Kévin Denkey and Nick Hagglund scored late goals to lead FC Cincinnati to a 2-0 win over Atlanta United FC in an MLS regular season opener for both teams on Saturday.
In the 80th minute, Denkey received an assist from Ender Echenique, faking out goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos before finishing with his left foot between a pair of defenders.
Hagglund doubled their tally with a header from a Bryan Ramírez corner in the 90th minute. Hagglund suffered two broken ribs and a collapsed lung against Atlanta in on May 25 last year, missing more than two months.
Cincinnati lost 2025 MVP finalist Evander due to a hamstring injury 13 minutes into the game. He was replaced by Gerardo Valenzuela.
Denkey missed a golden chance in the 56th minute. After a turnover from center back Juan Berrocal fell to Denkey, he had a one-on-one chance with Hoyos, but hit the outside of the right post.
It was the first game for Atlanta United manager Gerardo “Tato” Martino, the former Argentina and Barcelona manager who most recently managed Inter Miami from 2023-24 and coached Lionel Messi at all three stops.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kwame Evans Jr. scored 21 points and Oregon's 7-0 run in the last 59 seconds helped the Ducks steal a 71-70 win over USC on Saturday.
Nate Bittle scored 14 points to go with 11 rebounds and four steals. His two foul shots with 10 seconds left were Oregon's go-ahead points. Takai Simpkins scored 12 and Drew Carter 11 for the Ducks (10-17, 3-13 Big Ten).
Chad Baker-Mazara scored 21 points before fouling out, Ezra Ausar scored 15 points to go with 11 rebounds before fouling out, and Alijah Arenas had 13 for the Trojans (18-9, 7-9 Big Ten).
With Baker-Mazara and Ausar on the bench, Arenas attempted to split defenders before Oregon's Dezdrick Lindsay swiped the ball and threw it into the front court as time expired.
Jacob Cofie made 1 of 2 foul shots to give USC a 70-64 lead with 1:10 left. Evans responded with a layup and drew Ausar's fifth foul to reduce Oregon's deficit to four.
Evans missed the foul shot, and in a scramble for the ball, Oregon's Carter threw it out to Evans who buried a 3 to make it 70-69. Arenas missed his shot attempt and Kam Woods missed the follow-up tip-in before Bittle collected the rebound.
Out of a timeout, Bittle caught a lob pass in the lane before getting fouled by Baker-Mazara — his fifth — and made the game's final points.
Oregon has won its last four road games at USC.
Up Next
Oregon: Hosts 24th-ranked Wisconsin on Wednesday.
USC: Will make the 30-minute cross-town jaunt to Westwood to face UCLA on Tuesday.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 24: Alex Sarr #20 of the Washington Wizards shoots the ball while guarded by Moussa Diabate #14 of the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on January 24, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards host the Charlotte Hornets tomorrow night. Let’s get to the preview
Game info
When: Sunday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Injuries: For the Wizards, Trae Young (knee, quad), Anthony Davis (hand, groin), Cam Whitmore (shoulder), Alex Sarr (hamstring), and D’Angelo Russell (not with team) are out.
For the Hornets, Liam McNeely and Coby White are out. Grant Williams is day-to-day.
What to watch for
The Wizards are looking to win their third straight game, this time against their Southeast Division foes in Charlotte. The Hornets have lose three of their last four games but had a recent nine game winning streak and are 26-31 heading into tomorrow’s game.
With the immediate Washington area under a winter weather advisory and a winter storm warning in some of the surrounding suburbs, do not expect this game to be postponed tomorrow. It is rare for NBA games to be postponed due to snow unless there are blizzard or near such conditions. The Washington area is not expected to get the worst effects. The northeast United States is expected to get such conditions, but all the northeast USA teams (Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics) and the Toronto Raptors are on the road in cities not affected by the storm.
WACO, Texas (AP) — Obi Agbim and Tounde Yessoufou scored 16 points apiece to propel Baylor to a 73-68 victory over Arizona State on Saturday, ending the Bears' four-game skid.
