Clifford scores 21, Colorado State defeats UNLV 78-75

Led by Nique Clifford's 21 points, the Colorado State Rams defeated the UNLV Rebels 78-75

Stanford's Tara VanDerveer earns 1,202nd victory to tie Mike Krzyzewski's record

Stanford's Tara VanDerveer tied Mike Krzyzewski as winningest coach in college basketball history with her 1,202nd victory, guiding the No. 8 Cardinal past Oregon 88-63 while losing leading scorer Cameron Brink for the final three quarters with a leg injury. VanDerveer can set the record Sunday, when she goes for 1,203 as Stanford hosts Oregon State. A couple dozen former Stanford players are expected to be on hand for the potential milestone. Kiki Iriafen led Stanford with 21 points and 15 rebounds. Chance Gray scored 19 points for Oregon.

Pili scores 37 to power No. 20 Utah to 78-58 win over No. 6 USC

Alissa Pili scored a season-high 37 points and had six rebounds to lead No. 20 Utah to a 78-58 victory over No. 6 Southern California. Pili shot 13 of 16 from the field including 5 of 6 on 3 pointers. Matyson Wilke added 12 points off the bench. JuJu Watkins led USC with 26 points and McKenzie Forbes added 11. The Trojans struggled on offense, shooting 36% from the field and going 7 of 14 from the free throw line. Issy Palmer returned to action for Utah for the first time since being sidelined in mid-November with a knee injury.

Max Klesmit's second-half flurry helps No. 11 Wisconsin beat Indiana 91-79

due to a lower-leg injury. Malik Reneau scored 28 points for the Hoosiers.

Alissa Pili scores 37 as No. 20 Utah routs No. 6 USC at home in 78-58 win

Freshman phenom JuJu Watkins wasn't enough to stop Utah women's basketball Friday night at the Huntsman Center in a top-20 matchup.

Osborne, Betts lead No. 5 UCLA past third-ranked Colorado 76-68 in first women's sellout in Boulder

Charisma Osborne scored 22 points and Lauren Betts added 20 as fifth-ranked UCLA overcame an early nine-point deficit to beat third-ranked Colorado 76-68 in the first top-five matchup in the country this season. The Bruins rebounded from a loss to Southern California earlier in the week that knocked them from the unbeaten ranks and dropped them from No. 2 in the country. They handed the Buffaloes their first loss at home. Jaylyn Sherrod led four Buffs in double figures with 17 points.

Chicago State defeats East-West 131-55

Led by Jahsean Corbett's 27 points, the Chicago State Cougars routed the East-West Phantoms 131-55

Bamisile scores 29 off the bench, VCU takes down Saint Louis 85-61

Joe Bamisile scored 29 points off of the bench to lead the VCU Rams over the Saint Louis Billikens 85-61

Fairfield defeats Saint Peter's 76-67

Led by Jalen Leach's 29 points, the Fairfield Stags defeated the Saint Peter's Peacocks 76-67

Niagara defeats Rider 78-74

Led by Harlan Obioha's 22 points, the Niagara Purple Eagles defeated the Rider Broncs 78-74

Freeman's 23 help Akron down Kent State 77-71

Led by Enrique Freeman's 23 points, the Akron Zips defeated the Kent State Golden Flashes 77-71

Rosenberger's 21 help Saint Francis (PA) knock off LIU 72-66

Led by Bobby Rosenberger III's 21 points, the Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash defeated the Long Island Sharks 72-66

Central Michigan holds off Toledo 65-62

Led by Anthony Pritchard's 20 points, the Central Michigan Chippewas defeated the Toledo Rockets 65-62

Leffew has 21 in Mount St. Mary's 65-48 win against Marist

Led by Dakota Leffew's 21 points, the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers defeated the Marist Red Foxes 65-48

Tretout's 14 lead Iona past Canisius 70-58

Led by Idan Tretout's 14 points, the Iona Gaels defeated the Canisius Golden Griffins 70-58

Cleary's 19, McClure's game-winner lead Le Moyne past Cent. Conn. St., 75-73

Kaiyem Cleary scored 19 points to lead the Le Moyne Dolphins and Nathan McClure hit the game-winning layup with one second remaining as the Dolphins took down the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils 75-73

Balanc's 26 help Quinnipiac down Siena 82-70

Led by Matt Balanc's 26 points, the Quinnipiac Bobcats defeated the Siena Saints 82-70

Council puts up 15 as Wagner beats Merrimack 71-65

Led by Melvin Council Jr.'s 15 points, the Wagner Seahawks defeated the Merrimack Warriors 71-65

Swain's dunk caps Xavier comeback win over Georgetown 92-91

Dailyn Swain drove for a game-winning dunk with 30 seconds left and Quincy Olivari scored 27 points to lead the Xavier Musketeers past the Georgetown Hoyas 92-91

Almonor scores 24 as Fairleigh Dickinson takes down Stonehill 76-69

Led by Ansley Almonor's 24 points, the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights defeated the Stonehill Skyhawks 76-69

Judge ends suspension of Illinois basketball star Terrence Shannon Jr., who faces rape charge

A federal judge has reinstated Illinois basketball star Terrence Shannon Jr., who had been suspended from the team since he was charged with rape in Kansas. U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Lawless found that the university had violated Shannon's civil rights. The judge noted that Shannon has a right to pursue his basketball career and make money from endorsements "while he is presumed innocent of the criminal charges." Illinois says in a statement that Shannon will be available to participate in practices and games. Shannon was charged on Dec. 5 in Douglas County, Kansas, with rape or an alternative count of sexual battery.

