By STEVE CARPENTER - Hutchinson CC Sports Information

An early-season battle for first place in the Jayhawk West will take place at the Sports Arena on Monday night.

Second-place Hutchinson (5-3) takes on No. 22 Dodge City (6-2) at 7:30 p.m. on the home court of the Blue Dragons. The first-place Conquistadors lead the second-place Blue Dragons by one game as the league begins round-robin play within each division on Monday.

Monday's game features two of the best players in the KJCCC.

Hutchinson sophomore forward&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2020-21/bios/mayers_matt_jfk4">Matt Mayers</a>&nbsp;comes off a game for the ages in the Blue Dragons' 113-99 loss at No. 23 Cowley last Wednesday. Mayers had career highs of 44 points and 16 rebounds against the Tigers. The 44 points were the fourth most scored by a Blue Dragon player in single-game history. Mayers is also the reigning NJCAA National Player of the Week.

College of Central Florida transfer Walyn Napper is a big reason by the Conquistadors are ranked and battling for a league title. Napper is fifth in the NJCAA at 8.4 assists per game. He is also second in the Jayhawk in scoring at 22.3 points per game. Twice named the league's Player of the Week, Napper has three double-doubles this season.

The loss to Cowley on Wednesday snapped a three-game Blue Dragon winning streak. Hutch had season highs for points (99), field-goal percentage (56.7) and assists (26) against Cowley. Hutch was held without a 3-point goal for the second-straight game and turned the ball over a season-worst 32 times that led to 48 Tigers points. Cowley also hit an opponent single-game record 19 3-pointers. Dodge City has dropped two straight after winning six in a row to start the season. The Conquistadors lost 65-58 to No. 5 Cowley on Saturday. One week ago, Dodge City lost its first game of the season in a 143-104 shootout loss to Cowley in Arkansas City. The Conquistadors gave up 25 3-pointers in the game.

Monday's matchup with Dodge City starts a three-game week for Hutchinson. The Dragons hit the road Wednesday at Northwest Tech at Saturday at Seward County.

<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2020-21/files/Game_9_-_Dodge_City.pdf">CLICK FOR GAME NOTES (PDF format)</a>

CLICK FOR HUTCHINSON-DODGE CITY ROSTER SHEETS

By STEVE CARPENTER - Hutchinson CC Sports InformationAn early-season battle for first place in the Jayhawk West will take place at the Sports Arena on Monday night.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613991921433.png" alt="MBB Info Box 2-22-21.png" />
 <figcaption>MBB Info Box 2-22-21.png</figcaption>
 </figure>Second-place Hutchinson (5-3) takes on No. 22 Dodge City (6-2) at 7:30 p.m. on the home court of the Blue Dragons. The first-place Conquistadors lead the second-place Blue Dragons by one game as the league begins round-robin play within each division on Monday.Monday's game features two of the best players in the KJCCC.Hutchinson sophomore forward&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2020-21/bios/mayers_matt_jfk4">Matt Mayers</a>&nbsp;comes off a game for the ages in the Blue Dragons' 113-99 loss at No. 23 Cowley last Wednesday. Mayers had career highs of 44 points and 16 rebounds against the Tigers. The 44 points were the fourth most scored by a Blue Dragon player in single-game history. Mayers is also the reigning NJCAA National Player of the Week.College of Central Florida transfer Walyn Napper is a big reason by the Conquistadors are ranked and battling for a league title. Napper is fifth in the NJCAA at 8.4 assists per game. He is also second in the Jayhawk in scoring at 22.3 points per game. Twice named the league's Player of the Week, Napper has three double-doubles this season.The loss to Cowley on Wednesday snapped a three-game Blue Dragon winning streak. Hutch had season highs for points (99), field-goal percentage (56.7) and assists (26) against Cowley. Hutch was held without a 3-point goal for the second-straight game and turned the ball over a season-worst 32 times that led to 48 Tigers points. Cowley also hit an opponent single-game record 19 3-pointers. Dodge City has dropped two straight after winning six in a row to start the season. The Conquistadors lost 65-58 to No. 5 Cowley on Saturday. One week ago, Dodge City lost its first game of the season in a 143-104 shootout loss to Cowley in Arkansas City. The Conquistadors gave up 25 3-pointers in the game.Monday's matchup with Dodge City starts a three-game week for Hutchinson. The Dragons hit the road Wednesday at Northwest Tech at Saturday at Seward County.<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2020-21/files/Game_9_-_Dodge_City.pdf">CLICK FOR GAME NOTES (PDF format)</a><h2>CLICK FOR HUTCHINSON-DODGE CITY ROSTER SHEETS</h2>

🏀 Blue Dragons, Conquistadors meet in battle of top 2 Jayhawk West Teams

PITTSBURG – Freshman Zach Biel and sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2020-21/bios/flanagan_teagan_t8g2">Teagan Flanagan</a>&nbsp;both punched tickets to the 2021 NJCAA Indoor Championships on Sunday at the Region VI Championships in Pittsburg.

Biel cleared a career-best 6 feet, 6 3/4 inches in the high jump on Sunday. HE was the Region VI runner-up and won the Jayhawk West championship. Biel also became the fifth Blue Dragon national qualifier.

The sixth came on the track Sunday when&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2020-21/bios/flanagan_teagan_t8g2">Teagan Flanagan</a>&nbsp;qualified in his second event this season when he finished sixth in the 3,000 meters. Already qualified in the 5,000, Flanagan ran a 3,000 time of 8:47.28.

<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2020-21/files/Region_VI_Indoor.pdf">FINAL REGION VI CHAMPIONSHIOP RESULTS</a> <a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2020-21/files/Jayhawk_West_Indoor.pdf">FINAL JAYHAWK WEST RESULTS</a>

Biel and Flanagan helped the Blue Dragons finish seventh in the Region VI men's standings. Hutchinson scored 40 points. The Dragons were third in the Jayhawk West standings with 92.5 points.

The Blue Dragons scored in three other events on Sunday.

Flanagan was seventh in the 1,000 meters after a time of 4:26.65.

Already qualified for nationals, sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2020-21/bios/thiel_wyatt_1ibg">Wyatt Thiel</a>&nbsp;placed fifth in the high jump with a clearance of 6-4 3/4.

Also qualified,&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2020-21/bios/johnson_erick_vwgv">Erick Johnson</a>&nbsp;placed sixth in the triple jump after a best of 45-11 1/4.

The NJCAA Indoor Championships will be March 5-6 in Pittsburg.

By STEVE CARPENTER - Hutchinson CC Sports InformationPITTSBURG – Freshman Zach Biel and sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2020-21/bios/flanagan_teagan_t8g2">Teagan Flanagan</a>&nbsp;both punched tickets to the 2021 NJCAA Indoor Championships on Sunday at the Region VI Championships in Pittsburg.Biel cleared a career-best 6 feet, 6 3/4 inches in the high jump on Sunday. HE was the Region VI runner-up and won the Jayhawk West championship. Biel also became the fifth Blue Dragon national qualifier.The sixth came on the track Sunday when&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2020-21/bios/flanagan_teagan_t8g2">Teagan Flanagan</a>&nbsp;qualified in his second event this season when he finished sixth in the 3,000 meters. Already qualified in the 5,000, Flanagan ran a 3,000 time of 8:47.28.<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2020-21/files/Region_VI_Indoor.pdf">FINAL REGION VI CHAMPIONSHIOP RESULTS</a> <a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2020-21/files/Jayhawk_West_Indoor.pdf">FINAL JAYHAWK WEST RESULTS</a>Biel and Flanagan helped the Blue Dragons finish seventh in the Region VI men's standings. Hutchinson scored 40 points. The Dragons were third in the Jayhawk West standings with 92.5 points.The Blue Dragons scored in three other events on Sunday.Flanagan was seventh in the 1,000 meters after a time of 4:26.65.Already qualified for nationals, sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2020-21/bios/thiel_wyatt_1ibg">Wyatt Thiel</a>&nbsp;placed fifth in the high jump with a clearance of 6-4 3/4.Also qualified,&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2020-21/bios/johnson_erick_vwgv">Erick Johnson</a>&nbsp;placed sixth in the triple jump after a best of 45-11 1/4.The NJCAA Indoor Championships will be March 5-6 in Pittsburg.

👟 Blue Dragons earn two more NJCAA qualifiers at REGION VI

Finishing play against the Jayhawk East at 5-2, the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team opens play against Jayhawk West competition on Monday night at the Sports Arena against the Dodge City Conquistadors. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m.

Hutchinson (6-2 overall) enters play on Monday coming off its most impressive victory of the season, an 84-61 victory at Cowley on Wednesday, which was the Blue Dragons' first road victory of the season. The Dragons had a conference bye on Saturday.

K.K. Adams led four Blue Dragons in double figures with 17 points and five assists. The Blue Dragons shot 51.7 percent and hit 10 of 17 3-pointers. Defensively, the Dragons held Cowley to 4 of 36 shooting in the second and third quarters - 27.8 percent for the game - outscoring the Tigers 44-18 in those two quarters.

Hutchinson opens the double-round robin Jayhawk West portion of its schedule in second place in the league, 0.5 games behind Seward County.

Monday starts a three-game week for the Blue Dragons. After Dodge City, the Blue Dragons are on the road in back-to-back games at Northwest Tech on Wednesday and at Seward County on Saturday.

Dodge City opened the season with consecutive wins over the Sterling College Junior Varsity and Neosho County, but has dropped six-straight games since then. The Conquistadors lost 62-58 at home on Saturday to Coffeyville, Dodge City led 53-48 after three quarters, but was outscored by the Red Ravens 14-5 in the final quarter.

Last season, Hutchinson and Dodge City split home games. The Blue Dragons hammered the Conquistadors 89-50 at the Sports Arena, but the Conquistadors caught Hutch on its worst offensive night of the 2019-20 season 69-55, earning a win over Hutchinson for the first time since the 2006 season.

Hutchinson sophomore point guard&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2020-21/bios/alford_tor-e_j660">Tor'e Alford</a>&nbsp;continues to lead the Jayhawk Conference in assists at 5.1 per contest. She is also third in the KJCCC in 3-point efficiency at 48.6 percent. Over her last three games, freshman guard&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2020-21/bios/grassity_yana_fdqu">Yana Grassity</a>&nbsp;is averaging 10.6 points per game, shooting 9 of 16 from 3-point range.

By STEVE CARPENTER - Hutchinson CC Sports InformationFinishing play against the Jayhawk East at 5-2, the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team opens play against Jayhawk West competition on Monday night at the Sports Arena against the Dodge City Conquistadors. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613991525839.png" alt="WBB Info Box 2-22-21.png" />
 <figcaption>WBB Info Box 2-22-21.png</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson (6-2 overall) enters play on Monday coming off its most impressive victory of the season, an 84-61 victory at Cowley on Wednesday, which was the Blue Dragons' first road victory of the season. The Dragons had a conference bye on Saturday.K.K. Adams led four Blue Dragons in double figures with 17 points and five assists. The Blue Dragons shot 51.7 percent and hit 10 of 17 3-pointers. Defensively, the Dragons held Cowley to 4 of 36 shooting in the second and third quarters - 27.8 percent for the game - outscoring the Tigers 44-18 in those two quarters.Hutchinson opens the double-round robin Jayhawk West portion of its schedule in second place in the league, 0.5 games behind Seward County.Monday starts a three-game week for the Blue Dragons. After Dodge City, the Blue Dragons are on the road in back-to-back games at Northwest Tech on Wednesday and at Seward County on Saturday.Dodge City opened the season with consecutive wins over the Sterling College Junior Varsity and Neosho County, but has dropped six-straight games since then. The Conquistadors lost 62-58 at home on Saturday to Coffeyville, Dodge City led 53-48 after three quarters, but was outscored by the Red Ravens 14-5 in the final quarter.Last season, Hutchinson and Dodge City split home games. The Blue Dragons hammered the Conquistadors 89-50 at the Sports Arena, but the Conquistadors caught Hutch on its worst offensive night of the 2019-20 season 69-55, earning a win over Hutchinson for the first time since the 2006 season.Hutchinson sophomore point guard&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2020-21/bios/alford_tor-e_j660">Tor'e Alford</a>&nbsp;continues to lead the Jayhawk Conference in assists at 5.1 per contest. She is also third in the KJCCC in 3-point efficiency at 48.6 percent. Over her last three games, freshman guard&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2020-21/bios/grassity_yana_fdqu">Yana Grassity</a>&nbsp;is averaging 10.6 points per game, shooting 9 of 16 from 3-point range.CLICK FOR GAME NOTES (PDF format)<h2>CLICK FOR HUTCHINSON-DODGE CITY ROSTER SHEETS</h2>

🏀 HutchCC Women begin trek through Jayhawk West with Dodge City

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Logan Couture scored two goals and the San Jose Sharks held off the St. Louis Blues 5-4 on Saturday night. &nbsp;After the Blues overcame deficits of 3-0 and 4-1 to tie it during a wild second period, Couture scored on a wrist shot with 8:09 left in the third. The puck deflected off goalie Jordan Binnington's back and in. The Sharks entered 0-7-1 in their previous eight against the Blues dating to the 2019 playoffs. Brayden Schenn, Zach Sanford, Ryan O'Reilly and Jordan Kyrou scored for St. Louis. The Sharks also got goals from Evander Kane, Rudolfs Balcers and Patrick Marleau. &nbsp;

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Austin Reaves scored 20 points to lead No. 9 Oklahoma to a wild 66-56 victory over Iowa State. The Sooners earned their third straight win since a 57-52 loss at No. 15 Texas Tech. But the lowly Cyclones provided a stiff test. Iowa State trailed by as many as 21 in the first half before rallying to a 46-45 lead on Tre Jackson's 3-pointer with 11:29 remaining. The Sooners then responded with a 16-4 run to grab the lead for good. De'Vion Harmon and Umoja Gibson each made a 3-pointer before Reaves capped the decisive stretch with a free throw, making it 61-50 with 4:38 left.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Christian Braun hit a corner 3 with 24 seconds left, David McCormack scored 17 points and No. 23 Kansas beat No. 15 Texas Tech 67-61. Ochai Agbaji had 14 points and Jalen Wilson added 11. Braun's 3 made it a two-possession game and essentially locked up the win for the Jayhawks. Braun and Marcus Garrett each finished with 10 points. Marcus Santos-Silva and Kevin McCullar each scored 12 points, Mac McClung had 11 and Micah Peavy had 10 for Texas Tech, which played its first game in 10 days but has dropped two straight.&nbsp;

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Dru Smith and Mark Smith helped No. 20 Missouri build a large first-half lead and snap a three-game losing streak with a 93-78 victory over South Carolina. Dru Smith scored 17 points and Mark Smith 13. Both were instrumental in the Tigers pulling away from the Gamecocks, who lost their fifth consecutive game. Missouri finished with five players in double figures. Jeremiah Tilmon had 17 points, Xavier Pinson 16 and Kobe Brown 12, all in the first half. AJ Lawson had a game-high 22 points to lead South Carolina.

