A-Rod makes half-court shot, wins student $10K

LEWISBURG, Pa.>> Former Major League Baseball star Alex Rodriguez showed his skill on the hardwood Sunday, making a half-court shot to win a Bucknell student $10,000.

The 14-time All-Star was invited to take the shot during halftime of Bucknell’s basketball game against Army, which the Bison won 84-53. The 49-year-old tossed a high-arching shot that banked off the backboard and through the hoop, setting off a celebration with students.

The three-time MVP was at Bucknell to speak about his company Jump Platforms.

Indiana coach adds new twist on anniversary of Knight’s thrown chair

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.>> Mike Woodson arrived Sunday at Assembly Hall ready to honor his mentor, the late Bob Knight, once more.

So the outgoing Indiana coach brought his own red plastic chair, placed it on the floor between the Hoosiers’ metal folding chairs that are still tethered together and used it during the rivalry game against No. 13 Purdue.

Then Woodson added yet another twist to a question that has mystified Indiana fans for 40 years — where is the chair Knight tossed across the court in anger on Feb. 23, 1985?

“You realize that is ‘the chair,’” Woodson said after Indiana’s 73-58 victory. “I’ve had it a while. A lot of people say they have the chair but Scott Greer, the tennis coach here many years ago, he was the only one thinking out of the box that night when Coach Knight threw that chair. That morning he got up and came to Assembly Hall and got the chair and got (track coach) Sam Bell and Coach Knight and all to sign off on it, took pictures with it.”

Woodson’s story seems as plausible as any other, though verifying it would be difficult. Bell died in June 2016, Greer died in July 2022 and Knight died in November 2023.

UCLA’s Cronin picks up 500th career win

LOS ANGELES>> Eric Dailey Jr. scored 20 points, UCLA coach Mick Cronin picked up his 500th career victory and the Bruins defeated Ohio State 69-61 on Sunday.

Cronin, in his sixth season at UCLA, has won 135 games with the Bruins. Previously, he won 296 games at his alma mater, Cincinnati, and 69 games at Murray State. Overall, he is 500-232 in 22 seasons.

Illinois coach hopes Duke star stays in school

NEW YORK>> Cooper Flagg has certainly lived up to the hype. So it seems a foregone conclusion the freshman phenom from Duke will become the top pick in this year’s NBA draft.

Illinois coach Brad Underwood has a different idea.

“I hope he stays in school. I mean, if I’m the NCAA or the ACC, I’m figuring out an NIL deal to keep that dude in school, because he’s everything that’s right about our game,” Underwood said Saturday night after his team got blown out by Flagg and the Blue Devils.

So, why stay in school?

“He’s 18. He’s just an 18-year-old kid. Go have fun. Chase a girl. I mean, just enjoy the opportunity,” Underwood said.

Odermatt wins super-G

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland>> It was just a 1-2 result for the stellar Swiss men’s ski team Sunday instead of a full podium sweep.

Marco Odermatt edged Alexis Monney by 0.28 seconds to thrill noisy home fans and win a World Cup super-G one day after they were second and third, respectively, behind teammate Franjo von Allmen in a downhill.