NBA 101

Rutgers slips past Maryland 69-65 after 20-point lead disappears

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Tariq Francis scored 19 points and Rutgers, which once led by 20 points in the first half, defeated Maryland 69-65 on Sunday to sweep the season series between the teams.

Rutgers won 68-57 at home against Maryland in the other meeting this season.

Trailing by 19 at halftime, Maryland stormed back early in the second half. Elijah Saunders and Andre Mills hit 3-pointers and the Terrapins added five three throws in a 13-0 run that got them within 45-41 six minutes into the second half.

Maryland took the lead once at 48-47 and the score was tied at 54 with a little under five minutes remaining. Rutgers quickly went back ahead 60-54 and led the rest of the way. The Terrapins were within two points twice in the final half-minute but both times Rutgers delivered at the free-throw line to preserve the win.

Darren Buchanan Jr. scored 14 points and Jamichael Davis had 12 for Rutgers (12-17, 5-13 Big Ten).

Mills had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Saunders had 11 and 14 for Maryland, which had a 50-26 advantage on the boards but had 19 turnovers to six for Rutgers. Solomon Washington had 15 points and four blocks and David Coit scored 10 for the Terps (11-18, 4-14).

Maryland made only 1 of 14 3-pointers and had 14 turnovers in the first half. Rutgers had a 14-0 advantage in points after turnovers, helping the Scarlet Knights take a 39-20 halftime lead. In one eight-minute stretch the Scarlet Knights outscored the Terrapins 18-4.

The Scarlet Knights gained their second road win of the conference season.

Up next

Maryland: at Wisconsin on Wednesday.

Rutgers: at No. 13 Michigan State on Thursday.

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Lakers’ win caps Zhuri and LeBron James’ father-daughter road trip

LeBron James’ latest achievement in his 23-year career? A successful father-daughter road trip.

Lukaku’s last-gasp goal ends Napoli’s winless run at Hellas Verona

MILAN (AP) — Romelu Lukaku’s first goal of the season with the last kick of the match ended Napoli’s winless run on Saturday.

Lukaku, who had played just 41 minutes this campaign following a serious preseason thigh injury, pounced in the sixth minute of stoppage time to help Napoli win at bottom club Hellas Verona 2-1.

The 32-year-old Lukaku appeared to tear up when the final whistle blew seconds later. His last goal was on May 23.

It was Napoli’s first win in four matches in all competitions. The defending Serie A champion remained third in the league table but inched to within 11 points of leader Inter Milan, which was hosting lowly Genoa later.

Verona remained nine points from safety.

Napoli got off to a great start as Rasmus Højlund’s looping header from 12 meters gave it the lead after less than two minutes.

However, Højlund was also involved in the equalizer in the 65th. He attempted to clear a Verona corner but it came out to Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro, whose shot was deflected in by Højlund. The goal was credited to Akpa Akpro as the initial shot was on target.

Verona almost won it in stoppage time but Kieron Bowie couldn’t keep his attempt on target after Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret flapped aimlessly at a cross.

And instead it was Napoli which snatched the win. A corner was played short and eventually crossed in by Giovane for fellow substitute Lukaku to sweep in first time from close range.

Earlier, Como came from behind to win at relegation-threatened Lecce 3-1.

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Reed, Dilione late heroics send Penn State to surprise win over Iowa 71-69

Josh Reed scored a career-high 25 points, shooting 9 of 12, and Penn State rallied to beat Iowa 71-69 on Saturday, ending the Nittany Lions’ three-game losing streak.

Freddie Dilione V scored 15 points, and Ivan Juric scored 11 for the Nittany Lions (12-17, 3-15 Big Ten). Penn State finished 64% shooting (25-for-39), including 60% (9-for-15) from 3-point range.

Cooper Koch scored 18 points, shooting 6 for 9, and Bennett Stirtz added 16 for Iowa (20-9, 10-8).

Knotted at 69, Dilione was fouled on a drive to the hoop with 1.5 seconds left and promptly made two free throws for the go-ahead foul shots. Iowa failed to get off a shot after a timeout while facing the full length of the floor.

Stirtz’s layup with eight seconds remaining tied the game at 69. The basket was the first points for Iowa since a Cam Manyawu dunk with 4:30 remaining left put the Hawkeyes up 67-62.

