Sports
Auburn eyes trip to Indy as Nevada challenges in NIT third round
Auburn Tigers guard Kevin Overton (1) takes a jump shot as Auburn Tigers take on Seattle Redhawks during the second round of the National Invitation Tournament at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala. on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Auburn Tigers lead Seattle Redhawks 42-31 at halftime. Auburn is the last power-conference program standing in the NIT as it prepares to host Nevada in a quarterfinal game Wednesday night.
The No. 1 seed Tigers (19-16) fought off a hard charge by Seattle University Sunday night in a 91-85 victory.
The win kept coach Steven Pearl’s squad home for one final game, which will help set the semifinals on April 2 on Butler’s campus.
Kevin Overton scored 23 points, 16 in the second half, after Auburn led the visitors 42-31 at halftime.
Seattle held a 54-49 scoring edge in the second half, but the Tigers outrebounded the Redhawks 41-23 overall and made 24 free throws compared to the West Coast Conference squad’s seven.
Afterward, Pearl talked about his defense’s shortcomings but credited his group for putting up 91 against Seattle’s 29th-ranked scoring defense.
“Obviously, we aren’t a good defensive team,” Pearl said. “That’s something that we’ve got to improve in the offseason. We’ve just got to find ways of trying to limit teams from scoring more points. They made 16 3s. The problem is that their best shooter is the one that hit seven of them.
“Our recognition of personnel wasn’t great.”
Overton has averaged 22 points in the two NIT wins by sinking 11 of 22 3-point shots.
Keyshawn Hall (15 ppg), Elyjah Freeman (11.5) and Tahaad Pettiford (10) also have averaged double figures.
With the triumph, the Tigers extended the nation’s longest nonconference home winning streak to 66 games — a stretch that began Nov. 11, 2016.
Second-seeded Nevada (24-12), a 73-63 winner over Liberty in its second-round home finale, got a triple-double from Corey Camper Jr. (10 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists) as the Wolf Pack finished 17-2 at home.
Coach Steve Alford was pleased with the output of 6-foot-10 center Joel Armotrading, who missed 16 games in the middle of the season with a chest injury.
“I thought Joel was as good as he’s been,” Alford said after the senior produced 10 points (6-for-6 at the line), five rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes. “We’re starting to see what it would’ve looked like if we’d have had Joel the whole year being healthy.”
Nevada features four scorers in double figures for the year: Camper (16.8 ppg), Elijah Price (12.6), Tayshawn Comer (11.3) and Vaughn Weems (10).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Steelers assistant coach out over violation of club policy
Jun 7, 2021; Costa Mesa, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers special teams coordinator Derius Swinton III during organized team activities at the Hoag Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Pittsburgh Steelers and Derius Swinton II, a senior assistant coach for special teams, have split over a violation of club policy, ESPN reported Friday, citing league sources.
Swinton, 41, was hired in the offseason to the staff of new head coach Mike McCarthy for what was to be his 16th season in the NFL.
Swinton spent the past three seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders, becoming the interim special teams coordinator when Tom McMahon was fired in Week 10.
He has worked for 10 NFL teams. He was special teams coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021 following stints with the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals.
Swinton’s NFL career started in St. Louis, where he was the Rams’ special teams quality control coach from 2009-11.
The Steelers have yet to confirm Swinton’s departure, nor did ESPN specify the policy he reportedly violated.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ian Poulter plays on torn meniscus, surgery set for September
Ian Poulter tees off on the ninth hole Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, during day one of the LIV Golf Indianapolis tournament held at The Club at Chatham Hills in Westfield, Indiana. Ian Poulter said he needs surgery after tearing his meniscus while hopping up two steps at LIV Golf Virginia earlier this month.
Poulter didn’t let the injury impede him on the golf course on Thursday, as he shot a 4-under 66 in the first round of LIV Golf Korea at Asiad Country Club. The co-captain of Majesticks GC followed with a 2-over 72 on Friday to reside in a tie for 13th place, six strokes in back of leader Talor Gooch.
