Sports
Mark Sears, No. 6 Alabama take aim at No. 24 Miss. State
Feb 22, 2025; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) drives to the basket at Coleman Coliseum. Alabama defeated Kentucky 96-83. Sears scored 30 points for Alabama. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News Alabama guard Mark Sears has endured a topsy-turvy season in which he twice was held scoreless and was benched for the entire second half in the more recent blanking.
But lately he has played like someone in his fifth college season. Sears will look for his third straight 30-point outing when the No. 6 Crimson Tide battle No. 24 Mississippi State in Southeastern Conference play on Tuesday night at Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Sears scored a season-best 35 points in a 110-98 loss to then-No. 15 Missouri last Wednesday before following up with 30 points during Saturday’s 96-83 victory over then-No. 17 Kentucky.
The outing against the Wildcats helped the Crimson Tide (22-5, 11-3 SEC) halt a two-game losing streak.
“My teammates found me in the right places and I was able to put the ball into the basket,” Sears said of his performance.
Sears averaged a career-best 21.5 points and had stellar career-high shooting marks of 50.8 percent from the field and 43.6 percent from 3-point range last season. His numbers this season sit at 18.9 points, 41.2 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from behind the arc.
After being benched on Jan. 25 during an 80-73 victory over LSU, Sears was heavily criticized for his lackadaisical defense by Alabama coach Nate Oats.
Sears received the message loud and clear and picked up his defensive effort. And how he has put together the first back-to-back 30-point efforts of his career, which began with two seasons at Ohio before three with the Crimson Tide.
“Sears is playing the best basketball I’ve seen him play since he’s been here, on both sides of the ball,” Oats said after the Kentucky game. “I think he just wants to win. He came back to try to win a national championship.
“… He’s trying to play the right way. He’s as coachable as he’s ever been and his effort on defense has been through the roof really the last three or four weeks.”
Aden Holloway added 19 points against Kentucky as the Crimson Tide prevailed despite allowing 80 points for the eighth time in the past 10 games.
Mississippi State (19-8, 7-7) is coming off a 93-87 road loss to Oklahoma and has won just five of its last 12 games.
The Bulldogs saw their defense evaporate in the second half by giving up 59 points to the Sooners, who shot a scorching 68 percent (17 of 25) after halftime.
“We couldn’t guard them in the second half,” Mississippi State coach Chris Jans said. “We switched coverages multiple times to try to screw them up, and they did a good job of attacking us. They had a plan, and we tried to disrupt that plan and do different coverages, but unfortunately it didn’t work out. That’s the bottom line. That’s the story.”
Josh Hubbard, who averages 17.9 points per game, scored 19 points for the Bulldogs and he knocked down four 3-pointers. He also set a school record by knocking down at least one 3-pointer in his 40th consecutive game. Darryl Wilson, who played at Mississippi State from 1993-96, held the old mark of 39.
Hubbard was spectacular with a career-best 38 points while making six 3-pointers when Mississippi State dropped an 88-84 home decision against Alabama on Jan. 29. Chris Youngblood established a season best of 23 points and made a career-high seven treys for the Crimson Tide.
Now Jans will try to get his team refocused after the rough loss at Oklahoma.
“I thought maybe we were on our way to being a great team and having this great momentum,” Jans said. “We definitely took a step backward.”
The Bulldogs are 0-6 against Alabama during Jans’ three seasons as coach. Overall, Mississippi State has lost the last seven meetings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
NYCFC focusing on Fire, not player's demand, fan reaction
Sep 20, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC midfielder a(7) brings the ball up the pitch against Charlotte FC during the second half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Their leading goal scorer wants out of town and their goalkeeper is public enemy No. 1 after a costly gaffe during the World Cup played a key role in the United States losing to Belgium in the round of 16.
But New York City FC is still relying on Nicolas Fernandez Mercau and Matt Freese for big contributions Saturday night when the Chicago Fire invade Yankee Stadium.
Fernandez Mercau scored his 11th goal on a penalty kick Wednesday night during a 2-1 win at Columbus that got NYCFC (6-6-4, 22 points) to .500. It came one day after reports that the club rejected an $18 million offer for his services, leading to his demand that the team transfer him.
“You see a player that is performing for and with his team with a lot of energy,” head coach Pascal Jansen said of Fernandez Mercau. “That’s what he’s supposed to do.”
Freese, whose whiffed clearing attempt led to a third goal for Belgium in a 4-1 win on July 6, was booed on every touch Wednesday. Despite the jeers, he made three saves in the team’s first fixture after the World Cup break.
Meanwhile, Chicago (8-5-2, 26 points) sits third in the East table despite a 3-2 loss Wednesday night at Inter Miami. The result snapped the Fire’s three-match winning streak.
Chicago opted not to stand pat during the summer transfer window, adding Robert Lewandowski from Barcelona on a two-year deal. The 37-year-old Lewandowski, the captain of Poland’s national team, started at Miami and played 63 minutes.
“After just two days with my new team, I didn’t expect everything to work perfectly in my first game,” Lewandowski said.
Lewandowski’s signing led to the departure of star striker Hugo Cuypers. The Fire sold him to LIGA MX’s Monterrey for a reported $7.5 million after he scored 40 goals in 75 league matches over the past 2 1/2 seasons. Cuypers scored 13 goals in 11 matches this season, tying Dallas’ Petar Musa for the league lead.
NYCFC is 3-0-2 in its last five matches against Chicago.
