Sports

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — Jr. Clay had a season-high 23 points as Tennessee Tech rolled past Eastern Illinois 84-58. CJ Lane led the Panthers on Monday night with 14 points.

LOWELL, Mass. — Max Brooks had 19 points, eight rebounds and three blocks and Ayinde Hikim recorded 17 points as UMass Lowell defeated Hartford 85-75. Hunter Marks led the Hawks on Monday night with 19 points and five assists.

By KEN RITTER Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — Police learned Saturday that New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara was a suspect in a felony beating of a man at a Las Vegas Strip nightclub, but did not arrest Kamara until after he played in Sunday’s NFL Pro Bowl. A department spokesman acknowledged Monday

By TERESA M. WALKER AP Pro Football Writer Jalen Ramsey finally is on the stage where he starts every season expecting to play after six seasons and two teams into an often-turbulent NFL career. Ramsey says it feels really good to be playing in the Super Bowl. Ramsey says he feels grateful and is cherishing

CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Bengals fans gathered at Paul Brown Stadium on Monday to celebrate the team’s first Super Bowl appearance since January 1989 as part of the NFL’s Opening Night Fan Rally a day before the team leaves for Los Angeles. Thirty thousand free tickets were distributed for the hour-long rally, which included recorded

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Taylor Mikesell made six 3-pointers and scored 26 points to help No. 21 Ohio State beat Rutgers 61-57 for coach Kevin McGuff’s 100th Big Ten victory. Mikesell made two free throws with 24.2 seconds left for a 59-56 lead. Rutgers missed a long 3-pointer but Tyia Singleton grabbed the offensive rebound

By KEN POWTAK Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Matt Brown and Ethan Phillips scored second-period goals and Boston University held off Harvard for a 4-3 victory on Monday night in the semifinal of the 69th annual Beanpot tournament. Boston University will play for its 31st title next Monday night against either Northeastern or Boston College.

By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Diamond Johnson scored 12 points and fifth-ranked North Carolina State build a big lead in the third quarter to beat No. 11 Georgia Tech 59-48 on Monday night. Raina Perez added 11 points for the Wolfpack, who turned a marquee matchup of top Atlantic Coast

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — Aaron Estrada had 23 points as Hofstra edged past UNC Wilmington 73-71. Darlinstone Dubar added 20 points for the Pride. Mike Okauru led the Seahawks on Monday with 25 points.

HAMILTON, N.Y. — Keegan Records had 16 points and eight rebounds as Colgate easily defeated Holy Cross 87-60. Kyrell Luc led the Crusaders on Monday night with 21 points.

By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — A group of civil rights leaders called for replacing the Rooney Rule in a meeting Monday with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial, National Action Network Founder and President Rev. Al Sharpton, National Coalition on Black Civic

By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer HOUSTON (AP) — Lovie Smith has been hired as the new head coach of the Houston Texans. Smith, who is Black, is the second minority candidate to be hired this offseason after the Miami Dolphins hired San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who is biracial, on Sunday. Smith

By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Two people familiar with the decision say the New Orleans Saints have promoted defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to head coach. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Saints have not announced their chosen replacement for Sean Payton, who resigned

MIAMI — Jackson Threadgill had a career-high 21 points as Charlotte defeated Florida International 81-68. Eric Lovett led the Panthers on Monday with 23 points.

By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — The NFL is taking a hard look at special teams, which had a disproportionate number of injuries this season. While league executive vice president Jeff Miller stopped short of saying rules changes to further limit kick plays could be coming, the concern over the

By The Associated Press The Los Angeles Rams could get two former starters back from injured reserve in time for the Super Bowl. Coach Sean McVay said defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day and running back Darrell Henderson are expected to practice with the Rams this week, and there’s “a good chance” Joseph-Day and Henderson can play

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Two people familiar with the sport’s Joint Drug Program tell The Associated Press that Major League Baseball has stopped testing players for steroids for the first time in nearly 20 years due to the expiration of the sport’s drug agreement. The halt in testing is

NEW YORK (AP) — Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball and San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray have been named to the NBA All-Star Game as injury replacements. They will step in for Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green. The NBA also announced that Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum will

MADRID (AP) — Athletic Bilbao has moved closer to the European qualification places in the Spanish league with a 2-1 win over Espanyol. Oihan Sancet and Iñigo Martínez scored in the first half to lead Athletic to the home victory. It is one point behind seventh-placed Real Sociedad. Athletic is four points behind fourth-placed Barcelona