Sports
No. 18 Memphis keeping guard up ahead of game vs. UAB
Feb 26, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Tigers forward Dain Dainja (42), guard PJ Haggerty (4), guard Colby Rogers (3), forward Damarien Yates (0), and guard Jared Harris (1) look on against the Rice Owls during the second half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Wesley Hale-Imagn Images Given that No. 18 Memphis has a rich basketball tradition and high expectations nearly every year, it’s hard to believe the Tigers haven’t won a regular-season conference title since 2013.
Memphis will take a big step in that direction on Sunday afternoon if they can complete a season sweep of American Athletic Conference rival UAB in Birmingham, Ala.
The Tigers (23-5, 13-2) have a one-game lead over the Blazers and North Texas with three games remaining. A victory over UAB would give the Tigers a season sweep, and they edged North Texas in January in their only meeting, so they would own head-to-head tie-breakers on both clubs.
And Memphis’ schedule in the last week will feature two lesser opponents in UTSA and South Florida, although seventh-year Tigers coach Penny Hardaway knows better than to take either contest for granted.
“It’s so hard to win any game,” he said. “You could look around the country and see non-ranked teams beating ranked teams this time of year. You’ve got to keep getting your guys up. And we’ve had to be up for every single game.”
Case in point: The Tigers’ 84-72 AAC win Wednesday night over Rice. Seems simple enough, right? Well, except for the part in which the teams were tied at 70 with under four minutes left before Memphis went on a game-ending 14-2 run.
Hardaway wants his team to experience what no Memphis team has enjoyed since Josh Pastner left Conference USA with a runaway league championship as coach in 2013.
“It’s very important to me,” Hardaway said. “If any coach tells you that it’s not, it is. I’ve been in it seven years. I want that feeling.”
If Dain Dainja keeps dominating like he has lately, Hardaway might get that feeling. Dainja went for 25 points and 10 rebounds against the Owls after shredding Florida Atlantic for 22 and 11, respectively, in the previous game.
Dainja also came up big in a 100-77 blowout of UAB on Jan. 26, scoring what then was a season-high 21 points to go with eight rebounds.
The Blazers (19-9, 12-3) have won seven of eight games since then, including an 80-72 decision Thursday night at the same Wichita State outfit that stopped Memphis on Feb. 16 in overtime.
Alejandro Vasquez tied his career high with 29 points on Thursday, while versatile 6-foot-9 post Yaxel Lendeborg had 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists. For the season, Lendeborg paces UAB in scoring (17.6 ppg), rebounding (10.9) and assists (4.3).
Lendeborg came close to the program’s first triple-double in 16 years during a Feb. 23 win over Temple, finishing with 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.
“It feels like I’ve been chasing a ghost for a long time now,” he said. “I keep getting right there to open the door, but I can’t grab the knob. That’s what it feels like.”
Lendeborg’s all-around excellence has helped the Blazers average 83.4 points per game, 12th-best in Division I.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Hannah Green wins her 2nd HSBC Women's World Championship
Aug 21, 2025; Mississauga, Ontario, CAN; Hannah Green plays her tee shot at the third hole during first round play at the CPKC Women’s Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Australia’s Hannah Green held off Auston Kim on Sunday to win the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore for the second time.
Green, the 2024 champion, balanced three birdies and three bogeys on an eventful back nine to finish with a 3-under 69 and a final score of 14-under at Sentosa Golf Club. The 2019 Women’s PGA Championship winner tapped in for bogey at the 18th for her seventh LPGA Tour title.
“When I did win Singapore two years ago, I went on to win two other tournaments that season and pretty much had my best season on tour,” said Green, 29. “So having a win so early in the season gives me a bit more flexibility with the tournaments that I can play. So I’m hoping that this puts me in good stead for the rest of the year.”
Green was at 16-under after birdies at the first, 11th and 13th holes and an eagle at the par-5 eighth hole. Her birdie at the par-3 15th helped her survive a bogey-bogey finish.
“I knew that I had enough of a lead to be able to get away with making mistakes coming down the stretch. But I think 15 was the real turning point,” she said.
First- and second-round leader Kim nearly chased down her first title, matching the low round of the day with a 67 to finish one shot behind Green in the 72-hole, no-cut tournament.
Kim carded six birdies and an eagle at No. 8, but a bogey at the par-3 15th proved costly for the 25-year-old American.
“Overall, I think it was a really solid week,” Kim said. “A great way to start the year. I hit a lot of bad shots but I also hit a lot of good ones, and it was really confidence boosting. I hit all these bad shots, and I didn’t feel like I had anything chose to my A game, but I was still able it pull off a result like this and play some really solid golf.”
Australia’s Minjee Lee (72 on Sunday), Angel Yin (71) and France’s Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (68) tied for third place at 11-under with South Korea’s Haeran Ryu (72) another shot back in solo sixth.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand finished with a 73 and tied for 31st at 2-under, one shot behind defending champion Lydia Ko (72) of New Zealand.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on from inside the dugout against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol received a two-year contract extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Sunday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, which holds an option for the 2029 season.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time — and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said.
“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow. I am energized to continue working with him towards the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”
Marmol, 39, has guided the Cardinals to a 325-323 record during his four seasons as the skipper. He led St. Louis to the National League Central title in 2022 before the team fell in the wild-card series to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last season, the Cardinals posted a 78-84 record to finish in fourth place in the NL Central.
Marmol was a coach with St. Louis from 2017-21 under previous managers Mike Shildt and Mike Matheny.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
Oct 31, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Reif (41) during the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion after Saturday night’s street race in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reif, 18, was transported to an area medical facility after finishing 16th in the race in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. He was later released.
“Tyler and his family would like to express their gratitude to the NASCAR officials, track medical workers and the local medical facility staff for their care,” Niece Motorsports said in a release.
Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2025. Saturday’s race was just his third on the circuit, including a 17th-place finish at Atlanta on Feb. 21.
–Field Level Media
