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Hyo Joo Kim holes out for eagle and a 63 to lead Founders Cup at Sharon Heights

MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) — Hyo Joo Kim capped off a flawless round at Sharon Heights by holing out for eagle on the par-5 18th hole for a 9-under 63 that gave her a two-shot lead in the Fortinet Founders Cup.

The best scoring came in the morning at the course hosting an LPGA event for the first time, before the greens began to get firm and fast and made it difficult to get shots close.

Kim was more impressed with keeping bogeys off her card on the tree-lined course than she was with the eagle on the final hole.

“I am just so satisfied I had no bogeys,” Kim said. “I had some mistakes in the beginning, but I was able to save them. I ended with an eagle, so I ended pretty happily.”

As for that eagle?

“I couldn't see the hole from where I was, but people started cheering and then I heard a ”Yeah!" So I figured it went in," Kim said.

LPGA rookie Dongeun Lee also had an eagle on the par-5 closing hole, posting a 65. Polly Mack of Germany overcame a double bogey on the par-5 10th on her way to a 66, tied with Jim Hee Im.

Mack missed only two fairways and three greens and let her length and her wedges do the work in making eight birdies to offset the double bogey.

“Hit a lot of fairways and greens and left myself with a lot of birdie chances. Had a lot of wedges into greens, and that’s what I’ve been working on the most this offseason,” said Mack, who finished her college career at Alabama. “It’s good to see that coming into play and really coming along and seeing that progress. Just had a lot of short birdie putts. Used most of them to my advantage.”

Gaby Lopez, Gemma Dryburgh and Nastasia Nadaud were in the group at 68, all of them with the lowest score in the tougher afternoon conditions.

Nelly Korda, who skipped the Asia swing after winning the season opener in 54 holes because of cold weather, had a 70. Jeeno Thitikul, the No. 1 player in women's golf, shot 72.

The tournament began as a tribute to the 13 founders of the LPGA. It began in Arizona in 2011 and last year was the second event of the season and played in Florida. It has attracted eight of the top 10 players in the women's world ranking and kicks off a four-tournament stretch in the West ahead of the first major of the year.

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

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Reichel has goal an assist in Boston debut to help the Bruins beat the Jets 6-1

BOSTON (AP) — Lukas Reichel had a goal and an assist in his Boston debut, Jeremy Swayman made 22 saves and the Bruins beat the Winnipeg Jets 6-1 on Thursday night to end a two-game losing streak.

David Pastrnak scored his 27th goal of the season and had an assist. Viktor Arvidsson and Pavel Vacha also each had a goal and assist, and Fraser Minten and Jonathan Aspirot added late goals.

Fighting for one of the final Eastern Conference playoff spots, the Bruins finished in regulation for only the second time in seven games. They were coming off overtime losses at New Jersey on Monday night and Montreal on Tuesday night.

Jonathan Toews ended Swayman's shutout bid on a tip-in at 5:38 of the third. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 22 shots for Winnipeg.

Reichel came over from Vancouver at the trade deadline and was recalled from Providence of the American Hockey League on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old German winger Reichel made it 2-0 at 6:23 of the second period. Hellebuyck misplayed the puck behind the net on a wraparound, inadvertently knocking it out front for Reichel to swat in.

Pastrnak opened the scoring with 5:08 left in the first. He got the puck back off his own rebound, moved to the front and fired in a wrister.

Arvidsson knocked in a backhander off a scramble with 1:44 remaining in the second, and Zacha scored at 3:15 of the third.

After Toews put Winnipeg on the board, Minten had a tip-in with 4:08 left and Aspirot capped the scoring with 1:42 to go.

The Jets opened a three-game trip after an eight-game homestand.

Up next

Jets: At Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Bruins: At Detroit on Saturday night.

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

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North Carolina collapses: 'This would be inexcusable for Hubert Davis'

VCU basketball completed a 19-point comeback against No. 6 seed North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 19, winning its first March Madness game since 2016 in thrilling fashion.

The Rams, one of the stingiest mid-major teams of the 2010s, secured the sixth-largest comeback and biggest of the first round ever, in their upset of the Tar Heels, who were playing without star true freshman Caleb Wilson, a projected top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness live scores: Upsets, close calls, highlights from NCAA first round

VCU defeated North Carolina 82-78 in overtime behind Terrence Hill Jr.'s 34-point performance off the bench. He played 40 minutes in the game and also poured in five rebounds and five assists in the win, including a game-tying layup with 11 seconds left in the second half.

