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Taiwan says it spotted a Chinese surveillance balloon as the island’s election nears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:05 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s Defense Ministry says it spotted a Chinese surveillance balloon in the Taiwan Strait along with a large-scale movement of military aircraft and ships.The ministry said the balloon passed southwest of the northern port city of Keelung on Thursday night, then continued east before disappearing, possibly into the Pacific Ocean.There seemed to be some uncertainty about whether the balloon was operated by the People’s Liberation Army, the military branch of China’s ruling Communist Party. The ministry referred to it both as a ”PLA surveillance balloon” and as “PRC’s balloon,” using the acronym for the People’s Republic of China, China’s official name. A Defense Ministry spokesperson said they had no additional information.The incident came just over a month before Taiwan is to hold elections for president and the legislature and raises questions about possible Chinese efforts to influence the vote.China’s Defense Mi...

Cone leads Cal against Butler after 26-point game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:05 GMT

California Golden Bears (3-5) at Butler Bulldogs (7-2)Indianapolis; Saturday, 12 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: Cal visits the Butler Bulldogs after Jalen Cole scored 26 points in Cal’s 84-69 win against the Santa Clara Broncos.The Bulldogs are 5-0 in home games. Butler is third in the Big East scoring 82.1 points while shooting 48.1% from the field.The Golden Bears play their first true road game after going 3-5 to begin the season. Cal averages 74.6 points and has outscored opponents by 1.7 points per game.Butler’s average of 8.0 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.5 more made shots on average than the 7.5 per game Cal gives up. Cal has shot at a 43.5% rate from the field this season, 3.4 percentage points greater than the 40.1% shooting opponents of Butler have averaged.TOP PERFORMERS: Pierre Brooks is shooting 50.9% and averaging 16.9 points for the Bulldogs. DJ Davis is averaging 11.9 points for Butler.Jaylon Tyson is averaging 20.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.1 ass...

VMI hosts American after Watkins’ 20-point game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:05 GMT

American Eagles (4-6) at VMI Keydets (2-7)Lexington, Virginia; Saturday, 1 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: VMI faces the American Eagles after Brennan Watkins scored 20 points in VMI’s 75-71 loss to the Presbyterian Blue Hose.The Keydets have gone 2-1 at home. VMI leads the SoCon with 28.4 defensive rebounds per game led by Taeshaud Jackson averaging 8.0.The Eagles are 0-5 on the road. American is seventh in the Patriot League allowing 74.7 points while holding opponents to 48.1% shooting.VMI’s average of 7.3 made 3-pointers per game is 1.7 fewer made shots on average than the 9.0 per game American gives up. American has shot at a 44.0% clip from the field this season, 3.9 percentage points greater than the 40.1% shooting opponents of VMI have averaged.TOP PERFORMERS: Watkins is scoring 14.6 points per game and averaging 1.7 rebounds for the Keydets. Koree Cotton is averaging 13.6 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 44.6% for VMI.Geoff Sprouse averages 2.4 made 3-pointers per ga...

Jacksonville State Gamecocks to take on the UIC Flames Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:05 GMT

UIC Flames (5-3, 0-1 MVC) at Jacksonville State Gamecocks (4-5)Jacksonville, Alabama; Friday, 7 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Gamecocks -1.5; over/under is 131BOTTOM LINE: Jacksonville State plays UIC in a matchup of Division 1 Division teams.The Gamecocks have gone 2-2 in home games. Jacksonville State is the CUSA leader with 10.9 offensive rebounds per game led by Brad Lewis averaging 6.0.The Flames are 1-1 on the road. UIC ranks sixth in the MVC with 14.8 assists per game led by Christian Jones averaging 5.0.Jacksonville State averages 5.7 made 3-pointers per game, 1.2 more made shots than the 4.5 per game UIC gives up. UIC scores 12.2 more points per game (74.4) than Jacksonville State gives up (62.2).TOP PERFORMERS: KyKy Tandy is scoring 18.3 points per game and averaging 2.2 rebounds for the Gamecocks. Quincy Clark is averaging 11.1 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 50.6% for Jacksonville State.Isaiah Rivera is averaging 16 points for the Flames. Toby Okani is averagin...

Charlotte visits No. 22 Duke after Roach’s 20-point showing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:05 GMT

Charlotte 49ers (5-3) at Duke Blue Devils (5-3, 0-1 ACC)Durham, North Carolina; Saturday, 2:15 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: No. 22 Duke hosts the Charlotte 49ers after Jeremy Roach scored 20 points in Duke’s 72-68 loss to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.The Blue Devils have gone 4-1 in home games. Duke averages 80.9 points while outscoring opponents by 13.8 points per game.The 49ers play their first true road game after going 5-3 with a 1-2 record in neutral-site games to begin the season. Charlotte ranks sixth in the AAC shooting 32.6% from 3-point range.Duke averages 80.9 points, 19.0 more per game than the 61.9 Charlotte gives up. Charlotte has shot at a 47.1% rate from the field this season, 4.5 percentage points higher than the 42.6% shooting opponents of Duke have averaged.TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Filipowski is scoring 18.9 points per game and averaging 8.4 rebounds for the Blue Devils. Roach is averaging 13.9 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 48.8% for Duke.Lu’Cye Patter...

