Sports
Nebraska basketball player appears to chip tooth after being punched in back of head during game
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Nebraska guard Connor Essegian suffered what appeared to be a chipped tooth after he was punched in the back of the head during the Cornhuskers’ 84-72 win over New Mexico on Thursday night.
The ugly scene unfolded in the first half of the game when one of the Lobos’ leading scorers this season, Deyton Albury, took aim at the back of Essegian’s head with just over a minute remaining in the half.
Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Connor Essegian (0) reacts after scoring against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, on March 1, 2025. (Steven Branscombe/Imagn Images)
Albury was assessed a flagrant foul 2 for the contact and ejected from the game.
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“It looked like there was contact to his head, which is what they called it,” New Mexico coach Eric Olen said after the game, via The Santa Fe New Mexican. “That was a tough moment for us, losing Deyton like that and that took the wind out of our sails and we didn’t really finish the half.”
Essegian finished the game with 6 points, 7 rebounds and one assist in 31 minutes in the win that extended Nebraska’s winning streak to nine games. But he walked away with another trophy of sorts.
Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Connor Essegian (0) celebrates after a play in the first half of the championship game of the College Basketball Crown tournament against the UCF Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 6, 2025. (Ian Maule/Getty Images)
The senior from Indiana took to social media after the game to show what appeared to be a chipped tooth.
“Well that was a first for me,” he wrote in a post on X, with a picture of a piece of his tooth in his hand.
He joked in a later post that users on the social media platform were “undefeated” after someone created an account with the handle, “Connor Essegian’s Tooth.”
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“Y’a’ll are too quick,” he wrote.
Albury posted an apology on X after the game, calling his actions a “selfish decision.” His message did not include an apology to Essegian.
“Lobo Nation you deserve better than what I displayed tonight. Regardless of what led to my selfish decision I put myself before the team during a time when I needed to demonstrate composure and leadership.
New Mexico guard Deyton Albury shoots over Nebraska guard Sam Hoiberg (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Nov. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
“My actions are not a reflection of our players, coaches or the UNM basketball program. I sincerely apologize to Coach Olen and the rest of the staff, my teammates, Lobo fans and supporters, especially the young kids who witnessed my foolish decision on a national TV stage.
“Representing UNM and the city of Albuquerque is a privilege not a right. I accept full responsibility for what happened. I will never let our team, fans and the city down like this again.”
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The Cornhuskers are 5-0 to start the season, and their winning streak dating back to last season is the longest streak in the nation.
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Stony Brook men’s basketball star Erik Pratt was suspended by the school for spitting on a fan during the team’s 82-69 loss to Monmouth Thursday.
Pratt was being heckled by fans with 2:30 left in the game with Stony Brook down 79-63. Instead of ignoring the fans, Pratt turned and spit at them and walked away.
“In light of his actions in last night’s game at Monmouth, I have made the decision in consultation with the CAA to suspend Erik Pratt for Saturday’s game at Hofstra,” Stony Brook Director of Athletics Shawn Helibron said in a statement.
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UW-Milwaukee guard Erik Pratt (8), who now plays for Stony Brook, looks to drive to the basket against Northern Kentucky in the second half of their game at the UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Feb. 17, 2024. (Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK)
“I met with Erik earlier, and he acknowledged his mistake while accepting full responsibility for his actions. While emotions were high in the moment, he understands that his behavior was inappropriate and did not meet the standards we expect of our student-athletes, nor those set forth by our department, institution and the CAA. Erik has expressed his commitment to learning from this experience and moving forward in a positive manner.”
At the time of his ejection, Pratt led the team with 14 points and had eight assists. Pratt is Stony Brook’s leading scorer, averaging 19.4 points per game, and his absence for the team’s game against Hofstra on Saturday is a big one.
Milwaukee Panthers guard Erik Pratt (8), who now plays for Stony Brook, dribbles during the Horizon League championship basketball game between the Oakland Golden Grizzlies and the Milwaukee Panthers at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indianapolis, Indiana, on March 12, 2024. (Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Stony Brook is currently tied for the No. 5 seed in the CAA tournament, and a loss to Hofstra could drop them in the seedings.
Pratt previously played at Milwaukee and Texas A&M before joining Stony Brook.
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Texas A&M Aggies guard Erik Pratt (3), who now plays for Stony Brook, leads a fast break during a basketball game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Texas A&M Aggies at Reed Arena in College Station, Texas. College Station, Texas, on Feb. 4, 2023. (Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Pratt is not the only athlete to be embroiled in a spitting controversy over the last year, as Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Carter spit on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the first game of the NFL season.
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Sports
Former Auburn men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl calls for ‘free Iran,’ backs Trump amid US-Israel strikes
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Former Auburn men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl called Iran the “head of the snake” and backed President Donald Trump hours after the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on the country.
Pearl, one of a handful of Jewish coaches in college basketball before his retirement in September, took to social media shortly after the U.S. joined Israel in launching preemptive strikes against Iran on Saturday morning.
Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl during the first half in the South Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament against the Michigan State Spartans at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 30, 2025. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images) (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)
“President Trump gave Iran a chance to avoid War by simply agreeing to No Nukes. Iran launched middles at other Arab countries and Israel, huge mistake! Saudi Arabia joins our side,” Pearl wrote in post on X.
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“Iran is head of the snake. President Trump is the leader of the free world. Defeat Evil then Peace!”
In an earlier post on X, Pearl made a plea for a “free Iran” and “real peace” in the Middle East.
“Lord Hear Our Prayer Please put your hedge of protection over our heroic armed service as they target Iran military and missile sites with Operation Epic Fury. Pray for the innocent Pray for the enemy to be destroyed, a free Iran and then for real Peace in the Middle East.”
Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl signals to players against the Florida Gators during the first half in the semifinals of the men’s Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome. (Bob Donnan/Imagn Images)
In video remarks posted to Truth Social, Trump encouraged the Iranian people to take over their government once the United States and Israel finished “major combat operations” in Iran.
“The hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside,” he said addressing the Iranian people. “This will be, probably, your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it. No President was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a President who is giving you what you want.”
Iran launched retaliatory missile strikes targeting U.S. facilities in multiple countries. Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin reported that approximately 40 missiles had landed in Israel. Additionally, Iran appeared to hit the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, but no casualties were reported. Iran also launched missiles at Saudi Arabia and Jordan, where the U.S. has squadrons of advanced fighter jets, Griffin added.
Smoke rises after reported Iranian missile attacks, following strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, in Manama, Bahrain, Feb. 28, 2026. (Reuters)
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Pearl, an outspoken supporter of Israel since the Oct. 7 attacks, was named chairman of the board of directors for the U.S. Israel Education Association (USIEA) in April. At the time of the announcement, Pearl said he was “proud to continue advocating for greater understanding and collaboration” between the U.S. and Israel.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Sinkewicz and Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
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It’s the final day of the month, and we have great matches across Europe for you to enjoy!
We kick things off in the Premier League, as the race for the top four becomes tighter. Liverpool needing a win against relegation battlers West Ham United to stay in touch in the fight for a spot in the Champions League next season. Later, we have Leeds United looking to spoil Manchester City‘s title hopes as they host Pep Guardiola’s team at Elland Road.
Elsewhere, in LaLiga, Barcelona look to continue to remain top of the league as they host Levante, and, in the Bundesliga, it’s Der Klassiker as Borussia Dortmund hope to halt Bayern Munich‘s potential title hopes.
Enjoy all the updates from Saturday’s matches.
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