Day: March 20, 2022

By BETH HARRIS, AP Sports Writer INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Rafael Nadal faced down the future and emerged victorious, outlasting Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 Saturday night to reach the BNP Paribas Open final and improve to 20-0 this year. The 21-time major champion threw his head back, smiled and raised both arms in triumph after escaping an aggressive Alcaraz. The 18-year-old never appeared Skechers Outlets rattled playing his vaunted countryman, who had the crowd, a 17-year advantage in age and loads of experience in his favor. “He has all the ingredients to become an amazing champion,” Nadal said. “I don’t have many doubts that he will be great. He is already, by the way.” Nadal’s perfect record is the third-best start to a season ...

By NOAH TRISTER, AP Sports Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — LeBron James passed Karl Malone on the career scoring list, leaving only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar still to catch. Then the Los Angeles Lakers wasted another stellar performance by their star. James came into the night needing 19 points to tie Malone. He ended up scoring double that, but the Washington Wizards rallied from a 16-point deficit to win 127-119 on Saturday night. James said he couldn't appreciate the milestone as much in a loss. “Obviously at some point I'll be able to look back at this moment, Running Shoes but right now the feeling I have — I can't separate it,” James said. “We had a great opportunity to pick up some more momentum.” In addition to James' 38 points, Russell Westbroo...

By GARY B. GRAVES, AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Undersized in every way, Saint Peter's became the latest NCAA Tournament darling that only the most ardent hoops fans had heard of before it stepped onto a court with a March Madness logo. These proud Peacocks from Jersey City, New Jersey, became the third No. 15 seed to advance to the Sweet 16, first tossing eight-time national champion Kentucky out of the bracket and then taking care of Murray State in a workmanlike 70-60 win on Saturday night. Even mid-major Murray State was taller and beefier than the Peacocks, Olukai Sandals  but that didn't bother coach Shaheen Holloway or his 6-foot-7, 195-pound power forward, KC Ndefo, who had 17 points and 10 rebounds and played bruising defense at the rim. ...

By MICHAEL MAROT, AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Eli Brooks returned for one final college season with the goal of helping Michigan reach the Final Four. Defying expectations, the Wolverines are halfway there. Brooks scored seven of his 23 points in the final 3½ minutes and the 11th-seeded Wolverines booked the most surprising of their five straight Sweet 16 appearances, beating third-seeded Tennessee 78-68 on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. “I’m just trying to live in the moment right now and cherish the time we have with the people in my life right now at Michigan and enjoy the process of going through Rick Owens Shoes this tournament again and having that chance of getting our last goal,” said Brooks, a fifth-year senior. ...

By TIM BOOTH, AP Sports Writer PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Drew Timme gathered his Gonzaga teammates at midcourt, pointed at the scoreboard showing a 10-point halftime deficit for the top overall seed and expressed a few choice words. Timme's goal was to spark his teammates with words. He did it with his play on the court, too. Or as Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said, “the Drew Timme effect came into play.” Timme scored 21 of his 25 points in the second half, and Gonzaga rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to beat No. 9 seed Memphis 82-78 on Saturday night in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Trailing at the half for only the fourth time this season, Gonzaga leaned on its star junior to reach its seventh straight Sweet 16. The Bulldogs (28-3) ...