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Houston Cougars and East Carolina Pirates meet in AAC Tournament

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:23 GMT

East Carolina Pirates (16-16, 6-12 AAC) vs. Houston Cougars (29-2, 17-1 AAC)Fort Worth, Texas; Friday, 1 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: The No. 1 Houston Cougars face the East Carolina Pirates in the AAC Tournament.The Cougars’ record in AAC play is 17-1, and their record is 12-1 against non-conference opponents. Houston is sixth in college basketball with 11.6 offensive rebounds per game led by J’wan Roberts averaging 2.7 offensive boards.The Pirates’ record in AAC play is 6-12. East Carolina is second in the AAC with 10.4 offensive rebounds per game led by Brandon Johnson averaging 2.6.TOP PERFORMERS: Marcus Sasser averages 2.7 made 3-pointers per game for the Cougars, scoring 17.1 points while shooting 38.2% from beyond the arc. Jarace Walker is shooting 49.0% and averaging 12.6 points over the last 10 games for Houston.RJ Felton is scoring 14.0 points per game and averaging 4.5 rebounds for the Pirates. Johnson is averaging 1.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for ...

Alabama A&M Bulldogs play in SWAC Tournament against the Texas Southern Tigers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:23 GMT

Texas Southern Tigers (12-20, 7-11 SWAC) vs. Alabama A&M Bulldogs (15-17, 10-8 SWAC)Birmingham, Alabama; Friday, 3 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Alabama A&M -1.5; over/under is 140.5BOTTOM LINE: The Alabama A&M Bulldogs and Texas Southern Tigers meet in the SWAC Tournament.The Bulldogs are 10-8 against SWAC opponents and 5-9 in non-conference play. Alabama A&M is ninth in the SWAC with 21.2 defensive rebounds per game led by Olisa Akonobi averaging 4.1.The Tigers’ record in SWAC action is 7-11. Texas Southern has a 2-3 record in games decided by less than 4 points.TOP PERFORMERS: Garrett Hicks averages 2.1 made 3-pointers per game for the Bulldogs, scoring 13.1 points while shooting 41.6% from beyond the arc. Messiah Thompson is shooting 41.9% and averaging 12.8 points over the past 10 games for Alabama A&M.Davon Barnes is shooting 43.4% and averaging 13.4 points for the Tigers. PJ Henry is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Texas ...

Xavier Musketeers and Creighton Bluejays play in Big East Tournament

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:23 GMT

Creighton Bluejays (21-11, 14-6 Big East) vs. Xavier Musketeers (24-8, 15-5 Big East)New York; Friday, 9 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Xavier -3.5; over/under is 155.5BOTTOM LINE: The No. 15 Xavier Musketeers play in the Big East Tournament against the No. 24 Creighton Bluejays.The Musketeers are 15-5 against Big East opponents and 9-3 in non-conference play. Xavier leads college basketball with 19.7 assists per game led by Colby Jones averaging 4.5.The Bluejays’ record in Big East games is 14-6. Creighton is 2-5 in one-possession games.TOP PERFORMERS: Jones is averaging 15.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals for the Musketeers. Souley Boum is averaging 16.8 points and 4.4 assists over the past 10 games for Xavier.Ryan Nembhard is averaging 12.1 points and 4.9 assists for the Bluejays. Ryan Kalkbrenner is averaging 15.5 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 64.9% over the last 10 games for Creighton.LAST 10 GAMES: Musketeers: 7-3, averaging 80.4 points, 33.5...

Michigan State Spartans play the Ohio State Buckeyes in Big Ten Tournament

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:23 GMT

Ohio State Buckeyes (15-18, 5-15 Big Ten) vs. Michigan State Spartans (19-11, 11-8 Big Ten)Chicago; Friday, 2:30 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Michigan State -4; over/under is 139BOTTOM LINE: The Michigan State Spartans and Ohio State Buckeyes square off in the Big Ten Tournament.The Spartans are 11-8 against Big Ten opponents and 8-3 in non-conference play. Michigan State is eighth in the Big Ten in rebounding averaging 32.2 rebounds. Joey Hauser paces the Spartans with 7.0 boards.The Buckeyes are 5-15 in Big Ten play. Ohio State averages 10.4 turnovers per game and is 1-0 when turning the ball over less than opponents.TOP PERFORMERS: Tyson Walker is scoring 14.8 points per game and averaging 2.5 rebounds for the Spartans. Hauser is averaging 15.0 points and 5.6 rebounds over the last 10 games for Michigan State.Zed Key is averaging 10.8 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Buckeyes. Sean McNeil is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Ohio State.LAST 10 GAMES: Spa...

