Keaton Wagler picked the right time to have a career-best performance.

The Illinois freshman guard scored 46 points in an 88-82 win for the No. 11 Fighting Illini road victory over No. 4 Purdue. Wagler scored his career-high on just 17 shots, making 13 of them. He also shot 9-of-11 from 3-point range and made 11 free throws.

The 46 points were the most points by a visiting player in Mackey Arena history and the most points by a Big Ten player this season.

REQUIRED READING: College basketball weekend schedule features Purdue, UConn in games to watch

Mackey Arena first opened in 1967.

Wagler had 24 points in the first half, keeping Illinois within striking distance with a four-point deficit. However, in the second half, he scored 22 points as the Fighting Illini outscored the Boilermakers by 10 points to pick up the key conference victory.

Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler with one of the GREATEST college basketball performances of all-time:

– 88-82 WIN AT MACKEY
– 46 points
– 13-of-17 FG
– 9-11 from 3
– 11-13 FT
– 4 assists

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) January 24, 2026

Wagler entered Saturday’s game averating 15.9-points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists on 39.4% 3-point shooting.

Here’s a look at Wagler’s stats from the Fighting Illini’s win over No. 4 Purdue on Jan. 24:

Keaton Wagler stats vs Purdue

Here’s a look at Wagler’s stats in Illinois’ upset victory over No. 4 Purdue:

• Points: 46
• Shooting: 13 for 17
• 3-point shooting: 9 for 11
• Free throw shooting: 11 for 13
• Rebounds: 0
• Assists: 4
• Turnovers: 3

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Keaton Wagler points today: How much did Illinois star score vs Purdue?

Ja Morant was asked one question about his future with the Memphis Grizzlies on Jan. 21.

When the star point guard was in London and Berlin for two NBA games in Europe against the Orlando Magic, the media assembled had plenty to ask the 26-year-old in his seventh NBA season. But this time, he was asked just one question after a loss to the Atlanta Hawks at FedExForum.

“I’m sorry y’all that wasn’t able to come to London, but I’m done with those questions,” Morant said.

His response was polite, and the questions turned back to basketball. Morant wanted to focus on basketball, but the news from the Grizzlies on Jan. 24 about another setback will keep the focus on his future with the organization.

Morant will miss at least three weeks due to left elbow UCL sprain. The three-week timeline overlaps with the trade deadline on Feb. 5.

If Morant is traded, he has played his last game with the Grizzlies. There is also the possibility that Memphis could keep Morant beyond the deadline if the latest injury scares off bidders from making an attractive offer.

Morant is averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 assists per game this season. His 23.5% on 3-pointers and 41% shooting overall are both career lows. He’s a 46.6% shooter for his career, including 31.1% on 3-pointers.

Ja Morant’s trade value, contract

Reports have indicated that Morant doesn’t have a robust trade market. His injury history and off-court concerns have limited what teams are willing to offer for a player who is making $39.4 million this season.

After reports surfaced that the Grizzlies would listen to offers on Jan. 9, Morant returned from a calf contusion on Jan. 18 after missing six games. He proceeded to compile at least 20 points and 10 assists in each of his next two games.

Morant’s strong play was an indication that more teams could start calling the Grizzlies, but then he suffered his latest injury.

Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo are two other notable NBA stars whose names have been rumored in potential trades. Both those players are also expected to be sidelined through the trade deadline.

A team in win-now mode is less likely to take on Morant’s contract, given his latest injury and injury history. Morant has missed 23 of 43 games this season. He’ll finish this season playing less than 60 games for the third consecutive year.

The Commercial Appeal reported on Jan. 9 that the Grizzlies would be open to keeping Morant if they can’t find suitable offers. The chances of Morant staying seem to be increasing.

Can Grizzlies fix the issues with Ja Morant?

Morant indicated on Jan. 18 that Memphis is where he wants to be. While that didn’t mean the Grizzlies would be more inclined to keep him, the current injury situation could lead to that.

If Morant stays past the deadline, is the relationship salvageable? That seems unlikely, given Morant’s down season and injury history with two more seasons left on his contract.

Morant was supporting his teammates on the bench during the Jan. 23 loss against the New Orleans Pelicans. His latest actions have been positive, limiting the potential of a distraction.

The two sides being aligned throughout the remainder of the season doesn’t seem like it could be a conflict. However, what happens after the season is another question.

Morant will be eligible for a three-year contract extension. The Grizzlies didn’t sign him to a two-year extension last offseason. Given the recent events and the team’s willingness to shop him, an extension is even less likely now.

