Chad Baker-Mazara out at USC in final week of season as Trojans try to snap losing skid, make NCAA tournament push

Chad Baker-Mazara's time with USC is over.

The Trojans announced Sunday afternoon that Baker-Mazara was no longer with the program, marking a stunning development for the team as it enters the final stretch of the regular season and the Big Ten tournament.

According toThe Los Angeles Times' Ryan Kartje, there wasn't one specific incident but "an accumulation of issues" that led to his dismissal. Further specifics on his departure are not yet known.

Baker-Mazara, 26, transferred into USC this season. The former Auburn star has averaged 18.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game this season with the Trojans, all of which have been career highs. He's USC's leading scorer and was the Maui Invitational MVP in November.

Baker-Mazara played just 19 minutes in the team's 82-67 loss to No. 12 Nebraska on Saturday. He went down with an apparent leg injury early in the second half after blocking a shot and did not return.

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Can USC make the NCAA tournament without Baker-Mazara?

Baker-Mazara's departure is coming at an awful time for the Trojans and head coach Eric Musselman.

USC has just two games left in the regular season, first at Washington on Wednesday and then at home against UCLA on Saturday. Both of those are games the Trojans will have to win if they want any shot at making it into the NCAA tournament.

Saturday's loss to Nebraska marked the Trojans' fifth straight. They've not beaten a ranked opponent all season and sit at just 18-11. They have significant work to do in order to make it to the tournament, a place the program hasn't been since 2023.

But it isn't out of the question. If the Trojans can end the regular season on a two-game win streak and then make a decent run in the Big Ten tournament in Chicago, an at-large bid certainly isn't out of the question.

But now, without Baker-Mazara around, pulling off that feat is going to be much more difficult for the Trojans.

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March 01, 2026

Chad Baker-Mazara out at USC in final week of season as Trojans try to snap losing skid, make NCAA tournament push

Chad Baker-Mazara's time with USC is over. The Trojans announced Sunday afternoon that Baker-Mazara was no...

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Jess McClain accidentally runs off course while while leading late at U.S. Half Marathon Championships, finishes 9th

Jess McClain thought she had an easy finish ahead of her at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships on Sunday in Atlanta. She was well ahead of the pack, and nobody was behind her with less than two miles to go on the course.

But quickly, McClain realized that nobody was in front of her, either. She had accidentally followed the lead bike off the course completely.

By the time McClain had turned around, got back on the course and made it to the finish line, she was in ninth. Molly Born, who was more than a minute off of McClain's pace before the blunder, ended up winning the national championship with a time of 69 minutes, 43 seconds.

McClain finished with a time of 1:11.27. Emma Grace Hurley and Ednah Kurgat also made the mistake and left the course briefly. Hurley and Kurgat finished in 12th and 13th, respectively.

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The three runners immediately filed protests and appeals to USA Track & Field, but both were denied.

"The event did not meet USATF Rule 243 and that the course was not adequately marked at the point of misdirection," USATF said in a statement,via The Athletic. "This violation contributed to the misdirection taken by the athletes within the top four at the time of misdirection. However, the jury of appeals finds no recourse within the USATF rulebook to alter the results order of finish. The results order of finish as posted is considered final."

Had she held on to win, McClain would have claimed her first national championship. That would have earned her a $20,000 payout and a trip to the world championships in Copenhagen, Denmark.

McClain finished in eighth in the world championship marathon event last year. The 34-year-old finished in fourth in the half-marathon national title in 2025, too. It's unclear what happened specifically when the lead bike left the course on Sunday, but the rules state that runners are responsible for knowing the course ahead of time.

Though McClain did not earn an automatic spot in the world championship race, a spot there is still possible.

"This race was a selection event for the 2026 World Road Running Championships," USATF said in a statement. "That team is not officially selected until May. USATF will review the events from Atlanta carefully. While we understand athletes are eager to resolve this issue expeditiously, our process will ensure an ultimate decision is in the best interest of all the athletes involved."

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March 01, 2026

Jess McClain accidentally runs off course while while leading late at U.S. Half Marathon Championships, finishes 9th

Jess McClain thought she had an easy finish ahead of her at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships on Sunday in Atlanta. Sh...

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Iran soccer federation casts doubt on World Cup status after US attack

The president of Iran's soccer federation has cast doubt on his country's participation in the 2026 World Cup following theU.S. bombing of Iranon Saturday, Feb 28.

The missile attacks, which were also carried out by Israel, killed a number of top Iranian officialsincluding the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran's state broadcaster reported the death toll from the strikes has reached 201 with 747 people injured as of Sunday, March 1.

"What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope," Mehdi Taj told Iran state television.

Iran has retaliated with attacks on countries such as Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, all of which host U.S. military bases.

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The conflict broke out only months before Iran is scheduled to travel to the United States for the2026 World Cup, which will also be co-hosted by Canada and Mexico.

