counted. The Red Raiders hit three 3-pointers in a four-minute stretch after Wenzel’s go-ahead shot, and finished the second half 6-for-15 after making only 4 of 16 in the first half. McMillian made two of those 3-pointers and scored 13 points in the second half.

Toppin responded to Wenzel’s shot with a basket of his own just 26 seconds later, starting a 10-3 run for the Red Raiders. When Elijah Hawkins made a 3-pointer with 12:48 remaining, Texas Tech regained control with a 48-42 lead.

Reynolds hit a mid-range jumper to keep TCU close, 51-46, but McMillian answered with a 3-pointer on the next possession. The Red Raiders then scored back-to-back second-chance points, pushing the lead to double digits with a quick 7-0 run.

TCU shot just 30 percent (9-for-30) in the second half and missed nine of 10 shots after Wenzel’s 3-pointer put the Horned Frogs in the lead.

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Maryland continues its strong play, defeating No. 17 Wisconsin 76-68 in College Park

Maryland and No. 17 Wisconsin

Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and had five assists to lead Maryland to a 76-68 win over No. 17 Wisconsin on Wednesday in College Park, Md.

Rodney Rice also added 16 points, and Selton Miguel contributed 12 points with four 3-pointers, helping Maryland (17-5, 7-4 Big Ten) continue their winning streak to four games.

Julian Reese scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Derik Queen finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds, helping Maryland defeat a Wisconsin team that had won eight of its last nine games.

Both teams came into the game as top 20 teams in offensive efficiency (according to KenPom.com), but the game turned into a defensive battle until Maryland heated up midway through the second half.

Maryland found success with 3-point shooting, hitting 12 of 24 (50 percent) from beyond the arc, even though they made just 40 percent of their shots overall.

John Tonje led Wisconsin (16-5, 6-4) with 23 points and six rebounds, but the Badgers struggled offensively, shooting only 37.3 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent (9 of 27) from 3-point range.

While Tonje made 5 of 8 from 3-point range, his teammates only managed to hit 4 of 19.

No. 5 Marquette and No. 11 Wisconsin

Maryland was down 48-43 with 11 minutes left but went on an 11-point run, with 3-pointers from Rice, Gillespie, and DeShawn Harris-Smith, to take a 54-48 lead, which they held onto for the rest of the game.

Steven Crowl, who finished with 10 points, scored a three-point play with 6:24 remaining, and Nolan Winter added a layup to pull Wisconsin to within 57-56. However, Gillespie responded with a jumper, and Reese followed with a three-point play to help Maryland regain control.

Wisconsin led for most of the first half, going up by as much as 23-16 when Winter scored five straight points. But in the final five minutes of the half, Rice, Miguel, and Tafara Gapare hit 3-pointers, allowing Maryland to take a 32-31 lead at halftime.

Much of Maryland’s run came when Wisconsin’s top scorers, Tonje and John Blackwell, were on the bench with two fouls each. Blackwell, who didn’t score in the first half, finished with 10 points after the break. His 3-pointer helped Wisconsin go on a 9-0 run early in the second half, putting them up 42-36 before Maryland took control of the game.

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No. 1 Auburn easily defeats LSU 87-74 in Baton Rouge for their 12th consecutive victory

No. 1 Auburn and LSU

Johni Broome scored 26 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, leading No. 1 Auburn to a 87-74 victory over LSU on Wednesday night in Baton Rouge, La. This win marked Auburn’s 12th straight.

Miles Kelly contributed 13 points, Chad Baker-Mazara added 11, and Tahaad Pettiford scored 10.

Auburn (19-1, 7-0 Southeastern Conference) had an easier time in this game compared to their last three road wins, which were by two points (Georgia), three points (South Carolina), and five points (Texas). They built a 12-point lead by halftime and maintained at least a five-point advantage throughout the second half.

LSU (12-8, 1-6) was led by Cam Carter, who scored 24 points, Dji Bailey with 13, and Jordan Sears who added 11.

Auburn started the second half strong, with Denver Jones hitting a 3-pointer to make it 44-29. LSU responded with a 3-pointer from Carter and a putback layup from Corey Chest to cut the deficit to eight, but Auburn quickly answered with six straight points.

Sears made a four-point play and followed up with a 3-pointer, helping LSU pull within 55-50. Pettiford and Chaney Johnson both hit 3-pointers to increase Auburn’s lead to 63-52.