Stafford leads Valparaiso against Virginia Tech after 23-point game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:05 GMT

Valparaiso Beacons (4-5, 0-2 MVC) at Virginia Tech Hokies (6-3, 1-0 ACC)Blacksburg, Virginia; Saturday, 12 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: Valparaiso visits the Virginia Tech Hokies after Isaiah Stafford scored 23 points in Valparaiso’s 71-67 loss to the Central Michigan Chippewas.The Hokies are 4-0 on their home court. Virginia Tech is 6-3 against opponents over .500.The Beacons are 0-3 on the road. Valparaiso has a 2-3 record in games decided by 10 or more points.Virginia Tech averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game, 1.0 more made shot than the 6.2 per game Valparaiso allows. Valparaiso’s 39.6% shooting percentage from the field this season is 3.8 percentage points lower than Virginia Tech has given up to its opponents (43.4%).TOP PERFORMERS: Lynn Kidd is scoring 15.1 points per game with 7.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists for the Hokies. Hunter Cattoor is averaging 14.6 points and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 41.9% for Virginia Tech.Stafford is shooting 37.6% and averaging 18.8 points fo...

Ajayi, Pepperdine Waves to host Pope, UCSD Tritons

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:05 GMT

UCSD Tritons (5-4) at Pepperdine Waves (4-7)Malibu, California; Saturday, 9 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: UCSD heads to Pepperdine for a Division 1 Division matchup Saturday.The Waves have gone 4-2 in home games. Pepperdine is eighth in the WCC in rebounding with 30.9 rebounds. Michael Ajayi leads the Waves with 10.0 boards.The Tritons are 0-2 on the road. UCSD ranks third in the Big West shooting 34.3% from 3-point range.Pepperdine scores 72.5 points per game, 2.8 more points than the 69.7 UCSD gives up. UCSD’s 46.1% shooting percentage from the field this season is 3.0 percentage points lower than Pepperdine has given up to its opponents (49.1%).TOP PERFORMERS: Ajayi is averaging 17.6 points and 10 rebounds for the Waves. Houston Mallette is averaging 16.8 points over the past 10 games for Pepperdine.Bryce Pope is shooting 42.4% and averaging 17.9 points for the Tritons. Francis Nwaokorie is averaging 14.2 points for UCSD.___The Associated Press created this story using technology pr...

Utah hosts No. 14 BYU following Keita’s 23-point game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:05 GMT

BYU Cougars (8-0) at Utah Utes (6-2)Salt Lake City; Saturday, 7 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: Utah takes on the No. 14 BYU Cougars after Keba Keita scored 23 points in Utah’s 88-86 victory against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds.The Utes have gone 4-0 at home. Utah is fifth in the Pac-12 with 17.0 assists per game led by Rollie Worster averaging 5.9.The Cougars play their first true road game after going 8-0 to begin the season. BYU ranks sixth in college basketball allowing 59.0 points while holding opponents to 38.9% shooting.Utah averages 8.0 made 3-pointers per game, 3.7 more made shots than the 4.3 per game BYU allows. BYU averages 12.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.1 more made shots on average than the 9.8 per game Utah gives up.TOP PERFORMERS: Gabe Madsen averages 2.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Utes, scoring 14.3 points while shooting 42.9% from beyond the arc. Branden Carlson is shooting 47.1% and averaging 17.3 points for Utah.Jaxson Robinson is averaging 16.9 p...

Mercer Bears face the Georgia State Panthers on 3-game losing streak

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:05 GMT

Georgia State Panthers (4-4) at Mercer Bears (2-6)Macon, Georgia; Saturday, 2 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: Mercer enters the matchup with Georgia State after losing three games in a row.The Bears have gone 0-2 in home games. Mercer is 0-3 in games decided by at least 10 points.The Panthers are 2-3 on the road. Georgia State ranks ninth in the Sun Belt allowing 75.8 points while holding opponents to 45.6% shooting.Mercer is shooting 42.2% from the field this season, 3.4 percentage points lower than the 45.6% Georgia State allows to opponents. Georgia State averages 79.0 points per game, 4.2 more than the 74.8 Mercer allows.TOP PERFORMERS: Jalyn McCreary is scoring 13.4 points per game with 5.1 rebounds and 0.6 assists for the Bears. Robby Carmody is averaging 10.5 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 51.9% for Mercer.Toneari Lane averages 2.9 made 3-pointers per game for the Panthers, scoring 13.3 points while shooting 35.4% from beyond the arc. Lucas Taylor is averaging 14 points for Geor...

Warmer Weekend Weather Ahead of the Next Front

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:05 GMT

A dramatic change is in the air this morning across South Florida as winds have veered back off the water out of the east, leading to temperatures nearly 20F warmer this morning compared to yesterday.Not only will lows be warmer the next few days but highs will be too — rising from the low 70s on Wednesday to the mid 80s this weekend.Throughout today, expect mostly cloudy skies along with typical temperatures in the upper 70s to around 80F — still with low humidity.Humidity will gradually rise back to the moderate category this weekend, however, as winds veer more out of the south ahead of our next front.Saturday will be the better half of the weekend featuring mostly sunny skies, a beach breeze and highs in the mid 80s.That’s because more available moisture in the atmosphere will start to stream in on Sunday, leading to the chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms, primarily from Sunday afternoon through early Monday morning. By daybreak Monday, our next fro...