Photos show Trump and celebs gather for 2026 World Cup draw

Iran was drawn into Group Galongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. Team Melli is scheduled to play two group-stage games in Los Angeles (June 15 and 21) and one in Seattle (June 26).

Visitors from Iran are already set to be barred from entering the United States for the World Cup. Iran was among 19 countries included in atravel banthat the Trump administration announced in June.

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks on Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom said hisorganization was focused on "all the teams participating"in the World Cup as planned.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Iran unsure of 2026 World Cup status after US bombing, missile strikes

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March 01, 2026

Iran soccer federation casts doubt on World Cup status after US attack

The president of Iran's soccer federation has cast doubt on his country's participation in the 2026 World Cup fol...

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Knicks end Spurs' 11-game winning streak with early surge leading to decisive 114-89 victory

Aftergoing undefeated in February, the San Antonio Spurs began March with a loss. The Spurs'11-game winning streakended on Sunday at Madison Square Garden with a defeat to the New York Knicks.

Initially, San Antonio appeared to be on its way to a 12th consecutive win. The Spurs took a 19-7 lead in the first quarter on a Stephon Castle 3-pointer with 4:56 remaining in the frame and looked like they were in full control.

However, the game then took a 180-degree turn. Jalen Brunson scored New York's final 11 points of the first, putting the Knicks on top with a 3. Brunson's outburst was part of a 26-2 Knicks run that ended with Mikal Bridges getting a fast-break dunk off a Victor Wembanyama miss, resulting in a 33-21 lead.

San Antonio scored the final five points of the first half to close the Knicks' lead to 51-41, and cut the deficit to eight points to begin the third quarter. But every time the Spurs tried to start a rally, New York quickly answered with a basket to maintain a double-digit lead.

Playing the fourth game of a five-game road trip, the Spurs seemed to finally run out of fuel in the fourth quarter and the Knicks capitalized, going on a 17-6 run to begin the closing 12 minutes. A 3-pointer from Landry Shamet essentially put the game out of reach, giving New York a 104-82 lead with 3:37 remaining.

From there, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson pulled his starters from the game and emptied the bench.

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Bridges led the Knicks with 25 points (hitting 5-of-9 3-pointers), along with 5 rebounds and 5 steals. Brunson added 24 points with 4 rebounds and 7 assists. Mohamed Diawara provided a surprise off the bench with 14 points (knocking down 4-of-13 3-point tries).

Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby each scored 12 points, but struggled against Wembanyama near the basket. Towns also grabbed 14 boards.

The win boosted the Knicks' record to 39-22, keeping them close to the Boston Celtics (39-22 going into their Sunday night matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers) forthe No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference. New York has won four of its past five games and 14 of its past 18. The Knicks face the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday before matchups versus the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets later in the week.

Wembanyama scored 25 points for the Spurs, adding 13 rebounds and 4 blocks. Devin Vassell followed with 18 points and 7 rebounds, but Castle was the only other San Antonio player to score in double figures.

Three-point shooting was a major asset for the Spurs during their 11-game winning streak, but they struggled from long range on Sunday. San Antonio shot only 26% (9-for-34) on 3-point tries, and Vassell was the only Spur to hit more than one, going 3-for-9.

The Spurs finish their Eastern road trip on Tuesday versus the 76ers and then begin a six-game homestand against the Detroit Pistons, who they defeated last week,114-103, in arguably the most impressive win during their 11-game streak.

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March 01, 2026

Knicks end Spurs' 11-game winning streak with early surge leading to decisive 114-89 victory

Aftergoing undefeated in February, the San Antonio Spurs began March with a loss. The Spurs'11-game winning streak...

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No. 3 Michigan backup guard L.J. Cason to miss remainder of season with torn right knee ligament

ANN ARBOR, Michigan (AP) — No. 3 Michigan sophomore guard L.J. Cason will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL in his right knee, the team announced Saturday.

Cason came up limping a day earlier inan 84-70 win at Illinoisin which the Wolverines (27-2, 17-1) clinched the Big Ten regular-season title.

He appeared to be initially hurt when falling to the court after chasing down a defensive rebound late in the first half. Cason returned to play for two-plus minutes in the second half before leaving the game with about 13 minutes left, and finished with nine points.

"First and foremost, our hearts hurt for L.J.," coach Dusty May said in a statement.

"You never want to see a young man who has poured so much into this program have something like this happen," he added. "However, if there's anyone equipped to handle this and the rehab process, it's LJ."

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Cason is a primary backup, who was sixth on the team in averaging 8.4 points per outing, while going 33 of 82 in 3-point attempts in 28 games this season.

"This isn't how I wanted my season to end, but I trust God's plan, and I'll attack rehab the same way I approach everything -- with focus and determination," Cason said. "We've got many goals as a team, and I'll be locked in supporting my brothers every step of the way."

