Category: Basketball

Follow all of Sunday's NCAA Tournament second round games with USA TODAY Sports' live updates.

No. 1 seed Arizona made it look easy against No. 16 Long Island in the first round, even if Wildcats players said it wasn't.

Arizona jumped out to a 27-point lead in the first half and got at least 14 points from three freshman starters and coasted to a 92-58 win over the Sharks.

March Madness conference records: Big Ten leads at 11-2; How are SEC, Big 12 doing?

No. 9 Utah State played in a much closer game, surviving No. 8 Villanova, 86-76, in one of the more entertaining first round games.

Mason Falslev had 22 points and MJ Collins Jr. had 20 points as Jerrod Calhoun's Aggies put on an offensive clinic that had broadcasters and studio analysts gushing afterward.

The winner of today's game advances to next week's Sweet 16 to play No. 4 Arkansas in San Jose.

Here's what you need to know about today's game.

HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATES.

Arizona vs Utah State live score

TEAMS	1H	2H	F
Utah State	—	—	—
Arizona	—	—	—

What time is Arizona vs Utah State?

• Time: 7:50 p.m. ET, Sunday.

What channel is Arizona vs Utah State? How to watch, streaming info

• The game is airing on truTV, streaming via Fubo.

Arizona vs Utah State prediction, odds

∎ Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: Arizona 83, Utah State 72

The Wildcats are seeking their first Final Four appearance since 2001. They will get one step closer with a win over Utah State, although it won't come quite as easily as the win over Long Island.

• John Leuzzi: Arizona
• Jordan Mendoza: Arizona
• Ehsan Kassim: Arizona
• Blake Schuster: Arizona
• Moneyline: Arizona (-800); Utah State (+550)
• Spread: Arizona (-11.5)
• Over/ under total: 153.5

Who is Jerrod Calhoun? What to know about Utah State coach and Aggies offense?

"This guy is an offensive genius," CBS commentator and former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy said of Calhoun during Utah State's first round win over Villanova.

CBS Sports analyst Jamal Mashburn, who played 11 NBA seasons, also had high praise for Calhoun and what he's done with the Aggies program.

"Just a masterful job of what he's been able to do," Mashburn said. "Teach these kids how to play that way, and also put them in a position to be aggressive and not be afraid to make mistakes."

Even TNT Sports host Adam Lefkoe had to admire Calhoun's coaching prowess.

"Many of you have not seen Utah State. But we sat here and went, 'Coaches around the country need to steal their plays.' Hopefully they don't steal their players," Lefkoe said. "Utah State's offense was phenomenal. ... Let's look at the highlights because almost every play you see is a masterclass from coach Calhoun."

Is Jerrod Calhoun a candidate for Cincinnati coach job?

Calhoun, who's in his second season as head coach at Utah State, is being linked with a number of power conference openings, including Cincinnati.

An Ohio native, Calhoun got his start in coaching as a student assistant on the Bearcats staff in 2003-04. He spent seven years as head coach at Ohio's Youngstown State before heading to USU.

"Calhoun is going to be great walking the sidelines at UC," former Bearcat great Nick Van Exel tweeted after Calhoun's Aggies defeated Villanova. "Offense is great. Lots of ball/body movement and paint touches. And he gets the history of the program and understands that the UC vs X is a rivalry and not just another game."

Koa Peat 2026 NBA Draft, mock draft prediction

No. 19 overall to Miami Heat

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

The Miami Heat have drafted several prospects known for their athleticism, which means a player like Arizona forward Koa Peat will probably have some appeal to their organization. Peat is an ideal match for this franchise given his versatility as a playmaking forward. The All-Big 12 forward just needs a jumper to carve out regular minutes as a high-impact pro. Arizona plays at a significantly faster pace (4.6 extra possessions) when Peat is on the floor relative to when he is not, per CBB Analytics, which would fit very well with Miamis fastest-paced offense in the NBA.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft here

Koa Peat stats

(all stats as of March 15)

• 13.6 points per game
• 5.3 rebounds per game
• 2.7 assists per game
• 53.7% field goal percentage
• 31.6% three-point field goal percentage

Brayden Burries 2026 NBA Draft, mock draft prediction

No. 10 overall to Milwaukee Bucks.