It's an impressive feat for VCU, who won the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament to earn an automatic bid before taking down North Carolina, all while being led by first-year coach Phil Martelli Jr., the son of former longtime St. Joe's coach Phil Martelli. VCU's former coach, Ryan Odom, left the program for Virginia last offseason.

VCU might not reach the Final Four in 2026 like it did in 2011, but the Rams did make first-round history nonetheless. Here's how social media reacted to VCU's comeback win:

VCU beats North Carolina in comeback win: Social media reacts

Here are the best reactions to VCU's 82-78 win over North Carolina on March 19:

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: North Carolina collapses in first-round upset vs VCU in March Madness

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Southern closes on a 14-2 run to beat Samford 65-53 in the women's First Four

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Jaylia Reed scored 16 points, DeMya Porter had 15 points and 12 rebounds and Southern closed the game on a 14-2 run to beat fellow No. 16 seed Samford 65-53 on Thursday night in the NCAA Tournament.

Southern (20-13) won a game in the First Four for the second straight season, earning a chance to play top-seeded South Carolina on Saturday in the Round of 64. It's the Jaguars’ third appearance in the NCAA Tournament in the last four years.

D’Shantae Edwards began the fourth quarter by converting a three-point play to give Southern a 47-44 lead. Samford tied it twice in the next three minutes, but could not get any closer.

Reed put Southern ahead for good with 6:47 remaining on a 3-pointer to begin the game-closing run. Six different Jaguars scored during the run.

Samford missed eight of its last nine field goals.

Jocelyn Tate added 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench for Southern, which had nine of its 13 steals in the first half. The Jaguars finished with 20 points off turnovers.

Briana Rivera led Samford (16-19) with 16 points and freshman Kaylee Yarbrough added 11 off the bench. The Bulldogs were making their third appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Both teams shot 31% from the floor in the first half, with 17 combined turnovers and Southern leading 27-24. No player had more than six points at the break.

Up next

Samford faces the high-octane Gamecock offense ranked fourth in the nation at 86.3 points per game. South Carolina enters its 22nd NCAA Tournament with its 14th-consecutive appearance at the event.

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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

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MLB Scores: Mets 6, Astros 2

Port St. Lucie, FL: New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga during a spring training workout on Feb. 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, FL. (Photo by Alejandra Villa Loarca /Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images

The Mets defeated the Astros by a score of 6-2 tonight in West Palm Beach.

  • Kodai Senga started for the Mets and went four scoreless innings, allowing just one walk and three hits against four strikeouts. He threw 41 of his 63 pitches for strikes. His swiftest fastball clocked in at 97.1 MPH.
  • The Mets ran out essentially their Opening Day lineup and scored early and often against the Astros. Marcus Semien drove in the first and sixth runs of the evening on sacrifice flies. Luis Robert Jr. played two on a pair of doubles, and Brett Baty drove in a run on a double of his own. This, along with a bases loaded walk, led to six runs in the first five innings.
  • Bo Bichette went 2-2 with a walk in three plate appearances. Jorge Polanco went 1-2 with two walks.
  • In the ‘holding our breath’ department, Francisco Alvarez left the game in top of the fourth inning and was replaced by Jose Aular. It is unknown at this time as to why Alvarez was pulled from the game. Aular walked in his first two at-bats.
  • Luis García pitched the fifth for the Mets and ran into a little trouble, allowing a run to score on a throwing error, a walk, and a single.
  • Craig Kimbrel faced two batters in the sixth, striking out both. When he returned for the seventh, he struck out the first batter to face him, but then gave up a triple to Nick Allen. Although he was pulled from the game in favor of Brett Banks, Allen scored and the run was charged to Kimbrel.
  • Austin Warren and Dicky Lovelady each tossed an inning of scoreless ball.

The Mets play the Cardinals tomorrow at 1:10pm at Clover Park. The game will air on SNY.

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Dodgers fans consume extraordinary number of calories on game day

There’s nothing like a hot summer night at Dodger Stadium. 

The sun slowly melts away behind the San Gabriel Mountains, the cotton candy skies full of pink, orange and blue are so cinematic it feels like it was hand-painted just for Dodgers fans. 