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Mike McGuirl scored 16 points, grabbed nine rebounds and distributed five assists and Kansas State ended it's 13-game losing streak by beating TCU 62-54. Following Mike Miles' three-point play giving TCU a 51-46 lead with 5:01 left to play, the Wildcats scored 10 straight and never looked back. The game marked the the first time in February that K-State faced an unranked opponent, snapping a streak of five straight against a Top-25 team. RJ Nembhard led TCU with 14 points and Miles scored 13.

CHICAGO (AP) — Emma Ronsiek scored 27 points, Temi Carda added 18 and eight assists and Creighton became the first unraked team to beat No. 19 DePaul this year, winning 83-72. Ronsiek was 9-for-12 shooting and Carda, one of the few players to wear a mask while playing, was 6 of 9 as the Bluejays went 29 of 50, including 8 of 15 from 3-point range. For good measure they made their first 16 free throws, going 17 of 18. Lexi Held and Sonya Morris scored 17 points apiece and Jorie Allen had 16 with seven rebounds for the Blue Demons. Their other losses were to current top five teams Texas A&amp;M, Louisville and UConn twice.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Jaden Ivey scored 15 points, Sasha Stefanovic added 14, and Purdue beat Nebraska 75-58. The Boilermakers pulled away with a 19-4 run to lead 67-53 with about six minutes left. Stefanovic made consecutive 3-pointers during the stretch and Ivey capped it with a dunk. Nebraska cut the deficit to 10 points but didn't get closer. Purdue (15-8, 10-6 Big Ten) has won consecutive games for the first time since a four-game winning streak ended with a 17-point loss to then-No. 7 Michigan on Jan. 22. Shamiel Stevenson scored 10 points off the bench to lead Nebraska (5-15, 1-12).&nbsp;

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Brice Calip scored 17 points, Abby Hipp had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 25 Missouri State beat Bradley 75-62 for its 11th straight win. Sydney Wilson added 13 points and Jasmine Franklin had 10 for Missouri State (15-2, 11-0 Missouri Valley Conference), which is off to its best MVC start since going 11-0 in 2004. The Bears had a 12-0 conference start in 1996. The Bears opened the third quarter on a 11-0 run and closed it with consecutive 3-pointers from Sydney Manning for a 54-39 lead. Gabi Haack scored 24 points to lead Bradley (12-10, 8-7).&nbsp;

UNDATED (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have been held under 100 points in two straight home games while playing without starters Anthony Davis and Dennis Schröder.

Kendrick Nunn scored 27 points and the Miami Heat won a rematch of last year's NBA Finals by downing the defending champs, 96-94. Jimmy Butler had 24 points and eight rebounds for the Heat, who managed to hang on despite scoring just 15 in the fourth quarter. 

LeBron James had 19 points, nine assists and nine rebounds for the Lakers. James also stole the Heat's inbounds pass with 8.4 seconds left to create one last chance for L.A. However, the 17-time All-Star passed off to Alex Caruso, who missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Checking out Saturday's other NBA action:

— Devin Booker nailed five of the Suns' franchise-record 24 3-points and finished with 23 points in a 128-97 romp over the Grizzlies. Mikal (mih-KAYL') Bridges and Cam Payne each had 19 points as Phoenix won for the eighth time in nine games.

— The Wizards ended the Trail Blazers' six-game winning streak as Russell Westbrook registered a triple-double of 27 points, 13 assists and 11 boards in Washington's 118-111 victory at Portland. Bradley Beal poured in 37 points for the Wizards, who outscored the Blazers 30-12 in the second quarter and 29-19 in the fourth en route to their fourth straight win.

— The Hornets pulled out a 102-100 win over the Warriors on Terry Rozier's off-balance jumper as time expired. Rozier scored 20 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter, including a pair of free throws to tie it.

— Zach LaVine (lah-VEEN') pumped in 38 points to lead six Bulls in double-figures during a 112-114 win against the Kings. Coby White contributed 19 points and Thaddeus Young added 18 off the bench in Chicago's third win in four games.

UNDATED (AP) — Eighth-ranked Alabama is on the verge of clinching at least a share of its first SEC regular-season title in 19 years.

Jaden Shackleford scored a season-high 27 points as the Crimson Tide downed Vanderbilt, 82-78. Jahvon Quinerly made a late 3-pointer and a clinching free throw with two seconds left to help Alabama quell the upset bid. Quinerly finished with 15 points for the Tide, who made just 10 of 39 3-point attempts and still improved to 13-5 overall.

The Tide are 13-1 and one win away from clinching the conference crown.

— Drew Timme (TIH'-mee) scored 17 of his 21 points in the first half of top-ranked Gonzaga's 26th consecutive win, a 106-69 dismantling of San Diego. Jalen Suggs added 17 points and Corey Kispert chipped in 16 as the Bulldogs ran the nation's longest home winning streak to 49 games.

— Ayo Dosunmu (EYE'-oh doh-SOO'-mee) recorded his second triple-double of the season and Kofi (KOH'-fee) Cockburn scored 22 points in 24 minutes as fifth-ranked Illinois coasted to a 94-62 rout of Minnesota. Dosunmu delivered 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, three games after becoming just the third Illini player to post a triple-double.

— Freshman Jaemyn Brakefield scored the go-ahead basket on a reverse layup with 1:58 left and Duke came up with a final-possession stop to complete a 66-65 upset of seventh-ranked Virginia. Matthew Hurt scored 22 points for the Blue Devils, who have won three straight to pad their hopes for an NCAA Tournament berth.

— Austin Reaves scored 20 points and ninth-ranked Oklahoma coughed up a 21-point, first-half lead before earning a wild 66-56 victory over Iowa State. The Cyclones took a 46-45 lead on Tre Jackson's 3-pointer with 11:29 remaining, but the Sooners responded with a 16-4 run to grab the lead for good.

— Collin Gillespie finished with 20 points and 10th-ranked Villanova allowed just 30% shooting in the second half of a win against UConn, 68-60. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Villanova, which was playing first the first time since a poor defensive effort in a loss at Creighton last Saturday.

— Sean McNeil and No. 13 West Virginia erased a 19-point deficit in the second half, then withstood a flurry of last-second misses to hold off No. 12 Texas, 84-82. McNeil scored all 16 of his points in the second half, but he also committed two turnovers in the final 11 seconds to help the Longhorns stay in the game.

— Southern California's seven-game winning streak is over after James Akinjo scored 20 points in Arizona's 81-72 decision over the Pac-12 leaders. Jordan Brown had 19 points and 13 rebounds. Azuolas Tubelis added 16 points and a career-high 15 boards to help Sean Miller get his 300th victory as the Wildcats' head coach.

— Raiquan Gray had 16 points and eight rebounds in helping No. 16 Florida State pick up its third win in a row, 79-72 versus Pittsburgh. Malik Moore contributed 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds for the 13-3 Seminoles, who led for over 35 minutes of the game but never by more than 11 points. 

— Isaiah Jackson provided 16 points and Kentucky matched a season high with its third straight win, using an early 15-0 run to top No. 19 Tennessee, 70-55. Davion Mintz was accurate from the perimeter, hitting all five of his 3-point shots in the first half and finishing with 15 points.

— Dru Smith furnished 17 and Mark Smith 13 as No. 20 Missouri dumped South Carolina, 93-78 to end a three-game losing streak. The Smiths fueled a 25-12 run that helped the Tigers build a 19-point lead in the opening half.

— Christian Braun hit a corner 3 with 24 seconds left and David McCormack scored 17 points to guide 23rd-rated Kansas past No. 15 Texas Tech, 67-61. Ochai Agbaji (OH'-chay ahg-BAH'-zhee) had 14 points and Jalen Wilson added 11 as the Jayhawks dealt the Red Raiders their second straight loss.

— Jordan Schakel drained four 3-pointers by halftime and finished with 14 points as No. 25 San Diego State earned its eighth straight win, 75-57 versus Fresno State.

UNDATED (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes have taken over first place in the NHL's Central Division by downing the defending Stanley Cup champions.

The Canes are 5-0-1 in their last six games after rookie Alex Nedeljkovic (nuh-DEHL'-koh-vihch) made 24 saves in his first NHL shutout to lead a 4-0 shutout of the Lightning.

Vincent Trocheck (TROH'-chehk), Sebastian Aho (AH'-hoh), Cedric Paquette and Andrei Svechnikov (SVEHCH'-nih-kahv) scored for the Hurricanes in the first of four consecutive games between the teams. 

Tampa Bay has yet to score in two meetings, with the Hurricanes this season.

Carolina now paces the Central by one point over Florida.

The Red Wings bounced back from Friday's 7-2 loss to the Panthers by winning 2-1 at Florida. The Wings trailed 1-0 until Mathias Brome (BROH'-may) and Patrik Nemeth scored in the second period. It was Brome's first NHL goal.

Jonathan Bernier (BURN'-yay) stopped 38 shots and was perfect after Alex Wennberg beat him on a power play 14:43 into the game.

Meanwhile, it took a lot longer than expected to finish the outdoor game in Lake Tahoe. The game had to be stopped after one period and was delayed for eight hours due to bright sun and temperatures that hovered around freezing, leading to poor ice conditions. 

The wait was worth it for Devon Toews (deh-VAHN tayvz) and the Colorado Avalanche. Toews set up Nathan MacKinnon's go-ahead goal and delivered the eventual game-winner with 6:49 left as the Avs downed the Golden Knights, 3-2.

— Sidney Crosby had two assists in his 1,000th NHL game, and the Penguins erased a 2-1 deficit in thei third period to beat the Islanders, 3-2 on Saturday night. Kris Letang (leh-TANG') scored twice, including a tiebreaking goal in Pittsburgh's fourth win in five games.

— Alexis Lafreniere (lah-FREHN'-yehr) ended an eight-game goal drought by providing the eventual game-winner in the Rangers' second consecutive win, 4-1 at Washington. Lafreniere made it 2-0 late in the second period, 59 seconds before Ryan Strome (strohm) padded New York's lead.

— Rudolfs Balcers scored his first two goals of the season, including the tiebreaker midway through the third period of the Sharks' 5-4 win over the Blues. San Jose squandered a 4-1 lead before Balcers tipped a shot by Logan Couture with 8:09 left in the third. 

— Sam Reinhart scored twice and the Sabres snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Devils. Defensemen Colin Miller also tallied and Linus (LEE'-nuhs) Ullmark made 25 saves in Buffalo's first victory since Jan. 30 against New Jersey.

— Calle Jarnkrok (KAL'-ee YAHRN'-krahk) provided a pair of goals and Pekka Rinne (PEH'-kuh REE'-nay) made 21 saves to send the Predators past the Blue Jackets, 4-2. The game was tied 2-2 until Jarnkrok and Filip Forsberg scored in the first 45 seconds of the final period.

— Alex Iafallo (eye-ah-FAH'-loh) scored twice and Cal Peterson stopped 22 shots as the Kings doubled up the Coyotes, 4-2. Trevor Moore also scored as Los Angeles won its fourth in a row.

— The Wild skated to a 5-1 win over the Ducks as Kevin Fiala (fee-A'-lah) provided two goals and an assist. Joel Eriksson Ek, Victor Rask and Mats Zuccarello (zoo-kah-REH'-loh) also scored for the Wild, who swept a two-game set in Anaheim.

— Auston Matthews leads the league with 18 goals after netting two more while setting up two others in the Maple Leafs' 5-3 verdict over the Canadiens. Mitch Marner had a goal and two assists and Frederik Andersen stopped 30 saves to help the NHL leaders improve to 14-3-2.

— Connor McDavid set up two goals before scoring a natural hat trick in the Oilers' 7-1 pounding of the Flames. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two goals and Mikko Koskinen (MEE'-koh KAHS'-kih-nehn) made 43 saves for Edmonton.

Osaka beats Brady to claim 4th Slam trophy

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic (NOH'-vak JOH'-kuh-vich) has beaten Daniil Medvedev (DAN'-ihl MEHD'-veh-dehv) in three sets to win his ninth Australian Open championship and 18th Grand Slam title. 

The No. 1-seeded Djokovic has won the trophy three years in a row at Melbourne Park. He has won six of the last 10 major tournaments overall and his total of 18 Slams moves him within two of the men's record of 20 shared by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Medvedev was trying to collect his first Grand Slam title. But Djokovic used superb serving and his usual baseline excellence to end the Russian's 20-match winning streak.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sam Burns remained the leader at Riviera Country Club when the third round of the PGA's Genesis Invitational was halted by darkness.

Burns has seen his five-stroke lead shrink to two over Matt Fitzpatrick. Burns went 31 consecutive holes with a bogey, a streak that ended on No. 8. He carded back-to-back bogeys that dropped him to 10-under par before play was stopped.

Dustin Johnson, Max Homa and Wyndham Clark were another shot behind.

The round was held up for four hours due to high wind that was strong enough to move golf balls around and off the green. 

Indians ace Bieber reports to camp after COVID-19 bout

UNDATED (AP) — American League Cy Young winner Shane Bieber has reported to training camp in Arizona with the Cleveland Indians after recovering from COVID-19. 

The right-hander took part in drills Saturday. The Indians will hold their first full-squad workout in Goodyear, Arizona, on Sunday. 

The 25-year-old Bieber was baseball's best pitcher during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, earning pitching's Triple Crown by pacing the majors in wins, ERA and strikeouts.

In other developments related to the pandemic:

— The Columbus Blue Jackets have received permission from state authorities to allow a limited number of fans at games starting next week. Nearly 2,000 fans — 10% of Nationwide Arena's capacity — may attend the last 16 home games, beginning March 2 against Detroit. 

— North Carolina has found another nonconference schedule addition. The school announced that the Tar Heels will host Marquette on Wednesday, which comes after they had a fourth game postponed in Atlantic Coast Conference play. 

