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Blossoming Moustapha Thiam leads UCF to TCU

NCAA Basketball: Central Florida at ColoradoFeb 15, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; UCF Knights center Moustapha Thiam (52) blocks the shot of Colorado Buffaloes forward Trevor Baskin (6) in the first half at the CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

UCF brings a two-game winning streak and a surging rookie center into a Big 12 showdown with TCU on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Knights (15-13, 6-11 Big 12) beat Kansas State 80-76 Wednesday at home behind the first double-double from Moustapha Thiam, who had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The 7-foot-2 Senegal native almost had a triple-double as he tied a UCF record with eight blocked shots. In the last 11 games, Thiam has averaged 13.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks.

“You have to have someone that can protect the rim,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. “Especially in this league. You have so many talented players that can go off the bounce and get to the basket. You have so many post players that can score down low. You need guys that can protect the rim, rebound and block shots.”

Keyshawn Hall leads the Knights with 19.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He scored 26 points and Darius Johnson had 23 points in the win over the Wildcats.

The Horned Frogs (15-13, 8-9) lost 73-55 Tuesday at West Virginia. As time runs out to pick up regular-season wins, TCU coach Jamie Dixon wants the Horned Frogs to move on.

“I told our guys we have to get ready for Central Florida,” Dixon said. “It wasn’t a good trip for us. We lost to two good teams on the road and didn’t do the things we needed to do. We’ve got work to do. I know it’s late in the year to be saying that, but I do believe we can find ways to get better.”

Trazarien White scored 11 points and was the only Horned Frogs player to score in double digits. Leading scorer Noah Reynolds (12.3 points per game) was held to two points.

When TCU hosted the Mountaineers earlier this month, Reynolds and Vasean Allette (11.6 points) combined for 42 points in a 65-60 win. On Tuesday, they combined for 10. They’ll have to provide more for TCU if it wants to make a late-season or Big 12 tournament run.

“Every guy has to be better than where we are at right now,” Dixon said. “That’s really the message I gave to our guys. We have to refocus.”

–Field Level Media

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Phillies place closer Jhoan Duran (oblique) on injured list

MLB: Texas Rangers at Philadelphia PhilliesMar 28, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jhoan Duran (59) throws a pitch against the Texas Rangers in the tenth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

The Philadelphia Phillies placed closer Jhoan Duran on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a left oblique strain.

In a series of moves, right-hander Seth Johnson and utilityman Felix Reyes were recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, while utilityman Otto Kemp was optioned and minor league outfielder Pedro Leon was released.

Duran’s move to the IL was retroactive to Wednesday. The 28-year-old right-hander is 1-1 with a 1.35 ERA and five saves in seven appearances for the Phillies this season. Over five major league seasons with the Minnesota Twins and Phillies, he has a 2.41 ERA and 95 saves in 253 appearances.

Johnson, 27, made one appearance with the Phillies earlier this season and has a combined 9.72 ERA in 12 appearances (one start) for Philadelphia over three seasons.

Reyes, 25, is set to make his major league debut after he batted .272 with 48 home runs and 247 RBIs over six seasons (374 games) in the Phillies’ system. Kemp, 26, was 2-for-20 in 10 games for Philadelphia this season.

Leon, 27, was batting .283 in 12 games at Lehigh Valley. He has seven games of major league experience with the Houston Astros in 2024.

–Field Level Media

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Late goal helps Toronto FC salvage tie, point vs. Austin FC

MLS: Austin FC at Toronto FCApr 18, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Austin FC defender Jon Bell (15) passes the ball against Toronto FC defender Richie Laryea (22) during the first half at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

Kobe Franklin delivered the game-tying goal in the 88th minute and host Toronto FC pulled off a 3-3 draw with Austin FC on Saturday afternoon in just the third-ever match between the sides.

Franklin was in the penalty area when Malik Henry ripped a shot off the right post and scored off the rebound to beat Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver low to the right side and even the match.

The draw allowed Toronto FC (3-2-3, 12 points) to extend a six-match unbeaten streak, while outscoring opponents 11-8 during the 3-0-3 run.

After conceding the late goal, Austin FC (1-3-4, 7 points) remained winless since March 1 with an 0-3-3 record during the run.

Jon Bell scored Austin FC’s opening goal in the 29th minute while turning onto his left foot in traffic and beating Toronto keeper Luka Gavran. The score came off a feed from Guilherme Brio.

Myrto Uzuni tried to double the Austin FC lead with a shot in the 34th minute before Gavran made the save. Toronto FC’s Josh Sargent and Daniel Salloi responded with low-percentage shots that Stuver turned away.

Salloi tied the score 1-1 in the 52nd minute, running to the far post to volley home a pass from Sargent that deflected off an Austin defender and directly to the right knee of the Toronto striker.

Gallagher’s shot eight minutes later forced Gavron into a key save and kept the game tied. Richie Laryea’s goal in the 67th minute gave Toronto a 2-1 lead.

Austin FC tied the score 2-2 on a nifty Facundo Torres goal in the 75th minute off assists from Robert Taylor and Uzuni. Christian Ramírez gave Austin FC a 3-2 lead when he booted home a deflected shot by Torres in the 82nd minute.

That set stage for Franklin, who beat an Austin defender to Henry’s shot off the right post to produce the draw and earn Toronto FC a point in the standings.

–Field Level Media

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Fresh off play-in win, Suns take on top-seeded Thunder

NBA: Playoffs-Golden State Warriors at Phoenix SunsApr 17, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) celebrates after a slam dunk against the Golden State Warriors during the first half in the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Phoenix Suns come into their first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder with some momentum after knocking off the Golden State Warriors in the play-in finale Friday to earn the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.

The Thunder haven’t played in a week heading into Sunday’s Game 1 of the series in Oklahoma City.

After letting a big lead slip away in the play-in opener against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Suns bounced back with a 111-96 home win over the Warriors.

Jalen Green was one of the biggest factors in Phoenix advancing, with 36 points in Friday’s victory.

“They’re going to come in, play hard, play their game, but I think if we bring the same energy that we brought (Friday night) and getting stops, playing defense, getting out and running, we can use that to our advantage,” Green said, looking forward to facing Oklahoma City. “It should be a good series.”

The Thunder are looking to become the first team since Golden State in 2017-18 to repeat as champions.

“It’s an opportunity,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I think just going through last year and realizing that’s so far down the line. So many things are going to happen before we get to the Finals clinching game. … So many things have to go our way that aren’t in our control and so many things we have to control that are hard to control at this level for a long period of time for us to have that opportunity.”

Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren said there’s value in having the experience, but that his team can’t take any team lightly.

“You have to try to carry over the experiences that you learn from, but you can’t carry over the result, because the result means absolutely nothing,” Holmgren said. “If you’re sitting here in the playoffs saying, ‘Oh, we won last year,’ that’s not going to win you a playoff series or a game or get a stop on a possession.”

The series features two of the best defenses in the league.

The Thunder had the NBA’s best defensive rating, allowing just 106.5 points per 100 possessions during the regular season while the Suns were ninth at 112.9.

In Friday’s win, Phoenix scored 30 points off Golden State turnovers to help fuel the win, while Oklahoma City led the league with 22.0 points per game off turnovers during the season. The Thunder also limited opponents to just 14.7 points per game off turnovers, second-best in the NBA.

The Thunder won three of the five regular-season matchups between the teams, with Phoenix being one of just three teams to hand Oklahoma City multiple losses this season.

The teams closed the regular season against each other, though that game — a 32-point Suns win — will bear little resemblance to Sunday’s matchup.

With their playoff/play-in positions set, both teams sat most of their starters, with the Thunder’s only regular starter to play being Luguentz Dort.

Phoenix was without Grayson Allen (hamstring) and Mark Williams (foot soreness) for Friday’s win.

–Field Level Media

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