Reed countered with his 6-0 run, making four foul shots, and Melih Tunca made a free throw for a 69-67 Penn State lead.

Iowa, which now has lost two of its last three games, led 38-34 at halftime.

Up Next

Iowa: Hosts third-ranked Michigan on Thursday.

Penn State: Hosts Ohio State on Wednesday.

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No. 5 Houston takes out the frustration of 3 straight losses with a 102-62 win over Colorado

HOUSTON (AP) — Milos Uzan had 26 points and six assists, Joseph Tugler scored 14 and No. 5 Houston snapped its three-game losing streak with a 102-62 win over Colorado on Saturday.

Uzan had 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the first half as the Cougars (24-5, 12-4 Big 12) built a 55-29 lead at the break. Houston shot 56%, including 6 of 11 on 3-pointers, in the first half.

Chris Cenac Jr. scored 12 points, Kingston Flemings had 11 points, six rebound and eight assists and Chase McCarty, Emanuel Sharp and Mercy Miller finished with 10 points each for Houston, which shot 60% for the game and 10 of 17 on 3-pointers.

The Cougars forced Colorado into 15 turnovers and converted them into 21 points. They outrebounded the Buffaloes 34-22.

Isaiah Johnson had 19 points, Bangot Dak added 15 points and Sebastian Rancik scored 11 for Colorado (16-13, 6-10). The Buffaloes, who had their two-game winning streak snapped, shot 46% and were 3 of 14 on 3-pointers.

Colorado coach Tad Boyle was ejected after receiving two technical fouls for arguing with the officials with 3:06 remaining in the first half. Houston coach Kelvin Sampson was whistled for a technical foul in the second half. In total, there were 35 fouls called. The Cougars were 24 of 31 from the free-throw line, while Colorado was 13 of 18 from the line.

Trailing 10-2 about three minutes into the game, Houston responded by outscoring Colorado 36-11 over the next 10 minutes to take a 38-21 lead on a 3-pointer by McCarty. Uzan scored nine points in the run.

Up next

Colorado: Travels to Utah on Tuesday night.

Houston: Hosts Baylor on Wednesday night.

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Cole Certa scores 32, lights it up in overtime, and Notre Dame stuns N.C. State 96-90

SOUTH BEND, ind. (AP) — Cole Certa scored 32 points, including 12 in overtime, Jalen Haralson added 25, and Notre Dame defeated N.C. State 96-90 on Saturday.

The loss damages N.C. State’s hopes of finishing in top four of the ACC. The top four teams in the regular season earn byes into the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. N.C. State (19-10, 10-6) drops from a tie for fourth place into seventh with two games remaining.

Certa, a 12.1 points per game scorer, has cracked 30 points three times in the last nine games. He drained three 3-pointers in overtime, helping the Fighting Irish take a 93-88 lead with 1 1/2 minutes remaining. N.C. State went 1 for 8 from deep in overtime while trying to catch up and Certa’s two free throws with 19 seconds left sealed the win for Notre Dame (13-16, 4-12 ACC).

N.C. State never trailed in regulation, but a 3-pointer by Braeden Shrewsberry got Notre Dame within 81-79 with two minutes remaining. Two free throws by Haralson tied it for Notre Dame with 19 seconds left. N.C. State’s Darrion Williams missed a 3 at the buzzer.

Ven-Allen Lubin had 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Wolfpack. Williams and Quadir Copeland scored 17 each, and Paul McNeil Jr. added 11.

Shrewsberry scored 16 points and Sir Mohammed added 10 for Notre Dame.

On senior day for Carson Towt, Kebba Njie and Matt MacLellan, the Fighting Irish evened the overall series with N.C. State at 11 wins apiece.

Up next

N.C. State: The Wolfpack wrap up the regular season with home games against No. 1 Duke on Monday and Stanford on Saturday.

Notre Dame: Stanford comes to South Bend on Wednesday and the Fighting Irish play at Boston College on Saturday.

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Cavaliers vs Pistons Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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Two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference do battle when Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons host James Harden and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

With Cleveland banged up, Detroit is a 6-point home favorite, but my Cavs vs. Pistons predictions break down why the East’s No. 1 seed still deserves more respect.

