MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Xavier Sneed scored 20 points, Antonio and Dajuan Gordon had 13 apiece and Cartier Diarra dished out a career-high 10 assists as Kansas State defeated Alabama State 86-41. It was the most assists in a game by a Wildcat since Marcus Foster in 2014.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — RJ Nembhard led a balanced scoring effort with 15 points and TCU cruised through most of the second half in a 70-60 win over Winthrop. Desmond Bane finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Horned Frogs in the first meeting between the two schools. Josh Ferguson scored 14 on a rough shooting night for Winthrop. The Eagles shot a season-low 32% and were just 8 of 31 from 3-point range.
NEW YORK (AP) — NCAA President Mark Emmert says it is “highly probable” Congress will set national guidelines for how college athletes can be compensated for the their names, images and likenesses. Emmert says he is focused on figuring out how the NCAA and its member schools will allow athletes to get that compensation. The issue was forced by California, which passed the first state law on the topic earlier this year. NCAA schools are drawing up rules and a congressional working group is also looking at the issue.
UNDATED (AP) — The Heisman Trophy will be awarded Saturday to the player deemed to be the best in college football. The four finalists this year include three quarterbacks. The favorite is LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, who has led the Tigers to the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff behind 4,715 passing yards and 48 touchdown passes. Oklahoma's Jalen Hurts and Ohio State's Justin Fields are the other QBs. The fourth player is star defensive end Chase Young of Ohio State. All four players will be in the playoff later this month.
National Headlines
SAN DIEGO (AP) — A person with direct knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that All-Star third baseman Anthony Rendon has accepted a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. Rendon has played all seven of his major league seasons with Washington. He drove in a career-best 126 runs while helping the Nationals capture the franchise's first World Series championship this year. Rendon has been worth 19.9 wins above replacement, per Fangraphs, since the start of the 2016 season.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Colorado Rockies and right-hander Scott Oberg have agreed to a three-year, $13 million package with a club option for 2023. The option could make the deal worth $21 million over four seasons. Oberg was sharp over 49 appearances this year, going 6-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 58 strikeouts over 56 innings of relief.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Major League Baseball is pushing ahead with a rules’ change for 2020 that requires pitchers to face at least three batters or finish a half-inning. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred also says the injured list for pitchers will revert to 15 days from 10 days, and pitchers optioned to the minors will have to spend 15 days there before they can be recalled unless they replace a pitcher going on the IL. Active rosters will increase by one to 26 from opening day through Aug. 31, but expanded September rosters will drop from 40 to 28.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is challenging the minor leagues to “move off the take-it-or-leave-it status quo approach” to their ongoing negotiations. MLB and the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues are negotiating a minor league agreement to replace the contract expiring after the 2020 season. MLB has proposed cutting 42 of its 160 affiliates, citing concerns over the quality of facilities, travel and salaries for players.
UNDATED (AP) — Willie Taggart has been hired as head football coach at Florida Atlantic, a week before the early signing day and only four days after Lane Kiffin left the Owls for Mississippi. Taggart has been to one bowl game in 10 seasons as a head coach, recording a 56-62 record that includes a 9-12 mark in one-plus season at Florida State. The Seminoles fired him in November after a 27-10 loss to Miami.
Wednesday Scores
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final Illinois 71 (5)Michigan 62
Final (15)Arizona 99 Nebraska-Omaha 49
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Houston 116 Cleveland 110
Final Indiana 122 Boston 117
Final L.A. Lakers 96 Orlando 87
Final L.A. Clippers 112 Toronto 92
Final Charlotte 113 Brooklyn 108
Final Chicago 136 Atlanta 102
Final Utah 127 Minnesota 116
Final Memphis 115 Phoenix 108
Final Milwaukee 127 New Orleans 112
Final Sacramento 94 Oklahoma City 93
Final OT New York 124 Golden State 122