Florida is under NCAA investigation a year after a failed NIL deal with QB signee Jaden Rashada

Florida's football program is under NCAA investigation a year after a failed name, image and likeness deal worth more than $13 million with former signee Jaden Rashada. The Gators released the NCAA's notice of inquiry Friday to The Associated Press and the Tampa Bay Times after the newspaper's lawyers got involved. The NCAA's letter, dated June 9, 2023, is addressed to school president Ben Sasse and states the NCAA enforcement staff has begun an investigation into the football program. Names of investigators were redacted, and Rashada was not mentioned.

St. John's coach Rick Pitino expected back from COVID-19 on Saturday against No. 17 Marquette

St. John's coach Rick Pitino is expected back on the sideline Saturday against No. 17 Marquette following a bout with COVID-19. The 71-year-old Pitino was at practice Thursday after missing his team's 80-65 blowout loss Tuesday night at Seton Hall. Minus their Hall of Fame coach, the Red Storm gave up 28 straight points by the first-place Pirates to close the first half and begin the second. Associate head coach Steve Masiello ran the team in the absence of Pitino. Red Storm guard Jordan Dingle, the team's third-leading scorer, also sat out versus Seton Hall because of illness and won't play against Marquette at Madison Square Garden.

No. 7 Kansas State will be without center Ayoka Lee for roughly four weeks following ankle surgery

Kansas State center Ayoka Lee will miss roughly four weeks because of an ankle injury. The seventh-ranked Wildcats said Lee had surgery Friday, a day after tests revealed a small fracture in her ankle. The senior from Minnesota is averaging 19.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots. She ranks second in the nation and leads the Big 12 in field-goal percentage, shooting a career-best .677.  She is fourth in the Big 12 in scoring average and second in blocks per game.

Pistol Pete, Big Bill, Danny and the Miracles: 75 years of the AP Top 25 full of memorable moments

John Wooden was not effusive with praise. Even when star center Bill Walton dominated in the 1973 national championship game, the UCLA coach took a tongue-in-cheek jab by deriding the big redhead for missing a shot. No matter. Walton's performance against Memphis State is still one of the greatest individual games in history. Walton scored 44 points and made 21 of 22 while grabbing 13 rebounds in 33 minutes. Walton's game was one of many top performances in the 75-year history of The Associated Press men's college basketball poll, including Pete Maravich's season scoring mark, Stephen Curry's NCAA Tournament run with Davidson and Indiana's first 1976 season.

South Carolina hires ex-Texas A&M assistant Blackwell as running backs coach

South Carolina hired ex-Texas A&M assistant Marquel Blackwell as running backs coach, giving him a two-year contract worth $975,000. The university's board of trustees approved Blackwell's hiring Friday. Blackwell will receive $400,000 this season and $575,000 in 2025. He completes the staff for Shane Beamer, who finished his third season as Gamecocks coach. Blackwell is the second ex-Aggies assistant hired this month after James Coley was brought in to be South Carolina receivers' coach.

Alabama five-star QB signee Julian Sayin has entered the transfer portal

Alabama five-star quarterback signee Julian Sayin has entered the transfer portal. He's the latest player to leave the Crimson Tide since Nick Saban retired and ex-Washington coach Kalen DeBoer replaced him. Sayin was considered the third-best quarterback recruit in the country when he signed with Alabama last month. Sayin is the 26th player overall and second signee to enter the portal since the coaching changeover. Sayin is a 6-foot-1 passer from Carlsbad, California.

Returning players, key transfers, O'Brien hiring kick-start offseason for Ohio State's Ryan Day

With many players NFL eligible and others following unhappy starting quarterback Kyle McCord into the transfer portal, Ohio State football looked to be in for an unhappy winter. But it didn't happen that way. In fact, at least a dozen key contributors eligible for the NFL draft decided to stay in Columbus for another year, and the transfer portal provided the Buckeyes with more than it took away. Coach Ryan Day got top quarterback Will Howard, running back Quinshon Judkins and center Seth McLaughlin from the portal.

After 4 decades a Pac-12 only football award handed out for possibly the last time

Inside the ballroom of a swanky downtown Seattle athletic club another small piece to the legacy of Pac-12 football ended. The Morris Trophy was never a name-brand award handed out following the college football season in part because it honored players who rarely get attention and was uniquely tied to the West Coast. The award recognized the best offensive and defensive linemen in either the Pac-10 or once it expanded the Pac-12. It was awarded every year since 1980 and, perhaps most notably, was voted on by the players themselves. But with the collapse of the Pac-12 this is the last time for players being honored in this format. The honorees in likely the final year were Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu and UCLA defensive lineman Laiatu Latu.

Dorius, Utah Valley Wolverines to host Christensen and the Utah Tech Trailblazers

Utah Valley plays Utah Tech in a matchup of WAC teams. Saturday's game is the second meeting this season between the two teams. The Trailblazers won the last matchup 65-53. Utah Valley is 3-4 against the WAC, and Utah Tech is 3-3 against conference opponents.