CBB

Associated PressOhio State beats Appalachian State 80-67By CRAIG MERZCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Jae'Sean Tate scored 19 points for Ohio State in a 80-67 win against Appalachian State at Value City Arena on Saturday.Keita Bates-Diop added 18 points and Kaleb Wesson 16 for the Buckeyes (9-3), who matched their season-high...

Forward Rui Hachimura will return to Gonzaga next seasonSPOKANE, Wash. (AP) Forward Rui Hachimura has decided to return for his junior year at Gonzaga.Hachimura said in a news release Sunday that he was looking forward to improving his game.The 6-foot-8 native of Japan was one of Gonzaga's most...

Associated PressFired Louisville coach Pitino calls himself "a cheerleader"By DENIS P. GORMANNEW YORK (AP) Former Louisville head coach Rick Pitino said he is ''living vicariously'' through his son, University of Minnesota men's basketball coach Richard Pitino, in an interview Saturday at Barclays Center.Pitino, who was fired by Louisville's...

AP Sports WriterNCAA hoops game in Baltimore held in empty gym for COVID-19By STEPHEN WHYNOBALTIMORE (AP) In what was believed to be the first U.S. sports event held without fans because of the new coronavirus, a Division III men's basketball NCAA Tournament game was played Friday at an...

AP Basketball WriterNo. 3 Iowa's date with No. 1 Gonzaga headlines Top 25 slateBy AARON BEARDThird-ranked Iowa has put up big offensive numbers and lopsided wins behind a potential national player of the year in Luka Garza.The next test - assuming everything stays on schedule amid the coronavirus pandemic...

Associated PressVanderbilt ends 2018 with win over UNC AshevilleBy CHIP CIRILLONASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Notre Dame transfer Matt Ryan scored a season high with 19 points, including three 3-pointers, to lead Vanderbilt to a 90-59 win over UNC Asheville on Monday.Simi Shittu, projected to go in the first round...

AP Basketball WriterSEC stacked with NCAA Tournament bubble teamsBy JOHN MARSHALLThe SEC has three teams that should be locks for the NCAA Tournament.The rest of the conference may have some work to do.No. 11 Auburn (22-3) climbed as high as No. 5 in The AP Top 25 and was...

AP Sports WriterSiena freshman guard Jalen Pickett excelling in MAACBy JOHN KEKISLOUDONVILLE, N.Y. (AP) Jalen Pickett is right where he wants to be - with the ball at the top of the key in a tie game late in the second half.The 6-foot-4 freshman point guard for the...

AP Basketball WriterTOP 25 REWIND: No. 2 Duke hits from outside to beat VirginiaBy AARON BEARDRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Second-ranked Duke got rolling from 3-point range, then took a big step toward winning the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season race.The Blue Devils beat third-ranked Virginia 81-71 on Saturday night in...

Associated PressObama congratulates Villanova for winning NCAA titleBy KEVIN FREKINGWASHINGTON (AP) President Barack Obama congratulated the men's basketball team at Villanova University Tuesday for winning what he described as ''maybe the best title game of all time'' in this year's NCAA tournament.Forward Kris Jenkins provided the winning shot...

SC State beats Presbyterian 80-68ORANGEBURG, S.C. (AP) Damani Applewhite and Tashombe Riley scored 20 points apiece as South Carolina State defeated Presbyterian 80-68 on Saturday.Ian Kinard had 12 points for South Carolina State (3-5). Rayshawn Neal added 10 points, seven assists and six rebounds.Chris Martin had 19 points...

Thomas scores 24 with 11 boards; Hawaii beats CSU NorthridgeLOS ANGELES (AP) Mike Thomas had 24 points and 11 rebounds and freshman Drew Buggs added 11 points, six rebounds and a career-high 11 assists to help Hawaii beat CSU Northridge 65-46 on Saturday night.Thomas made 10 of 11...