Agbim made 6 of 8 shots and hit three of his four 3-pointers in the final five minutes to help the Bears (14-13, 4-10 Big 12 Conference) prevail. Yessoufou hit 6 of 14 shots with two 3-pointers. Isaac Williams totaled 14 points and five assists, while Cameron Carr scored 13 with four assists.
Anthony “Pig” Johnson had 20 points to pace the Sun Devils (14-13, 5-9). He made 6 of 11 shots and 8 of 10 free throws off the bench. Maurice Odum added 13 points, and Massamba Diop and reserve Allen Mukeba each scored 10.
Odum hit a 3-pointer and Johnson made four free throws in a span of 27 seconds to put the Sun Devils up 35-27 with three minutes left in the first half and the eight-point advantage held at halftime, 40-32.
Michael Rataj buried a 3-pointer and Williams hit a jumper to cap a 14-4 run to begin the second half as Baylor took a 46-44 lead. It was a one-possession game until Odum hit from distance to put the Sun Devils up 57-53 with 7:50 remaining.
Agbim's 3-pointer gave Baylor a 60-59 lead with five minutes left. Carr hit a jumper and Agbim added another 3 to push the lead to five with 2:31 to go. Johnson made four free throws and Odum scored off a Johnson steal to cut it to 68-67, but Agbim answered with another 3 and Baylor held on.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 19: Tari Eason #17 and Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets celebrate after a play during the second half of a basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on February 19, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Houston Rockets vs New York Knicks
February 21, 2026
Location: Madison Square Garden — New York, NY
TV: ABC
Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790
Online: Rockets App, SCHN+
Time: 7:30pm pm CST
Probable Starting Lineups
Rockets: Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun
DALLAS (AP) — Jermaine O'Neal Jr. scored 16 points, Samet Yigitoglu and BJ Edwards both added 15 in SMU's 94-70 win over Boston College on Saturday.
Jaden Toombs and Jaron Pierre Jr. put up 13 points each for the Mustangs (19-8, 8-6 Atlantic Coast Conference). Boopie Miller finished with 11 points and a team-leading seven assists.
SMU finished the first half on an 11-0 run, capped by a buzzer-beater 3-pointer by Pierre Jr. to go up 40-36 headed into the break. The Mustangs pulled away with a 14-0 run in the second half, finishing the final frame outscoring Boston College by 20.
Fred Payne led the Eagles (9-18, 2-12) with 20 points. Jason Asemota and Boden Kapke both added 10 in Boston College's eighth-straight loss.
The Mustangs shot 56% from the field compared to the Eagles' 33%.
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Bangot Dak scored 17 points, Barrington Hargress added 16, and Colorado defeated Oklahoma State 83-69 on Saturday, giving the Buffaloes their third straight home win.
Colorado didn't allow a field goal in a 5 1/2-minute stretch early in the first half and the Buffaloes led 25-8 eight minutes into the game. Colorado made five 3-pointers in that opening stretch.
Scoring runs of 9-0 and 6-0 helped Oklahoma State get within 42-34 at halftime.
Christian Coleman and Isaiah Coleman combined for an 8-0 run that drew the Cowboys within 45-44 early in the second half and they went ahead 48-47 four minutes into the period. But Oklahoma State never went ahead by more than a point and Colorado used a 15-4 run to rebuild a double-digit lead, 68-57.
The lead reached 15 points on a 3-pointer by Alon Michaeli with 3 1/2 minutes remaining and 16 points when Isaiah Johnson converted a layup with 1:50 to go.
The Cowboys missed their last 10 shots.
Parsa Fallah scored 14 points and Christian Coleman and Vyctorius Miller added 11 points each for Oklahoma State, which has lost five straight.
Michaeli had 12 points off the bench for Colorado (15-12, 5-9 Big 12). Sebastian Rancik grabbed 10 rebounds and Hargress had eight assists.
The Cowboys (16-11, 4-10) fell to 0-10 when scoring less than 81 points. They are 16-1 when scoring at least 81.
