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ESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Sydney Shaw scored 20 points and made four 3-pointers, JJ Quinerly added 14 points and No. 12 West Virginia handed Boise State its first loss, 82-47 on Saturday in the Gulf Coast Showcase. West Virginia advances to the championship game on Sunday, while Boise State plays for third place. The Mountaineers have started 8-0 in back-to-back seasons after last year's 11-0 beginning. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (AP) — A new study has found that systemic barriers to voting on tribal lands contribute to substantial disparities in Native American turnout, particularly for presidential elections. The study, released Tuesday by the Brennan Center for Justice, looked at 21 states with federally recognized tribal lands that have a population of at least 5,000 and where more than 20% of residents identify as American Indian or Alaska Native. Researchers found that between 2012 and 2022, voter participation in federal elections was 7 percentage points lower in midterms and 15 percentage points lower in presidential elections than among those living off tribal lands in the same states. Earlier studies show voter turnout for communities of color is higher in areas where their ethnic group is the majority, but the latest research found that turnout was the lowest on tribal lands that have a high concentration of Native Americans, the Brennan Center said. “There’s something more intensely happening in Native American communities on tribal land,” said Chelsea Jones, a researcher on the study. Jones said the study suggests some barriers may be insurmountable in predominately Native communities due to a lack of adequate polling places or access to early and mail-in ballots. Many residents on tribal lands have nontraditional addresses, meaning they don't have street names or house numbers, making mail-in voting even more difficult. As a result, many Native American voters rely on P.O. boxes, but the study notes that several jurisdictions will not mail ballots to P.O. boxes. Long distances to the polls that do exist on tribal lands and little to no public transportation creates additional hurdles for Native American voters. In far-flung Alaska Native villages, polling places sometimes simply don't open if there's no one available to run an election, and severe weather can make absentee voting unreliable, The Associated Press reported last month. “When you think about people who live on tribal lands having to go 30, 60, 100 miles (up to 160 kilometers) to cast a ballot, that is an extremely limiting predicament to be in," Jones said. "These are really, truly severe barriers.” Additionally, Jones said they found Native American voters were denied the ability to vote using their tribal IDs in several places, including in states where that is legally allowed. All of these roadblocks to the ballot can create a sense of distrust in the system, which could contribute to lower turnout, Jones said. The Brennan Center study also highlights on ongoing issue when it comes to understanding how or why Native Americans vote: a lack of good data. “There are immense data inequities when it comes to studying Native American communities, especially as it pertains to politics," Jones said. Native American communities are often overlooked when it comes to polling data and sometimes when they are included those studies do not reflect broader trends for Indigenous voters, said Stephanie Fryberg, the director of the Research for Indigenous Social Action & Equity Center, which studies systemic inequalities faced by Indigenous people. “Generally speaking, polling is not well positioned to do a good job for Indian Country,” said Fryberg, who is also a professor of psychology at Northwestern University. “There are ideas that are held up as the gold standard about how polling works that don’t work for Indian Country because of where we live, because of how difficult it is to connect to people in our community.” Fryberg, a member of the Tulalip Tribe in Washington State, was one of several Indigenous researchers who denounced a recent exit poll conducted by Edison Research that found 65% of Native American voters who participated said they voted for Donald Trump. The poll only surveyed 229 self-identified Native Americans, a sample size that she said is too small for an accurate reading, and none of the jurisdictions in the poll were on tribal lands. “Right there, you’re already eliminating a powerful perspective,” Fryberg said. The Indigenous Journalists Association labelled that polling data as “highly misleading and irresponsible,” saying it has led “to widespread misinformation.” In a statement to the Associated Press, Edison Research acknowledged that the polling size is small, but said the "goal of the survey is to represent the national electorate and to have enough data to also examine large demographic and geographic subgroups." The survey has a potential sampling margin of error of plus or minus 9%, according to the statement. “Based on all of these factors, this data point from our survey should not be taken as a definitive word on the American Indian vote,” the statement reads. Native Americans are not just part of an ethnic group, they also have political identities that come with being citizens of sovereign nations. Fryberg said allowing those surveyed to self-identify as Native Americans, without follow-up questions about tribal membership and specific Indigenous populations, means that data cannot accurately capture voting trends for those communities. Both Fryberg and Jones said that in order to create better data on and opportunities for Native Americans to vote, researchers and lawmakers would have to meet the specific needs of Indigenous communities. Jones said passage of the Native American Voting Rights Act, a bill that has stalled in Congress, would ensure equitable in-person voting options in every precinct on tribal lands. “This is not an issue that we see across the country,” Jones said. “It’s very specific to tribal lands. So we need provisions that address that uniquely.” Graham Lee Brewer is an Oklahoma City-based member of the AP's Race and Ethnicity team.Among but not surpassing the more unusual gifts that