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AP Top 25 Takeaways: No. 6 OU upset; No. 8 Oregon flexes; No. 1 UGA, No. 2 FSU roll before CFP debut

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:33:23 GMT

The upsets have arrived.Kansas made it two weeks in a row with an unranked team beating a top-10 team, when the Jayhawks knocked No. 6 Oklahoma out of the ranks of the unbeaten Saturday to snap an 18-game losing streak against the Sooners.OU’s loss comes a week after then-No. 10 North Carolina lost to Virginia at home, and three days before the first College Football Playoff rankings are released. Before the Tar Heels were tripped up, there hadn’t been a top-10 team to lose to an unranked team since Week 1.Kansas’ upset wasn’t as stunning of Virginia’s. These are not your older brother’s Jayhawks (6-2). Coach Lance Leipold has Kansas bowl eligible for the second year in a row. That’s only happened one other time in the history of the program.“It’s time, for me to start talking about how far we’ve come,” Leipold said.In just three seasons in Lawrence, Leipold has turned around what was the worst Power Five program in the country. The Jayhawks...

Israel strikes near Gaza’s largest hospital after accusing Hamas of using it as a base

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:33:23 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes early Sunday near Gaza’s largest hospital, which is packed with patients and tens of thousands of Palestinians seeking shelter. Israel has said Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers have a command post under the hospital, without providing much evidence.The strikes came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a “second stage” in Israel’s war on Hamas, three weeks after Hamas launched a brutal incursion into Israel Oct. 7. Ground forces pushed into Gaza over the weekend as Israel pounded the territory from air, land and sea.The bombardment — described by Gaza residents as the most intense of the war — knocked out most communications in the territory late Friday, largely cutting off the besieged enclave’s 2.3 million people from the world. Communications were restored to many people in Gaza early Sunday, according to local telecoms companies, Internet-access advocacy group NetBlo...

Live updates | Israeli military intensifies strikes on Gaza including underground targets

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:33:23 GMT

Internet and phone connectivity disrupted by Israel’s heavy bombardment of Gaza were restored for many people on Sunday, even as the Israeli military intensified its strikes on the besieged enclave from the land, air and sea.The Israeli strikes had knocked out most communications in the territory late Friday and largely cut off its 2.3 million people from the world. Communications were restored to many in Gaza early Sunday, according to the telecoms company Paltel, Internet-access advocacy group NetBlocks.org and confirmation on the ground.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday called the 3-week-old Israel-Hamas war a fight for Israel’s existence and said “‘Never again’ is now.”The Palestinian death toll passed 7,700, most of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza. In the occupied West Bank, more than 110 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids.More than 1,400 people were slain in Israel during a surprise incurs...

Naz Reid is loved by Timberwolves fans and players, alike. Here’s why.

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:33:23 GMT

He is a reserve player who happens to be a favorite of not only Timberwolves’ fans, but also the players.The ovations he receives are starting to rival those of Anthony Edwards. For awhile there, Naz Reid was a lovable cult hero. But an entire Target Center crowd extends far beyond the reaches of the circles of Reddit.Reid is simply, universally, loved.“Naz is the best, man,” Wolves point guard Mike Conley summed up after Minnesota’s home victory Saturday over Miami.As Reid beamed in the locker room, Kyle Anderson told him his 25-point, eight-rebound performance was some “6th Man of the Year (stuff).” Yet any praise he receives from his peers pales in comparison to what he’s showered with in his kingdom known to most as Target Center.Every member of the roster is introduced individually prior to each home opener. When “At 6-foot-10, from LSU” was called out by Timberwolves’ public address announcer Jedidiah Jones, the crowd hit a new decibel level – it was time for Naz Reid. Reid’s ...

Afghanistan on a high after upsetting England and Pakistan at Cricket World Cup

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:33:23 GMT

The Afghanistan team arrived in India with an aim to qualify for the Cricket World Cup semifinals. And after the half-way stage of the tournament they have already put the defending champion England and 1992 winner Pakistan on the verge of elimination.Afghanistan shocked England by 69 runs at Delhi in one of the greatest World Cup upsets and then followed that with an authoritative eight-wicket win over Pakistan in Chennai.With probably the best spin attack at the World Cup, Afghanistan will fancy their chances against Sri Lanka and the Netherlands in the upcoming games before facing high-flying South Africa and a rejuventaed Australia in their final two matches.Whether Afghanistan could achieve their ultimate target of qulaifying for the semifinals or not, they have surely made their mark with their two stunning victories over England and Pakistan.Ex-Pakistan captain Rashid Latif, who coached Afghanistan 10 years ago, believes it will be big achievement for the Afghans if they fini...

