After its first postseason win since 2014, second-seeded Cal faces Saint Joseph’s in a second-round clash of the NIT’s Albuquerque Region on Sunday night in Berkeley, Calif.

“Someone told me that it had been (over) a decade (since) Cal had had a postseason win, so that’s good to see,” said Cal coach Mark Madsen after his team’s first-round win over UIC Wednesday. “We wanted to be in the NCAA Tournament. We did not play well enough in the course of the season to get in, but I believe that we can do something special in the NIT and it will be a springboard and a catalyst going into next season.”

The Bears (22-11) are in the postseason for the first time since 2017. They won 12 of their first 13 games, but finished ninth in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Dai Dai Ames led Cal with 17.0 points per game and earned a third-team All-ACC honor.

The star of the Bears’ 91-73 win over the Flames was Chris Bell, who had a season-high 31 points and made 7 of 8 3-pointers as Cal rallied from an early nine-point hole.

“Dagger shots when they counted,” said Madsen. ” … Chris is a special player. He’s a special person. His work ethic reminds me of the work ethic of an NBA player.”

The Hawks (23-11) were one of the biggest surprises in the Atlantic-10. Coach Steve Donahue, who joined the staff as an assistant in May, got the head coach job when Billy Lange left for the New York Knicks in September. Donahue rallied the Hawks into third in the conference and was named the 2025-26 A-10 Coach of the Year.

The good vibes continued in the first round of the NIT as the Hawks went on the road to beat No. 3 seed Colorado State 69-64 on Wednesday. It was the school’s first NIT win since 2006, snapping a five-game losing streak.

“This group just has that understanding of not quitting, particularly on the defensive end,” Donahue said after the win to the Rocky Mountain Collegian. “If we make some really bonehead plays, which we did on the offensive end, our ability to stay focused and compete is why we can figure out how to win those one-possession games. It’s all our mental toughness, really.”

Jaiden Glover-Toscano and Deuce Jones lead the Hawks with 15.8 points a game apiece.

–Field Level Media

Movsar Evloev didn’t let Lerone Murphy’s home advantage amid a hostile crowd prevent him from scoring a majority decision and improving his chances for a title shot at UFC London on Saturday.

The undefeated Russian (20-0 MMA, 10-0 UFC) also didn’t let losing a point for low blows in the fourth round keep him from victory by 48-46, 48-46, 47-47 on the judges’ scorecards at The 02 Arena. English featherweight Murphy (17-1-1, 9-1-1), in suffering his first loss, also saw the end of his nine-bout winning streak.

“With my head coach, we prepare level change, takedowns and then punches,” Evloev, 32, said afterward. “I think my punches are hard, I hurt him even if I didn’t finish him. Look at his face, he’s damaged.

“I showed that I don’t necessarily need to use my wrestling,” he said.

The No. 1 contender in the official UFC rankings should be in line for a shot against champion Alexander Volkanovski.

“Alex (Volkanovski) mentioned my name a lot of times. I accept this challenge, let’s fight,” Evloev said. “UFC, there is no excuse to not let me fight for the title.”

In the UFC Fight Night co-main event, Liverpool’s Luke Riley defeated American featherweight Michael Aswell Jr. by unanimous decision (30-27 on all cards) to improve to 13-0, 2-0. Aswell dropped to 11-4, 1-2.

English middleweight Christian Leroy Duncan also won by unanimous decision (29-28 on all cards) over Roman Dolidze of Georgia. Duncan (14-2, 7-2) has six wins in his past seven fights after a 1-1 UFC start. Dolidze (15-5, 9-5) was coming off a loss to “Fluffy” Hernandez that snapped a three-fight win streak.

American featherweight Danny Silva didn’t let it go the distance against previously unbeaten Kurtis Campbell of England, winning by second-round TKO. Campbell (8-1, 0-1) made his Octagon debut. Silva improved to 11-2, 3-1.

Fireworks erupted early between lightweights Mason Jones and previously unbeaten Axel Sola in perhaps the fight of the night.

Jones, a winner by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28), improved to 18-2 and both fighters left the octagon bloodied.

Jones of Wales was knocked down with a spinning elbow in the first round and absorbed multiple direct blows. He had a cut above his right eye and under his nose when his hand was raised, but Frenchman Sola (11-1-1) had at least three cuts and was covered in blood at the final bell.

“I just like fighting people. Axel wanted to fight. I took it to him,” Jones said. “I opened him up. There was fear in his eyes at the end of the first round. There was fear in his eyes in the end.”

In a featherweight match, England’s Nathaniel Wood (11-3) got his fourth consecutive win and dealt Belgium’s Losene Keita his first loss in a split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28). Keita was 5-0 in the past three years and now has a 16-2 record overall in mixed martial arts.

Michael Page (25-3), who questioned whether he’d upset UFC officials because of the low-level spot on the card and his relatively anonymous opponent, defeated fellow Englishman Sam Patterson (14-3-1) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) in a welterweight match. “MVP” had more to say post-fight about a bout that drew plenty of pro fighting critics on social media for a lack of action.