artist and Alameda Floating Museum founder Marta Thoma Hall has received from husband and work partner David Hall is a tugboat. Related Articles “To move a barge — they don’t have motors — you need a tugboat,” Thoma Hall says. “David took me tugboat shopping. It was a birthday present. “We’re hesitant to move the barge around the (Oakland-Alameda) estuary because of the museum’s art, but I was delighted to have the tug. The barge is actually tied down with huge ropes and has an anchor as big as a car, although we don’t use it. To access the museum, you cross the gangplank.” Atop the barge is a manufactured structure that for a time was the couple’s home and served as an ideal workplace for her spouse, a tech entrepreneur and inventor, to develop boat stabilization company Velodyne Marine. The company is among several tech-centric ones he has created to address audio acoustics, autonomous vehicles and rocket-launching systems. After finding a home in Berkeley, they founded the Hall Art + Technology Foundation in 2021. The nonprofit arts entity focuses on the powerful, culture-changing crosscurrents of art and science and seeks to raise the visibility of underrepresented voices within the local community and world at large. Converting their houseboat-like building into five gallery spaces in 2024, Thoma Hall launched her dreamed-of Alameda Floating Museum. The first exhibit, this past summer’s “Rising Tides” ( ), celebrated work created by women and people of color — groups she says have been largely left out of art history and that the art industry continues to silence, ignore, downplay or render invisible. “These artists, many in the Bay Area, bring their artistic voices,” she says. “It’s exciting to learn what they know, do and will say. In the last 10 years, the work of women artists like Hung Liu, M. Louise Stanley, Michelle Pred, Mildred Howard and others has gained international attention. “Their artistic expression and technical skills are equally fantastic to male artists. (For) so long, women’s art was considered lesser-than. It remains only 10% of collections at major art institutions and White men are still at the very top of museums and write most of the art history books. All of it should be proportional, 50-50, for both women and artists of color.” Thoma Hall admires the Afrofuturism movement, which she calls “a gift to the nation, to the world.” Afrofuturism is said to be a whole culture, not just a one-act novelty. “Studying it educated me, and I’m interested in doing the same in ‘Fem Futurism.’ I looked that term up and their are some bizarre, weird things out there, but it showed me someone else is thinking about women-centered narratives in art and science too. There’s so much I don’t know. I want to keep learning. Otherwise, life is boring.” Thoma Hall grew up in Nebraska and a home in which both parents encouraged creativity. “Our house was modest, but my sister (artist Kim Thoman) and I had lots of materials: blocks crafted by a local lumber shop, colored paper and scissors, a dress-up box filled with colorful gypsy clothes — scarves, blouses, bangles, high-heeled shoes — and hundreds of books my grandmother shipped to us after the school library where she taught closed.” Memories of marvelously rich, illustrated books with realistic or otherworldly stories fired her imagination. Later, studying fine arts at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State University, Thoma Hall developed artwork that includes painting, sculpture, steel and glass installations and more. Her work is recognized ( ) worldwide for its fusion of surreal imagery and social, feminist and environmental justice activism. Among her large public artworks in the Bay Area is “Journey of A Bottle,” a sculpture commissioned by the Walnut Creek Public Library and created using discarded glass bottles positioned to resemble a giant tidal wave. Thoma Hall says the manufactured home that’s now a floating art museum docked in Alameda in the Oakland Estuary’s tidal canal features large windows and is “a fabulous gallery space.” The view of the estuary includes the marshland, and during high tide, the barge rocks subtly and bounces lightly on the water’s surface. When water levels are low, the marsh basin is visible. “We put a duck house out there and plan for an artist to create something out there making the tidal changes more evident.” The idea supports what Thoma Hall says are her gallery’s three passions: “Environmental caretaking, feminism and amplifying the voices of women who’ve been silenced and addressing social justice areas, including immigration and (increased representation of) the cultures of other countries, especially those in which people of color reside.” She suggests that artists who identify as women, feminists and/or people of color (the gallery does exhibit works made by men if the works serve the gallery’s mission) are not solely public, big-issue activists. Artists alternatively may look inward — to dreams, memories, spirituality and more. “The masculinity and patriarchy that has led to honoring war, aggression and to women’s (objectified or hypersexualized) bodies in artworks has been celebrated for so long. Now there are artist like Chie Aoki, Leanora Carrington, my sister Kim and so many others considered feminists who’ve brought forward feminine perspectives that include the power of healing, caretaking, birthing, nature.” Aoki’s black lacquer work “Body” shows a figure, head bowed, spine curved forward. Long hair descends like a curtain or shield behind which she is protected. “Tree Figure” (by Thoma Hall’s sister Thoman) is reminiscent of a human body’s outlined form. A “wound-like” opening in the trunk pulses with blood-red paint in an oval area with orange and soft peach patches resembling Band-Aids; black marks might be suggestive of staples or stitches. The tree stands in front of a swirling dynamo of graphic lines and color blocks that add cosmic energy. Thoma Hall says her unusual life has flowed organically and is steered by enthusiasm for innovation in art and science. “Art can influence the world. David’s electronics, mechanics and engineering can come up with inventions that change the world. It’s not easy and sounds ambitious, but it’s what we’ve been excited about for decades.”