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

Arizona freshman Brayden Burries had two breakout games in January, which helped solidify his draft stock. But the All-Big 12 guard has continued to display his tantalizing talent, scoring 31 points with seven rebounds and five steals against Colorado on March 7 and 20 points with 12 rebounds and five assists during a victory against No. 14 Kansas on Feb. 28. Burries has proven productivity and that he is able to defend, relocate, move the ball and make 3-pointers off the dribble.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft here

Brayden Burries stats

(all stats as of March 15)

• 15.9 points per game
• 4.7 rebounds per game
• 2.6 assists per game
• 49.2% field goal percentage
• 36.7% three-point field goal percentage

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arizona vs Utah State live score updates, highlights from March Madness Round 2

BOSTON — Paul Pierce is no stranger to winning at TD Garden. So, when the 10-time NBA All-Star and Celtics champion took the parquet for a three-point competition on Sunday afternoon, it felt just like the good ol’ days.

Pierce competed in the Celtics’ first annual Causeway Classic three-point shooting competition, going up against former ‘08 teammates Brian Scalabrine and Leon Powe, as well as former Celtic Evan Turner. The event, presented by Ticketmaster and held in front of Season Ticket members at the Garden, began with a first round that included all four competitors, and a final round between Pierce and Scalabrine.

Despite a cold start in the finals, Pierce edged out Scalabrine to win the inaugural competition.

Then, in a postgame interview with 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell, Pierce jokingly shouted, “We did it!” and “Anything is possible!” an ode to the words he and Kevin Garnett yelled out as confetti fell, moments after the 2008 championship became officially theirs.

Paul Pierce after winning the first annual Causeway Classic, presented by Ticketmaster:

“Anything is possible!” pic.twitter.com/TE5lNtdbSU

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) March 22, 2026

The former Finals MVP then spent his post-competition press conference advocating for this current group of Celtics, who have exceeded expectations.

He began with Jaylen Brown, who is averaging 28.5 points, 7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game this season — all-career highs. Pierce has been very impressed with Brown’s 2025-2026, which included setting a new franchise record for most consecutive 30+ point games (9).

“Brown is having an MVP season,” Pierce said. “Not enough is being said on how he’s held down the fort pretty much all year. To still elevate your game in your 10th year is pretty amazing, because most of the time, guys are who they are by the time they are in their 4th or 5th year.”

Paul Pierce on Jaylen Brown:

“Brown is having an MVP season. Not enough is being said on how he's held down the fort pretty much all year.”

“To still elevate your game in your 10th year is pretty amazing, because most of the time guys are who they are about time in their 4th or… pic.twitter.com/yPiTPuIQjm

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) March 22, 2026

“It’s just unfortunate that he’s not in MVP talks like he should be,” Pierce said.

Pierce also showed love to Joe Mazzulla, who has led the Celtics to a 47-23 record this season despite critical offseason departures and Jayson Tatum’s Achilles rupture.

“This is just a testament of who Coach Mazzulla; he’s hands down the Coach of the Year,” Pierce said. “Coach Mazzulla hasn’t gotten enough credit for what he’s done to develop some of these young guys.“

Many former Celtics have maintained they’re not surprised at how much success the Celtics have had this season, but Pierce is not in the camp. He’s happy to admit he did not see this level of success coming so quickly.

“A lot of us was like, you know, not this year, maybe next year,” Pierce said. “Now, we’re weeks away from the playoffs, talking about we can actually win the East and be in the Finals.”

Pierce said he’ll be seeing Tatum for the first time since his return on Sunday evening, when the Celtics face the Minnesota Timberwolves. He briefly checked in with Tatum during his recovery, but said he wanted to give Tatum his space as he worked toward his recovery, recalling how Kevin Garnett went about his rehab in 2009 when the two were teammates.

Paul Pierce continues to embody Celtics culture

Nowadays, Pierce lives in Los Angeles, but said he always likes to see Tatum, Brown, and others on the road when they come through his city. Staying connected to the Celtics organization feels important, and it’s something that Mazzulla has always encouraged during his tenure as head coach.

That’s how it was when Pierce was a player, too.

“When I was coming up, there’d be times when I’d always look up, and I’d see Bob Cousy, I’d see John Havlicek, JoJo White — so it’s always been like that,” Pierce said. “And these guys will come to our practice also. And it was always open arms to the former players who helped build this place, who helped decorate this place. And that’s what Celtic culture is – it lives on through our history, through our culture. That’s something that’s always gonna be, no matter who’s here, as players or coaches or owners — the former players who helped build this arena, they always will be invited back, no matter who’s here.”

Pierce also explained why he uses his platform to shine light on the current Celtics’ success. He feels that in recent years, Celtics athletes have been snubbed, and pointed to the 2024 US Olympic basketball team as the latest example. Brown was left off that team just weeks after winning Finals MVP, and Tatum largely fell out of the rotation, just weeks after the two led the Celtics to the 2024 championship.

“I feel like Boston players don’t get their just due, for the most part,” Pierce said. “Obviously, Brown not being in the Olympics, Tatum not getting the minutes. I’m always advocating and pushing for them and fighting for them.”

