DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Ian Schieffelin had 18 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in leading Clemson to a 75-67 win over Penn State on Tuesday and the championship of the Sunshine Slam Beach Division. Chase Hunter added 17 points, Chauncey Wiggins 14 and Del Jones 10 for the Tigers (6-1), who shot 44% and made 9 of 19 3-pointers led by Hunter's three. Ace Baldwin Jr. scored 20 points and had 11 assists, Yanic Konan Niederhauser added 14 points and Nick Kern Jr. 11 for the Nittany Lions (6-1), who shot 46% and were just 4 of 18 from the arc. Neither team had a double-digit lead in the game and it was tied with seven minutes to go. But Penn State had a six-minute drought without a field goal while committing three turnovers and the Tigers went up by six. A hook shot from Schieffelin with a minute to go made it a five-point lead and free throws sealed it from there. The eight-point final margin was the largest of the game. Konan Niederhauser's dunk to open the second half tied the game but a Hunter 3-pointer gave the lead back to Clemson. Penn State took its first lead of the second half on a 9-0 run, seven coming from Baldwin, to go up 57-54 with midway through the period. Penn State had its largest lead of seven in the first half but three consecutive 3s put Clemson ahead with three minutes to go and the Tigers led at 38-36 at halftime. Clemson had a 16-9 edge on points off turnovers. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Emerance Maschmeyer turned in 34 saves on 35 shots on goal and the Ottawa Charge held off the New York Sirens 3-1 on Sunday for their second win in six games. Playing their first game in 10 days, the Charge got a first-period goal from Emily Clark and Shiann Darkangelo and Katerina Mrazova added second-period goals to build a 3-0 lead through two periods. Ottawa has scored at least three goals in all five of its meetings with New York over two seasons. Alex Carpenter earned a third-period assist to extend her scoring streak to nine straight games dating to last season. Sarah Fillier's goal moved her into a tie for the league lead with eight points in her first eight games after being drafted No. 1 by the Sirens. Ottawa's defence neutralized much of New York's speed advantage and used a strong penalty kill to take a 1-0 lead after one period after Clark tipped home a wrist shot from the point by Brianne Jenner six minutes into the game. The Charge added two goals in the first seven minutes of the second period but could not capitalize on a pair of power plays late in the period. WATCH | Charge top Sirens: Charge defeat Sirens to snap 3-game losing skid 1 hour ago Duration 0:50 Ottawa beats New York 3-1, Katerina Mrazova and Emily Clark lead the way with a goal and an assist apiece. Fillier wasted little time getting New York on the board in the third period, firing a shot past Maschmeyer 23 seconds into the period, but the keeper saved the next dozen shots, including an almost three-minute finish when the Sirens pulled goalkeeper Corinne Schroeder to gain a player advantage. New York's Jill Saulnier was activated off long-term injured reserve following an upper body injury sustained in the opening game December 1.
Red-faced Dec Donnelly leaves I’m A Celeb in hysterics after embarrassing blunder on live TVNoneNATO countries should look at Russian "hybrid threats on their borders," a key adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday, as concerns deepen over Russia's suspected hand in attacks on critical alliance infrastructure. "When we talk about what European countries and NATO states should consider, it is essential to assess the risks of emerging hybrid threats on their borders," Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff, said in a post to social media. Hybrid warfare refers to a range of activities stopping short of open fighting, like cyberattacks, information campaigns or the targeting of vulnerable infrastructure, such as undersea cables. Why It Matters NATO countries, particularly those close to Russian territory on the alliance's eastern flank, have been warning about Moscow's skill in hybrid warfare. Officials have suggested that the Kremlin could attack NATO soil using hybrid warfare tactics, rather than launching a more conventional military attack. What To Know "The shadow fleet, responsible for sabotaging cables, may not be the only such threat from Russia," Yermak said on Sunday. Earlier this week, a power cable and several data cables in the Baltic Sea were disconnected in the latest round of disruptions of critical undersea infrastructure in the area dubbed the "NATO lake." Russia has a significant military presence at its Kaliningrad exclave on the Baltic, but it is surrounded by NATO member states. When we talk about what European countries and NATO states should consider, it is essential to assess the risks of emerging hybrid threats on their borders. The shadow fleet, responsible for sabotaging cables, may not be the only such threat from Russia. Finland's coast guard on Thursday intercepted and boarded the Cook Islands-flagged Eagle S, a vessel believed to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet" of ships intended to skirt oil sanctions leveled against Moscow. The tanker crossed the Estlink 2 power cable at the exact time the disruption was reported on Christmas Day. The vessel was detained in Finnish waters, Helsinki