Sports
Fast-starting Virginia Tech runs past Florida State
Jan 29, 2025; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Jaden Schutt (2) maneuvers around Florida State Seminoles guard Justin Thomas (25) during the first half at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images A hot start and a double-double from Tobi Lawal led Virginia Tech to a 76-66 victory over Florida State on Wednesday in Tallahassee, Fla.
A 12-2 run in the first five minutes jump-started Virginia Tech to a 20-point halftime lead, and the margin never dipped below six in the second half.
The Hokies (9-12, 4-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) capitalized on 17 points and 13 rebounds from Lawal to post coach Mike Young’s 400th career victory. He is 101-76 at Virginia Tech after going 299-244 at Wofford.
Virginia Tech jumped to a 35-15 halftime advantage after holding Florida State to 6-for-28 (21.4 percent) shooting before the break, including 0-for-8 from 3-point range.
Jaden Schutt added 16 points, including three 3-pointers, as the Hokies ended a three-game losing streak. Jaydon Young connected on a trio of first-half 3-pointers for nine points, and Mylyjael Poteat also put up nine points.
Florida State (13-8, 4-6) dropped its third consecutive game. After a miserable offensive first half, the Seminoles did shoot better in the second half, connecting on 19 of 34 shots (55.9 percent) after intermission, including 8 of 17 (47.1 percent) from 3-point range.
The Seminoles were led by Taylor Bol Bowen, who had 14 points and nine rebounds. Jerry Deng added 13 points off the bench and Jamar Watkins overcame a cold start to tally nine points, although he shot just 4-for-13.
In the early going, Florida State tied the game at 2 on a Bowen jump shot, then watched Virginia Tech unleash the next 10 points to pull ahead. Florida State pulled within 12-7 on a Watkins jumper, only for Virginia Tech to open a 13-4 run that culminated on a fastbreak dunk from Ben Burnham.
In the second half, a Florida State closed the margin to 49-43 with 8:08 to play on a Daquan Davis layup. However, Virginia Tech followed with treys from Ben Hammond and Schutt before stretching the advantage to 61-45 on a three-point play from Lawal.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Transfer portal roundup: Kentucky adds Furman transfer Alex Wilkins
Mar 20, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Furman Paladins guard Alex Wilkins (10) dribbles the ball against the UConn Huskies in the second half during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Former Furman guard Alex Wilkins has transferred to Kentucky.
His move was one of the biggest on a busy transfer portal weekend.
Wilkins excelled in his freshman season with the Paladins, averaging 17.8 points, 4.7 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 35 games (all starts).
Listed at 6-foot-5, Wilkins showed his skills to a national audience in Furman’s lone game of the NCAA Tournament. He made four 3-pointers and scored 21 points in the Paladins’ 82-71 loss to eventual national championship runner-up UConn in the first round.
–Ex-Belmont forward Drew Scharnowski announced his transfer to Duke.
In his recently completed sophomore season at Belmont, the 6-9 Scharnowski averaged 10.7 points. 6.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists over 21.9 minutes per game. He shot 68.1% in 30 games (24 starts).
He takes the roster spot of forward Nikolas Khamenia, who transferred to UConn on Saturday.
–Florida State gained the commitment of 6-11 forward Sebastian Rancik, who heads to Tallahassee after two seasons at Colorado.
A native of Slovakia, he attended high school in Southern California, where he was ranked as a four-star prospect in the 2024 class.
In 29 games (26 starts) with the Buffaloes as a sophomore, he averaged 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros place OF Joey Loperfido (quad) on injured list
Apr 11, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Houston Astros left fielder Joey Loperfido (10) is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after scoring a run during the second inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images The Houston Astros placed outfielder Joey Loperfido on the injured list with a right quad strain on Sunday and recalled right-hander Jayden Murray from Triple-A Sugar Land.
Loperfido, 26, was batting .259 with six RBIs in 20 games this season. He started at least one game in all three outfield positions.
Traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2024 and then re-acquired via trade in February, Loperfido is a career .249 major league hitter with eight home runs and 45 RBIs in 142 games over three seasons.
Murray, 29, had one appearance earlier this season and has a 2.63 ERA in 10 games over the past two seasons for the Astros. His addition increases Houston’s staff to 13 pitchers.
Also on Sunday, the Astros traded minor league right-hander Wilmy Sanchez to the New York Yankees for infielder Braden Shewmake, a former first-round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2019.
In 31 major league games for the Braves and Chicago White Sox, Shewmake, 28, is batting .118 with a home run and four RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Bryson DeChambeau (wrist) WDs from LIV Golf Mexico City
Apr 10, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Bryson DeChambeau reacts after his ball rolled down the slope on the 18th green during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith-Imagn Images Bryson DeChambeau cited a wrist injury on Sunday for the reason he withdrew prior to the final round of LIV Golf Mexico City on Sunday in Naucalpan, Mexico.
“I experienced some discomfort in my wrist during (Saturday’s round) and have decided to withdraw from the final round of LIV Golf Mexico City to prevent further injury,” DeChambeau wrote on X. “Not how I wanted this week to go, but wishing the Crushers a strong finish. I’m going to take a few days to get evaluated and hope to be ready for LIV Golf Virginia.”
DeChambeau entered the final round at 2-over-par 215 at Club De Golf Chapultepec, 16 strokes behind leader Jon Rahm of Spain. DeChambeau hasn’t been too shy about complaining about the course conditions of the event, doing so on Friday for the second straight year.
DeChambeau, 32, prevailed in a playoff in consecutive weeks in March by winning at both LIV Golf Singapore and LIV Golf South Africa. The two-time U.S. Open champion has won five LIV Golf titles.
–Field Level Media
Transfer portal roundup: Kentucky adds Furman transfer Alex Wilkins
Astros place OF Joey Loperfido (quad) on injured list
