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No. 6 USC women, freshman phenom Watkins face No. 2 UCLA, talented sophomores in battle of unbeatens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:52 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California and most of women’s college basketball has been captivated by the early-season success of undefeated USC and its freshman phenom JuJu Watkins.Meanwhile, just down the road in Westwood, UCLA has somewhat quietly put together an undefeated start of its own — among the best starts in program history that has been spurred by the play of talented sophomores.The two teams will meet Saturday in one of the most anticipated college basketball games in LA in sometime when the second-ranked Bruins host the sixth-ranked Trojans at a sold out Pauley Pavilion. It is the first ranked matchup between the crosstown rivals since 1985 and first in nearly 42 years where both have been in the top 10.UCLA (11-0) has won the last eight meetings in the rivalry, but there’s no masking the “what-about-us” feel from the Bruins. They have something to prove.“I think up until this point and really throughout the beginning of the season, I don’t think as a...

Stewart’s 33 lead South Dakota over North Dakota State 75-66

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:52 GMT

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Kaleb Stewart scored 33 points and South Dakota beat North Dakota State 75-66 in a Summit League opener on Friday night.Stewart was 13 of 22 shooting, including 4 for 6 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 4 from the line for the Coyotes (8-6). Lahat Thioune scored 13 points and added 19 rebounds. Bostyn Holt had 13 points.The Bison (7-7) were led in scoring by Andrew Morgan, who finished with 19 points. Noah Feddersen added 13 points and Boden Skunberg had 12 points and seven rebounds.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Wells has 30 points and 10 rebounds; McNeese beats Michigan 87-76 for 1st win over Big Ten opponent

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:52 GMT

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Shahada Wells had 30 points, a career-high 10 rebounds, six assists and five steals to help McNeese beat Michigan 87-76 on Friday night, the Cowboys first win over a Big Ten school in program history in 10 tries. McNeese (11-2), which has won six games in a row, is off to its best start since the 1972-73 team also started 11-2, committed a season-low four turnovers. DJ Richards hit four 3-pointers and finished with 15 points, Christian Shumate had 14 points and nine rebounds and Antavion Collum added 11 points for the Cowboys. Terrance Williams II led Michigan (6-7) with 20 points and made 5 of 9 from the field, 4 of 8 from 3-point range and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line. Olivier Nkamhoua and Dug McDaniel, who made four 3s, scored 17 points each and Will Tschetter 11. Wells scored 10 points in a 12-6 spurt over the next four minutes before Richards hit three 3s in a 13-2 run that stretched McNeese’s lead to 35-23. Williams hit two 3s and Tschetter and...

RJ Davis posts 20 points, 10 assists, No. 9 North Carolina routs Charleston Southern 105-60

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:52 GMT

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — RJ Davis had 20 points and 10 assists to lead No. 9 North Carolina to a 105-60 rout of Charleston Southern on Friday night.Davis was one of six Tar Heels (9-3) to score in double figures. Jalen Washington scored a career-high 17 points, Elliott Cadeau added 13, Armando Bacot and Seth Trimble each scored 12, and Harrison Ingram 10.It’s the first double-double of the season for Davis, and the first points-assists double-double of his college career. Davis made his first four shots and scored 10 points in the first four minutes of the game. The senior guard also did not have a turnover in 26 minutes.A’lahn Summer scored 21 points to pace the Buccaneers (4-9). DJ Patrick added 11 points.UNC never trailed and led by as many as 47 points. The Tar Heels were dominant inside, outscoring the Buccaneers 52-12 in the paint and building a 46-25 edge in rebounding.BIG PICTURENorth Carolina: In their final non-conference game of the regular season, the Tar Heels shook off...

The Biden administration once again bypasses Congress on an emergency weapons sale to Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — For the second time this month the Biden administration is bypassing Congress to approve an emergency weapons sale to Israel as Israel continues to prosecute its war against Hamas in Gaza under increasing international criticism.The State Department said Friday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had told Congress that he had made a second emergency determination covering a $147.5 million sale for equipment, including fuses, charges and primers, that is needed to make the 155 mm shells that Israel has already purchased function.“Given the urgency of Israel’s defensive needs, the secretary notified Congress that he had exercised his delegated authority to determine an emergency existed necessitating the immediate approval of the transfer,” the department said.“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to ensure Israel is able to defend itself against the threats it faces,” it said.The emergency determinat...