Why does he think Boston athletes are often overlooked?

Pierce laughed when posed that question, pointing to what he perceives as envy from other parts of the country.

“I’d be jealous! We have everything,” Pierce said, with a grin. “We got the most championships — probably the best sports city in all of America.”

LeBron James has added another NBA record to his resume.

With his appearance in the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Orlando Magic March 21, the 22-time NBA All-Star broke Robert Parrish's all-time games played record. Now, LeBron stands alone with 1,612 games played in his career.

While James has numerous iconic moments under his belt, any NBA fan can probably pinpoint one or two moments where the four-time MVP went off against their favorite team. It may not be a fond memory for them, but it's just another example of the type of legacy James has left on the league.

But which team has James played the most games against? Has he won a game against every team in the league? Has he won a playoff game against every team in the league? Here's a full breakdown of James' 1,612 career games (and 292 playoff games).

LeBron James' games played, regular-season record vs. each team

*- record against each team is listed in parentheses following total games played

NOTE: Teams no longer in existence (e.g. Seattle Supersonics, New Jersey Nets, etc.) are not listed, but are counted as part of the franchise's current location (e.g. Supersonics are counted with Oklahoma City Thunder).

• Atlanta Hawks: 67 (48-19)
• Boston Celtics: 62 (34-28)
• Brooklyn Nets: 63 (40-23)
• Charlotte Hornets: 59 (50-9)
• Chicago Bulls: 68 (37-31)
• Cleveland Cavaliers: 25 (19-6)
• Dallas Mavericks: 49 (31-18)
• Denver Nuggets: 48 (23-25)
• Detroit Pistons: 66 (42-24)
• Golden State Warriors: 47 (27-20)
• Houston Rockets: 50 (27-23)
• Indiana Pacers: 67 (42-25)
• Los Angeles Clippers: 53 (31-22)
• Los Angeles Lakers: 30 (22-8)
• Memphis Grizzlies: 53 (36-17)
• Miami Heat: 48 (26-22)
• Milwaukee Bucks: 62 (43-19)
• Minnesota Timberwolves: 45 (33-12)
• New Orleans Pelicans: 55 (38-17)
• New York Knicks: 62 (44-18)
• Oklahoma City Thunder: 43 (28-15)
• Orlando Magic: 66 (42-24)
• Philadelphia 76ers: 60 (42-18)
• Phoenix Suns: 52 (31-21)
• Portland Trail Blazers: 45 (30-15)
• Sacramento Kings: 48 (30-18)
• San Antonio Spurs: 47 (25-22)
• Toronto Raptors: 64 (48-16)
• Utah Jazz: 47 (32-15)
• Washington Wizards: 61 (40-21)

LeBron James' games played, playoff record vs. each team

• Atlanta Hawks: 12 (12-0)
• Boston Celtics: 41 (25-16)
• Brooklyn Nets: 11 (8-3)
• Charlotte Hornets: 5 (4-1)
• Chicago Bulls: 21 (16-5)
• Cleveland Cavaliers: N/A
• Dallas Mavericks: 6 (2-4)
• Denver Nuggets: 14 (5-9)
• Detroit Pistons: 21 (15-6)
• Golden State Warriors: 18 (11-17) — James has an additional win against the Warriors in the NBA's play-in tournament.
• Houston Rockets: 5 (4-1)
• Indiana Pacers: 30 (20-10)
• Los Angeles Clippers: N/A
• Los Angeles Lakers: N/A
• Memphis Grizzlies: 6 (4-2)
• Miami Heat: 6 (4-2)
• Milwaukee Bucks: 5 (4-1)
• Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 (1-4)
• New Orleans Pelicans: N/A — James did beat them in a play-in tournament game in 2024, though.
• New York Knicks: 5 (4-1)
• Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 (4-1)
• Orlando Magic: 6 (2-4)
• Philadelphia 76ers: 5 (4-1)
• Phoenix Suns: 6 (2-4)
• Portland Trail Blazers: 5 (4-1)
• Sacramento Kings: N/A
• San Antonio Spurs: 16 (5-11)
• Toronto Raptors: 14 (12-2)
• Utah Jazz: N/A
• Washington Wizards: 16 (12-4)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James games played, record, playoff success vs every NBA Team

Tennessee's star freshman is playing in the NCAA Tournament banged up.

Forward Nate Ament is pushing through the Big Dance with an injury that has been bothering him for nearly a month, and kept him out of the last week of the regular season. While he did play in the first round game against Miami (Ohio), he clearly wasn't 100%. Ament didn't score in the 18 minutes of action.