Oscars snub Zelenskyy: Sorry, no gig for you

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:23 GMT

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made numerous public appearances since the beginning of Russia’s war on Ukraine, speaking at parliaments and cultural events across the world.But there’s one venue that keeps resisting the Ukrainian president: the Academy Awards ceremony.According to American pop culture outlet Variety, quoting “sources,” the organizer of the Oscars has refused to let Zelenskyy appear in their 95th awards ceremony, scheduled for overnight Sunday into Monday — though the magazine says the request was made by a top agent, Mike Simpson, and not Ukrainian authorities. The Academy declined to comment to Variety.Zelenskyy had already been snubbed by the Oscars last year. The American actress Amy Schumer, who was hosting the ceremony, said she had asked for the Ukrainian president to make an appearance, but was turned down.In the meantime, the Ukrainian president opened the Cannes Film Festival last May, and spoke at the Berlin Film Festival in February (both...

World War III? It’s close, Orbán claims

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:23 GMT

The likelihood of the war in Ukraine turning into a global conflict is growing, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Friday morning.Speaking on state-owned Kossuth Rádió, Hungary’s leader criticized Western capitals and accused Ukraine’s allies of promoting a conflict due to economic interests. “The world has never been so close,” Orbán said, to “a local war” turning into “a world war.” “The likelihood of this is increasing day by day,” he added. The Hungarian prime minister also said — without providing proof — that Kyiv’s partners could send troops to help Ukraine, which is battling against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion. “We are very close, in my opinion, for it to be put on the table as serious proposal for allied — the soldiers of countries allied with Ukraine — to also cross the border,” he said. Orbán, who has nurtured a close relationship with the Kremlin over the past decade, has come under fire both at hom...

Celtics take off for long road trip looking to build momentum with playoffs looming

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:23 GMT

The Celtics are heading out on a six-game road trip that will take them through four time zones starting on Saturday. After a feel-good win over the Blazers, it’s a chance for the C’s to build on some success and create momentum at a crucial juncture of their season.But Joe Mazzulla couldn’t care less about where they’re playing for the next 11 days.“The road trip doesn’t matter,” the Celtics coach said after Thursday’s practice. “It doesn’t matter if we’re playing at home or on the road. We have to play the games, we have to have the habits, we have to execute. So I don’t really give a crap about the road trip.“What I care about is the carryover and the awareness to the execution, how we manage the game and what that looks like when we do it well, and what it looks like when we don’t do it well.”Malcolm Brogdon said earlier this week the goal of the road trip is to go undefeated. On paper, that’s attainable. Four of the six games are against opponents with records at .500 or worse,...

EU agrees better energy efficiency Green Deal rules

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:23 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union member countries and negotiators from the EU Parliament have agreed on a provisional deal aimed at reducing energy consumption across the 27-nation bloc.Under the agreement, EU countries must achieve the goal collectively to ensure a reduction of consumption of at least 11.7% compared with the forecasts for 2030 that were made three years ago.The deal, which is part of the EU’s plans to become climate neutral by 2050, must be formally adopted by the Parliament and the Council — which brings together government ministers from each member state — to enter into force.The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, welcomed the provisional agreement, which also includes measures to tackle energy poverty. The agreed rules should also ensure that EU countries promote local heating and cooling plans in cities with more than 45,000 inhabitants.“Saving energy is a key step to saving the planet,” said Frans Timmermans, the executive Vice...

Versace reaches for the stars with glittery Hollywood show

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:23 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Decamping from her usual base in Milan to show her wares in Los Angeles — only three days before the Oscars — Donatella Versace says she was inspired by the energy, glamour and power of Hollywood. She had plenty of that, but needed one more thing to make it all work: good weather.And so, with rain expected on Friday, Versace was forced move her show ahead by a day. It may have been chaotic, but it was the right move. Her star-studded runway show Thursday took place on a cool but gorgeous Los Angeles evening on a spectacular rooftop overlooking the snow-capped San Gabriel mountains, sleek skyscrapers, and the Hollywood hills. Oh, and daylight ceded to darkness right as the show ended — just in time to turn on the floodlights, blast “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince and head to cocktails.The sun was still out when the crowd began making its way up to the roof of the imposing Pacific Design Center on Melrose Avenue, with its distinctive blue glass exterior. Guests included ...

Shiffrin leads giant slalom, closes in on 86th World Cup win

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:23 GMT

ARE, Sweden (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin made a strong start Friday in her pursuit of a record-tying 86th World Cup victory by taking a big lead in the first run of a giant slalom.Shiffrin was more than half a second faster than her highest-ranked rivals with a smooth and fluent run in the sunshine at the lakeside resort in Are.The second run is later Friday.The 27-year-old American can move even with Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark with a victory. Stenmark won a record 86 World Cup races in the 1970s and 80s.___More AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/skiing and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsThe Associated Press