<h2>Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press</h2>ST. LOUIS (AP) — Logan Couture scored two goals and the San Jose Sharks held off the St. Louis Blues 5-4 on Saturday night. &nbsp;After the Blues overcame deficits of 3-0 and 4-1 to tie it during a wild second period, Couture scored on a wrist shot with 8:09 left in the third. The puck deflected off goalie Jordan Binnington's back and in. The Sharks entered 0-7-1 in their previous eight against the Blues dating to the 2019 playoffs. Brayden Schenn, Zach Sanford, Ryan O'Reilly and Jordan Kyrou scored for St. Louis. The Sharks also got goals from Evander Kane, Rudolfs Balcers and Patrick Marleau. &nbsp;AMES, Iowa (AP) — Austin Reaves scored 20 points to lead No. 9 Oklahoma to a wild 66-56 victory over Iowa State. The Sooners earned their third straight win since a 57-52 loss at No. 15 Texas Tech. But the lowly Cyclones provided a stiff test. Iowa State trailed by as many as 21 in the first half before rallying to a 46-45 lead on Tre Jackson's 3-pointer with 11:29 remaining. The Sooners then responded with a 16-4 run to grab the lead for good. De'Vion Harmon and Umoja Gibson each made a 3-pointer before Reaves capped the decisive stretch with a free throw, making it 61-50 with 4:38 left.LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Christian Braun hit a corner 3 with 24 seconds left, David McCormack scored 17 points and No. 23 Kansas beat No. 15 Texas Tech 67-61. Ochai Agbaji had 14 points and Jalen Wilson added 11. Braun's 3 made it a two-possession game and essentially locked up the win for the Jayhawks. Braun and Marcus Garrett each finished with 10 points. Marcus Santos-Silva and Kevin McCullar each scored 12 points, Mac McClung had 11 and Micah Peavy had 10 for Texas Tech, which played its first game in 10 days but has dropped two straight.&nbsp;COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Dru Smith and Mark Smith helped No. 20 Missouri build a large first-half lead and snap a three-game losing streak with a 93-78 victory over South Carolina. Dru Smith scored 17 points and Mark Smith 13. Both were instrumental in the Tigers pulling away from the Gamecocks, who lost their fifth consecutive game. Missouri finished with five players in double figures. Jeremiah Tilmon had 17 points, Xavier Pinson 16 and Kobe Brown 12, all in the first half. AJ Lawson had a game-high 22 points to lead South Carolina.FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Mike McGuirl scored 16 points, grabbed nine rebounds and distributed five assists and Kansas State ended it's 13-game losing streak by beating TCU 62-54. Following Mike Miles' three-point play giving TCU a 51-46 lead with 5:01 left to play, the Wildcats scored 10 straight and never looked back. The game marked the the first time in February that K-State faced an unranked opponent, snapping a streak of five straight against a Top-25 team. RJ Nembhard led TCU with 14 points and Miles scored 13.CHICAGO (AP) — Emma Ronsiek scored 27 points, Temi Carda added 18 and eight assists and Creighton became the first unraked team to beat No. 19 DePaul this year, winning 83-72. Ronsiek was 9-for-12 shooting and Carda, one of the few players to wear a mask while playing, was 6 of 9 as the Bluejays went 29 of 50, including 8 of 15 from 3-point range. For good measure they made their first 16 free throws, going 17 of 18. Lexi Held and Sonya Morris scored 17 points apiece and Jorie Allen had 16 with seven rebounds for the Blue Demons. Their other losses were to current top five teams Texas A&amp;M, Louisville and UConn twice.LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Jaden Ivey scored 15 points, Sasha Stefanovic added 14, and Purdue beat Nebraska 75-58. The Boilermakers pulled away with a 19-4 run to lead 67-53 with about six minutes left. Stefanovic made consecutive 3-pointers during the stretch and Ivey capped it with a dunk. Nebraska cut the deficit to 10 points but didn't get closer. Purdue (15-8, 10-6 Big Ten) has won consecutive games for the first time since a four-game winning streak ended with a 17-point loss to then-No. 7 Michigan on Jan. 22. Shamiel Stevenson scored 10 points off the bench to lead Nebraska (5-15, 1-12).&nbsp;SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Brice Calip scored 17 points, Abby Hipp had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 25 Missouri State beat Bradley 75-62 for its 11th straight win. Sydney Wilson added 13 points and Jasmine Franklin had 10 for Missouri State (15-2, 11-0 Missouri Valley Conference), which is off to its best MVC start since going 11-0 in 2004. The Bears had a 12-0 conference start in 1996. The Bears opened the third quarter on a 11-0 run and closed it with consecutive 3-pointers from Sydney Manning for a 54-39 lead. Gabi Haack scored 24 points to lead Bradley (12-10, 8-7).&nbsp;<h2>Update on the latest sports</h2>NBA-SCHEDULEHeat top Lakers in L.A.UNDATED (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have been held under 100 points in two straight home games while playing without starters Anthony Davis and Dennis Schröder.Kendrick Nunn scored 27 points and the Miami Heat won a rematch of last year's NBA Finals by downing the defending champs, 96-94. Jimmy Butler had 24 points and eight rebounds for the Heat, who managed to hang on despite scoring just 15 in the fourth quarter. LeBron James had 19 points, nine assists and nine rebounds for the Lakers. James also stole the Heat's inbounds pass with 8.4 seconds left to create one last chance for L.A. However, the 17-time All-Star passed off to Alex Caruso, who missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.Checking out Saturday's other NBA action:— Devin Booker nailed five of the Suns' franchise-record 24 3-points and finished with 23 points in a 128-97 romp over the Grizzlies. Mikal (mih-KAYL') Bridges and Cam Payne each had 19 points as Phoenix won for the eighth time in nine games.— The Wizards ended the Trail Blazers' six-game winning streak as Russell Westbrook registered a triple-double of 27 points, 13 assists and 11 boards in Washington's 118-111 victory at Portland. Bradley Beal poured in 37 points for the Wizards, who outscored the Blazers 30-12 in the second quarter and 29-19 in the fourth en route to their fourth straight win.— The Hornets pulled out a 102-100 win over the Warriors on Terry Rozier's off-balance jumper as time expired. Rozier scored 20 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter, including a pair of free throws to tie it.— Zach LaVine (lah-VEEN') pumped in 38 points to lead six Bulls in double-figures during a 112-114 win against the Kings. Coby White contributed 19 points and Thaddeus Young added 18 off the bench in Chicago's third win in four games.TOP 25 MEN'S BASKETBALL-SCHEDULETide nears conference crownUNDATED (AP) — Eighth-ranked Alabama is on the verge of clinching at least a share of its first SEC regular-season title in 19 years.Jaden Shackleford scored a season-high 27 points as the Crimson Tide downed Vanderbilt, 82-78. Jahvon Quinerly made a late 3-pointer and a clinching free throw with two seconds left to help Alabama quell the upset bid. Quinerly finished with 15 points for the Tide, who made just 10 of 39 3-point attempts and still improved to 13-5 overall.The Tide are 13-1 and one win away from clinching the conference crown.In Saturday's other top-25 men's finals— Drew Timme (TIH'-mee) scored 17 of his 21 points in the first half of top-ranked Gonzaga's 26th consecutive win, a 106-69 dismantling of San Diego. Jalen Suggs added 17 points and Corey Kispert chipped in 16 as the Bulldogs ran the nation's longest home winning streak to 49 games.— Ayo Dosunmu (EYE'-oh doh-SOO'-mee) recorded his second triple-double of the season and Kofi (KOH'-fee) Cockburn scored 22 points in 24 minutes as fifth-ranked Illinois coasted to a 94-62 rout of Minnesota. Dosunmu delivered 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, three games after becoming just the third Illini player to post a triple-double.— Freshman Jaemyn Brakefield scored the go-ahead basket on a reverse layup with 1:58 left and Duke came up with a final-possession stop to complete a 66-65 upset of seventh-ranked Virginia. Matthew Hurt scored 22 points for the Blue Devils, who have won three straight to pad their hopes for an NCAA Tournament berth.— Austin Reaves scored 20 points and ninth-ranked Oklahoma coughed up a 21-point, first-half lead before earning a wild 66-56 victory over Iowa State. The Cyclones took a 46-45 lead on Tre Jackson's 3-pointer with 11:29 remaining, but the Sooners responded with a 16-4 run to grab the lead for good.— Collin Gillespie finished with 20 points and 10th-ranked Villanova allowed just 30% shooting in the second half of a win against UConn, 68-60. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Villanova, which was playing first the first time since a poor defensive effort in a loss at Creighton last Saturday.— Sean McNeil and No. 13 West Virginia erased a 19-point deficit in the second half, then withstood a flurry of last-second misses to hold off No. 12 Texas, 84-82. McNeil scored all 16 of his points in the second half, but he also committed two turnovers in the final 11 seconds to help the Longhorns stay in the game.— Southern California's seven-game winning streak is over after James Akinjo scored 20 points in Arizona's 81-72 decision over the Pac-12 leaders. Jordan Brown had 19 points and 13 rebounds. Azuolas Tubelis added 16 points and a career-high 15 boards to help Sean Miller get his 300th victory as the Wildcats' head coach.— Raiquan Gray had 16 points and eight rebounds in helping No. 16 Florida State pick up its third win in a row, 79-72 versus Pittsburgh. Malik Moore contributed 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds for the 13-3 Seminoles, who led for over 35 minutes of the game but never by more than 11 points. — Isaiah Jackson provided 16 points and Kentucky matched a season high with its third straight win, using an early 15-0 run to top No. 19 Tennessee, 70-55. Davion Mintz was accurate from the perimeter, hitting all five of his 3-point shots in the first half and finishing with 15 points.— Dru Smith furnished 17 and Mark Smith 13 as No. 20 Missouri dumped South Carolina, 93-78 to end a three-game losing streak. The Smiths fueled a 25-12 run that helped the Tigers build a 19-point lead in the opening half.— Christian Braun hit a corner 3 with 24 seconds left and David McCormack scored 17 points to guide 23rd-rated Kansas past No. 15 Texas Tech, 67-61. Ochai Agbaji (OH'-chay ahg-BAH'-zhee) had 14 points and Jalen Wilson added 11 as the Jayhawks dealt the Red Raiders their second straight loss.— Jordan Schakel drained four 3-pointers by halftime and finished with 14 points as No. 25 San Diego State earned its eighth straight win, 75-57 versus Fresno State.NHL-SCHEDULECanes blank Bolts to claim division leadUNDATED (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes have taken over first place in the NHL's Central Division by downing the defending Stanley Cup champions.The Canes are 5-0-1 in their last six games after rookie Alex Nedeljkovic (nuh-DEHL'-koh-vihch) made 24 saves in his first NHL shutout to lead a 4-0 shutout of the Lightning.Vincent Trocheck (TROH'-chehk), Sebastian Aho (AH'-hoh), Cedric Paquette and Andrei Svechnikov (SVEHCH'-nih-kahv) scored for the Hurricanes in the first of four consecutive games between the teams. Tampa Bay has yet to score in two meetings, with the Hurricanes this season.Carolina now paces the Central by one point over Florida.The Red Wings bounced back from Friday's 7-2 loss to the Panthers by winning 2-1 at Florida. The Wings trailed 1-0 until Mathias Brome (BROH'-may) and Patrik Nemeth scored in the second period. It was Brome's first NHL goal.Jonathan Bernier (BURN'-yay) stopped 38 shots and was perfect after Alex Wennberg beat him on a power play 14:43 into the game.Meanwhile, it took a lot longer than expected to finish the outdoor game in Lake Tahoe. The game had to be stopped after one period and was delayed for eight hours due to bright sun and temperatures that hovered around freezing, leading to poor ice conditions. The wait was worth it for Devon Toews (deh-VAHN tayvz) and the Colorado Avalanche. Toews set up Nathan MacKinnon's go-ahead goal and delivered the eventual game-winner with 6:49 left as the Avs downed the Golden Knights, 3-2.Elsewhere in the NHL:— Sidney Crosby had two assists in his 1,000th NHL game, and the Penguins erased a 2-1 deficit in thei third period to beat the Islanders, 3-2 on Saturday night. Kris Letang (leh-TANG') scored twice, including a tiebreaking goal in Pittsburgh's fourth win in five games.— Alexis Lafreniere (lah-FREHN'-yehr) ended an eight-game goal drought by providing the eventual game-winner in the Rangers' second consecutive win, 4-1 at Washington. Lafreniere made it 2-0 late in the second period, 59 seconds before Ryan Strome (strohm) padded New York's lead.— Rudolfs Balcers scored his first two goals of the season, including the tiebreaker midway through the third period of the Sharks' 5-4 win over the Blues. San Jose squandered a 4-1 lead before Balcers tipped a shot by Logan Couture with 8:09 left in the third. — Sam Reinhart scored twice and the Sabres snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Devils. Defensemen Colin Miller also tallied and Linus (LEE'-nuhs) Ullmark made 25 saves in Buffalo's first victory since Jan. 30 against New Jersey.— Calle Jarnkrok (KAL'-ee YAHRN'-krahk) provided a pair of goals and Pekka Rinne (PEH'-kuh REE'-nay) made 21 saves to send the Predators past the Blue Jackets, 4-2. The game was tied 2-2 until Jarnkrok and Filip Forsberg scored in the first 45 seconds of the final period.— Alex Iafallo (eye-ah-FAH'-loh) scored twice and Cal Peterson stopped 22 shots as the Kings doubled up the Coyotes, 4-2. Trevor Moore also scored as Los Angeles won its fourth in a row.— The Wild skated to a 5-1 win over the Ducks as Kevin Fiala (fee-A'-lah) provided two goals and an assist. Joel Eriksson Ek, Victor Rask and Mats Zuccarello (zoo-kah-REH'-loh) also scored for the Wild, who swept a two-game set in Anaheim.— Auston Matthews leads the league with 18 goals after netting two more while setting up two others in the Maple Leafs' 5-3 verdict over the Canadiens. Mitch Marner had a goal and two assists and Frederik Andersen stopped 30 saves to help the NHL leaders improve to 14-3-2.— Connor McDavid set up two goals before scoring a natural hat trick in the Oilers' 7-1 pounding of the Flames. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two goals and Mikko Koskinen (MEE'-koh KAHS'-kih-nehn) made 43 saves for Edmonton.TENNIS-AUSTRALIAN OPENOsaka beats Brady to claim 4th Slam trophyMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic (NOH'-vak JOH'-kuh-vich) has beaten Daniil Medvedev (DAN'-ihl MEHD'-veh-dehv) in three sets to win his ninth Australian Open championship and 18th Grand Slam title. The No. 1-seeded Djokovic has won the trophy three years in a row at Melbourne Park. He has won six of the last 10 major tournaments overall and his total of 18 Slams moves him within two of the men's record of 20 shared by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.Medvedev was trying to collect his first Grand Slam title. But Djokovic used superb serving and his usual baseline excellence to end the Russian's 20-match winning streak.PGA-GENESIS INVITATIONALBurns' lead shrinks at RivieraLOS ANGELES (AP) — Sam Burns remained the leader at Riviera Country Club when the third round of the PGA's Genesis Invitational was halted by darkness.Burns has seen his five-stroke lead shrink to two over Matt Fitzpatrick. Burns went 31 consecutive holes with a bogey, a streak that ended on No. 8. He carded back-to-back bogeys that dropped him to 10-under par before play was stopped.Dustin Johnson, Max Homa and Wyndham Clark were another shot behind.The round was held up for four hours due to high wind that was strong enough to move golf balls around and off the green. VIRUS OUTBREAK-SPORTSIndians ace Bieber reports to camp after COVID-19 boutUNDATED (AP) — American League Cy Young winner Shane Bieber has reported to training camp in Arizona with the Cleveland Indians after recovering from COVID-19. The right-hander took part in drills Saturday. The Indians will hold their first full-squad workout in Goodyear, Arizona, on Sunday. The 25-year-old Bieber was baseball's best pitcher during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, earning pitching's Triple Crown by pacing the majors in wins, ERA and strikeouts.In other developments related to the pandemic:— The Columbus Blue Jackets have received permission from state authorities to allow a limited number of fans at games starting next week. Nearly 2,000 fans — 10% of Nationwide Arena's capacity — may attend the last 16 home games, beginning March 2 against Detroit. — North Carolina has found another nonconference schedule addition. The school announced that the Tar Heels will host Marquette on Wednesday, which comes after they had a fourth game postponed in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

