A look at the final drive for Pac-12 football through the eyes of fans, coaches, players

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:02:04 GMT

A look at the final drive for Pac-12 football through the eyes of fans, coaches, players The final football season for the Pac-12 with its current membership is coming to a thrilling conclusion.The conference wraps up regular-season play this week before the title game in Las Vegas on Dec. 1. Washington and Oregon still have hopes of getting the Pac-12 its first College Football Playoff berth since 2016.Even though there is plenty of excitement on the field, there remain some who are sad about the breakup of the conference, along with the end of traditional rivalries The Associated Press is taking a look at the final weeks through the eyes of players, coaches, broadcasters and longtime fans.FAMILY LEGACYOregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei is a California kid who grew up watching the Pac-10, and then the Pac-12.Next season, Oregon State will be left alone with Washington State in the once-proud Conference of Champions. The 10 other schools have bolted in realignment.That means that Friday night’s rivalry game between the Beavers and the Ducks might be the last f...

Kitley scores 31 as No. 9 Virginia Tech holds on to beat Kansas 59-58

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:02:04 GMT

Kitley scores 31 as No. 9 Virginia Tech holds on to beat Kansas 59-58 GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (AP) — Elizabeth Kitley had 31 points and 18 rebounds to help ninth-ranked Virginia Tech edge Kansas 59-58 on Friday in the Cayman Islands Classic.Georgia Amoore hit a 3-pointer with 2:57 left to give the Hokies (4-1) a 59-58 advantage in a game that featured 17 lead changes and seven ties. “It’s November and we’re still trying to figure ourselves out,” Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks said. “If you can win while trying to figure yourselves out, it’s a bonus.”Kansas (2-2) had a few chances to take the lead after that, but Taiyanna Jackson missed two free throws with 1:46 left. The Jayhawks then turned it over on their next possession.Amoore missed a jumper with under 30 seconds left and then the Hokies had a shot clock violation that gave Kansas one final chance. Ryan Dobbins attempt with a second left fell short.“I think we just competed really hard and never fragmented,” Kansas coach Brandon Schneider said. “We tried to stick with the plan and stay aggr...

The Vikings are playing close games again. The Bears have lots of lessons to learn from theirs

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:02:04 GMT

The Vikings are playing close games again. The Bears have lots of lessons to learn from theirs MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings made a habit last season of going down to the wire, setting an NFL record in the process by winning all 11 contests that were decided by eight points or fewer.Those close games, predictably, haven’t broken their way in 2023 nearly as often. They’ll find no sympathy from the Chicago Bears.“I understand what it feels like to lose a game that you feel like you should’ve won, but at the end of the day, the only thing you can do in this league is grow,” said Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards, reflecting on his team’s 31-26 loss at Detroit last week. “As soon as you start to feel sorry for yourself and start to point fingers and things like that, that’s when stuff gets really bad. We don’t have the guys in here that are doing that. We don’t have the coaches that are doing that. We’ve got the right guys in here to build this thing and keep growing.”The Bears (3-8) blew a 12-point lead with about three minutes left to the NFC Nort...

Troy beats Grambling 80-67, finish second in first Trojan Classic tournament

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:02:04 GMT

Troy beats Grambling 80-67, finish second in first Trojan Classic tournament Troy, Ala. (AP) — Christyon Eugene scored 23 points and Troy rebounded from an overtime loss to Sam Houston Monday to beat Grambling 80-67 on Friday night to finish second in the first Trojan Classic tournament.The Bearkats capture the tournament title after knocking off Grambling 86-80 Wednesday.Eugene contributed four steals for the Trojans (3-3). Jackson Fields scored 13 points and added five rebounds and five steals. Tayton Conerway finished 4 of 8 from the field to finish with eight points.The Tigers (2-5) were led by Terrence Lewis, who recorded 11 points and six rebounds. Grambling also got 10 points from Jalen Johnson. Mikale Stevenson also put up nine points and two steals.NEXT UPTroy plays Monday against Eastern Kentucky on the road, and Grambling visits Dayton on Saturday.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

No. 9 Duke erases a 10-point first-half deficit to beat Southern Indiana 80-62

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:02:04 GMT

No. 9 Duke erases a 10-point first-half deficit to beat Southern Indiana 80-62 DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Filipowski had 21 points and 14 rebounds while No. 9 Duke waited until the second half to push ahead for good in Friday night’s 80-62 win against pesky Southern Indiana.’Jeremy Roach added 18 points for the Blue Devils (5-1), who fell behind by 10 points six times before halftime and trailed 35-31 at the break against a team that that had yet to beat a Division I opponent this season. But Duke closed the first half with better energy and aggression at both ends, then rode that wave to build its own double-digit lead.The Blue Devils trailed 32-22 with 5:02 left before going on a 25-5 run through 9 1/2 minutes. That included the first 11 points out of the break, including two 3-pointers from freshman Jared McCain and back-to-back two-hand flushes from Filipowski at the 15:34 mark.That margin got no closer than nine again, with Duke shooting 60.7% after halftime.Jeremiah Hernandez scored 15 points for the Screaming Eagles (1-6), who spent the first ...