Mass Effect director Casey Hudson's "AAA" sci-fi game cancelled, studio closingOver the past few weeks, several teams holding playoff spots in the NFL have shown glimpses of who they truly are. Although plenty can change by the end of the season, Yardbarker is examining each current playoff team's potential as a Super Bowl contender based on its roster, past performance, and, to a lesser extent, future outlook. With that in mind, here's a look at which AFC playoff teams are contenders and pretenders. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) Whether you prefer to call it luck or black magic, the Chiefs have something special. Kansas City clinched a playoff spot on Friday after recovering a botched snap by the Las Vegas Raiders, who were in field goal range, with 15 seconds remaining to secure a wild 19-17 home win. While they've dealt with their share of key injuries, there's no denying that the Chiefs don't look the part of an 11-1 team. Not only are they averaging their second-fewest points per game in the Patrick Mahomes era ( 24.1 ), but they're also racking up their fewest yards per contest (341.6). Additionally, Kansas City's +54 point differential is the worst among teams that have recorded 11 wins through the first 13 weeks of the regular season since 2000, per The Ringer's Sheil Kapadia . To put that in perspective, the other 22 teams that achieved this feat had an average point differential of +139. Regardless of whether their opponent is one of the NFL's elite teams or a bottom dweller, the Chiefs continue to find themselves in one-score games. On the surface, this might make Kansas City seem like a pretender. However, during last season's title run and through seemingly every win this year, the Chiefs proved that they can rise to the occasion when the stakes are the highest. As long as they have Mahomes, they'll remain a Super Bowl front-runner. Verdict: Contender Buffalo Bills (9-2) In a season where they were expected to fall off and the New York Jets were finally supposed to snap their lengthy playoff drought, the Bills are once again the team to beat in the AFC East. A fifth consecutive division title may be the most satisfying for Buffalo, considering it had to overhaul its roster this past offseason, parting ways with several longtime contributors. There was no shortage of uncertainties surrounding the Bills entering the season, especially regarding their receiving corps. Only one wide receiver on the roster had previously caught a pass from QB Josh Allen, but it hasn't been an issue since the two-time Pro Bowler has played like an MVP front-runner. In 11 games, Allen has amassed 2,859 total yards and 23 total touchdowns, playing much cleaner than he has in seasons past, tossing just five interceptions. Under Allen, the Bills offense averages the third-most points ( 29.1 ) and 13th-most yards in the league ( 345.3 ), which is particularly impressive since we haven't seen the unit at full strength. Once TE Dalton Kincaid and WR Keon Coleman return from injuries and midseason acquisition Amari Cooper continues to get acclimated; the Bills offense could potentially improve on those marks down the stretch. It may be difficult to put much stock in the Bills as a Super Bowl contender, seeing as though this season has played out like most of their recent ones. However, now that Allen has fully grasped OC Joe Brady's system and the team is getting healthier, this could finally be the year Buffalo gets over the hump. Verdict: Contender Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) Expectations were relatively high for the Steelers after coming into the season with an upgraded quarterback room, albeit one featuring castoffs Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. While it's not exactly surprising that HC Mike Tomlin is on his way to delivering another winning season in Pittsburgh, it is a bit shocking that his team sits atop the AFC North standings. A calf injury Wilson suffered in training camp opened the door for Fields to be Pittsburgh's starting quarterback, and the former Bear led the team to a 4-2 record. Despite Fields' serviceable play, Tomlin swapped him out for the veteran Wilson, who guided the Steelers to four straight wins before dropping a Week 12 road contest against Cleveland. Throughout it all, the imposing Steelers defense has been the backbone and identity of the team. Overall, the unit has allowed the third-fewest points ( 16.9 ) and seventh-fewest yards per game ( 305.18 ) while ranking third in turnovers forced (22). LB T.J. Watt is enjoying another season worthy of Defensive Player of the Year honors, having notched 7.5 sacks and a league-leading four forced fumbles . Even