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Jeremiah Wilkinson scored 19 points off the bench, and Georgia used a late run to defeat Texas 91-80 on Saturday, ending a three-game home losing streak
The Bulldogs (19-8, 7-7 SEC) shot 60% overall, 11 of 20 from 3-point range, and led 45-35 at halftime. Marcus Millender added 15 points and five assists, Somtochukwu Cyril and Kanon Catchings each scored 13 and Blue Cain finished with 12 points and five assists.
Texas (17-10, 8-6) rallied in the second half behind Matas Vokietaitis, who finished with 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting, and Dailyn Swain, who added 21 points. Jordan Pope scored 17 for the Longhorns, who shot 57% overall and 6 of 12 from 3-point range.
Texas tied the game at 67-all on a step-back 3-pointer by Pope with 7:37 remaining.
Justin Abson started a Georgia run with a dunk, and a three-point play by Cain capped a 10-2 surge that pushed the lead to 77-69 with 5:26 left. The Bulldogs later extended the margin to 87-75 on a Catchings 3-pointer with 2:04 remaining and never let Texas get closer than eight the rest of the way.
The Bulldogs and Longhorns split their season series after Texas beat Georgia 87-67 on Jan. 24.
The standings may not show it, but the Houston Rockets are stumbling these days.
Although the New York Knicks may look like peers, they are actually far more trustworthy.
These Rockets vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks trust the home team on Saturday, February 21.
Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden, with the game airing on ABC.
Rockets vs Knicks prediction
Rockets vs Knicks best bet: Knicks -3.5 (-105)
It is not just that the Houston Rockets have gone 3-10 against the spread in the last month. It is also that they have fallen short of bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 9.1 points in those 10 ATS losses.
That is not terribly surprising once realizing Houston’s offensive rating in the last month has been No. 22 in the NBA, down from No. 4 before Jan. 21. When your offense slips by 8.3 points per 100 possessions, woes are going to follow.
Rockets vs Knicks same-game parlay
Kevin Durant may have poured in 35 points in his first game following the All-Star Break, but he fell short of this points prop in five of eight before the break, part of why the Rockets have cashed 10 Unders in 13 games in the last month.
Rockets vs Knicks SGP
Knicks -3.5
Kevin Durant Under 24.5 points
Under 219
Our "from downtown" SGP: KAT Boards
While New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns has struggled to shoot lately, he has continued to pile up rebounds, grabbing double-digit boards in 10 straight games and hitting this prop in nine of them.
Rockets vs Knicks SGP
Knicks -3.5
Knicks 1H -1.5
Kevin Durant Under 24.5 points
Under 219
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 10.5 rebounds
Rockets vs Knicks odds
Spread: Rockets +3.5 (-110) | Knicks -3.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Rockets +135 | Knicks -160
Over/Under: Over 219 (-110) | Under 219 (-110)
Rockets vs Knicks betting trend to know
Houston is 1-7 ATS in its last eight games. Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Knicks.
How to watch Rockets vs Knicks
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Rockets vs Knicks latest injuries
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DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 20: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers controls the ball as Peyton Watson #8 of the Denver Nuggets defends during the fourth quarter at Ball Arena on January 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tanner Pearson/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On paper, the Lakers are poised for a huge summer of spending. Through multiple transaction windows, the Lakers have planned for the summer of 2027 as the time when they strike big.
The problem with their plan, and one they currently have entirely predicted, is that the unrestricted free agency class is rather underwhelming. It doesn’t mean the Lakers can’t still build a contender, but it does mean the simplest path to do so won’t likely be one they can take.
What, then, will free agency look like for the Lakers this summer? Let’s dive into that and more with our mailbag this week.
OldSchoolBaller
Who are the best and most likely free agents this coming offseason?
Technically, the two biggest likely unrestricted free agents will be two Lakers in LeBron James and Austin Reaves. After that, the free agency class pretty quickly takes a nose dive.
