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In need of hero, Erie’s Braylon Toliver found a lane and delivered: “That doesn’t surprise any of us”

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:49:50 GMT

FORT COLLINS — With Erie clinging to a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter against top-ranked Palmer Ridge, the injuries were piling up in the Tigers’ backfield.Senior quarterback Blake Barnett was hopping around on one leg — his one-man magic act sapped by a sprained left ankle. And starting running back Gavin Lusk was being tended to on the sideline after suffering an injury of his own.If the second-ranked Tigers were going to grind out Saturday’s Class 4A state football championship, the ball was going to Braylon Toliver, and everyone inside Canvas Stadium knew it.“I felt like it was on me,” Toliver said. “I’ve got to do whatever I can to make a play.”The sophomore did just that, helping save Erie’s state title hopes with a 32-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that all but sealed a 20-6 victory over previously unbeaten Palmer Ridge.A starting defensive back in his second season on varsity, Toliver had spent mos...

Warriors blow another big lead, lose to Los Angeles Clippers

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:49:50 GMT

LOS ANGELES — The Warriors led until the final 10 seconds when Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George hit a go-ahead 3-pointer to hand Golden State a 113-112 loss on Saturday afternoon.The Warriors fell to 9-11 on the year.Here are observations from a strong performance that went awry down the stretch.Draymond Green’s 3-point shootingGreen woke up a sleepy crowd with four 3-pointers in the first quarter, tying the most he’s had in one quarter since January of 2016. His 12 points were the most he’s scored in a quarter this season and his biggest total since he had 18 in that 2016 game against Denver.Green finished with a season-high 21 points but missed the open corner 3 at the buzzer that would have won the game.Teams will leave Green open beyond the arc because he’s a 31.7% career 3-point shooter. But he can give the Warriors a boost when he can take advantage of that space and knock down shots.In 11 games this year, Green is shooting 46.4% from 3 on...

South Dakota scores three touchdowns in second quarter, tops Sacramento State 34-24 in FCS playoffs

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:49:50 GMT

VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) — Aidan Bouman threw two touchdown passes, Charles Pierre rushed for 123 yards and No. 3-seed South Dakota defeated Sacramento State 34-24 on Saturday in the second round of the FCS playoffs.South Dakota had three quick-strike touchdowns in the second quarter. First, Josiah Ganues intercepted a Kaiden Bennett pass, setting up the Coyotes at the Sac State 33. Three plays later, Bouman threw to Javion Phelps for an 18-yard touchdown. Two plays later, Mi’Quise Grace scooped a fumble by Bennett and raced 56 yards for another touchdown. On the second play after a Sacramento State touchdown drive, Bouman connected with JJ Galbreath on a 75-yard touchdown pass.Marcus Fulcher’s second 2-yard touchdown run of the second quarter got the Hornets within 24-14 at halftime. Travis Theis added a 3-yard touchdown run for South Dakota in the third quarter for a 31-14 lead. The teams exchanged field goals in the fourth quarter before Sacramento State wrapped up the scoring...

Klesmit scores 21 in 1st half, Wisconsin outrebounds No. 3 Marquette in 75-64 win

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:49:50 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Max Klesmit scored all 21 of his points before halftime, Steven Crowl added 16 and Wisconsin capitalized on its rebounding superiority to beat No. 3 Marquette 75-64 on Saturday.Wisconsin (6-2) beat Marquette (6-2) for a third straight season in this in-state rivalry between schools separated by just 79 miles. This marks the first three-game winning streak for either team in the 130-game series since the Badgers won four straight from 1998-2001.Kam Jones scored 19 and Tyler Kolek added 11 for Marquette. AJ Storr had 13 and Tyler Wahl 10 for Wisconsin, which outrebounded the Golden Eagles 38-23 and outscored them 18-2 in second-chance points.NO. 2 ARIZONA 82, COLGATE 55TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Caleb Love scored 14 points, Oumar Ballo had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Arizona made a strong statement to move up to No. 1 by overwhelming Colgate.The Wildcats (7-0) overcame a shaky offensive start by dominating inside and going on a big run to open the second half. The Ra...

Nets’ Ben Simmons likely out at least 2 more weeks after epidural injection in back

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:49:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Ben Simmons is expected to miss at least two more weeks as the Brooklyn Nets guard works his way back from his latest back injury.The Nets said Saturday that Simmons received an epidural injection as part of the planned rehabilitation from a pinched nerve in his lower back that he sustained Nov. 6. The Nets added that Simmons is improving and will continue with strengthening exercises.However, it appears the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft is still a ways off from real basketball work. Coach Jacque Vaughn said Simmons is doing low-level work on his own, with no sprinting up the court or rebounding drills.The Nets said Simmons’ status would be updated again in approximately two weeks.Simmons’ last two seasons were cut short because of back injuries and he had surgery to remove a small fragment of a herniated disk following the 2021-22 season. He was averaging 6.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists in six games before missing the last 11.___AP NBA: https://...

