The North Texas Mean Green have made some big moves in just their second season in the American Athletic Conference.

North Texas finished its conference slate with a 14-3 record, its best conference record since going 16-2 in Conference USA in 2021-22. The Mean Green enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed behind Memphis.

UNT is seeking its first NCAA Tournament appearance in four seasons, but will likely need to win the conference tournament to get a bid.

Here’s how to follow North Texas through the AAC tournament.

Schedule

When: Wednesday-Sunday

Where: Dickies Arena, Fort Worth

Broadcast: ESPNU, ESPN+ (streaming only)

First round: Wednesday, March 12

Game 1 — No. 13 Charlotte vs No. 12 Rice, noon; ESPN+

Second round: Thursday, March 13

Game 2 — No. 9 South Florida vs No. 8 Wichita State, 11:30 a.m.; ESPNU

Game 3 — Game 1 Winner vs No. 5 Florida Atlantic, 1:30 p.m.; ESPNU

Game 4 — No. 10 Tulsa vs No. 7 Temple, 6 p.m.; ESPNU

Game 5 — No. 11 UTSA vs No. 6 East Carolina, 8 p.m.; ESPNU

Third round: Friday, March 14

Game 6 — Game 2 Winner vs No. 1 Memphis, noon; ESPN2

Game 7 — Game 3 Winner vs No. 4 Tulane, 1 p.m.; ESPN2

Game 8 — Game 4 Winner vs No. 2 North Texas, 6 p.m.; ESPNU

Game 9 — Game 5 Winner vs No. 3 UAB, 8 p.m.; ESPNU

Semifinals: Saturday, March 15

Game 6 Winner vs Game 7 Winner, 2 p.m.; ESPN2

Game 8 Winner vs Game 9 Winner, 4 p.m.; ESPN2

AAC Championship Game: Sunday, March 16

2:15 p.m., ESPN

How to watch other conference tournaments

— How to watch Texas, A&M and Oklahoma in the SEC tournament

— How to watch SMU in the ACC tournament

— How to watch Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU in the Big 12 tournament

Find more college sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

A federal judge awarded nearly $2 million in damages after determining that an FBI agent was negligent when he shot and killed a kidnapped Texas man during a botched rescue effort.

The mother and son of Ulises Valladares, 47, were awarded the money as part of a civil lawsuit filed in Houston federal court alleging the man was helpless while he was bound and blindfolded when FBI agent Gavin Lappe shot him in January 2018 as agents entered a home where he was being held captive.

Lappe told investigators he only fired his gun when he suspected that a kidnapper had grabbed his rifle after the agent broke a window to enter the home and did not know he was shooting Valladares.

FBI ADDS FORMER OLYMPIAN TO MOST WANTED LIST, $10 MILLION AWARD

But U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt in Houston found that Lappe “was negligent, even grossly negligent, in his response” during the rescue attempt, and ruled that the agent was the sole cause of Valladares’ death.

Hoyt said Lappe shot at a silhouette in the window without confirming who he was shooting at and that he fired his weapon despite no direct threat to him or another agent nearby.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt found that the agent “was negligent, even grossly negligent, in his response” during the rescue attempt. (iStock)

Lappe was protected against the lawsuit through qualified immunity, which shields law enforcement from liability for wrongdoing. But the case was allowed to move forward against the federal government, which is not protected from liability.

TOP OFFICIAL AT FBI NEW YORK FIELD OFFICE FORCED TO RETIRE

FBI agent Gavin Lappe was protected against the lawsuit through qualified immunity, which shields law enforcement from liability for wrongdoing. (iStock)

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Former Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo previously said Lappe’s explanation for shooting Valladares is not backed up by evidence reviewed by police investigators.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

It’s South Carolina vs. Texas part three for the women’s SEC tournament championship.

The Gamecocks and Longhorns are 1-1 against each other this season, with Texas taking the most recent matchup 66-62 at home. South Carolina won the first matchup between top-five ranked programs 67-50 earlier this season.

REQUIRED READING: Ranking top 10 players in women’s college basketball ahead of March Madness

It’s also the fifth time South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and Texas coach Vic Schaefer have faced off in the SEC championship game, dating back to Schaefer’s tenure at Mississippi State. Schaefer is 0-4 against Staley in the conference championship final.