March Madness live scores, highlights: An upset, near-misses alter Sweet 16 bracket

It was a concerning outing, and will be something to monitor as the Volunteers continue their March Madness run. So how will it affect Ament's status for the second round matchup against Virginia?

Will Nate Ament play today vs Virginia?

Yes, Ament will play. The All-SEC freshman is still dealing with soreness but expects to play against the Cavaliers and through the rest of the tournament.

"There's no chance I'd sit out a March Madness game," he said. "It's about what can we do to get back to 100%, or as close to it as we can."

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes called the injury a "problem," and Ament won't be fully healthy until he gets time off at the end of the season. While he will play, it's unknown if there will be a minutes restriction, as it will all depend on how he looks and feels

"We need Nate. He knows it, but he will give us everything that he can, and that's really all I can say about it. If it's up to him, he would play every minute if he could. We'll see game time," Barnes said.

What happened to Nate Ament?

Ament suffered a high ankle sprain against Missouri on Feb. 24, and then hurt his knee in the next game against Alabama on Feb. 28. He missed the final two regular season games as a result.

Ament averages 17 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nate Ament injury update: Will Vols star play vs. Virginia in March Madness?

NEW YORK (AP) — Lionel Messi scored the equalizer off a free kick in the second half before helping to set up Micael dos Santos' winner and Inter Miami came from behind to beat New York City FC 3-2 at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.

Inter Miami (3-1-1) pulls into a second-place tie in the Eastern Conference by handing NYCFC (3-1-1) its first loss.

Gonzalo Luján scored his first career goal — unassisted off a rebound in the 4th minute to give Inter Miami an early lead. The 21-year-old defender has started in 23 of his 30 career appearances.

Nicolás Fernández continued his red-hot start with his fifth goal, scoring off a free kick in the 17th minute to pull NYCFC even. Fernández has eight goals in 16 career appearances since last season.

Agustín Ojeda scored — with assists from Maxi Moralez and Kevin O'Toole — to give NYCFC a 2-1 lead in the 59th minute. It was Ojeda's second goal this season and his fifth in 61 career matches. Moralez already has four assists this season.

The advantage lasted for two minutes until Messi drilled a left-footed free kick that ricocheted its way past Matt Freese for his fourth goal this season. It was Messi's 54th goal in his 58th MLS appearance. The Argentine legend has scored 901 goals in his illustrious international and club career.

Messi's corner kick in the 74th minute helped set up a header by Micael and Inter Miami took a 3-2 lead. Noah Allen and David Ayala assisted on Micael's first goal with his new team.

Dayne St. Claire turned away three shots on goal for Inter Miami in his first season with the defending MLS Cup champions. He has surrendered eight goals in his four starts.

Matt Freese had five saves for NYCFC.

Messi had shots bounce off the post and crossbar in the first half.

NYCFC leads the series 7-4-4, but Miami has gone 3-0-4 in the last seven matchups.

Up next

Miami: Hosts Austin FC on April 4.

New York: Hosts St. Louis City on April 4.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

CINCINNATI (AP) — Tom Barlow scored short-handed for the equalizer in the 80th minute and Kévin Denkey followed with the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time, rallying FC Cincinnati to a 4-3 victory over CF Montreal on Sunday.

Barlow tied it 3-3 when he scored three minutes after subbing in to the match. It was his first MLS goal with his new team. Denkey scored for the second time this season — also unassisted — after notching 15 goals in 29 appearances last season — his first in the league.

Cincinnati (2-3-0) was forced to play a man down after Miles Robinson's red card in the 60th minute.

Newcomer Wiki Carmona used assists from Prince Owusu and Bode Hidalgo in the 6th minute to score for the third time in three matches and give Montreal a 1-0 lead.

Ender Echenique tied it in the 40th minute for Cincinnati with his first goal this season. The 21-year-old scored once in eight appearances last season. Defender Alvas Powell and Matt Miazga had assists. Powell picked up his first assist of the campaign and became the fifth player to make 150 appearances for the club.

Montreal took a 2-1 lead into halftime when Owusu scored in the 45th minute. Carmona and Iván Jaime had assists. It was the third goal this season for Owusu and his 25th in 79 career appearances.

Cincinnati knotted the score again in the 52nd minute on Ayoub Jabbari's first career goal in his 10th appearance. Echenique had his first assist and second overall, while Pavel Bucha notched his first — and 13th in 70 appearances.

Evan Louro totaled four saves in his first start this season for Cincinnati and his sixth career start since 2024.

Thomas Gillier, 21, finished with four saves for Montreal (1-4-0) in his 13th career start.

