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No. 8 Marquette out to extend strong Big East start at Providence

NCAA Basketball: Marquette at XavierDec 21, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Marquette Golden Eagles forward David Joplin (23) dribbles the ball against the Xavier Musketeers in the second half at Cintas Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

No. 8 Marquette will strive to finish the calendar year with another Big East win when it visits Providence in a Tuesday matchup of two teams coming off extended holiday breaks.

The Golden Eagles (11-2, 2-0) have not started the conference season with three straight victories since 2012-13, but that opportunity remains on the table after edging out Xavier 72-70 on Dec. 21.

The Big East’s second-leading scorer with 20.3 points per game, Kam Jones scored exactly 20, but on 8-of-20 shooting, in that game.

Though he hit crucial free throws down the stretch and added eight assists and four rebounds, coach Shaka Smart knows Jones has more in his tank, calling that effort a “B-minus.”

“I’m hard on him,” Smart said. “I wouldn’t trade anyone for Kam Jones. But he can be better. He can be more efficient. He has to understand that if he doesn’t have an angle, he’s got to get to two feet and be strong with the ball.”

The Golden Eagles shot 60 percent in the second half against Xavier, thanks in large part to David Joplin scoring 15 of his 19 points and reaching the 1,000-point mark for his career. The senior forward also chipped in five rebounds, three blocks and two steals.

“Any time you have someone that’s scored over 1,000 points at the same school, you’re just grateful that he’s been around that long,” Smart said. “And we got two-thirds of our season left with him.”

Marquette reaching a 3-0 conference mark, though, will require snapping a five-game losing streak in Rhode Island, where the Friars were 72-57 upset winners on Dec. 19, 2023. The teams met three total times last season, with Marquette bouncing back in Milwaukee and then New York in the semifinals of the Big East tournament.

The Friars (7-6, 1-1) will aim to turn around their downfalls from a 72-70, buzzer-beating loss to St. John’s on Dec. 20, as they allowed the Red Storm to grab 18 offensive rebounds and finish with a glaring 23-4 edge in second-chance points.

Providence led 42-29 at halftime but wound up suffering its first home loss of the season (6-1) and losing its Big East home opener for the first time since 2018-19.

“Disappointing outcome, disappointing result,” Friar coach Kim English said. “But no surprise as you watched the way the game went.”

English’s rotation was without Bryce Hopkins (knee) for a second straight game and 10th time this season, leading to Rich Barron and freshman Anton Bonke starting in a new-look lineup.

“Getting (Hopkins) back feeling better and better,” English said. “There was pain — we didn’t want him to go with any pain.”

Miami transfer Bensley Joseph (11.9 points, 3.2 assists per game) had a team-high 17 points and eight rebounds, including a game-tying 3-pointer a possession before St. John’s game-winner with 18.8 seconds left.

“We went with the guys who have been practicing well,” English said. “The guys who have been, for the most part, doing what we ask.”

–Field Level Media

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Lionel Messi's brace helps Inter Miami slay Rapids in front of huge crowd

MLS: Inter Miami CF at Colorado RapidsApr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) kicks and scores a penalty kick in the first half against the Colorado Rapids at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Lionel Messi recorded a brace and German Berterame added a tally on a header as Inter Miami earned a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday in Denver.

Messi scored the go ahead goal in the 79th minute. He started a run just inside midfield and went unchallenged until the box where he blasted a shot into the upper part of the left corner for a 3-2 lead.

Rafael Navarro and Darren Yapi each scored a goal for Colorado (4-4-0, 12 points) in a contest played in front of 75,824, the second-largest crowd in MLS history.

Miami (4-1-3, 15 points) took a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute after Colorado goalkeeper Zack Steffen’s pass was intercepted by Yannick Bright. Josh Atencio offered a hard challenge and drew a yellow card after video review.

Messi took the resulting penalty kick and rolled a shot straight down the middle as Miami took a 1-0 lead.

Colorado had a solid look at the goal when midfielder Wayne Frederick attempted a one-touch lob shot. Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair sprinted well beyond the penalty arc to head away a loose ball, but Frederick’s attempt sailed over the open net.

In the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, Miami extended its lead to 2-0 as it connected on a series of passes deep in their attacking third. Messi got the run of play started with a tight touch pass to Rodrigo De Paul.

De Paul sent Mateo Silvetti on a run to the boundary line. His inward-spinning cross floated to the front of the goal where Berterame rose above the Colorado defense and tucked a header under the cross bar.

Navarro’s goal cut the Miami lead to 2-1. He started a run at midfield and used a step-over move to get an open shot a few steps into the box that tucked inside the left post past a diving St. Clair in the 58th minute.

In the 62nd minute, second-half substitute Yapi settled on a direct pass from Lucas Herrington and sizzled a shot past St. Clair for the equalizer.

Miami closed the win playing a man down as Bright was sent off with a red card in the 87th minute.

–Field Level Media

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Brice Turang and Brandon Woodruff lead Brewers past Marlins

MLB: Milwaukee Brewers at Miami MarlinsApr 18, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (2) celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home against the Miami Marlins during the fifth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Brice Turang slugged a go-ahead, two-run homer, and Brandon Woodruff pitched seven brilliant innings as the Brewers beat the host Miami Marlins 5-2 on Saturday afternoon.