Read more in my NBA picks for this matchup, set to tip off at 7:00 p.m. ET from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

Cavaliers vs Pistons prediction

Cavaliers vs Pistons best bet: Pistons -6 (-110)

It feels like people aren’t giving the Detroit Pistons enough respect. Cade Cunningham and Jaren Duren are stars, and the only team that has a better net rating than the Pistons this season is the Oklahoma City Thunder.

They’ve also been a great team at home this season, going 22-7 with an average margin of victory of 10.3 points.

Meanwhile, the acquisition of James Harden has been a home run for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Unfortunately, he’s questionable to play with a thumb injury while Donovan Mitchell is already out.

That’s too much to overcome against this really great Pistons team.

Cavaliers vs Pistons same-game parlay

Sure, the James Harden thing has worked for Cleveland so far. But he won’t help the fact that the Cavaliers allow the fifth-most points per game to opposing guards. Give me Cade to go Over 25.5 points, something he’s done in eight of his last 11 games.

The Pistons are also an elite rebounding team, ranking second in rebounding rate. Tobias Harris has hauled down six or more rebounds in seven of his last eight games, and with the Cavs potentially down their top two shooters, there could be plenty of boards up for grabs.

Cavaliers vs Pistons SGP

• Pistons -6
• Cade Cunningham Over 25.5 points
• Tobias Harris Over 5.5 rebounds

Our “from downtown” SGP: Cade!

Cade is getting some MVP buzz down the stretch, and a big game against an East contender could bolster that case.

Cavaliers vs Pistons SGP

• Cade Cunningham Over 25.5 points
• Cade Cunningham Over 5.5 rebounds
• Cade Cunningham Over 9.5 assists
• Cade Cunningham Over 1.5 steals

Cavaliers vs Pistons odds

• Spread: Cavaliers +6 | Pistons -6
• Moneyline: Cavaliers +200 | Pistons -240
• Over/Under: Over 227 | Under 227

Cavaliers vs Pistons betting trend to know

The Pistons have covered the 1H spread in 28 of their last 45 games (+10.75 Units / 21% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Pistons.

How to watch Cavaliers vs Pistons

Cavaliers vs Pistons latest injuries

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Falcons dismiss assistant defensive line coach LaTroy Lewis

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have dismissed assistant defensive line coach LaTroy Lewis, the team announced Friday.

The dismissal came shortly after the Falcons said they were looking into sexual assault allegations that recently surfaced on social media.

“We are aware of allegations regarding LaTroy Lewis,” the Falcons said in a statement on Friday before making the move to fire Lewis. “We are in the process of gathering information and will have no further comment at this time.”

A direct message seeking comment was sent to Lewis on social media.

The allegations date to Lewis’ time at the University of Michigan, where he served as a graduate assistant for the 2022 season before being promoted to assistant defensive line coach for the next two seasons.

Lewis spent the 2025 season as the defensive line coach at Toledo before being hired by the Falcons earlier this month.

Milford Police, which the social media report said responded to a 911 call involving Lewis, said police reports weren’t currently available. A request was sent to Ann Arbor Police to obtain the police report and protection order tied to the allegations against Lewis that were published on social media by podcast host Justin Spiro.

“The Ann Arbor Police Department was just recently made aware of allegations regarding a sexual assault reported to have occurred on December 5, 2024,” spokesman Chris Page said. “The AAPD Detective Bureau launched an immediate investigation into the incident. This investigation remains active and ongoing.”

It is department policy not to publicly disclose the name of individuals unless they are formally charged with a crime, Page said.

Lewis coached under former Michigan coaches Sherrone Moore and Jim Harbaugh. Moore was fired in December after having an inappropriate relationship with a staff member and charged with three crimes, including felony home invasion and stalking.

“As we have noted, the university launched an investigation of the circumstances and conduct leading to Sherrone Moore’s firing, as well as a broader culture review of the athletic department,” Michigan spokesman Paul Corliss said Friday. “We continue to urge anyone with relevant information to reach out to the law firm conducting the investigation.

“The work is ongoing, and we will be able to share more when it is completed.”

The 32-year-old Lewis, who is from Akron, Ohio, was a standout linebacker at Tennessee and played in two NFL games with the Houston Texans during the 2017 season.

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