Sports

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Michael Wacha was one of the last pitchers on the free-agent market this offseason, but the contract was well worth the wait for the veteran pitcher. Wacha signed last month with the San Diego Padres for a guaranteed $26 million over four years. Depending on bonuses and player or team options,

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP National Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Before coaching his first game at Georgetown — indeed, his first game as a head coach at any level of basketball — Patrick Ewing acknowledged that his tenure would be judged on one basis: his record. “People could call me ‘the greatest Hoya ever,’ but as

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka has made a successful return to the BNP Paribas Open after four years away. He has beaten qualifier Aleksander Vukic 6-4, 1-6, 6-1. Wawrinka is a 37-year-old who has been ranked as high as No. 3 and is now No. 100 after a series

By JAMES ROBSON and KAREL JANICEK Associated Press MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes struck as Manchester United beat Real Betis 4-1 and began the healing process after Sunday’s humiliating 7-0 rout by Liverpool. Erik ten Hag’s players delivered a rousing response to the defeat at Anfield. The Europa League quarterfinals are

By BOBBY CAINA CALVAN Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A former Fox executive has been convicted of paying tens of millions of dollars in bribes to nab broadcasting rights to the World Cup and other top soccer matches. A second ex-executive was acquitted. A Brooklyn federal jury delivered its verdict Thursday. Hernan Lopez was

By KIRK KERN Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — Lamont Butler scored 16 points and No. 20 San Diego State held on to beat Colorado State 64-61 in the Mountain West Conference Tournament quarterfinals. The top-seeded Aztecs never led by more than five points in the second half, and Isaiah Stevens’ 3-pointer gave the eighth-seeded

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer GREENSBORO, N.C, (AP) — Kyle Filipowski overcame an early ankle injury to score 22 points, Tyrese Proctor added 11 points and 10 assists, and No. 21 Duke cruised to a 96-69 win over Pittsburgh in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament quarterfinals. Dereck Lively II had 13 points and Mark

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Sports Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Jordan Hawkins scored 19 points and No. 11 Connecticut held off a furious second-half rally to beat Providence 73-66 in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals. The fourth-seeded Huskies advanced to face top-seeded Marquette in Friday night’s semifinals at Madison Square Garden. Playing in

By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer LAS VEGAS (AP) — Freshman Amari Bailey scored a season-high 26 points and No. 2 UCLA beat Colorado 80-69 in the Pac-12 Conference Tournament quarterfinals. The Bruins kept pushing for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament with their 11th straight win. UCLA improved to 28-4. Bailey eclipsed

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer Geno Smith finally got to enjoy a day of being in the spotlight after signing the big contract that had eluded him most of his career. Smith’s three-year contract with the Seahawks will keep him as the presumptive starting quarterback in Seattle following a breakout season. Smith was named

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Riot police had to control crowd unrest during Manchester United’s Europa League match against Real Betis. Trouble broke out in the away section at Old Trafford late in round-of-16 first-leg match which United won 4-1. Police wearing helmets and protective gear tried to control the situation and were involved in altercations

FORT WORTH, Texas — Led by CJ Kelly’s 21 points, the UCF Knights defeated the SMU Mustangs 76-70 in the American Athletic Conference Tournament

By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer Major League Soccer and Liga MX have announced the bracket and schedule for this summer’s League’s Cup competition between the two leagues. The tournament was expanded this year to include all 18 Liga MX clubs and 29 MLS clubs as the United States and Mexico prepare to host

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tolu Smith scored a career-high 28 points, including a go-ahead basket in overtime with 4.3 seconds left, and Mississippi State beat Florida 69-68 on Thursday in the second round of the SEC Tournament. Mississippi State (21-11) advances to play top-seeded Alabama in the quarterfinals on Friday. Smith started overtime with a

By The Associated Press The men’s college basketball season is racing toward NCAA Tournament time. Conference tournaments this week will be capped by Selection Sunday on Sunday, March 12. Sweet 16 weekend will see games in New York City, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Missouri, and Louisville, Kentucky. The Final Four is in Houston. The semifinals

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — No charges are immediately being filed against former NBA star Shawn Kemp following his arrest in a drive-by shooting in Washington, prosecutors said Thursday. Kemp, 53, was booked for investigation of felony drive-by shooting shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday in Tacoma, online jail records show. No one was injured in the

By KAREL JANICEK Associated Press Premier League leader Arsenal was held 2-2 at Sporting Lisbon in their Europa League round-of-16 first-leg match. Hidemasa Morita’s own goal in the 62nd minute salvaged the draw for Arsenal ahead of the return leg at Emirates Stadium next Thursday for a spot in the quarterfinals. William Saliba opened the

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings have traded defenseman Steven Kampfer to the Arizona Coyotes for future considerations. The 34-year-old Kampfer will report to Tucson of the American Hockey League after the trade announced on Thursday. Kampfer has not played in the NHL since appearing in 20 games for the Boston Bruins in