Abner Uribe inherited a bases-loaded, one-out mess in the ninth. However, he got both batters he faced on only four pitches to record his second save.

Turang went 2-for-3 with three RBIs for Milwaukee, which won its season-high fourth consecutive game.

Woodruff (2-0) allowed just three hits — all singles — one walk and one run, lowering his ERA to 3.42. He fanned four Marlins.

Miami has lost four straight and seven of their past eight games.

Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara (2-2) took the loss, allowing five hits and three runs in five innings. He walked a career-high six batters and struck out just one, a career low in a start of at least five innings for the nine-year veteran.

Miami opened the scoring in the second inning as Liam Hicks singled, advanced on a groundout and scored on Connor Norby’s base knock to center.

Milwaukee loaded the bases with one out in the third on three walks, but Alcantara got the slow-footed Gary Sanchez to bounce into a double play.

The Brewers tied the score in the fourth as Luis Rengifo walked and scored on Brandon Lockridge’s two-out single.

Milwaukee grabbed a 3-1 lead in the fifth as William Contreras grounded a hustle double past two middle infielders and scored on Turang’s 402-foot homer to center. He hit a first-pitch slider for his fourth long ball of the year.

The Brewers extended their lead to 5-1 in the sixth. Garrett Mitchell started the rally with a walk. He stole second, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI groundout by Sal Frelick. Mitchell was initially called out, but the Brewers won a challenge.

Turang then hit an RBI single to score Joey Ortiz, who had also walked.

Miami threatened in the eighth on a pair of two-out singles by Jakob Marsee and Xavier Edwards. But reliever Jake Woodford got Agustin Ramirez on a groundout, ending the inning.

In the ninth, the Marlins loaded the bases with one out, banging three singles against Woodford. Uribe got Heiberto Hernandez to ground to third base, plating Otto Lopez, then retired Javier Sanoja on a grounder to second.

Hicks and Norby had two hits apiece for Miami.

–Field Level Media

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Matt Fitzpatrick builds 3-shot lead at RBC Heritage, but Scottie Scheffler lurks

PGA: RBC Heritage - Third RoundApr 18, 2026; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Matt Fitzpatrick and Viktor Hovland at the end of their round during the third round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Another strong finish from England’s Matt Fitzpatrick would put him where he wants to be in the RBC Heritage.

Fitzpatrick turned in a strong stretch on the back nine Saturday to shoot a 3-under-par 68 and keep the lead through three rounds at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

“I felt like I was making good enough swings to make a turnaround on the back nine,” Fitzpatrick said. “Obviously, some nice momentum with the hole-outs on 14 and 15.”

Fitzpatrick moved to 17-under 196 and increased his lead to three shots, but world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler stands as his closest pursuer going into Sunday’s final round.

Fitzpatrick’s eagle 3 on the 15th at Harbour Town Golf Links capped a four-hole stretch that he played at 4 under. He settled down after three bogeys on the front side.

“It’s always satisfying when you can turn it around, particularly if you have not played that well and you are struggling a little bit and not scoring as well as you want,” Fitzpatrick said.

Scheffler shot 64 to climb into second. Brian Harman (63) joined Austria’s Sepp Straka (67) and South Korea’s Si Woo Kim (66) at 13 under.

Fitzpatrick will be aiming for his second victory of the year. He won a month ago at the Valspar Championship, just one week after a runner-up finish at The Players Championship.

Saturday’s turnaround was rewarding.

“I was pleased the way I hit the ball off the tee coming in,” Fitzpatrick said. “Obviously, then just some good putting on that back nine to take advantage of it.”

He rolled in a putt from off the green — 26 feet away — the par-3 14th. On the next hole, he chipped from off the green for the eagle on a shot from just inside 30 feet.

Scheffler sizzled at the start Saturday with birdies on five of the first six holes.

“I was a little bit behind the 8-ball going into today but had a nice round to put myself back in position,” Scheffler said. “… As you start kind of getting back into contention, I think that’s always fun.”

Fitzpatrick said he understands there will be a pro-Scheffler tone in Sunday’s galleries.

“We’re in America, so I wouldn’t expect any different,” Fitzpatrick said. “Yeah, they’ve got to support their guy, and that’s totally fine.”

Harman became the clubhouse leader before the final groups reached the round’s midway mark. Harman began the day in 27th place, but he posted birdies on the final three holes to be the first to finish at 13 under.

“Just tried to keep the pedal down,” Harman said. “It’s going to take a low number to win. The weather is going to turn a little bit (Sunday), so it was nice to get out there with some good conditions.”

Still, Harman said the setup could work to his advantage.

“You really have to think your way around this place,” he said. “It’s not just a bomb-and-gouge. I’m not a bomber.”

The golfers at 12 under are Andrew Novak (65), Gary Woodland (66), Patrick Cantlay (68), Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg (68) and South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter (67).

“I think I kind of got to go in with the same kind of attack mentality as today and get it going, go post a number, and see how guys handle the wind late,” Novak said.

–Field Level Media

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