Jason Robertson shines as Dallas Stars rout Tampa Bay Lightning 8-1

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:49:50 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — Jason Robertson scored twice and Joe Pavelski had a goal and two assists, helping the Dallas Stars beat the struggling Tampa Bay Lightning 8-1 on Saturday.Jamie Benn and Mason Marchment each had a goal and an assist for Dallas (14-5-3), which raced out to an early 3-0 lead. Tyler Seguin, Thomas Harley and Sam Steel also scored, and Jake Oettinger made 32 saves.Victor Hedman scored for the Lightning (10-10-5), who have lost four consecutive games for the first time this season.Andrei Vasilevskiy was relieved after two periods, allowing six goals on 25 shots in his fourth start since returning last week following offseason back surgery. Jonas Johansson allowed the goals to Harley and Steel late in the game.JETS 3, BLACKHAWKS 1WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Morgan Barron snapped a tie in the second period, and the Jets stopped a three-game slide.Mark Scheifele and Cole Perfetti also scored for Winnipeg. Connor Hellebuyck made 20 saves.Bedard scored his team-high 11th goal in t...

Terrence Shannon Jr. has 23 points, 10 rebounds, No. 24 Illinois beats Rutgers 76-58

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:49:50 GMT

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Terrence Shannon Jr. had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 24 Illinois beat Rutgers 76-58 on Saturday in the Big Ten opener for both schools.Marcus Domask added 15 points for the Illini (6-1), who won at Rutgers for the first time since Feb. 25, 2018.Austin Williams and Aundre Hyatt scored nine points apiece for the Scarlet Knights (5-2), whose five-game winning streak ended.The game featured the top two defenses in the Big Ten, with Rutgers holding opponents to 55.5 points and Illinois allowing 58.7. Rutgers shot 33.3% from the field (20 of 60).Illinois went on a 17-2 spurt midway through the second half to take its largest lead at 67-44. Shannon made three 3s during the run.The Illini opened the game on a 14-2 run, with Quincy Guerrier contributing seven points, but Rutgers closed within 41-36 at halftime thanks to an 18-9 run over the final 7:06.BIG PICTUREIllinois: Coleman Hawkins returned to the starting lineup for the Illini after missing the last thre...

Georgia Tech beats No. 7 Duke 72-68, handing Blue Devils their 2nd loss this week to unranked team

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:49:50 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Baye Ndongo scored 21 points and his dunk with 44 seconds remaining pushed Georgia Tech ahead for good as the Yellow Jackets beat No. 7 Duke 72-68 on Saturday, handing the Blue Devils their second loss this week to an unranked team.Miles Kelly had 16 points and Kowacie Reeves Jr. had 14 points for Georgia Tech (4-2, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), which has now defeated two ranked teams this week. The Yellow Jackets beat No. 21 Mississippi State 67-59 on Tuesday.Duke (5-3, 0-1) trailed most of the game, but the Blue Devils — who lost 80-75 on Wednesday at Arkansas — took a brief lead late before falling.Jeremy Roach paced Duke with 20 points, and Kyle Filipowski and Caleb Foster added 12 each. Roach played all 40 minutes after guard Tyrese Proctor was lost to an ankle injury just 1:16 into the game.Duke coach Jon Scheyer said his team didn’t adjust well “in real time” to losing Proctor.“Credit Georgia Tech,” he said. “They were ready to play. They were ready to go, ma...

Gordon continues scoring streak at home to earn Newcastle win over Man United in EPL

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:49:50 GMT

NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Anthony Gordon scored for the fourth straight home game for Newcastle to earn a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the English Premier League on Saturday.The winger tapped in from close range from Kieran Trippier’s cross in the 55th minute for the only goal of a game Newcastle dominated at St. James’ Park.It ended a run of three victories in a row without conceding for Man United, which was overtaken by Newcastle and dropped to seventh place.Already hit hard by a long list of absentees that is into double figures, Newcastle saw goalkeeper Nick Pope helped off in the 86th with a suspected dislocated left shoulder sustained when he dived to stop a ball that was blocked in front of him.“It’s looks bad,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said. “He’s done it before and had it operated on and come back successfully. But I don’t know what the future holds for him, I don’t know if he will need an operation or not.”Pope’s replacement, Martin Dubravka, let in a goal ...

Newcastle defies long injury list to earn dominant win over Man United. Arsenal leads by 4 in EPL

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:49:50 GMT

Ravaged by injuries and hurting from a cruel VAR call in midweek, Newcastle was hardly in ideal shape as the same 11 players were sent out by manager Eddie Howe for a third straight game for the English Premier League meeting with Manchester United on Saturday.You’d never have known.Newcastle’s dominant 1-0 win at St. James’ Park was testament to the unwavering spirit in a squad being stretched to the limit as the Saudi-owned club challenges for trophies on all fronts.At the same time, it was a reality check for Man United after its recent revival in the league marked by narrow, scrappy wins and sensational goals.Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal proved to be enough for Newcastle, which — in the space of a week — has beaten Chelsea and Man United either side of being denied a famous Champions League win at Paris Saint-Germain because of a roundly condemned handball decision.“It’s been a massive week for us,” Gordon said. “The same 11 players have played three games on the bounce and...