Johnson’s late basket powers No. 12 Arizona past No. 2 Duke
Keshad Johnson hit a tough whistle-drawing layup for a three-point play with 46.8 seconds left that pushed No. 12 Arizona to a late lead on the way to a 78-73 win at No. 2 Duke on Friday night.
Johnson finished with 14 points and eight rebounds for the Wildcats (2-0), his biggest coming on that contact layup off a feed from Caleb Love.
Love — a transfer from hated Duke rival North Carolina who heard plenty from the “Cameron Crazies” all night — also came up big late by making four free throws during Arizona’s 6-for-6 finish at the line in the final 20 seconds.
When it was over, Arizona’s players celebrated near midcourt, with Love waving goodbye to the irate Crazies and offering some testy words as big man Oumar Ballo extended his arms to blow them kisses.
Ballo had 13 points and Love had 11 for Arizona.
College football
AIR FORCE GENERAL NAMED NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CFP »
Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, the superintendent of the Air Force Academy, was announced as the new executive director of the College Football Playoff.
Clark will replace Bill Hancock, who is retiring, and will take over as the playoff prepares for its expansion to a 12-team format in the 2024 season.
Golf
PEDERSON USES A FAST START TO A 65 AND A 2-SHOT LEAD ON LPGA TOUR »
Emily Kristine Pederson had six birdies in her opening 10 holes and held on for a 5-under 65, giving her a two-shot lead in The Annika and moving the Danish player two rounds closer to earning a spot in the LPGA Tour season finale.
Pederson dropped three shots over her final seven holes at Pelican Golf Club
as the wind picked up late in the morning.
Minami Katsu of Japan had a 67 and was two shots behind, followed by Jasmine Suwannapura of Thailand, who had a 65 and was four behind.
ALKER, DAWSON TIED FOR SCHWAB CUP LEAD ON PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS »
Steven Alker and Marco Dawson each made birdie on the par-5 18th hole and each posted a 7-under 64 to share the lead in the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
The final PGA Tour Champions event of the year is missing Steve Stricker, who already has clinched the Schwab Cup and its $1 million bonus. Stricker stayed home in Wisconsin to be with his father, who was hospitalized earlier in the week.
Hockey
PITTSBURGH WILL RETIRE JAGR’S NO. 68 »
Jaromir Jagr’s familiar No. 68 is heading to the rafters at PPG Paints Arena.
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced they will retire Jagr’s number before a visit from the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 18.
Jagr spent the first 11 of his 24 seasons in the NHL
in Pittsburgh, helping the Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 1991 and 1992.
Jagr collected 439 goals and 640 assists in 806 regular-season games with the Penguins from 1990 to 2001.
Pro football
VIKINGS LIST JEFFERSON AS QUESTIONABLE TO PLAY »
The Minnesota Vikings listed wide receiver Justin Jefferson as questionable to play against New Orleans after a productive first week back at practice following the hamstring strain that has kept him out of the last four games.
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said earlier that playing Jefferson this week would “probably be a little aggressive.” But he declined to close the door on putting the 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year on the field against the Saints.
BENGALS WR HIGGINS OUT, WR CHASE IS QUESTIONABLE »
Bengals receiver Tee Higgins is out for Sunday’s game against the Texans and receiver Ja’Marr Chase is questionable due to injuries.
Defensive end Sam Hubbard (ankle) was also listed
as out for the game on the injury report.
Pro basketball PORTLAND’S WILLIAMS TO MISS THE SEASON »
III Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III will require surgery for torn ligaments in his right knee and is expected to miss the rest of the season, the team said.
Williams was injured in the fourth quarter of Portland’s 112-100 loss at home to Memphis on Sunday night. He was knocked to the ground underneath the Grizzlies’ basket and came up limping. He tried to play, but left the court and headed straight for the locker room.
Soccer
COURAGE FORWARD KEROLIN NAMED NWSL MVP »
North Carolina Courage forward Kerolin was named the National Women’s Soccer League’s most valuable player.
The speedy Brazilianborn attacker scored a career-high 10 goals and added three assists in 19 games with the Courage this season. She was instrumental in North Carolina’s 9-7-6 finish this season.