A perfect fairytale story would be the Grizzlies and Morant fixing their differences, moving on and making a run next season. However, without future certainty, there’s a strong chance the Grizzlies will be listening to offers again in the offseason if Morant remains on the roster past the trade deadline.

Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Ja Morant injury changes trade value for Memphis Grizzlies

The New York Rangers have now lost three consecutive games, while suffering defeats in nine out of their past ten matchups. 

Frustrations are beginning to mount, specifically from Rangers captain J.T. Miller, who voiced his frustration following the Blueshirts’ 3-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Friday night. 

“We’re not getting the results,” Miller said. “I’m not at all happy with where we’re at. This f–ing sucks. Sorry about my language, but this really sucks. Losing every night, it’s really hard to stay positive. I mean, it’s really hard. This is nobody’s standard or what we’re willing to accept within each other, is losing every game it feels like right now. I think it’s just constant mistakes and shooting ourselves (in the) the foot. Everybody’s really trying hard. That’s what really sucks.”

When Miller was traded to the Rangers last season from the Vancouver Canucks, the expectation was that he could be the piece to help propel the Rangers into a playoff contender. 

Instead, Miller finds himself in the midst of a retool, and as the captain, it’s on him to keep a calm and steady composure through these losing times. 

The letter issued by Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury outlining the team’s plan to retool the roster was not in Miller’s mind when he waived his no-move clause to come to New York about one year ago.

“The emotions have been going on for longer than the last two days,” Miller said after Drury’s letter was released. “It’s unfortunately part of the game. It’s disappointing, for sure. I don’t think four or five months ago this is where we thought we’d be, but we’ve got a job to do, and we need to start moving forward towards the next chapter.”

DALLAS (AP) — Jaron Pierre Jr. had 28 points to help SMU hold off Florida State 83-80 on Saturday.

Lajae Jones buried a 3-pointer to give Florida State a 72-69 lead with four minutes remaining. Pierre had baskets on both ends of a three-point play by B.J. Edwards in a 7-0 run and SMU stayed in front from there. Edwards made two free throws with eight seconds left to set the final margin.

Pierre made 11 of 18 shots with four 3-pointers for the Mustangs (15-5, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference). Edwards totaled 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Boopie Miller had 11 points and six assists and Samet Yigitoglu grabbed 11 rebounds and scored six.

Robert McCray V totaled 21 points and nine assists to pace the Seminoles (8-12, 1-6). Jones made four 3-pointers and finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double this season. Alex Steen had 14 points and nine rebounds, while reserve Martin Somerville hit three 3-pointers and scored 13.

Edwards had 13 points, Pierre scored 11 and SMU closed the first half on a 20-10 run for a 46-34 advantage at halftime.

McCray buried a 3-pointer, Steen tipped in a miss and Jones hit a jumper and a 3-pointer to cap a 10-0 run that gave the Seminoles a 50-49 lead with 15 minutes remaining. The lead changed hands four times until Edwards scored in the paint with three minutes left to put the Mustangs on top for good.

Up next

Florida State: The Seminoles host California on Wednesday.

SMU: The Mustangs visit No. 23 Louisville on Saturday.

___

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Keyshawn Hall scored 24 points, including 22 in Auburn’s dominant and stunning first half, and the Tigers upset No. 16 Florida 76-67 on Saturday for the program’s first win in Gainesville since 1996.

Auburn used 7-0, 8-0 and 12-0 runs en route to a 15-point halftime lead in a matchup of 2025 Final Four teams, building enough of a cushion to withstand the Gators’ frantic rally after the break.

Defending national champion Florida (14-6, 5-2 Southeastern Conference), an 11 1/2-point favorite, tied the game twice in the second half, but Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford hit a driving layup with 4:24 remaining to push the lead to 62-56. The Tigers (13-7, 4-3) held on from there for their third consecutive win.

The outcome ended Florida’s five-game winning streak, its 16-game home winning streak and its 15-game winning streak in the series.

Hall was the difference. The 6-foot-7, 225-pound senior made 8 of 17 shots, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range, to go along with seven rebounds and four assists. He got just about anything he wanted in the first half inside and made an array of shots from every level.

The Tigers mostly neutralized the best rebounding team in the country, outscoring Florida 36-28 in the paint and holding big men Rueben Chinyelu and Alex Condon to a combined 11 points and 16 rebounds.

KeShawn Murphy added 16 points and nine rebounds for Auburn, and Pettiford chipped in 11 points and five boards while being heckled by chants of “D-U-I, D-U-I” every time he touched the ball.

