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UCF, Nebraska aim to go out winners in Crown final

NCAA Basketball: Big 12 Conference Tournament First Round - Utah vs UCF
Mar 11, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; UCF Knights guard Darius Johnson (3) shoots the ball during the second half against the Utah Utes at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images

Darius Johnson has been on a mission, and his next task is helping UCF win a championship.

Johnson has scored 73 total points over the past two contests. He’s aiming to deliver another high-octane outing when the Knights (20-16) face Nebraska (20-14) on Sunday in the College Basketball Crown championship game at Las Vegas.

Johnson poured in a career-best 42 points in Saturday’s 104-98 overtime victory over Villanova in the semifinals. Two days earlier, he had 31 points in an 88-80 quarterfinal victory over Cincinnati.

Overall, the senior guard is averaging 29.3 points in UCF’s three wins during the tournament. But he’ll trade each and every one of those for a banner.

“We’re playing for a championship,” Johnson said. “… I want to go out the right way. We want to do something special before we all go our separate ways.”

Johnson was a big-time spark in the win over Villanova. He knocked down the tying 3-point basket with 7.6 seconds left in regulation and then scored 10 points in overtime.

There was zero chance of Johnson passing the ball late in regulation before hitting the big basket.

“I was wide open for the stepback three, which is one of my go-to shots,” Johnson said, “so I was able to capitalize on that.”

Nebraska reached the title game with a solid 79-69 victory over Boise State on Saturday.

The Cornhuskers made a season-high 12 3-pointers while shooting a season-best 63.2 percent from 3-point range.

Juwan Gary was 4-for-4 from 3-point range — tying his career high for makes — while producing 21 points and nine rebounds.

“Just found my rhythm,” Gary explained. “I’m trying not to force anything. I’m a senior and this is my last opportunity to play with these guys. Just got to go out there and play as hard as I can.”

Nebraska lost its final five regular-season games so being in the Crown tournament has allowed it to end the campaign on a good note.

The Cornhuskers beat Arizona State in the first round and Georgetown in the quarterfinals before dispatching Boise State.

“We might not be in March Madness but we’re still playing,” Gary said. “We want to go out there and leave our stamp out there. You can’t get a better feeling than to win a championship on Sunday.”

Brice Williams had 14 points against Boise State but is averaging 24 for the tournament. He scored 30 and 28 the first two games.

The winner of the title game receives $300,000 in NIL money. The runner-up receives $100,000.

–Field Level Media

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Mets' Francisco Lindor (calf) exits vs. Twins

MLB: Minnesota Twins at New York MetsApr 22, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts after his RBI infield single against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor exited Wednesday night’s game against the visiting Minnesota Twins after the fourth inning due to left calf tightness

Lindor, who was on first base following a single, did not appear to be running at full speed as he circled the diamond and scored on Francisco Alvarez’s double.

The 32-year-old grimaced while rounding third and remained on the ground for a few seconds after sliding in ahead of Victor Caratini’s tag to give the Mets — who have lost 12 straight — a 2-1 lead.

Lindor was injured the same day Juan Soto returned from a 15-game absence due to a strained right calf. The Mets won their first three games after Soto was injured Apr. 3 before beginning their losing streak.

Lindor has missed just 15 games since his most recent IL stint in 2021, when he missed more than five weeks due to a right oblique strain.

–Field Level Media

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Braves blast four homers to bypass Nationals

MLB: Atlanta Braves at Washington NationalsApr 22, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (23) celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Michael Harris II hit two home runs, Matt Olson smacked a three-run shot and the Atlanta Braves rallied from an early three-run deficit to claim an 8-6 win against the host Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.

The seventh multi-homer game of Harris’ career helped Atlanta manager Walt Weiss earn his 300th victory. Drake Baldwin homered for the second straight game for the Braves, who have earned at least a split of the four-game series.

Dylan Lee (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win. Robert Suarez pitched the ninth for his second save. After walking 12 batters on Tuesday night, Braves pitchers issued only three free passes.

James Wood homered for the second straight game for Washington. Daylen Lile hit a three-run homer and Joey Wiemer had a pinch-hit solo shot.

Washington starter Zack Littell (0-3) allowed eight runs (six earned) on seven hits over six innings.

The Braves started in on Littell early as Baldwin homered to right center in the first to make it 1-0.

Washington jumped in front with a four-run first against Atlanta starter Didier Fuentes, who lasted just three innings while allowing seven hits and four runs.

Wood and Luis Garcia, Jr. opened the first with singles and, after two strikeouts, Lile delivered a homer to center. Jacob Young singled and scored when Jorbit Vivas doubled to right.

The Braves came right back. Ozzie Albies reached on a Vivas error and Harris homered to right. Mike Yastrzemski singled, went to third on a single by Jonah Heim and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ronald Acuna, Jr.

Harris struck again in the third as his solo shot gave the Braves a 5-4 lead.

Atlanta broke it open in the fourth. Heim and Acuna drew one-out walks and, with two outs, Olson homered to right to make it 8-4.

The Nationals cut the deficit in half in the sixth on solo homers by pinch-hitter Wiemer and Wood, whose 413-foot shot was his National League-leading ninth of the season.

Washington got the tying runs on with two outs in the eighth, but Tyler Kinley struck out Curtis Mead.

–Field Level Media

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Max Fried dominates as Yankees nearly blank Red Sox again

MLB: New York Yankees at Boston Red SoxApr 22, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried (54) pitches against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Amed Rosario had four RBI in just two plate appearances and Max Fried pitched eight shutout innings, leading the visiting New York Yankees to a 4-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.

Rosario’s three-run shot in the first inning was all that New York needed, as Fried (3-1) allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out nine, completing a masterful outing in exactly 100 pitches.

Adding to the New York offense, Giancarlo Stanton went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored, while Aaron Judge crossed the plate twice.

Jarren Duran (3-for-4) doubled twice and knocked in Boston’s only run with a ninth-inning single.

Boston left-hander Ranger Suarez (1-2) took the loss after allowing four runs through 4 2/3 innings, but the relief duo of Zack Kelly and Eduardo Rivera pitched scoreless, one-hit ball the rest of the way.

Rivera, who was recalled from Triple-A Worcester earlier in the day, pitched 3 1/3 innings of one-hit ball in his MLB debut. He struck out three.

The Yankees picked up where they left off in Tuesday’s series-opening shutout, breaking Suarez’s 14-inning scoreless streak by jumping out to a 3-0 lead on Rosario’s homer over the Green Monster. Judge drew a one-out walk and Stanton doubled two batters later with two outs to set the table.

Fried worked out of a two-on, no-out jam in the second to keep the home team scoreless, striking out three consecutive batters after Andruw Monasterio walked and Duran knocked a high wall-ball double to lead off the frame.

In the third, Judge stung a leadoff single and Stanton banged a one-out double to left. Rosario then sent a line-drive sac fly to left, extending the New York lead to 4-0.

The Red Sox were unable to cash in baserunners in the next two innings, as Wilyer Abreu had a two-out knock in the third and Duran added his second two-bagger in the fourth. Following the latter knock, Fried retired the final 14 batters he faced.

Brent Headrick was one strike away from pitching New York’s third consecutive shutout for the first time since 1962, but Duran’s knock through the middle scored Trevor Story to break up the bid in the ninth.

–Field Level Media

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