AP National Sports

BEIJING (AP) — Olympic fans in the United States will be able to watch the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games on Friday with their morning cup of coffee. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. in China. That’s 7 a.m. on the East Coast of the United States given the 13-hour time

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Derek St. Hilaire had 25 points as New Orleans stretched its win streak to nine games, topping Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 79-70. Trevian Tennyson led the Islanders on Thursday night with 15 points.

CONWAY, Ark. — Tavian Dunn-Martin tied his career high with 34 points plus 10 assists to keep pace with Eddy Kayouloud and carry Florida Gulf Coast to a 95-93 overtime win over Central Arkansas. Kayouloud led the Bears on Thursday night with a career-high 34 points.

SAN ANTONIO — Devante Carter registered 14 points as Nicholls State narrowly beat UIW 63-60. Robert ”RJ” Glasper led the Cardinals with 13 points.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Lazar Stefanovic made five 3-pointers for his 15 points and Utah ended a school-record 10-game losing streak with an 84-59 win over Oregon State. David Jenkins Jr. and Rollie Worster scored 13 points each and Branden Carlson had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Utah. Both Gach added 11 points

By MARK LONG AP Pro Football Writer JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Doug Pederson as their head coach Thursday night. The decision ends a wild and winding search that ended up where it started more than a month ago. Pederson was Jacksonville’s first candidate interviewed when he met with owner Shad Khan

BEIJING (AP) — Three-time men’s figure skating world champion Nathan Chen has delivered a strong short program to open the team competition at the Beijing Games. That gets the Americans off to a good start in their pursuit of a third straight medal in the event. Chen struggled in the team event in Pyeongchang. But

TULSA, Okla. — Luka Barisic had 22 points as Western Illinois held off Oral Roberts 90-85. Max Abmas led the Golden Eagles on Thursday night with 33 points.

FARGO, N.D. — Sam Griesel had 17 points and nine rebounds and Tyree Eady recorded 15 points and five steals as North Dakota State topped Nebraska Omaha 71-64. Felix Lemetti led the Mavericks with 17 points.

HOUSTON — LaTerrance Reed scored a season-high 21 points as Northwestern State ended its 11-game road losing streak, defeating Houston Baptist 97-87. Carvell Teasett added 20 points for the Demons. Darius Lee led the Huskies with 30 points, tying his career high.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Evan Gilyard II had 23 points as Kansas City defeated St. Thomas (MN) 81-72. Parker Bjorklund led the Tommies with a season-high 26 points.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Chase Johnston posted 18 points as Stetson beat Lipscomb 77-71. Will Pruitt led the Bisons on Thursday night with a career-high 22 points.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — KJ Hunt had a career-high 32 points as Denver narrowly defeated North Dakota 81-79 in overtime. Paul Bruns led the Fighting Hawks with 22 points.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — A California mayor says a San Francisco 49ers fan in a medically-induced coma fell after he was punched during a parking lot confrontation with an apparent Rams fan at the NFC championship game. Inglewood Mayor James Butts said Thursday that Sunday’s confrontation lasted less than five seconds. Daniel Luna, a 40-year-old

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Alyssa Ustby had 18 points and 10 rebounds and No. 24 North Carolina outscored Wake Forest 40-15 in the first half en route to a 78-59 victory. North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart reached 300 career wins. North Carolina opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run and led by at least

By IAN HARRISON Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Pascal Siakam had 25 points and 13 rebounds, Chris Boucher had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors beat Chicago 127-120 in overtime Thursday, snapping a five-game losing streak against the Bulls. Scottie Barnes scored 21 points, including the go-ahead basket with 1:44 left in

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) — Trae Young scored 43 points and led Atlanta’s flurry of 3-pointers as the surging Hawks beat Phoenix 124-115 on Thursday night to end the Suns’ 11-game winning streak. The Hawks made 20 of 41 3-pointers, including six by Young. Young’s final 3 made it 122-113 with

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Olivia Miles scored 24 points and No. 20 Notre Dame pulled away in the second quarter and cruised to a 68-55 victory over Virginia Tech for its fifth straight win. Miles scored eight of Notre Dame’s 16 second-quarter points for a 34-24 lead at the break. Virginia Tech pulled to

ELON, N.C. — Darius Burford matched his career high with a season-high 27 points as Elon topped UNC Wilmington 78-65. Burford hit 13 of 17 shots. Hunter McIntosh had 17 points for Elon (7-16, 4-6 Colonial Athletic Association). Michael Graham added 15 points and 11 rebounds. Jaylen Sims had 18 points for the Seahawks (15-6,

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. — Cameron Healy had 23 points as Central Michigan topped Western Michigan 65-55. Lamar Norman Jr. led the Broncos on Thursday night with 18 points.