Ravens’ Zay Flowers ‘ready to go,’ Odell Beckham Jr. ‘game-time’ decision Sunday night vs. Chargers

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:02:04 GMT

Ravens’ Zay Flowers ‘ready to go,’ Odell Beckham Jr. ‘game-time’ decision Sunday night vs. Chargers The Ravens could have their full complement of wide receivers when they face the NFL’s worst pass defense Sunday night in Los Angeles.Rookie Zay Flowers missed Thursday’s practice with a hip injury but was back on the field Friday in Owings Mills. He said he’ll play against the Chargers despite being listed as questionable.“I feel good,” said Flowers, who leads Baltimore with 53 catches for 588 yards. “I’m ready to go.“That wasn’t even a question. I had to take a little break really quick. Now, I’m back.”He might not be the only one.Fellow receiver Odell Beckham Jr. injured his shoulder in the Ravens’ win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 16 and was limited in practice all week. The 31-year-old former All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl selection said he is a “game-time” decision but hopes to be on the field.“I’m trying my best each and every way,” said Beckham, who is coming off a 11...

5 things we learned at Halas Hall, including the thought process of Chicago Bears OC Luke Getsy during Sunday’s loss

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:02:04 GMT

5 things we learned at Halas Hall, including the thought process of Chicago Bears OC Luke Getsy during Sunday’s loss The Chicago Bears amended their schedule on Thanksgiving, holding a walk-through and a handful of meetings at Halas Hall as they work toward Monday night’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. The team returned to practice Friday, pushing to move past Sunday’s collapse in Detroit while still looking for its first NFC North victory since late in the 2021 season.Here are five things we learned Friday at Halas Hall.1. Luke Getsy defended the offensive philosophy and play calling from the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss.There was a lot to unpack after the Bears settled for two fourth-quarter field goals against the Lions and later were outscored 17-0 over the final 4:15 in a 31-26 loss. The Bears began the quarter with a failed quarterback sneak on third-and-1, then chose to kick a 40-yard field goal for a 23-14 lead rather than going for it on fourth-and-1.On their next possession, despite chewing up 8 minutes, 45 seconds of clock on a 14-play scoring drive, the Bears ...

Ex-officer Derek Chauvin, convicted in George Floyd's killing, stabbed in prison, AP source says

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:02:04 GMT

Ex-officer Derek Chauvin, convicted in George Floyd's killing, stabbed in prison, AP source says Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, was stabbed by another inmate and seriously injured Friday at a federal prison in Arizona, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.The attack happened at the Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson, a medium-security prison that has been plagued by security lapses and staffing shortages. The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the attack and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.The Bureau of Prisons confirmed that an incarcerated person was assaulted at FCI Tucson at around 12:30 p.m. local time Friday. In a statement, the agency said responding employees contained the incident and performed “life-saving measures” before the inmate, who it did not name, was taken to a hospital for further treatment and evaluation.No employees were injured and the FBI was notified, the Bureau of Prisons said. Visiting at the facility, which has about 380 inmates...

Ex-officer Derek Chauvin, convicted in George Floyd’s killing, stabbed in prison: AP source

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:02:04 GMT

Ex-officer Derek Chauvin, convicted in George Floyd’s killing, stabbed in prison: AP source Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, was stabbed by another inmate and seriously injured Friday at a federal prison in Arizona, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.The attack happened at the Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson, a medium-security prison that has been plagued by security lapses and staffing shortages. The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the attack and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.The Bureau of Prisons confirmed that an incarcerated person was assaulted at FCI Tucson at around 12:30 p.m. local time Friday. In a statement, the agency said responding employees contained the incident and performed “life-saving measures” before the inmate, who it did not name, was taken to a hospital for further treatment and evaluation.No employees were injured and the FBI was notified, the Bureau of Prisons said. Visiting at the facility, which has about 380 inmates...

Sexual harassment lawsuit filed against former governor Cuomo, NYS

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:02:04 GMT

Sexual harassment lawsuit filed against former governor Cuomo, NYS ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A lawsuit has been filed against former New York governor Andrew Cuomo by a former aide, who accused him of groping her.Brittany Commisso, a former executive assistant in the executive chamber when Cuomo was governor, filed the lawsuit under the Adult Survivors Act. The window to file a lawsuit closed at midnight on Thursday, and Commisso's attorney filed the suit on Wednesday. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The lawsuit accuses Cuomo of unwanted sexual advances and groping her on two occasions: one in 2019 and the other in 2020. The suit also claims that when she reported the alleged incidents, then-Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul demoted Commisso to a position of answering phones in the lieutenant governor's office. The lawsuit claims the demotion lead to ostracism, loss of overtime, and hurt her career. Cuomo's attorney Rita Glavin fired back at the accusation, telling NEWS10: "Ms. Commisso's claims are provab...