National Sports - The Morning Sun

Michigan State guard A.J. Hoggard (11) celebrates in the second half of a first-round college basketball game against Southern California in the men's NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, March 17, 2023. Michigan State defeated Southern California 72-62. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Michigan State muscles past USC 72-62 in March Madness

Joey Hauser scored 17 points and No. 7 seed Michigan State clamped down defensively on No. 10 seed Southern California in the second half for a 72-62 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament’s … more

By TOM WITHERS | 3/17/23

Mississippi State's Jessika Carter (4) and JerKaila Jordan (2) celebrate the team's win over Illinois in a First Four game in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament Wednesday, March 15, 2023, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)

Women's March Madness finds foothold on national TV

Ratings for women's college basketball are at their highest levels in years. ESPN is putting the women's NCAA Tournament national title game on network television for the first time since 1995. The … more

By JOE REEDY | 3/17/23

FILE - Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard (13) looks on during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Philadelphia. The New York Jets signed former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard to a four-year contract Friday, March 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File)

Wide receiver Allen Lazard signs 4-year deal with Jets

The New York Jets have signed former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard to a four-year contract. Lazard reunites with Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who worked with the … more

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. | 3/17/23

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark celebrates after making a 3-point basket at the end of an NCAA college basketball game against Indiana, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 86-85. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

On the rise, Big Ten eyes women's NCAA tourney breakthrough

The Big Ten has been a big disappointment when the women's NCAA Tournament has rolled around the past few years. Only once since 2005 has the league gotten a team to the Final Four, and that was … more

By DAVE SKRETTA | 3/17/23

FILE - Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, left, reacts next to Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks after scoring during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. When Golden State visits Memphis on Saturday night for the fourth and final time this regular season, another chapter will be added in what could be a crucial tiebreaker. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

NBA feud or rivalry? Warriors, Memphis drama is must-see TV

Stephen Curry has a simple answer for the drama between his four-time NBA champion Golden State Warriors and the upstart Memphis Grizzlies over the past two seasons. For Curry, it's not a feud or a … more

By TERESA M. WALKER | 3/17/23

FILE - Sheryl Swoopes of Texas Tech cuts down the net after leading her team to victory over Ohio State, 84-82, in the NCAA Women's Division I basketball championship game April 4, 1993, in Atlanta, Ga. Swoopes scored 47 points and was named Tournament MVP. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File)

MARCH MADNESS: An AP trivia quiz for the NCAA Tournament

From the First Four to the Final Four, the women's NCAA Tournament captivates sports fans for more than three weeks every year. How well do you think you know it? Do you know the teams that finished … more

By HANK KURZ Jr. | 3/17/23

Arizona guard Courtney Ramey (0) looks up at the scoreboard during the second half of a first-round college basketball game against Princeton in the NCAA Tournament in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, March 16, 2023. Princeton won 59-55. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas)

Arizona, Virginia add to reputations for March sadness

Losses by second-seeded Arizona and fourth-seeded Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament won't help their March reputations. The Wildcats lost for the fifth straight time to a team seeded … more

By DAVE SKRETTA | 3/17/23

Houston guard Marcus Sasser brings the ball up duirng the first half of the team's first-round college basketball game against Northern Kentucky in the men's NCAA Tournament in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Houston star Sasser now a big question mark at March Madness

All-American Marcus Sasser is a big question mark in the NCAA Tournament. Houston's star guard tried to play against Northern Kentucky, but an ailing groin began acting up again. Sasser spent the … more

By PAUL NEWBERRY | 3/17/23

Sasser hurt anew as top seed Houston beats Northern Kentucky

With All-American Marcus Sasser watching from the bench, top-seeded Houston shook off Northern Kentucky for a 63-52 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Chants of “NKU!” and … more

By PAUL NEWBERRY | 3/17/23

Iga Swiatek, of Poland, returns to Sorana Cirstea, of Romania, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Swiatek, Rybakina reach semifinals at Indian Wells

Top-ranked Iga Swiatek breezed past Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 6-3 to reach the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open. Next up for Swiatek is 10th-seeded Elena Rybakina, who beat Karolina Muchova, 7-6 (4), … more

3/17/23

Arizona players sit on the bench in the final seconds of a first-round college basketball game against Princeton in the men's NCAA Tournament in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, March 16, 2023. Princeton won 59-55. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)

