March 8, 2021 4:04 am
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – The long ball helped Bryson DeChambeau outlast Lee Westwood to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational, only the key shots were more with his putter than his driver. DeChambeau holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the front nine and a 50-foot par putt early on the back nine. He closed it out with a nervy 5-foot par putt for a 1-under 71 and a one-shot victory over the 47-year-old Westwood. It matched the low score of the day, one of only three rounds under par in the toughest final round at Bay Hill in 41 years. DeChambeau and Westwood were never separated by more than one shot over the final 15 holes, a fascinating duel of generations that came down to the last shot.
March 7, 2021 7:05 am
PITTSBURGH — Jared McCann has always possessed the skills required to be a difference-maker at both ends of the ice. The trouble for the Pittsburgh Penguins versatile forward is consistency. Sometimes he looks like one of the better 200-foot players in the NHL. Sometimes he can disappear for long stretches. Not so much at the moment, however. McCann pounced on a rebound and knocked it past Bryan Elliott with less than 10 minutes to go and the Pittsburgh Penguins slipped past the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on Saturday. McCann’s fifth goal of the season and third in five games since a two-week absence due to a lower-body injury helped the Penguins beat the Flyers for the second time in five days and draw even with their cross-state rivals in the highly competitive East Division. McCann certainly looked confident while racing through the slot during a rush, and found the game-winner on his stick after Brandon Tanev’s shot smacked off Elliott’s pad. McCann fired it into the net, then went skates over skull after tripping over Elliott. Zach Aston-Reese, Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin also scored for Pittsburgh. Tristan Jarry finished with 19 saves as the Penguins responded after letting an early three-goal lead slip away in a loss to the Flyers on Thursday night. Pittsburgh hosts the New York Rangers Sunday night.
March 7, 2021 7:09 am
CLEMSON, S.C.— Al-Amir Dawes scored a season-high 21 points, knocking down five 3-pointers, and Clemson defeated Pitt 77-62 on Saturday to end the regular season. The Tigers (16-6, 10-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) pulled away early in the second half when Nick Honor drained a 3-pointer to start a 9-0 run, expanding Clemson’s lead from 43-41 to 52-41 in 97 seconds. Another 3-pointer by Hunter Tyson put Clemson up 57-46 at the 12:14 mark and it remained in double digits the rest of the away. Clemson made 12 3-pointers in 25 tries Saturday and was 56% shooting from the floor (29 of 52). Justin Champagnie led Pitt (10-11, 6-10) with 13 points, scoring 10 in the last 9:31 of the game. He’d been 1-of-7 shooting before making back-to-back baskets that brought the Panthers as close as 60-54. Champagnie scored 10 of Pitt’s final 14 points. He added two steals and a blocked shot before subbing out with 38 seconds left. Pitt finished 20-for-45 shooting (44%) and were outscored 32-18 in the paint and 11-5 on the fast break. Ithiel Horton added 11 points.
March 7, 2021 7:07 am
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Minus star freshman Cade Cunningham, No. 17 Oklahoma State still found some welcome momentum going into the postseason. Sophomore Avery Anderson III scored a career-high 31 points and the Cowboys, with Cunningham sitting out the regular-season finale because of a sprained ankle, beat No. 6 West Virginia 85-80 on Saturday. Oklahoma State has won six of seven heading into the Big 12 tournament. Taz Sherman led West Virginia (18-8, 11-6 Big 12) with 20 points. Derek Culver added 14 points, Miles McBride scored 12 and Emmitt Matthews 11. West Virginia had a chance to tie it near the end, but Keylan Boone stole McBride’s pass into the lane with 11 seconds left. Anderson then hit two free throws for the final margin. The Mountaineers went 2-2 during a four-game homestand to finish the regular season. Saturday’s loss denied coach Bob Huggins the chance to get his 900th win before his own fans. It also handed No. 13 Kansas the second seed in the upcoming Big 12 tournament, behind league champion Baylor.
March 6, 2021 8:26 am
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) – Arizona has released the Notice of Allegations it received from the NCAA last fall, which includes five Level I violations. The charges include a lack of institutional control by the men’s basketball and swimming programs, and unethical behavior by assistant basketball coach Emanuel Richardson for accepting $20,000 in bribes. Richardson was among 10 people arrested in an FBI investigation into college basketball and served three months in prison. The Notice of Allegations also charged basketball coach Sean Miller with failing to promote compliance and unethical behavior by former assistant coach Mark Phelps for asking a player to delete texts related to an impermissible $500 loan. The school released the notice Friday after a judge this week ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by ESPN.
March 6, 2021 8:24 am
(AP)- The NFL has hired Maia Chaka as the first Black female official in league history. She will work games during the 2021 season. Chaka enters the NFL after working in the Pac-12 and Conference USA. She was selected in 2014 for the NFL’s Officiating Development Program, which identifies college officiating talent with the goal of showing them some of the same experiences as NFL officials before determining if they have the ability to succeed as an NFL official. The NFL did not specify which officiating position she will work.
March 6, 2021 8:22 am
UNDATED (AP) – Washington has released veteran quarterback Alex Smith.
The move clears just under $15 million in salary cap space for Washington, which is hoping to figure out its long-term QB situation and fill many holes in the aftermath of a 7-9 season. Coach Ron Rivera said he met with Smith this week, each side figured it was best to move on, and the organization granted Smith’s request to be released. The AP Comeback Player of the Year hopes to continue playing next season at age 37. Smith made a triumphant return to NFL action last season, two years after breaking two bones in his right leg and requiring 17 surgeries to repair it. His battle against a life-threatening infection and long rehab process to get back on the field became a documentary and an inspirational tale.
March 5, 2021 2:48 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Claude Giroux scored his second goal of the night on a tap-in with 2:08 remaining and the Philadelphia Flyers recovered from an early Pittsburgh deluge to slip by the Penguins 4-3. The Flyers trailed by three following a 71-second first-period onslaught by Pittsburgh but kept chipping away. They finally moved in front on Giroux’s easy flip into an open net late in the third. Kris Letang, Mark Friedman and Jared McCann all scored for Pittsburgh. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby played 21 minutes in his return following a one-game stay on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list.
March 5, 2021 2:49 am
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) – Redshirt freshman Jalen Bridges set season highs with 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead No. 6 West Virginia to a 76-67 victory over TCU. The Mountaineers bounced back from an overtime loss to No. 3 Baylor on Tuesday, sweeping the regular-season series from TCU. Derek Culver added 17 points and Sean McNeil scored 14 for West Virginia. Jaedon LeDee scored 18 points for the Horned Frogs, and Kevin Samuel and Mike Miles added 12 points apiece. Leading scorer RJ Nembhard fouled out with five points, ending his streak of 20 straight games in double figures.
March 5, 2021 1:34 am
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Wednesday the team has signed quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a new contract for 2021. Financial details of the contract were not disclosed. “We are excited we were able to come to an agreement with Ben Roethlisberger on a new contract for him to return to the Steelers in 2021,” General Manager and Vice President Kevin Colbert said in a release. “We know that Ben can still play at a high level and do special things for this team. Our goal remains the same — to put together a roster that will compete for another championship. We are happy that Ben will be one of our leaders to help us accomplish that goal.” “It is my greatest honor to be a Pittsburgh Steeler and give my all for this organization,” said Roethlisberger. “I am grateful to be at this stage of my career and more than happy to adjust my contract in a way that best helps the team to address other players who are so vital to our success. I love this game and love to compete, and I believe in this team and my ability to deliver when called upon. It all starts with great preparation and I am ready to go.”
