Alex Rodriguez makes half-court shot, wins Bucknell student $10,000
Former Major League Baseball star Alex Rodriguez showed his skill on the hardwood Sunday, making a half-court shot to win a Bucknell student $10,000. The 14-time All-Star was invited to take the shot during halftime of Bucknell’s basketball game against Army, which the Bison won 84-53. The 49-year-old tossed a high-arching shot that banked off the backboard and through the hoop, setting off a celebration with students.
Lyon owner John Textor dons a cowboy hat ahead of PSG match after rival’s insult
Lyon owner John Textor donned a cowboy hat ahead of his team’s French league home match against rival Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday night in a mocking gesture seemingly aimed at PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. Textor, an American businessman, waved his hat and applauded the crowd before kickoff, just days after leaked footage from a meeting of Ligue 1 club owners revealed how sour the relationship between Textor and his PSG rival has become.
Indiana’s defense comes up big in 2nd half and leads Hoosiers past No. 13 Purdue 73-58
Malik Reneau and Trey Galloway each scored 15 points, and Indiana allowed just 21 in the second half to overcome a 12-point halftime deficit and beat No. 13 Purdue 73-58 on Sunday. Reneau also had six rebounds and was 7 of 7 from the field as he joined the 1,000-point club. Galloway added nine assists as the Hoosiers (16-11, 7-9 Big Ten) won for the second time in eight games and earned a split in the season series with their biggest rival.
Aarnisalo’s late free throws give No. 3 UCLA a 67-65 win over Iowa
Elina Aarnisalo made two free throws with 3.8 seconds remaining to give No. 3 UCLA a 67-65 comeback win over Iowa on Sunday. Lauren Betts had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Bruins (26-1, 14-1 Big Ten), who trailed by 12 points twice in the third quarter before rallying. Iowa tied it at 65 when Lucy Olsen made three free throws with 6 seconds left. Aarnisalo was fouled when she was tripped by Olsen after she had fallen to the court trying to defend.
No. 4 USC beats 25th-ranked Illinois 76-66 to retain sole possession of 1st in the Big Ten at 15-1
JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen scored 22 points each and No. 4 Southern California defeated 25th-ranked Illinois 76-66 on Sunday to retain sole possession of first place in the Big Ten. The Trojans (25-2, 15-1) needed their eighth win over a ranked team to avoid falling into a tie with No. 3 UCLA, which edged Iowa on the road to stay in second at 14-1. USC got 12 points and 13 rebounds from Rayah Marshall as the Trojans finished 14-1 at Galen Center after their home finale.
Fulwiley scores 24 points as No. 6 South Carolina women beat Vanderbilt 82-54
MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 24 points as sixth-ranked South Carolina beat the Vanderbilt women 82-54 Sunday for the Gamecocks’ second straight win. South Carolina (25-3, 13-1 Southeastern Conference) improved to 23-21 all-time, winning its 17th straight in this series dating back to Vanderbilt’s last win Jan. 27, 2011, in Columbia, South Carolina. Joyce Edwards added 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Gamecocks. Te-Hina Paopao had 13.
Red Sox-Yankees spring game time moved because of expected rain, foreshadowing Rays’ season
The start time for Monday’s spring training game between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox has been moved because of expected heavy rainfall, foreshadowing what the Tampa Bay Rays might have to deal with this year as they play a season outdoors. The Red Sox announced on Sunday that Monday’s game at JetBlue Park will be moved from 1:05 p.m. to 4:05 p.m. EST because of significant rainfall expected earlier in the day in the Fort Myers area.
Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara hits 99 mph in return to mound after missing 2024 season
Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara threw one scoreless inning against the New York Mets in a spring training game Sunday as he continues his comeback from elbow surgery that caused him to miss last season. The 29-year-old looked like his old self against the Mets, blowing a 99 mph fastball past Jose Siri for the final out of the first inning. Alcántara threw 17 pitches and gave up one hit.
Yankees use ABS challenge system to keep an inning going, then score 3 runs against Toronto
Changing one ball to a strike can completely alter an inning. Saturday was proof of that, when the New York Yankees used the Automated Ball-Strike System to turn a strikeout into a walk, then went on to score three runs in the top of the sixth against Toronto. The ABS is being tested during major league spring training after years of experiments in the minors. New York’s Everson Pereira was initially called out on strikes on a full count for what would have been the third out of the sixth. But the call was challenged and changed to a ball, putting Pereira on first.
Whitecaps rout Timbers 4-1 in rainy season opener
Jayden Nelson had a goal and three assists in his Vancouver debut and the Whitecaps opened the season with a 4-1 victory over the Portland Timbers in a steady rain on Sunday. Ryan Gauld, Pedro Vite and Sam Adekugbe also scored for Vancouver, which led 2-0 at the break in Jesper Sorensen’s first game as the club’s coach. The loss in the Cascadia Cup rivalry match dampened the start of Portland’s 50th anniversary season. The Timbers trace their roots back to 1975 and the North American Soccer League.