“It’s getting more and more difficult when nobody really wants to engage. Everyone’s on the back foot,” Page said. “He knew how to frustrate me by not wanting to engage. It’s more difficult to fight somebody that doesn’t want to fight than fight someone difficult that wants to fight.”

Light heavyweight Iwo Baraniewski (8-0) struck American Austen Lane, a former NFL defensive lineman, with a quick left hook and then landed repeated right hands to win in just 28 seconds. Lane (13-8) was dazed and rocked back before ever throwing a punch or kick as the referee stopped the fight with Lane planted on his back taking cover.

Poland’s Baraniewski, a graduate from the Contender Series, could be in line for a marquee opponent in his next bout. He’s been buzzworthy since the December action-packed duel with Ibo Aslan at UFC 323.

Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady (16-4) of Palestine scored his first UFC win with a 30-27 unanimous decision over English lightweight Shem Rock (12-3-1). Al-Selwady dropped Rock with an overhand right in the first round, but he rebounded off the mat quickly with an attempt to lock up Al-Selwady. Rock kept moving toward Al-Selwady and made contact after the ball, narrowly ducking a haymaker in retaliation before being led to his corner.

–Field Level Media

In a matchup of left-handed Opening Day starters, Chris Sale got the better of Garrett Crochet as the visiting Atlanta Braves defeated the Boston Red Sox, 6-1, on Saturday afternoon in Fort Myers, Fla.

Sale allowed just one run on two hits over six innings. He struck out four and walked one in an 86-pitch outing to lower his spring ERA to 2.75. Austin Riley went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and four RBIs. Matt Olson also went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.

Crochet’s spring ERA ballooned to 7.36 as he permitted six earned runs on six hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out three in an 89-pitch effort. Boston managed only four singles and its lone run scored in the second on Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s RBI groundout.

Rays 3, Twins 2

Chandler Simpson hit a two-out, two-run hoamer in the bottom of the seventh to rally Tampa Bay past Minnesota in Port Charlotte, Fla.

All five runs were scored via the long ball. Jonathan Aranda opened the scoring with a solo shot in the third, but Minnesota’s Matt Wallner and Ryan Jeffers countered with solo homers in the fourth and sixth, respectively.

Minor leaguer Jackson Baumeister started for Tampa Bay and allowed Wallner’s home run, but only one additional hit in 4 1/3 innings. Probable Twins Opening Day starter Joe Ryan finished with a 1.50 spring ERA as he permitted only Aranda’s long ball, along with two other hits and a walk, while fanning two in five innings.

Nationals 3, Mets (ss) 1

Joey Wiemer hit a two-run homer with one out in the bottom of the ninth to give Washington a walk-off win over New York’s split squad in Palm Beach, Fla.

After seven innings of shutout baseball by both staffs, the Mets’ Mark Vientos homered to put his side on top in the top of the eighth. Kervin Pichardo knotted the score with an RBI double in the bottom of the inning, which set up Wiemer’s heroics.

New York minor-leaguers Joander Suarez (4 innings) and William Watson (3 1/3 innings) held the Nationals scoreless through 7 1/3 innings. Washington starter Cade Cavalli, who threw 14 scoreless innings this spring, went five innings and allowed three hits. He is expected to start Opening Day versus the Cubs in Chicago.

Cardinals 7, Marlins 4

The first six Cardinals reached base in a four-run first inning as host St. Louis held off Miami in Jupiter, Fla.

Alec Burleson drove in the first two runs with a double and went 2-for-4 in the game. Thomas Saggese (2-for-3) homered in the sixth to extend the Cards’ lead to 6-4. Five St. Louis relievers held the Marlins scoreless over the final five innings.

Griffin Conine (2-for-3) hit a two-run homer and Connor Norby followed with a solo blast in the fourth inning to trim a 5-0 deficit to 5-4. Starter Janson Junk’s struggles continued as he allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits and one walk in three innings. He concluded spring with a 10.13 ERA.

Tigers 3, Yankees 1

Prominent offseason acquisition Framber Valdez continued to look the part as he allowed one run and scattered seven hits and two walks over 6 1/3 innings as host Detroit prevailed over New York in Lakeland, Fla.

Valdez lowered his spring training ERA to 0.98 in 18 1/3 innings. The only run he allowed Saturday occurred on Austin Wells’ sacrifice bunt athat gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the fourth.

The Tigers scratched out single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Javier Baez went 2-for-3 with a run scored. New York starter Cam Schlittler was held to 62 pitches and threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and one walk while striking out one.

Pirates 8, Blue Jays 3

In a battle between Opening Day starters, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes outdueled Toronto’s Kevin Gausman in Bradenton, Fla.

Oneill Cruz and Spencer Horwitz homered as Cruz (2-for-4) scored twice, drove in two runs stole his fifth base of the spring and pushed his batting average to .417. New infielder Brandon Lowe went 3-for-4. Skenes threw 36 of 56 pitches for strikes as he allowed one hit and three walks while fanning five over four innings.