First, let’s look at the most notable potential unrestricted free agents:
Isaiah Hartenstein — Team option
Andrew Wiggins — Player option
John Collins — Unrestricted
Norman Powell — Unrestricted
Lu Dort — Team option
Quentin Grimes — Unrestricted
Ayo Dosunmu — Unrestricted
This isn’t even a particularly exhaustive list or one with much thought on the Lakers’ needs, but more of an example of how few real game-changing free agents there will be.
Excluded from this were Trae Young (player option), James Harden (player option) and Kristaps Porzingis (unrestricted), but for various fairly obvious reasons, I don’t think the Lakers are going to be an option there.
The far more intriguing crop of players are the restricted free agents:
Restricted free agency has taken on an odd form under the new CBA. Last summer, we saw how little interest teams had in signing them, leading to long standoffs between the incumbent team and the player.
The Lakers’ unique position, though, could allow them to sign at least one of these players and still be spenders in free agency elsewhere. It won’t tie up their cap space entirely to send out an offer sheet. And with so much cap room, they could put together some really big offer sheets that will make it tough for teams to match.
It wouldn’t be a surprise, then, to see the Lakers moving aggressively from the start of free agency to sign one of these players and start the clock on the incumbent teams to match the offer once the moratorium ends.
Kilgary
It’s crazy we don’t have a definitive answer for this yet. With just 28 games left in the season: Who should be in our starting lineup? We saw zero success with AR+Luka+LeBron+Rui all starting (no one quick enough to defend the POA) BUT that was with JJ’s “switch everything” defense. What if they started out in zone? JJ has been experimenting with a lot of different zone looks to wallpaper over our slow footed stars. Would we be better off with our best offensive players in the starting lineup and starting out in zone or with some defenders and starting out in our “switch everything” defense?
While I understand the sentiment, I think there are a couple of reasons to push back.
For one, you’re telegraphing what type of defense you’re going to play based on your starting lineup and if there’s anything coaches hate to do, it’s telegraph things based on starting lineups.
There is also a bit of a misconception about the zone defense the Lakers are using. It’s not something they go to for a long string of possessions in a row because NBA offenses and players are too sophisticated and smart for that to work.
The Lakers will employ their zone defense for a couple of possessions and then go back to the man-to-man. Think of it in baseball as a pitcher having different pitches. If they keep throwing a changeup (zone defense), then eventually the batter is going to see it coming and bad things will happen.
But if he can mix in that changeup with a fastball (man-to-man) and maybe even some other stuff like a curve (blitzing the ballhandler, as they did against the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard), then they may have enough. The zone defense is part of a greater scheme defensively and one they’re going to use with about every lineup they have because they aren’t good enough defensively to just have one look.
Kilgary
Second question: is there anyone left in the buyout market who would be worth waiving Kleber for? I’ll fully acknowledge that Maxi has contributed to winning 4 games this season. But that means he didn’t really contribute (or actively hurt our chances) in his 25 other games. I personally believe the bad outweighs the good and would rather have someone else hold the 15th roster spot. We can afford another vet minimum contract starting on February 26th. I was hoping we’d have a shot at Highsmith, but he’s off the board. Is there anyone else like Matisse Thybulle or even one of our 2-way guys like Timme who is worth taking a chance on over keeping Maxi on the roster as an emergency big?
I think there’s very, very little chance they move on from Maxi Kleber before the end of the season. Barring something drastic, this is the roster for the rest of the season.
Considering the recent games Deandre Ayton has missed with a knee injury lately and Jaxson Hayes’ potential to tackle a mascot at a moment’s notice, I don’t think the Lakers are in a position to cut bait on their third-string center.
I also think there’s value in being a respected veteran teammate on the bench. The team loves Kleber and he’s answered the bell when he’s asked in some big moments. I’m not sure there’d be a great reaction internally or externally to waiving him just before the playoffs, especially with a buyout market void of any real impact players and no two-way guys worth signing to a standard deal for the playoffs.
This isn’t like last season when Jordan Goodwin was securely in the rotation as the season ended. Drew Timme had a moment, as has Nick Smith Jr., but neither guy is worth cutting Kleber for.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Andre Mills scored 21 points to lead Maryland to a 64-60 win over Washington on Saturday.
