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Tag: College sports

  • Audi Crooks has 5th straight game of at least 30 points in No. 10 Iowa State’s 80-62 win vs. Houston

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    HOUSTON — Audi Crooks had 35 points and 13 rebounds, Jada Williams added 16 points and a career-high 14 assists and No. 10 Iowa State beat Houston 80-62 on Wednesday.

    Williams and Crooks combined for 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting in the first half as the Cyclones (14-0, 2-0 Big 12) built a 45-31 halftime lead. Iowa State shot 60% in the first half.

    Crooks finished 17 of 21 from the field. She scored at least 30 for the fifth straight game, and double-figures for the 80th straight game, the longest active streak in the nation.

    Iowa State shot 53% overall and 8 of 16 on 3-pointers. The Cyclones owned a 52-24 advantage in points in the paint.

    Briana Peguero scored 14 and Jade Jones added 11 points off the bench for Houston (6-7, 0-2). The Cougars shot 38%.

    Houston opened up a 14-7 lead on a jumper by Jorynn Ross with three minutes left in the first quarter, but Iowa State answered with a 12-0 run over the first and second quarters to take a 19-14 lead on a layup by Crooks to start the second.

    After the Cougars closed within 29-27 with four minutes left in the second, Iowa State closed the half on a 16-4 spurt, capped with a jumper by Williams at the halftime buzzer. The Cyclones made six straight field goals during the run.

    Houston got no closer than nine the rest of the way.

    Iowa State: Hosts No. 22 Baylor on Sunday.

    Houston: Visits Oklahoma State on Saturday.

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  • Seals and Payne rally TCU past No. 16 USC for 30-27 overtime victory in Alamo Bowl

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    SAN ANTONIO — Ken Seals had to bide time on the bench until his final college game to make his first start for his beloved TCU Horned Frogs, but it was truly worth the wait.

    Seals directed two scoring drives in the final five minutes of regulation and threw the winning touchdown pass in overtime as TCU rallied to beat No. 16 USC 30-27 on Tuesday night in the Alamo Bowl.

    “It felt like a movie,” Seals said. “I just can’t even … I’m not processing it. This is just an unbelievable experience. The week leading up to it, the last 10 days, and then finishing it in this fashion is just more than any guy can dream.”

    Seals completed 29 of 40 passes for 258 yards and the game-ending score.

    After being sacked for a 10-yard loss on second down in overtime, Seals was facing third-and-20 from the 35 when he found running back Jeremy Payne with a short toss in the left flat. Payne caught the ball at the line of scrimmage and wriggled past four defenders, breaking multiple tackles as he bolted down the sideline into the end zone.

    “I’m not really surprised,” said TCU linebacker and Defensive MVP Kaleb Elarms-Orr. ”Shoot, he be shaking me at practice sometimes, too. I’m not surprised that he just went out there and made a bunch of dudes miss. He was doing it all night. Once he made that first dude miss, I knew he was gone.”

    Payne had six catches for 50 yards. He also rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.

    A sixth-year senior, Seals got the opportunity to start when TCU quarterback Josh Hoover opted to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 18. Seals backed up Hoover the past two seasons after transferring from Vanderbilt, where he started 22 games over three seasons.

    Seals grew up a Horned Frogs fan in Azle, about 23 miles from the TCU campus.

    “My mentality was just sell out, it’s your last one, man,” Seals said.

    Seals directed a 13-play, 59-yard drive in the final 2:44 of regulation to force overtime on a 27-yard field goal by Kyle Lemmermann as time expired.

    It was the fourth overtime in the bowl’s 33-year history.

    TCU (9-4) limited USC (9-4) to a 22-yard field goal on the opening possession of OT despite incurring a pass-interference call in the end zone that gave the Trojans a first down at the 2-yard line.

    USC freshman Ryon Sayeri also had field goals of 40, 28 and 41 yards.

    “We had a couple of unique calls that just didn’t quite bounce our way,” Trojans coach Lincoln Riley said. “But we just did not execute good enough in the red zone either side of the ball.”

    Trojans junior quarterback Jayden Maiava passed for 280 yards and a touchdown but threw two interceptions.

    USC failed to score early in the third quarter following an interception by Christian Pierce. The drive ended when Maiava’s pass was intercepted in the end zone.

    Jaden Richardson scored on a one-handed grab for USC in the front left corner of the end zone with 49 seconds remaining in the third. Richardson reached back with his right arm as he was falling backward, pulling the ball into his chest and tapping his right foot inbounds for a 21-yard touchdown reception from Maiava.

    Taniela Tupou’s two-point reception extended USC’s lead to 21-14.

    TCU grabbed a 14-13 lead in the first half on a pair of short rushing touchdowns that capped 75-yard drives.

    USC: The Trojans failed to win 10 games for the third straight season.

    TCU: The Horned Frogs had a prolific offense this season but must start anew next year. In addition to Hoover entering the transfer portal, TCU lost offensive coordinator Kendal Briles to South Carolina, and top wide receiver Eric McAlister is headed to the NFL.

    USC: Will host Fresno State on Sept. 5 next year in what could be the first game of Maiava’s Heisman Trophy campaign.

    TCU: Will face North Carolina on Aug. 29 in Dublin, Ireland, to kick off next year’s college football season.

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  • Chip Kelly lands new job as Northwestern’s offensive coordinator after firing by Raiders

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    Chip Kelly didn’t have to wait long to land his next job.

    The former Oregon and Philadelphia Eagles coach was hired as Northwestern’s offensive coordinator on Tuesday.

    The move comes on the heels of the Las Vegas Raiders firing Kelly as offensive coordinator late last month after just 11 games. But he has a history of overseeing explosive offenses, particularly at the college level.

