Sports
Top 25 basketball roundup: No. 13 Purdue edges No. 23 Ole Miss in final second
Myles Colvin scored off a rebound in the final second and Trey Kaufman-Renn racked up 25 points and 13 rebounds as No. 13 Purdue recovered after surrendering a big lead to defeat No. 23 Ole Miss 80-78 in the title game of the Rady Children’s Invitational on Friday in San Diego.
Colvin ended with 20 points and Braden Smith’s 18 points and 11 assists were also key for Purdue (7-1), which has won three consecutive games since a loss at Marquette. Smith missed a shot on what became the winning possession, setting up Colvin for the heroics.
Fletcher Loyer added 13 points for Purdue, which shot 54.2 percent from the field with 10 baskets from 3-point range.
Jaemyn Brakefield scored 18 points off the bench for Ole Miss (6-1). Matthew Murrell had 14 points, Jaylen Murray posted 13 points and Dre Davis supplied nine points and a team-best six rebounds.
No. 3 Gonzaga 90, Davidson 65
Ben Gregg scored a career-high 24 points as the Bulldogs took control in the first half and surged ahead in the second for to beat the Wildcats in the fifth-place game of the Battle 4 Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas.
Gonzaga (7-1) earned its sixth double-digit win and followed an impressive 89-73 win over No. 14 Indiana with another strong performance. Coming off the bench, Gregg made 8 of 10 shots, all seven of his free throw attempts and grabbed eight rebounds as Gonzaga shot 54.7 percent and scored 58 points in the paint.
Graham Ike added a double-double with 18 and 10 rebounds while Braden Huff contributed 14 points and Ryan Nembhard added a career-high 14 assists. Reed Bailey scored 19 and Roberts Blum added 11 for Davidson (5-2), which was blown out for the second time in this event after a 33-point loss to No. 24 Arizona in the opening round.
No. 8 Kentucky 105, Georgia State 76
Jaxson Robinson scored a team-high 19 points, helping lead the Wildcats to a win over the visiting Panthers in Lexington, Ky.
Lamont Butler added 17 points and six assists for Kentucky (7-0), which eclipsed the 100-point total for the fourth time this season. Amari Williams had 14 points, Otega Oweh added 12, while Andrew Carr and Koby Brea scored 10 apiece for the Wildcats, who made 40 of 67 (59.7 percent) shots from the field.
Cesare Edwards led Georgia State (4-4) with 21 points, followed by Zarique Nutter’s 19. Malachi Brown chipped in 11 points and five assists for the Panthers, who have dropped two of three.
No. 11 Duke 70, Seattle 48
Tyrese Proctor scored 13 points as the Blue Devils put together a lopsided victory against the visiting Redhawks in Durham, N.C.
Kon Knueppel added 11 points and Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach and Isaiah Evans each had nine points for Duke (5-2). Flagg, considered the top prospect for next year’s NBA Draft, also churned out nine rebounds and seven assists.
Paris Dawson notched 10 points off the bench for Seattle (2-5), which shot 21.3 from the field for the game. Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe had nine points and 12 rebounds.
No. 14 Indiana 89, Providence 73
Mackenzie Mgbako broke out of a shooting slump with 25 points to propel the Hoosiers past the Friars in the Battle 4 Atlantis 7th place game in Paradise Island, Bahamas.
Trey Galloway moved into the starting lineup and delivered 18 points, five rebounds and five assists as Indiana (5-2) salvaged its final game of the tournament after suffering two losses by decisive margins.
Jayden Pierre scored 22 points and dealt six assists to lead Providence (5-3). Jabri Abdur-Rahim and Corey Floyd Jr. added 14 points each for the Friars.
No. 16 Florida 88, Wichita State 51
Walter Clayton Jr. scored a game-high 19 points and the Gators ripped off 27 consecutive points in a run that bridged both halves as they routed the Shockers for the ESPN Events Invitational championship in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Alex Condon added 17 points and nine rebounds, while Rueben Chinyelu contributed 14 points, 11 boards and four assists as the Gators improved to 8-0. They shot 44.9 percent from the field, making 14 of 33 3-pointers, and completely stifled the previously unbeaten Shockers (6-1) on defense.
Wichita State entered averaging 80.8 points per game but Florida’s length and quickness shut down the Shockers, who converted just 29.8 percent from the field and went 5-of-22 on 3-pointers. Wichita State’s starters managed only 19 points, with leading scorer Justin Hill (16.3 points per game) tallying just four on 2-of-12 shooting.
West Virginia 83, No. 24 Arizona 76 (OT)
Tucker DeVries scored 26 points and Toby Okani added 20 to lead the Mountaineers to a win over the Wildcats in overtime in the Battle 4 Atlantis third-place game in Paradise Island, Bahamas.