Most March Madness brackets bust before sundown on Day 1

NCAA Tournament brackets were busted early Thursday. No. 13 seed Furman beat fourth-seeded Virginia and No. 15 Princeton defeated second-seeded Arizona. The NCAA March Madness Twitter account posted … more

By MARK ANDERSON | 3/16/23

Baylor head coach Scott Drew talks to his players during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa State in the second round of the Big 12 Conference tournament Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Drew family holds impromptu reunion at NCAA Tournament

Longtime coaching stalwart Homer Drew has not one, but two sons working the sidelines at the NCAA Tournament this week. Scott is coaching Baylor, Bryce is coaching Grand Canyon and Homer has an … more

By PAT GRAHAM | 3/16/23

Ryan Brehm makes his final putt on the 18th hole during the first round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament Thursday, March 16, 2023, at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)

Brehm makes ace for share of lead at Valspar, Spieth 1 back

Ryan Brehm was having a solid round in the Valspar Championship. One swing made it a memorable round. Brehm made a hole-in-one on the 17th hole. That led to a 66 and gives Brehm a three-way share of … more

3/16/23

Princeton guard Matt Allocco (14) celebrates following the team's victory over Arizona in a first-round college basketball game in the men's NCAA Tournament in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, March 16, 2023. Princeton won 59-55. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas)

Princeton stuns Arizona 59-55 in March Madness

Tosan Evbuomwan and Princeton used a late-game run to earn the school’s first NCAA Tournament win in 25 years, topping No. 2 seed Arizona 59-55. The 15th-seeded Tigers scored the final nine points … more

By JOSH DUBOW | 3/16/23

San Diego State guard Matt Bradley (20) gets around Charleston guard Jaylon Scott (21) during the first half of an first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

San Diego State tops Charleston 63-57 in NCAA tourney

Matt Bradley scored 17 points, including two free throws in the final minute, and No. 5 seed San Diego State held on to beat 12th-seeded College of Charleston 63-57 in the first round of the NCAA … more

By MARK LONG | 3/16/23

Charleston forward Ante Brzovic, left, drives as San Diego State forward Jaedon LeDee (13) defends during the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Travel logistics can be tricky amid March Madness whirlwind

Holy Cross found out Sunday it would face second-seeded Maryland in the women’s NCAA Tournament. Then the more immediate challenge began — figuring out how to travel there. The Crusaders … more

By NOAH TRISTER | 3/16/23

FILE - A pair baseballs and a glove sit in the Milwaukee Brewers dugout prior to a spring training baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians on March 29, 2022, in Goodyear, Ariz. Major League Baseball is heightening in-game inspections by umpires for banned grip aides, concerned use of foreign substances by pitchers increased again as time passed from start of a crackdown in June 2021. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

MLB asks umpires for heightened sticky substance checks

Major League Baseball is heightening in-game inspections by umpires for banned grip aides. League officials are concerned that use of foreign substances by pitchers increased again as time passed … more

By RONALD BLUM | 3/16/23

Missouri guard Kobe Brown (24) is fouled by Utah State guard Steven Ashworth (3) during the second half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas)

Missouri beats Utah St. for 1st March Madness win since 2010

Missouri used a second-half scoring spurt from Kobe Brown to win its first NCAA Tournament game in 13 years, beating Utah State 76-65. Brown hit three 3-pointers in a span of just over three minutes … more

By JOSH DUBOW | 3/16/23

Kansas's Gradey Dick reacts to a three pointer during the second half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

No. 1 seed Kansas cruises past Howard with Self still absent

Jalen Wilson had 20 points and seven rebounds for No. 1 seed and defending national champion Kansas in a 96-68 victory over Howard. The Jayhawks allowed absent and recovering coach Bill Self to rest … more

By DAVE CAMPBELL | 3/16/23

South Carolina's Zia Cooke (1) goes for a loose ball over Tennessee's Jordan Horston (25) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the championship game of the Southeastern Conference women's tournament in Greenville, S.C., Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)

South Carolina's star quintet ready for one last NCAA run

Five of South Carolina's players are known collectively as “the Freshies.” And the tight-knit group is looking ahead to one last run through the NCAA Tournament. The undefeated team has been led … more

By PETE IACOBELLI | 3/16/23