Sports

By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer NEW ORLEANS (AP) — David McCormack’s late inside baskets to help Kansas surge past North Carolina in the NCAA championship game followed a Final Four trend. The way teams played in the post had a major influence on all three games. The 6-foot-10 McCormack scored the final four points

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Basketball Writer NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Bill Self won his elusive second national title with a masterful second-half coaching job and a spicy dash of Remy Martin. Befuddled by North Carolina in an ugly first half, Kansas tightened up defensively and Martin provided the spark in a dazzling second half in

By EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer NEW ORLEANS (AP) — What looked like a lost cause turned into one of the sweetest wins ever for Kansas. The Jayhawks brought their fourth NCAA title back to Allen Fieldhouse on Monday thanks to a second-half flurry that erased a 16-point deficit and eventually overcame North Carolina 72-69

By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer NEW ORLEANS (AP) — North Carolina big man Armando Bacot never looked like himself in the national championship game against Kansas because he was battling an ankle injury. Bacot finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds, but most of that production came in the first half of the 72-69

JOE HARRIS Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice, Pavel Buchnevich had a goal and two assists, and the St. Louis Blues beat the Arizona Coyotes 5-1. Ivan Barbashev and Brayden Schenn also scored for the Blues, who snapped a four-game losing streak at home to Arizona. Ville Husso made 21 saves

By MARK DIDTLER Associated Press TAMPA, Fla (AP) — Auston Matthews had three goals to tie the franchise single-season record for goals with 54, and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2. Matthews, who also had an assist and extended his goal streak to six games. completed his seventh career hat trick

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints have agreed to free-agent contracts with defensive end Taco Charlton and defensive back Justin Evans. General manager Mickey Loomis announced the contracts on Monday. he 6-foot-6, 270-pound Charlton played for Pittsburgh last season, appearing in 11 games with one start. He had half a sack among 18

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky women’s basketball coach Kyra Elzy has had her contract extended through 2027 after guiding the Wildcats to their first Southeastern Conference Tournament championship in 40 years. Terms of the contract were not immediately available. Elzy led Kentucky back from losing eight of nine at midseason to 10 consecutive league wins,

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Right-hander David McKay was acquired by the New York Yankees from the Tampa Bay Rays for $1. The 27-year-old had a 6.08 ERA and no record over the 2019 and 2020 seasons with Seattle and Detroit. He signed with the Rays last month. McKay is 18-11 with two saves and a

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bobby Wagner wants everybody to know he didn’t sign with the Rams after the acrimonious end to his decade in Seattle simply because Los Angeles is in the Seahawks’ division. Returning to his native Southern California with the chance to play for a Super Bowl

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff was fined $15,000 by the NBA for criticizing the officials following Sunday night’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Bickerstaff was upset by inconsistency in calls and the Sixers taking 42 free throws. He said the game “was taken” from the Cavs, who

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies selected the contract of left-hander Ty Blach in a series of moves. The team also placed right-hander Peter Lambert on the injured list with inflammation in his forearm and placed lefty Ryan Rolison on the 60-day injured list due to a strained shoulder. Colorado opens the season Friday against

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Western Michigan has hired longtime Michigan State assistant Dwayne Stephens to lead its basketball program. Stephens is scheduled to have his first news conference as Broncos coach on Wednesday. The former Spartans forward was on Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo’s staff for 19 seasons, including the last decade as an