    Kelly led Oregon to a 46-7 record and a national championship game appearance from 2009 to 2012 before spending four years as an NFL head coach — three with Philadelphia and one with San Francisco. He returned to the college ranks as UCLA’s coach from 2018-23, leading the Bruins to a 35–34 record. He was offensive coordinator at Ohio State under Ryan Day last year, helping the Buckeyes win the national championship.

    “This program and university are clearly on the rise, and the values of the people and this place align with my own,” he said in a statement. “I am grateful for the opportunity. There is tremendous potential under Coach Braun’s leadership, and I’m ready to contribute to this team.”

    Kelly was the most prominent assistant hired by Pete Carroll in his first season as Las Vegas’ coach after leading the Seattle Seahawks for 14 years. He reportedly received a $6 million contract, the highest for an NFL offensive coordinator. But he never lived up to the deal. Las Vegas’ offense ranked among the NFL’s worst when he was fired.

    “There was certainly an incredible amount of respect for the body of work that he’s put together, whether it be in the NFL, his time at Oregon, time at UCLA, time at Ohio State,” Northwestern coach David Braun said on a Zoom. “But through conversations and really getting to know him as a person and as a football mind, it was very evident to me that an opportunity to bring him on board and have him be a part of Northwestern football was something that could be an absolute game-changer for this program and specifically our offense here at Northwestern.”

    In a statement, athletic director Mark Jackson called it “a seminal moment for our program.” Jackson had a connection with Kelly through Carroll, having worked as an assistant coach on Carroll’s staff with the New England Patriots and later as an administrator at USC during the football team’s dominant run.

    “Mark’s relationship with Chip probably put us in a position to start the conversation, to see if this is an opportunity that Chip would be interested in,” Braun said. “Through those conversations — countless conversations — between Chip and I, it became very evident that this might be something that is of very strong mutual interest. The thing that excites me most about him coming onboard is, yes, his level of expertise, but also the level of passion that he has to get here and get to work and make this truly something special for Northwestern football going into the future.”

    The Wildcats are 19-19 in three seasons under Braun. They went 7-6 this year and beat Central Michigan in the GameAbove Sports Bowl even though the offense struggled. Kelly replaces Zach Lujan, who spent two years as coordinator. With the transfer portal opening Friday, Braun said it was “absolutely critical” to have the position filled.

    Northwestern is set to move into a new stadium next season after playing home games the past two years at a temporary lakefront facility and at Wrigley Field. Without the new Ryan Field, Braun doesn’t think he lands Kelly.

    “We talked about converging timing,” Braun said. “The converging timing is moving into a new Ryan Field in 2026, House settlement and a new landscape of college football, a program that is on the rise and an opportunity for us to really establish a new era of Northwestern football in the best football stadium in the world. For me to say that that isn’t a contributing factor to all this isn’t true. I think it absolutely is a factor.”

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  • Indiana football’s rise to national title contender rewards fans who endured decades of losing

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    Bill Murphy has been an Indiana football season ticket holder for 66 years. He says he has rarely missed a game even though 55 of them have been losing seasons in a historic stretch of bowl-less holidays.

    One of those rare misses stands out: The 1968 Rose Bowl, when Indiana lost 14-3 to O.J. Simpson and a USC team that went on to be crowned national champion. Murphy was 15 at the time, and his parents weren’t on board with sending him to California alone. But neither Murphy nor his parents could have anticipated the bowl drought that followed. The Hoosiers didn’t make another bowl until 1979, and after that, 1986.

    Now 77, Murphy wasn’t sure this day would come again. So a backup plan was established in case of an emergency.

    “I told my wife, son and daughter, I told them, ‘If I die before we go to the Rose Bowl again, I want you to take my urn and buy a program, buy a seat, set the program and urn on the seat, and I’ll be there with you guys,’” he said.

    Murphy’s story would resonate with any lifelong Indiana football fan, though he warns there may not be many. He grew up a dedicated supporter of Indiana’s losing football team in Bloomington, a city that rallied around the powerhouse and championship-winning basketball team.

    The script has since flipped a bit. Hoosiers fans have had more to cheer about the past season or two when it comes to football than basketball. A team that was once an afterthought in its community has a new brand of committed fans who have the chance to head to Pasadena for the program’s biggest game in years: Top-seeded Indiana will play Alabama on Thursday in the Grandaddy of Them All for a chance to advance to the College Football Playoff semifinals.

    The program has reached new heights over the past two years under back-to-back AP Coach of the Year Curt Cignetti, finally abandoning the title of losingest program in the history of the Bowl Subdivision and handing the unwelcome crown to Northwestern earlier this year. Indiana finished the regular season as Big Ten champion with a perfect 13-0 record behind quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the school’s first Heisman Trophy winner.

    Longtime fan Kevin Harrell wouldn’t miss the Rose Bowl, even though his last trip to the stadium wasn’t too long ago. When the Big Ten expanded with four West Coast teams in 2024, he took the opportunity to see his team play in the iconic stadium, thinking the mid-September matchup against UCLA could be the closest he’d come to seeing Indiana in the Rose Bowl this century.

    “It’s beyond my wildest dreams,” Harrell said, admitting that having this level of confidence in the team is an unfamiliar feeling. “We have always expected the worst. We could always find a new way to lose the game. It’s been kind of weird how quickly I’ve gone from that way of thinking to expecting to win. I expect this team to win every time they take the field, and I think that’s just a testament to the job Curt Cignetti has done.”

    Not all fans have earned their stripes like Harrell and Murphy. The Indiana football bandwagon is filling up.