though Wilson has shown signs of his former self, the Steelers offense raises doubts about the team's Super Bowl potential, as the unit ranks 30th in red zone scoring efficiency. Nonetheless, with one of the NFL's top head coaches, as well as a quarterback with playoff experience and an elite defense, on their side, the Steelers are a legitimate dark-horse contender. Verdict: Contender Houston Texans (7-5) The luxury of having a franchise quarterback on a rookie contract allowed the Texans to aggressively add talent this past offseason to become a Super Bowl contender. Initially, Houston's investments paid off, with the team jumping out to a 5-1 record . Even so, it's becoming increasingly apparent as the season progresses that this Texans team has significant flaws and even lacks the spark last year's group possessed. Houston has lost four of its last six games, mainly due to its inconsistent, injury-plagued offense. QB C.J. Stroud has also regressed, throwing for 2,875 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions, four more than he threw in his 2023 OROY Award-winning season. As a result, the Texans have been one of the worst second-half offenses in the league, failing to find the end zone after halftime in five of their last six games. The Texans' shortcomings don't fall solely on Stroud, as he's playing in an unfavorable environment. Aside from losing his top three wideouts to injuries at different points in the year, Stroud's offensive line is one of the league's worst, ranking 27th in pass block win rate ( 53% ) and 28th in run block win rate (68%). Barring a catastrophic collapse, the Texans should eventually clinch their second straight AFC South title. Still, they haven't shown the necessary flashes to be considered one of the NFL's top contenders, and given their offensive woes, it doesn't seem like that will change anytime soon. Verdict: Pretender Baltimore Ravens (8-4) The Ravens are a much different team than the one that lost to the Chiefs in last season's AFC Championship Game, but they're still one of the best in the NFL. Baltimore made one of the most significant free agent acquisitions this past offseason, signing RB Derrick Henry to form the NFL's best offensive duo alongside QB Lamar Jackson. Henry has rushed for 1,325 yards and a league-leading 13 touchdowns, whereas Jackson has accounted for the most total yards ( 3,652 ) and touchdowns (30) among signal-callers. Although the offense can look nearly unstoppable at times, Baltimore's defense has been a problem, which isn't shocking as the team lost former DC Mike Macdonald and a few starters during the offseason. The Ravens bolstered their secondary through the draft, but their pass defense has been abysmal, allowing the most yards ( 3,569 ) and third-most touchdowns (22) among teams through the air. It is worth noting that the unit may be turning a corner, as Baltimore has only allowed 41 points over the last two games. There's no doubt that the Ravens have some brutal losses poking holes in their resume, namely those to Cleveland, Las Vegas and Pittsburgh. But if the defense continues to play at its current level, Baltimore's talent outweighs any concern about its status as a Super Bowl contender. Verdict: Contender Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) One of the biggest winners of the offseason, the Chargers made as substantial of a head coaching upgrade as a team could make, replacing Brandon Staley with Jim Harbaugh. The 60-year-old Harbaugh has quickly changed the culture in Los Angeles, and the team is firmly in the playoff picture, which was unexpected, given the state of the roster entering the season. Due to salary cap constraints, the Chargers were forced to cut ties with their two best wide receivers, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Fortunately for Los Angeles, the Justin Herbert-led offense has fared just fine, ranking 18th in scoring and showing continuous signs of improvement. Los Angeles' defense has arguably been the most surprising unit in the NFL this season and a driving force behind the team's success. Through 11 games, the Chargers have allowed the fewest points ( 175 ) and eighth-fewest yards among teams ( 3,560 ), a dramatic turnaround from a unit that finished 24th in scoring and 28th in yardage last season . It's possible, however, that the Chargers defense's performance will decline, considering it gave up 57 points in its last two games and now has three starters sidelined with injuries. While the Chargers have proven they're tough for any opponent to beat, they won't make much noise in the playoffs. After all, Harbaugh inherited a difficult situation, and they're just 1-4 against