Sports Headlines for Sunday

Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:

		San Antonio	at	New York	1 p.m.	(Postponed)

		Oklahoma St.	at	(2)Baylor	4 p.m.	(Postponed)

		(18)Virginia Tech	at	(16)Florida St.	12 p.m.	(Postponed)

		(24)Arkansas	at	Texas A&amp;M	8:30 p.m.	(Postponed)

Final	(25)San Diego St.	75	Fresno St.	57	

AP-ScorecardHere are the scores from yesterday's sports events:___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION		San Antonio	at	New York	1 p.m.	(Postponed)		Indiana	at	Houston	8 p.m.	(Postponed)Final	Charlotte	102	Golden State	100	Final	Miami	96	L.A. Lakers	94	Final	Phoenix	128	Memphis	97	Final	Chicago	122	Sacramento	114	Final	Washington	118	Portland	111	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE		Chicago	at	Carolina	7 p.m.	(Postponed)		Tampa Bay	at	Dallas	8 p.m.	(Postponed)Final	Buffalo	3	New Jersey	2	Final	N-Y Rangers	4	Washington	1	Final	Detroit	2	Florida	1	Final	Los Angeles	4	Arizona	2	Final	Carolina	4	Tampa Bay	0	Final	Pittsburgh	3	N-Y Islanders	2	Final	San Jose	5	St. Louis	4	Final	Nashville	4	Columbus	2	Final	Toronto	5	Montreal	3	Final	Minnesota	5	Anaheim	1	Final	Edmonton	7	Calgary	1	Final	Colorado	3	Vegas	2	___TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL		Oklahoma St.	at	(2)Baylor	4 p.m.	(Postponed)		(18)Virginia Tech	at	(16)Florida St.	12 p.m.	(Postponed)		(24)Arkansas	at	Texas A&amp;M	8:30 p.m.	(Postponed)Final	(1)Gonzaga	106	San Diego	69	Final	(5)Illinois	94	Minnesota	63	Final	Duke	66	(7)Virginia	65	Final	(8)Alabama	82	Vanderbilt	78	Final	(9)Oklahoma	66	Iowa St.	56	Final	(10)Villanova	68	UConn	60	Final	(13)West Virginia	84	(12)Texas	82	Final	(23)Kansas	67	(15)Texas Tech	61	Final	(16)Florida St.	79	Pittsburgh	72	Final	Arizona	81	(17)Southern Cal	72	Final	Kentucky	70	(19)Tennessee	55	Final	(20)Missouri	93	South Carolina	78	Final	(25)San Diego St.	75	Fresno St.	57	___TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION		Boston	at	New Orleans	3:30 p.m.			Detroit	at	Orlando	7 p.m.			Minnesota	at	New York	7 p.m.			Oklahoma City	at	Cleveland	7 p.m.			Philadelphia	at	Toronto	7 p.m.			Denver	at	Atlanta	7:30 p.m.			Brooklyn	at	L.A. Clippers	8 p.m.			Sacramento	at	Milwaukee	9 p.m.	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE		New Jersey	at	Washington	2 p.m.			Montreal	at	Ottawa	7 p.m.			Philadelphia	at	Boston	7:30 p.m.			Winnipeg	at	Vancouver	10 p.m.	___TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL		(3)Michigan	at	(4)Ohio St.	1 p.m.			Cincinnati	at	(6)Houston	1 p.m.			Penn St.	at	(11)Iowa	5 p.m.			(21)Wisconsin	at	Northwestern	7 p.m.	___

Sports Scores from Satruday

Some high school basketball scores provided by Scorestream.com, https://scorestream.com/

Saturday's ScoresBy The Associated Press<h2>BOYS PREP BASKETBALL=</h2>Hays-TMP-Marian 78, Southeast Saline 36Hesston 50, Halstead 16Liberal 68, Great Bend 29Natoma 67, Tescott 22Oakley 43, Cheyenne Wells, Colo. 21Olathe East 50, SM North 48Phillipsburg 49, Concordia 48Sylvan-Lucas 58, Osborne 44Topeka West 68, Topeka 40<h2>GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL=</h2>Cheylin 45, Cheyenne Wells, Colo. 18Fort Scott 44, Pittsburg 25Hays-TMP-Marian 39, Southeast Saline 36Hesston 44, Halstead 31Liberal 68, Great Bend 29Lyndon 44, Axtell 33Osborne 58, Sylvan-Lucas 46Phillipsburg 77, Concordia 42___Some high school basketball scores provided by Scorestream.com, https://scorestream.com/

Prep Scores from Saturday

Last season the Hutchinson Community College volleyball team defeated then-No. 10 Indian Hills in a five-set thriller in the Blue Dragon Classic at the Sports Arena.

The first nine rallies of Friday's 2021 rematch sure looked like the Warriors had revenge on their mind with four kills and three blocks leading to an 8-1 Indian Hills lead.

Led by sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/thorne_jenna_xncq">Jenna Thorne</a>&nbsp;and freshmen&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/briggs_shadee_xm04">Shadee Briggs</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/murrell_shelby_tlgr">Shelby Murrell</a>, the Blue Dragons rallied to defeat Indian Hills in four sets, 23-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-17 to move to 2-0 on Day 1 of the Blue Dragon Classic. Hutchinson earlier in the day swept Central Community College.

The Blue Dragons are now 9-5 after their season-high fourth-straight victory. Hutchinson will play Mineral Area at 11:30 a.m. and Jefferson College at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday to close out the Blue Dragon Classic.

Thorne reached 20 kills in a match for the second time this season and posted her 10th double-double of the season to lead the Blue Dragons. She had 20 kills on 50 attacks and hit .300 to lead the Blue Dragons. Thorne had no less than four kills in each set. She added 15 digs and three service aces.

Briggs finished with 14 kills with four block assists and an ace. She hit .113.

Murrell hit a season-high .500 with a season-high 10 kills on 20 attacks and now errors. She also had a season-high nine 10 total blocks as Hutchinson had a 15-8 block advantage on Indian Hills in the match.

Setter&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/price_chloe_rbgs">Chloe Price</a>&nbsp;had a big match with 45 set assists to go with four block assists, three kills two aces and 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Libero&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/reeder_shelby_zpe9">Shelby Reeder</a>&nbsp;had 25 digs in the match.

Precious Dailey had 16 kills and Jenna Vallee had 11 kills to lead the Warriors, who were 0-2 on Day 1 of the Blue Dragon Classic. Indian Hills also dropped a tight three-set match to No. 14 Missouri State-West Plains earlier in the game.

Indian Hills came out fast and led 8-1 out of the chute. The Blue Dragons immediately responded with a six-point&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/head_kristina_5dlc">Kristina Head</a>&nbsp;service run – Head had a season-high four service aces and has aces in three-straight matches – to pull the Blue Dragon with 8-7. The Blue Dragons tied the set at 12-all on a Briggs kill. Hutch took a short-lived lead at 15-14 after a Price/Head double block. Tied at 18, the Warriors produced kills on 6 of their next 7 points and closed out the set on a Cassia Lemos setter dump on set point. Each team had 14 kills in the opening set, but the Warriors out-blocked the Dragons 4-1.

The Blue Dragons got their block going in the second set with five team blocks. The Dragons had three early stuff blocks in building an early 8-6 lead. A Briggs kill then sparked a run of eight-straight Hutchinson points. Briggs' ace topped the run and Hutch led 16-6. Murrell got a kill to make it 19-8 Hutchison. The Warriors scored 5 of the next 6 points to pull within 20-13, but the Dragons got back-to-back double blocks from&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/larson_taegan_9xc6">Taegen Larsen</a>&nbsp;and Murrell and Larsen and Head to take a 22-13 lead. Thorne and Briggs had four kills each while Murrell and Larsen had four blocks assists each as Hutchinson tied the match at a set each after a 25-19 win in the second set.

The Dragons built an 11-6 lead in the third set when Indian Hills' Dailey started to come to life. She had six kills in the third set – 12 of her 16 kills game in the middle two sets. She terminated on back-to-back swings to pull the Warriors within 12-9. A 6-1 Indian Hills run tied the set at 12 after a Lemos service ace. Tied at 16, the Warriors committed two of their eight attack errors and Price dropped a setter dump for a 19-16 Dragon lead. With Hutchinson leading 21-18, the Warriors scored 6 of the next 8 points and had set point at 24-23. The Dragons fought off that set point with a Warrior service error. Hutch closed the set with an Indian Hills attack error and Thorne service ace.

Hutchinson built a 7-1 lead to start the fourth set and never looked back. Briggs had a kill to make it 11-4 before Indian Hills scored four straight and 8 of the next 11 points to pull within 14-12. Murrell then sparks a 7-0 Hutchinson run with two kills and two blocks. The Dragons quickly built a 21-12 lead. The final three Dragon points were a&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/lettries_myracle_x6su">Myracle Lettries</a>&nbsp;solo block, a Head/Briggs combo block and a Briggs kill on match point.

By STEVE CARPENTER - Hutchinson CC Sports InformationLast season the Hutchinson Community College volleyball team defeated then-No. 10 Indian Hills in a five-set thriller in the Blue Dragon Classic at the Sports Arena.The first nine rallies of Friday's 2021 rematch sure looked like the Warriors had revenge on their mind with four kills and three blocks leading to an 8-1 Indian Hills lead.Led by sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/thorne_jenna_xncq">Jenna Thorne</a>&nbsp;and freshmen&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/briggs_shadee_xm04">Shadee Briggs</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/murrell_shelby_tlgr">Shelby Murrell</a>, the Blue Dragons rallied to defeat Indian Hills in four sets, 23-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-17 to move to 2-0 on Day 1 of the Blue Dragon Classic. Hutchinson earlier in the day swept Central Community College.The Blue Dragons are now 9-5 after their season-high fourth-straight victory. Hutchinson will play Mineral Area at 11:30 a.m. and Jefferson College at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday to close out the Blue Dragon Classic.Thorne reached 20 kills in a match for the second time this season and posted her 10th double-double of the season to lead the Blue Dragons. She had 20 kills on 50 attacks and hit .300 to lead the Blue Dragons. Thorne had no less than four kills in each set. She added 15 digs and three service aces.Briggs finished with 14 kills with four block assists and an ace. She hit .113.Murrell hit a season-high .500 with a season-high 10 kills on 20 attacks and now errors. She also had a season-high nine 10 total blocks as Hutchinson had a 15-8 block advantage on Indian Hills in the match.Setter&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/price_chloe_rbgs">Chloe Price</a>&nbsp;had a big match with 45 set assists to go with four block assists, three kills two aces and 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Libero&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/reeder_shelby_zpe9">Shelby Reeder</a>&nbsp;had 25 digs in the match.Precious Dailey had 16 kills and Jenna Vallee had 11 kills to lead the Warriors, who were 0-2 on Day 1 of the Blue Dragon Classic. Indian Hills also dropped a tight three-set match to No. 14 Missouri State-West Plains earlier in the game.Indian Hills came out fast and led 8-1 out of the chute. The Blue Dragons immediately responded with a six-point&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/head_kristina_5dlc">Kristina Head</a>&nbsp;service run – Head had a season-high four service aces and has aces in three-straight matches – to pull the Blue Dragon with 8-7. The Blue Dragons tied the set at 12-all on a Briggs kill. Hutch took a short-lived lead at 15-14 after a Price/Head double block. Tied at 18, the Warriors produced kills on 6 of their next 7 points and closed out the set on a Cassia Lemos setter dump on set point. Each team had 14 kills in the opening set, but the Warriors out-blocked the Dragons 4-1.The Blue Dragons got their block going in the second set with five team blocks. The Dragons had three early stuff blocks in building an early 8-6 lead. A Briggs kill then sparked a run of eight-straight Hutchinson points. Briggs' ace topped the run and Hutch led 16-6. Murrell got a kill to make it 19-8 Hutchison. The Warriors scored 5 of the next 6 points to pull within 20-13, but the Dragons got back-to-back double blocks from&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/larson_taegan_9xc6">Taegen Larsen</a>&nbsp;and Murrell and Larsen and Head to take a 22-13 lead. Thorne and Briggs had four kills each while Murrell and Larsen had four blocks assists each as Hutchinson tied the match at a set each after a 25-19 win in the second set.The Dragons built an 11-6 lead in the third set when Indian Hills' Dailey started to come to life. She had six kills in the third set – 12 of her 16 kills game in the middle two sets. She terminated on back-to-back swings to pull the Warriors within 12-9. A 6-1 Indian Hills run tied the set at 12 after a Lemos service ace. Tied at 16, the Warriors committed two of their eight attack errors and Price dropped a setter dump for a 19-16 Dragon lead. With Hutchinson leading 21-18, the Warriors scored 6 of the next 8 points and had set point at 24-23. The Dragons fought off that set point with a Warrior service error. Hutch closed the set with an Indian Hills attack error and Thorne service ace.Hutchinson built a 7-1 lead to start the fourth set and never looked back. Briggs had a kill to make it 11-4 before Indian Hills scored four straight and 8 of the next 11 points to pull within 14-12. Murrell then sparks a 7-0 Hutchinson run with two kills and two blocks. The Dragons quickly built a 21-12 lead. The final three Dragon points were a&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/lettries_myracle_x6su">Myracle Lettries</a>&nbsp;solo block, a Head/Briggs combo block and a Briggs kill on match point.