    Memorial Stadium reached the brim with new followers this season. “Heis-Mendoza” chants on Saturdays become common this fall, and for the second straight year, all four home conference games sold out.

    Airlines have adjusted accordingly to the high demand. Delta, American and Southwest Airlines added additional nonstop flights from Indianapolis to Los Angeles in the days leading up to the Rose Bowl.

    “People get excited because people like winners,” Murphy said. “(There are) not a tremendous amount of people like me that will go support their team win or lose, and I’ve seen a lot of losing football over the years.”

    So now, 58 years later, Murphy finally gets the chance to make up for the missed game that has haunted him for decades.

    “Fortunately for me, I get to go this year and actually sit in a seat and see the game,” Murphy said. “I’m still pinching myself, trying to make sure I’m not dreaming.”

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  • Ole Miss defense looks to redeem a humiliating showing against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl

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    Redemption will be on the minds of Mississippi Rebels defensive players when they meet third-ranked Georgia at Thursday’s Sugar Bowl in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff.

    “We all wanted to play them again,” said Ole Miss defensive back Wydett Williams Jr., whose unit labored through a season-worst performance during a 43-35 loss at Georgia earlier this season. “We’re happy we get to play them.”

    Georgia (12-1), the Southeastern Conference champions and third seed in the CFP bracket, and No. 6 Ole Miss (12-1), the CFP’s sixth seed, traveled on Monday to New Orleans, where they will make final preparations for their New Year’s Day matchup in the Superdome.

    In handing the Rebels their only loss this season, Georgia gained 510 yards of offense and didn’t punt once, but did need a 17-0, fourth-quarter rally to win.

    Ole Miss defensive coordinator Bryan Brown says Georgia’s offense looks even better now than when they met on Oct. 18.

    “First, they take care of the football,” said Brown, who assumed the coordinator role exclusively after his former co-coordinator, Pete Golding, was named head coach on Nov. 30, when ex-coach Lane Kiffin left for LSU.

    “They execute at a higher level and they’ve got their play makers making plays,” Brown added.

    Meanwhile, Georgia coach Kirby Smart said that in his experience, rematches often don’t resemble the earlier matchup.

    “It’s really overrated in terms of re-matches and things like that,” Smart said. “How you play (on a given day) defines what the outcome of the game is — your ability to be explosive, turn the ball over, win situational football … and it really has very little to do with the time before you played them.

    “I don’t think either team is exactly the same,” Smart added. “Both teams have evolved some. And everybody will have new wrinkles.”

    Quarterback Gunnar Stockton threw for 289 yards on 26-of-31 passing against the Rebels, including three touchdown passes to tight end Lawson Luckie.

    If Stockton’s more than 3,100 yards and 23 touchdowns passing weren’t impressive enough, Brown asserted that Stockton’s value goes beyond the numbers.

    “He’s a gamer,” Brown said, smiling in admiration. “He extends plays and he makes the right plays. It’s not all measurements for a quarterback; it’s about making the right plays. That’s what he does. That’s what he is. He’s a football player.”

    Williams saw the Georgia loss as a turning point for the Rebels’ defense, which closed with five consecutive wins to secure a CFP berth.

    “After that game, we had to lock in more,” Williams said. “We had to bond more as a team, whatever we had to do to play better on the defensive side — anything we needed to do, we pressed on harder.”

    Ole Miss then opened the CFP with a resounding 45-10 triumph over No. 17 Tulane (the CFP’s 11th seed) to set up its rematch with the Bulldogs.

    During its past six contests, the Rebel defense has improved in areas such as quarterback pressures and turnover ratio (plus-4 during that span).

    “We got better at communication, playing faster and with more confidence,” Brown said.

    But there was no getting away from the painful memories inflicted by the Georgia offense in October, particularly one embarrassing statistic.

    Rebels linebacker TJ Dottery shook his head as he described the humiliation of his unit not forcing a single punt during the Rebels’ visit to Athens.

    “Georgia is a great team,” Dottery said. “But this time, we’ve got to be better.”

    Cornerback Jaylon Braxton, whose interception stopped an early Tulane drive, figures there will be little margin for error against a Georgia program that has won three SEC titles and two national championships since 2021.

    “We didn’t execute,” Braxton said while recounting the previous meeting. “We have really focused in practice on doing the things that the coaches call.”

    For Brown, a key step will be eliminating the type of missed assignments that cost the Rebels in the last meeting.

    “Got to get off the field when we have that opportunity and avoid the busted assignment,” Brown said. “Hopefully, we won’t have anybody running loose in the secondary.”

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    AP Sports Writers Charles Odom in Atlanta and Brett Martel in New Orleans contributed.

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  • Loyola Marymount hosts Saint Mary’s (CA) after Murauskas’ 20-point game

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    Saint Mary’s Gaels (11-2) at Loyola Marymount Lions (9-4)

    Los Angeles; Sunday, 7 p.m. EST

    BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Gaels -8.5; over/under is 138.5

    BOTTOM LINE: Saint Mary’s (CA) visits Loyola Marymount after Paulius Murauskas scored 20 points in Saint Mary’s (CA)’s 63-58 win against the Northern Iowa Panthers.

    The Lions are 6-3 in home games. Loyola Marymount ranks second in the WCC in team defense, giving up 66.1 points while holding opponents to 38.6% shooting.

    The Gaels are 1-0 on the road. Saint Mary’s (CA) ranks third in the WCC with 11.2 offensive rebounds per game led by Andrew McKeever averaging 4.3.