winning teams, with the lone win coming against the Broncos. But if Los Angeles can add a true No. 1 wide receiver for Herbert this offseason, it should be on the short list of contenders to win Super Bowl LX. Verdict: Pretender Denver Broncos (7-5) Wilson's disastrous Broncos tenure feels like ages ago, which is a testament to the stellar job HC Sean Payton and rookie QB Bo Nix have done this season. Payton faced his share of criticism after pushing the nine-time Pro Bowler Wilson out of town and replacing him with the 24-year-old Nix, but the Oregon product has been a perfect fit for his scheme. After a lackluster first two starts to his career, Nix has hit his stride, emerging as one of the leading candidates for the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Since Week 3, Nix has thrown the seventh-most touchdowns in the NFL ( 16 ) and just two interceptions while posting a 65.7% completion rate. Considering Nix seems to be improving with each passing start, it's fair to say Denver's 19th-ranked scoring offense has yet to reach its full potential. On the other side of the ball, few teams have a more formidable unit than the Broncos defense, which is headlined by All-Pro CB Patrick Surtain II. In addition to ranking first in sacks ( 44 ), third in pressures (124) and 10th in takeaways (15) this season, Denver's defense allows the second-fewest points (16.8) and third-fewest yards per game (296). Despite their success this season, the Broncos are another ascending team that feels like they're a year away from being able to mount a deep playoff run. Denver's 16-14 Week 10 road loss to Kansas City showed that it can compete against the NFL's top teams and could maybe steal a game. But ultimately, its 1-5 record against teams that now hold winning records is impossible to dismiss. Verdict: PretenderTopa, Stewart, McKenzie, Sulser reach deals ahead of tender deadline

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Getting blown out at Green Bay following another squandered late lead the previous week against Seattle has quickly turned the San Francisco 49ers from a Super Bowl contender into a team just fighting to get back to the playoffs. If San Francisco doesn't get healthy and eliminate the errors that led to Sunday's 38-10 loss to the Packers, the focus will turn from playoff permutations to what offseason changes are necessary. “I think everyone understands completely outside and inside what the situation is,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday. “That’s why the Seattle game was so tough of a loss and that’s why last night was even worse. We know what we got ahead of us. We know exactly what the playoff situation is. That is what it is. But really, all that matters is this week when you do need to go on a run and put a lot of wins to even think of that.” The task doesn't get any easier as the Niners (5-6) get set to play at Buffalo on Sunday night. The 49ers are hoping to get injured stars Brock Purdy , Nick Bosa and Trent Williams back for that game, but their presence alone won't fix everything that went wrong on Sunday . The defense got repeatedly gashed early and put San Francisco in a 17-0 hole before the offense even generated a first down. The running game never got going as Christian McCaffrey has looked nothing like the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year in his three games back from Achilles tendinitis. And whenever the Niners appeared to do something right, a penalty came back to haunt them. It added up to the most lopsided loss for San Francisco since the 2018 season, before Shanahan had turned the Niners into perennial contenders. “It’s probably one of the worst ones I’ve been a part of,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “It is embarrassing. You’ve got to take it on the chin, take it like a man and move on.” Despite the doom and gloom, the 49ers are only one game behind Seattle and Arizona in the NFC West standings with six games to go. But San Francisco already has three division losses and a difficult schedule featuring games against the Bills this week and Detroit in Week 17. “My optimism is not broken by any means,” tight end George Kittle said. “We still have a lot of very talented players. We will get some guys back and I still have full trust in the coaching staff to put our guys in position to make plays. I have no worry about that. But definitely an uphill grind. We'll see what we’re made of, which I’m looking forward to.” What’s working Red-zone passes to Kittle. Backup QB Brandon Allen connected on a 3-yard TD pass to Kittle late in the second quarter for San Francisco's only TD. Kittle leads the NFL with eight touchdown catches in the red