Sports

An energized UCLA gets back in win column with victory over Washington

Published

2 years ago

January 14, 2024

An energized UCLA gets back in win column with victory over Washington

From the day he started at UCLA, Mick Cronin said he spelled fun W-I-N.

Over the last two months, as one loss followed another, his team encountered M-I-S-E-R-Y, leaving a segment of the fan base feeling H-O-P-E-L-E-S-S.

So it was invigorating Sunday afternoon for the Bruins to see what transpired inside Pauley Pavilion. Players on the bench roared as Kenneth Nwuba took a charge. Lazar Stefanovic earned an embrace from Brandon Williams after racing to block a fast-break layup from behind. Berke Buyuktuncel clapped his hands over his head while running into the tunnel toward the locker room after the game ended.

For a few hours, basketball was enjoyable again for the team that had traded in the nation’s longest home winning streak for four consecutive losses inside its venerable arena while also losing eight of nine games overall.

Playing with energy, freedom and confidence, UCLA stomped Washington in a 73-61 victory that bore no resemblance to the Bruins’ 46-point loss to Utah three days earlier.

There were strong bounce-back efforts across the board as UCLA (7-10 overall, 2-4 Pac-12) ended a four-game losing streak as well as a four-game home losing streak.

Bullying his way to easy baskets and benefiting from the kinds of crisp entry passes his teammates had struggled to make all season, center Adem Bona scored 22 points while making 10 of 13 shots. Busting out of his season-long shooting slump, Stefanovic made four of seven shots on the way to 15 points.

And in maybe the most encouraging development, point guard Dylan Andrews notched a career-high eight assists to go with seven points, three rebounds and two steals.

The Bruins also made shots for a change, outshooting the Huskies 50% to 40.4% while making six of 14 three-pointers. Playing its usual sturdy defense, UCLA forced 19 turnovers that led to 26 points, including 16 on the fast break.

The victory moved UCLA out of a last-place tie with Oregon State in the conference standings and injected some hope for a turnaround over the season’s final two months.

The Bruins’ most telling statistic might have been their 20 assists given a lack of ball movement that had led to them entering the game ranking last in the conference in points scored per game (64.2).

That figure was largely the result of ranking last in field-goal accuracy (41%), three-point accuracy (28.2%) and assists per game (11.2).

No matter how much defense you play, it’s hard to win when you don’t pass and you can’t shoot.

But these Bruins seemed emboldened by a change in approach from their coach, who mostly let his players stay on the court after mistakes instead of immediately sending them to the bench. The Bruins rewarded their coach with one of their most energetic halves of the season.

UCLA might have found a winning lineup by pairing Jan Vide with Ilane Fibleuil, Buyuktuncel, Andrews and Bona, given that those were the players who sparked the team’s 21-4 run that helped the Bruins take a 30-22 halftime lead.

Vide ran the offense with purpose and hit a three-pointer. Buyuktuncel proved to be a zone buster with his passes, finding Bona and Nwuba underneath the basket for dunks. Fibleuil followed a steal with a layup.

Sahvir Wheeler’s 27 points weren’t nearly enough for the Huskies (10-7, 2-4) on a day they were outclassed by an opponent that appeared to rediscover its mojo.

Sports

Jerry Jones opens up on Cowboys’ shortcomings during 2025 season

Published

2 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Jerry Jones opens up on Cowboys’ shortcomings during 2025 season

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The Dallas Cowboys’ Super Bowl drought increased to 30 years as the team was eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday and then lost to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

The Cowboys showed tremendous heart during the season after the defense was gutted when star pass rusher Micah Parsons was traded to the Green Bay Packers. Dallas picked up big wins over the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants, as well as a tie with the Packers.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 14, 2025. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)

Ultimately, the Cowboys lost their last three games and found themselves on the outside looking in on the playoffs once more. Dallas dropped to 6-8-1 after the loss to Los Angeles, and team owner Jerry Jones opened up about some of the team’s shortcomings.

“I really am better when I’m getting my a– kicked than I am when I’m having success,” he said, via The Athletic. “I’ve seen some of the decisions I’ve made work.