Inhale and the aroma of hot dogs, popcorn and garlic fries tickles the nostrils like a memory. And if you’re like most fans, somewhere between first pitch and the seventh-inning stretch, all dietary discipline and restraint disappears.

MLB Photos via Getty Images

According to a recent study by The Lines, Dodgers fans aren’t just watching baseball — they’re devouring it. Literally.

On average, Dodgers fans consume an extra 1,140 calories per game day, one of the highest marks in Major League Baseball. That’s the equivalent of two Dodger dogs, a basket of garlic fries and a couple of cold beers. 

And fans do it often. 

Dodgers fans surveyed said they watch 3 ½ games per week, which means this isn’t an occasional splurge, it’s more like a ritual. Granted, fans said they consume more calories when they are at Chavez Ravine than they do watching from home or at a sports bar. 

Over the course of a 162-game season, that caloric surge stacks into something heavier — roughly 29.2 pounds of potential weight gain. Add October, where the games tighten and the nerves spike, and suddenly that number pushes past 30.

Baseball, it turns out, isn’t just a pastime in Los Angeles. It’s a full-body experience.

On average, Dodgers fans consume an extra 1,140 calories per game day, one of the highest marks in MLB.
Dodgers fans surveyed said they watch 3 ½ games per week, which means this isn’t an occasional splurge, it’s more like a ritual. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

League-wide, fans average an extra 753 calories per game. But Dodgers fans live louder than most fans. Only Rangers fans consume more extra calories per game than Dodgers fans with 1,265, because everything is bigger in Texas, even the waistlines. 

Here in California, Padres fans are not far behind with 1,015 extra calories consumed. But the Friar faithful also watch more games per week than any other fan base at 4.1 games, meaning they have a potential weight gain of 31.1 pounds during the regular season alone. 

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Angels fans, perhaps worn down by their team’s 11-year playoff drought, report just 340 extra calories per game and watch the fewest number of games per week at 2.6. 

Giants fans fall somewhere in between. At Oracle Park, fans consume an extra 843 calories on game day. Respectable but still more than the league average. 

Over the course of a 162-game season, that caloric surge stacks into something heavier — roughly 29.2 pounds of potential weight gain.
Because being a Dodgers fan is about moments and celebrating with a Dodger dog and a Michelada with the loyal fans around you that bleed blue.   Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

But Dodgers fans? They lean in.

Because being a Dodgers fan has never been about moderation. It’s about moments and celebrating with a Dodger dog and a Michelada with the loyal fans around you that bleed blue.  

And if that communion comes with an extra thousand calories?

So be it.

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Projecting the Astros Opening Day Roster 3.0

HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 19: Jumbotron displays the Houston Astros team logo during the baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros on June 19, 2022 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Astros will open the 2026 season in exactly one week. At this point in most springs, there might be two or three roster spots still up for grabs, but this year’s 26-man roster feels much murkier. Here is my third and final stab at projecting who will be in uniform next week when the Astros host the Los Angeles Angels.

Starting pitchers: Hunter Brown, Christian Javier, Tatsuya Imai, Mike Burrows, Spencer Arrighetti, Lance McCullers Jr

Also considered: None

It’s been a very good spring for this group, outside of Arrighetti’s first outing. All six are healthy, and all six are throwing the ball well. Even the pitchers outside this group have looked good whenever they’ve taken the ball, so this rotation has the makings of being both very strong and very deep.

Bullpen: Bryan Abreu, Bryan King, Steven Okert, AJ Blubaugh, Ryan Weiss, Enyel De Los Santos, Kai-Wei Teng

Also considered: Roddery Muñoz, Peter Lambert

Bennett Sousa suffered an oblique injury, so he’ll join Josh Hader on the IL to start the season. I’m still working under the assumption that De Los Santos will be ready for Opening Day after suffering an ankle injury, but he has yet to appear in a spring training game.

Muñoz has not allowed an earned run in his last seven outings after giving up two in his debut. He has 14 strikeouts over 8.1 innings and must remain on the active roster all season after being selected in the Rule 5 Draft over the winter.

A former second-round pick, Lambert has impressed after a season in Japan, and The Athletic reported that he can opt out of his minor league deal at the end of spring training. He’s put himself in position to make someone’s Opening Day roster if he doesn’t make the Astros’.