Blue Dragon Volleyball topples Indian Hills in 4 set in Classic

Held to just four kills over the first three sets, leading hitter&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/thorne_jenna_xncq">Jenna Thorne</a>&nbsp;came to life when the Hutchinson Community College Volleyball Team needed her to.

Down 2 sets to 1 in its Blue Dragon Classic match against Mineral Area College, Hutchinson's leading hitter tallied eight kills and three blocks over the final two sets to help the Blue Dragons rally for a five-set victory over the Cardinals.

Hutchinson won its fifth match in a row after a 25-21, 20-25, 20-25, 25-18, 15-7 victory over the Cardinals. This was Hutchinson's second five-set win this season as the Blue Dragons improved to 11-5 overall.

The Blue Dragons were supposed to play Jefferson College in the final match of the day, but Jefferson was forced to pull out of Saturday's matches. The Blue Dragons are next in action on Tuesday when they play host to Colby in a Jayhawk West weather make-up at 6 p.m. at the Sports Arena.

With the victory, Hutchinson finished undefeated in its home tournament for the first time since 2013.

After winning the first set, the Blue Dragons hit just .032 in the second and third sets combined and Mineral Area built a 2-1 match lead. Thorne was held to her lowest kill total through three sets all season.

That started to change in the fourth. Thorne had two kills and a block assist in an early 10-3 surge to start the fourth set. Her solo block late in the set stopped a 4-1 Mineral Area surge to give Hutch a 22-17 lead. The Dragons won 3 of the final 4 rallies to win 25-18 and force a fifth set.

Thorne took over in the fifth set with four kills and a solo block in a decisive 6-1 run that propelled Hutchinson to a 9-3 lead. The Blue Dragons sided out four-straight times to close out the Cardinals 15-7.

Thorne hit just .147 for the match with 12 kills and six errors on 34 swings. She hit .444 on her eight kills over the final two sets. Thorne had her third double-double of the Classic and 11th of the season with 11 digs and four total blocks, including two solo blocks.

Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/briggs_shadee_xm04">Shadee Briggs</a>&nbsp;had a match-high 16 kills on .289 hitting. She posted her second double-double of the weekend and fifth of the season with 18 digs. Briggs added three aces. She had four kills and a pair of aces in the fourth set.

Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/murrell_shelby_tlgr">Shelby Murrell</a>&nbsp;had eight kills on 18 attacks and four block assists. Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/head_kristina_5dlc">Kristina Head</a>&nbsp;had six kills and eight total blocks.

The Blue Dragons out-blocked Mineral Area 16-5 and had eight service aces.

Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/price_chloe_rbgs">Chloe Price</a>&nbsp;had 43 assists with two blocks and two kills. Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/reeder_shelby_zpe9">Shelby Reeder</a>&nbsp;finished with 25 digs.

Alayna Rooks had 14 kills and Kaylee Portel had 12 digs to lead Mineral Area.

The first set had 14 ties and 10 lead changes. Hutchinson led 17-15, but the Cardinals scored three in a row to take a one-point lead. Murrell tied it at 18 with a kill. The next seven rallies were all sideouts.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/head_kristina_5dlc">Kristina Head</a>&nbsp;had a kill to tie the set at 21. The Dragons scored the final five points of the set for a 20-21 win, the final two points coming on Briggs' kills.

Hutch led the second set 13-12 before the Cardinals took charge with a 6-0 run. With Mineral Area leading 20-14, the Dragons scored five-straight points, capped by a Price setter dump to pull within 20-19. Mineral Area scored 5 of the final 6 points of the set to even the match at 1-1.

Mineral Area built a 19-11 lead in the third set. The Blue Dragons climbed back into the set with a six-service run by Reeder, who had two aces in the run, to pull Hutchinson within 19-17. Mineral Area answered with three straight points and won the set 25-20 to lead the match 2-1.

<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/lettries_myracle_x6su">Myracle Lettries</a>&nbsp;had a solo block to cap a 7-1 Hutchinson start in the fourth set. Murrell's kill made it 10-3, but the Cardinals answered that surge with four-straight points to pull within 10-7 and Mineral Area eventually tied the set at 13 on a Blue Dragon attack error. A Briggs' kill then started a run of seven-straight point. The Dragons had three of their six fourth-set blocks during that run to lead 20-13. After the Cardinals pulled within 21-17, Thorne's solo block started a set-clinching 4-1 run to win 25-18, knotting the match at 2-all.

Mineral Area scored the first two points of the fifth set, but on Dragon attack errors. Thorne then exploded to give Hutch a 9-3 lead. In addition to Thorne's four kills and solo block, Reeder recorded her third ace of the match and a Head/Lettries double block gave Hutch a 9-3 lead. The Dragons didn't let Mineral Area back into the match with four-straight side-out opportunities. The Dragons held Mineral Area to only two kills in the final set.

By STEVE CARPENTER - Hutchinson CC Sports InformationHeld to just four kills over the first three sets, leading hitter&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/thorne_jenna_xncq">Jenna Thorne</a>&nbsp;came to life when the Hutchinson Community College Volleyball Team needed her to.Down 2 sets to 1 in its Blue Dragon Classic match against Mineral Area College, Hutchinson's leading hitter tallied eight kills and three blocks over the final two sets to help the Blue Dragons rally for a five-set victory over the Cardinals.Hutchinson won its fifth match in a row after a 25-21, 20-25, 20-25, 25-18, 15-7 victory over the Cardinals. This was Hutchinson's second five-set win this season as the Blue Dragons improved to 11-5 overall.The Blue Dragons were supposed to play Jefferson College in the final match of the day, but Jefferson was forced to pull out of Saturday's matches. The Blue Dragons are next in action on Tuesday when they play host to Colby in a Jayhawk West weather make-up at 6 p.m. at the Sports Arena.With the victory, Hutchinson finished undefeated in its home tournament for the first time since 2013.After winning the first set, the Blue Dragons hit just .032 in the second and third sets combined and Mineral Area built a 2-1 match lead. Thorne was held to her lowest kill total through three sets all season.That started to change in the fourth. Thorne had two kills and a block assist in an early 10-3 surge to start the fourth set. Her solo block late in the set stopped a 4-1 Mineral Area surge to give Hutch a 22-17 lead. The Dragons won 3 of the final 4 rallies to win 25-18 and force a fifth set.Thorne took over in the fifth set with four kills and a solo block in a decisive 6-1 run that propelled Hutchinson to a 9-3 lead. The Blue Dragons sided out four-straight times to close out the Cardinals 15-7.Thorne hit just .147 for the match with 12 kills and six errors on 34 swings. She hit .444 on her eight kills over the final two sets. Thorne had her third double-double of the Classic and 11th of the season with 11 digs and four total blocks, including two solo blocks.Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/briggs_shadee_xm04">Shadee Briggs</a>&nbsp;had a match-high 16 kills on .289 hitting. She posted her second double-double of the weekend and fifth of the season with 18 digs. Briggs added three aces. She had four kills and a pair of aces in the fourth set.Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/murrell_shelby_tlgr">Shelby Murrell</a>&nbsp;had eight kills on 18 attacks and four block assists. Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/head_kristina_5dlc">Kristina Head</a>&nbsp;had six kills and eight total blocks.The Blue Dragons out-blocked Mineral Area 16-5 and had eight service aces.Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/price_chloe_rbgs">Chloe Price</a>&nbsp;had 43 assists with two blocks and two kills. Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/reeder_shelby_zpe9">Shelby Reeder</a>&nbsp;finished with 25 digs.Alayna Rooks had 14 kills and Kaylee Portel had 12 digs to lead Mineral Area.The first set had 14 ties and 10 lead changes. Hutchinson led 17-15, but the Cardinals scored three in a row to take a one-point lead. Murrell tied it at 18 with a kill. The next seven rallies were all sideouts.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/head_kristina_5dlc">Kristina Head</a>&nbsp;had a kill to tie the set at 21. The Dragons scored the final five points of the set for a 20-21 win, the final two points coming on Briggs' kills.Hutch led the second set 13-12 before the Cardinals took charge with a 6-0 run. With Mineral Area leading 20-14, the Dragons scored five-straight points, capped by a Price setter dump to pull within 20-19. Mineral Area scored 5 of the final 6 points of the set to even the match at 1-1.Mineral Area built a 19-11 lead in the third set. The Blue Dragons climbed back into the set with a six-service run by Reeder, who had two aces in the run, to pull Hutchinson within 19-17. Mineral Area answered with three straight points and won the set 25-20 to lead the match 2-1.<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/bios/lettries_myracle_x6su">Myracle Lettries</a>&nbsp;had a solo block to cap a 7-1 Hutchinson start in the fourth set. Murrell's kill made it 10-3, but the Cardinals answered that surge with four-straight points to pull within 10-7 and Mineral Area eventually tied the set at 13 on a Blue Dragon attack error. A Briggs' kill then started a run of seven-straight point. The Dragons had three of their six fourth-set blocks during that run to lead 20-13. After the Cardinals pulled within 21-17, Thorne's solo block started a set-clinching 4-1 run to win 25-18, knotting the match at 2-all.Mineral Area scored the first two points of the fifth set, but on Dragon attack errors. Thorne then exploded to give Hutch a 9-3 lead. In addition to Thorne's four kills and solo block, Reeder recorded her third ace of the match and a Head/Lettries double block gave Hutch a 9-3 lead. The Dragons didn't let Mineral Area back into the match with four-straight side-out opportunities. The Dragons held Mineral Area to only two kills in the final set.

Blue Dragon Volleyball shines in Blue Dragon Classic going 3-0

LAWRENCE, Kan.&nbsp;– No. 23 Kansas led wire-to-wire in a hotly contested battle to defeat No. 15 Texas Tech, 67-61, inside Allen Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon. The victory was the Jayhawks’ fifth-straight win.

Kansas improved to 17-7 on the season and 11-5 in Big 12 play, while Texas Tech fell to 14-7, 6-6. The Jayhawks had five scorers in double figures with junior big man David McCormack leading the way with 17 points, shooting 7-10 from the field.

Following McCormack’s lead was junior Ochai Agbaji with 14 points, redshirt-freshman Jalen Wilson with 11 points, his eighth straight game scoring in double figures. KU senior Marcus Garrett and sophomore Christian Braun each scored 10 points for the contest to mark Kansas’ fifth game with five or more players in double figures this season.

Kansas came ready to play, holding Texas Tech scoreless through the first four minutes of the game. McCormack was the hot hand in the first half, scoring 12 points on a perfect 5-of-5 from the field.

Kansas extended its lead to nine off a freshman Bryce Thompson three, but Texas Tech’s junior transfer Mac McClung answered with a three-pointer at the buzzer, to cut the KU lead to 31-25 at the break.

The Jayhawks came out of the locker room with a burst of energy. Five seconds into the second half Wilson sank a three-pointer before Texas Tech went on a mini 5-0 run. The Jayhawks responded with an 8-0 run of their own, extending their lead to 12, the largest of the afternoon.

Both teams traded baskets as Texas Tech tried to cut the lead down to a possession. They were only able to do so once late in the half. Texas Tech’s Terrence Shannon Jr. pulled up from the top of the arc, drilled a three-pointer, and cut the Jayhawks’ lead to just three points at 64-61.

Kansas, needing to respond, turned to Braun. The guard created space for himself, received the pass from Wilson, pulled up from three-point range, and swished it. The Red Raiders put up a desperation shot at the other end, Braun pulled down the rebound, and the Jayhawks dribbled out the clock for their fifth-straight win.

Kansas shot 25-61 (41%) from the field, 8-26 (30.8%) from three-point range, and 9-12 (75%) from the free-throw line. KU held Texas Tech to 22-52 (42.3%) from the field, 5-15 (33.3%) from three-point range, and 12-19 (63.2%) from the free-throw line.

Kansas outrebounded Texas Tech 36-35, while pulling in three more offensive rebounds as well. The Jayhawks also turned the ball over just six times, which ties their season low previously set against Kansas State on Feb. 2.

8 –&nbsp;With his 11 points and 11 rebounds against Texas Tech Jalen Wilson recorded his eighth double-double of the season and scored in double figures for the eighth straight game.

Following a Red Raiders, three-pointer the Jayhawks were up three points with 44 seconds left. Texas Tech opted not to foul meaning Kansas needed a bucket to effectively put the game on ice. Christian Braun was the one to take the shot. He pulled up from three, in rhythm with a pass from Jalen Wilson, and nailed the shot giving the Jayhawks a six-point lead, and the victory.

Kansas plays its last scheduled road game of the 2020-21 regular season at No. 12/13 Texas on Tuesday, Feb. 23. The contest will begin at 8 p.m. (Central) and televised on ESPN.

The game was originally scheduled for Feb. 22. Kansas leads the overall series with Texas, 35-10, which includes a UT 84-59 win in Lawrence on Jan. 2, 2021. Kansas leads 11-7 in meetings in Austin, with all 18 played at the Erwin Center.

