McCullar scores 21 as No. 5 Kansas beats No. 4 UConn 69-65 in showdown of past 2 NCAA champions

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:25:39 GMT

McCullar scores 21 as No. 5 Kansas beats No. 4 UConn 69-65 in showdown of past 2 NCAA champions LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Students began camping at Allen Fieldhouse more than two days early, and by Friday night the line for the rest of the fans to get into the historic building for this UConn-Kansas showdown snaked its way for what seemed like a mile.The matchup between the past two national champions lived up to expectations.In a back-and-forth game that was part of the Big East-Big 12 Battle, the No. 5 Jayhawks allowed a big early advantage to slip away, then roared back down the stretch. Kevin McCullar Jr. buried back-to-back 3-pointers to give Kansas the lead again in the closing minutes, and KJ Adams Jr. made two free throws in the final seconds to hold off the fourth-ranked Huskies, 69-65.“That’s big-time college basketball,” said McCullar, who finished with 21 points. “We’ve been in these moments multiple times. We just wanted to stay composed. We knew they were going to make a run and the last few minutes, we made our push.”Kansas (7-1) could have taken some of...

Degenhart powers Boise State to 63-60 victory over Saint Mary’s

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:25:39 GMT

Degenhart powers Boise State to 63-60 victory over Saint Mary’s IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) — Tyson Degenhart scored 17 points to lead Boise State to a 63-60 victory over Saint Mary’s on Friday night.Degenhart made 5 of 9 shots with a 3-pointer for the Broncos (4-3). He added five assists and four rebounds. Chibuzo Agbo pitched in with 11 points and eight rebounds, while O’Mar Stanley scored 10.Aidan Mahaney led the Gaels (3-5) with 19 points. Augustus Marciulionis totaled 17 points, four assists and five steals.___Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here___AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballSource

Northwestern takes down top-ranked Purdue for 2nd consecutive season

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:25:39 GMT

Northwestern takes down top-ranked Purdue for 2nd consecutive season EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Boo Buie scored seven of his 31 points in overtime to help Northwestern beat Zach Edey and No. 1 Purdue for the second straight season, winning 92-88 on Friday night in the Big Ten opener for each school.Buie added nine assists and four rebounds, rallying Northwestern from an eight-point halftime deficit. Ty Berry also scored seven points in OT and finished with 21, and Ryan Langborg had 20.The Wildcats (6-1, 1-0) became the seventh program since 2010-11 to beat a team ranked No. 1 in the AP poll in consecutive seasons. They topped the Boilermakers 64-58 on Feb. 12 for their first win against a No. 1 team.The 7-foot-4 Edey, the reigning national player of the year, had 35 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots — but Purdue (7-1, 0-1) had no answer for Buie when it mattered most.Moments after the final seconds ticked off, Edey & Co. trudged off the floor as students stormed the court at Welsh-Ryan Arena.NO. 5 KANSAS 69, NO. 4 UCONN 65LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP)...

December Nights kicks off first night in Balboa Park

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:25:39 GMT

December Nights kicks off first night in Balboa Park SAN DIEGO -- A tradition that is "So San Diego" returned to Balboa Park to kick off the holiday season."The celebration, the people, the international houses and the foods from the different countries, my favorite," Susan Stocker said.San Diego natives and visitors alike were soaking in all that December Nights had to offer Friday evening. The decades-long tradition offers family-friendly activities, light displays, food, music, and more."I got here early about 4:30 so I was here before the big crowds and so then they just sort of keep building," Stocker said.The event is expected to draw about 300,000 people throughout Friday and Saturday. Person hit, killed near Coronado Holiday Parade route "First, you get the exercise at the 25-minute walk from parking which was great and then just a carnival of delights," Adam Shames said.The tree lighting is a highlight for many, packing the Spreckels Organ Pavilion patiently awaiting the big moment. However, this year that portion of the ev...

Somalia president hails lifting of arms embargo as government vows to wipe out al-Shabab militants

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:25:39 GMT

Somalia president hails lifting of arms embargo as government vows to wipe out al-Shabab militants MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud welcomed Saturday the U.N. Security Council vote to lift an arms embargo imposed on the Horn of Africa nation more than 30 years ago.The 15-member council unanimously voted Friday night in favor of the British-drafted resolution to lift the weapons ban. However, France was the only member to abstain when voting on another resolution to reimpose an arms embargo on al Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab militants, saying the resolution lacked references to the territorial disputes between Djibouti and Eritrea.In a statement sent to the Associated Press, Information Minister Daud Aweys said the embargo lift will help modernize the country’s armed forces. “Somalia has been grappling with significant security challenges, including the presence of extremist groups such as al-Shabab. The Somali government needs access to modern arms and equipment to effectively combat these threats and maintain security within its borders,...