Catchers: Yainer Diaz, Christian Vázquez

Also considered: Cèsar Salazar

The Astros wasted no time getting Vázquez into a game after he joined the club following Puerto Rico’s elimination from the WBC. I think he was signed to open the season as Díaz’s backup, but that plan carries some risk. Salazar is out of options, so the Astros would have to expose him to waivers if they send him down.

Infielders: Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Jeremy Peña, Christian Walker, Isaac Paredes, Nick Allen

Also considered: Brice Matthews, Zach Dezenzo

We still don’t know if Peña, who fractured a finger during a WBC tune-up game, will be available for Opening Day. However, the Astros haven’t ruled it out, which suggests that even if he can’t go next Thursday, he wouldn’t miss enough time to require an IL stint.

Outfielders/DH: Yordan Alvarez Jake Meyers, Cam Smith, Joey Loperfido, Taylor Trammell

Also considered: Zach Cole , Zach Dezenzo

I’ve had Cole on the Opening Day roster in each of my first two projections, but he’s up to 17 strikeouts in 42 plate appearances—north of 40%. His results on balls in play haven’t been much better, so a little time in Sugar Land might do him some good.

Dezenzo’s elbow injury likely takes him out of the running for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

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Mets' Francisco Alvarez exits spring training game with back tightness, considered day-to-day

Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez was pinch-hit for early in Thursday's spring training game against the Astros.

Alvarez struck out in his only at-bat and caught starter Kodai Senga for three innings, but when his turn at the plate came up in the fourth with the bases loaded and two outs, manager Carlos Mendoza had catcher Jose Aular pinch-hit and the youngster walked in a run to give the Mets a 3-0 lead.

After the game, Mendoza said that Alvarez's back tightened up and they took him out as a precaution. 

"Back started to get tight and it was just precautionary," Mendoza said. "Trainers took a look at him and seems to be doing ok. He said that if this was the regular season, he could keep playing. As of right now, he’s day-to-day. He’s not scheduled to play tomorrow. We’ll see where we’re at for the following day."

Entering Thursday's game, Alvarez was having a very strong spring. After his one AB against the Astros, Alvarez was 8-for-22 (.364) with three doubles, one home run and four RBI in 10 games. 

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Bryce Eldridge optioned in latest round of cuts

MESA, AZ - MARCH 08: Bryce Eldridge #8 of the San Francisco Giants greets a staff member prior to the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park on Sunday, March 8, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by George Gaza/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

In a teeny tiny bit of a shocker, the San Francisco Giants have optioned top prospect Bryce Eldridge to Triple-A Sacramento, according to Maria Guardado via social media. Joining him are IF/OF Tyler Fitzgerald and OF Grant McCray, bringing a lot of the roster decision questions towards a swift answer. It looks like the team is prepared to feature a heavy right-handed lineup and depth chart to kickoff the season.

Through April, they’re up against the following potential starting left-handed pitchers: Max Fried (Yankees), David Petersen and/or Sean Manaea (Mets), Cristopher Sanchez and/or Jesus Luzardo (Phillies), Trevor Rogers (Orioles), Andrew Abbott and/or Nick Lodolo (Reds), Foster Griffin (Nationals), and Braxton Garrett (Marlins). A tough bunch, to be sure, but not a majority of the starters the team will face that would necessitate an extreme alignment of the roster.

I say “teeny tiny bit of a shocker” because, although Eldridge leads the team in plate appearances (49) for this Cactus League season and is slugging a solid .450, he does lead the team in strikeouts (19) by a healthy margin and he’s hitting just .225, and he was just 3-for-his-last-18 with 1 extra base hit before the option. For a team that’s oversteering back towards batting average being the primary factor in valuing a hitter, that’s too ugly to ignore. In spite of Jerar Encarnacion’s .283 on base percentage and 0 walks, he’s hitting .289 and slugging .467. Luis Matos is at .268 (*and* a .348 OBP) with a .463 slug and just 3 strikeouts (against 1 walk).

If both Encarnacion and Matos do what they’ve done for most of their major league careers (get injured and be overwhelmed by major league pitching, respectively), then you can imagine how poorly this is likely to go — on the other hand, they’ve certainly earned the roster spot while the prospect with options has done exactly what an intriguing prospect should do: play well enough to stay in consideration. It just wasn’t enough to bump a player with a bit more of a track record. But still, this transaction is on the shocker (again, “teeny tiny”), as a lot of prognosticators and fans figured that Eldridge’s talent was such that he could finish his development at the major league level and is one of the organization’s biggest power threats even with the swing and miss.