Gausman pitched five innings and allowed four runs (three earned) and nine baserunners (six hits, three walks) while fanning two in five innings. Andres Gimenez went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Astros 7, Mets (ss) 5

Houston scored four times in the top of the eighth to rally past New York in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Christian Walker delivered the key blow as he blasted a three-run homer after the first two Astros reached base in the inning. Yainer Diaz (2 runs) and Nick Allen (2 RBIs) each had two hits in a nine-hit Houston attack. Starter Mike Burrows, pitching against his old team, allowed three runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings and finished the spring with a 1.50 ERA.

New Mets second baseman Marcus Semien cleared the bags with a three-run double in the sixth to give his side a 4-3 lead. Journeyman Aaron Salgado, on his sixth team since 2017, went 3-for-3 with a triple, a run and an RBI.

Orioles 10, Phillies 8

Jhonkensy Noel hit a grand slam to snap a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the sixth as Baltimore prevailed over Philadelphia in its Florida finale in Sarasota, Fla.

After Philadelphia sliced its 8-4 deficit in half in the top of the seventh, minor-leaguer Victor Figueroa added a two-run single. Swingman Tyler Wells struck out the side in the sixth to pick up the win.

Bryson Stott and Bryan De La Cruz each contributed a pair of hits for the Phillies and Liover Peguero drove in a pair with a seventh-inning double.

Reds 11, White Sox 7

P.J. Higgins hit a two-out, walk-off grand slam to lift Cincinnati past Chicago in Goodyear, Ariz.

After Frankeli Arias hit Austin Hendrick with a pitch with runners on second and third and two outs, Higgins hit the seventh pitch of his at-bat over the fence in right to end the game. It was Higgins’ second home run of the spring.

Everson Pereira was 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs in a losing effort for the White Sox. His two-run single tied the game at 7-all in the eighth.

Athletics 5, Dodgers 5

Prospect Leo De Vries tripled in a run then scored on an Emmet Sheehan wild pitch to cap a three-run second inning for the Athletics as they played Los Angeles to a tie in Phoenix.

De Vries again gave the Athletics the lead when he stole home with the game tied at 3-all in the fifth inning. The shortstop finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, upping his spring average to .426.

The A’s got to Sheehan for four runs on three hits over 4 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two. A’s starter Jacob Lopez gave up a run on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts over two innings.

Royals 6, Rockies 5

Outfielder Rudy Martin singled in Abraham Toro with two out in the ninth to give Kansas City a walk-off win over Colorado in Surprise, Ariz.

Toro had tied it earlier in the inning by doubling in Jack Pineda with one out. The Royals trailed 4-0 after 3 1/2 innings before scoring once in the fifth and once in the seventh, then twice more in each of the final two innings.

Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland was solid across four shutout innings, allowing only four hits with a pair of strikeouts and one walk. Royals starter Cole Ragans struck out eight across 5 1/3 innings but gave up three runs on seven hits and two walks.

Giants 10, Guardians 7

Lefty Robbie Ray gave up one run on three hits across five innings to lead San Francisco past Cleveland Scottsdale, Ariz. Ray struck out six and lowered his spring ERA to 1.37.

Matt Chapman’s two-run double opened the scoring in the third inning then he scored on Rafael Devers’ infield single. Devers finished 3-for-4.

Travis Bazzana, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, was 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and drove in five runs for the Guardians. He is batting .381 in Cactus League action with three home runs, and missed time to play for Australia in the World Baseball Classic.

Diamondbacks 5, Rangers 2

Ryne Nelson tossed a dominant five innings as Arizona beat Texas in Scottsdale.

The 28-year-old right-hander gave up four hits and struck out seven without a walk and did not surrender a run. Spencer Giesting struck out the side in order to get the save.

Alek Thomas’ three-run home run off Texas starter Austin Gomber in the third opened the scoring. Nolan Arenado hit his second homer of the spring for Arizona.

Brewers 6, Padres 1

Milwaukee hit three home runs off San Diego starter Randy Vasquez, and Robert Gasser more than made that stand up as the Brewers won in Phoenix.

William Contreras got Milwaukee on the board with a two-run shot in the fourth inning and Jake Bauers followed with another three pitches later. Jackson Chourio homered in the sixth to end Vasquez’s day.

Gasser threw six shutout innings, striking out seven, walking one and giving up five hits.

Cubs 7, Mariners 1

Dylan Carlson broke a tie with a solo home run in the sixth inning and Chicago scored the final six runs of the game to beat Seattle in Peoria, Ariz.

Ben Cowles hit a two-run single to cap the scoring in the sixth, then added a bases-loaded single that plated one more run to start a three-run eighth.

Colin Rea gave up an unearned run with four strikeouts in four innings for the Cubs. Mariners starter George Kirby was solid as well, permitting one run on six hits with four strikeouts and a pair of walks over 5 1/3 innings.

–Field Level Media