    Loyola Marymount makes 47.6% of its shots from the field this season, which is 8.3 percentage points higher than Saint Mary’s (CA) has allowed to its opponents (39.3%). Saint Mary’s (CA) averages 7.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.6 more makes per game than Loyola Marymount gives up.

    The Lions and Gaels match up Sunday for the first time in conference play this season.

    TOP PERFORMERS: Myron Amey Jr. is scoring 15.3 points per game with 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Lions. Rodney Brown Jr. is averaging 13.8 points over the last 10 games.

    Murauskas is shooting 46.8% and averaging 18.6 points for the Gaels. Joshua Dent is averaging 14.4 points over the last 10 games.

    LAST 10 GAMES: Lions: 6-4, averaging 72.7 points, 32.4 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 7.1 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.1 points per game.

    Gaels: 8-2, averaging 76.7 points, 38.2 rebounds, 12.7 assists, 5.8 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 43.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 65.2 points.

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    The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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  • Delaware plays Missouri State in conference matchup

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    Missouri State Bears (6-5) at Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens (4-7)

    Newark, Delaware; Monday, 2 p.m. EST

    BOTTOM LINE: Keith Palek III and Missouri State take on Christian Bliss and Delaware in CUSA play Monday.

    The Fightin’ Blue Hens are 2-3 in home games. Delaware allows 73.6 points and has been outscored by 5.2 points per game.

    The Bears are 0-3 in road games. Missouri State is ninth in the CUSA scoring 74.5 points per game and is shooting 44.7%.

    Delaware averages 8.6 made 3-pointers per game, 1.7 more made shots than the 6.9 per game Missouri State gives up. Missouri State averages 6.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 8.5 per game Delaware allows.

    The Fightin’ Blue Hens and Bears meet Monday for the first time in conference play this season.

    TOP PERFORMERS: Justyn Fernandez is shooting 49.0% and averaging 16.0 points for the Fightin’ Blue Hens. Bliss is averaging 14.2 points over the last 10 games.

    Palek is averaging 18 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Bears. Kobi Williams is averaging 12.3 points over the last 10 games.

    LAST 10 GAMES: Fightin’ Blue Hens: 4-6, averaging 68.2 points, 29.4 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 5.6 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.2 points per game.

    Bears: 5-5, averaging 73.1 points, 30.9 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 6.9 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 72.3 points.

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    The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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  • Hawaii stuns Cal in 35-31 in Hawaii Bowl on backup QB Luke Weaver’s last-minute TD pass

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    HONOLULU — Backup quarterback Luke Weaver threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Nick Cenacle with 10 seconds left, and Hawaii rallied for a 35-31 comeback victory over California in a thrilling Hawaii Bowl on Wednesday night.

    Weaver entered the game after Micah Alejado took a hard hit on the previous play. With the Rainbow Warriors (9-4) in range for a tying field goal, coach Timmy Chang took a shot at the end zone, and Cenacle got between two defensive backs and made the contested catch.

    “How amazing is that?” Chang said. “It’s a program that is built out of faith and these guys deserve it, man.”

    Chang, Hawaii’s fourth-year coach who had a record-setting career as the Rainbow Warriors’ quarterback from 2000-04, led his program to its first nine-win season since 2019 — when Nick Rolovich, currently Cal’s interim coach, guided Hawaii to a 10-5 record.

    Alejado finished 32 of 46 for 274 yards and three touchdowns, helping Hawaii rally from an early 21-0 deficit. Pofele Ashlock had 14 catches for 123 yards and two TDs for the Rainbow Warriors, who scored 22 points in the fourth quarter.

    Cal (7-6) pulled ahead 31-28 with 1:57 left on a 1-yard touchdown run by Hawaii-born freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who finished with 343 yards passing and a touchdown.

    Alejado’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Brandon White with 7:19 left gave Hawaii a 28-24 lead. The Rainbow Warriors tied it early in the fourth quarter when Alejado connected with Ashlock for their second TD and then completed a 2-point conversion pass to Cam Barfield.

    “These boys just keep continuing to fight through adversity and I love them for that. They learn the hard way, but they learn how to do it and that’s what’s important,” Chang said.

    Cal took a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter on Anthony League’s 8-yard TD run.

    Rolovich tipped his cap to Chang and the Warriors, who scored on their final six drives.

    “They fought to the end and they deserve a lot of credit for that. Timmy deserves a lot of credit for that,” Rolovich said.

    Hawaii improved to 9-6 all-time in bowl games, while Cal fell to 12-14-1.

    Cal was picked to finish third-to-last in the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason media poll, but finished the season tied for seventh. Coach Justin Wilcox was fired last month and will be replaced next season by Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi. Sagapolutele has committed to staying with the program in 2026.

    Hawaii has plenty to build on as it enters Chang’s fifth season. Although leading receiver Jackson Harris announced his intention to transfer and did not play Wednesday, Alejado and Ashlock have said they plan to return.

    Sagapolutele has thrown 178 consecutive passes without an interception, which is seven shy of Jared Goff’s school record set during the 2015 season

    Cal will host UCLA on Sept. 5, 2026.

    Hawaii will also begin next season in the Bay Area when it visits Stanford on Aug. 29.

    ___

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  • College Football Playoff ratings drop 7% as NFL competition impacts viewership

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    Last weekend’s first round of the College Football Playoff averaged 9.9 million viewers on ABC, ESPN, TNT, TBS and truTV, according to ESPN and Nielson. That is a 7% drop from last year.

    A big reason for the drop was that the final game, James Madison versus Oregon, was on TNT, TBS and truTV and not on ABC and ESPN, along with an NFL game in prime time.