The Giants could still add him back to the roster within the first two weeks of the season to qualify for the Prospect Promotion Incentive, so that’s something to keep an eye on. A reminder about what the PPI is:

MLB clubs can earn a Draft pick after the first round if a PPI-eligible player accrues one year of service as a rookie and then factors into a major award. That means he either has to win his league’s Rookie of the Year award or place in the top three in MVP or Cy Young voting prior to qualifying for arbitration.

For those who’ve been following the team very closely during the spring, this is not really a surprise, though, nor is (my once beloved) Tyler Fitzgerald (.189 with 14 K and 0 BB in 37 AB!) winding up back in Triple-A for what certainly seems like the tail end of his time with the Giants (barring a miracle). It’s the Grant McCray of it all. Here’s a left-handed outfielder with speed who can glove the heck out of all three outfield positions. He’s also drawn 8 walks against just 6 strikeouts in 38 PA and is 3-for-5 in stolen base attempts. Surely, the team could’ve used a player like that as the 12th or 13th player on the depth chart? Instead, it looks like Will Brennan will take that spot thanks to an 11-for-33 spring, giving him a triple slash of .333/.405/.424. Brennan is a career .267/.307/.373, but you can see how a 90 wRC+ guy is a safer bet than the likely lower than 90 wRC+ for Grant McCray.

This sixth round of camp cuts drops the group to 42. Still a lot of players to clear out before the team heads back to the Bay for the Wednesday night opener (for which tickets are still available!).

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Kodai Senga throws four scoreless, Luis Robert Jr. drives in two as Mets defeat Astros

Kodai Senga continued his strong spring, and Luis Robert Jr. and Marcus Semien led the way offensively as the Mets defeated the Houston Astros, 6-2, in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Thursday night.

The Mets are now 12-9 in Grapefruit League play with a week to go before Opening Day.

Here are the takeaways...

-Senga wasn't as dominant as his last spring start, but he showed a lot of resiliency, stranding runners and not allowing his lack of pinpoint command to get to him.

He allowed a baserunner in his first three innings, including a runner on second with one out, but got Christian Walker to ground out and Yainer Diaz to strike out to get out of the jam in the second inning. In the fourth, Cam Smith doubled with one out but was stranded when Senga got Zach Cole to pop up and Walker out on strikes.

Senga was done after four scoreless innings (63 pitches, 41 strikes), allowing three hits and one walk while striking out four. He's now thrown seven consecutive scoreless innings and has 11 strikeouts in 9.2 innings pitched.

Most encouraging was that he topped out at 97.3 mph on Thursday and has reached 99 mph this spring.

-The Mets had their A-squad on the field and scratched across a run in the second thanks to aRobert double and Semien sac fly, which was set up by a Brett Baty flyout. Baty started in right field on Thursday.

In the fourth, they had another chance to put up some runs after Bo Bichette led off with a single and Jorge Polanco walked. Robert popped up, but Baty picked him up with a double that plated Bichette. Polanco was late breaking from first, so he didn't score, but the Mets would get a run anyway. After Semien struck out, and Mark Vientos walked to load the bases, catcher Jose Aular walked to push across a run.

Aular pinch-hit for Francisco Alvarez, who was supposed to catch the entire game but got pulled after just one at-bat in three innings.

-The Mets blew open the game in the fifth. Juan Soto and Bichette led off with back-to-back walks, and then Polanco dumped a single to load the bases. Robert fought back from down 0-2 to even the count and then doubled in two runs to give the Mets a 5-0 lead. Semien followed a Baty walk with a sac fly to drive in the team's third run of the inning. The threat of more was extinguished after Vientos grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

-Francisco Lindor, in just his third spring game, went hitless but played seven innings at shortstop without issue.

