Sports

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Armando Bacot scored 21 points with 13 rebounds, Caleb Love added 18 points and North Carolina defeated Notre Dame 81-64. Love and Bacot combined for 25 points in the first half when North Carolina built a 13-point lead on its way to its sixth victory in seven games. The Fighting

By JOSEPH WILSON Associated Press BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Villarreal has beaten Real Madrid 2-1 in a vibrant Spanish league match that will help rehabilitate the reputation of former Barcelona coach Quiqué Setién. Yeremy Pino put Villarreal ahead in the 47th minute. A handball by Villarreal’s Juan Foyth allowed Karim Benzema to momentarily level with

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer If you enjoy high-stakes professional football combined with scoreboard watching and slightly convoluted tiebreakers, then the NFL’s Week 18 slate of games is a must-watch. It’s been an eventful week for NFL players and fans, who watched in horror Monday night as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State standout defensive end Jared Verse is staying in school for another season. Verse announced his decision on social media Saturday. He earned first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors after leading Florida State with 14 1/2 tackles for loss, including 7 1/2 sacks. That’s despite missing one game because of injury

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Rutgers coach Greg Schiano has gone to Minnesota to find a coordinator again. Schiano says Kirk Ciarrocca is the Scarlet Knights’ new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Ciarrocca held the same position last season with the Golden Gophers. A year ago, Rutgers tapped Joe Harasymiak to be their defensive coordinator. Harasymiak

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Jadeveon Clowney will not accompany the Cleveland Browns on their trip to Pittsburgh for the season finale. The defensive end was sent home from practice Friday after making biting remarks about the organization and coaching staff. The Browns officially downgraded Clowney to out for their last

WINTERBERG, Germany (AP) — Kaillie Humphries of the U.S. remained in the World Cup monobob season points lead Saturday, after finishing second to Germany’s Laura Nolte in the first race of 2023. Nolte got her second consecutive win, both times with Humphries finishing second. Humphries is the only woman who has medaled in all four

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer Alexis Mac Allister and Harry Kane have slipped back into action in English soccer seamlessly after the World Cup. Mac Allister starred for Argentina in its run to the title in Qatar and was a halftime replacement for Brighton after his extended break back home to celebrate. He scored

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — The Washington Capitals say center Nicklas Backstrom and winger Tom Wilson are ready to play. Backstrom and Wilson are expected to make their respective season debuts tomorrow when the Capitals host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Backstrom had offseason hip resurfacing procedure on a nagging injury,

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer Chelsea’s second transfer window under its American ownership is proving to be as busy as its first. Two more players have been signed: Ivory Coast forward David Datro Fofana and 18-year-old Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos. They follow on from the purchase on Thursday of France defender Benoît Badiashile. The

PARIS (AP) — Marseille has coped with an early sending off to win at fourth-tier Hyères 2-0 in the French Cup round of 64. Central defender Eric Bailly was sent off in the 15th minute for a dangerous challenge. But veteran striker Alexis Sanchez converted a penalty in first half stoppage time and striker Bamba

RIVER FOREST, Ill. (AP) — A suburban Chicago college has postponed two men’s basketball games after a rigorous workout sent five players to the hospital. The Chicago Tribune reports that Concordia University Chicago also temporarily removed coach Steve Kollar. Athletic director Pete Gnan sent a letter to parents saying that the team was put through

SIGULDA, Latvia (AP) — Dajana Eitberger of Germany won the women’s luge World Cup race on Saturday, and host Latvia swept the gold medals in the men’s and women’s doubles races. Latvia’s Anda Upite and Sanija Ozolina won the women’s doubles race and fellow Latvians Martins Bots and Roberts Plume had the best time in

WINTERBERG, Germany (AP) — Kaillie Humphries of the U.S. remained in the World Cup monobob season points lead Saturday, after finishing second to Germany’s Laura Nolte in the first race of 2023. Nolte got her second consecutive win, both times with Humphries finishing second. Humphries is the only woman who has medaled in all four

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer Harry Kane maintained his strong run of scoring form since the World Cup to lead Tottenham into the fourth round of the FA Cup. The England striker exchanged a one-two with Ryan Sessegnon before curling a shot into the far corner to earn Tottenham a 1-0 win over third-tier

By JOHN ZENOR AP Sports Writer The intersection of prayer and sports has been especially prominent in the aftermath of Damar Hamlin’s frightening collapse during an NFL game. All 32 NFL teams have included “Pray for Damar” on their Twitter avatars. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky prayed for the Buffalo Bills’ safety on live TV. Countless fans

PARIS (AP) — After leading France to another World Cup final, coach Didier Deschamps is signing up for another shot at the title, prolonging his contract to July 2026. The French Football Federation announced the contract extension on Saturday. A World Cup winner as a player in 1998, Deschamps took over as coach of Les

By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin’s pursuit of Lindsey Vonn’s women’s World Cup wins record will go on for at least another day. Shiffrin finished tied for sixth in a giant slalom on Saturday to end her winning streak at five races. Shiffrin remained at 81 career wins

ADELBODEN, Switzerland (AP) — Marco Odermatt has carried his remarkable streak in giant slalom to another World Cup win at Adelboden. Swiss star Odermatt’s classic home race was staged after weeks of unseasonably warm weather. The Olympic champion extended his first-run lead in fading light to beat by Henrik Kristoffersen by 0.73 seconds. Odermatt’s teammate