Alabama Crimson Tide guard Labaron Philon drives the ball against LSU Tigers forward Corey Chest during the first half

LSU managed to get within six points twice, but Broome scored four quick points to push Auburn’s lead to 77-66. LSU cut it to nine, but Johnson’s 3-pointer with 3:24 left put Auburn ahead by 12 again.

LSU started the game with the first six points, but Kelly’s eight points helped Auburn tie the score at 14. Jones’ layup tied it again at 16, and Auburn then went on a 12-0 run to take a 26-16 lead.

Sears’ layup broke a four-minute scoring drought for LSU, and Carter’s free throws brought the deficit to six. Baker-Mazara completed a three-point play, extending Auburn’s lead to 33-22.

Auburn reached its biggest lead of 13 points before heading into halftime with a 41-29 advantage. Their control of the game came in part from a 15-8 advantage in points off turnovers, as LSU committed 15 turnovers, and a 24-10 lead in points in the paint.

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No. 6 Houston edges past West Virginia for another win

Houston Cougars and West Virginia Mountaineers

L.J. Cryer scored a game-high 17 points to help the sixth-ranked Houston Cougars hold off a second-half comeback by the West Virginia Mountaineers, winning 63-49 in Morgantown, W.Va., on Wednesday.

Houston (17-3, 9-0 Big 12) extended their winning streak to 13 games, even after nearly losing their 20-point halftime lead. Joseph Tugler added 12 points and seven rebounds, while Milos Uzan contributed 10 points. Despite turning the ball over nine times in the second half, which allowed West Virginia (13-7, 4-5) to rally, Houston held on.

West Virginia started the second half strong with an 11-0 run, including a 3-pointer from Jonathan Powell and a jumper by Toby Okani, which brought the score to 39-30. At the 13:39 mark, Sencire Harris made a steal and layup, and his free throw with 8:46 left pulled West Virginia within 47-42, the closest they had been in the second half.

The Mountaineers got within five points with under eight minutes remaining, but Cryer helped Houston push ahead by assisting on a dunk by Tugler and completing a three-point play following a goaltending call. Uzan hit a second-chance 3-pointer at 4:32, increasing Houston’s lead to 57-46. The Cougars turned 13 offensive rebounds into 16 second-chance points.

West Virginia Prepares for Tough Battle Against Gonzaga in Battle 4 Atlantis Opener
West Virginia (NCAAB)

Joseph Yesufu led West Virginia with nine points off the bench, while Amani Hansberry, Javon Small, and Okani each had eight. Despite shooting 57.1 percent in the second half, the Mountaineers struggled with free throws, missing five of nine attempts and hurting their chances of completing the comeback.

Houston quickly built a double-digit lead in the first half, with Emanuel Sharp hitting a 3-pointer for a 13-3 advantage. Small’s 3-pointer cut the deficit to 22-10 with 10:30 left, but West Virginia went another three minutes without scoring as Houston stretched their lead further.

J’Wan Roberts added a three-point play to give the Cougars a 27-13 lead, and two 3-pointers from Terrance Arceneaux helped Houston go into halftime with a 39-19 lead.

The Mountaineers struggled with turnovers in the first half, matching their eight turnovers with their total number of field goals. Houston shot 50 percent, made six 3-pointers, and had an eight-shot advantage in attempts.

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NFL (American Football)

Frustration builds for Spurs’ Wembanyama in San Antonio after Zubac’s shove sends him tumbling

Ivica Zubac and Victor Wembanyama in the 1st half

Victor Wembanyama had reached his breaking point.

The San Antonio star charged at Ivica Zubac after the Los Angeles center shoved him to the floor during the Clippers’ 128-116 win over the Spurs on Wednesday night.

Wembanyama’s frustration, stemming from what he feels is a lack of calls and respect from officials, boiled over late in the third quarter and during his postgame interview.

“So … it’s not even about Zubac,” Wembanyama said. “It’s just frustration, no matter who it was.”

When asked if he believes officials treat him fairly, Wembanyama bluntly responded, “No.”

The shove from Zubac added to the growing physical challenges Wembanyama has faced.