-Here's how the Mets' starters fared:

  • Lindor: 0-4, BB
  • Soto: 0-2, R, BB
  • Bichette: 2-2, 2 R, BB
  • Polanco: 1-2, 2 R, 2 BB
  • Robert Jr.: 2-4, 2 RBI, R
  • Baty: 1-3, RBI, BB
  • Semien: 0-1, 2 RBI, BB
  • Vientos: 0-3, BB
  • Alvarez: 0-1

-For the Mets bullpen on this day, Craig Kimbrel got some work in, hoping to crack the Opening Day roster. He struck out the two batters he faced (on just 12 pitches) in the sixth and came back out for the seventh. He struck out the leadoff hitter before allowing a triple -- a hit that right fielder AJ Salgado tried to make a diving catch on, but had it get past him. Kimbrel was pulled after the hit, and the next pitcher allowed a single and the future Hall of Fame closer's run to score.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets continue their spring training slate by hosting the Cardinals at PSL on Friday afternoon, starting at 1:10 p.m. on SNY.

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Flynn Clayman is a March Madness star. Learn more about the High Point coach

Among its many wonderful traits, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament has a way of creating indelible moments and making heroes of the people at the center of them.

It took only the fourth game of the first full day of the 2026 NCAA Tournament for such a moment to arise.

High Point pulled off the first upset of the tournament, with the No. 12 seed Panthers getting a bucket from Chase Johnston with 11.2 seconds remaining to earn an 83-82 victory against No. 5 seed Wisconsin on Thursday, March 19.

REQUIRED READING: 'Nobody would play us': High Point coach gives fiery interview after Wisconsin upset

As impressive as High Point’s players were in earning the win, it was the team’s coach who stole the show in the minutes after the victory.

In a postgame interview with TBS, Panthers coach Flynn Clayman used the opportunity to talk up not only his own team, but other talented mid-major programs who struggle to get non-conference games against squads from the sport’s Power Five (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Big East and SEC) that don’t want to risk a loss to a team from one of college basketball’s smaller conferences.

"It looks pretty obvious to me that high-majors need to play mid-majors during the season," Clayman said. "Because they said we ain't played nobody? We played somebody now."

When later asked about how the win felt, he added that "It feels unreal, because nobody would play us, just like they wouldn't play Miami (Ohio). But they got to play us in this tournament."

The soundbites earned widespread attention and acclaim on social media, with college basketball fans won over by Clayman’s passion and the points he made.

As High Point moves on to face Arkansas in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday, here’s a closer look at Clayman:

Who is High Point basketball coach?

Clayman is in his first season as High Point’s case, having assumed the role after Alan Huss left after last season to become the associate head coach and head-coach-in-waiting at Creighton, his alma mater.

Clayman had been Huss’ top assistant for the previous two seasons, a time in which the Panthers went 56-15 and made one NCAA tournament appearance. When Huss left, Clayman was promoted.

“As associate head coach, Flynn Clayman has played a pivotal role in HPU's recruiting and offensive success during the past two seasons," High Point president Nido Qubein said when Clayman was hired. "Players appreciate his leadership, and his values align with the values of our university. We are excited to have him lead the men's basketball program as head coach."

Clayman has made the most of the opportunity, improving to 30-4 this season after the win over Wisconsin. The 30 wins are a single-season program record and the NCAA tournament victory was the first in High Point’s history.

REQUIRED READING: High Point upset was going to take everything — including a first layup of the season

Flynn Clayman coaching career

Before arriving at High Point ahead of the 2023 season, Clayman had spent the entirety of his Division I coaching career at Southern Utah, where he was an assistant from 2017-23, before serving as the interim head coach for the final three games of the 2022-23 season. He went 2-1 in those contests.

In his two seasons as the associate head coach at High Point, he served as the team’s offensive coordinator. In each of those seasons, the Panthers finished among the top 40 teams nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom, a remarkable feat for a program from a mid-major conference like the Big South.

Prior to getting into coaching, Clayman played college basketball, first at Colorado State before transferring to Troy, where he played from 2009-11. He played one final college season at the University of the Cumberlands, an NAIA school in Kentucky where his team won the Mid-South Conference Championship and reached the NAIA national tournament. That season, he led the NAIA in 3-point field goal percentage, at 48.1%.

Flynn Clayman record

After Thursday’s upset win over Wisconsin, Clayman has a career record of 32-5 as a Division I head coach, which includes a 2-1 mark as the interim head coach at Southern Utah in 2023.

This season, his first as High Point’s head coach, he was named the Big South Coach of the Year.

When it came to his team’s schedule this season, Clayman wasn’t lying in his post-game interview. The first-round NCAA Tournament game against Wisconsin marked the first time this season the Panthers have played against an opponent from one of the sport’s five major conferences.