zone, which is tied with Vernon Davis (2013) for the most in a season for a Niners player since 2000. Kittle was the only consistent part of the San Francisco offense with six catches for 82 yards. What needs help Avoiding penalties. San Francisco had nine penalties for 77 yards and they were costly and sloppy. The Niners had 12 men on the field on defense on back-to-back plays, three false starts, a pass interference in the end zone and three penalties on special teams, including a holding on Eric Saubert that negated an 87-yard kickoff return by Deebo Samuel to open the second half. Rookie Dominick Puni had three penalties after being penalized just once in the first 10 games. Stock up DE Leonard Floyd. There were few positive performances on defense, but Floyd had both of the team's sacks. Stock down Run defense. San Francisco allowed 169 yards rushing, including 87 in the first quarter for the team's second-worst performance in the opening quarter since 1991. The Niners missed 19 tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, as Josh Jacobs gained 83 of his 106 yards rushing after contact. Injuries Purdy took part in a light throwing session without pain on Monday and Shanahan is hopeful he can return to practice Wednesday after missing the Green Bay game with a shoulder injury. ... Bosa (hip, oblique) and Williams (ankle) also could return this week after sitting out Sunday. ... LG Aaron Banks, DT Jordan Elliott and WR Jacob Cowing all in the concussion protocol. ... RG Dominick Puni (shoulder) and CB Deommodore Lenoir (knee) underwent MRIs on Monday and the team is waiting for results. ... CB Renardo Green (neck) and LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (knee) are day to day. Key number 11 — The Niners generated only 11 first downs, tied for the fewest in any game in eight seasons under Shanahan. They also had 11 in the 2022 NFC title game loss at Philadelphia when Purdy hurt his elbow and in Week 2 against Seattle in Shanahan's first season in 2017. What’s next The 49ers visit Buffalo on Sunday night. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLAustralian PM ready to 'engage' with Musk on social media teen banArne Slot heaps praise on “outstanding” Liverpool star who changed the game at 1-1

The year in review: Influential people who died in 2024

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) — Garry Clark scored 15 points as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi beat Prairie View A&M 109-74 on Saturday night. Clark also contributed five rebounds for the Islanders (5-3). Dian Wright-Forde shot 5 of 6 from the field and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line to add 14 points. Jordan Roberts shot 4 of 6 from the field, including 2 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 5 from the line to finish with 14 points. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Daily Update: Triple H, Jim Ross, Meiko Satomura

December 6 - New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin agreed to a record-setting eight-year, $92 million contract on Friday, according to multiple reports. Shesterkin's deal, which averages $11.5 million annually and runs through the 2032-33 season, is the largest ever for a goaltender. The previous high was an eight-year, $84 million deal ($10.5 million average) that Carey Price signed with the Montreal Canadiens in 2017. Shesterkin, who won the Vezina Trophy as the top netminder for the 2021-22 season, turned down an eight-year, $88 million offer just prior to the start of this season. He is making $5.66 million in 2023-24 in the final season of a four-year, $22.67 million contract. The Moscow native finished third in Hart Trophy (MVP) balloting during his stellar 2021-22 season in when he went 36-13-4 and led the NHL with both a 2.07 goals-against average and .935 save percentage. Shesterkin, who turns 29 on Dec. 30, has won 36 or more games in each of the past three regular seasons. But this season, he is just 8-9-1 with a personal-worst 3.05 GAA in 18 games this season. His .908 save percentage is also his worst. Overall, Shesterkin is 143-68-18 with a 2.48 GAA and .920 save percentage in 231 appearances (226 starts) over six seasons. In the postseason, he is 23-20-0 with a 2.41 GAA and .928 save percentage. Reports of the deal began circulating shortly after the Rangers traded captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks. That freed up money for next season as Trouba was in the sixth season of a seven-year, $56 million deal. --Field Level Media Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabZeta Global Holdings Corp. Shareholder Notice: Robbins LLP Reminds Investors of the ZETA Class ...