    The Chicago Bears’ 22-16 overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers on Fox averaged 21.3 million viewers while Oregon’s 51-34 win over James Madison drew 4.4 million. Last year’s Ohio State-Tennessee game on ABC/ESPN averaged 14.3 million, plus it did not go up against an NFL game.

    The most-watched CFP game was Alabama’s 34-24 comeback victory over Oklahoma, which averaged 14.9 million on a Friday night on ABC/ESPN. Not only was that the highest-viewed CFP first-round game in the two years of the expanded 12-team field, it was the fifth-most watched game of the season. Six of the top 20 most-viewed games this year involve Alabama.

    Last year’s CFP opener between Notre Dame and Indiana averaged 13.4 million.

    Miami’s 10-7 win over Texas A&M averaged 14.8 million on ABC/ESPN on Saturday afternoon and more than doubled the 6.4 million that tuned in for the SMU-Penn State game in the same time slot on TNT/TBS and truTV.

    The Hurricanes’ victory was the sixth-most watched game of the season.

    Ole Miss’ 41-10 rout of Tulane averaged 6.2 million on TNT/TBS and truTV, down from the 8.6 million average from last year’s Texas-Clemson game in the same time slot and networks.

    The Saturday middle CFP game has had competition from the NFL the last two years. Philadelphia’s 29-18 win over Washington on Fox averaged 15.5 million, the same audience that tuned in for last year’s game between Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

    ESPN sublicenses CFP games to TNT/TBS and truTV. Besides two first-round games again next year, the Warner Bros. Discovery channels will have two quarterfinals and a semifinal game.

    Last year’s four quarterfinal matchups averaged 16.9 million on ESPN and ESPN2.

    ___

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  • Where and when to watch the NFL, NBA and more during the Christmas holiday

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    One of the best times of the year for sports fans around the nation is upon us.

    Christmas brings heightened enjoyment for many as they gather around the TV to watch their favorite teams battle on the gridiron and hardwood.

    Here’s a guide to all the NFL, NBA, college and highschool sports a fan could ask for.

    What to watch Christmas Eve

    A lone college football bowl game is taking center stage.

    Hawaii place kicker Kansei Matsuzawa (17) watches a kick in the first half during an NCAA football game against Arizona on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

    Hawaii vs. Cal, 8 p.m., on ESPN: The Sheraton Hawaii Bowl will be the culmination of the Golden Bears and the Rainbow Warriors’ seasons. The Golden Bears finished the regular season with a 7-5 record, while the Rainbow Warriors finished 8-4. Both teams are coming off a win on Nov. 29.

    What to watch Christmas Day

    There is a triple-header lined up for pro football fans, along with multiple NBA games.

    Detroit Lions offensive tackle Dan Skipper (70) blocks against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

    NFL:

    Dallas at Washington, 1 p.m. on Netflix: The Cowboys will look to pick up a much-needed win as they battle for a playoff spot in a competitive NFC. The Commanders are eliminated from playoff contention, but they will look to play spoiler against their divisional rival.

    Detroit at Minnesota, 4:30 p.m. on Netflix: Another divisional rivalry is set to take place later on Christmas as the Lions take on Minnesota. While the chances are slim, the Vikings are still in the race for the playoffs and will look to make a statement against the Lions. Detroit is in a much better position and will look to make a run at the NFC North divisional title with a win at U.S. Bank Stadium.

    Denver at Kansas City, 8:15 p.m. on Prime Video: A dominant Broncos defense will look to contain a down-and-out Chiefs team. Kansas City has struggled as a team, resulting in them being eliminated from the postseason, but they will look to upset Denver on Christmas.

    NBA:

    Cleveland at New York, noon on ESPN: Two of the Eastern Conference’s premier teams will battle it out on Christmas. The Knicks have had a strong start to the season, only dropping x games so far. The Cavs have played up to expectations, with Donavan Mitchell leading the way in the scoring department. 

    San Antonio at Oklahoma City, 2:30 p.m. on ABC/ESPN: A defending champion Thunder roster is taking on the Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs. Oklahoma City has been scorching hot since the start of the season, while being led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in points and assists. The Spurs have also played, but have missed Webenyama on and off in the past month because of a lingering calf injury. 

    Dallas at Golden State, 5 p.m. on ABC/ESPN: Number 1 pick Cooper Flagg and the Mavs are gearing up to take on the Warriors’ aging dynasty. Dallas has yet to get its footing this season, while Golden State has been steady so far. The Mavs will try not to let injuries define them in this matchup. The Warriors will look to show why experience trumps athleticism.

    Houston at Los Angeles, 8 p.m. on ABC/ESPN: Kevin Durant and the Rockets will visit Luka Doncic at Crypto.com Arena. With LeBron James showing his age, other Lakers’ stars have picked up the slack. Los Angeles has continued to show why they are a contender early in the Western Conference behind several key performances from Austin Reeves. The Rockets have been steady so far as well, showing why Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun are both premier players in the NBA.

    Minnesota at Denver, 10:30 p.m. on ABC/ESPN: The Nikola Jokić-led Nuggets will host the Timberwolves in the last Christmas Day game. In a packed Western Confernece, Denver and Minnesota have shown in the past how competitive their matchups can get.

    What to watch Friday

    There will be three college football bowl games on tap, as well as two NBA games.

    Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) can’t controls the ball against Chicago Bulls guard Dalen Terry, left, and forward/center Jalen Smith during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

    College Football:

    Central Michigan vs. Northwestern, 1 p.m. ESPN: The GameAbove Sports Bowl pits Central Michigan against Northwestern at Ford Field. Northwestern has only won one of their last five games, while Central Michigan has stayed relatively consistent, winning three of their last five.