K’Andre Miller’s OT goal gives Rangers 4th straight win, 4-3 over Canucks

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:33:23 GMT

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — K’Andre Miller scored his first goal of the season in overtime lifting the New York Rangers over the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 on Saturday night.Miller took a pass from Chris Kreider and buried it behind Canucks’ goaltender Casey DeSmith at 3:48 of the extra period, giving the Rangers (6-2-0) their fourth win in a row.“It’s always good to get the first one out of the way,” Miller said. “I thought we had great team effort from start to finish.”Carson Soucy had tied the game for Vancouver with a blast from the blue line at 15:42 of the third period.J.T. Miller, on the power play, and defenseman Tyler Myers, short-handed, scored goals for the Canucks (5-2-1), who had won three in a row but were playing back-to-back nights. Filip Hronek had two assists.“On a back-to-back usually we come out flat,” Canucks captain Quinn Hughes said. “When we get tired in the second or third, mistakes kick in. There was none of that.“For us, if we’re going to play like...

Talton’s 4 FGs, Toney’s pick-6 help Nevada beat New Mexico 34-24

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:33:23 GMT

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Brandon Talton kicked field goals of 34, 47, 52 and 22 yards, Richard Toney Jr. returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdowns and Nevada beat New Mexico 34-24 Saturday night.Brendon Lewis completed 8 of 16 passes for 92 yards and added 64 yards rushing on 11 carries for Nevada (1-6, 1-2). The Wolf Pack, who beat San Diego State 6-0 last week to end a 16-game skid, has won back-to-back games for the first time since they won the first two games of the 2022 season. Talton’s 47-yarder gave Nevada a 6-0 lead early in the second quarter and, two plays from scrimmage later, Toney’s pick-6 made it a two-score game. Jamaal Bell scored on a 9-yard run with nearly 4 minutes left in the first half and Lewis ran in the 2-point conversion to make it 21-0 at intermission. Dylan Hopkins was 18-of-34 passing for 271 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions for New Mexico (3-4, 1-2 Mountain West). Jeremiah Hixon finished with four receptions for 116 yards, in...

Keane throws 3 of his 4 TD passes in 3rd quarter, Fresno State holds on to beat UNLV 31-24

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:33:23 GMT

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Mikey Keane threw three of his four touchdown passes in the third quarter to help Fresno State beat UNLV 31-24 Saturday night. Keane threw a 31-yard scoring strike to Tim Grear Jr. to open the scoring before the Runnin’ Rebels got a 41-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Maiava to Ricky White, a 30-yard field goal by Jose Pizano and a 4-yard TD run by Jai’Den Thomas with 33 seconds left in the first half that made it 17-7. The Bulldogs (7-1, 3-1 Mountain West) went three-and-out on the first drive of the second half but then scored on each of its remaining four third-quarter possessions. Keane hit Mac Dalena for a 2-yard touchdown and then Eric Brooks for a TD from 10-yards out to give Fresno State a four-point lead. Dylan Lynch added a 36-yard field goal before Keane threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Malik Sherod that made it 31-17 with 3 seconds left until the fourth quarter. Maiava completed 21 of 35 passes for 268 yards with two touchdowns and two intercep...

Eichel scores in SO as Golden Knights bounce back from first loss, beat Kings 4-3

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:33:23 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jack Eichel scored the only goal in the shootout and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 on Saturday night to bounce back from their first loss of the season.Mark Stone, Michael Amadio and William Carrier all scored in regulation for the Golden Knights, who improved to 8-0-1 one night after a 4-3 overtime defeat to the Chicago Blackhawks.“You want to cash in as many points as you can early in the season,” Carrier said.Logan Thompson made 29 saves through overtime before stopping all three attempts in the shootout. Thompson has saved 31 of 38 attempts (81.6%) in eight career shootouts.“He likes the show, right?” Carrier said of Thompson’s shootout prowess. “We kind of knew if we were going there, we had a good chance of winning. He loves it. I mean, he’s young, he’s got the energy, and it feels great.”Drew Doughty, Alex Laferriere and Trevor Lewis each had a goal for the Kings, who have dropped four of five at home to start the season. Cam Talbo...

Fifita leads Arizona to 27-24 win over No. 11 Oregon State

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:33:23 GMT

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Noah Fifita threw two touchdown passes to Michael Wiley in the fourth quarter and Arizona beat No. 11 Oregon State 27-24 Saturday night for its second straight win over a ranked opponent.The Wildcats (5-3, 5-2) had a week off following a 44-6 win over then-No. 19 Washington State that matched their largest margin of victory over a ranked team.Arizona maintained its momentum against Oregon State (6-2, 3-2) behind Fifita.Fifita threw for 275 yards on 25-of-32 passing and three touchdowns, hitting Wiley on passes of 40 and 3 yards in the final quarter. The Wildcats also held Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei in check most of the night while limiting the Beavers’ run game.Uiagalelei hit Jimmy Valsin III on a 20-yard touchdown with 1:38 left, but Oregon State couldn’t come up with the onside kick. Uiagalelei finished with 218 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-30 passing.Fifita has played well since Jayden de Laura injured his ankle in Week 4, throwin...