Israel intensifies its assault on southern Gaza, causing renewed concern about civilian deaths

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:25:39 GMT

Israel intensifies its assault on southern Gaza, causing renewed concern about civilian deaths KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel pounded targets in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, intensifying a renewed offensive that followed a weeklong truce with Hamas and giving rise to renewed concerns about civilian casualties.At least 178 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting resumed Friday morning, even as the United States urged ally Israel to do everything possible to protect civilians. “This is going to be very important going forward,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday after meetings with Arab foreign ministers in Dubai, wrapping up his third Middle East tour since the war started. “It’s something we’re going to be looking at very closely.”Israel’s attacks Saturday were focused on the Khan Younis area in southern Gaza, where the military dropped leaflets the day before warning residents to leave. As of late Friday, however, there had been no reports of large numbers of people leaving, according to the United Nations.“There is no pla...

The surfing venue for the Paris Olympics is on the other side of the world but could steal the show

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:25:39 GMT

The surfing venue for the Paris Olympics is on the other side of the world but could steal the show PARIS (AP) — The giant waves form in the storm belts of the Southern Ocean, off Antarctica, where whales roam. Supercharged by intense winds, the swells then roll on an ocean journey of thousands of kilometers (miles) to crash into Tahiti in the South Pacific.There, in the waters of the volcanic island that will host next year’s Olympic surfing events, surfer Kauli Vaast waits.If the Tahitian-born 21-year-old catches one of the waves just right, he’ll harness its awesome power as it rears up to become a furious, frothing wall of water. If he stays upright, he’ll zip through the crystal-blue tunnel that forms around him as the wave breaks, emerging unscathed and whooping, with a grin on his face.“Just the most perfect wave in the world,” says Vaast, who hopes the island’s legendary surfing conditions are his ticket to a gold medal.The decision to hold Olympic surfing in French Polynesia next July will require competitors to brave some of the world’s bigg...

Developing nations press rich world to better fight climate change at U.N. climate summit

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:25:39 GMT

Developing nations press rich world to better fight climate change at U.N. climate summit DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Leaders of developing nations jumped into Saturday’s second-day of a U.N. climate summit to press rich industrial countries to share their knowhow to fight global warming and ease the financial burdens they face — while trumpeting their own natural resources that swallow heat-trapping carbon in the air.The annual United Nations Conference of the Parties, known as COP28, in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates featured about 150 presidents, prime ministers, royals and other leaders who are presenting their plans to cut heat-trapping emissions and mostly seek unity with other nations to avert climate catastrophe that seemed to draw closer than ever in 2023.The developing world took center stage early Saturday, with Vice President Kamala Harris of the United States set to speak later. African leaders noted their continent’s rainforests help gobble up excess carbon dioxide in the air and their countries have belched out a tiny fraction of heat...

How Acalanes ran away with the NorCal 3-AA championship: “Our superpower is speed”

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:25:39 GMT

How Acalanes ran away with the NorCal 3-AA championship: “Our superpower is speed” LAFAYETTE – Before the third quarter rain, before the fourth quarter running clock, and before Acalanes celebrated the program’s first NorCal title by housing the 3-AA trophy after routing Escalon 49-14, the victors survived a long first-quarter drive.The run-heavy Cougars methodically drove the ball downfield on a nine-play drive, keeping the ball away from Acalanes and chewing up clock using an old-school wing-T offense.But after six minutes, all of that progress was undone in 10 seconds as a flash of blue and white, also known as Acalanes senior Trevor Rogers, jumped in front of a pass at around the 2- yard line, ran downfield, cut back inside to shake any pursuers, and strolled into the end zone for a 7-0 Acalanes lead.That’s how the game went: Escalon, the reigning 4-AA state champions and bigger and stronger than Acalanes, controlled the ball and the clock.But the Dons turned the game into a sprint during key moments, and on Friday night, there was no beating the track s...

Another ex-FCI Dublin correctional officer receives prison time for sexually abusing inmates

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:25:39 GMT

Another ex-FCI Dublin correctional officer receives prison time for sexually abusing inmates DUBLIN — Another former correctional officer at the Bay Area’s only federal prison for women has been sentenced for sexually abusing inmates under his authority, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Suspect arrested in East Bay house party shooting that killed teen Crime and Public Safety | Man fatally stabbed in Oakland; suspect later arrested Crime and Public Safety | Man dies in Oakland hit-and-run traffic collision Crime and Public Safety | Second man charged in shooting death of East Bay barber Crime and Public Safety | Man gets 6 years, woman gets probation for Oakland shootout that killed bystander John Bellhouse, 40, a former resident of Pleasanton, was convicted earlier this year of two counts of sexual abuse of a ward and three counts of abusive sexual conduct.On Friday, Bellhouse was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison, the Justice Departme...