Cincinnati improves to 8-4-2 all-time versus Montreal and its eight victories in the series is its most against any club.

Up next

Montreal: Visits the New England Revolution on April 4.

Cincinnati: Visits the New York Red Bulls on April 4.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin scored his 1,000th career NHL goal combining the regular season and playoffs, but the league-leading Colorado Avalanche beat the Washington Capitals 3-2 in overtime on Sunday.

Ovechkin's goal, his 26th of the season, came from his traditional spot on the power play and tied the score with 5:43 left in regulation. He extended his career record to 923, nearly a year since passing Wayne Gretzky for the most in league history.

Gretzky has NHL 1,016 goals: 894 in the regular season and 122 in the playoffs, the latter being a record the “Great One” still holds.

U.S. Olympic gold medal winner Brock Nelson scored 82 seconds into 3-on-3 OT off a pass from Martin Necas, his 32nd goal of the season. Gabriel Landeskog and Nicolas Roy scored earlier for the Avalanche, who have won back-to-back games and on Friday became the first team this season to clinch a playoff spot.

Justin Sourdif also scored for the Capitals, whose two-game winning streak came to an end. It was Sourdif's 14th goal of his first season with Washington following a late-June trade from back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida.

Colorado's Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 20 of the 22 shots he faced to earn his 20th win of the season. Logan Thompson made 21 saves in the loss for Washington, which has three teams between it and the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Capitals forward Ethen Frank suffered a lower-body injury in the first period, crashing into the net following a shove from Devon Toews. Frank skated off under his own power, went directly to the locker room and did not return.

Up next

Avalanche: Continue their four-game road trip at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night.

Capitals: Kick off a three-game road swing at the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

GlobeTimberwolves at Celtics preview: Boston looks to extend winning streak

Jayson Tatum weathers the ups and downs of his return with help from his Celtics teammates, especially Jaylen Brown

CelticsBlogClutch Opportunities—The Week in Green

Seven Games In: A Jayson Tatum Progress Report

Celtics, Timberwolves match-up missing big-time star

Celtics Top-5 Highest IQ Plays of the Week

CLNS MediaIs There Concern Over Jayson Tatum’s Efficiency?

Celtics .com3/22 Game Preview: Timberwolves at Celtics

NESNBleacher Report Identifies One Question Celtics ‘Must Answer’ ASAP

Celtics Deemed Second-Biggest Threat To ‘Dethrone’ Thunder, Win NBA Finals

Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Has Taken A Sudden Leap As A Free Throw Shooter

Two Celtics Listed On Latest Injury Report For Sunday Battle Against Wolves

Jaylen Brown Is On A Scoring Tear Over Last Five Games For Celtics

Two Compelling Reasons Brad Stevens Should Depart Celtics If North Carolina Job Opens

Mass LiveWolves injury report: 2 rotation players listed for Sunday’s game vs. Celtics

Celtics WireWhat do the Celtics need to do before the 2026 NBA Playoffs?

The Celtics are terrifying to their opponents again

Boston Celtics vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: Stream, lineups, injury reports, broadcast (3/22)

Celtics history: Don Chaney, Ed Macauley, Brian Shaw born

Jaylen Brown on how Tracy McGrady told him not to ask for Celtics trade

Jordan Walsh is ready to be an impact player for the Celtics

Hardwood HoudiniFinally someone pushes back against moronic anti-Jaylen Brown narrative

Ex-Celtic’s breakout makes one wonder why only one team wanted him

Long time Celtics killer hopefully never their problem ever again

CLNS Media/YouTube Is There CONCERN Over Jayson Tatum’s Efficiency? | Garden Report SHORTS

Canis Hoopus Game Preview #72 – Timberwolves at Celtics

CBS SportsCeltics’ Luka Garza filling key role as unfocused Wolves visit

HeavyBoston Celtics Star Doesn’t Mince Words After Narrowly Escaping Undermanned Grizzlies

Fadeaway WorldCeltics vs. Timberwolves Prediction: Preview, Injury Report, Advantages, X-Factors

Barstool SportsPart Of Being A Championship Caliber Team Is Finding Ways To Win Despite Playing Like Absolute Dogsh**

Hoops Rumors Celtics Notes: Garza, Tiebreaker, Walsh, Pritchard, Tatum, Brown

Basketball Network “If you’re the greatest team of all time, you win more than one” – Cedric Maxwell on why the 1986 Celtics aren’t the best team ever

Timberwolves RoundtableWill Naz Reid Return Against Boston Celtics?

The Sixer Sense Former 76ers big man is nearing the end of the road in the ugliest way

A familiar face is heading back to Syracuse, as former assistant coach and player Gerry McNamara is finalizing a deal to become the Orange's next coach, USA TODAY Sports has confirmed.

