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No. 2 Florida, riding win streak, faces optimistic LSU

NCAA Basketball: Oklahoma at FloridaFeb 18, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) shoots a three point basket against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Florida is riding a five-game winning streak, with each victory by at least nine points and the closest one coming on the road against No. 1 Auburn.

The No. 2 Gators will try to keep building momentum when they face LSU on Saturday in Baton Rouge, La.

Florida (23-3, 10-3 Southeastern Conference) began its winning run in the wake of a 64-44 defeat at then-No. 8 Tennessee on Feb. 1.

“We didn’t lose any confidence after that game,” Florida coach Todd Golden said. “We weren’t shook. It allowed us to kind of recalibrate and focus on defending, rebounding, taking care of the ball, things that we know equate to winning.

“This league is the best league in college basketball in like 20 years. You’re going to run into some tough opponents. Tennessee on their home floor is a tough game, and we didn’t play very well that day, but we’ve obviously played really well since then.”

The Gators have made at least 10 3-pointers in each game during the winning streak, hitting a total of 63 in 150 attempts (42.0 percent). Their season average from long range is just 35.2 percent.

“We’ve shot the ball really well over the past couple weeks,” Golden said. “And when we do that … our team has the ability to get some really good runs and get some spurts.”

Florida has overcome injuries during its surge. Forward Alex Condon, the team’s leading rebounder (7.8 per game) and fourth-leading scorer (10.6 points per game), and backup forward Sam Alexis (4.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg) both missed an 85-63 home victory against Oklahoma on Tuesday because of ankle injuries.

Even in their absence, the Gators managed their typical balanced scoring with five players finishing in double figures and no one staying on the court for more than 27 minutes.

The Tigers (14-12, 3-10) have had a tough conference season, but they have won their past two league games after a seven-game losing streak. They registered their largest margin of victory over an SEC opponent in an 81-67 home win against South Carolina on Tuesday.

“I think the credit goes to our players,” LSU coach Matt McMahon said. “They’ve come to practice, every game. I think we’ve competed every game except one half. We needed something to go our way.”

That happened when the Tigers overcame a five-point deficit in the final 20 seconds to beat Oklahoma 82-79 on the road Saturday, and they carried the positive feeling into the matchup with the Gamecocks.

“Playing in the last game against Oklahoma, we knew we could win in this league,” said LSU’s leading scorer, guard Cam Carter. “There have been a lot of learning experiences leading into the past two games, and I think we’re figuring it out now.”

LSU made 11 3-pointers against Oklahoma and followed that with 13 against South Carolina, its most against an SEC opponent.

The challenge against Florida will be much greater than the level the Tigers faced the previous two games.

“When we put 40 minutes together, I don’t think anybody can beat us,” Tigers guard Mike Williams III said. “Only putting one half together has been our biggest thing this year. These last two games we’ve put two halves together, and we’ve been rewarded. I think we can do that again Saturday along with execution, and we should be fine.”

–Field Level Media

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New England Revolution blast Atlanta United to climb up East standings

Jul 25, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution forward Dor Turgeman (11) protects the ball from Atlanta United defense Junior Alonso (6) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn ImagesJul 25, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution forward Dor Turgeman (11) protects the ball from Atlanta United defense Junior Alonso (6) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Carles Gil and Dor Turgeman each scored a first-half goal while Matt Turner made six saves on Saturday to help the New England Revolution earn a 4-1 victory over Atlanta United in Foxborough, Mass.

Peyton Miller and Brooklyn Raines also scored a goal apiece for New England (9-5-2, 29 points), which passed the Chicago Fire (26 points) for third place in the Eastern Conference.

Atlanta (3-11-3, 12 points) extended its winless stretch to six games and fell to 1-6-2 away from home. Miguel Almiron scored a goal in the 85th minute to help the visitors avoid their eighth shutout of the year. Atlanta’s 17 goals scored are the fewest in the league.

New England tacked on to its 2-0 halftime lead in the 56th minute, as Miller tallied his fourth goal of the year to give the Revolution a three-goal advantage. Alhassan Yusuf picked up his second assist of the match in the process.

In the 67th minute, Raines scored the first goal of his MLS career. Assisted by Jackson Yueill, Raines’ left-footed strike marked just the second time New England has scored four-plus goals in a game this season.

After Almiron’s early shot was saved by Turner, New England found the back of the net at the 11-minute mark, as Matt Polster found Gil for his team-leading sixth-goal of the season.

Polster, recording his first assist of the year, left the ball for the New England star, who shook defender Tristan Muyumba and fired in a left-footed shot past the sprawling Lucas Hoyos.

