Ball State and Akron square off in conference showdown
Akron Zips (21-6, 13-1 MAC) at Ball State Cardinals (14-13, 7-7 MAC) Muncie, Indiana; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Zips -8.5; over/under is 156.5 BOTTOM LINE: Jermahri Hill and Ball State host Nate Johnson and Akron in MAC action. The Cardinals are 8-5 in home games. Ball State scores 76.6 points and has outscored opponents by 2.4 points per game. The Zips have gone 13-1 against MAC opponents. Akron is third in the MAC allowing 73.7 points while holding opponents to 42.0% shooting.
Osei-Bonsu, Missouri State Bears to host Pierre and the Belmont Bruins
Belmont Bruins (19-10, 11-7 MVC) at Missouri State Bears (9-20, 2-16 MVC) Springfield, Missouri; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Belmont plays Missouri State in MVC action Wednesday. The Bears are 7-7 on their home court. Missouri State has a 7-8 record in games decided by at least 10 points. The Bruins are 11-7 in conference matchups. Belmont ranks seventh in the MVC with 23.1 defensive rebounds per game led by Jonathan Pierre averaging 5.0.
Graves leads Charlotte against Tulane after 23-point outing
Charlotte 49ers (10-17, 3-11 AAC) at Tulane Green Wave (15-12, 9-5 AAC) New Orleans; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte takes on Tulane after Nik Graves scored 23 points in Charlotte’s 78-72 overtime win against the Temple Owls. The Green Wave have gone 12-3 at home. Tulane ranks fourth in the AAC with 14.5 assists per game led by Rowan Brumbaugh averaging 4.6. The 49ers are 3-11 against AAC opponents. Charlotte gives up 74.9 points to opponents while being outscored by 3.8 points per game.
Marshall hosts Old Dominion after Mingo’s 25-point game
Old Dominion Monarchs (11-18, 7-9 Sun Belt) at Marshall Thundering Herd (17-12, 10-6 Sun Belt) Huntington, West Virginia; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Thundering Herd -10.5; over/under is 148 BOTTOM LINE: Marshall hosts Old Dominion after Dezayne Mingo scored 25 points in Marshall’s 69-59 victory over the Appalachian State Mountaineers. The Thundering Herd are 12-3 on their home court. Marshall ranks sixth in the Sun Belt with 10.2 offensive rebounds per game led by Nate Martin averaging 3.2.
Pittsburgh hosts Georgia Tech after Leggett’s 21-point showing
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (13-14, 7-9 ACC) at Pittsburgh Panthers (16-11, 7-9 ACC) Pittsburgh; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Panthers -8.5; over/under is 142.5 BOTTOM LINE: Pittsburgh plays Georgia Tech after Ishmael Leggett scored 21 points in Pittsburgh’s 76-72 loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Panthers are 12-3 on their home court. Pittsburgh is seventh in the ACC at limiting opponent scoring, giving up 71.2 points while holding opponents to 44.0% shooting. The Yellow Jackets have gone 7-9 against ACC opponents. Georgia Tech has a 7-10 record in games decided by 10 or more points.
No. 2 Duke visits Miami (FL) following Staton-McCray’s 21-point showing
Duke Blue Devils (24-3, 15-1 ACC) at Miami Hurricanes (6-21, 2-14 ACC) Coral Gables, Florida; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blue Devils -22.5; over/under is 151.5 BOTTOM LINE: Miami (FL) hosts No. 2 Duke after A.J. Staton-McCray scored 21 points in Miami (FL)'s 81-68 loss to the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Hurricanes have gone 6-9 in home games. Miami (FL) gives up 79.7 points to opponents and has been outscored by 5.1 points per game.
A kindergartner’s hopes for beating cancer are tied to federal grants now on the chopping block
There are some things that Aly and Cody Vela have slowly grown accustomed to, like the three-hour drive from their home in Muskegon, Michigan, to Ann Arbor and sleeping on a mattress topper on a hospital room’s pull-out couch. But other things never seem to get easier. For Aly, in particular, the recent nights away from their almost 2-year-old daughter, Alyssa, have been tough to stomach. “We missed her first steps, talking and all of those milestones,” Aly said.
Dodgers' Mookie Betts ready for star turn at shortstop: 'Excited to prove people wrong'
Mookie Betts lowered his eyes and paused momentarily while searching for the right arrangement of words, wanting to make sure his point was clear in the Los Angeles Dodgers visiting clubhouse. “This is not like a vengeance tour," Betts told USA TODAY Sports. “It’s about proving a lot of people wrong. But more than anything, it’s about proving myself right. “So many years, I just didn’t believe in myself
Fantasy baseball shortstop rankings: Bobby Witt Jr. leads elite crop
Shortstop is where the most talented players in the majors most frequently reside. And the position is loaded this season, with several intriguing prospects on the way. With his five-category excellence and his pristine health history, Bobby Witt Jr. is the No. 1 overall player in fantasy for 2025. His value is even more pronounced in American League-only formats, with only Gunnar Henderson in his stratosphere. Corey Seager has missed chunks of the past two seasons with injuries, but still hit at least 30 homers both times. Also, the Angels' Zach Neto (23 HR, 30 SB in 2024) and Rays newcomer Ha-Seong Kim are coming off shoulder surgeries.
More wins, more drinks: Opening hours in pubs could extend in England and Wales during Women’s Euros
Soccer fans in England and Wales might be allowed to spend more time in pubs if their teams go far at the Women’s European Championship being held in Switzerland in July. The British government is launching a four-week consultation to discuss whether pubs can extend their opening hours from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. should England or Wales reach the semifinals or final of Euro 2025. Britain’s home secretary has the power to extend licensing hours for occasions of “exceptional international, national or local significance,” the government said Monday.