McNamara, whose No. 3 jersey is retired at Syracuse, led No. 16 seed Siena to the Men's NCAA Tournament in his second season at the helm after leaving his post as an assistant under former Syracuse coach Adrian Autry, who was fired after the ACC tournament. The Saints led No. 1 overall seed Duke by 11 points at halftime before eventually falling 71-65 in the first round.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness live scores, Round 2 highlights: An upset, near-misses alter Sweet 16 bracket

McNamara was an assistant at Syracuse for 15 seasons under legendary coach Jim Boeheim, whom he played for, and Autry.

McNamara made 135 career starts at Syracuse and averaged 13.3 points as a true freshman on the school's most recent national championship team in 2003. He's the school's all-time leader in 3-pointers and minutes played.

New Syracuse athletic director Bryan Blair, who was introduced March 19, is taking a swing with a fan-favorite — albeit inexperienced — coach. McNamara only has two seasons of head coaching experience, and has a 37-30 record across two seasons at Siena.

Syracuse finished with losing seasons for the first time since 1968-69 after going 14-19 in 2024-25 and 15-17 in 2025-26. Autry failed to reach the NCAA Tournament in his three seasons at the helm. Syracuse last made the big dance in 2020-21.

Just a few weeks ago, Siena was the No. 2 seed in the MAAC tournament, taking down No. 1 seed Merrimack in the conference championship game. After the Saints' strong end to the season, including scaring Duke in the NCAA Tournament, McNamara has landed the job at Syracuse with the purpose of building back his alma mater.

John Brice contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Syracuse great Gerry McNamara returning to coach Orange after 2 seasons at Siena

LONDON (AP) — Manchester City wins English League Cup by beating Arsenal 2-0.

Follow all of Sunday's NCAA Tournament second round games with USA TODAY Sports' live updates.

The defending national champions didn't need a warm-up to get going in their title defense.

Florida scored an NCAA Tournament program record 114 points in its first round demolition of 16-seed Prairie View A&M. The Gators also set team NCAA Tournament marks in assists (29), field goals made (45) and field goals percentage (.643). UF's 59-point margin was also the second-largest in NCAA Tournament history.

March Madness conference records: Big Ten leads at 11-2; How are SEC, Big 12 doing?

Iowa is coming off a 67-61 win over No. 8 Clemson in Friday's first round. The Hawkeyes' All-Big Ten guard Bennett Stirtz struggled from the field (4 of 17) but still led with 16 points as Iowa won Ben McCollom's first March Madness game in black and yellow.

The winner of today's game will advance to next week's Sweet 16 to face No. 4 Nebraska in Houston.

Here's what you need to know for today's game:

HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATES.

Florida vs Iowa live score

TEAMS	1H	2H	F
Iowa	—	—	—
Florida	—	—	—

What time is Florida vs Iowa?

• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET, Sunday.

What channel is Iowa vs Florida? How to watch, streaming info

• The game is airing on TBS, streaming via Fubo.

Florida vs Iowa prediction, odds

Odds provided by BetMGM, as of 1 p.m., Sunday.

∎ Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun: Florida 84, Iowa 73

The storyline of this matchup will be the two contrasting tempos between Iowa and Florida. The Gators play a much faster pace compared to the Hawkeyes. Look for Xaivian Lee and Boogie Fland to have big games as this matchup will be a test for the duo. Even with Iowa playing at a slower tempo, Florida's front court has a clear advantage.

∎ Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register: Florida 86, Iowa 70

While Iowa has had a solid first season under Ben McCollum, the dream of a deep March run ends here. The Gators are simply too deep and too consistent. The loss to Vandy in the SEC Tournament was a bit of a wake-up call, plus this is essentially a home game for the Gators, since it's being played in Tampa. Expect the reigning champs to come out determined to repeat and send the Hawkeyes home.

• John Leuzzi: Florida
• Jordan Mendoza: Florida
• Ehsan Kassim: Florida
• Blake Schuster: Florida
• Moneyline: Florida (-550); Iowa (+400)
• Spread: Florida (-9.5)
• Over/under total: 145.5

Olivier Rioux height: How tall is Number 32 on Florida?

Earlier this season, Florida 7-9 center Olivier Rioux became the tallest player to play in an NCAA basketball game.