Mills was only 7 of 18 from the floor, but 3 of 6 from behind the arc with five assists. He was coming off a career-high 39 points against Northwestern on Wednesday and scored 10 of the Terrapins' final 13 points over the last 6:24 of the game.
Solomon Washington’s 11-point, 14-rebound double-double buoyed the Terrapins (11-16, 4-12 Big Ten), while Elijah Saunders had 12 points and five rebounds.
Maryland held a 34-32 lead at halftime, flipping a game-high eight-point deficit into a lead with a 9-0 run starting at the 14:07 mark. They closed the game with a 13-6 run to retake and hold onto the lead.
The Terrapins had advantages in rebounding and on second-chance points, with 36-23 and 16-2 margins, respectively. While the Huskies shot 46 percent from the field (24-for-52) to 40 percent (23-for-57) for the Terrapins, the Terrapins made five more 3-pointers, and shot 43 percent behind the arc.
Zoom Diallo scored 19 points on 8 of 13 from the field to go with five assists for the Huskies (13-14, 5-11). Hannes Steinbach had 14 points and Wesley Yates III added 12.
Up next
Washington will continue its trip to the East Coast with a visit to Rutgers on Tuesday.
Maryland will face No. 9 Nebraska on the road on Wednesday.
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Donovan Atwell had 26 points with six 3-pointers, Christian Anderson scored 21 and No. 13 Texas Tech beat Kansas State 100-72 on Saturday in the first game for the Red Raiders since standout post JT Toppin's season-ending knee injury.
Texas Tech (20-7, 10-4 Big 12) maintained a double-digit lead after making nine consecutive shots, including three 3s in a row by Atwell, during a 26-10 run in just under seven minutes for a 40-20 lead with 6:20 left in the first half.
Anderson, who also had nine assists, scored 16 of his points after halftime, when LeJuan Watts had 13 of his 19.
The Red Raiders reached 20 wins for the third season in a row. The school record is four, with coach Bob Knight from 2001-02 to 2004-05.
PJ Haggerty had 17 points and Nate Johnson 15 points for Kansas State (11-16, 2-12), which was playing its second game since a coaching change. The Wildcats beat Baylor 90-74 at home Tuesday, two days after coach Jerome Tang was fired.
The Wildcats led only twice at Tech, when Johnson made their first two shots of the game, a 3 and then a jumper that made it 5-3.
Toppin, the preseason AP All-America selection, averaged 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds a game while having 16 double-doubles before tearing the ACL in his right knee in a 72-67 loss at Arizona State on Tuesday night. He sat at the end of the Tech bench Saturday.
Sophomore forward Luke Bamgboye, a 6-foot-11 transfer from VCU, made his fifth start for the Red Raiders, his first since Dec. 7. He scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting while also having six rebounds and three blocked shots in 21 minutes.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Marcel Hartel scored in the 60th minute and Pep Biel equalized in the 73rd as St. Louis City SC and Charlotte FC opened the MLS season with a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
St. Louis controlled much of the match, finishing with a 22-9 advantage in shots and an 11-3 edge in shots on goal. Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina made 10 saves.
The teams played to a scoreless first half, with Charlotte generating limited attacking pressure while St. Louis created the better chances. CITY SC made its first substitution of the season early in the second half, bringing on Brendan McSorley.
St. Louis broke through in the 60th minute when Hartel finished from the left side of the box after a well-timed pass from Simon Becher opened space in front of the goal.
Charlotte answered 13 minutes later as Wilfried Zaha delivered a through ball that found Biel making a run into the box, and the midfielder finished to level the match.
St. Louis pushed for a winner late, generating several chances in stoppage time, but Kahlina preserved the draw with multiple close-range saves.
CITY SC finished with a 1.9-0.6 advantage in expected goals and a 6-1 edge in corner kicks, but settled for a point. St. Louis remains unbeaten in its four MLS season-opening matches.
The Sixers slid to a season-worst fourth straight loss Saturday night in New Orleans.