“We get one team that gets to go to that Super Bowl every year. Two that get to go to those (conference championship) playoff games. I’m looking forward next year to getting back in that championship game and maybe beyond. And then I’ll be right at the top of the list of how long it’s been since you’ve been to one. And that’s how you do it. Right at the top. And this will all go away.”

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) prepares to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Jones did take away some positivity from the 2025 season. He acknowledged the team “underachieved” but there were some things that the team could carry forward into 2026.

Particularly, Jones said he was impressed with how Dak Prescott played during the year.

Prescott has 4,175 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes this season. He’s leading the NFL in completions (378) and passing attempts (552). Both George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards for the season.

“I am pleased with what we have in Dak, very pleased going forward,” he said, via the team’s website. “Nothing we’ve done so far this season gives me anything but optimism about going forward at one of the key, if not the key position.”

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Dallas has the Washington Commanders and the New York Giants left on its schedule.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

Sports

Palisades starts out as City Section basketball favorite in top 10 rankings

Published

2 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Palisades starts out as City Section basketball favorite in top 10 rankings

It’s time to take a look at the City Section’s top boys’ basketball teams a little more than a month into the season:

1. PALISADES (2-4): The Popoola twins, EJ and OJ, combined with freshman Phillip Reed, make the Dolphins the City Section Open Division title favorites.

2. WASHINGTON PREP (6-4): Jayshawn Kibble is a candidate for City player of the year.

3. CLEVELAND (5-4): Sophomore guard Charlie Adams becomes eligible Friday.

4. GRANADA HILLS (6-3): Help coming when sit-out transfer period ends Friday.

5. SAN PEDRO (7-3): Lots of varsity experience could result in Marine League title.

6. VENICE (5-8): Win over Fairfax, one-point loss to San Pedro.

7. BIRMINGHAM (4-2): Patriots like being under the radar.

8. TAFT (5-4): Turnaround showing progress ahead of schedule.

9. FAIRFAX (5-2): Young players making progress.

10. EL CAMINO REAL (7-5): One-point loss to Chaminade offers hope.

Sports

Broncos’ Pat Bryant placed on backboard, carted off field after scary hit in loss to Jaguars

Published

14 hours ago

December 21, 2025

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Broncos’ Pat Bryant placed on backboard, carted off field after scary hit in loss to Jaguars

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Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant was carted off the field in the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars after a vicious hit that was scary to look at.

Bryant was attempting to make a catch with just seconds left at Empower Field when Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown came flying in and crashed into him to break it up.

One could hear how hard Bryant was hit with the broadcast picking up the cracking of helmet and pads as he went to the turf.

Pat Bryant of the Denver Broncos is carted off the field during the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field At Mile High on Dec. 21, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Bryant stayed down on the field after the play, and he wasn’t moving much as Broncos trainers came running out to look at him on the turf.

After several minutes of evaluation, Bryant was loaded onto a stretcher and carted off the field. There was obvious concern throughout the stadium for Bryant, and it was later reported that he was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

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Broncos head coach Sean Payton, speaking after his first loss in 12 games, gave an update on Bryant, saying that he “had movement” in his extremities, and it was “encouraging” to see, per 9News’ Mike Klis.

Of course, any time a player is loaded onto a stretcher, thoughts of the worst immediately enter the mind. Luckily, Bryant’s hospital visit was only to ensure everything was fine.

The Broncos moved to 12-3 after the loss at home, a 34-20 defeat at the hands of a red-hot Jaguars squad who have now won six straight games.

At 11-4, the Jaguars remain one win above the Houston Texans for the AFC South lead, though they are likely headed to the playoffs one way or another.

Meanwhile, the Broncos have already clinched their shot at a Vince Lombardi Trophy, having won 12 games this season for the best record in the AFC to date. Only the New England Patriots could reach 12 wins this week if they defeat the Baltimore Ravens on “Sunday Night Football.”

Bryant finished the game with five catches for 42 yards. He has totaled 27 catches for 347 yards and a touchdown this season in a loaded Broncos receiving room.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.