AP National Sports

BROOKINGS, S.D. — The South Dakota State Jackrabbits defeated the Western Illinois Leathernecks 71-64 on Thursday night led by Zeke Mayo’s 33 points. The Jackrabbits moved to 6-8 with the win and the Leathernecks dropped to 8-5.

By The Associated Press DENTON, Texas — Led by Vladislav Goldin’s 11 points, the Florida Atlantic Owls defeated the North Texas Mean Green 50-46 on Thursday night. The Owls are now 12-1 with the victory and the Mean Green fell to 10-3.

SAN MARCOS, Texas — Led by Tyreke Locure’s 12 points, the UL Monroe Warhawks defeated the Texas State Bobcats 57-53 on Thursday night. The Warhawks are now 5-9 with the win and the Bobcats fell to 7-7 after the Sun Belt Conference opener.

HUNTSVILLE, Texas — Led by Sadaidriene Hall’s 18 points, the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks defeated the Abilene Christian Wildcats 75-68 on Thursday night. The ‘Jacks are now 9-5 on the season, while the Wildcats dropped to 8-6 after the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

By The Associated Press BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jordan Walker converted a three-point play midway through the second overtime period, then knocked down a pair of free throws with 32 seconds left to help UAB hold off UTEP, 79-73 in a Conference USA battle. Eric Gaines tied the game at 57-57 with a free throw with

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Reggie Bass drilled a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left and Central Michigan knocked off in-state rival Michigan 63-61 in the final non-conference game for both schools. The teams met for the first time in five years. Michigan is 22-4 all-time against the Chippewas, but Central Michigan now has won three

NEWARK, Del. — Aaron Estrada scored 31 points and Hofstra cruised to an 87-73 victory over Delaware in a Colonial Athletic Association opener. Estrada shot 11 for 17 (3 for 6 from 3-point range) and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line for the Pride (8-6). Tyler Thomas scored 20 points and added five rebounds.

By PHILLIP B. WILSON Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton scored 29 points, Buddy Hield made a 3-pointer three seconds into the game and added 25, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 135-126. Haliburton was 6 for 8 from 3-point range and Hield, who leads the NBA in 3-pointers, was 5 for

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — LaMelo Ball had 27 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-113 on Thursday night for just their third victory in the last 14 games. P.J. Washington added 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting and Charlotte got a

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Zia Cooke had 14 points and No. 1 South Carolina opened Southeastern Conference play with a 76-34 victory over Texas A&M. The Gamecocks improved to 13-0 for the third time in the past nine seasons. They beat the Aggies for the 10th time in the past 11 meetings. South Carolina, which

By ALANIS THAMES AP Sports Writer ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Jordan Travis threw for 418 yards and two touchdowns and No. 13 Florida State beat Oklahoma 35-32 on Thursday night in the Cheez-It Bowl. Johnny Wilson made a one-handed grab for a 58-yard gain to set up Ryan Fitzgerald’s 32-yard field goal with 55 seconds

By ERIC W. BOLIN Associated Press FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Angel Reese and Alexis Morris each scored 19 points as No. 9 LSU handled No. 24 Arkansas in both teams’ SEC opener Thursday, 69-45. Flau’jae Johnson had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Arkansas shot just 28% and was more than doubled-up by LSU on the

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana’s Buddy Hield made the fastest 3-pointer on record when he hit just three seconds into the Pacers’ game against Cleveland. The opening tipoff was batted to Hield, who caught it behind the arc, turned and shot. The ball went through with 11:57 remaining in the first quarter, with Pacers center Myles

By The Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte 49ers defeated the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 82-67 on Thursday night led by Brice Williams’ 31 points. The 49ers improved to 10-3 with the win and the Blue Raiders fell to 8-5.

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero elected to pass on taking the interim head coaching job after his good friend Nathaniel Hackett was fired. Evero wants to concentrate on leading one of the league’s top defenses. That doesn’t diminish his desire to one day be

CLINTON, S.C. — Led by Crosby James’ 23 points, the Presbyterian Blue Hose defeated the Campbell Fighting Camels 82-72 on Thursday night. The Blue Hose moved to 5-9 with the victory and the Fighting Camels fell to 5-8.

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — The Bowling Green Falcons defeated the Ohio Dominican Panthers 102-65 on Thursday night led by Leon Ayers III’s 30 points. The Falcons moved to 6-7 with the victory.

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — Led by Ludovic Dufeal’s 16 points, the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs defeated the Charleston Southern Buccaneers 83-63 on Thursday night. The Runnin’ Bulldogs are now 6-7 with the victory and the Buccaneers fell to 4-8.

By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The wallop of a two-day blizzard that struck Buffalo over the weekend and the sense of desperation that came with it hit home for Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams on Christmas Eve, when he trudged through the storm to check on his mother-in-law. What is