Zakai Zeigler scored 20 points as No. 8 Tennessee held off regular-season champion and third-ranked Auburn 70-65 to reach the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship for the first time since 2022.

The fourth-seeded Volunteers (27-6) got revenge both for their Jan. 25 loss at Auburn and their 2019 loss to the Tigers in this tournament’s title game.

Tennessee will play fourth-ranked Florida on Sunday for the tournament title.

No. 4 Florida beats No. 5 Alabama >> Walter Clayton Jr. scored 22 points, and No. 4 Florida pulled away from No. 5 Alabama for a 104-82 victory in the SEC Tournament semifinals.

No. 18 Wisconsin tops No. 7 Michigan St. >> Jon Tonje scored 32 points and grabbed seven rebounds to help No. 18 Wisconsin beat No. 7 Michigan State 77-74 in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament.

John Blackwell added 14 points as the Badgers (26-8) won for the third time in four days. They will play No. 22 Michigan for the tournament title on Sunday.

Baseball

Ohtani hits homer in Japan >> Japanese star Shohei Ohtani showed off some prodigious power in his return to the Tokyo Dome.

In an exhibition game against the Yomiuri Giants, the three-time MVP belted a long two-run homer to right field in the third inning to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 4-0 lead, setting off a roar from the roughly 42,000 fans in attendance.

The 30-year-old is just 4 1/2 months removed from surgery on his left shoulder.

Pirates’ Skenes gets opening day start >> Paul Skenes is going to start for the Pittsburgh Pirates on opening day.

The 22-year-old right-hander went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts for Pittsburgh in 2024, winning the NL Rookie of the Year award.

Rangers’ Gray fractures right wrist >> Texas Rangers pitcher Jon Gray fractured his right wrist when he was hit by a line drive in a spring training game against Colorado, manager Bruce Bochy told reporters.

Gray left in the fourth inning after being struck by a 106.4 mph comebacker off the bat of Rockies slugger Michael Toglia.

Pro football

Titans release CB Awuzie >> The Tennessee Titans released Chidobe Awuzie after signing the veteran cornerback to a three-year contract last spring.

Awuzie was guaranteed $23 million in the deal that could have netted him up to $36 million as the Titans spent big in 2024 trying to plug major holes, especially in their secondary.

Pro basketball

Nets’ Thomas out for season >> Cam Thomas, the Brooklyn Nets’ leading scorer, is expected to miss the rest of the season with a strained left hamstring.

Racing

Norris takes pole at F1 race in Australia >> McLaren locked up the front row in Melbourne for Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix, having dominated its rivals, including Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari — whose drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, will start from seventh and eighth on the grid.

Lando Norris set a searing final qualifying lap to secure pole position.

Soccer

Chelsea wins Women’s league cup final >> Chelsea’s quadruple bid in women’s soccer is up and running.

A 2-1 win over Manchester City in the Women’s League Cup final earned Chelsea its first piece of silverware this season.

Rugby

France wins six nations >> France saw off a resilient Scotland 35-16 and clinched the Six Nations title with a tournament-try record.

Coach Fabien Galthié’s side needed only a victory at chilly Stade de France to ensure a first title since 2022.