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) — Garry Clark scored 15 points as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi beat Prairie View A&M 109-74 on Saturday night. Clark also contributed five rebounds for the Islanders (5-3). Dian Wright-Forde shot 5 of 6 from the field and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line to add 14 points. Jordan Roberts shot 4 of 6 from the field, including 2 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 5 from the line to finish with 14 points. The Panthers (1-6) were led in scoring by Tanahj Pettway, who finished with 21 points and six rebounds. Nick Anderson added 15 points and two steals for Prairie View A&M. Marcel Bryant had 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Hockey Don't miss out on the headlines from Hockey. Followed categories will be added to My News. Five-time Olympian and Kookaburras great Eddie Ockenden has retired from international hockey. Ockenden, 37, made 451 appearances for Australia in a decorated 18-year international career. “It feels like my whole career has gone by in a flash,” he said. “There are so many great memories with good friends, and I just feel like I’ve been really lucky to be able to do what I love for so long.” Ockenden’s honours include a silver and two bronze Olympic medals and four Commonwealth Games gold medals, He will also retire from Kookaburras duty as a seven-time Champions Trophy winner. Eddie Ockenden (left) and Jessica Fox were Australia’s flag bearers at this year’s Paris Olympics. Picture: Richard Pelham/Getty Images “There’s always a lot of ups and downs in professional sport, and when I reflect on my career it’s the overarching love for the sport which I realise is what kept me going,” Ockenden said. “I learnt to love the difficult parts and to enjoy everything about it, including tough days at training, because it’s not all just winning. “Success on the last game of the final day is rare and difficult to do. I just loved playing hockey and being a part of the Kookaburras, and I feel lucky I was able to do it at all really.” Ockenden also had the honour of being Tasmania’s first Olympic Games Opening Ceremony flag bearer in Paris this year. “There was a lot to like about 2024,” he said. “I still can’t wrap my head around carrying the flag for Australia in Paris and at my fifth Olympic Games. “Being able to represent the community and the sport that I love so much was a proud moment.” Ockenden will now return home to live in Hobart with his partner Lou and their three sons. “I’ve always wanted to move back to Tasmania, and the kids are at a good age to move right now. We just knew it was time to move home,” he said. Originally published as Eddie Ockenden announces his retirement from international hockey Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories Hockey Australian hockey legend calls time on his career One of Australia’s greatest hockey players of all-time has announced his retirement after a stellar career. The Tasmanian legend reveals what’s next. Read more Hockey Hockey One grand final wraps: Thunderstix, Melbourne take titles Hockeyroos goalkeeper Aleisha Power powered Perth Thunderstix to a 4-1 victory over Brisbane Blaze in the women’s Hockey One grand final, while Melbourne men’s took out the title in a thriller over the Thunderstix. Read more

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The Pittsburgh Steelers have exceeded expectations thus far in 2024, as the team is 8-3 and atop the AFC North through 12 weeks. Pittsburgh suffered a disappointing 24-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football in Week 12 but will look to bounce back in Week 13 versus the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Though the Steelers have one of the most complete rosters in the NFL, the team still has some glaring weaknesses, primarily at cornerback. Outside of Joey Porter Jr., Pittsburgh lacks consistent production and high-level play at the position. Though Donte Jackson has shown flashes of dominance, the veteran has been extremely inconsistent in his debut campaign with the Steelers. General manager Omar Khan should look to address Pittsburgh's need for another boundary corner this offseason, and Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine believes San Francisco 49ers' defensive back Charvarius Ward could join the Steelers in the offseason. Charvarius Ward's contract with the San Francisco 49ers is set to void at the end of the season. He will likely be a pricey free agent, and it only makes sense to sign him to a one- or two-year deal, but he could be the kind of player that puts the Steelers defense over the top. Pittsburgh is a legitimate contender this season because of an elite defense and an offense that understands how to help that elite defense. Joey Porter Jr. continues to improve, but veteran corner Donte Jackson is a bit of a liability. Ward wouldn't come cheap and they may have to do some cap gymnastics to make it work, but the risk could be worth the reward. Ward has been one of the most consistent cornerbacks in the NFL over the last few seasons, as the former undrafted free agent had a career year in 2023 and is having another solid campaign in 2024. Ward posted a career-high five interceptions and a league-leading 23 passes defended last season and was selected to the Pro Bowler and earned a second-team All-Pro selection. Ward doesn't have the flashy interception numbers this year, but the 28-year-old is allowing just a 53% completion rate and an 86.5 passer rating when targeted. The former Middle Tennessee State standout has missed the last three games due to personal reasons. Though Ward hasn't been elite in 2024, adding the Super Bowl LVI champion would be a savvy move from Omar Khan. Ward is still a reliable player who hasn't sustained many major injuries in his career and would be an excellent fit alongside Joey Porter in the secondary. Signing Ward shouldn't be problematic for Khan, as the Steelers are set to boast over $57 million in cap space, per Spotrac , and the former Kansas City Chief shouldn't demand an unreasonable deal. Ward has been an integral piece to the 49ers' defense over the last few years, but San Francisco recently gave fellow cornerback Deommodore Lenoir a $92 million extension , meaning Ward is likely the odd man out in the team's defensive back room.