AP Sports Update for Sunday
Arkansas ousts defending champ Kansas from March Madness
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Kansas' national title defense ended in the second round of the NCAA Tournament when Arkansas' Ricky Council IV made five free throws in the closing seconds and the eighth-seeded Razorbacks beat the No. 1 seed Jayhawks 72-71. Davonte Davis scored 25 points and Council added 21 as Arkansas rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit. Kansas, playing without ailing coach Bill Self, became the second top seed not to escape the tournament's first weekend after Purdue lost on Friday night to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson. Arkansas and coach Eric Musselman return to the Sweet 16 for the third straight year.
15th-seeded Princeton beats Missouri 78-63 to reach Sweet 16
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Blake Peters made five 3-pointers in the second half and Princeton shocked another power conference team to reach the regional semifinals for the first time in 56 years by beating Missouri 78-63. The No. 15 seeded Princeton followed up a first-round win over Pac-12 tournament champion Arizona by dominating the 10th seeded Missouri of the SEC from the start. Princeton has reached the round of 16 for the first time since 1967 when only 23 teams even made the tournament. DeAndre Gholston 17 points and Noah Carter added 14 for Missouri, which was seeking its first berth in the Sweet 16 since 2009.
Turner's grand slam lifts US over Venezuela, into WBC semis
MIAMI (AP) — Trea Turner hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning that lifted the United States over Venezuela 9-7 and into the World Baseball Classic semifinals. The defending champion Team USA will face Cuba on Sunday night for a spot in the WBC championship. Venezuela second baseman and Houston Astros star Jose Altuve left the game in the fifth with a right hand injury after he was hit by a pitch. The Astros said there would be an update on his status Sunday.
Astros' Altuve leaves WBC game after hit on hand by a pitch
MIAMI (AP) — Jose Altuve left Venezuela's 9-7 quarterfinal loss to the United States with a possible broken right thumb after getting hit by a pitch. The Houston Astros second baseman, an eight-time All-Star and the 2017 American League MVP, fell to the field after he was struck by the 95.9 mph sinker from Colorado reliever Daniel Bard in the fifth inning. A Houston athletic trainer was concerned Altuve's thumb was broken but had not received a scan to confirm a break, a person familiar with the incident said on condition of anonymity.
UFC 286: Edwards retains title by majority decision vs Usman
LONDON (AP) — Leon Edwards has retained his welterweight title after beating challenger Kamaru Usman at UFC 286 by majority decision. Judges scored the trilogy fight at the O2 Arena in London 48-46, 48-46, 47-47 in favor of the Jamaican-born Brit. Edwards had last year ended Usman's long reign as champion with a kick to the Nigerian's head and neck in the fifth round in Salt Lake City in August in UFC 278. This was their third meeting, more than seven years after their first fight won by Usman. Justin Gaethje beat Rafael Fiziev in the lightweight category by majority decision.
Indiana women open March Madness with rout of Tennessee Tech
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Sydney Parrish had 19 points and eight rebounds and Lilly Meister added seven points and three blocks in her first career start to lead top-seeded Indiana past Tennessee Tech 77-47 in the first round of the women's NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers played Saturday without All-American center Mackenzie Holmes, who sat out with a sore knee. But they used a huge second quarter to take a 39-27 lead at halftime and the Golden Eagles never recovered. Tennessee Tech was led by Maaliya Owens with 17 points. The Hoosiers will play ninth-seeded Miami on Monday night.
FDU goes from underdog to overnight sensation with NCAA wins
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Fairleigh Dickinson's players awakened to a new world. That's what happens when you make history. The No. 16 seed in the East region stunned top-seeded Purdue in one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history. It's only the second time a No. 16 has beaten a No. 1 in the men's tournament. The Knights were bombarded with text messages and well wishes following the victory, which has brought welcome attention to the small school in Teaneck, New Jersey. FDU now faces Florida Atlantic on Sunday with the winner earning a spot in the Sweet 16 at New York's Madison Square Garden.
American skier Shiffrin ends season with record 21st GS win
SOLDEU, Andorra (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin won her 21st career giant slalom at the World Cup Finals as the American standout ended the season with yet another record. The victory moved Shiffrin past Vreni Schneider after matching the Swiss skier's mark of 20 World Cup GS victories last week. The American has won seven of the last eight events and took the GS world title last month. Shiffrin extended the all-time record for most career wins to 88. Shiffrin also set a personal best of 2,206 World Cup points from 31 starts this season. Thea Louise Stjernesund of Norway finished 0.06 seconds behind in second. Canadian skier Valerie Grenier was third.
Sharks goalie James Reimer declines to wear Pride jersey
San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer says he won't take part in pregame warmups Saturday night because the team's decision to wear Pride-themed jerseys in support of the LGBTQ community runs counter to his religious beliefs. Reimer says he made the decision based on his Christian beliefs. He adds that he "always strived to treat everyone with respect" and that members of the LGBTQ community should be welcome in hockey. Reimer is the second NHL player this season to refuse to take part in warmups with Pride-themed jerseys. Philadelphia's Ivan Provorov declined to do it in January.
US Open 'very hopeful' unvaccinated Novak Djokovic can play
The U.S. Tennis Association says it hopes that Novak Djokovic will be able to enter this year's U.S. Open after missing it last year because he couldn't travel to the United States. Djokovic is a foreign citizen who is not vaccinated against COVID-19. Government rules still prevent him from entering the country. That is why he had to withdraw from Indian Wells in California and the Miami Open next week. Djokovic is No. 1 in the ATP rankings and is tied with Rafael Nadal at 22 Grand Slam titles, the record for most won by a man.