The University of Florida has cleared men’s basketball coach Todd Golden following a four-month Title IX investigation into allegations of sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and stalking.

The school released a statement saying no evidence was found and ended its investigation. It comes amid No. 5 Florida’s best season in a decade, with the Gators having won 18 of their first 20 games.

“The University of Florida takes these matters seriously and works deliberately to ensure that due process is upheld for everyone,” university spokesman Steve Orlando said in a statement. “After a thorough investigation that included dozens of interviews over the past months, the University of Florida has found no evidence that Todd Golden violated Title IX. The Title IX office has closed its investigation.”

Golden previously sidestepped chances to deny the allegations “out of the respect to the process” and threatened legal action, presumably against his publicly unnamed accusers.

The complaint against Golden accused him of sending photos and videos of his genitalia, making unwanted sexual advances on Instagram and requesting sexual favors. The Independent Florida Alligator first reported the allegations in early November.

Auburn and Duke top Men’s Top 25 poll >> Auburn keeps winning games that come down to the wire. It’s kept them on top of the AP Top 25, too.

The Tigers were the unanimous choice atop the men’s college basketball poll for the second consecutive week, getting all 62 votes from the national media panel. Their place at No. 1 was solidified when Miles Kelly hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 30 seconds left to propel Auburn to a 53-51 victory over then-No. 6 Tennessee over the weekend.

The Tigers led a top five that was unchanged from the previous week. Duke remained No. 2 followed by Iowa State, Alabama and Florida, which rallied to beat South Carolina early in the week before a resounding victory over Georgia.

The big changes came elsewhere in the Top 25.

Houston climbed one spot to No. 6 thanks to a rout of Utah and a frantic, double-overtime win at Kansas.

Women’s basketball

Vanderbilt makes top 25 poll for first time in 11 years >> Vanderbilt entered the Associated Press women’s basketball Top 25 at No. 23, its first ranking in more than a decade, while Texas returned to the top five and Ohio State and Duke both jumped back into the top 10.

Shea Ralph’s Vanderbilt team is in the poll for the first time since Feb. 10, 2014, and has two wins over ranked teams for the first time since the 2015-16 season. The Commodores topped then-No. 19 Alabama on Sunday as the Crimson Tide were one of a dozen ranked teams to lose last week.

The top four teams remained the same as UCLA, South Carolina, Notre Dame and USC all avoided upsets last week.

Track & Field

Spectator killed by hammer throw >> An errant weight thrown by a competitor in a hammer throw event struck and killed a spectator at a youth track and field meet in Colorado, according to officials at the university where the competition was held.

The weight cleared certified barriers before striking the man Sunday morning at the University of Colorado’s Colorado Springs campus, according to a university statement.

Firefighters pronounced the man dead at the scene. He apparently had tried to shield his wife and son from the ball, KRDO-TV reported. The so-called hammer in the hammer throw event is actually a heavy ball on a chain.

Hockey

Capitals sign Thompson to 6-year deal >> The NHL-leading Washington Capitals have signed goaltender Logan Thompson to a six-year contract extension worth $35.1 million.

Thompson will count $5.85 million against the salary cap from when the new deal kicks in next season through 2030-31. He’s currently in the final season of a contract that’s paying him less than $800,000 annually.

The 27-year-old late bloomer has thrived in Washington since joining the team last summer in a trade from Vegas. He has won 22 of his 26 starts and ranks second in the league with a 2.09 goals-against average and third with a .925 save percentage.

Blues and Islanders make a trade >> The New York Islanders made another addition to their blue line, acquiring defenseman Scott Perunovich from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2026 draft.

The trade announced by the teams comes on the heels of the Islanders signing Tony DeAngelo to a contract for the rest of the NHL season. DeAngelo made his debut Saturday after signing for a prorated $775,000 on Friday and clearing waivers.

NFL

Buccaneers’ Evans makes 6th pro bowl >> Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans got his 11th straight 1,000-yard season — and now he’s a Pro Bowler for the sixth time.

Evans was named to the Pro Bowl Games on Monday as a replacement player after spots were vacated by this year’s Super Bowl participants — the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs — and because of injuries.

With his sixth selection, Evans ties former Buccaneers fullback Mike Alstott for the most in franchise history.

Soccer

Al Hilal terminates Neymar’s Contract >> Saudi Arabia club Al-Hilal said it reached an agreement with Brazilian striker Neymar to terminate their contract by mutual consent. The deal was due to expire in the middle of the year.

The club said in a statement published on X that it “expresses its thanks and appreciation to Neymar for what he has provided throughout his career with Al-Hilal.”

The 32-year-old barely played for the Saudi club after he joined from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023 for 90 million euros ($94 million).

Former Belgium international Radja Nainggolan arrested in cocaine trafficking probe >> Former Belgium international Radja Nainggolan has been arrested as part of a wider investigation into cocaine trafficking into Europe from south America, the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office said.

Brussels federal police carried out thirty searches morning, mainly in the province of Antwerp and in and around Brussels as part of the investigation, seizing 2.7 kilos (nearly 6 lbs) of cocaine along with cash and a large number of luxury items.

The Brussels public prosecutor’s office confirmed that the soccer player was “deprived of his liberty in connection with this case.” Prosecutors later said that 16 people were arrested in total.

The probe focuses on the alleged importation of cocaine from South America via the port of Antwerp, and its redistribution in Belgium, the office said.