He broke the mark of Manut Bol, who was 7-7 and played at Division II Bridgeport.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida vs Iowa live score updates, highlights from March Madness Round 2

Coming off a nail-biting win against the Phoenix Suns, the Spurs wrapped up their mini homestand against the Indiana Pacers. The Spurs would be without Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell due to their respective injuries. As a result, Dylan Harper made his first career start. The Spurs started with their foot on the gas pedal, outscoring the Pacers 42-29 in the first quarter. After taking a 13-point lead into halftime, the Spurs led by 15 after the third. The Pacers, ironically enough, were able to keep pace with the Spurs’ scoring, but could not get a stop on defense. The Spurs ultimately won 134-119.

Dylan Harper made his first career start and dropped 24 points (9-13 FG, 5-5 FT), four rebounds, and three assists. Dyl stepped up in Castle’s place in the starting lineup and played like a starting veteran guard. He looks unguardable in transition, and always seems to make the right dribble and slasher moves. He also got to the free-throw line and made all of his free throws. Shooting 69% from the field is more than an encouraging sign for this team. The 20-year-old continues to show that he has the talent to interchange with De’Aaron Fox or Castle to command the floor.

EUROSTEP AND-ONE! Dyl pulls out the crossover dribble in transition, creates space, and then eurosteps into an and-one finish over Aaron Nesmith!

DYLAN. HARPER. 💨

📺 @FanDuelSN_SWpic.twitter.com/P3tNCSPS8p

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 22, 2026

STAR TYPE OF PLAY! This time in transition, Dyl crosses over Quenton Jackson and rises up for a one-handed slam!

ROOK GOING OFF 🔥

📺 @FanDuelSN_SWpic.twitter.com/hIQGShGtEy

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 22, 2026

24 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST in @dy1anharper's first start tonight 🔥 pic.twitter.com/m8vAaULBzv

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 22, 2026

Keldon Johnson dropped 24 points (10-12 FG), four rebounds, and four assists. Like Harper, KJ led the team in scoring. In just 25 minutes, KJ shot 83% from the field, including 67% from three-point land. No matter what the Pacers’ defense threw at him, KJ was simply on fire. 16 of his 24 came in the first half off of bully ball and three-point splashes. Sixth Man of the Year? Spurs fans seem to think so.

16 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST for KJ at the half 👏 pic.twitter.com/W4acm615OZ

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 22, 2026

Victor Wembanyama dropped 20 points, eight rebounds, six assists, five blocks, and a steal. Wemby shot 44% from the field, grabbed both offensive and defensive boards, dished out lob dimes, and shut down the Pacers in the paint. Wemby is such an anomaly that even when he misses a shot, he easily grabs his own miss and puts it back in, sometimes in one motion. With 11 games remaining, Wemby’s case for MVP and DPOY continues to heat up as the highlights keep adding up.

Smooth ball movement! Wemby cuts to the paint and receives a pinpoint dime from Harrison Barnes for the easy slam! HB finished with 12 points, four rebounds, and a dime.

Quick find, quick move 💥

📺 @FanDuelSN_SWpic.twitter.com/Z34HSgKIJZ

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 22, 2026

Lobbed it up from Helotes! Fox lobs it up from the logo with one hand to a cutting Wemby who elevates for a monster jam!

OOOOOOP 🤭

📺 @FanDuelSN_SWpic.twitter.com/AGaI380fs7

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 22, 2026

Lob City Dimer! Wemby and Carter Bryant run the P&R, resulting in an alley-oop connection with CB as the finisher!

😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

📺 @FanDuelSN_SWpic.twitter.com/qxs1iBoUqi

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 22, 2026

FRENCH VANILLA IS SERVED! Wemby dominates this sequence by stuffing Jay Huff’s shot attempt and then lobbing it up for Luke Kornet in transition for the alley-oop connection! Kornet finished with nine points, eight rebounds, four assists, and a block.

PUT IT ON AN ICE CREAM CONE 🍦

📺 @FanDuelSN_SWpic.twitter.com/dcmw3Yhggz

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 22, 2026

POP THE CHAMPAGNIE! Wemby finds Julian Champagnie in the corner, who then drives in and finishes past Nesmith for a poster slam!

OKAY JU 😤💪

📺 @FanDuelSN_SWpic.twitter.com/8WlPuEY9Bn

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 22, 2026

UNSTOPPABLE. Wemby misses the floater, corrals his own miss, spins off of Pascal Siakam, and puts it back in with a slam!

Got his own 👽

📺 @FanDuelSN_SWpic.twitter.com/A6Y7wtA0jK

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 22, 2026

UNSTOPPABLE AGAIN! Wemby posts up Nesmith and steps into the paint through contact, slamming it home for the and-one! Too big and too strong!

