AP National Sports

VILLANOVA, Pa. — Led by Caleb Daniels’ 16 points, the Villanova Wildcats defeated the Georgetown Hoyas 77-73 on Monday. The Wildcats are now 9-10 on the season, while the Hoyas fell to 5-14.

TOWSON, Md. — Led by Nicolas Timberlake’s 17 points, the Towson Tigers defeated the Hofstra Pride 68-47 on Monday. The Tigers improved to 12-7 with the win and the Pride fell to 12-8.

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — According to a person familiar with the situation, the Carolina Panthers have received permission from the New Orleans Saints to interview Sean Payton for their vacant head coaching position. The Panthers have also requested permission to speak to Philadelphia Eagles defensive consultant Vic Fangio, New

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud will give up a final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft. The two-year starter for the Buckeyes made the announcement via social media on Monday, the last day eligible players can declare for the draft. He is projected to be a top-five pick. Stroud

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Maya Moore has decided to retire officially from playing basketball. The Minnesota Lynx great stepped away from the WNBA in 2019 to help her now-husband Jonathan Irons win his release from prison by getting his 50-year sentence overturned in 2020. Irons married Moore soon after

MONACO (AP) — Two-time Olympic athlete Ana José Tima has been provisionally suspended for two positive tests for doping substances. Track and field’s Athletics Integrity Unit confirmed the case on Monday for the triple jumper from the Dominican Republic. The AIU says José Tima was notified of allegations in the case that involved positive tests

By MARK LONG AP Pro Football Writer JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — No lead is safe against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Comeback Cats clawed back from 27 points down to stun the Los Angeles Chargers 31-30 in the opening round of the AFC playoffs. It was the latest come-from-behind victory for a team that’s grown accustomed

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer Baylor’s 19-year run in The Associated Press women’s college basketball poll is over. The Bears had been ranked for 365 consecutive polls before falling out Monday after losing twice last week. Baylor had been in the AP Top 25 since January 2004, including a 21-week run at No. 1

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer PARIS (AP) — Chicago guard Lonzo Ball has not abandoned hopes of playing this season, even though he’s still experiencing discomfort in his surgically repaired left knee. Ball has been able to do some on-court work, a major step forward in the process. But it’s now been more than

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Liberty traded for 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones as part of a three-team deal with the Connecticut Sun and Dallas Wings. Connecticut received the No. 6 pick in the draft as well as Rebecca Allen from New York and Tyasha Harris from Dallas.

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball Writer Houston and Kansas remained firmly atop The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll Monday after a record weekend of Top 25 losses, while Florida Atlantic took advantage of the chaos to crack the ranking for the first time in school history. Eleven teams in the Top 25 went down

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Shakhtar Donetsk owner Rinat Akhmetov has pledged to give $25 million to help the families of soldiers who defended the city of Mariupol when it was attacked by the Russian military. Akhmetov announced the donation one day after Shakhtar completed a deal worth up to 100 million euros ($108 million) to

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have activated center Ryan Jensen from injured reserve to the active roster ahead of their NFC wild-card playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys. Jensen missed the entire regular season after hurting his left knee on the second day of training camp. He has been practicing since Dec.

LONDON (AP) — Aston Villa has reached an agreement to sign Colombia striker Jhon Durán from Major League Soccer team Chicago Fire for a reported $18 million. The 19-year-old Durán scored eight goals in 22 appearances for the Fire last season and has played three times for Colombia. Villa says the deal is subject to

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Wild have signed forward Matt Boldy to a seven-year, $49 million contract extension. Boldy will count $7 million against the salary cap through 2029-30. The deal kicks in next season. He was eligible to become a restricted free agent this summer. Minnesota paid up for Boldy before he

SALERNO, Italy (AP) — Serie A club Salernitana has fired coach Davide Nicola a day after the team lost 8-2 at Atalanta. The result was Salernitana’s fourth loss in its past five matches. That run that has sent the team plummeting down the Serie A table to 16th. Nicola was appointed Salernitana coach last February

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer Maya Moore has decided to retire officially from playing basketball. The Minnesota Lynx great stepped away from the WNBA in 2019 to help her now-husband Jonathan Irons win his release from prison by getting his 50-year sentence overturned in 2020. Irons married Moore soon after getting released and the

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer Liverpool is regressing at a pace few could ever have imagined a season after the team came close to winning an unprecedented quadruple of major trophies. The Reds’ 3-0 loss at Brighton on Saturday was a new low this season and led manager Jurgen Klopp to ask forgiveness from

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — European state broadcasters have been brought back into the heart of Olympic business with the IOC announcing a rights deal through 2032 with the European Broadcasting Union. Rights covering 49 countries for four Olympics from 2026-2032 were awarded to both the EBU and Warner Bros. Discovery. The previous European deal signed