Thomas Haugh led Florida with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Urban Klavzar added 12 points off the bench.

Up next

Auburn hosts Texas on Wednesday night.

Florida plays at South Carolina on Wednesday night.

___

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PITTSBURGH (AP) — Toby Fournier scored 19 points, reserve Arianna Roberson had 19 points in a double-double and No. 21 Duke overwhelmed Pittsburgh 95-41 on Saturday for the Blue Devils’ 11th straight win.

Roberson, a freshman, was 9-of-15 shooting and matched her high of 12 rebounds for her first double-double. Riley Nelson also posted her first double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Delaney Thomas scored 16 points and Taina Mair added 12 for the Blue Devils (14-6, 9-0 ACC), who share first place with No. 8 Louisville.

Mikayla Johnson led the Panthers (8-14, 1-7) with 15 points.

Duke scored the first seven points of the game and Pittsburgh’s first made basket came with 3:50 remaining in the first quarter. Duke led 9-4 at that point then made 6 of 8 shots to finish the quarter. The Blue Devils led 22-8 after one.

Duke shot 68% in the second quarter and finished the half on a 19-4 run, building a 51-16 halftime lead.

Duke led 66-20 midway through the third quarter before Pitt scored back-to-back baskets for the first time. The Panthers scored 14 points in the third, their first quarter with double-digit scoring. Duke led 76-30 at the end of three.

The lead peaked at 85-30 after the Blue Devils scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter.

The 11 consecutive wins match Duke’s longest under coach Kara Lawson, also accomplished in the 2022-23 season.

The game was moved from Sunday to Saturday because of the severe winter storm in the south and east.

Up next

Duke: at Miami on Thursday

Pittsburgh: at Virginia Tech on Thursday ___

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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (AP) — White Abarrio’s bid to become the first back-to-back winner of the $3 million Pegasus World Cup was thwarted.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s bid was not. And finally, jockey Tyler Gaffalione is a Pegasus winner, too.

Skippylongstocking is finally the winner of Gulfstream Park’s richest race, rallying in the stretch to beat White Abarrio in the Grade 1 Pegasus on Saturday. Skippylongstocking had been in the Pegasus three other times, finishing seventh in 2023, not finishing in 2024 and getting third last year.

This time — at 21-1 odds — he beat them all, returning $45.20, $14.20 and $7.20.

“He deserves it,” a teary Joseph said after the race. “But I’m just proud of White Abarrio, how he ran. … Take nothing away from Skippy. This was his day to deliver.”

It was a moment of confliction for Joseph. White Abarrio — the 2025 Pegasus winner who was scratched on-track at the Breeders’ Cup last year and hadn’t run since — was one of the favorites for this race, and few thought the 7-year-old Skippylongstocking would have enough to get to the line first.

“Everything went to plan,” Joseph said.

White Abarrio got to the lead near to the head of the stretch and seemed in the clear, before Joseph’s other horse ran him down. It was the 36th career race and 13th win for Skippylongstocking, and his lifetime earnings jumped by about 50% to roughly $5.5 million after the race.

Gaffalione is the only jockey who had run in all 10 editions of the Pegasus, never winning until now.

“Saffie told me to ride with a lot of confidence,” Gaffalione said.

White Abarrio returned $6.60 and $4.60, and Full Serrano paid $6.40 for third.

Pegasus Day is a spectacle at Gulfstream Park, with 10 stakes races, seven of them graded, worth $5.675 million in purses. It’s the only day of the racing year at Gulfstream where fans pay for admission — some paying big money for admission.

Celebs flock to the race; actor and producer Mark Wahlberg gave the customary “Riders up!” call shortly before the race — and took advantage of the moment to give the New England Patriots a plug before they face the Denver Broncos for a Super Bowl berth on Sunday.

“Racing fans, the moment we’ve all been waiting for, the 10th running of the Pegasus World Cup,” Wahlberg said, with Gulfstream Park CEO Belinda Stronach — who has long wanted Pegasus to be a marriage of celebs and horses — among those beaming behind him. “To sports fans all around the world and my Patriots Nation, we’re all we got, we’re all we need. Riders up!”

Test Score wins Pegasus World Cup Turf

Trainer Graham Motion got first and second in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf, with Test Score holding off One Stripe at the end of the 1 1/8-mile race.

Almendares, a 37-1 long shot, held on for third.

Test Score, ridden by Manuel Franco, paid $17.20, $7.40 and $5.40. One Stripe paid $5.80 and $4.80, and Almendares got its backers $14.60 to show.