said on Friday. In November, two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea were disrupted in quick succession, raising concerns over possible sabotage. A Chinese bulk carrier, the Yi Peng 3, is being investigated in connection with the severing of these cables. "There are multiple options for Russia to test the cohesion of the alliance," including limited land grabs, the now-former head of NATO's Multinational Corps Northeast based in northwest Poland, Lieutenant General Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart, told Newsweek just before leaving his post in November. Russia is adept at this type of warfare, and NATO knows it. In May, the alliance held a meeting dedicated to strategizing how to protect the alliance's critical undersea infrastructure. James Appathurai, a senior NATO official tasked with tackling hybrid warfare, told Sky News in an article published on Sunday that there was a "real prospect" that Russia could launch some form of unconventional attack against the alliance and cause "substantial" casualties. What People Are Saying Andriy Yermak in a statement: "When we talk about what European countries and NATO states should consider, it is essential to assess the risks of emerging hybrid threats on their borders. The shadow fleet, responsible for sabotaging cables, may not be the only such threat from Russia. "The appearance of soldiers disguised in Russian uniforms, but actually from North Korea or Iranian proxies near NATO borders, is entirely plausible if Russia is not stopped now. North Korean soldiers are already fighting on European soil. Who could have imagined this before? "Impunity breeds permissiveness. This is the moment that demands strong decisions and decisive action." The European Commission in a statement: "We strongly condemn any deliberate destruction of Europe's critical infrastructure. The suspected vessel is part of Russia's shadow fleet, which threatens security and the environment, while funding Russia's war budget. We will propose further measures, including sanctions, to target this fleet. "In response to these incidents, we are strengthening efforts to protect undersea cables, including enhanced information exchange, new detection technologies, as well as in undersea repair capabilities, and international cooperation." What Happens Next Mark Rutte, NATO's secretary-general, has said the alliance will "enhance its military presence in the Baltic Sea."
Justin Kluivert left with the match ball after a clinical display from the spot (Nick Potts/PA) Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola considered stopping Justin Kluivert taking his third penalty in the 4-2 win at Wolves which saw the Dutchman create Premier League history. Kluivert became the first player to score a hat-trick of penalties in the competition as the Cherries ran riot at Molineux in a crazy game which saw four goals in the first 18 minutes. Two of those were Kluivert spot-kicks either side of Milos Kerkez’s goal and after Jorgen Strand Larsen’s second goal of the day for Wolves brought it back to 3-2 in the second half, the Cherries forward completed his rare treble to wrap up the points. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. But Iraola had doubts whether he should have stepped up. “I don’t remember it happening before, it has to be difficult, especially the last one – I was not completely sure I should allow him to take the third one,” he said. “He is good, I suffered him in Spain (Kluivert spent a season on loan at Valencia while Iraola was with Rayo Vallecano) and I remember very well. “It is difficult I suppose, every time you shoot the first one, you give information to the keeper. “You have been preparing in the week, he has had two different approaches in the first two, I was not fully sure in the third one on what he was going to do but he has been very, very good. Justin Kluivert scores his third penalty against Wolves (Nick Potts/PA) “I suppose he would not have been happy but in the end I have to think of the points. “I didn’t take the decision to say anything. I hoped they would decide the right thing, today he was full of confidence.” Wolves boss Gary O’Neil says his goalkeeper Jose Sa has his “full support” after he confronted angry fans at half-time as the home side’s recent revival was brought to an abrupt halt. Sa gave away two of the spot-kicks as he was tackled receiving back passes and went to argue with irate fans, who were subsequently ejected. O’Neil, faced chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” from Wolves fans at full-time, did not see the incident but offered his backing to the Portuguese goalkeeper. “I think situations like this that we’re in, as I say, has heightened emotions and responses,” O’Neil said. Jose Sa confronted angry fans at half-time (Nick Potts/PA) “Jose Sa has my full support, whatever he needs from me he will get. He has my full support. “The passes he received today he shouldn’t have received. The first one he can clear much quicker. Of course he can. “None of the players have anything but my full support. We tackle this difficult situation together. “We have just gone four unbeaten in the Premier League against some tough opposition. “So we’ve had a bad day today, but it’s important not to overreact to a game that got away from us very, very early, and especially when we have two more big games coming in the next 10 days.”
