CINCINNATI (AP) — Viktor Lakhin scored 18 points to lead Cincinnati to a 65-49 victory over Merrimack. Cincinnati (9-2) never trailed, had a double-digit lead for most of the second half and improved to 8-0 at home. Lakhin was 8 of 14 from the floor and had seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Simas Lukosius added 11 points for the Bearcats. Jamille Reynolds, a Temple transfer who made his Cincinnati debut in an 82-68 loss at Dayton, added seven points to go with 11 rebounds. Jordan Derkack scored 18 points and made three 3-pointers but had seven turnovers for Merrimack (5-7).
UNDATED (AP) — No. 7 Oklahoma has passed every test during an undefeated season, winning seven of its first 10 games by 20 points or more. The Sooners will face what may be their biggest test so far this season on Wednesday, when they play an angry North Carolina team in its home state. Oklahoma is coming off a blowout win over Green Bay after a sluggish start. No. 4 Arizona also faces a tough week after being dropped from the top spot in the AP Top 25, with games against Alabama and No. 14 Florida Atlantic. The best game of the week may be between No. 10 Baylor and No. 21 Duke at Madison Square Garden.
UNDATED (AP) — Aaron Rodgers’ quest to make an improbable return this season for the New York Jets appears over. The 40-year-old quarterback said during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday he’s not yet 100% healthy in his recovery from a torn left Achilles tendon and is still a few weeks away. Rodgers said if the Jets had won last Sunday at Miami and remained in the postseason hunt, he “would have pushed it as far as I could this week” even at less than full health to play against Washington on Sunday. But the Jets were routed 30-0 and eliminated from playoff contention for the 13th straight year.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — It can happen almost overnight: a backup quarterback goes from holding a clipboard to being thrust into action. Backups are on display all around the NFL right now after a flurry of starters have gone down for the season with injuries and teams have needed help to keep their postseason hopes alive. At the end of Week 15, 18 teams had started quarterbacks who weren’t their first-string passers on opening day; 56 different quarterbacks have started an NFL game this season. And as starters continue going down, the value of backups keeps rising.
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The intensity of NFL fandom that increased with the surge of fantasy football has spiked further in the age of online betting. The accessibility of social media has put players in position to feel that ferocity as never before. That’s one reason why the league has a wellness program for these uniquely high-profile employees. Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison is one player who spoke out recently about hateful and racist messages directed toward him on social media after a tough loss. Dealing with the ups and downs of digital feedback is a big challenge.
SEATTLE (AP) — Washington's Kalen DeBoer has been named The Associated Press coach of the year in college football. The Huskies are 13-0, won the Pac-12 championship and have a spot in the College Football Playoff in just DeBoer's second year in charge. The Huskies will face Texas in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 with a spot in the CFP championship game on the line. In DeBoer's two seasons, the Huskies are 24-2 overall. Mike Norvell of Florida State was second in voting and Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz was third.
UNDATED (AP) — All the attention surrounding quarterbacks who switch schools has overshadowed how the popularity of the transfer portal has affected the way colleges try stockpile talent at other positions. The Associated Press measured the impact of the transfers by tracking the top 20 prospects at every position each year from 2019-22 according to the 247Sports Composite. Nearly two-thirds of those 80 quarterbacks already have switched schools or are currently in the portal. But about 55% of the cornerbacks and about half of the safeties, running backs, wide receivers and inside linebackers also have either transferred or are doing so.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ed Budde, who spent 14 years playing along the offensive line of the Kansas City Chiefs, died Tuesday at the age of 83. His family announced his death through a statement issued by the Chiefs. No cause was provided. Budde was born in Michigan and was an All-American at Michigan State before the Chiefs chose him in the first round of the 1963 AFL Draft. He helped the franchise win AFL titles in 1966 and 1969 and beat the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. He retired after the 1976 season and remained active in the Kansas City community. He was at the NFL Draft in April and helped announce the Chiefs' second-round selection of wide receiver Rashee Rice.
TUESDAY SCORES
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final Providence 72 (6)Marquette 57
Final (20)James Madison 87 Coppin St. 48
Final (23)Memphis 77 (22)Virginia 54
Final (25)Mississippi 74 Troy 53
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Memphis 115 New Orleans 113
Final Milwaukee 132 San Antonio 119
Final Portland 109 Phoenix 104
Final OT Golden State 132 Boston 126
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Tampa Bay 6 St. Louis 1
Final Columbus 9 Buffalo 4
Final OT Philadelphia 3 New Jersey 2
Final N-Y Rangers 5 Toronto 2
Final Carolina 6 Vegas 3
Final OT Minnesota 4 Boston 3
Final N-Y Islanders 3 Edmonton 1
Final Vancouver 5 Nashville 2
Final Chicago 3 Colorado 2
Final Arizona 4 Ottawa 3