LAWRENCE, Kan.&nbsp;– No. 23 Kansas led wire-to-wire in a hotly contested battle to defeat No. 15 Texas Tech, 67-61, inside Allen Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon. The victory was the Jayhawks’ fifth-straight win.Kansas improved to 17-7 on the season and 11-5 in Big 12 play, while Texas Tech fell to 14-7, 6-6. The Jayhawks had five scorers in double figures with junior big man David McCormack leading the way with 17 points, shooting 7-10 from the field.Following McCormack’s lead was junior Ochai Agbaji with 14 points, redshirt-freshman Jalen Wilson with 11 points, his eighth straight game scoring in double figures. KU senior Marcus Garrett and sophomore Christian Braun each scored 10 points for the contest to mark Kansas’ fifth game with five or more players in double figures this season.Kansas came ready to play, holding Texas Tech scoreless through the first four minutes of the game. McCormack was the hot hand in the first half, scoring 12 points on a perfect 5-of-5 from the field.Kansas extended its lead to nine off a freshman Bryce Thompson three, but Texas Tech’s junior transfer Mac McClung answered with a three-pointer at the buzzer, to cut the KU lead to 31-25 at the break.The Jayhawks came out of the locker room with a burst of energy. Five seconds into the second half Wilson sank a three-pointer before Texas Tech went on a mini 5-0 run. The Jayhawks responded with an 8-0 run of their own, extending their lead to 12, the largest of the afternoon.Both teams traded baskets as Texas Tech tried to cut the lead down to a possession. They were only able to do so once late in the half. Texas Tech’s Terrence Shannon Jr. pulled up from the top of the arc, drilled a three-pointer, and cut the Jayhawks’ lead to just three points at 64-61.Kansas, needing to respond, turned to Braun. The guard created space for himself, received the pass from Wilson, pulled up from three-point range, and swished it. The Red Raiders put up a desperation shot at the other end, Braun pulled down the rebound, and the Jayhawks dribbled out the clock for their fifth-straight win.Kansas shot 25-61 (41%) from the field, 8-26 (30.8%) from three-point range, and 9-12 (75%) from the free-throw line. KU held Texas Tech to 22-52 (42.3%) from the field, 5-15 (33.3%) from three-point range, and 12-19 (63.2%) from the free-throw line.Kansas outrebounded Texas Tech 36-35, while pulling in three more offensive rebounds as well. The Jayhawks also turned the ball over just six times, which ties their season low previously set against Kansas State on Feb. 2.STAT OF THE GAME8 –&nbsp;With his 11 points and 11 rebounds against Texas Tech Jalen Wilson recorded his eighth double-double of the season and scored in double figures for the eighth straight game.MOMENT OF THE GAMEFollowing a Red Raiders, three-pointer the Jayhawks were up three points with 44 seconds left. Texas Tech opted not to foul meaning Kansas needed a bucket to effectively put the game on ice. Christian Braun was the one to take the shot. He pulled up from three, in rhythm with a pass from Jalen Wilson, and nailed the shot giving the Jayhawks a six-point lead, and the victory.NOTES<ul>
 <li>Kansas improved to 17-7 overall and 11-5 in Big 12 play, giving KU 11 league wins for the 27th consecutive season beginning in 1994-95.</li><li>Kansas also improved to 11-1 in Allen Fieldhouse this season, 813-115 all-time in the venue, including 275-15 under head coach Bill Self.</li><li>The five Jayhawks in double figures marked the fifth time this season KU had five or more players in double figures. Kansas last had five players in double figures against No. 23/22 Oklahoma State on Feb. 8.</li><li>Kansas led wire-to-wire, the first time the Jayhawks led the whole game over a ranked opponent since Dec. 8, 2019, when Kansas defeated No. 20 Colorado, 72-58.</li><li>Junior David McCormack led KU with 17 points. This marks his 15th game of the season, including seven of his last eight, scoring in double-digits.</li><li>Junior Ochai Agbaji scored 14 points, marking his 42nd career game in double figures including his 20th of the season.</li><li>Redshirt-freshman Jalen Wilson led the team in rebounds with 11, including eight defensive rebounds. This is the sixth consecutive game he has led the team in rebounds and his ninth game this season with 10 or more rebounds.</li><li>Wilson also put up 11 points making for his eighth career double-double and his eighth straight game with 10+ points.</li><li>Senior Marcus Garrett scored 10 points which marks his 10th game this season scoring in double figures, eight of those 10 have come in Big 12 play.</li>
 </ul>UP NEXTKansas plays its last scheduled road game of the 2020-21 regular season at No. 12/13 Texas on Tuesday, Feb. 23. The contest will begin at 8 p.m. (Central) and televised on ESPN.The game was originally scheduled for Feb. 22. Kansas leads the overall series with Texas, 35-10, which includes a UT 84-59 win in Lawrence on Jan. 2, 2021. Kansas leads 11-7 in meetings in Austin, with all 18 played at the Erwin Center.

🏀 Kansas outlasts Texas Tech, 67-61, for fifth straight win

FORT WORTH, Texas&nbsp;– Kansas State ended the game on a 16-3 run, including a pivotal 10-0 run down by 5 points with 5 minutes to play, as the Wildcats snapped a 13-game losing streak with a 62-54 win over TCU in front of a limited capacity crowd of 2,145 fans at Schollmaier Arena on Saturday afternoon. The win was the first for K-State (6-18, 2-13 Big 12) in the calendar year 2021 and the first since a 60-58 victory over Omaha on December 29, 2020. It also ended a 12-game skid in Big 12 action and was the first since earning a 74-65 win at Iowa State in the Big 12 opener on December 15, 2020. Down 51-46 with just 5 minutes to play after a 3-point play by freshman&nbsp;Mike Miles, the Wildcats erupted for 10 consecutive points over a more than 2 minute stretch that was capped by a 3-pointer from freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7430">Selton Miguel</a>&nbsp;with 2:34 remaining. After Miles added a pair of free throws to again close the deficit to one possession at 56-53, freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7431">Nijel Pack</a>&nbsp;knocked down a pull-up jumper to push it back out to 58-53 with 1:22 to play. Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7423">Mike McGuirl</a>, who led all scorers with 16 points, and Miguel then finished it off at the free throw line. Although the offense provided the lift at the right moment, it was the defense that was key to victory. K-State held TCU to an opponent-low 31.9 percent (15-of-47) shooting, including 26.9 percent (7-of-26) in the second half. In all, the Wildcats held the Horned Frogs to opponent season-lows in 5 categories, including field goals made (15) and attempted (47), field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage (22.2) and assists (6). The Miles' layup with 5:01 left was the Horned Frogs' last made field goal in the game. Offensively, K-State connected on 40.4 percent (23-of-57) from the field, including 35.7 percent (5-of-14) from 3-point range, and hit on 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the free throw line. McGuirl was impressive all-around in helping the Wildcats halt the skid, scoring his game-high 16 points on 6-of-14 field goals, including a pair of 3-pointers, to go with a career-high 9 rebounds and game-high 5 assists. He now has a team-leading 16 double-digit scoring games, while it marked the first time in his career that he led the team in points, rebounds and assists. Pack (12) and fellow freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7426">Davion Bradford</a>&nbsp;(10) also registered double figures, while Miguel chipped in 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and team-high 2 steals. Miguel was stellar on the defensive end, holding TCU's leading scorer and the Big 12's fourth-leading scorer -- junior&nbsp;R.J. Nembhard&nbsp;-- to 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting, including 1-of-4 from 3-point range, with half (7) coming from the free throw line. Nembhard led the Horned Frogs (11-9, 4-7 Big 12) with his 14 points, while freshman&nbsp;Mike Miles&nbsp;added 13 points on 3-of-13 shooting, including 0-of-7 from 3-point range. Junior&nbsp;Kevin Samuel&nbsp;narrowly missed a double-double with 9 points, a game-tying 9 rebounds and a game-high 5 blocks in 28 minutes. In addition to snapping the losing streak, the Wildcats won for the first time in the month of February since an 85-46 victory over Oklahoma State at home on February 23, 2019, halting a 15-game skid, while it was the first win on a Saturday in 2020-21, ending a 9-game streak. KEY STRETCH(ES) Down 21-18 after a 3-pointer by senior&nbsp;Kevin Easley&nbsp;with 5:44 to play, K-State finished off the first half by scoring 11 of the last 19 points. During this stretch, the Wildcats got buckets from five different players, including a 3-pointer from freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7431">Nijel Pack</a>. The 29-all tie broke a streak of 13 consecutive games trailing at the half. The Wildcats rattled off 10 straight points after trailing 51-46 with 5:01 to play that was capped by a 3-pointer from freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7430">Selton Miguel</a>&nbsp;with 2:34 remaining. Three different players scored in the stretch, including a layup by sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7420">Kaosi Ezeagu</a>, a 3-pointer from freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7431">Nijel Pack</a>&nbsp;and 5 straight points from Miguel. After TCU hit a pair of free throws to close the deficit to one possession at 56-53, Pack connected on a pull-up jumper to push it back out to 58-53 with 1:22 to play. Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7423">Mike McGuirl</a>&nbsp;and Miguel then finished it off at the free throw line with 4 consecutive makes. PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7423">Mike McGuirl</a>&nbsp;nearly tallied his first career double-double with a game-high 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, to go with a career-high 9 rebounds and 5 assists in 36 minutes. He led all players in points, rebounds and assists. Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7431">Nijel Pack</a>&nbsp;scored in double figures for the ninth time in 10 games with 12 points on 4-of-15 field goals to go with a team-tying 5 assists, 3 rebounds and a steal in 39 minutes. STAT OF THE GAME 31.9 – K-State was stellar on defense against TCU, holding the Horned Frogs to an opponent-low 31.9 percent (15-of-47) shooting, including 22.2 percent (4-of-18) from 3-point range, while forcing 14 turnovers. The Frogs shot just 26.9 percent (7-of-26) from the field in the second half, including 11.1 percent (1-of-9) from beyond the arc. IN THEIR WORDS K-State Head Coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1566">Bruce Weber</a> On the game… "I'm just thrilled for our guys. Obviously, it's been a long stretch. I begged and pleaded for them not to quit. I know we've made improvement. It hasn't shown in wins and losses. We've become a competitive team. Probably at times earlier we weren't. My whole thing was the preparation, the scout by Coach (Shane) Southwell, they were locked into it. I called Shane after the Kansas game. I said, 'What do we need to do?' He said, 'We need to score, Coach'. To be honest, we need to stop them. If they score, we haven't scored all year, so we're not going to have a chance to win. We did shoot a lot the next day and did work on offense, but I made sure I talked to them about really being prepared. We did a lot of good things the first time we played them. We just didn't make enough plays and enough shots, especially when we got it close. Then just being consistent, focus on being self-disciplined and selfless. Our guys really bought into trying to win the game. Selton (Miguel) just kind of made a decision. I've kind of begged him. You can guard, Selton. 'You're big time.' He took the challenge. He did a great job on (RJ) Nembhard. He still got 14, but he made him earn it. That focus just on that, then guess what happens? He gets a layup and hits a three, big plays.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7423">Mike McGuirl</a>&nbsp;got a couple of threes down early, a great line, 16 and nine which is a career high, and five assists. He guarded (Mike) Miles and did a really good job on Nembhard, too. He was 3-for-13 and Nembhard was 3-for-11. Those two guys stepped up defensively, but it was a team win, because we had to have everybody make plays. We got some fast breaks in the second half. We haven't had a lot of those. Those were important. We didn't get to the line much, none in the first half. Down the stretch, we definitely made the free throws. I'm not sure they scored a field goal in the last five or six minutes, so we did a lot of good things. The players win games. They found a way to win it. Happy for them and proud of them. Now we have to worry about Oklahoma and see if we can come and have that same consistent effort and focus."&nbsp; BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

WHAT'S NEXT K-State starts the final week of the regular season with a pair of Top 15 matchups, beginning with a home game with No. 9/10 Oklahoma (14-5, 9-4 Big 12) on Tuesday at 8 p.m., CT on ESPNU. It will be Senior Night, as the Wildcats will honor its lone senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7423">Mike McGuirl</a>&nbsp;in a pregame ceremony. The Sooners are looking to sweep the regular-season series for the second straight season after posting a 76-50 win at home on Jan. 19.