–Field Level Media
Sports
CF Montreal acquire Brayan Ceballos from Revs for up to $850K GAM
Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution forward Luca Langoni (41) congratulates defender Brayan Ceballos (3) after he scored his second goal during the first half against the FC Cincinnati at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images The New England Revolution traded defender Brayan Ceballos to CF Montreal on Friday in exchange for up to $850,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM).
The payments were divided into $500,000 in 2026 GAM, $250,000 in 2027 GAM and up to $100,000 in conditional GAM. The Revs also retained a percentage of Ceballos’ sell-on rights should he be transferred again.
“Brayan is a reliable and versatile defender who can play effectively in a variety of systems, making him an important addition to our roster,” Luca Saputo, Montreal’s managing director for recruitment and sporting methodology, said in a statement. “His strengths will complement those already present in our defensive unit. We are confident that he will contribute to our collective objectives as well as the team’s development.”
Ceballos, 25, came to the Revolution from Brazil’s Fortaleza EC in January 2025. He had three goals in 38 career games (37 starts) for the Revs, with two of those goals coming in one game this season, March 15 against Cincinnati.
“We are grateful to Brayan for all his contributions during his time in New England. We wish him all the best in Montreal,” Revolution general manager Chris Tierney said in a statement. “As we look to continue improving the first team, generating this significant amount of allocation money will allow us to continue investing in the roster in the future.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
UFC Abu Dhabi Best Bets: Top Picks for Ankalaev vs. Guskov Fight Night
Mar 28, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; UFC CEO Dana White talks to the press after the fight between Israel Adesanya (red gloves) and Joe Pyfer (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images We’re one day away from the UFC returning to its Fight Island home on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE, for another weekend Fight Night. It’s the first of what is expected to be two occasions this year where the Octagon lands in Abu Dhabi, with the annual late October numbered card in Abu Dhabi expected.
The main event will see former light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev taking on Bogdan Guskov.
This will be Ankalaev’s first fight since dropping the title to Alex Pereira last year at UFC 320. Before that, Ankalaev went on a 14-fight unbeaten streak, culminating with his UFC 313 title win over Pereira.
Guskov takes this fight on short notice, only being announced for this bout on July 13 after an injury to Khalil Rountree Jr. Guskov dropped his UFC debut but then won four straight. He most recently fought at UFC 323, battling former champion Jan Blachowicz to a majority draw.
The co-main event will see former flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg battle Ramazan Temirov. After losing three straight, Erceg enters this bout with back-to-back wins, defeating Ode’ Osbourne last year and Tim Elliott this past May in Perth. Temirov, meanwhile, has won 11 straight, including his first two UFC bouts, finishing CJ Vergara and earning a decision over Charles Johnson.
The rest of the main card will see Islam Dulatov vs. Wellington Turman, Damian Rzepecki vs. Magomed Zaynukov, Rizvan Kuniev vs. Tyrell Fortune, and Abubakar Vagaev vs. Saygid Izagakhmaev.
ISLAM DULATOV VS WELLINGTON TURMAN
Unbeaten since dropping his pro debut, Islam Dulatov is a name the UFC has had its eye on. He’s 11-1, had a strong first-round finish on Dana White’s Contender Series, and quickly finished Adam Fugitt in his UFC debut last year. At 6’3” and with a 75-inch reach, Dulatov is a fairly big man for the welterweight division. Add in his high-volume striking and pressure, and his ability to finish by either KO/TKO or submission, and you can see the danger he presents.
Wellington Turman is an experienced veteran of the Octagon, and he’ll look to trouble Dulatov with his jiu-jitsu work. This will be Turman’s first fight since December 2023, however, and he enters this fight on a three-fight losing skid. Signs point to this being another Dulatov showcase.
BET: Dulatov to win via KO/TKO in Round 1 (FanDuel: -110)
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VALTER WALKER VS THOMAS PETERSEN
How Valter Walker is not on the main card of this event is downright criminal. He might be fighting an unranked fighter and the heavyweight division might be lackluster, but he’s probably this writer’s favorite thing about the division right now. The man gets submissions like crazy, and he’s developing into one of the most talented heavyweights in a UFC division that desperately needs talent.
Petersen has talent, but he’s been up and down since entering the UFC – and I prefer the competition Walker has faced. Point blank, a loss for Walker here would be devastating for not just Walker, but the division as a whole. The challenge for making a play here is that Petersen has a wrestling base and has never been submitted…and yet, the way Walker’s momentum has been, that might not matter.
BET: Walker via submission (DraftKings: +165)
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DUSTIN JACOBY VS MUHAMMAD SAID
Dustin Jacoby might not reach the upper echelon of the UFC light heavyweight rankings, but he’s tough competition for anyone who is put in front of him. The power in his strikes, which stem from his kickboxing days, translated well into the Octagon. Not only are his losses not bad, but he’s riding a three-fight KO/TKO streak entering this bout.
Said is going to have a hometown factor in this one, and he’s a strong striker and finisher in his own right. The question about him is the level of competition. Jacoby is the most experienced guy he’s going to have fought – in his first six fights, he fought fighters who had no more than four fights. He’s faced experienced fighters in his last three, but they didn’t have the greatest of records.
Some have felt this will be a difficult fight to predict, but I’ll trust in both fighters’ finishing abilities.
BET: Fight to end via KO/TKO/DQ (Caesars: -125)
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Comedy icon Lynne Marie Stewarts last film was The Dink, and Josh Greenbaum made sure she saw it
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