    New Mexico vs. Minnesota, 4:30 p.m. ESPN: The Lobos and Golden Gophers will battle it out at the Rate Bowl. The Lobos come into this one hot, not having lost a single game in the past five, while the Golden Gophers are just 3-2 in their past five matchups.

    Florida International vs. UTSA, 8 p.m. ESPN: The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl has the Panthers and the Roadrunners battling it out the evening after Christmas. FIU has lost only one of their last five, while UTSA has stayed steady with three wins in their last five.

    NBA:

    Philadephia at Chicago, 7:30 p.m. on Prime Video: The Bulls will look to get back on track as they take on the 76ers. Despite playing without Joel Embiid for most of the season, Philadephia has continued to stay competitive. Chicago has struggled of late, despite a blazing hot start to the season.

    Los Angeles at Portland, 10 p.m. on Prime Video: Two teams mired with issues will battle it out on the hardwood in Moda Center. The aging Clippers have struggled to shake off the rust this season, while a young Blazers roster is trying to find their identity.

    What to watch Saturday

    Saturday is full of meaningful football matchups.

    Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) prior to the game against the Denver Broncos during an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 14, 2025 in Denver. (AP Photo/Bart Young)

    Houston at Los Angeles, 4:30 p.m. on NFL Network: The Texans and Chargers are matched up with playoff seeding on the line. Houston and Los Angeles are both currently in the playoffs, but the matchup could affect which team the other plays in January. The Texans have had a resurgence late in the season, while the Chargers have been steady all season.

    Baltimore at Green Bay, 8 p.m. on Peacock: The matchup between Baltimore and Green Bay is set for prime time. Both teams are firmly in the playoff race in their respective conferences. A win for either team would be huge for seeding down the line in January.

    Eight college football bowl games will be on tap as well. Games start at 11 a.m. and run into the night on ESPN and ABC.

    What to watch Sunday

    Ten NFL games will be on all throughout Sunday as usual, starting at 1 p.m. and ending in the late evening.

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  • Oregon and No. 4 Texas Tech square off in the Orange Bowl

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    No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1) vs. Oregon (12-1), Jan. 1 at 12 p.m. EST.

    BetMGM College Football Odds Opening Line: Oregon by 1.5. Against the spread: Oregon 6-6, Texas Tech 12-1.

    How to watch: ESPN

    Key stats

    Oregon Offense

    Overall: 468.9 yards per game (11th in FBS)

    Passing: 251.8 yards per game (45th)

    Rushing: 217.1 yards per game (13th)

    Scoring: 39.2 points per game (9th)

    Oregon Defense

    Overall: 271.4 yards per game (8th in FBS)

    Passing: 158.1 yards per game (6th)

    Rushing: 113.3 yards per game (24th)

    Scoring: 16.3 points per game (10th)

    Texas Tech Offense

    Overall: 480.3 yards per game (5th in FBS)

    Passing: 289.4 yards per game (11th)

    Rushing: 190.9 yards per game (26th)

    Scoring: 42.5 points per game (2nd)

    Texas Tech Defense

    Overall: 254.5 yards per game (3rd in FBS)

    Passing: 186 yards per game (24th)

    Rushing: 68.5 yards per game (1st)

    Scoring: 10.9 points per game (3rd)

    Both teams perform well on third down. Oregon ranks 14th in the FBS, converting 48.4% of the time. Texas Tech ranks 6th, converting 51%.

    Texas Tech leads the FBS with a +17 turnover margin.

    Oregon is 122nd in FBS in red zone defense, allowing opponents to score on 90% of trips. Texas Tech’s red zone offense ranks 47th, scoring on 87.7% of red zone opportunities.

    Team leaders

    Oregon

    Passing: Dante Moore, 3,046 yards, 28 TDs, 8 INTs, 72.4 completion percentage

    Rushing: Noah Whittington, 798 yards on 116 carries, 6 TDs

    Receiving: Malik Benson, 645 yards on 36 catches, 6 TDs

    Texas Tech

    Passing: Behren Morton, 2,643 yards, 22 TDs, 4 INTs, 67 completion percentage

    Rushing: Cameron Dickey, 1,097 yards on 198 carries, 14 TDs

    Receiving: Caleb Douglas, 845 yards on 55 catches, 7 TDs

    Last game

    Oregon beat James Madison 51-34 on Saturday, Dec. 20. Moore led Oregon with 313 yards on 19-of-27 passing (70.4%) for four touchdowns and two interceptions. He also carried the ball one time for 5 yards and one rushing touchdown. Jordon Davison had 90 rushing yards on 10 carries. Benson put up 119 yards on five catches with two touchdowns.

    Texas Tech won 34-7 over BYU on Saturday, Dec. 6. Morton threw for 215 yards on 20-of-33 attempts (60.6%) with two touchdowns and no interceptions. J’Koby Williams carried the ball 15 times for 80 yards, adding one reception for -2 yards. Reginald Virgil recorded 86 yards on eight catches.

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  • Stanford, Cal anchor Pac-12 reunion as old rivals meet again

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    Cal, Stanford welcome back former Pac-12 foes Oregon and USC at Invisalign Bay Area Women’s Classic at Chase Center on Sunday afternoon


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  • No. 2 Georgia and Ole Miss match up in the Sugar Bowl

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    Ole Miss (12-1) vs. No. 2 Georgia (12-1), Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. EST.

    BetMGM College Football Odds Opening Line: Georgia by 7. Against the spread: Georgia 6-7, Ole Miss 8-5.

