General Sports 3d Briefing
×Basketball
No. 3 Duke espn.com secured a major non-conference victory with a 68-63 win over top-ranked Michigan, with Cameron Boozer scoring 18 points. The Blue Devils' defensive performance was highlighted as a key factor in what we learned espn.com from the contest. In the Big, No. 4 Arizona espn.com toppled No. 2 Houston 73-66 to claim sole possession of first place, powered by Anthony Dell'Orso's 22 points. The NCAA tournament selection committee's early bracket preview had Michigan espn.com as the overall No. 1 seed, followed by Duke and Arizona.
Golf
Jacob Bridgeman espn.com surged to a six-shot lead at the Genesis Invitational with a second-round 7-under. Rory Mc Ilroy bbc.com is his closest pursuer after matching the low round of the day. Bridgeman's aggressive play has him on the brink of his first PGA Tour title.
Boxing & Combat Sports
Ryan Garcia espn.com fought WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios for his first major world title in a live event. In other headlines, Sandy Ryan bbc.com became a two-weight world champion with a points win over Karla Ramos Zamora. Former champion Sean Strickland espn.com criticized UFC fighter pay as "predatory." Conor Benn bbc.com left Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing to join Dana White's Zuffa Boxing, a move Hearn called "devastating." Jake Paul espn.com underwent a second surgery on his broken jaw, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. espn.com announced he is unretiring after his Tyson exhibition.
Rugby Union: Six Nations
Ireland bbc.co.uk delivered a statement performance, record away win bbc.com over England 42-21 at Twickenham. Coach Andy Farrell bbc.com hailed it as a "special day," while England's Steve Borthwick bbc.com cited first-half errors that left his team with a "mountain to climb." The result reignites Ireland's title bid. In Cardiff, Scotland bbc.com mounted a spirited second-half comeback to beat Wales bbc.com in a thrilling encounter. Captain Sione Tuipulotu bbc.com called it an "ugly" but gritty win, while Wales bbc.com captain Dewi Lake felt the loss was "gut-wrenching." Scotland's quick thinking bbc.com from the kick-off after a Wales penalty led to a decisive try for Darcy Graham. Wales coach Steve Tandy faced his former Scotland colleagues, and Wales bbc.com hope for a turnaround inspired by Manchester United's revival.
Winter Olympics: Curling & Hockey
Team GB bbc.com was denied men's curling gold again, losing 9-6 to Canada bbc.com in a repeat of the 2014 final. Skip Bruce Mouat bbc.com emotionally reflected on the second consecutive Olympic final loss. Canada espn.com had earlier beaten Norway to reach the final, while GB secured their spot with a semi-final win bbc.com over Switzerland. In women's curling, Canada espn.com was upset by Sweden in the semis, and the U.S. lost to Switzerland. Canada espn.com did claim bronze by beating the U.S. In men's ice hockey, the U.S. espn.com routed Slovakia 6-2 to set up a gold medal showdown with Canada bbc.com, who scored with 35 seconds left to come back and beat Finland. Canada bbc.com and the U.S. will meet in a charged Olympic finale. The U.S. women's hockey team bbc.com won gold with a 2-1 overtime victory over Canada.
Winter Olympics: Skiing & Skating
Alysa Liu espn.com captured the first U.S. women's figure skating gold in 24 years. Keely Hodgkinson bbc.com smashed the women's indoor 800m world record, a mark set on the day she was born. Jorrit Bergsma bbc.com became the oldest speed skating Olympic champion at. Jordan Stolz espn.com missed a fourth gold, taking silver in the 1500m. Simone Deromedis bbc.com and Federico Tomasoni gave Italy a gold-silver finish in men's ski cross. Daniela Maier bbc.com won women's ski cross gold for Germany. Marianne Fatton bbc.com made history as the first Olympic champion in the debut event of ski mountaineering. Zoe Atkin bbc.com qualified top for the women's freeski halfpipe final.
Olympic Miscellany & Other Sports
Norway espn.com set a Winter Games record with its 17th gold medal. Neutral athletes bbc.com will attend the closing ceremony after missing the opening. Ukraine's Paralympians bbc.com will boycott their opening ceremony over Russian/Belarusian participation. UK Athletics bbc.com pleaded guilty to corporate manslaughter in the 2017 death of an athlete. British Ice Skating bbc.com admitted GB is 25 years behind in short track due to facilities and costs. Gus Kenworthy bbc.com spoke out after death threats for an ICE post, and he bbc.com had earlier qualified for the freeski halfpipe final. La Melo Ball bbc.com played a day after a car crash, calling himself "blessed."
Rugby League & Netball
Wigan Warriors bbc.com claimed a second straight Super League win with a victory over Hull FC. St Helens bbc.com edged Leigh Leopards in a thriller for new coach Paul Rowley's first win. Hull Kingston Rovers bbc.com upset NRL champions Brisbane Broncos to win the World Club Challenge. In netball, Loughborough Lightning bbc.com took the Super Cup from London Pulse.
Other Football & Cricket
Ireland's U20s bbc.com beat England in Bath, while Wales U20s bbc.com earned their first win of the tournament against Scotland. India bbc.com secured a historic T20 series win in Australia, condemning the hosts to their first home series loss since 2017. The T20 World Cup bbc.com Super Eight opener between New Zealand and Pakistan was rained out. Harry Brook bbc.com said it would be "a shame" if Pakistan players were excluded from The Hundred.
College Sports & Administration
A judge denied Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar espn.com an eligibility injunction, ending his college career. UCLA coach Mick Cronin espn.com apologized to a player after an ejection. Neb