The Mountaineers (5-2) also got 13 points and 10 rebounds from Amani Hansberry. Javon Small scored 14 and dished eight assists. Arizona (3-4) was led by 24 points from Caleb Love. Trey Townsend added 19 on 7-of-12 shooting.
The Wildcats trailed by 10 with less than 10 minutes to go but stormed back. Love hit a deep 3-pointer to tie the score at 66 apiece with just 14 seconds to play. DeVries took the ball up the court on the next possession. He missed a turnaround jumper and the game went into overtime.
Butler 87, No. 25 Mississippi State 77
Jahmyl Telfort scored 16 of his game-high 24 points in the second half and Pierre Brooks II scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Butler upset Mississippi State in the championship game of the Arizona Tip-Off in Tempe, Ariz.
Telfort connected on 4 of 7 3-point attempts for Butler (6-1) which won its fifth straight game. Landon Moore added 13 points and Andre Screen had six points, nine rebounds and four assists for Butler, which shot 52.8 percent from the floor, including 12 of 22 (54.5 percent) from 3-point range.
Riley Kugel and Josh Hubbard each scored 22 points and Cameron Matthews and Michael Nwoko added 14 and 11 points, respectively, for Mississippi State (6-1). The Bulldogs shot just 25.9 percent (7-for-27) from 3-point range and 37.7 percent from the floor.
–Field Level Media
Sports
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Oct 1, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) during game two of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images LAS VEGAS — Entering her eighth season in the WNBA, Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson is poised to build on what was arguably the most dominant individual campaign in league history.
Wilson joined Cynthia Cooper (1997) as the second player in league history to win a unanimous MVP award and joined an exclusive club as the fourth player to win the award three times. She averaged 26.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game last season and set the all-time single-season mark for points (1,021) and rebounds (451).
Unfortunately for Las Vegas, injuries and fatigue from their two previous championship runs mounted and resulted in the team’s worst regular-season record (27-13) since 2019. The Aces’ three-peat hopes ended with a 76-62 home loss to the New York Liberty to drop their semifinal series 3-1.
It’s that loss on her home floor that served as Wilson’s motivation this offseason.
“Losing sucks, especially on your home court,” Wilson said “It still kind of burns a little bit, but I’ve used that as fuel to help my teammates understand how hard it is to win in this league. Yes, we can celebrate the two championships. They were great. But for us to move forward, we have to understand how hard this league is and value the basketball and the little things. I think that’s what we lacked last season, so we’re going to make sure that we can show up better than we did.”
While the Aces appeared to be on top of the world heading into their potential three-peat campaign in 2024, the reality inside the locker room was that both the internal and external pressure to win another championship had become suffocating. A common theme across media day was the fact that the team feels less pressure entering the 2025 season, a sentiment Wilson shared as the unquestioned leader of the team.
“(Three-peat talks) obviously impacted us, because it’s like, y’all think we don’t want to win? We’re trying as well,” Wilson said.
“I would definitely say it’s refreshing this year. I feel like this is one of my only years where it feels like there’s no weight. There’s a lot of weight to be defending champs. It’s a lot of weight to be trying to win one. We don’t have that. We actually have a clean slate to really dial into getting back to who we are culturally, like, in our system and everything.”
Leading the Aces back to the top of the mountain for a third time in four years is one of a few historically significant achievements Wilson can collect this upcoming season. Wilson could also become the first four-time MVP in league history, though the meaning of that is something she hasn’t quite allowed herself to ponder yet.
“I haven’t given it much thought, but it would be a blessing to have my name in that conversation,” Wilson said. “Every year, I try to be better than I was the year before just to give myself a chance in this league. Because the league is getting better. We’re growing. At this point, you just want to maintain your stamina. You want to maintain your mental, all of that, because the season gets hard. I can’t think too much about that just yet, but I’m definitely going to try to be better than I was last year.”
As Aces coach Becky Hammon put it, fans can expect to see an even better version of Wilson this season.
“What I see is, she went and got better,” Hammon said. “Which is hard to do when you’re already the best, but it speaks to her work ethic, her desire and her mindset this whole offseason. We talked a lot this offseason. She’s a busy lady, but I can tell you what she always does is her workouts. She’s always getting her workouts in. That comes first and foremost, she never gets her priorities jumbled up.”
When Hammon was asked what a player like Wilson would possibly need to improve after last season’s campaign, the coach did not feel like revealing too much.
“There was (something for Wilson to improve), and she did,” Hammon said. “I’m not going to tell you what it was. Actually, there were two things.”