    How to watch: ESPN

    Key stats

    Georgia Offense

    Overall: 406.5 yards per game (46th in FBS)

    Passing: 219.9 yards per game (76th)

    Rushing: 186.6 yards per game (30th)

    Scoring: 31.9 points per game (33rd)

    Georgia Defense

    Overall: 284.5 yards per game (12th in FBS)

    Passing: 205.3 yards per game (48th)

    Rushing: 79.2 yards per game (4th)

    Scoring: 15.9 points per game (9th)

    Ole Miss Offense

    Overall: 498 yards per game (2nd in FBS)

    Passing: 312.4 yards per game (3rd)

    Rushing: 185.6 yards per game (33rd)

    Scoring: 37.5 points per game (10th)

    Ole Miss Defense

    Overall: 339.8 yards per game (40th in FBS)

    Passing: 192.1 yards per game (29th)

    Rushing: 147.8 yards per game (66th)

    Scoring: 19.3 points per game (22nd)

    Ole Miss is 64th in FBS in red zone offense, scoring on 84.7% of trips. Georgia’s red zone defense ranks 7th at 71%.

    Ole Miss is 76th in the FBS with an average time of possession of 29:38, compared to Georgia’s 3rd-ranked average of 33:59.

    Team leaders

    Georgia

    Passing: Gunner Stockton, 2,686 yards, 23 TDs, 5 INTs, 70.6 completion percentage

    Rushing: Nate Frazier, 861 yards on 158 carries, 6 TDs

    Receiving: Zachariah Branch, 744 yards on 73 catches, 5 TDs

    Ole Miss

    Passing: Trinidad Chambliss, 3,298 yards, 19 TDs, 3 INTs, 66.6 completion percentage

    Rushing: Kewan Lacy, 1,366 yards on 273 carries, 21 TDs

    Receiving: Harrison Wallace III, 738 yards on 48 catches, 3 TDs

    Last game

    Georgia defeated Alabama 28-7 on Saturday, Dec. 6. Stockton passed for 156 yards on 20-of-26 attempts (76.9%) with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also carried the ball 13 times for 39 yards. Frazier carried the ball 13 times for 52 yards and scored one touchdown, adding two receptions for eight yards. Branch recorded 53 yards on five catches with one touchdown.

    Ole Miss defeated Tulane 41-10 on Saturday, Dec. 20. Chambliss led Ole Miss with 282 yards on 23-of-29 passing (79.3%) for one touchdown and no interceptions. He also carried the ball six times for 36 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Lacy carried the ball 15 times for 87 yards and scored one touchdown, adding one reception for seven yards. Deuce Alexander had seven receptions for 87 yards.

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  • Cal hangs tough, but can’t stop Jazzy Davidson in close loss to No. 19 USC

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    SAN FRANCISCO — The future of women’s basketball was on full display at Chase Center on Sunday night. 

    And Cal had no answer for her. 

    Despite a valiant effort, Cal couldn’t stop Freshman sensation Jazzy Davidson as she scored 24 points in a 61-57 win for USC. 

    Sakima Walker finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds for Cal. Taylor Barnes also had 13 points and Lulu Twidale added 11 points. 

    Cal did just enough to trail by just three points at halftime. 

    But Cal quickly took back the momentum coming out of the halftime break. The Bears scored seven unanswered points to start the third quarter to take a three-point lead and force USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb to call a timeout. 

    After scoring 14 points in the first half, Cal held Davidson to just three points in the third quarter.

    Cal’s lead ballooned to as large as nine in the third quarter, but USC ended the quarter on a 10-3 run to come within two points of Cal’s lead heading into the fourth quarter.

    USC took a four-point lead with under 90 seconds left on a jumper from Kara Dunn. Two free throws from Gisella Maul cut the Trojans’ lead to just two at the 1:15 mark. 

    But a costly turnover down two and a missed free throw trailing by Walker was the difference late as USC hit every clutch shot at the line to seal the win. 

    Despite a hot-scoring start from Davidson, Cal kept up with the high-powered USC offense. 

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  • Smith, Huff help No. 7 Gonzaga beat Oregon 91-82 at Moda Center

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    PORTLAND, Ore. — Braeden Smith scored 21 points, Braden Huff had 20 points and No. 7 Gonzaga beat Oregon 91-82 on Sunday at Moda Center.

    Graham Ike added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulldogs (12-1). Steele Venters scored 14 points, and Tyon Grant-Foster had 10.

    Nate Bittle had 28 points and nine rebounds for Oregon (6-6). Kwame Evans Jr. added 14 points, Takai Simpkins had 13 and Jackson Shelstad 12.

    Oregon played Gonzaga tough in a back-and-forth first half, led by 16 points from Bittle, and it was tied in the final seconds before Grant-Foster’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer put the Bulldogs up 42-39.

    Gonzaga pulled away in the second half, leading by 15.

    Oregon: Hosts Omaha on Dec. 28.

    Gonzaga: At Pepperdine on on Dec. 28.

    ___

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  • Missouri State hosts Central Arkansas on home slide

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    Central Arkansas Sugar Bears (7-4) at Missouri State Bears (7-5)

    Springfield, Missouri; Monday, 2 p.m. EST

    BOTTOM LINE: Missouri State looks to stop its three-game home slide with a win over Central Arkansas.

    The Bears have gone 2-3 at home. Missouri State ranks fifth in the CUSA in rebounding averaging 35.3 rebounds. Kaemyn Bekemeier paces the Bears with 7.8 boards.

    The Sugar Bears have gone 2-4 away from home. Central Arkansas is second in the ASUN with 26.5 defensive rebounds per game led by Bree Stephens averaging 5.8.

