INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Matthew Stafford passed for 328 yards and two touchdowns, and the Los Angeles Rams surged forward in the NFC playoff race with a 30-22 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Rookie Puka Nacua had nine catches for a career-high 164 yards and a TD, and Kyren Williams rushed for 104 yards and another score while topping 1,000 yards for the season in the Rams' fifth victory in six games. Los Angeles led 30-7 with 12:44 left in the fourth quarter after scoring on six of its first eight possessions, but Derek Carr threw TD passes to Juwan Johnson and A.T. Perry on the Saints’ next two drives. New Orleans' two-game win streak ended.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tylor Perry scored 17 points, including a pair of clinching free throws in the final minute, and Kansas State held on to beat in-state rival Wichita State 69-60 on Thursday night at the T-Mobile Center. Cam Carter added 15 points, David N’Guessan had 13 points and nine rebounds, and Arthur Kaluma scored 11 for the Wildcats. They bounced back from one of the worst shooting performances in school history in a loss to Nebraska to beat the Shockers for the fifth consecutive time. Quincy Ballard scored 12 points and Colby Rogers and Xavier Bell added 12 apiece for Wichita State.
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Joe Toussaint scored 19 points, Pop Isaacs had 12 of his 18 in the second half and Texas Tech held off UT Arlington 77-66 on Thursday for the Red Raiders’ fourth straight win. Darrion Williams scored 14 points with nine rebounds and six assists and Chance McMillian added 13 points for the Red Raiders (9-2), who have won 28 consecutive nonconference home games. Phillip Russell, who made his season debut with 28 points in UTA’s win over Air Force last Saturday, had just two in the first half but finished with 18 points and seven assists, though he missed all seven of his 3-point attempts. Akili Vining added 16 points and eight rebounds.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Jaylin Sellers scored 15 points and Darius Johnson and Marchelus Avery had 13 apiece as UCF defeated Florida A&M 69-56 on Thursday. Shemarri Allen added 11 points and Ibrahima Diallo grabbed 12 rebounds to go with eight points for the Knights. They shot 40% and made 8 of 24 3-point tries and 19 of 27 from the line to the Rattlers’ 7 of 11. UCF scored 24 points off 21 FAMU turnovers. Roderick Coffee III scored 14 points, Shannon Grant added 12 and Keith Lamar had 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Rattlers.
ADVERTISING
AMES, Iowa (AP) — Curtis Jones scored 18 points off the bench, Milan Momcilovic, Robert Jones and Tamin Lipsey each scored 16 and Iowa State pulled away in the second half to take an 80-48 win over Eastern Illinois. Iowa State picked up a fifth-straight win and extended its home winning streak against non-conference opponents to 26 games.
HOUSTON (AP) — Emanuel Sharp scored 17 points, Ja’Vier Francis added 13 and No. 3 Houston beat Texas State 72-37. Houston is one of three remaining undefeated teams, along with James Madison (11-0) and Ole Miss (11-0). Houston improved to 12-0 for the third time in school history, joining the Cougar teams from 2018-19 and 1967-68. Houston also has a 12-game home winning streak dating to last season. Kaden Gumbs scored seven points to lead Texas State (6-6).
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball is widening the runner’s lane approaching first base to include a portion of fair territory, changing a more than century-old rule that caused World Series controversy over possible interference calls. MLB also is shortening the pitcher’s clock with runners on base by two seconds to 18 and further reducing mound visits in an effort to speed games. The sport’s 11-man competition committee also requires a pitcher who warms up on the mound before a half inning to face at least one batter.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prized free-agent pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a $325 million, 12-year contract, according to multiple reports. Yamamoto is set to join Japanese countryman Shohei Ohtani with the Dodgers, who signed the two-way superstar to a record $700 million, 10-year deal last week. The Dodgers did not confirm the agreement with Yamamoto on Thursday night. MLB.com and ESPN were among the outlets citing anonymous sources in reporting the deal. It's the third pitching coup for the Dodgers this offseason. In addition to Ohtani, they signed right-hander Tyler Glasnow to a $136.5 million, five-year contract after he was traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to Los Angeles.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani has been named The Associated Press' Male Athlete of the Year for the second time in three years. Before the two-way superstar signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers this month, he put together another incredible season for Japan's national team at the World Baseball Classic and for the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani led the AL with 44 homers and in several other categories, and he had the lowest opponents' batting average on the mound until his season ended early due to an elbow injury. The Dodgers still gave Ohtani the biggest contract in professional sports history.
UPDATED (AP) — Oregon State and Washington State say they have reached an agreement with 10 departing Pac-12 schools on revenue distribution for 2023-24 that puts an end to a legal battle sparked by conference realignment. Last week, Oregon State and Washington State were given control of the Pac-12 and assets when the state Supreme Court of Washington declined to review a lower court’s decision to grant the schools a preliminary injunction. Financial terms of the settlement were not released. Washington State and Oregon State say the departing members will forfeit a portion of distributions for this school year and guarantee to cover a portion of “potential future liabilities.”
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — The Georgia Bulldogs are getting ready for a bowl game, which is standard routine at this time of year. Yet it feels so different. After winning back-to-back national championships and holding down the No. 1 spot in the rankings for nearly the entire season, Georgia’s first loss in nearly two years cost it a spot in the College Football Playoff. So, instead of preparing for a semifinal game and the chance to go for a third straight title, the Bulldogs are left to settle for an Orange Bowl matchup against unbeaten Florida State that carries little significance beyond pride.
BOSTON (AP) — NCAA President Charlie Baker is drawing on lessons learned during his eight years as a Republican governor in a Massachusetts dominated by Democrats as he tries to help the college athletic association navigate increasingly choppy political waters. Baker has floated a proposal that would require schools that want to be a part of a new D-1 tier to commit to paying their athletes tens of thousands of dollars per year through a trust fund. During eight years as governor Baker adapted to a sometimes frosty political environment by making as many allies as possible and choosing his fights carefully.
FRIDAY SCORES
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
South Florida 45, Syracuse 0
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Final L.A. Rams 30 New Orleans 22
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (1)Purdue 100 Jacksonville 57
Final (3)Houston 72 Texas St. 37
Final (8)Tennessee 65 Tarleton St. 46
Final (9)Kentucky 95 Louisville 76
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Utah 119 Detroit 111
Final New Orleans 123 Cleveland 104
Final Chicago 114 San Antonio 95
Final Oklahoma City 134 L.A. Clippers 115
Final Memphis 116 Indiana 103
Final Milwaukee 118 Orlando 114
Final Minnesota 118 L.A. Lakers 111
Final Washington 118 Portland 117
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Buffalo 9 Toronto 3
Final St. Louis 4 Florida 1
Final OT Washington 3 Columbus 2
Final Nashville 4 Philadelphia 2
Final Tampa Bay 5 Vegas 4
Final SO Pittsburgh 2 Carolina 1
Final Edmonton 6 New Jersey 3
Final OT Dallas 4 Vancouver 3
Final OT Minnesota 4 Montreal 3
Final Colorado 6 Ottawa 4
Final Calgary 3 Anaheim 0