It’s a fitting end for both programs in the women’s SEC tournament, as the two teams were co-winners of the SEC regular season title and flipped a coin for the No. 1 seed of the SEC tournament, which went to South Carolina. Barring an NCAA Tournament matchup, it’ll be the deciding game between both powerhouses in 2025.

Follow along here for live updates, highlights and score from South Carolina-Texas in the SEC women’s basketball tournament:

Watch women’s SEC tournament championship live with Fubo (free trial)

This section will be updated.

South Carolina takes a 33-16 lead into halftime after holding the Longhorns to 6-of-24 shooting through two quarters.

The Gamecocks also forced nine turnovers in the first half and outscored Texas 9-0 in fast break points, holding the Longhorns to only six points in the second quarter.

Kitts leads all scorers with nine points, with Tessa Johnson contributing seven off the bench in the first half.

Rori Harmon’s midrange jump shot ends Texas’ scoreless drought of the second quarter with 3:29 before halftime.

The Longhorns’ first two points of the second quarter cuts South Carolina’s lead to 27-12.

Fulwiley dices through Texas on the fast-break opportunity, getting to the rim for the and-one layup.

Her speed is nearly unstoppable in the open court, and the 3-point play gives South Carolina a 25-10 lead and continues its 13-0 run.

South Carolina’s suffocating defense is leading to plenty of offense in the second quarter, as the Gamecocks are on an 8-0 run with Texas yet to score through five minutes of the second period.

Kitts leads all scorers with seven points.

South Carolina takes a 15-10 lead on the strong layup by Chloe Kitts, who finds an inch over Texas’ 6-foot-6 forward Kyla Oldacre for the bucket before converting the free-throw attempt.

Texas has yet to score in the second quarter through two minutes of game clock.

Both defenses are showing out early, as neither South Carolina nor Texas can find an rhythm offensively through one quarter.

The Gamecocks are 5 of 13 shooting while the Longhorns are 4 of 14 from the field. South Carolina is also winning the turnover battle, with two giveaways to Texas’ three.

Neither team has been able to get in a groove offensively in the first quarter, although South Carolina leads 6-4 after five minutes of play.

The Longhorns and Gamecocks are just 2 of 8 and 3 of 8 shooting, respectively, thus far.

Here’s a look at both starting lineups as the women’s SEC championship is just about underway:

South Carolina

• Te-Hina Paopao
• Raven Johnson
• Bree Hall
• Chloe Kitts
• Sania Feagin

Texas

• Madison Booker
• Rori Harmon
• Shay Holle
• Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda
• Taylor Jones

Women’s SEC tournament championship time today

• Time: 3 p.m. ET
• Date: Sunday, March 9
• Location: Bon Secours Wellness Arena (Greenville, South Carolina)

What channel is women’s SEC tournament championship on today?

The women’s SEC tournament championship game between South Carolina and Texas will air live on ESPN, with streaming options available on the ESPN app or Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

South Carolina vs Texas women’s basketball history

• Series record: 3-3
• South Carolina last win: Jan. 12, 2025 (67-50)
• Texas last win: Feb. 9, 2025 (66-62)

Women’s SEC tournament championship predictions, picks

South Carolina 85, Texas: 77: The Gamecocks take this game personally and come out on top.

— Greenville News’ Lulu Kesin

Women’s SEC tournament championship betting odds

Odds from BetMGM as of Sunday, March 9

• Spread: South Carolina (-4.5)
• Over/under: 135.5
• Moneyline: South Carolina -210 | Texas +170

South Carolina women’s basketball schedule 2025

Here are South Carolina’s last five results. See the Gamecocks’ full schedule here.

• March 8: South Carolina 93, Oklahoma 75 (women’s SEC tournament semifinals)
• March 7: South Carolina 84, Vanderbilt 63 (women’s SEC tournament quarterfinals)
• March 2: South Carolina 78, Kentucky 66
• Feb. 27: South Carolina 75, Ole Miss 59
• Feb. 23: South Carolina 82, Vanderbilt 54

Texas women’s basketball schedule 2025

Here are Texas’ last five results. See the Longhorns’ full schedule here.

• March 8: Texas 56, LSU 49 (women’s SEC tournament semifinals)
• March 7: Texas 70, Ole Miss 63 (women’s SEC tournament quarterfinals)
• March 2: Texas 72, Florida 46
• Feb. 27: Texas 68, Mississippi State 64
• Feb. 24: Texas 57, Georgia 26

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