Authorities prepare for New Year’s Eve in Times Square and across the US as Israel-Hamas war presents elevated threats

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:52 GMT

New York (CNN) — Authorities across the US are working to ensure New Year’s revelers’ security this weekend, particularly in New York, where law enforcement officials say the war in Gaza has contributed to the concern of lone-wolf attacks, though they stress there is “no specific reporting regarding any threats.”A joint threat assessment based on an analysis from 10 law enforcement agencies — the FBI, the US Department of Homeland Security and the New York Police Department among them — says the Israel-Hamas war “has created a heightened threat environment.”The “Intelligence Community remains concerned about lone offenders using online platforms to express threats of violence against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities, as well as committing simple, unsophisticated attacks that are difficult to detect in advance,” the assessment obtained by CNN says.The concern may be most prevalent in New York, where the FBI and the police department will monitor for potential threats Sunday ...

All clear given after bomb squad investigates suspicious package outside FedEx Office in Midtown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:52 GMT

Police responded to a suspicious package left outside a FedEx Office in Miami’s Midtown section. One person called City of Miami Police after spotting the box in the area of North Miami Avenue and 35th Street, Friday afternoon. The bomb squad arrived at the scene to check out the box. Officials surveyed it and cleared it for opening. Inside the box was what appeared to be a coffee maker or some other kitchen appliance.

Liam Hansen’s big night leads Reading past Winchester

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:52 GMT

WOBURN – In search of his first varsity goal, junior Liam Hansen felt he missed out on some good scoring opportunities over the Reading boys hockey team’s first few games of the year.But on Friday night, he cashed in on just about all of them.Behind a four-goal explosion from Hansen and an 18-save outing from senior goalie Chris Hanifan, No. 4 Reading (4-0) overpowered a slow start to come away with a signature, 6-1 win over No. 17 Winchester at O’Brien Ice Rink.Both groups were unbeaten in Middlesex League action, but that was until Hansen put in a career-day – including a pair of goals in the first that built a two-goal lead the Red and Black (3-2) couldn’t rally past.“(Hanifan) was good early, he made big saves when he had to,” said Reading head coach Mark Doherty. “Whenever we come into this rink and come away with a victory, we like it. … The end result was 6-1, but it’s never easy. Our league always is nip and tuck, it’s going to be close at the end of the year.”Winchester was...

More than 100 anglers rescued from ice floe on Upper Red Lake

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:52 GMT

More than 100 anglers were rescued Friday evening after they became stranded on an ice floe that detached from the main shoreline of Upper Red Lake.It was at least the fourth rescue on Upper Red Lake in recent weeks as unseasonably warm temperatures have caused poor ice conditions across Minnesota.According to Beltrami County Sheriff Jason Riggs, shortly before 5 p.m. Friday dispatchers received a call that some 100 people were stranded on an ice chunk on Upper Red Lake with more than 30 feet of open water separating them from shore.Initial reports indicated that no one had fallen through the ice, and emergency responders were dispatched to the southeast corner of the lake for an ice rescue.When first responders arrived on scene, they immediately began identifying a location that would be best suited to safely evacuate those stranded on the ice. Emergency responders staged at a resort.Because some anglers may not have been aware they were on the ice floe, Beltrami County Emergency M...

Missouri beats No. 7 Ohio State 14-3 in Cotton Bowl

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:52 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — All-America running back Cody Schrader rushed for 128 yards and bulled into the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown to open the fourth quarter with Missouri's first score, and the ninth-ranked Tigers capped an 11-win season with a 14-3 win over No. 7 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night.In a game with almost as many total punts (16) as points, the Tigers (11-2) suddenly scored touchdowns on consecutive drives after punting eight times before that. Brady Cook threw a 7-yard TD to Luther Burden III with 5:12 left in the game.Ohio State (11-2), which was undefeated before losing its regular-season finale to Michigan, played without two-time All-America receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The standout junior was on the sideline, but opted out of playing. He hasn’t announced yet if he will enter the NFL draft.The Buckeyes were already without starting quarterback Kyle McCord, who left the program earlier this month to transfer to Syracuse. Devin Brown, who took...