ew Page 17 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

No. 9 Illinois visits No. 5 Nebraska for high-stakes rematch
When Nebraska visited Illinois on Dec. 13, Jamarques Lawrence swished a game-winning 3-pointer as time expired to give the Cornhuskers their most prestigious win of the season.,While the memory of that knockout punch still stings for No. 9 Illinois (18-3, 9-1 Big Ten) as it visits No. 5 Nebraska (20...

Reports: White Sox, OF Austin Hays reach 1-year deal
The Chicago White Sox reached agreement with All-Star outfielder Austin Hays on a one-year deal, multiple outlets reported Saturday.,The deal is worth $6 million plus incentives pending the result of a physical, according to MLB Network.,Hays batted .266 with 15 home runs and 64 RBIs in 103 games wi...

Reports: Bills hiring Broncos' Jim Leonhard as DC
The Buffalo Bills are hiring Denver Broncos assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard to be their new defensive coordinator, multiple outlets reported on Saturday.,Leonhard, 43, spent the past two seasons in Denver after one season as a senior football analyst at Illinois...

Diego Pavia could be NFL's shortest QB since 1960s
Quarterback Diego Pavia measured 5-foot-9 and 7/8 inches tall at the Senior Bowl, falling far short of the generous 6-foot height listed this season by Vanderbilt.,If the 2025 Heisman Trophy runner-up and 2026 draft prospect makes it to the NFL, he would become the league's shortest signal-caller si...

Lindsey Vonn pulls out of World Cup Super-G race
Lindsey Vonn withdrew from the World Cup Super-G race in Switzerland on Saturday, one day after injuring her left knee in a downhill crash at the same venue.,The 41-year-old American alpine star's status for the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics remains uncertain after she had to be airlifted from the...

No. 12 Purdue plots to stop slide in matchup vs. Maryland
Maryland and No. 12 Purdue are struggling entering their Big Ten matchup Sunday afternoon in College Park, Md., but their difficulties are on a significantly different level.,The Terrapins (8-12, 1-8) have lost nine of their last 11 games, compiling their worst record through 20 games since the 1988...

Tense atmosphere ahead of showdown between No. 19 Florida, No. 23 Alabama
The atmosphere always is tense when Florida and Alabama meet, but the intensity is increasing to new heights.,Gators coach Todd Golden isn't happy about Alabama coach Nate Oats making a controversial roster move. That player, 7-footer Charles Bediako, will be on the court Sunday afternoon when the N...

Anthony Edwards, Wolves eager to add to Grizzlies' woes
The Minnesota Timberwolves have discovered they can take a punch and get back on their feet.,When the visiting Timberwolves play the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, they will be seeking their fourth straight victory on the heels of a five-game losing streak. That streak culminated last weekend with a...

'Lucky' or not, 76ers strive to extend win streak vs. Pelicans
The Philadelphia 76ers' last game wasn't anything to brag about.,But it was a win, and one that might be a sign that the team is getting better.,The Sixers had to battle back from an 11-point deficit in the final 7 1/2 minutes to edge the struggling Sacramento Kings 113-111 on Thursday night. They h...

Blues getting healthier ahead of clash vs. red-hot Blue Jackets
After dodging injury scares earlier this week, the St. Louis Blues should be closer to full strength when they host the streaking Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.,Two key Blues forwards made quick recoveries ahead of the upcoming game.,Jordan Kyrou and Jake Neighbours departed the 4-3 loss t...

Northwestern-Washington tale of teams walking down similar paths
The men's basketball seasons for Washington and Northwestern have been nearly mirror images of each other.,Right down to the color purple on their uniforms.,Both the Huskies (11-10, 3-7 Big Ten) and Wildcats (10-11, 2-8) have endured multiple narrow losses heading into their Saturday matchup at Evan...

Tennessee's matchup with Auburn offers J.P. Estrella chance for encore
Tennessee had to work hard to hand head coach Rick Barnes a momentous win this week, and the Volunteers' Saturday matchup with Auburn in Knoxville, Tenn., likely will be no different.,The Volunteers (14-6, 4-3 Southeastern Conference) may have another weapon in a rejuvenated J.P. Estrella.,Reaching ...

No. 6 Gonzaga wary of Saint Mary's as WCC rivalry winds down
The rivalry between Saint Mary's and No. 6 Gonzaga has been one of the most intense in the nation over the past two decades.,However, yearly multiple meetings are about to become a thing of the past with the Bulldogs moving into the Pac-12 next season. The first of this season's two West Coast Confe...

Oilers in search of better starts, beginning with matchup vs. Wild
The Edmonton Oilers will look to get off to a better start Saturday night when they host the Minnesota Wild.,Edmonton erased a 3-0 deficit and scored four unanswered goals to top the visiting San Jose Sharks 4-3 in overtime on Thursday.,"As a good team, we need to start better, and that's just hocke...

Patchwork Rockets must contend with Mavericks' Cooper Flagg
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg had already confirmed his extraordinary talent before he produced a historic performance on Thursday that lifted him even higher into the stratosphere.,With the Mavericks poised to honor one of their franchise legends, Flagg scored a team rookie record 49 points ...

Kraken trending in right direction before pivotal match with Golden Knights
Two teams headed in opposite directions heading toward the Olympic break face off Saturday night when the Vegas Golden Knights host the Seattle Kraken in Las Vegas.,The Golden Knights enter the contest tied for first place in the Pacific Division with the Edmonton Oilers but have lost three in a row...

USC puts height, rebounding up against smaller Rutgers
Southern California returns home to Los Angeles on Saturday for a Big Ten Conference tilt against a recently sputtering Rutgers squad.,The Trojans (15-6, 4-6 Big Ten) split a road series in a pair of nail-biters, beating Wisconsin 73-71 on Sunday before dropping a 73-72 decision on Wednesday at Iowa...

Stars visit Mammoth, aiming for fourth straight victory
The Dallas Stars will aim for a fourth straight victory when they visit division foes the Utah Mammoth on Saturday night.,This Central Division standoff marks the third time this season these rivals have faced each other. The Stars won the first contest in Dallas 4-3, and the Mammoth won the second ...

NTSB: Greg Biffle wasn't flying plane in fatal clash
National Transportation Safety Board investigators say Greg Biffle was not at the controls of his business jet during last month's fatal crash near Statesville (N.C.) Regional Airport, a finding that reshapes early assumptions while raising new questions about cockpit staffing and a cascade of instr...

Bulls, Heat head to Florida to continue rare 3-game set
Facing off for part two of a rare three-game series, the Miami Heat will look to prolong the visiting Chicago Bulls' recent woes Saturday night.,The teams had their Jan. 8 game in Chicago postponed to Jan. 29 due to condensation on the court, leading to three games in four days between the two sides...