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Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton faces Miami one last time

Syndication: Tallahassee DemocratCoach Leonard Hamilton smiles during a matchup between the Florida State Seminoles and the Clemson Tigers at Donald Tucker Civic Center Saturday, Feb. 15 2025.

Approaching the end of an era at Florida State, retiring coach Leonard Hamilton will enjoy one final matchup against his former team, Miami, when the teams meet on Wednesday night in Tallahassee, Fla.

The 76-year-old Hamilton, who announced earlier this month that his 23rd season would be his last at the helm of Florida State (15-10, 6-8 ACC), coached at Miami from 1990 to 2000. He led the Hurricanes to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 berth in his final season.

The Seminoles are tied for ninth in the conference standings and likely need to win the ACC tournament to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

One of Florida State’s bright spots is leading scorer Jamir Watkins, averaging a team-leading 18 points per game, along with 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 steals.

“I am extremely blessed,” Watkins told Seminoles.com. “I trust in the practice and have faith in the process.”

Hamilton’s former team is amid one of its worst seasons following the sudden retirement of veteran coach Jim Larranaga, who stepped down in December.

Despite a dismal overall record, Miami (6-19, 2-12) has had a solid month, going 2-2 with victories over Notre Dame and Syracuse and respectable losses at Louisville and Pitt.

Hamilton won’t be the only individual enjoying one final reunion, as former Seminoles standout Matthew Cleveland, who transferred to Miami from Florida State before last season, is having an outstanding senior year.

Cleveland leads Miami in scoring (16.4 ppg) and is also averaging 4.2 rebounds per game.

Cleveland had one of the biggest highlights in the programs’ basketball rivalry in recent years when he hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to lift the Seminoles over the host Hurricanes 85-84 on Feb. 25, 2023. Miami would go on to reach the Final Four that season.

“My main thing was just helping the team, especially after Coach L stepped down, just pulling us together because we still had 19 ACC games to play,” Cleveland said after the team’s recent win over Syracuse.

–Field Level Media

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Miami extends win streak to 6 with late Luis Suarez PK at Montreal

Jul 25, 2026; Montreal, Province of Quebec, CAN; Inter Miami CF midfielder Casemiro (5) kicks the ball away as he defends against CF Montreal forward Prince Owusu (9) during the first half at Saputo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn ImagesJul 25, 2026; Montreal, Province of Quebec, CAN; Inter Miami CF midfielder Casemiro (5) kicks the ball away as he defends against CF Montreal forward Prince Owusu (9) during the first half at Saputo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Luis Suarez’s penalty-kick goal in the 81st minute lifted Inter Miami to a 1-0 victory over host CF Montreal on Saturday night.

With the win, Miami (11-2-4, 37 points) has won six straight matches, including the last two without Lionel Messi as he recovers from Argentina’s run to the World Cup final.

The loss extends Montreal’s (4-10-3, 15 points) winless skid to six matches (0-3-3). Montreal has not recorded a victory in the league since a 2-0 decision over Orlando City on May 9.

In the 70th minute, the ball was crossed into the box and Miami forward German Berterame went up for a header and collided with Montreal defender Efrain Morales. Berterame remained down for several minutes, and medical personnel were rushed onto the pitch to attend to Berterame, who was taken off the field in an ambulance.

On the ensuing penalty kick 11 minutes later, Suarez chipped a shot over keeper Sebastian Breza for his ninth goal of the season.

Montreal had opportunities at the game’s opening goal early in the second half.

In the 50th minute, Hennadii Synchuk’s right-footed strike from the right side of the box missed just to the right of the goal.

Seven minutes later, Miami’s Yannick Bright was awarded a free kick after being fouled by Prince Owusu. Montreal midfielder Matty Longstaff blocked Suarez’s ensuing free kick from just outside the box.

Miami had another glorious opportunity in the 68th minute, but a leaping Breza recorded his only save of the night on Telasco Segovia’s right-footed strike from just outside the box.

Miami dominated first-half possession, but it was Montreal with the lone shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.

In the 13th minute, Synchuk had a glorious opportunity, but Miami keeper Rocco Ríos Novo (two saves) got his right hand on the strike to make the save.

Saturday was the first of two meetings between the clubs this season. They’ll meet again in Florida on Aug. 29.