Flynn Clayman age

Born Sept. 27, 1988, Clayman is 37 years old.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness: Who is High Point basketball coach Flynn Clayman?

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AJ Dybantsa points tonight: How many points did BYU star score in upset loss to Texas?

BYU freshman star AJ Dybantsa showed why he's one of the top college basketball players in the country and a surefire lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Dybantsa scored 35 points in a 79-71 upset loss to No. 11 seed Texas in the first round of the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. His BYU squad was a No. 6 seed going into the game.

Texas was led by sophomore Matas Vokietaitis, who scored 23 points and pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds and added a block. Three other players scored in double figures for the Longhorns: Tramon Mark with 19 points, Dailyn Swain with 14 and Jordan Pope with 11.

Dybantsa led all of college basketball players in scoring with 25.3 points per game during the 2025-26 season.

Here's how he did in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament:

USA TODAY Sports: March Madness: NCAA Men's basketball Tournament

AJ Dybantsa: Second half performance

BYU opened the second half on a 7-1 run, thanks to their ball-hawking perimeter defense on guys sliding over in help. The lead was cut to four, 48-44, with 17:31 left in the game. 

Texas responded and built their lead up to 12, leading 63-51 with 12:15 remaining. Dybantsa was held scoreless in the second half until a baseline reverse, two-hand slam in transition with about 13 minutes left in the game. He scored 15 second half points.

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Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training Gameday Thread, #27 @ White Sox

Mar 12, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; A general view of game action between the Chicago White Sox and the San Francisco Giants at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

A night game – and this one was actually scheduled this way, rather than being pushed back to the night to avoid the heat! Can’t say I blame anyone though. A high of 103 F today is just… wrong for mid-March, and it’s only a couple of degrees cooler than that now. Forecast high of 105 F tomorrow. Dear lord. I’m starting the countdown to the annual declaration by Mrs. SnakePit that she can’t take it any more, and we need to move. Don’t think we’ve ever previously had that discussion before Opening Day. Speaking of which, a week from now, things will be under way in games that matter…

Definitely an A-bullpen kinda day, with all the scheduled pitchers after Michael Soroka being ones with a non-zero chance of making the Opening Day roster. Specifically: RHP Kevin Ginkel, RHP Ryan Thompson, LHP Brandyn Garcia, RHP Jonathan Loaisiga and RHP Andrew Hoffmann. Garcia might be the one on thinnest ice, after a pair of spectacularly bad outings. Eleven batters faced, two outs – three hits, four walks and two hit batters. One more appearance like that and there’ll almost be no way back for him, considering there are only a handful of spring games left.

No broadcast apparently for this one, so you are on your own. Recappage should follow, but I’ll be on my phone, so it may be short and/or misspelled.

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Spring Training GAME THREAD: Guardians vs. Royals

CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 01: Bo Naylor #23 of the Cleveland Guardians rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Progressive Field on October 01, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

And, for the nightcap, here’s your major league spring training lineup for the Guardians:

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Spring Training Game Thread: Texas Rangers at Milwaukee Brewers

MLB Texas Rangers pitcher Peyton Gray

Today the Texas Rangers have hopped the bus for a trip over to Phoenix, AZ to have a Cactus League quarrel against the Milwaukee Brewers.

LHP Jacob Latz will take the mound for Texas as the battle for the final spot in the rotation — of which Latz remains a competitor — nears a conclusion. Milwaukee will counter with RHP Brandon Woodruff.

Today’s Lineups

RANGERSBREWERS
Evan Carter – CFSal Frelick – RF
Joc Pederson – DHJoey Ortiz – SS
Danny Jansen – CChristian Yelich – DH
Ezequiel Duran – SSAndrew Vaughn – 1B
Mark Canha – LFGarrett Mitchell – CF
Sam Haggerty – 2BGary Sanchez – C
Tyler Wade – 3BLuis Rengifo – 3B
Alejandro Osuna – RFBrandon Lockridge – LF
Jonah Bride – 1BDavid Hamilton – 2B
Jacob Latz – LHPBrandon Woodruff – RHP

You can listen to the game via 105.3 The Fan or follow along on Gameday. First pitch from American Family Fields of Phoenix is scheduled for 8:10 pm CT.

Go Rangers!