Croatia's President Zoran Milanovic will face conservative rival Dragan Primorac in an election run-off in two weeks' time after the incumbent narrowly missed out an outright victory on Sunday, official results showed. The results came after an exit poll, released immediately after the polling stations closed, showed that Milanovic, backed by the opposition left-wing Social Democrats, had scooped more than 50 percent of the first round vote and would thus avoid the January 12 run-off. Milanovic won 49.11 percent of the first round vote and Primorac, backed by the ruling conservative HDZ party, took 19.37 percent, according to results released by the state electoral commission from nearly all of the polling stations. Such a strong lead for Milanovic, whom surveys labelled a favourite ahead of the vote, raises serious concerns for Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic's HDZ. The election comes as the European Union and NATO member country of 3.8 million people struggles with biting inflation, widespread corruption and a labour shortage. Among the eight contenders, centre-right MP Marija Selak Raspudic and green-left MP Ivana Kekin followed the two main rivals, the exit poll showed. They each won around nine percent of the vote. Croatia's president commands the country's armed forces and has a say in foreign policy. But despite limited powers, many believe the office is key for the political balance of power in a country mainly governed by the HDZ since independence in 1991. "All the eggs should not be in one basket," Nenad Horvat, a salesman in his 40s, told AFP. He sees Milanovic, a former leftist prime minister, as the "last barrier to all levers of power falling into the hands of HDZ", echoing the view of many that was reflected in Sunday's vote results. The 58-year-old Milanovic has been one of Croatia's leading and most colourful political figures for nearly two decades. Sharp and eloquent, he won the presidency for the Social Democrats (SDP) in 2020 with pledges to advocate tolerance and liberalism. But he used the office to attack political opponents and EU officials, often with offensive and populist rhetoric. Milanovic, who condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine, has nonetheless criticised the West's military aid to Kyiv. That prompted the prime minister to label him a pro-Russian who is "destroying Croatia's credibility in NATO and the EU". Milanovic countered that he wanted to protect Croatia from being "dragged into war". "As long as I'm president no Croatian soldier will wage somebody else's wars," he said this month. Milanovic regularly pans Plenkovic and his HDZ party over systemic corruption, calling the premier a "serious threat to Croatia's democracy". "I'm a guarantee of the control of the octopus of corruption... headed by Andrej Plenkovic," he said during the campaign. For many, the election is a continuation of the longstanding feud between two powerful politicians. "This is still about the conflict between the prime minister and president," political analyst Zarko Puhovski told AFP. "All the rest are just incidental topics." Primorac, a 59-year-old physician and scientist returning to politics after 15 years, campaigned as a "unifier" promoting family values and patriotism. "Croatia needs unity, global positioning and a peaceful life," he told reporters after casting his ballot in Zagreb, adding that he would later attend a mass. Primorac repeatedly accused Milanovic of "disgracing Croatia", a claim that resonated with his supporters. ljv/bcBlazers acting head coach Bjorkgren goes 2-0 doing what “Billups would do”The draw has been made, the courts are ready and the ball kids have been assembled for the start of New Zealand's premier tennis tournament. The action at the Auckland Tennis Centre starts on Monday with the women's week of the ASB Classic - and for the first time in a long time, we have a real chance of seeing a local going deep and potentially lifting the trophy. But it's not just about the action on the court. The ASB Classic is as much about what goes on in the stands, boxes and out in the hospitality area, so there is plenty to look forward to in our all-too-brief summer of tennis. Here is a look at who is competing and what to look out for: An American invasion Madison Keys will be feeling pretty good right now. The last time she came to Auckland back in 2013 she was bundled out in qualifying, but this time returns as the number one seed. She is currently ranked 20 in the world, but might be on a collision course with fellow American Sofia Kenin in the quarters. Kenin has won the last two matches between the two, with chances of an overall American victory high given that there are 10 of them in the draw. Will Sun shine? Lulu Sun, born in Te Anau and raised in Switzerland, returns to Auckland as an official NZ representative for the first time. Not only that, but at her highest ranking of 40 and coming off a boom season that saw her reach the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and be judged WTA Newcomer of the Year . She has won over $1 million in prize money in 2024, and while she has not won a WTA title yet, she reached the final of the Abierto GNP Seguros in Mexico back in August. It's fair to say that a win for Sun this week would be a dream for tournament organisers and headline writers alike. Welcome Naomi https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6366520415112 It is probably not accurate to say that the former world number one and four-time Grand Slam champion is desperate to reach those heights again, more that she simply wants to be consistently competitive and enjoy it along the way. Osaka had a much-publicised mental health break in 2021, just as she was poised to become the long-term face of the women's game - which in financial terms would make her one of the highest paid athletes in the world. It was a coup to get the current 58th ranked player in the world here, but judging by her social media this week, Osaka is having a good time so far. Welcome back Emma After a first visit to Auckland that could not really have gone much worse , Emma Raducanu has come back for the third year in a row and will once again be a crowd favourite. The 2021 US Open champion featured in one of the best matches the ASB Classic has ever seen back in January, when she went the distance in an ultimately losing effort against powerful Ukrainian Elina Svitolina. Raducanu provides the star power alongside Osaka, and both players have a nice run of matches before the business end of the tournament begins. Best of the rest The only other Kiwi in the draw, Vivian Wang, has been granted a wildcard but drew number two seed Elise Mertens in the first round. The Belgian is coming in ranked 34 in the world, while American Amanda Anisimova, Sun and Denmark's Clara Tauson round out the top five seeds. Atmosphere The ASB Classic has a well-earned reputation for being one of the best-run sporting events in this part of the world, with a lot of that down to the hospitality options on offer. As long as the weather plays its part, the stands should be full every day, and out the back there is plenty of room to watch the action on big screens. It is a rather unique setting, with centre court surrounded by corporate boxes, with the liberal amounts of booze served making for some rowdy crowds watching the later matches. Monday 30 December centre court order of play Day (starting at 11:30am): Evening (not before 6:30pm): Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.