Earlier in the third quarter, Zubac had yelled at the referees for not calling a foul on Harrison Barnes after the Spurs forward blocked his layup. The frustration escalated when Wembanyama blocked Zubac’s dunk attempt with 4:49 left in the third quarter, and no foul was called.

Zubac showed his frustration, was slow on defense, and saw Barnes hit a 3-pointer to cut the Clippers’ lead to 85-78. Zubac then rushed into the paint, gave Wembanyama a hard hip check and elbow to his back, sending him tumbling to the baseline.

Wembanyama quickly gathered himself and charged at Zubac, but the Spurs coaching staff and players rushed onto the court to hold him back as Clippers coach Ty Lue called a timeout after Barnes’ 3-pointer.

“I reacted a little,” Zubac said. “I thought I got fouled (on the previous play). I was mad at the refs. So, then I was late (on Harrison Barnes’ 3-point shot). I saw it going up. I saw Wemby crashing, so I knew I had to box him out. I bumped him a little harder. I let emotions take over a little bit, but I apologized to him. That’s not the way I want to be on the court and compete.”

Victor Wembanyama reacts after scoring in the 2nd half

Zubac finished with 21 points and 22 rebounds, while Wembanyama had 23 points and 12 rebounds.

Despite the shove, no foul was called, and no technical foul was given to Wembanyama. After a quick discussion, officials did not review the play.

The lack of a call angered Wembanyama and the Spurs.

“I thought there was a few plays that should have been taken care of a little bit earlier,” San Antonio acting head coach Mitch Johnson said. “You’ll get reactions like that. It’s probably surprising he hasn’t reacted like that earlier, to be honest. He gets a lot of contact, and at some point, he’s going to have to continue to protect himself if the people controlling the game, supposedly, are not going to do that.”

Wembanyama explained that teams are trying to limit his unique skill set, especially his ability to shoot 3-pointers and dribble like a guard, by pushing and leaning on his 235-pound frame.

“So it’s a hard thing to fight, because it feels unfair sometimes,” Wembanyama said. “But, of course, we talk about it with the staff, and there is some stuff I have to do to help myself. First of all, being strong and not bailing out shots, but also there is some work to do.

Talking to the refs, of course, explaining myself. But for me, it doesn’t feel like it’s something I should influence. I’m a basketball player, I’m here to play, and yeah, this is why it’s frustrating. It’s not my job to do politics.”

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MLB (Baseball)

The Royals have reached a two-year, $22 million agreement with right-handed pitcher Carlos Estévez in Kansas City

Philadelphia Phillies’ Carlos Estévez stands during a baseball game

The Royals have reached a two-year, $22 million agreement with reliever Carlos Estévez, adding another possible closer to their roster alongside Lucas Erceg, according to a source familiar with the deal who spoke on Wednesday night.

The contract includes a $13 million option with a $2 million buyout. The deal is pending a physical, and Kansas City will need to make room for Estévez on the 40-man roster once that’s completed.

Estévez, 32, pitched in 54 games for the Angels and Phillies last season, finishing with a 2.45 ERA. He saved 20 games for the Angels and six for the Phillies, helping them win the NL East. However, he allowed the crucial home run against the Mets in Game 4 of the National League Division Series.

Two years ago, Estévez made the All-Star team while with the Angels, going 5-5 with a 3.90 ERA in 63 appearances.

Kansas City acquired Erceg from the Athletics last season as part of their push for a wild-card spot. Erceg pitched well through the end of the season and into the postseason, stabilizing what had been a weak bullpen. Now, he and Estévez will form a strong one-two punch in the late innings.

Kansas City Royals celebrates after the win

The Royals will bring back Sam Long, Kris Bubic, Angel Zerpa, and John Schreiber from last season’s much-improved bullpen. They’re also hopeful that Hunter Harvey will be available after being acquired at the trade deadline but only pitching 5 2/3 innings due to a back injury.

Kansas City may get more help from the bullpen depending on how the starting rotation shakes out.

The Royals return All-Stars Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo, and they’ve re-signed Michael Wacha and Michael Lorenzen. These four are expected to be in the starting rotation, with Bubic possibly competing for the fifth spot.

Alec Marsh and Daniel Lynch IV could also compete for the fifth spot, or all three might end up in the bullpen if Kyle Wright is healthy enough to start games this season. The Royals acquired Wright from the Braves knowing he would miss the entire previous season while recovering from shoulder surgery.