–Will Despart, Field Level Media
Sports
Jacob Wilson joins Aaron Judge in spotlight for Yankees-A's series
May 5, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (5) throws to first for an out against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images The top two hitters in the majors square off Friday night when the New York Yankees face the Athletics in the opener of a three-game series in Sacramento, Calif.
It’s no surprise to see Yankees star Aaron Judge off to a superb start after winning American League MVP honors last season. He has a major league-best .400 batting average and entered Thursday’s play tied for the big-league lead with 12 homers and 34 RBIs.
But who had Athletics rookie Jacob Wilson ranking second in the majors at .357 as the season nears the quarter pole? Wilson has played in just 64 career games and quickly has solidified himself as a future All-Star, perhaps even this season.
Sharing the marquee board with Judge seems quite surreal for the 23-year-old shortstop who was the No. 6 overall pick of the 2023 draft.
“It’s a great feeling, for sure,” Wilson said of his name being mentioned with Judge. “Obviously, everybody has seen what he is doing. It’s pretty incredible watching him do his thing on a daily basis. To be up there with him is pretty cool for me.
“I’m excited to play against him this week and see what it looks like in person.”
Wilson had his first career four-hit game during Wednesday’s 6-5 home loss against the Seattle Mariners and has six multi-hit outings in the past eight games. He went 8-for-14 with one game-winning hit in the three-game series against the Mariners and is 16-for-34 (.471) with four walks during the eight-game stretch.
The hot hitting led to Athletics manager Mark Kotsay moving Wilson to the leadoff spot on Wednesday. Kotsay indicated Wilson may be sticking at the top of the lineup.
“I think you’ll see Jacob up there now,” Kotsay said. “Jacob’s earned it. … Jacob has shown enough over the last week. He’s walking and taking pitches, and, obviously, swinging the bat really well.”
Judge arrives in Sacramento in the midst of a four-game funk in which he is 2-for-15.
The two-time MVP just went 1-for-10 in a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres, but the one hit was a homer.
Judge grew up 50 miles south of Sacramento in Linden and starred for Linden High but wasn’t highly sought by major league teams. The then-Oakland Athletics selected him in the 31st round in 2010.
Judge instead went the college route and starred for Fresno State. He was chosen in the first round (32nd overall) by the Yankees in the 2013 draft.
Trent Grisham was one of the heroes of Wednesday’s 4-3, 10-inning win over the Padres. He hit a tying two-run pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning.
Grisham had two homers and five RBIs in the series against the Padres — one of his former teams — and already has 10 long balls in just 89 at-bats. He hit just nine last season in 179 at-bats.
“I’m having fun with the guys, I would say that more than anything,” Grisham said. “The clubhouse is really good in here, led by Cap (Judge). So, I would say the guys have been the most enjoyable part.”
New York is starting right-hander Will Warren (1-2, 5.65 ERA) in Friday’s series opener. Right-hander Osvaldo Bido (2-2, 4.71) will be on the mound for the Athletics.
Warren, 25, struck out a career-high eight in 4 2/3 innings while losing to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. He gave up five runs (three earned) and seven hits. Warren hasn’t previously faced the Athletics.
Bido, 29, received a no-decision against the Miami Marlins last Saturday when he gave up four runs on three hits over five innings. He is winless (0-1) over his last three starts. Bido hasn’t faced the Yankees.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao coming out of retirement
Aug 21, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada; Manny Pacquiao (right) fights Yordenis Ugas in a world welterweight championship bout at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao plans to end his retirement and return to the ring on July 19 against Mario Barrios in Las Vegas, ESPN reported Thursday.
Pacquiao, 46, will be fighting for the first time since losing a unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas in 2021.
The fight will be for Barrios’ WBC welterweight championship belt. Barrios turns 30 on May 18.
Pacquiao is an eight-division champion who is slated to be inducted into the boxing Hall of Fame in June. He reportedly will formally announce his return to boxing next week. The report stated that Pacquiao has been cleared to compete by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
In recent years, Pacquiao has been focusing on his political career in the Philippines.
The boxer nicknamed “PacMan” has a 62-8-2 record with 39 knockouts during his career. He won his first major title — the WBC flyweight crown — at age 19 in 1998.
Pacquiao was 54-3-2 prior to turning 33 and 8-5 afterward. One of those losses was to Floyd Mayweather Jr. via unanimous decision in 2015, a bout that reportedly drew nearly $400 million in pay-per-view sales.
Barrios (29-2-1, 18 knockouts) fought to a 12-round, split-decision draw against Abel Ramos last November. This will be his third defense since winning the title by beating Ugas in 2023.
–Field Level Media
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