COUNT IT TOO 😤

📺 @FanDuelSN_SWpic.twitter.com/7a3JWXBhnr

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) March 22, 2026

All in all, this was another take-care-of-business game for the silver and black. Even when they started slacking with a lead, the Spurs were able to keep a sizeable lead for the entire game. Even when several starters are out, this team is still dangerous and tough to guard. With only 11 games remaining, the Spurs will look to lock up the second seed, or barring an OKC Thunder collapse, possibly take over the first seed. This young, contending team has already made lifelong memories for Spurs fans everywhere, and the playoffs will add even more.

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

The Spurs travel to Miami to take on the Heat this Monday at 6:00 P.M. (CST) on Peacock/NBCSN/FDSN-SW.

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Connecticut basketball looks to advance to the Sweet 16 for the third time in the last four years under Dan Hurley on Sunday with a win over UCLA.

But the 2-seed Huskies may have to do it without point guard Silas Demary Jr., who was listed as "questionable" for the March 22 second-round game against the 10-seed Bruins in the NCAA's initial player availability report.

The 6-foot-4 guard was held out of UConn's first-round win over 15-seed Furman at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday, March 20 as he continues to rehab from an ankle injury he sustained in the Big East Tournament.

REQUIRED READING: Dan Hurley, Mick Cronin to meet in March Madness: 'We're not coaching Little League'

Demary has had a major impact for the Huskies after transferring from Georgia, and is a big reason UConn's defense has bounced back to a top-15 defensive unit.

The loss of Demary — and his backup, Jaylin Stewart — was notable in UConn's offensive flow against Furman, as the Huskies weren't able to pull away against the Paladins. UConn finished with 22 assists on 32 made shots from the field, shooting 49% from the field.

The Huskies and the Bruins are set for an 8:45 p.m. ET tipoff from Philadelphia. Demary's official status for the game will be known at 6:45 p.m. ET when the next player availability report is released.

Here's the latest on Demary's status:

Will Silas Demary Jr. play tonight in NCAA Tournament? Status vs UCLA

Demary was once again listed as questionable by UConn in its NCAA player availability report on Saturday. The next availability report will come out at 6:45 p.m. ET on Sunday, two hours before tip-off.

If he is unable to go against UCLA on Sunday, it would be the second straight game he misses with that ankle injury. Stewart, who is also dealing with a lingering injury that precedes Demary's, was also listed as questionable on the Huskies' injury report.

Silas Demary Jr. injury update

The Huskies point guard sustained an ankle injury in the second half of UConn's Big East Tournament championship game loss to St. John's on Saturday, March 14. The injury came when St. John's forward Zuby Ejiofor blocked Demary's transition layup and then was stepped on by the Big East Player of the Year.

Demary told assembled media on Thursday, March 19, that he was continuing to rehab his ankle as much as he could and that he was good to go to play in the Huskies' opening round game vs. Furman.

"I'll be able to play tomorrow," Demary said.

REQUIRED READING: How UConn's Tarris Reed Jr. terrorized Furman to avoid March Madness upset

Instead, he was listed "questionable" on the Huskies' injury report for the game before being downgraded to "out." Following the Huskies' 82-71 win vs. the Paladins, Hurley said Demary was "close" to playing against the Paladins.

"I don't want to make any more predictions. The information that I shared in New York (at the Big East Tournament) was the information that I was provided with," Hurley said. "It was close. He tried. He couldn't get himself to the point where he felt like he could go. He's got two more days. ... We'll see where that goes." 

What is Silas Demary Jr.'s injury?

Demary is dealing with an ankle injury.

Silas Demary Jr. stats

Here's a look at Demary's season stats:

• Points: 10.9
• Rebounds: 4.5
• Assists: 6.2
• Blocks: 0.2
• Steals: 1.6
• Shooting: 46.1%
• 3-point shooting: 41.6%

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Silas Demary Jr. injury update: Will UConn guard play vs UCLA today?

NEW YORK (AP) — Washington forward Justin Champagnie and Oklahoma City guard Ajay Mitchell each received a one-game suspension for fighting and escalating an on-court altercation that spilled into the seating area during a game, the league announced Sunday.

Both were suspended without pay. Thunder forward Jaylin Williams was fined $50,000, while Oklahoma City guard Cason Wallace and Wizards forward Anthony Gill each received $35,000 fines for their roles in the altercation that took place late in the first half of the Thunder’s 132-111 victory on Saturday night.

Following a basket by Gill, Williams and Champagnie began shoving each other under the basket. Gill and Mitchell became involved and the quarrel quickly escalated. After a lengthy review by the officials, Champagnie, Williams, Mitchell and Wallace were all ejected.

Champagnie will sit out Sunday as the Wizards face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mitchell's suspension takes place Monday when Oklahoma City plays at Philadelphia.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba