Sports
Emanuel Sharp, No. 3 Houston take aim at lowly Kansas State
Feb 10, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Houston Cougars guard Emanuel Sharp (21) passes the ball against the Utah Utes during the first half at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images Surging, third-ranked Houston will look to build on its 17-game home winning streak and continue its recent stretch of dominating play when it hosts reeling Kansas State on Saturday afternoon in a Big 12 Conference game.
The Cougars (22-2, 10-1 Big 12) moved up five spots in the most recent AP poll and justified that jump with a 66-52 win at Utah on Tuesday. Emanuel Sharp led the charge for Houston with 27 points and a career-high eight 3-pointers that gave him 277 and propelled him past Marcus Sasser (276) as the school’s career leader in made 3-point field goals.
“I was just shooting,” Sharp said. “It was really no complicated science behind it. I’ve been blessed with having two great point guards on this team with Kingston (Flemings) and Milos (Uzan). They are so unselfish. They always find me in great spots.”
No other Houston player scored in double figures on Tuesday, but that didn’t stop the Cougars from building a 22-point lead in the second half and waltzing to their fifth straight victory and their 16th in the past 17 outings. Houston’s defense held Utah to just 2-of-17 shooting (11.8%) from beyond the arc and its lowest point total of the season.
After the win, Houston coach Kelvin Sampson lauded Sharp and his continued contribution to the program’s success.
“Every team Emanuel has played on has won a conference championship, whether it’s the American or Big 12,” Sampson said. “He’s played in Final Fours, Elite Eights, Sweet 16s. All he’s done is win. He’s made this program better. Emanuel has been around. He’s seen a lot of winning. He’s been a huge part why this program has been successful.”
Sharp is averaging 16.3 points per game, second on the team to mercurial freshman Flemings (16.6 ppg).
It’s into this gauntlet that the struggling Wildcats step. Kansas State (10-14, 1-10) heads to the Bayou City carrying a five-game losing streak after a 91-62 defeat at home against Cincinnati on Wednesday. The Wildcats shot 40.3% from the floor and made only 6 of 25 shots (24%) from 3-point range vs. the Bearcats.
P.J. Haggerty, the nation’s second-leading scorer at 23.3 points per game, amassed 24 points for the Wildcats in the setback but got little help. Kansas State trailed by 22 points at halftime and by 32 in the second half.
Kansas State has dropped 10 of its past 11 games, and coach Jerome Tang took his team to task for a lack of effort and hustle on both ends of the floor in the latest loss.
“They got to have some pride,” Tang said. “It means something to wear a K-State uniform. It means something to put on this purple. These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform. There will be very few of them in it next year. I’m embarrassed for the university, I’m embarrassed for our fans, our student section. It is just ridiculous.”
The 1-10 record through 11 conference games equals the Wildcats’ worst start in the Big 12 era, a mark also posted by 1999-2000 and 2020-21 teams.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Kentucky Derby favorite Renegade draws the dreaded rail
People show up for the first day of horse racing on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.Apr. 25, 2026.
Early favorite Renegade was picked to start on the rail for the 152nd Kentucky Derby during the official draw on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Renegade, the Arkansas Derby winner owned by American billionaire Mike Repole, opened at 4-1 as the 20-horse field became official for the Run for the Roses on Saturday, May 2, in Louisville, Ky.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has raced Renegade just twice as a 3-year-old, but he has come through both times. He came from well back to capture the Sam F. Davis Stakes on Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs, then he pulled away to win the Arkansas Derby by four lengths on March 28 at Oaklawn Park.
Renegade’s jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr., has not won a Derby in nine tries, but he has raced to victory in two Belmont Stakes (2016, 2022).
Renegade’s assignment to the first gate will have it fighting against history along with the other 19 horses. Ferdinand, the Derby champion in 1986, was the last horse to win from the rail. Seven other horses have won from Gate No. 1, but most were long ago when Derby fields were smaller.
Commandment, which will start from the No. 6 gate, and Further Ado, which will come from the outside at No. 18, both opened at 6-1. They are trained by Brad Cox.
Bob Baffert, the legendary trainer who returned to the Kentucky Derby last May after serving a three-year suspension, has two horses in the field: Potente and Litmus Test
Here’s the entire field with their opening odds:
1) Renegade 4-1
2) Albus 30-1
3) Intrepido 50-1
4) Litmus Test 30-1
5) Right To Party 30-1
6) Commandment 6-1
7) Danon Bourbon 20-1
8) So Happy 15-1
9) The Puma 10-1
10) Wonder Dean 30-1
11) Incredibolt 20-1
12) Chief Wallabee 8-1
13) Silent Tactic 20-1
14) Potente 20-1
15) Emerging Market 15-1
16) Pavlovian 30-1
17) Six Speed 50-1
18) Further Ado 6-1
19) Golden Tempo 30-1
20) Fulleffort 20-1
–Field Level Media
Sports
Eagles draft North Dakota State QB Cole Payton
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton (QB15) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Eagles selected quarterback North Dakota State Cole Payton in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Payton was selected with the 178th overall pick and was one of six quarterbacks selected in the first five rounds.
Payton established himself as a dynamic dual threat quarterback at North Dakota State. After four seasons as a seldom-used reserve, he took over as starting quarterback last season, throwing for 2,719 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions. On the ground, he rushed for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns.
As a backup, he was a two-time FCS champion (2021, 2024).
At the NFL combine, the 6-foot-3 left-hander ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash and posted a 40-inch vertical.
The 23-year-old will join a crowded Eagles’ quarterback room that includes Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, and Andy Dalton.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Magic withstand Pistons’ rally to gain series lead
Apr 22, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley looks on in the second half against the Detroit Pistons during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane scored 25 points apiece as the Orlando Magic withstood a fourth-quarter rally to beat the visiting Detroit Pistons 113-105 on Saturday in Game 3 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.
Detroit trailed 96-79 with 8:34 remaining before Cade Cunningham’s 3-pointer capped a 25-8 run and tied the game at 104-all with 3:15 left.
Cunningham made one of two free throws to put top-seeded Detroit ahead by one with 2:52 left before Orlando closed on a 9-0 run to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Game 4 is set for Monday in Orlando.
Banchero had 12 rebounds and nine assists for the eighth-seeded Magic, who improved to 7-1 in their last eight home postseason games, including play-in tournament games. Bane was 7-for-9 from 3-point range.
Franz Wagner added 17 points for Orlando. Jalen Suggs scored 15, and Wendell Carter Jr. had 14 points and 17 rebounds
Cunningham scored 12 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter for the Pistons. Tobias Harris scored 23 points, Ausar Thompson had 17 and Duncan Robinson added 10.
The teams were tied at 26-all after the first quarter. Suggs was held scoreless before hitting a 3-pointer to put the Magic ahead 42-36 with 6:50 left in the second quarter.
Suggs had 12 points in the second quarter to help Orlando take a 61-54 at the half.
Thompson tallied 15 points to lead all scorers in the first half. Bane’s 14 points paced the Magic.
Bane made his first six 3-point attempts, including one with 8:32 left in the third quarter to give Orlando a 74-62 lead.
The Magic led 87-79 at the end of the third quarter and opened the fourth on a 7-0 run to move ahead 94-79 with 10:05 remaining.
Cunningham committed nine turnovers and was 8-for-23 shooting from the field and 3 of 10 from 3-point range for Detroit, which shot 34.4% (11 of 32) from beyond the arc.
–Field Level Media
Kentucky Derby favorite Renegade draws the dreaded rail
Eagles draft North Dakota State QB Cole Payton
