UNDATED (AP) — Kansas State has hired former Texas Tech coach Matt Wells to join offensive line coach Conor Riley as the Wildcats’ co-offensive coordinators. They are taking over for Collin Klein, who left for the same job at Texas A&M. Wells spent the past two seasons at Oklahoma as an offensive analyst and advisor to Sooners coach Brent Venables. But he is most well known for coaching his alma mater, Utah State, for six seasons and the Red Raiders for three seasons. Riley has earned a reputation as one of the game's top offensive line coaches. He served as the coordinator for the Wildcats' bowl win over North Carolina State.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard has announced his intention to transfer to Ohio State on social media. He will replace Kyle McCord, who started most of the season for the Buckeyes but is transferring to Syracuse. Howard also considered Miami and USC along with declaring for the NFL draft before choosing Ohio State. Kansas State has been expected to turn over its offense to five-star prospect Avery Johnson, and that was likely a factor in Howard's decision to enter the transfer portal. He's started 27 games and thrown for 5,786 yards and 48 touchdowns during his career.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Led by Aaron Scott's 18 points, the North Texas Mean Green defeated the Wichita State Shockers 74-62 on Thursday night to open American Athletic Conference play. The Mean Green moved to 8-5 with the victory and the Shockers fell to 8-6.
UNDATED (AP) — Dalvin Cook is joining the Baltimore Ravens for a playoff run after being waived by the New York Jets. Cook’s agents with LAA Sports & Entertainment confirmed the move to The Associated Press on Thursday. It came after Cook cleared waivers and became a free agent. The four-time Pro Bowl running back will have a chance to get familiar with the Ravens’ offense before the team opens its postseason during the AFC divisional round in 2 1/2 weeks. NFL Network first reported the decision by Baltimore to sign Cook. ESPN reported Cook will first be added to the Ravens’ practice squad.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals have hired longtime Washington Nationals executive Johnny DiPuglia as their special assistant of international scouting and Fred Guerrero as their coordinator of player evaluation in two important additions to their front office. DiPuglia spent 11 seasons with the Boston Red Sox before his run with the Nationals, and is expected to give Kansas City a fresh approach to its international scouting plan. Guerrera is joining the Royals from AL Central-rival Minnesota, where he had been director of Latin American scouting for nearly a decade.
KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — Sahith Theegala is the leader at Kapalua after the first round of the year at The Sentry. He had six straight birdies to start the back nine and shot 64 in the PGA Tour season opener. All the emotion belonged to Collin Morikawa. He has deep ties to Maui and was moved by the opening ceremony of a Hawaiian prayer and blessing. So much is geared toward relief efforts for the deadly Lahaina fires in August. That's the historic town 10 miles away where Morikawa's grandparents were born. He hit the opening tee shot and posted a 65. FedEx Cup champion Viktor Hovland had the same score.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Fire officials say a child playing with a cigarette lighter started a fire at the $6.9 million home owned by Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill. Davie Fire Marshal Robert Taylor tells The Associated Press that the fire was accidental. He did not provide the age of the child, or the amount of damage caused by the fire. Hill was at Dolphins practice when the fire broke out. He left when he got word about the blaze. Miami television station WSVN showed a large amount of black smoke coming from the roof as firefighters doused the house with water. No one was injured in the fire.
UNDATED (AP) — The NCAA and ESPN have agreed to a $920 million, eight-year deal that will give the network exclusive rights to 40 championships, including the Division I women’s basketball tournament. The women's side of March Madness has been growing in popularity and the association has been accused of undervaluing it in the past. NCAA President Charlie Baker told The Associated Press the deal has an average annual value of $115 million. That's an increase of more than 300% per year on what the previous 14-year deal with ESPN was paying the association. The deal covers 21 women’s and 19 men’s sports.
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — Officials say South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has been released from prison on parole after serving nearly nine years in prison for killing his girlfriend. The Department of Corrections gave no more details of Pistorius’ release. The announcement came around 8:30 a.m., indicating that officials released the world-famous double-amputee Olympic runner early in the morning. Pistorius has served nearly nine years of his almost 13-and-a-half-year murder sentence for killing model and law graduate Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013. He was approved for parole in November. Serious offenders in South Africa are eligible for parole after serving at least half their sentence.
THURSDAY SCORES
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (10)Arizona 97 Colorado 50
Final (15)Memphis 78 Tulsa 75
Final (19)James Madison 68 Louisiana-Lafayette 61
Final (24)Gonzaga 86 Pepperdine 60
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Milwaukee 125 San Antonio 121
Final Denver 130 Golden State 127
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final N-Y Rangers 4 Chicago 1
Final Buffalo 6 Montreal 1
Final Pittsburgh 6 Boston 5
Final SO Columbus 3 Philadelphia 2
Final St. Louis 2 Vancouver 1
Final Tampa Bay 4 Minnesota 1
Final Calgary 6 Nashville 3
Final OT Colorado 5 Dallas 4
Final N-Y Islanders 5 Arizona 1
Final Seattle 4 Ottawa 1
Final Florida 4 Vegas 1
Final Winnipeg 2 San Jose 1