Turgeman threatened to double New England’s advantage in the 26th minute, but Hoyos made his first save to preserve the one-goal deficit.

Turgeman broke through 10 minutes later, however, as the 22-year-old scored his third goal of the season. Yusuf’s perfectly placed cross found Turgeman in the box, where a left-footed shot made it 2-0.

Despite the two-goal halftime-margin, Atlanta put seven shots on goal in the first half to New England’s four.

–Field Level Media

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Agustin Ojeda, NYCFC score early, douse Fire

Jul 25, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York City Football Club offense Agustin Ojeda (26) celebrates his goal against the Chicago Fire FC during the first half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Salus-Imagn ImagesJul 25, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York City Football Club offense Agustin Ojeda (26) celebrates his goal against the Chicago Fire FC during the first half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Salus-Imagn Images

Agustin Ojeda scored a goal and added an assist Saturday night as New York City FC shredded the visiting Chicago Fire’s defense in the first half of a 3-1 win at Yankee Stadium.

Nicolas Fernandez Mercau and Malachi Jones also scored for NYCFC (7-6-4, 25 points), which won their second straight fixture despite numbering nine players on the injured list. NYCFC earned an 11-9 advantage in shots as Chicago couldn’t consistently maintain its defensive shape.

Joel Waterman scored the only goal for the Fire (8-6-2, 26 points). Newly-signed striker Robert Lewandowski played the second half in his second match with Chicago and generated a shot.

The storylines for each team prior to kickoff couldn’t have been more diverse. While NYCFC was coming off a solid 2-1 win Wednesday night at Columbus, the Fire suffered a 3-2 loss at Miami that had coach Gregg Berhalter upset because of their poor defense.

It took just 10 minutes for Berhalter to see a rerun of Wednesday night. A failed clearing attempt and weak marking presented Fernandez Mercau space to wire a shot from just past the top of the 18-yard box by goalie Chris Brady. The shot carried a goal expectancy of only 2%.

Chicago equalized in the 21st minute off a set piece. NYCFC deflected a free kick but Waterman pounced on it at the left post, roofing a shot under the crossbar for his first goal of the year.

But Ojeda put NYCFC ahead for good eight minutes later. Andres Perea sent him down the right side and Ojeda angled a sharply-struck shot past Brady that hit the inside of the left post before nestling into the net.

Ojeda played the feeder’s role in the 41st minute as the Fire again lost their defensive structure. Perea found Ojeda on the right side and he passed into the middle, giving Jones a point-blank opportunity that he converted.

Goalie Matt Freese helped protect the lead for NYCFC in the second half, coming up with four of his five saves.

–Field Level Media

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Orioles blow another late lead, but Dylan Beavers bails them out

Jul 25, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA;  Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brandon Young (63) pitchin in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Lexi Thompson-Imagn ImagesJul 25, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brandon Young (63) pitchin in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Lexi Thompson-Imagn Images

Dylan Beavers singled in the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Baltimore Orioles beat the visiting Atlanta Braves 3-2 on Saturday night.

Gunnar Henderson homered as the Orioles evened the series at one game apiece after failing to hold a late-game lead for the second game in a row.

Ozzie Albies homered for the Braves, who lost for only the third time in their last 10 games.

Baltimore’s Jackson Holliday doubled with one out in the ninth and moved to third on pinch hitter Colton Cowser’s flyout before scoring on Beavers’ hit off losing pitcher Didier Fuentes (4-1). Yennier Cano (2-2) was the winning pitcher with one inning of shutout relief.

Brandon Young pitched into the seventh inning for the second consecutive strong start for a Baltimore pitcher, but just like Friday night the bullpen couldn’t make it hold up. Young held the Braves to one run on four hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

Orioles reliever Rico Garcia gave up a game-tying home run in the eighth inning for the second night in a row.

Braves starter Bryce Elder worked five innings, giving up two runs (one earned) with four hits, four walks and eight strikeouts. Victor Mederos threw two shutout innings in relief before Fuentes entered and gave up his only two hits to two of the last three batters he faced.

Holliday and Beavers each finished with two hits as the game’s only players with more than one hit. The Orioles have won nine of their last 12 games.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand continued to give the Baltimore offense a boost as his two-out single in the third inning drove in the game’s first run.

Henderson homered with two outs in the fifth to make it 2-0.

Atlanta scored in the sixth on Mauricio Dubon’s groundout. Albies’ 17th homer of the season pulled the Braves even on the second pitch of the eighth inning.

–Field Level Media

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