FORT WORTH, Texas&nbsp;– Kansas State ended the game on a 16-3 run, including a pivotal 10-0 run down by 5 points with 5 minutes to play, as the Wildcats snapped a 13-game losing streak with a 62-54 win over TCU in front of a limited capacity crowd of 2,145 fans at Schollmaier Arena on Saturday afternoon. The win was the first for K-State (6-18, 2-13 Big 12) in the calendar year 2021 and the first since a 60-58 victory over Omaha on December 29, 2020. It also ended a 12-game skid in Big 12 action and was the first since earning a 74-65 win at Iowa State in the Big 12 opener on December 15, 2020. Down 51-46 with just 5 minutes to play after a 3-point play by freshman&nbsp;Mike Miles, the Wildcats erupted for 10 consecutive points over a more than 2 minute stretch that was capped by a 3-pointer from freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7430">Selton Miguel</a>&nbsp;with 2:34 remaining. After Miles added a pair of free throws to again close the deficit to one possession at 56-53, freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7431">Nijel Pack</a>&nbsp;knocked down a pull-up jumper to push it back out to 58-53 with 1:22 to play. Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7423">Mike McGuirl</a>, who led all scorers with 16 points, and Miguel then finished it off at the free throw line. Although the offense provided the lift at the right moment, it was the defense that was key to victory. K-State held TCU to an opponent-low 31.9 percent (15-of-47) shooting, including 26.9 percent (7-of-26) in the second half. In all, the Wildcats held the Horned Frogs to opponent season-lows in 5 categories, including field goals made (15) and attempted (47), field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage (22.2) and assists (6). The Miles' layup with 5:01 left was the Horned Frogs' last made field goal in the game. Offensively, K-State connected on 40.4 percent (23-of-57) from the field, including 35.7 percent (5-of-14) from 3-point range, and hit on 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the free throw line. McGuirl was impressive all-around in helping the Wildcats halt the skid, scoring his game-high 16 points on 6-of-14 field goals, including a pair of 3-pointers, to go with a career-high 9 rebounds and game-high 5 assists. He now has a team-leading 16 double-digit scoring games, while it marked the first time in his career that he led the team in points, rebounds and assists. Pack (12) and fellow freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7426">Davion Bradford</a>&nbsp;(10) also registered double figures, while Miguel chipped in 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and team-high 2 steals. Miguel was stellar on the defensive end, holding TCU's leading scorer and the Big 12's fourth-leading scorer -- junior&nbsp;R.J. Nembhard&nbsp;-- to 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting, including 1-of-4 from 3-point range, with half (7) coming from the free throw line. Nembhard led the Horned Frogs (11-9, 4-7 Big 12) with his 14 points, while freshman&nbsp;Mike Miles&nbsp;added 13 points on 3-of-13 shooting, including 0-of-7 from 3-point range. Junior&nbsp;Kevin Samuel&nbsp;narrowly missed a double-double with 9 points, a game-tying 9 rebounds and a game-high 5 blocks in 28 minutes. In addition to snapping the losing streak, the Wildcats won for the first time in the month of February since an 85-46 victory over Oklahoma State at home on February 23, 2019, halting a 15-game skid, while it was the first win on a Saturday in 2020-21, ending a 9-game streak. KEY STRETCH(ES) Down 21-18 after a 3-pointer by senior&nbsp;Kevin Easley&nbsp;with 5:44 to play, K-State finished off the first half by scoring 11 of the last 19 points. During this stretch, the Wildcats got buckets from five different players, including a 3-pointer from freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7431">Nijel Pack</a>. The 29-all tie broke a streak of 13 consecutive games trailing at the half. The Wildcats rattled off 10 straight points after trailing 51-46 with 5:01 to play that was capped by a 3-pointer from freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7430">Selton Miguel</a>&nbsp;with 2:34 remaining. Three different players scored in the stretch, including a layup by sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7420">Kaosi Ezeagu</a>, a 3-pointer from freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7431">Nijel Pack</a>&nbsp;and 5 straight points from Miguel. After TCU hit a pair of free throws to close the deficit to one possession at 56-53, Pack connected on a pull-up jumper to push it back out to 58-53 with 1:22 to play. Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7423">Mike McGuirl</a>&nbsp;and Miguel then finished it off at the free throw line with 4 consecutive makes. PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7423">Mike McGuirl</a>&nbsp;nearly tallied his first career double-double with a game-high 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, to go with a career-high 9 rebounds and 5 assists in 36 minutes. He led all players in points, rebounds and assists. Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7431">Nijel Pack</a>&nbsp;scored in double figures for the ninth time in 10 games with 12 points on 4-of-15 field goals to go with a team-tying 5 assists, 3 rebounds and a steal in 39 minutes. STAT OF THE GAME 31.9 – K-State was stellar on defense against TCU, holding the Horned Frogs to an opponent-low 31.9 percent (15-of-47) shooting, including 22.2 percent (4-of-18) from 3-point range, while forcing 14 turnovers. The Frogs shot just 26.9 percent (7-of-26) from the field in the second half, including 11.1 percent (1-of-9) from beyond the arc. IN THEIR WORDS K-State Head Coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1566">Bruce Weber</a> On the game… "I'm just thrilled for our guys. Obviously, it's been a long stretch. I begged and pleaded for them not to quit. I know we've made improvement. It hasn't shown in wins and losses. We've become a competitive team. Probably at times earlier we weren't. My whole thing was the preparation, the scout by Coach (Shane) Southwell, they were locked into it. I called Shane after the Kansas game. I said, 'What do we need to do?' He said, 'We need to score, Coach'. To be honest, we need to stop them. If they score, we haven't scored all year, so we're not going to have a chance to win. We did shoot a lot the next day and did work on offense, but I made sure I talked to them about really being prepared. We did a lot of good things the first time we played them. We just didn't make enough plays and enough shots, especially when we got it close. Then just being consistent, focus on being self-disciplined and selfless. Our guys really bought into trying to win the game. Selton (Miguel) just kind of made a decision. I've kind of begged him. You can guard, Selton. 'You're big time.' He took the challenge. He did a great job on (RJ) Nembhard. He still got 14, but he made him earn it. That focus just on that, then guess what happens? He gets a layup and hits a three, big plays.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7423">Mike McGuirl</a>&nbsp;got a couple of threes down early, a great line, 16 and nine which is a career high, and five assists. He guarded (Mike) Miles and did a really good job on Nembhard, too. He was 3-for-13 and Nembhard was 3-for-11. Those two guys stepped up defensively, but it was a team win, because we had to have everybody make plays. We got some fast breaks in the second half. We haven't had a lot of those. Those were important. We didn't get to the line much, none in the first half. Down the stretch, we definitely made the free throws. I'm not sure they scored a field goal in the last five or six minutes, so we did a lot of good things. The players win games. They found a way to win it. Happy for them and proud of them. Now we have to worry about Oklahoma and see if we can come and have that same consistent effort and focus."&nbsp; BEYOND THE BOXSCORE<ul>
 <li>K-State is now 6-18 on the season, including 2-13 in Big 12 play… The win snapped a 13-game losing streak, including 12 in Big 12 play, which was the longest such streak in a single season and the second-longest in school history behind a 14-game skid between the 1921-22 and 1922-23 season.</li><li>The win also snapped a 15-game losing streak in the month of February dating back to 2019.</li><li>Saturday's game marked the Wildcats' first unranked opponent since January 30 vs. Texas A&amp;M.</li><li>K-State is now 18-9 all-time against TCU, including a 7-3 mark on the road… The teams split the season series with a win on the other's home court… The Wildcats now lead the series, 15-7, in the Big 12 era.</li><li>The Wildcats' starting lineup consisted of senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7423">Mike McGuirl</a>, freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7431">Nijel Pack</a>, freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7430">Selton Miguel</a>, sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7421">Antonio Gordon</a>&nbsp;and freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7426">Davion Bradford</a>… This is the sixth time using this lineup and the eighth lineup employed this season… This is the 13th time this season that the Wildcats have started 3 true freshmen… McGuirl has now started all 24 games this season and has the longest current active start streak at 29 games… Pack has started all 20 games in which he has played.</li><li>Junior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7432">Rudi Williams</a>&nbsp;missed the game due to a hand injury… He is the ninth different Wildcat to miss at least one game this season.</li>
 </ul> Team Notes<ul>
 <li>K-State scored its 62 points on 40.4 percent (23-of-57) shooting, including 35.7 percent (5-of-14) from 3-point range, while connecting on 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the free throw line.</li><li>TCU scored its 54 points on an opponent-low 31.9 percent (15-of-47) shooting, including 22.2 percent (4-of-18) from 3-point range, while knocking down 87 percent (20-of-23) from the free throw line.</li><li>K-State tied or held TCU to opponent-lows in a number categories, including field goals made (15) and attempted (47), field goal percentage (31.9), 3-point field goal percentage (22.2) and assists (6).</li><li>K-State outscored TCU, 30-16, in the paint… It marked the 11th&nbsp;time this season that the Wildcats scored 30 or more points in the paint… It was the largest margin in paint points this season.</li><li>K-State held a 38-32 advantage on the boards, including 13 offensive rebounds… The Wildcats has held the rebounding advantage in 12 games, including 4 times in the last 5 games.</li><li>K-State scored 10 points off 14 TCU turnovers.</li><li>The teams were tied 29-all at the half as K-State held an 18-6 advantage in the paint.</li><li>The tie score at half snapped a streak of 13 consecutive games trailing at the half.</li>
 </ul> Player Notes<ul>
 <li>Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7423">Mike McGuirl</a>&nbsp;scored 16 points on 6-of-14 field goals, including 2-of-5 from 3-point range, to go with a career-high 9 rebounds and 5 assists in 36 minutes… It marked the first time in his career that he led the team in points, rebounds and assists… He has now led the team in scoring in 11 career games, including a team-leading 9 this season… He has now scored in double figures in 26 career games, including a team-leading 16 this season… It marked his ninth game this season with 5 or more assists.</li><li>Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7431">Nijel Pack</a>&nbsp;scored 12 points on 4-of-15 field goals, including 2-of-6 from 3-point range, to go with a team-tying 5 assists, 3 rebounds and a steal in 39 minutes… He has now scored in double figures in 13 games this season, including 8 times in Big 12 play… It marked his team-leading 10th&nbsp;time leading the team in assists… He has now posted at least 5 assists in 10 games.</li><li>Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7426">Davion Bradford</a>&nbsp;scored 10 points on 4-of-7 field goals to go with 2 rebounds in 13 minutes… He has now scored in double figures in 7 games this season, including 6 times in Big 12 play.</li><li>Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7430">Selton Miguel</a>&nbsp;nearly reached double figures scoring 9 points on 3-of-7 shooting, including 1-of-2 from 3-point range to go with 5 rebounds, 2 assists and a team-leading 2 steals in 36 minutes.</li>
 </ul> WHAT'S NEXT K-State starts the final week of the regular season with a pair of Top 15 matchups, beginning with a home game with No. 9/10 Oklahoma (14-5, 9-4 Big 12) on Tuesday at 8 p.m., CT on ESPNU. It will be Senior Night, as the Wildcats will honor its lone senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7423">Mike McGuirl</a>&nbsp;in a pregame ceremony. The Sooners are looking to sweep the regular-season series for the second straight season after posting a 76-50 win at home on Jan. 19.

Late run helps K-State end skid at TCU, 62-54

NEW YORK (AP) — Boston will send Kansas City $2.8 million as part of the Feb. 10 three-team trade that dealt outfielder Andrew Benintendi to the Royals. The Red Sox agreed in the deal to make four payments of $466,666.67 on the 15th of each month from April through July, and two payments of $466,.666.66 on the 15th of August and September, according to details obtained by The Associated Press. Boston's payments will offset some of the $6.6 million Benintendi is owed by the Royals in the final season of his $10 million, two-year contract.

UNDATED (AP) — After the Big 12 had three of its five midweek games postponed due to COVID-19 protocols, including a tantalizing Thursday night matchup between ninth-ranked Oklahoma and No. 12 Texas, the league gets back to work in earnest on Saturday with a (nearly) full slate of games. The highlights are No. 13 West Virginia visiting the Longhorns and No. 15 Texas Tech heading to No. 23 Kansas.&nbsp;

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Jasmine Franklin had 11 points and 12 assists and No. 25 Missouri State won its 10th straight with a 62-56 victory over Bradley. Sydney Wilson gave the Bears a 58-53 lead on a three-point play with 59 seconds left. Abby Hipp had 12 points and Brice Calip added 11 points, five in the fourth quarter, for the Bears. Lasha Petree had 13 points for Bradley and Mahr Petree and Gabi Haack added 10 points each. &nbsp;

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa State defensive back Deon Broomfield is returning to the Cyclones to coach the safeties. Broomfield was a defensive assistant with the Houston Texans last season. Before that he coached cornerbacks at Indiana State for three years and at Western Illinois for one. He replaces D.K. McDonald. According to media reports, McDonald is set to become safeties coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. Broomfield played 50 games for the Cyclones between 2010 and 2013.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Mark Gronowski passed for two touchdowns, including a 1-yarder to Pierre Strong with 19 seconds left, and ran for another to help South Dakota State beat Northern Iowa 24-20. Grownowski, a freshman, was 19-of-29 passing for 194 yards and no interceptions. Strong finished with 91 yards rushing on 22 carries and had six receptions for 31 yards for South Dakota State (1-0, 1-0 Missouri Valley Conference). The teams kicked off an unprecedented spring slate of FCS football games after the fall season was upended by the coronavirus pandemic. Gronowski led a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped when he rolled to his right and hit a wide-open Strong to give South Dakota State a 24-20 lead with 19 seconds left. McElvain was 19-of-29 passing for 164 yards.&nbsp;

THIBODAUX, La. (AP) — Lindsey Scott Jr. and Kohen Granier each passed for a pair of touchdowns and Nicholls State opened the season with an 87-3 win over Division II Lincoln (Mo.) It was a program record for points in a game and the largest margin of victory for a Southland Conference team since 2009. Eight players scored on a touchdown run for the Colonels.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Marvin Nesbitt Jr. had a career-high 20 points as Kansas City beat Denver 68-57. Kobey Lam led the Pioneers with 15 points.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Matt Pile had 17 points and 13 rebounds as Omaha ended its 14-game losing streak, beating North Dakota 72-62. La'Mel Robinson added 16 points for the Mavericks, while Ayo Akinwole chipped in 15. Filip Rebraca led the Fighting Hawks with 22 points and 13 rebounds.

UNDATED (AP) — Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic (nih-KOH'-lah YOH'-kihch) allowed the Denver Nuggets to end a two-game skid.

Murray pumped in a career-high 50 points and Jokic had a triple-double as the Nuggets handed the Cavaliers their ninth straight loss, 120-103.

Murray hit 21 of his 25 shots, including 8 of 10 3-pointers. He scored 20 points in the final period, including three 3-pointers in a 65-second span to put the Nuggets ahead by 21.

Jokic had 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in getting his seventh triple-double this season. 

Michael Porter Jr. added 22 points for the Nuggets, who hit their first 12 shots.

Meanwhile, the Western Conference leaders were beaten in Los Angeles.

Kawhi (kah-WY') Leonard scored 29 points and reserve Lou Williams had 19 as the Clippers stopped Utah's nine-game winning streak, 116-112. The Clippers avenged an 18-point loss to Utah two nights earlier, when starters Leonard, Paul George and Nicolas Batum (bah-TOOM') were sidelined. George had 15 points in his return from a seven-game absence with an injured toe.

Donovan Mitchell scored 29 of his 35 points in the second half for the NBA-leading Jazz, who lost for just the second time in their last 22 games and fell to 24-6. 

— All-Star Joel Embiid (joh-EHL' ehm-BEED') torched the Bulls for a career-high 50 points in leading the 76ers to a 112-105 victory. Embiid added 17 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and two steals in a dominating performance at both ends of the court. Tobias Harris had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Eastern Conference-leading 76ers, who played a second straight game without Ben Simmons due to illness. 

— The Bucks' season-worst, five-game losing streak is over after Giannis Antetokounmpo (YAH'-nihs an-teh-toh-KOON'-poh) furnished 29 points, a season-high 19 rebounds and eight assists in a 98-85 downing of the Thunder. Khris Middleton added 20 points and helped Milwaukee set a season low for points allowed. The game was tied at 42-all late in the second quarter before the Bucks began an 18-0 run.

— Nikola Vucevic (VOO'-cheh-vihch) recorded his third triple-double and the Magic overcame a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Warriors 124-120. Vucevic made two free throws with 16 seconds left and finished with 30 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists. Stephen Curry finished with 29 points, 11 assists and six rebounds but missed a potential game-tying, off-balance 3-pointer from 27 feet with five seconds left.

— Kemba Walker scored a season-high 28 points and the Celtics led by as many as 27 in a 121-109 win over the Hawks. Walker provided nine straight points while the Celts were reeling off a 20-5 run to take a 62-37 lead late in the first half. Jayson Tatum added 25 points and eight rebounds for the Celtics, who have won two of three since dropping five of seven.

— Chris Paul contributed 15 points, dished out a season-high 19 assists and spearheaded an 11-point, fourth-quarter comeback by the Suns in a 132-114 decision over the Pelicans. Phoenix shot 22-for-39 from 3-point range as Jae Crowder hit six 3s on his way to 20 points. Frank Kaminsky hit five 3s for the bulk of his 17 points, and Devin Booker scored a team-high 23 points in the Suns' 10th win in 12 games.

— Norman Powell furnished a season-high 31 points and the Raptors closed on an 11-0 run to knock off the Timberwolves, 86-81. Fred VanVleet had 12 points and seven rebounds, while Pascal Siakam added 10 points and nine boards in Toronto's third win in a row. Minnesota dropped its third in a row since winning at Toronto on Sunday.

— Ja (jah) Morant scored 21 of his 29 points in the second half as the Grizzlies past the Pistons, 109-95. Jonas Valanciunas (YOH'-nuhs val-ehn-CHOO'-nuhs) added 17 points and 15 rebounds to help Memphis pick up its second straight win. The Grizzlies presvented the Pistons from scoring a field goal over 6 minutes after Detroit pulled within 90-89 midway through the fourth quarter.

UNDATED (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes will carry a 11-3-1 record into Saturday's big Central Division matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Hurricanes scored three times in the third period of a 5-3 victory over the Blackhawks. 

Martin Necas (NAY'-chas) broke a 2-2 tie with a power-play goal 2:28 into the final period. Nino Niederreiter (NEE'-dur-eye-tur) doubled the Hurricanes' lead by scoring with the man advantage at 15:04 of the third. Niedereitter has a team-high nine goals this season after scoring twice on Friday. He also assisted on Vincent Trochek's (TROH'-chehks) second-period goal.

Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists for Chicago. 

Carolina still trails the Central leading-Panthers following Florida's 7-2 rout of the Red Wings. Patric Hornqvist scored in the first and third periods to help the Panthers start and finish strong. 

Aleksander Barkov added a goal and two assists, and Chris Driedger stopped 30 shots as Florida moved to 11-2-2.

Laurent Brossoit made 29 saves for his second career shutout, Mark Scheifele (SHY'-flee) scored on a first-period breakaway before the Jets completed a 2-0 victory over the Canucks. Mason Appleton added an empty-netter after Thatcher Demko made 29 saves for Vancouver.

Mike Smith made 20 saves and the Oilers opened a home-and-home series with the Flames by defeating their archrivals, 2-1. Jesse Puljujarvi (POOL'-yahr'-vee) and Gaetan Haas scored for the winners.

UNDATED (AP) — The New York Yankees are keeping outfielder Brett Gardner.

A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Gardner's one-year package is worth $4 million and is pending a physical. 

<h2>Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press</h2>NEW YORK (AP) — Boston will send Kansas City $2.8 million as part of the Feb. 10 three-team trade that dealt outfielder Andrew Benintendi to the Royals. The Red Sox agreed in the deal to make four payments of $466,666.67 on the 15th of each month from April through July, and two payments of $466,.666.66 on the 15th of August and September, according to details obtained by The Associated Press. Boston's payments will offset some of the $6.6 million Benintendi is owed by the Royals in the final season of his $10 million, two-year contract.UNDATED (AP) — After the Big 12 had three of its five midweek games postponed due to COVID-19 protocols, including a tantalizing Thursday night matchup between ninth-ranked Oklahoma and No. 12 Texas, the league gets back to work in earnest on Saturday with a (nearly) full slate of games. The highlights are No. 13 West Virginia visiting the Longhorns and No. 15 Texas Tech heading to No. 23 Kansas.&nbsp;SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Jasmine Franklin had 11 points and 12 assists and No. 25 Missouri State won its 10th straight with a 62-56 victory over Bradley. Sydney Wilson gave the Bears a 58-53 lead on a three-point play with 59 seconds left. Abby Hipp had 12 points and Brice Calip added 11 points, five in the fourth quarter, for the Bears. Lasha Petree had 13 points for Bradley and Mahr Petree and Gabi Haack added 10 points each. &nbsp;AMES, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa State defensive back Deon Broomfield is returning to the Cyclones to coach the safeties. Broomfield was a defensive assistant with the Houston Texans last season. Before that he coached cornerbacks at Indiana State for three years and at Western Illinois for one. He replaces D.K. McDonald. According to media reports, McDonald is set to become safeties coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. Broomfield played 50 games for the Cyclones between 2010 and 2013.CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Mark Gronowski passed for two touchdowns, including a 1-yarder to Pierre Strong with 19 seconds left, and ran for another to help South Dakota State beat Northern Iowa 24-20. Grownowski, a freshman, was 19-of-29 passing for 194 yards and no interceptions. Strong finished with 91 yards rushing on 22 carries and had six receptions for 31 yards for South Dakota State (1-0, 1-0 Missouri Valley Conference). The teams kicked off an unprecedented spring slate of FCS football games after the fall season was upended by the coronavirus pandemic. Gronowski led a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped when he rolled to his right and hit a wide-open Strong to give South Dakota State a 24-20 lead with 19 seconds left. McElvain was 19-of-29 passing for 164 yards.&nbsp;THIBODAUX, La. (AP) — Lindsey Scott Jr. and Kohen Granier each passed for a pair of touchdowns and Nicholls State opened the season with an 87-3 win over Division II Lincoln (Mo.) It was a program record for points in a game and the largest margin of victory for a Southland Conference team since 2009. Eight players scored on a touchdown run for the Colonels.KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Marvin Nesbitt Jr. had a career-high 20 points as Kansas City beat Denver 68-57. Kobey Lam led the Pioneers with 15 points.OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Matt Pile had 17 points and 13 rebounds as Omaha ended its 14-game losing streak, beating North Dakota 72-62. La'Mel Robinson added 16 points for the Mavericks, while Ayo Akinwole chipped in 15. Filip Rebraca led the Fighting Hawks with 22 points and 13 rebounds.<h2>Update on the latest sports</h2>NBA-SCHEDULENuggets whip Cavs behind Murray, JokicUNDATED (AP) — Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic (nih-KOH'-lah YOH'-kihch) allowed the Denver Nuggets to end a two-game skid.Murray pumped in a career-high 50 points and Jokic had a triple-double as the Nuggets handed the Cavaliers their ninth straight loss, 120-103.Murray hit 21 of his 25 shots, including 8 of 10 3-pointers. He scored 20 points in the final period, including three 3-pointers in a 65-second span to put the Nuggets ahead by 21.Jokic had 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in getting his seventh triple-double this season. Michael Porter Jr. added 22 points for the Nuggets, who hit their first 12 shots.Meanwhile, the Western Conference leaders were beaten in Los Angeles.Kawhi (kah-WY') Leonard scored 29 points and reserve Lou Williams had 19 as the Clippers stopped Utah's nine-game winning streak, 116-112. The Clippers avenged an 18-point loss to Utah two nights earlier, when starters Leonard, Paul George and Nicolas Batum (bah-TOOM') were sidelined. George had 15 points in his return from a seven-game absence with an injured toe.Donovan Mitchell scored 29 of his 35 points in the second half for the NBA-leading Jazz, who lost for just the second time in their last 22 games and fell to 24-6. Checking out Friday's other NBA action:— All-Star Joel Embiid (joh-EHL' ehm-BEED') torched the Bulls for a career-high 50 points in leading the 76ers to a 112-105 victory. Embiid added 17 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and two steals in a dominating performance at both ends of the court. Tobias Harris had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Eastern Conference-leading 76ers, who played a second straight game without Ben Simmons due to illness. — The Bucks' season-worst, five-game losing streak is over after Giannis Antetokounmpo (YAH'-nihs an-teh-toh-KOON'-poh) furnished 29 points, a season-high 19 rebounds and eight assists in a 98-85 downing of the Thunder. Khris Middleton added 20 points and helped Milwaukee set a season low for points allowed. The game was tied at 42-all late in the second quarter before the Bucks began an 18-0 run.— Nikola Vucevic (VOO'-cheh-vihch) recorded his third triple-double and the Magic overcame a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Warriors 124-120. Vucevic made two free throws with 16 seconds left and finished with 30 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists. Stephen Curry finished with 29 points, 11 assists and six rebounds but missed a potential game-tying, off-balance 3-pointer from 27 feet with five seconds left.— Kemba Walker scored a season-high 28 points and the Celtics led by as many as 27 in a 121-109 win over the Hawks. Walker provided nine straight points while the Celts were reeling off a 20-5 run to take a 62-37 lead late in the first half. Jayson Tatum added 25 points and eight rebounds for the Celtics, who have won two of three since dropping five of seven.— Chris Paul contributed 15 points, dished out a season-high 19 assists and spearheaded an 11-point, fourth-quarter comeback by the Suns in a 132-114 decision over the Pelicans. Phoenix shot 22-for-39 from 3-point range as Jae Crowder hit six 3s on his way to 20 points. Frank Kaminsky hit five 3s for the bulk of his 17 points, and Devin Booker scored a team-high 23 points in the Suns' 10th win in 12 games.— Norman Powell furnished a season-high 31 points and the Raptors closed on an 11-0 run to knock off the Timberwolves, 86-81. Fred VanVleet had 12 points and seven rebounds, while Pascal Siakam added 10 points and nine boards in Toronto's third win in a row. Minnesota dropped its third in a row since winning at Toronto on Sunday.— Ja (jah) Morant scored 21 of his 29 points in the second half as the Grizzlies past the Pistons, 109-95. Jonas Valanciunas (YOH'-nuhs val-ehn-CHOO'-nuhs) added 17 points and 15 rebounds to help Memphis pick up its second straight win. The Grizzlies presvented the Pistons from scoring a field goal over 6 minutes after Detroit pulled within 90-89 midway through the fourth quarter.NHL-SCHEDULEHurricanes use power play to beat HawksUNDATED (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes will carry a 11-3-1 record into Saturday's big Central Division matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning.The Hurricanes scored three times in the third period of a 5-3 victory over the Blackhawks. Martin Necas (NAY'-chas) broke a 2-2 tie with a power-play goal 2:28 into the final period. Nino Niederreiter (NEE'-dur-eye-tur) doubled the Hurricanes' lead by scoring with the man advantage at 15:04 of the third. Niedereitter has a team-high nine goals this season after scoring twice on Friday. He also assisted on Vincent Trochek's (TROH'-chehks) second-period goal.Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists for Chicago. Carolina still trails the Central leading-Panthers following Florida's 7-2 rout of the Red Wings. Patric Hornqvist scored in the first and third periods to help the Panthers start and finish strong. Aleksander Barkov added a goal and two assists, and Chris Driedger stopped 30 shots as Florida moved to 11-2-2.The Jets and Oilers also won on Friday.Laurent Brossoit made 29 saves for his second career shutout, Mark Scheifele (SHY'-flee) scored on a first-period breakaway before the Jets completed a 2-0 victory over the Canucks. Mason Appleton added an empty-netter after Thatcher Demko made 29 saves for Vancouver.Mike Smith made 20 saves and the Oilers opened a home-and-home series with the Flames by defeating their archrivals, 2-1. Jesse Puljujarvi (POOL'-yahr'-vee) and Gaetan Haas scored for the winners.MLB-NEWSGardner stays with YankeesUNDATED (AP) — The New York Yankees are keeping outfielder Brett Gardner.A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Gardner's one-year package is worth $4 million and is pending a physical. The 37-year-old Gardner has spent his first 13 major league seasons with the Yankees. He hit .223 with five homers and 15 RBIs in 130 at-bats last year after reaching career-best totals of 28 homers and 74 RBIs in 2019.In other MLB news: — Cubs outfielder Ian Happ won baseball's final salary arbitration case this year and will get a raise from $624,000 to $4.1 million. The 26-year-old Happ hit .258 with 12 homers and 28 RBIs over 198 at-bats last year. Teams finished with a 5-4 advantage in cases that went to a hearing.— The Mets have made a late addition to their starting rotation, reaching agreement with Taijuan Walker on a two-year, $20 million contract. The 28-year-old right-hander was 4-3 with a 2.70 ERA over 11 starts during the pandemic-shortened season for Seattle and Toronto. — Former Mets infielder Todd Frazier has agreed to a minor league deal with the Pirates with an invitation to big league spring training. The 35-year-old Frazier split time with Texas and the Mets in 2020, hitting .236 with four home runs and 12 RBIs.— The Tigers have agreed to terms on a minor league deal with right-hander Wily Peralta. The 31-year-old Peralta hasn't pitched in the major leagues since 2019, when he was 2-4 with a 5.80 ERA in 42 relief appearances for Kansas City. — Marlins top pitching prospect Edward Cabrera will be sidelined indefinitely with an inflamed nerve in his right biceps. Cabrera is with the Marlins at their spring training complex but isn't throwing. Manager Don Mattingly says the Marlins believe Cabrera will be able to pitch "at some point this year." . — Former All-Star outfielder Johnny Damon has been arrested in central Florida. Court and jail records say Damon was charged with resisting an officer after he was pulled over for suspicion of driving under the influence, a misdemeanor offense.— Indians manager Terry Francona recently underwent surgery for a staph infection in his toe and will be on crutches for several weeks in training camp. Francona said he'll continue to need medication through the first week in March. NFL-NEWSAP source: Panthers make cuts for cap roomUNDATED (AP) — A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that the Carolina Panthers are releasing veteran safety Tre Boston, defensive end Stephen Weatherly and punter Michael Palardy in cost-cutting moves. The team will save about $11 million in cap space. The Panthers are in the market for a quarterback and want to either re-sign or use the franchise tag on offensive tackle Taylor Moton.The decision to release Boston comes after he signed a three-year, $18 million contract last offseason that included $8 million in guaranteed money. In other NFL news:— Bills starting linebacker Matt Milano will explore free agency next month because of Buffalo's salary-cap constraints. That's according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation. Milano is projected to be among the top linebackers available on the market, and the Bills are currently estimated to have only $3 million available under the salary cap.— Former tight end Kellen Winslow II has agreed to accept a 14-year prison sentence for raping a homeless woman and assaulting two other women. Winslow was convicted in 2019 of raping a 58-year-old homeless woman in Encinitas, California. Facing a retrial on other charges, he later pleaded guilty to raping an unconscious teenager in 2003 and to the 2018 sexual battery of a 54-year-old hitchhiker in Encinitas.COLLEGE BASKETBALL-NCAA-NEWSFans allowed for all rounds of men's NCAA tournamentUNDATED (AP) — A limited number of fans will be allowed to attend all rounds of next month's NCAA men's basketball tournament in Indiana.Venue capacity will be capped at 25% to allow for social distancing, a figure that will include all participants, essential staff and family of team members. All must be masked.The NCAA earlier announced the entire tournament will be played in Indiana because of the pandemic, with the majority of the 67 games taking place in Indianapolis. In other NCAA news: — The NCAA has granted Louisville's request for its infractions case to be resolved through the Independent Accountability Resolution Process. The IARP was created in the aftermath of a federal corruption investigation of college basketball. Louisville's request comes after the NCAA stood by its allegations against the program, including a failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance by former Cardinals coach Rick Pitino. PGA-GENESIS INVITATIONALBurns stays on topLOS ANGELES (AP) — Sam Burns has maintained the lead through two rounds of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera as he seeks his first career PGA win. Burns followed Thursday's 7-under 64 with a 66 on Friday, putting him five strokes ahead of Dustin Johnson, Tyler McCumber, Jason Kokrak and Joaquin Niemann. It's the third tournament Burns has led at the midway point this season. In both cases, he finished in a tie for seventh.His 12-under 130 ties the 36-hole tournament record last matched by Mike Weir and Shigeki Maruyama in 2004.Jordan Spieth (speeth) is in the mix for the third straight week as he seeks his first tournament victory since the 2017 British Open.OLYMPICS-RUSSIAN IDENTITY BANRussia's new team name, flag agreed on for next 2 Olympic GamesGENEVA (AP) — With Russia's name banned from the next two Olympics, the country's team and athletes will be officially branded as "ROC," an acronym for Russian Olympic Committee.The International Olympic Committee said the name has been agreed on by the IOC and the World Anti-Doping Agency, which has accused the country of running a state-backed doping program.Russia's team name, flag and national anthem were banned from this year's Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.