“I tore my meniscus Thursday of Virginia just hopping up two steps, so went for an MRI when I got back from Virginia, and yeah, I’m going to have to have surgery in September,” Poulter said Thursday.
Poulter, 50, admitted that he wasn’t sure he’d be able to compete in Korea.
“Bizarrely I have no sensation throughout the golf swing that there’s anything wrong with it,” he said. “I sense it when I’m walking downhill, steep downhills. I’m just edging it a little bit. But look, I’m going to have to strengthen that leg. It’s not affecting my golf in any way, shape or form.
“I just have to be reminding myself that I can’t go and play paddle tennis or do anything stupid or hop up steps like I did a couple of weeks ago. Walking in straight lines and being super sensible is not something I’m used to doing.
“Look, I feel good. I feel great. The body feels good. We’ll deal with that at some stage.”
Poulter has yet to win an individual LIV Golf event since joining the upstart league in 2022. He has 17 professional wins, including three on the PGA Tour.
–Field Level Media
Sports
MLB Betting Picks for Friday, May 29: Phillies and Marlins Featured
May 23, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (L) and third baseman Alec Bohm (R) slap hands after scoring during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images A light MLB slate two consecutive days sets the stage for the full Friday night menu in baseball.
There are several key series to keep an eye on, including a pair in the National League. The Chicago Cubs (31-26) seek their third consecutive win, facing the St. Louis Cardinals (29-25) in an NL Central battle.
Out west, the Philadelphia Phillies (29-27) square off with the Los Angeles Dodgers (36-20) in a playoff rematch at Dodger Stadium.
We’ll break down two plays for the Friday action. Remember to monitor the odds throughout the day, as the sides and totals market is constantly changing.
Here are the free MLB picks for Friday, May 29. Odds Courtesy of DraftKings.
Best MLB plays today
- Marlins F5 (-104) at Mets
- Phillies (+100) at Dodgers
Marlins F5 (-104) at Mets – 7:10 p.m. ET
The Marlins (26-31) swept the Mets at home last week as the two NL East rivals meet tonight at Citi Field. Miami P Max Meyer owns a tremendous 10-1 record in the first five innings, which includes leading New York, 4-0 last Saturday through five frames in a 4-1 win.
Freddy Peralta has led through five innings in three of 11 starts this season for the Mets, including a 1-3-2 mark in his last six home outings. New York is 2-6-1 in the first five innings of the past nine games.
Meyer has tossed at least five innings in nine consecutive games and has not allowed a run in the opening five frames in this stretch. Let’s go with the Marlins to continue their domination of the Mets and back them in the first five innings.
Our Current Best Offers
Channel debug: betting
Phillies (+100) at Dodgers – 10:15 p.m. ET
Philadelphia (29-27) faces Los Angeles (36-20) for the first time since getting knocked out in the NLDS last season. The Phillies started their west coast swing with a three-game sweep of the Padres, highlighted by a pair of shutouts. Tonight, Zack Wheeler heads to the mound as the Phillies are 6-0 in the right-hander’s six starts, while owning an ERA of 1.67.
The Dodgers cruised past the Rockies for a three-game sweep, extending their winning streak to five games. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski hasn’t lost consecutive starts this season after allowing five runs in five innings against Milwaukee. Wrobleski owns a 13.7% strikeout rate, which sits in the fifth percentile in MLB.
The Phillies are 11-2 in their last 13 road games since May 1, after starting 4-8 in their first 12 outings away from Citizens Bank Park. Wheeler didn’t face the Dodgers last season, but I expect a strong showing from him to continue his dominance and the Phillies to get revenge for their playoff loss.
Our Current Best Offers
Channel debug: betting
Report: Steelers assistant coach out over violation of club policy
Ian Poulter plays on torn meniscus, surgery set for September