Program Trading — which went off as the 6-5 favorite after being listed at 1-9 at one point, clearly after someone dropped a huge win wager on him before the race — couldn’t take advantage of what seemed like a great trip and finished fifth.

Destino d’Oro wins Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf

At 15-1, Destino d’Oro made a big closing move to win the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational — edging 70-1 shot Crevalle d’Oro at the end.

Junior Alvarado rode the winner for trainer Brad Cox, coming from the back of the 12-horse field to get the win and return $33.20, $14.40 and $10.20. Crevalle d’Oro paid $26.40 and $15.40, and Movin On Up ($6.60) was third.

The exacta — Destino d’Oro over Crevalle d’Oro — returned a massive $281.80 on $1 wagers.

___

AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing

Japanese star Yu Darvish signed a six-year, $126 million deal with the Cubs before the 2018 season, with escalators that could have brought that deal to $150 million. You all likely remember the “Daily Darvish” posts I made here in early 2018 in anticipation of Darvish’s signing.

Injuries and ineffectiveness ruined his first year with the Cubs. After a slow start in 2019 he went on an 11-start run with a 2.44 ERA and 0.784 WHIP and in that span he walked six (!) and struck out 93. Then the Cubs pen failed him in his last two starts, where he walked one and struck out 25 in 15.1 innings, and the Cubs collapsed out of a playoff spot. In the pandemic season, Darvish was great. He posted a 2.01 ERA in 12 starts, striking out 93 and walking just 14 in 76 innings, and finished second in Cy Young voting.

Then, as you know, the Cubs salary-dumped Darvish to the Padres (along with Victor Caratini, insisted on by the Padres as Darvish’s personal catcher) for four prospects, only one of whom, Owen Caissie, ever played in the major leagues. (Zach Davies was also included in the deal coming to the Cubs, but he had an awful season, one of the worst ever by a Cubs starter.)

Today, Darvish told the San Diego Union-Tribune that he is walking away from three years and $43 million remaining on his deal, after having elbow surgery in October:

“The way my rehab is going now, I am focused on getting right, not on coming back,” he said late last month. “Right now I’m not really thinking too much about the future. Just knowing the way I think, I’m sure I will one day want to throw again. All I’ve thought about in my life is baseball.”

Darvish missed half of the 2024 season due to elbow issues and a personal matter but came back to pitch exceptionally well in the playoffs. When he and Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller spoke after that season, it was with the understanding that Darvish would likely need elbow surgery at some point. Darvish said he made it clear at that time he was considering “getting rid of” his contract.

“As far as leaving lots of money,” Darvish said in a recent interview, “I look at it as that was never mine to begin with, especially considering the money I haven’t physically earned yet.”

Darvish had one really good year in San Diego in 2022, posting a 3.10 ERA and 0.950 WHIP and finishing eighth in Cy Young voting. Overall in five years with the Padres, he posted a 3.97 ERA and 1.100 WHIP in 115 starts. He made 51 starts with the Cubs in three years in blue pinstripes with a 3.60 ERA and 1.106 WHIP.

As you might recall, the Cubs were in on the bidding when Darvish was posted prior to the 2012 season, but the Texas Rangers won that bid and he played five years there, along with half a season with the Dodgers in 2017, where he stymied the Cubs in Game 3 of the NLCS.

Presuming this is it for Darvish, his final MLB game will be Game 3 of the 2025 Wild Card Series against the Cubs last October at Wrigley Field, where he threw a scoreless first inning, then the Cubs had four straight batters reach against him in the second. The last batter he faced was Pete Crow-Armstrong, who hit an RBI single [VIDEO].

I know many of you will note the salary dump of Darvish by the Cubs as a key moment in that part of Cubs history, and you’re certainly right about that. I’ll also note that with the trade of Caissie to the Marlins for Edward Cabrera, the Cubs still have a chance to get something out of that trade tree. Here’s hoping.

Overall, Darvish made 297 MLB starts and posted 33.6 bWAR. He had a 3.65 ERA, 1.138 WHIP, 2,075 strikeouts and 115 wins. Add to that 93 wins and a 1.99 ERA in 167 games (164 starts) with 1,250 strikeouts in seven years with the Nippon Ham Fighters in NPB and there’s a borderline Hall of Fame argument for Darvish.

Yu Darvish was a fun player to have on the Cubs while he was a member of the team. It’s unfortunate he spent much of that time injured, and was salary-dumped when he still could have helped the club. I wish him well in retirement.

UPDATE: After the article in the San Diego Union-Tribune was published, Darvish put this on social media. So we’ll see.