KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Quan Lax had 15 points, JJ Wheat scored four of his nine points in the final 35 seconds, and Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) closed on a 10-0 run to beat Langston (Okla.) 71-67 for the program’s first NAIA championship. Freed-Hardeman trailed 67-61 with 54 seconds remaining before its full-court defense caused problems for Langston, which turned it over 19 times overall. Langston had a shot blocked and Wheat raced the other way for a fast-break layup to make it 70-67 at 12.4. After a timeout Langston missed a 3-pointer, Freed-Hardeman tapped it out to midcourt and the game appeared to be over as confetti dropped onto the court. But officials put 0.2 seconds on the clock and the celebration was delayed. Peyton Law made 1 of 2 free throws to end it.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart confirms on social media that John Calipari will return as men’s basketball coach despite calls for his firing following the Wildcats’ third consecutive early exit from the NCAA Tournament. Barnhart posted Tuesday night on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he and the Hall of Fame coach have talked about the direction of the men’s program. He posted: “I can confirm that he will return for his 16th season as our head coach.” Kentucky was seeded third in March Madness, but fell 80-76 to No. 14 seed Oakland in the first round on Thursday.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Kickoff returns are returning to the NFL. Team owners have approved a new rule that will take what essentially had become “a dead play” and make it an integral part of the game again. The major overhaul to special teams has been in the works for years. It takes elements of the kickoff rules used in the XFL and tweaks them for use in the NFL beginning in 2024. There were 1,970 touchbacks on kickoffs last season that now could be returns. There were 92 fair catches last season that are no longer allowed. Any ball caught in the field of play must be returned.
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Utah coach Lynne Roberts says her team experienced a series of “racial hate crimes” after arriving at its first women's NCAA Tournament hotel in Idaho last week.. She revealed what happened after Utah lost to Gonzaga in the second round on Monday night. Roberts says there were concerns about safety among the traveling party. Utah was staying about 30 miles away in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and was relocated to a different hotel on Friday. Authorities say they are looking into what happened.
UNDATED (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak says center fielder Dylan Carlson will begin the season on the injured list with a sprained left shoulder. Carlson was injured in a collision Monday with right fielder Jordan Walker. Prospect Victor Scott will be the opening-day starter in center field. Carlson’s injury is the latest setback to the Cardinals’ outfield. Tommy Edman was originally expected to start in center field. He is on the IL with a wrist injury. Left fielder Lars Nootbaar received the same designation because of fractured ribs.
PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks and pitcher Jordan Montgomery have agreed on a $25 million, one-year contract with a vesting option for 2025, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the agreement was subject to a successful physical. If Montgomery makes at least 10 starts this season, the option would become guaranteed at $20 million and the left-hander also would gain the right to opt out. The option price would escalate to $22.5 million if he makes 18 starts and to $25 million if he makes 23 starts — a figure he has reached in three straight seasons. The addition bulks up the defending National League champions’ rotation just days before the regular season begins.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is optimistic Shohei Ohtani will become closer with his teammates in the absence of former interpreter and constant companion Ippei Mizuhara. Ohtani and Mizuhara were practically inseparable at Angel Stadium during his six years with the Angels, and they spent ample time together away from the ballpark. The changes caused by Mizuhara’s firing amid allegations of gambling and theft could be jarring to a baseball star who thrives on routine. But Roberts says he has already seen Ohtani engaging more openly with his teammates in the past few days without Mizuhara around to help.
SEAFORD, N.Y. (AP) — A women’s roller derby league in suburban New York City has thrust itself into the national discussion over the rights of transgender athletes. The Long Island Roller Rebels are suing Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman over an order meant to prevent women’s and girl’s leagues and teams with transgender athletes from using county-run parks and fields. The league is gearing up for its season opener next month but faces uncertainty about where some of its upcoming games will be played. The league’s vice president says there was never any question the group would take a stand against the ban.
TUESDAY SCORES
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
NIT Quarterfinals
Final Georgia 79 Ohio St. 77
Final Indiana St. 85 Cincinnati 81
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Golden State 113 Miami 92
Final Oklahoma City 119 New Orleans 112
Final 2OT L.A. Lakers 128 Milwaukee 124
Final Dallas 132 Sacramento 96
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Boston 4 Florida 3
Final Pittsburgh 4 Carolina 1
Final OT Washington 4 Detroit 3
Final OT N-Y Rangers 6 Philadelphia 5
Final New Jersey 6 Toronto 3
Final OT Nashville 5 Vegas 4
Final OT Edmonton 4 Winnipeg 3
Final Chicago 3 Calgary 1
Final Montreal 2 Colorado 1
Final Seattle 4 Anaheim 0
Final Arizona 6 Columbus 2
Final Dallas 6 San Jose 3
CBI Semifinals
Final High Point 81 Arkansas St. 80