Sports
No. 10 Virginia holds off NC State, advances to semifinals
Mar 12, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Malik Thomas (1) on defense against NC State Wolfpack guard Tre Holloman (5) during the first half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Malik Thomas provided clutch late-game production to finish with 16 points and Thijs De Ridder scored 15 points as No. 10 Virginia fended off North Carolina State for an 81-74 victory in an Atlantic Coast Conference tournament’s quarterfinal Thursday afternoon.
Reserve Jacari White posted 13 points and Sam Lewis delivered all 12 of his points on 3-pointers for the second-seeded Cavaliers (28-4), who meet the Louisville-Miami winner in Friday night’s first semifinal. Virginia center Ugonna Onyenso’s eight blocked shots matched the second most in a game in the league tournament’s history.
Virginia defeated NC State in three matchups this season, but this was by far the closest encounters.
Paul McNeil Jr. drilled six 3s on the way to 26 points for seventh-seeded NC State (20-13). Ven-Allen Lubin contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds and Matt Able came off the bench for 12 points.
The Wolfpack, who have landed safely within most projections for the NCAA Tournament field, have lost seven of their last nine games. NC State defeated Pitt in Wednesday’s second round, extending its tournament winning streak to six games — five to win the 2024 event before failing to qualify last year.
NC State used 21-for-24 free-throw shooting to outscore Virginia by 10 points at the foul line.
A 9-0 run gave the Cavaliers a 55-45 lead that eventually reached a 12-point margin.
The Wolfpack were within 68-61 with more than five minutes to play. McNeil hit a 3-pointer to trim the gap to 70-64 before Thomas answered with a jumper for the Cavaliers.
Quadir Copeland’s three-point play at the 1:24 gave the Wolfpack a chance, but De Ridder’s drive for a bucket pushed Virginia to a 76-69 edge with 1:11 remaining.
McNeil’s 3 made it 78-74 with 27 seconds left, and then he made a steal, but NC State missed two shots on the ensuing possession.
NC State produced much better stretches than the earlier meetings with Virginia, when it never led.
Virginia had a 33-32 halftime lead despite going the opening half without any second-chance points.
Virginia defeated NC State for only the fourth time in 19 all-time ACC tournament meetings.
–Bob Sutton, Field Level Media
Sports
Red Wings' Dylan Larkin, Andrew Copp out at least 2 weeks
Oct 31, 2022; Buffalo, New York, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) celebrates his goal with center Andrew Copp (18) during the third period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin and fellow forward Andrew Copp will be sidelined at least two weeks due to their respective leg injuries, head coach Todd McLellan announced Thursday.
Larkin has been idle since Detroit’s 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Friday in which he recorded an assist on 17:28 of ice time. The United States Olympian was seen holding his knee after falling awkwardly in the third period.
Copp was hurt after Tomas Nosek fell on his left leg during the second period of the Red Wings’ 4-3 loss to the Panthers on Tuesday.
Larkin, 29, has 55 points (28 goals, 27 assists) in 63 games this season.
Copp, 31, has 37 points (eight goals, 29 assists) in 65 games in 2025-26.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Team USA removes Tarik Skubal from roster, adds relievers
Mar 7, 2026; Houston, TX, United States; United States pitcher Tarik Skubal (27) reacts to an out against Great Britain during the first inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Tarik Skubal, Michael Wacha and Ryan Yarbrough are off the Team USA roster for the bracket round of the World Baseball Classic.
Manager Mark DeRosa is turning to three relief pitchers as Skubal returns to spring training with the Detroit Tigers according to his plan shared before the tournament began.
Tigers right-hander Will Vest, Blue Jays righty Tyler Rogers and Yankees left-hander Tim Hill are joining the roster ahead of the WBC quarterfinals.
Skubal pitched three innings in his only WBC appearance, a victory over Great Britain.
All three relievers expand the number of late-game options for DeRosa with the potential for Team USA to play three games beginning Friday in the quarterfinals against Canada.
Vest, 30, is a Houston native headed home for the quarterfinals from Tigers’ camp in Florida. He had 23 saves last season with an ERA of 3.20 ERA in 250 1/3 career innings for the Tigers.
Rogers, 35, appeared in 81 games last season and had a 1.98 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 77 1/3 innings.
Hill, 36, had a 3.09 ERA with the Yankees last season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Chicago acquires F Jordyn Huitema from Seattle
Canada forward Jordyn Huitema (9) heads a ball during the SheBelieves Cup against United States at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus on March 4, 2026. The United States won 1-0. Chicago Stars FC acquired forward Jordyn Huitema from Seattle Reign FC on Thursday in exchange for $500,000 in league funds.
The Reign will receive $200,000 in allocation money and $300,000 in intra-league transfer funds.
Huitema, 24, posted 13 goals and four assists in 70 appearances (58 starts) with Seattle from 2022-25. She had three goals and an assist in 22 matches (18 starts) in 2025.
“Jordyn has been a tremendous professional and teammate during her time with the Reign,” Reign general manager Lesle Gallimore said. “We’re grateful for the commitment and energy she brought to the club and to our community. We wish her nothing but the best in the next chapter of her career.”
Internationally, Huitema has earned 96 caps for Canada and won a gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
–Field Level Media
Red Wings' Dylan Larkin, Andrew Copp out at least 2 weeks
Team USA removes Tarik Skubal from roster, adds relievers
