December 19, 2020 4:18 am
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) – Miles McBride scored 18 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 21 seconds left, to lift No. 8 West Virginia to a 70-65 victory over Iowa State. Derek Culver had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Mountaineers, who scored the final six points. They overcame poor shooting in their conference opener by making 14 of 16 free throws over the final six minutes. West Virginia made just one field goal over the final eight minutes and shot 38% (21 of 55) for the game. Rasir Bolton scored a season-high 25 points for Iowa State, which couldn’t overcome 21 turnovers.
December 19, 2020 4:15 am
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – The stage is set for a marquee Top 25 showdown in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game this weekend. Everyone watching will be eager to see if Notre Dame can upend Clemson again now that the Tigers have starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence back in the lineup. The Fighting Irish beat Clemson in a thrilling 47-40 double overtime shootout earlier this season with Lawrence sidelined because of COVID-19. But with the projected No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL draft on Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina the Tigers are a 10 1/2-point favorite to clinch their sixth consecutive berth in the College Football Playoff.
December 18, 2020 3:55 am
LAS VEGAS (AP) – A long pass and a quarterback sneak may have ended the Las Vegas Raiders’ playoff bid. Justin Herbert plunged into the end zone in overtime to give the Chargers a 30-27 victory over the Raiders. Las Vegas kicked a field goal without about 3 1/2 minutes showing on the clock in OT before Herbert set up the winning score with a 53-yard throw to Jalen Guyton. Herbert was 22 of 32 for 314 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions to help Los Angeles end a 10-game losing streak against AFC West opponents. Raiders backup Marcus Mariota accounted for 314 yards and two touchdowns after Derek Carr left in the first quarter with a groin injury. Mariota passed for 226 yards and a TD and ran nine times for 88 yards. The loss leaves the Raiders 7-7 and damages their postseason hopes. The Chargers are 5-9.
December 18, 2020 3:52 am
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers are on a two-game skid but see Monday night’s matchup with the struggling Cincinnati Bengals as a win they need to secure. Pittsburgh already has clinched its first playoff berth since 2017. A win over the Bengals would assure the Steelers of the AFC North title and at least one home playoff game at Heinz Field. The Steelers won their first 11 in a row but are suddenly struggling with an offensive line hit by multiple injuries and an ineffective running game. The Bengals have lost five straight.
December 18, 2020 4:00 am
UNDATED (AP) – Washington Capitals goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has announced that he will sit out the upcoming season due to a heart condition. The man known as “King Henrik” said he has been undergoing various tests on his heart “for several weeks.” The 38-year-old Lundqvist joined the Capitals about two months ago after 15 years with the Rangers. He accepted a one-year, $1.5 million package from Washington following his buyout by New York. Lundqvist has put up Hall of Fame numbers since entering the league in 2005, going 459-310-96 with 64 shutouts, a 2.43 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.
December 18, 2020 3:53 am
UNDATED (AP) – ESPN will open its “Sunday Night Baseball” schedule on April 4 when the Los Angeles Angels host the Chicago White Sox. The game will feature the last two American League MVPs, with the Angels’ Mike Trout facing reigning MVP and White Sox first baseman José Abreu at 8:30 p.m. ET. The following week will feature National League MVP Freddie Freeman and the Atlanta Braves hosting the Philadelphia Phillies. The Braves have four appearances in the games that have been announced with the Yankees, Mets and Braves each on three times.
December 17, 2020 3:40 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to regain their toughness. Coach Mike Tomlin has chastised his team for its lack of physicality during its current two-game losing streak. The Steelers were pushed around in a 26-15 loss to Buffalo that dropped them out of the top spot in the AFC. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says it’s not fair to place the blame on the offensive and defensive lines. Roethlisberger says it’s up to everyone to get Pittsburgh back on track. Despite their slump, the Steelers can clinch the AFC North with a win over Cincinnati.
December 17, 2020 3:42 am
UNDATED (AP) – The New Orleans Saints could have Drew Brees (breez) back in the starting lineup as early as Sunday against the defending Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs. The record-setting quarterback has been designated to return from the club’s injured reserve list after missing four games with fractured ribs and a punctured lung. Coach Sean Payton has not indicated when he intends to play Brees but has said the signal caller is not someone the Saints would hurry back. The 41-year-old Brees was injured while being sacked on Nov. 15 against San Francisco. The Saints have gone 3-1 since with Taysom Hill starting.
December 17, 2020 3:41 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh’s season is over. Quarterback Kenny Pickett’s college career is not. The senior announced he will return in 2021. Pickett had participated in Pitt’s Senior Day festivities against Virginia Tech last month, an indication he was going to enter the NFL draft. Apparently not. Pickett, the fifth-leading passer in school history, tweeted “one more year.” Pickett threw for 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season. He missed two games with an ankle injury as the Panthers finished 6-5.
December 17, 2020 3:45 am
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin told WRUF radio that Gators forward Keyontae Johnson continues to make progress after collapsing on the court during Saturday’s game at Florida State. Stricklin said Johnson is “trending in the right direction, but we still have a lot of questions.” Witnesses said Johnson was standing near midcourt and suddenly fell forward and landed on his face.