They fell to a 126-11 defeat, dropping to 30-26 overall. The Pelicans improved to 16-42.
Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. posted 25.
New Orleans had three 20-point scorers in Jordan Poole (23 points), Zion Williamson (21) and Saddiq Bey (20).
Joel Embiid (right shin soreness and right knee injury management) missed his fourth consecutive game. The Pelicans’ injured players included Trey Murphy III and Yves Missi.
The Sixers will visit the Timberwolves on Sunday night. Here are observations on their dismal loss to the Pelicans:
Sixers determined to draw fouls
Two of Embiid’s many backups over the years started Saturday night. Andre Drummond matched up with very rarely used 37-year-old big man DeAndre Jordan.
Both the Pelicans and Sixers began 0 for 4 from the floor. The Sixers at least managed to draw plenty of free throws. Their role players did a good job early of driving hard, consistently reaching the paint and putting pressure on the Pelicans’ lowly defense.
Maxey was the last Sixers starter on the scoreboard. He missed his first five field goals and dealt with customary extra attention on another Embiid-less night.
New Orleans native Oubre made the first field goal of the game, a long-range jumper that gave the Sixers an 8-0 edge.
Not a beautiful ball game
Quentin Grimes had another nice start.
Coming off of a 14-point outing Thursday in the Sixers’ loss to the Hawks, Grimes knocked down two three-pointers and scored nine points in the first quarter.
The Sixers trimmed their rotation down to nine players in the first half, removing Trendon Watford. Justin Edwards joined the mix in the third quarter.
Jabari Walker logged 17 minutes and had nine points and six rebounds. Walker and Adem Bona each had solid defensive possessions on Williamson, although New Orleans’ star forward got rolling early in the second quarter and the Pelicans briefly went ahead.
The second quarter was a physical, foul-heavy, not especially pretty frame. The Sixers ultimately won it, thanks in part to efficient scoring from Oubre and VJ Edgecombe. Oubre closed the second quarter with a buzzer-beating three and the Sixers held an eight-point halftime lead.
Hard to exaggerate third-quarter woes
The Pelicans made a 10-0 run early in the third quarter capped by a Bey triple.
The Sixers played very poorly late in the third with Maxey on the sidelines, too. Bona fouled Karlo Matkovic beyond the arc and he made all three of his free throws to put New Orleans up 97-89.
While the Pelicans had a far better three-point shooting night than usual (50 percent), the Sixers conceded too many easy points and cheap fouls. Even with a 27-11 advantage in points off turnovers, the Sixers couldn’t avoid a terrible loss.
There’s a strong chance the Sixers end the season as the NBA’s worst third-quarter team. Entering Saturday, their minus-17.5 net rating in third quarters was last in the league. The Jazz ranked 29th at minus-10.1.
For a team that’s otherwise been above-average, it’s baffling and inexcusable that the Sixers have been so bad in one quarter for so long.
The Sixers didn’t flip a switch once the fourth quarter started. Poole went on a scoring spree and the Pelicans’ lead ballooned over 20 points.
Unless the Sixers play a much higher-quality game Sunday against the 35-22 Timberwolves, they’ll be staring at a five-game skid.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Atlantic 10 has issued reprimands and fined both No. 18 Saint Louis and VCU for violating the conference's sportsmanship policy following a scuffle between the two teams near the end of a basketball game on Friday night.
The conference said in a statement that it would not issue suspensions and praised game officials for handling the situation in “exemplary fashion.”
The A-10 did not disclose the amount of the fines, but said they would be according to conference policy.
“This was an unfortunate end to a great college basketball game between two of the best teams in the nation," the statement said. "The A-10 considers the matter closed and looks forward to the remainder of the regular season and the Atlantic 10 Championship in Pittsburgh in March.”
The coaches from Saint Louis and VCU were preparing to shake hands when the benches cleared with 1.1 seconds left. With the victory, Saint Louis (25-2, 13-1 Atlantic 10) prevented VCU (21-7, 12-3) from taking over first place.