    Missouri State averages 66.6 points, 8.5 more per game than the 58.1 Central Arkansas gives up. Central Arkansas has shot at a 42.0% clip from the field this season, 2.4 percentage points above the 39.6% shooting opponents of Missouri State have averaged.

    TOP PERFORMERS: Bekemeier is averaging 16.6 points and 7.8 rebounds for the Bears. Lainie Douglas is averaging 13.7 points and 1.5 blocks over the last 10 games.

    Shae Littleford is shooting 34.6% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Sugar Bears, while averaging 14.5 points and 1.5 steals. Stephens is averaging 12.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.9 blocks over the last 10 games.

    LAST 10 GAMES: Bears: 5-5, averaging 66.0 points, 34.8 rebounds, 10.8 assists, 7.5 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 37.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 66.6 points per game.

    Sugar Bears: 7-3, averaging 73.9 points, 38.3 rebounds, 16.2 assists, 9.6 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 42.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 56.1 points.

    ___

    The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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  • Delaware plays Saint Joseph’s (PA) following Wanzer’s 25-point game

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    Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens (6-4) at Saint Joseph’s (PA) Hawks (7-3, 0-1 A-10)

    Philadelphia; Sunday, 2 p.m. EST

    BOTTOM LINE: Delaware faces Saint Joseph’s (PA) after Ella Wanzer scored 25 points in Delaware’s 75-56 victory against the Akron Zips.

    The Hawks are 4-2 in home games. Saint Joseph’s (PA) is 2-0 in one-possession games.

    The Fightin’ Blue Hens are 3-1 on the road. Delaware scores 68.8 points and has outscored opponents by 4.8 points per game.

    Saint Joseph’s (PA) makes 43.6% of its shots from the field this season, which is 3.4 percentage points higher than Delaware has allowed to its opponents (40.2%). Delaware averages 4.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.1 fewer made shots on average than the 6.8 per game Saint Joseph’s (PA) allows.

    TOP PERFORMERS: Gabby Casey is scoring 16.0 points per game with 7.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Hawks. Aleah Snead is averaging 12.3 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 46.6%.

    Kailah Correa is scoring 13.5 points per game and averaging 2.6 rebounds for the Fightin’ Blue Hens. Ande’a Cherisier is averaging 13.0 points and 7.6 rebounds.

    ___

    The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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  • Dallin Hall, Jacari White lead No. 23 Virginia to 80-72 win over former ACC rival Maryland

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    Dallin Hall scored a season-high 20 points, Jacari White had a spectacular dunk and scored 15, and No. 23 Virginia beat Maryland 80-72

    CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Dallin Hall scored a season-high 20 points, Jacari White had a spectacular dunk and scored 15, and No. 23 Virginia beat Maryland 80-72 on Saturday night in the first meeting since 2018 between the former Atlantic Coast Conference rivals.

    Hall went 8 of 8 from the field for the Cavaliers (10-1). Devin Tillis added 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting on a night when Virginia’s leading scorer, Thijs De Ridder, went 1 of 8 from the field and scored five points.

    David Coit led Maryland (6-6) with 15 points and Myles Rice added 12.

    The Cavaliers went 6:49 without a field goal in the first half but responded with a 17-0 run spanning halftime.

    Maryland pulled ahead 35-33 early in the second half on two free throws by Coit. Virginia then took control with a 15-2 run that included nine points by White. He connected on two 3-pointers before igniting the crowd with a rim-shaking transition dunk over Maryland’s Solomon Washington.

    This was the third matchup between the longtime rivals since the Terrapins left the ACC for the Big Ten in 2014. Virginia has won all three, as well as nine of the last 10 since 2011.

    Both teams completely turned over their rosters in the offseason under new coaches: Ryan Odom for the Cavaliers and Buzz Williams for the Terps.

    Standout Virginia freshman Chance Mallory left the game briefly in the second half after turning his left ankle but was able to return. He finished with six points.

    Maryland hosts Old Dominion on Dec. 28.

    Virginia hosts American on Monday.

    ___

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  • Dodd and Appalachian State host Georgia State

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    Georgia State Panthers (2-10, 0-1 Sun Belt) at Appalachian State Mountaineers (8-5, 1-0 Sun Belt)

    Boone, North Carolina; Saturday, 1 p.m. EST

    BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Mountaineers -10.5; over/under is 135.5

    BOTTOM LINE: Appalachian State hosts Georgia State after Alonzo Dodd scored 21 points in Appalachian State’s 67-49 victory against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.

    The Mountaineers have gone 5-1 at home. Appalachian State ranks seventh in the Sun Belt with 13.6 assists per game led by Dodd averaging 3.3.

    The Panthers are 0-1 in Sun Belt play. Georgia State averages 11.9 turnovers per game and is 1-3 when turning the ball over less than opponents.

    Appalachian State’s average of 8.0 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.2 more made shots on average than the 7.8 per game Georgia State allows. Georgia State’s 35.1% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.8 percentage points lower than Appalachian State has allowed to its opponents (37.9%).

    The Mountaineers and Panthers square off Saturday for the first time in conference play this season.

    TOP PERFORMERS: Dodd is averaging 11.8 points and 3.3 assists for the Mountaineers. Kasen Jennings is averaging 14.9 points over the last 10 games.

    Micah Tucker is scoring 11.8 points per game and averaging 1.8 rebounds for the Panthers. Malachi Brown is averaging 10.3 points and 3.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.

    LAST 10 GAMES: Mountaineers: 6-4, averaging 73.1 points, 35.2 rebounds, 13.3 assists, 4.4 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.1 points per game.

    Panthers: 2-8, averaging 67.2 points, 31.3 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 6.4 steals and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 35.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 78.7 points.

    ___

    The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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