Michigan plays at Iowa on Thursday before closing its season hosting Michigan State on March 8. The team has earned a bye through the opening rounds of the Big Ten tournament, which it will open in the quarterfinals on March 13.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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March 01, 2026

No. 3 Michigan backup guard L.J. Cason to miss remainder of season with torn right knee ligament

ANN ARBOR, Michigan (AP) — No. 3 Michigan sophomore guard L.J. Cason will miss the remainder of the season with a torn AC...

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South Carolina's Staley says school is working to bring 3 former players home from Israel

South Carolina coachDawn Staley said on social mediaSaturday that the school is working to try and help a few former players return home from Israel where they are playing professionally.

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The trio of former Gamecocks — Tiffany Mitchell, Destiny Littleton and Mikiah Herbert Harrigan — as well as other former WNBA players are playing basketball in Israel, which along with the United States,launched a major attackon Iran on Saturday.

"Please pray for our @GamecockWBB @TiffMitch25 @2121Mikiah @dstnylttltn24 who are in a war zone in Israel," Staley said on X. "We are working a plan to get home. Let us pray for our loved ones to return home safely asap! Thank you in advance."

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Mitchell played last season in Seattle, while Harrigan was on the Phoenix Mercury. Other players in the Israeli league with WNBA ties include Victoria Vivians, Christyn Williams, Shyanne Sellers, Arella Guirantes and Evina Westbrook.

"It's 12:48 am and I'm going to attempt to get some sleep,"Littleton tweeted. "Prayers for safety for everyone impacted."

AP WNBA:https://apnews.com/hub/wnba

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March 01, 2026

South Carolina's Staley says school is working to bring 3 former players home from Israel

South Carolina coachDawn Staley said on social mediaSaturday that the school is working to try and help a few former play...

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Cliff-hanger derby caps Rugby League's return to Las Vegas in pursuit of new American fans

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Rugby league's bid to crack into the U.S. sports market returned to Las Vegas on Saturday with its mission to convert Americans to thisrugged brand of footballdrawing almost 50,000 fans to Allegiant stadium.

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It's the third consecutive year Australia's National Rugby League has showcased the gritty sport in the entertainment capital.

How many locals showed up among the thousands of traveling fans from Australia and England on a day that saw three matches was not immediately clear, but the showcase delivered on the entertainment stakes capped by a cliffhanger between two historic rivals.

The NRL has committed until 2028 to play regular season matches in Las Vegas as part of a strategic plan to broaden an international audience for the sport and increase its sports betting revenue by playing Prime Time in the entertainment capital.

Australia has been courting the US market since 1987when it played a State of Origin match between New South Wales and Queensland in Long Beach.

Bulldogs in derby win

A field goal in the second period of 'golden point' extra time by Canterbury Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton decided a brutally physical encounter against the St. George-Illawarra Dragons.

Tied at 14-14 at the end of regulation and with both teams missing chances in the first period of extra time, Crichton stepped up from 20 meters (yards) to nervelessly slot home his kick to give the Bulldogs a dramatic victory.

Crichton had earlier played in winger Jacob Kiraz for Canterbury's second try after Jacob Preston had opened the scoring for Canterbury.

The Dragons twice leveled the match with a rare try by prop Emre Guler, while Setu Tu scored acrobatically in the corner for a try on his NRL debut.

Dragons half Kyle Flanagan kicked a penalty goal in the final minutes of regulation to tie the game and force extra time.

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Knights upset Cowboys

Earlier, the Newcastle Knights stunned the North Queensland Cowboys 28-18 in the NRL season opener.

The match was in the balance at 22-18 in the last 10 minutes, before Braidon Burns was penalized for a high hit on Knights star Kalyn Ponga and was sent to the sin bin by referee Ashley Klein.

Newcastle, which finished bottom of the NRL standings last season, seized on the extra man advantage with prop forward Trey Mooney barging over to seal the win.

Newcastle raced to a 12-0 lead with tries from Greg Marzhew and Fletcher Sharpe, before the Cowboys rallied after Heilum Luki and Murray Taulagi scored to level at 12-12 at half time.

Bradman Best and Dominic Young scored a quickfire double for the Knights after the break before Taulagi's second try narrowed the deficit.

Leeds thump Hull KR

Maika Sivo scored four tries as the Leeds Rhinos thumped Hull KR 56-8 in the first match at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday featuring two English clubs.

The Rhinos stormed to a 28-0 halftime lead. Converted tries to Brodie Croft, Keenan Palasia, Ryan Hall and a double to Sivo set the tone.

Leeds maintained momentum in the second half with former Parramatta Eel Sivo scoring twice more, while Croft added a second try and Cooper Jenkins crashed over twice.

Hull's only reply came through Joe Burgess, a lone consolation after their World Club Challenge win over theBrisbane Broncoslast week.

AP sports:https://apnews.com/sports

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March 01, 2026

Cliff-hanger derby caps Rugby League's return to Las Vegas in pursuit of new American fans

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Rugby league's bid to crack into the U.S. sports market returned to Las Vegas on Saturday with its m...

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