National Sports

Injuries, opt-outs and underdogs: UCLA’s ride to Final Four

By DAVE SKRETTA - AP Basketball Writer

UCLA coach Mick Cronin was asked whether he thought the Bruins had the team to make a Final Four run. He said no after a series of challenges this season. Yet the fifth No. 11 seed ever to make the Final Four is ready for more. Up next for UCLA is overall No. 1 seed Gonzaga on Saturday night in the national semifinals. The winner goes to the national championship game.

Final Four Set with Gonzaga Still Hoping for a Perfect Season

Gonzaga’s bid for a perfect season will continue into the Final Four of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Meanwhile, UCLA’s unexpected run through the tournament continues. Drew Timme provided 15 of his 23 points while the Bulldogs outscored Southern Cal, 49-30 in the first half of an 85-66 win over the Trojans. Jalen Suggs just missed a triple-double for the…

Update on the latest sports

AP

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT Gonzaga, UCLA reach Final Four INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Gonzaga’s countdown to perfection has ticked down to two. The top-seeded Bulldogs are back in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, two wins from becoming the first undefeated team since the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers. Gonzaga got on a roll Tuesday and put on a show, moving to…

Update on the latest sports

AP

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT Unbeaten Zags reach Final Four INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Gonzaga’s bid for a perfect season will continue into the Final Four of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Meanwhile, UCLA’s unexpected run through the tournament continues. Drew Timme (TIH’-mee) provided 15 of his 23 points while the Bulldogs outscored Southern Cal, 49-30 in the first half of an…

Update on the latest sports

AP

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT Unbeaten Zags reach Final Four INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Gonzaga’s bid for a perfect season will continue into the Final Four of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Meanwhile, UCLA’s unexpected run through the tournament continues. Drew Timme (TIH’-mee) provided 15 of his 23 points while the Bulldogs outscored Southern Cal, 49-30 in the first half of an…

Update on the latest sports

AP

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT Unbeaten Zags reach Final Four INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Gonzaga’s bid for a perfect season will continue into the Final Four of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Meanwhile, UCLA’s unexpected run through the tournament continues. Drew Timme (TIH’-mee) provided 15 of his 23 points while the Bulldogs outscored Southern Cal, 49-30 in the first half of an…

Juzang sends No. 11 seed UCLA past Michigan to Final Four

By DAVE SKRETTA - AP Basketball Writer

Johnny Juzang poured in 28 points while playing most of the second half on an injured ankle, and UCLA survived a series of misses by top-seeded Michigan in the closing seconds to hold on for a 51-49 victory that made the Bruins the fifth No. 11 seed ever to reach the Final Four. The game ended when Michigan forward Franz Wagner missed an open look from the 3-point line at the buzzer, the last in a series of misses that would have allowed the Wolverines to escape. 

Update on the latest sports

AP

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT Unbeaten Zags reach Final Four INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Gonzaga’s bid for a perfect season will continue into the Final Four of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Meanwhile, UCLA’s unexpected run through the tournament continues. Drew Timme (TIH’-mee) provided 15 of his 23 points while the Bulldogs outscored Southern Cal, 49-30 in the first half of an…

Murray, Porter lead Nuggets past slow-starting 76ers 104-95

By ARNIE STAPLETON - AP Sports Writer

Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. started out hot and helped the Denver Nuggets build a big early lead on their way to a 104-95 win over the East-leading Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night. The 76ers fell behind by 25 points in the first half and didn’t get the deficit below double digits until the final minute. Murray finished with 30 and Porter added 27. Nikola Jokic finished with 21 points for the Nuggets. Tyrese Maxey came off the bench to lead the Sixers with 13 points. 

Strome, DeBrincat score, Blackhawks cool off Canes 2-1

By MATT CARLSON - Associated Press

Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat scored in a 3:33 span early in the second period, Kevin Lankinen made 31 saves and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1. Chicago ended Carolina’s three-game winning streak and handed the Hurricanes their second regulation loss in 15 games (11-2-2) despite being outshot 32-16.  Andrei Svechnikov scored for Carolina, which missed a chance to leapfrog both Tampa Bay and Florida into first place in the Central Division. The Blackhawks snapped a two-game slide and won for just the third time in nine games (3-6-0).