–Field Level Media

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D.C. United, with help from Toronto, get in win column

Jul 25, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; D.C. United goalkeeper Sean Johnson (1) plays the ball against the Toronto FC during the first half at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn ImagesJul 25, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; D.C. United goalkeeper Sean Johnson (1) plays the ball against the Toronto FC during the first half at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

Tai Baribo scored on a penalty kick in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time to give D.C. United a 2-1 victory over Toronto FC on Saturday in Washington.

Baribo’s game-winner came after Toronto’s Jackson Gilman was called for tripping Andre Dozzell in the middle of the penalty box. The call came on a VAR review.

Baribo’s penalty shot was low and inside the left post, out of the reach of Toronto keeper Luka Gavran, who finished with six saves. It was Baribo’s 10th goal this season.

Against his former team, Sean Johnson had six saves as D.C. United (5-5-7, 22 points) snapped a five-match winless streak, which included ties in their previous three games.

D.C. also enhanced its position in the MLS Eastern Conference standings after entering the match holding the bottom rung of the playoff ladder.

Theo Corbeanu scored in the 76th minute for Toronto (3-7-7, 16 points), which also was victimized by an own goal as its winless streak reached 11 games.

D.C. United extended Toronto’s winless streak in Washington to 10 games as well, with the Reds’ last win in D.C. coming in 2016.

D.C. worked for several quality opportunities in the first half before finally cashing in off a corner kick. From the right side, Keisuke Kurokawa sent an in-swinger into the goal area.

Toronto’s Kobe Franklin rose amid a pack of players and inadvertently headed his attempt to clear just inside the left post in the 41st minute.

D.C. United center back Kye Rowles was initially credited with the score before officials switched it to an own goal.

Toronto had difficulty breaking through against Johnson. But after the 37-year-old made two brilliant saves in the second half, the Reds finally cashed in.

The opportunity came after D.C. defender Matti Peltola was called for a foul just outside the penalty box. Walker Zimmerman crossed to Jonathan Osorio, whose header from close range was blocked by Johnson.

But the rebound came to Corbeanu in the middle of the box and his left-footed shot hit the top middle of the net.

It was the first goal for the Reds after playing two scoreless draws following the World Cup pause.

–Field Level Media

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Alan Roden provides only runs in Twins' low-scoring defeat of A's

Jul 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kendry Rojas (60) throws to the Athletics in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn ImagesJul 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kendry Rojas (60) throws to the Athletics in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Alan Roden delivered a two-run single in the sixth inning, and that was all the Minnesota Twins needed for a 2-0 win over the Athletics on Saturday evening in Minneapolis.

Ryan Kreidler doubled and stole a base for Minnesota, which evened the series at one win apiece. The rubber match is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

Jeff McNeil accounted for two of the Athletics’ three hits with a pair of doubles.

Twins left-hander Taylor Rogers (6-3) earned the victory with two scoreless innings of relief. Rogers followed starter Kendrys Rojas, who allowed one hit in four scoreless innings.

Athletics right-hander Mason Barnett (1-1) allowed two runs on four hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Twins right-hander Yoendrys Gomez fired a scoreless ninth to pick up his 13th save.

After five scoreless innings, Minnesota had runners on second and third with one out in the sixth when Barnett got Victor Caratini to pop out to shallow left field for the second out of the inning.

Roden stepped to the plate and delivered a two-out, two-run single to right field. He pumped his fist as his line-drive hit found an opening between first and second base and allowed Josh Bell and Royce Lewis to score standing up.

The Athletics tried to mount a comeback in the top of the eighth.

Twins reliever Andrew Morris walked the leadoff hitter, Lawrence Butler. Morris snared a one-hop comebacker by Jacob Wilson in the next at-bat and wheeled toward second base to try to start a double play, but his throw sailed wide into right-center field.

Morris’ throwing error put runners at second and third with nobody out. He settled down after a visit from Twins pitching coach Pete Maki and retired the next three batters by striking out Nick Kurtz and Tyler Soderstrom and getting Jonah Heim to ground out to short.

That proved to be the Athletics’ last chance to tie or take the lead as they went down 1-2-3 in the ninth, finishing 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranding seven on base.

-Field Level Media

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