The Gophers men’s basketball program signed its first big man via the NCAA transfer portal on Wednesday, adding 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward/center Robert Vaihola.

Vaihola played two years at San Jose State and one at Fresno State, so new Gophers coach Niko Medved saw Vaihola up close as head coach at Colorado State last year.

In a statement, Medved called Vaihola “one of the best rebounders in the Mountain West (Conference).”

Vaihola, who appears to have one year of eligibility remaining for Minnesota, averaged 7.5 rebounds (2.5 on the offensive glass) and 7.5 points last season. He shot 54% from the field and averaged 1.4 blocks across all 31 games a year ago.

“He has a great physical presence in the paint, a gritty competitor and just a force around the rim,” Medved said. “Off the court, he’s just an amazing person to have on our team and we’re excited that he’s a Gopher.”

The San Mateo, Calif., native did not play during a redshirt year in 2023-24 but averaged 7.6 points and 6.5 rebounds in 35 games for San Jose State in 2022-23. During his freshman year at Fresno State in ’21-22, he was mostly a reserve — averaging 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 6.9 minutes per game — before transferring out.

Vaihola is the Gophers’ fourth incoming player from the portal, joining Colorado State forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, Davidson wing Bobby Durkin and California forward BJ Omot.

Minnesota has six remaining scholarship spots available for next season.

— Andy Greder

Texas’ Harmon returns for a fifth season

Texas point guard Rori Harmon announced she will return for a fifth season in a bid to get the Longhorns back to the Final Four.

Harmon has a medical redshirt season to use after a knee injury knocked her out of the 2023-24 season after just 12 games. Texas advanced to the Elite Eight that season. Texas made the Final Four this season for the first time since 2003.

Harmon announced her decision in a post on the team’s social media accounts. She averaged 9.3 points and 5.9 assists last season. She also was considered the team’s top defender.

Texas lost to Southeastern Conference rival South Carolina in a national semifinal.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

U.S. women rout Finland in worlds opener

Hayley Scamurra and Kelly Panek scored two goals each as the United States routed Finland 7-1 in their opening game at the women’s hockey world championship.

Captain Hilary Knight, making her 15th world championship appearance, and Taylor Heise both had a goal and an assist, and Lee Stecklein also scored for the U.S.

Goaltender Aerin Frankel saved 19 shots in a Group A match between last year’s runner-up U.S. and the bronze medalist.

Petra Nieminen scored the lone goal for Finland on a power play.

“It was a big win,” Knight said. “Finland’s a great team, and we had all lines, all D-pairings going, which is really nice, and some great individual performances.”

Scamurra put the Americans 1-0 up 2:44 into the game on a rebound and doubled the advantage moments later. Pannek increased the lead to 3-0 from the slot in the first period and she finished off the rout with her second goal in the final period.

Defenseman Stecklein, who took the past year off to focus on her PWHL career, marked her return with a goal from a backhand shot in the second period.

In the other preliminary Wednesday games, the Czech Republic blanked Switzerland 3-0 and Sweden defeated Germany 5-2.

NFL

Dolphins’ Hill involved in domestic dispute

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill and his wife were involved in a domestic dispute at their South Florida high-rise condominium, but no charges were filed, according to a police report.

Sunny Isles Beach officers responded to the home Monday following a call from Hill’s mother-in-law, who began living with the couple in November, shortly after her granddaughter was born, according to the report.

The mother-in-law told responding officers that Hill, 31, was aggressive and impulsive and that she was afraid for her daughter, according to the report. She said Hill threw a laptop on the floor and grabbed his baby before walking toward the balcony.

Hill’s agent didn’t immediately respond to a telephone message seeking comment.

Hill’s wife told police the two had been arguing recently and attending couple’s therapy. She said therapy had not been working out and that she was in the process of filing for a divorce.

Hill told officers he had just returned from training and sat down to talk to his wife about their therapy. The discussion escalated after she told him he was not involved enough with their daughter.

Hill and his wife both stated the argument never turned physical, but officers reported a bruise on the woman’s upper chest. She replied that it had probably happened accidentally when he grabbed the baby from her. Officers observed that the baby was in good health.

MILB

Saints snap losing streak with win over Omaha

The Saints won at home in their second game of the series against Omaha 3-2 on Wednesday, snapping a five-game losing streak.

Emmanuel Rodriguez, Austin Martin and Carson McCusker each had two hits, and Jair Camargo notched two RBIs. Camargo and McCusker gave the Saints their home runs for the night.

Andrew Morris pitched five scoreless innings, allowing four hits, walking two and striking out three. Anthony Misiewicz notched his first save of the season.

BRIEFLY

College baseball >> Minnesota defeated St. Thomas 12-2, with all their starters reaching base. The Tommies earned two runs in the second inning, but the Gophers’ outstanding six-run fourth inning and five-run seventh inning sealed the deal.

Golf >> Masters rookie Nico Echavarria won the Par 3, beating J.J. Spaun with a birdie after each shot 5-under 22.

NBA >> Basketball great LeBron James has become the first professional male athlete to have his likeness depicted in a Ken doll.

— From staff and news services