Sports

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

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Gold Glove-winning outfielder Harrison Bader and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a $10.4 million, two-year contract and avoided salary arbitration. Bader gets a $1 million signing bonus as part of the deal announced and salaries of $4.7 million in each of the next two seasons. Bader’s 2023 salary can increase

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Tiger Woods is wearing Nike apparel this week as always. Except his shoes. He showed up for practice rounds Sunday and Monday wearing FootJoy shoes. Woods hasn’t explained the change yet. He scheduled to address reporters Tuesday. It would make sense if the change was

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Commanders are denying a report that alleged they withheld ticket revenue from visiting teams. A team spokeswoman said in a statement there was absolutely no withholding of ticket revenue at any time. She added that anyone who testified to Congress suggesting that committed perjury.

FLORHAM PARK, NJ. (AP) — The New York Jets released tight end Ryan Griffin, who became expendable when the team signed free agents C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin last month. Griffin had 70 catches for 667 yards and seven touchdowns in three seasons with the Jets. New York saves $3 million on the salary cap