Sports

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — William Byron won his second straight NASCAR Cup Series race, taking advantage of a pair of late cautions to give Hendrick Motorsports a victory in overtime at Phoenix Raceway. Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet got a great start in overtime with two laps left, and just

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer Purdue and Marquette were far from the favorites in their own conferences going into the season. They are now the top two seeds in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament. Big Ten regular-season and tournament champion Purdue is a No. 1 seed for the first time since 1996,

By EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer The top overall seed, Alabama, has been on a roll despite being entangled in a murder case. Another No. 1 seed, defending national champion Kansas, is coming off a blowout loss and has a coach coming out of the hospital. Yet another, Houston, just watched its best player go

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — Barcelona needed some help from a video review to restore its nine-point lead over Real Madrid in the Spanish league. The Catalan club beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 after the VAR disallowed an 87th-minute goal by Athletic forward Iñaki Williams for a handball in the buildup. VAR

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Basketball Writer Kansas is the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament’s West Region and will have coach Bill Self back on the sideline. Self missed the Big 12 Tournament after undergoing a heart procedure, but the school has announced he will return to lead the third-ranked Jayhawks against Howard in

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler is back to No. 1 in the world thanks to a masterful performance at The Players Championship. Scheffler ran off five straight birdies around the turn at the TPC Sawgrass. He extended his lead to six shots at one point. Scheffler

By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer North Carolina has gone from starting the season at No. 1 to missing the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels on Sunday officially became the first top-ranked team in The Associated Press preseason poll to miss to miss March Madness since the field’s expansion to 64 teams in 1985. The

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Houston has received the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region for the NCAA Tournament. The selection committee rewarded the Cougars at the expense of Kansas, which had been hoping its national title defense would include a stop in Kansas City, Missouri, just down

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Arabian Knight is off the Kentucky Derby trail. Wagering has been suspended on the 3-year-old colt for the Derby’s future wager after owner Amr Zedan announced the decision. Arabian Knight was the second choice on the morning line behind favorite Forte for the May 6 race. “Trainer Tim Yakteen wasn’t happy

By LARRY LAGE AP Hockey Writer DETROIT (AP) — Dylan Larkin scored to help his team take a four-goal lead and the Detroit Red Wings held on to beat the Boston Bruins 5-3. The Red Wings were ahead 4-0 late in the second period and the NHL-best Bruins pulled within a goal midway through the

TOWSON, Md. (AP) — Brianna Tinsley scored 18 points, Ariana Vanderhoop added 17 and seventh-seeded Monmouth rolled over No. 1 seed Towson 80-55 in the Colonial Athletic Association championship game, giving the Hawks a long-awaited return to the NCAA Women’s Tournament. Monmouth will be making its second NCAA appearance and first since appearing in the

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Sports Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen DeLoach had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and top-seeded VCU beat second-seeded Dayton 68-56 to win the Atlantic 10 Tournament for the first time in eight years. The Rams head to the NCAA Tournament with a nine-game winning streak and a title

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Sports Writer A person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that the Washington Commanders have agreed to terms with defensive tackle Daron Payne on a four-year contract worth $90 million. Sixty million dollars of that will be guaranteed. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal

By DAVID SMALE Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ashley Joens had 28 points and 10 rebounds to lead Iowa State to a 62-51 victory over No. 15 Texas in the Big 12 Conference Tournament championship game on Sunday for the Cyclones’ first postseason title since 2001. Joens, the 2022-23 Big 12 Player of

MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — Maggie Bair scored 19 points with 15 rebounds and six blocks, Katie Dinnebier scored 19 points and had nine assists and Drake routed Missouri Valley Conference newcomer Belmont 89-71 in the tournament championship game on Sunday to qualify for its 14th NCAA Tournament. Anna Miller scored 15 points for the fourth-seeded

By TERESA M. WALKER AP Sports Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Brandon Miller scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as fourth-ranked Alabama smothered No. 18 Texas A&AM 82-63 for its second Southeastern Conference Tournament championship in three seasons. The Crimson Tide also capped their second SEC double dip in three seasons, having won the

By ALANIS THAMES AP Sports Writer MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Two people with knowledge of the deal say the Miami Dolphins are acquiring All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams. Los Angeles will get Miami’s third-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft and tight end Hunter Long for Ramsey.

By DANIELLA MATAR AP Sports Writer MILAN (AP) — Roma has lost 4-3 at home to Sassuolo in a miserable weekend so far for teams chasing the Champions League qualifying spots from Serie A. Armand Laurienté scored twice for Sassuolo before Nicola Zalewski pulled one back. Roma defender Marash Kumbulla was sent off for violent

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Sports Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen DeLoach had 13 points and 10 rebounds, Ace Baldwin scored 16 with seven assists and top-seeded VCU beat second-seeded Dayton 68-56 to win the Atlantic 10 Tournament for the first time in eight years. The Rams head to the NCAA Tournament with