Sports
Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon makes UCL history with 4-goal 1st half
Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon has become just the second player to score four goals in the first half of a UEFA Champions League game and the first to do so in the knockout stage.
The England international’s record-breaking feat powered the Magpies into a commanding 6-1 win at Azerbaijan’s FK Qarabag in the first leg of their playoff round clash.
Gordon’s 33-minute hat trick was the fastest by an Englishman in the Champions League, and his tally in the competition now stands at 10 goals.
He is just the third Newcastle player to score a hat trick in the Champions League, and the first to do so in the knockout rounds.
“The records are nice, of course, but football is about the team,” Gordon told UEFA.com. “Individual moments only matter if the team succeeds and tonight, that was the most important thing.
“I’m very proud, not just of myself, but of everyone involved. It’s never easy to come here, so I’m really happy for the whole group.”
Gordon opened the scoring in Baku in just the third minute before Malick Thiaw doubled the Premier League side’s lead five minutes. After firing in a penalty in the 32nd minute, Gordon then rounded the opposition goalkeeper to complete his hat trick — the first of his senior career — barely a minute later.
The former Everton man then capped a memorable first half for he and his team by converting another penalty in stoppage time.
Among Englishman in the Champions League, only Harry Kane (11) has scored more goals in a season than Gordon.
The 24-year-old has already smashed Newcastle legend Alan Shearer’s previous record for most goals in a single Champions League season, which stood at six.
“He was really, really good in that first half,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said. “He started the press — a number of his goals came from his attitude off the ball.
“I was really pleased with his first goal as well because that was a key moment. It was a really good finish. He could have had more, but a very good display.”
Howe also played down an apparent half-time disagreement with captain Kieran Trippier after he completed his quadruple from the penalty spot, with teammate Nick Woltemade also offering his services.
“Anthony naturally wanted to take the second penalty and I understand why there’s a debate over it sometimes,” Howe said. “That’s not clear when there are two in one game. But he took both penalties superbly and I’m pleased with that.
“Kieran’s only ever trying to help the team, so I think it’s a positive situation rather than negative.”
Gordon failed to add to his tally in the second half, and Elvin Cafarquliyev pulled one back for Qarabag, which has been one of the surprise stories of this season’s Champions League after qualifying for the playoffs.
But Jacob Murphy‘s deflected strike completed the rout as Newcastle scored six goals in European competition for the first time in what was their 149th match.
Howe’s side will welcome Qarabag to St James’ Park next Tuesday knowing they are all-but assured of a last-16 showdown with either Barcelona or Premier League rivals Chelsea.
ESPN Research, PA and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sports
Huff scores 3 as West Virginia tops Oklahoma for CBC title
LAS VEGAS — Honor Huff made eight 3-pointers and scored a career-high 38 to propel West Virginia to an 89-82 overtime victory over Oklahoma on Sunday in the championship game of the College Basketball Crown Tournament.
The senior guard teamed up with Jasper Floyd to do all the scoring in a game-ending 13-0 run for the Mountaineers (21-14) after spotting the Sooners (21-16) the first six points in OT. Floyd missed his first eight shots before sinking 3-pointers on both sides of one by Huff in a 9-0 run that gave West Virginia the lead for good at 85-82. Huff scored the final four points at the foul line.
Huff made 9 of 19 shots with seven of the misses coming from beyond the arc. He made all 12 of his free throws and had four assists. Chance Moore totaled 19 points — on 7-for-8 shooting — and 10 rebounds off the bench. Brenen Lorient added 15 points and eight rebounds.
Nijel Pack led Oklahoma with 24 points and seven assists. Tae Davis had 19 points and Xzayvier Brown scored 13.
Huff hit his first five 3-pointers and West Virginia jumped out to a 26-11 lead in the first 9:25. Davis had a three-point play in a 9-0 run and another one with 22 seconds left as Oklahoma battled back to lead 41-37 at halftime.
Pack sank a 3-pointer 3:31 into the second half to give Oklahoma its first double-digit lead 52-42.
Huff hit a 3 and two free throws and Lorient scored after a Sooners’ shot-clock violation to tie it 71-all with 1:45 remaining.
Pack and Huff traded 3-pointers, but Davis turned it over and then fouled Huff, who hit both free throws with 33 seconds remaining. Davis tied it at 76 with a layup, forcing OT.
Sports
UNC set to hire Michael Malone as next men’s basketball coach after firing Hubert Davis: report
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The UNC Tar Heels are dipping into the NBA pool for its next men’s basketball coach.
After Hubert Davis was fired following a shocking loss to VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament earlier this month, the Tar Heels are set to hire Michael Malone, according to ESPN.
North Carolina was previously linked to top college coaches, including Michigan’s Dusty May, who will be competing for an NCAA title on Monday night against UConn. But May took his name out of any running across college, while Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd and Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger were also rumored to be in the Tar Heels’ favor.
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Head Coach Michael Malone claps on the sidelines during the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on April 6, 2025. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
But Malone, who the past 10 seasons leading the Denver Nuggets, is the man they’re settling on to lead the Tar Heels back to greatness.
Malone is the winningest coach in Nuggets history, tallying 471 career wins across his career there, while also winning an NBA title in 2023.
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However, Malone, despite what he means to the franchise record books, was fired by the Nuggets in April 2025. He quickly entered the sports media space, joining ESPN in May 2025, but he’s back in the saddle now in a whole new collegiate world compared to the pros.
Perhaps North Carolina wouldn’t have been searching for another head coach if Davis and the Tar Heels didn’t collapse against No. 10 VCU in the first round, as the Rams mounted the biggest first-round comeback in tournament history to ultimately defeat No. 6 UNC in overtime, 82-78.
“We appreciate all that Hubert has done for Carolina as a player, assistant coach, head coach and community leader – he has helped make special memories we will never forget,” athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in a statement. “This was not an easy decision because of Hubert’s tremendous character and all he has given to the program, but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to compete more consistently at an elite level.”
Davis, who made four NCAA Tournaments, including the last three seasons, over his five campaigns with the Tar Heels, released his own statement on the matter.

Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets watches the game against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on April 4, 2025. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
“Tonight, I was let go by the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill,” he wrote. “My desire was to continue to coach here. This opportunity has truly been such a blessing. I thank Jesus literally every day for giving me the opportunity, relationships and experiences with the kids and my staff. I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish together.”
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Davis added that he hopes to be coaching “in the very near future.”
Davis, who played for UNC from 1988-92 before being a first-round pick by the New York Knicks in 1992, left the program with about $5.3 million still guaranteed from his contract, per ESPN.
Davis went 125-54 during his 179-game tenure with his alma mater, which included a first-year Final Four appearance during the 2021-22 campaign. The Tar Heels reached the national championship game, falling to the Kansas Jayhawks, who also overcame a double-digit deficit to be crowned champions.

Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on April 4, 2025. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
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After missing March Madness in 2023, the Tar Heels earned themselves a No. 1 seed in 2024, but they were taken down by No. 4 Alabama in the Sweet 16, cutting their national title hopes short. Still, Davis earned himself the ACC Coach of the Year Award that year.
The Tar Heels want to get back to the Roy Williams days, as the legendary UNC head coach led his squad to six NCAA titles during his tenure, the most recent coming in 2017.
Sports
Giants’ Dexter Lawrence requests trade as contract negotiations get stagnant: reports
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New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence reportedly requested a trade from the team and has made clear to the organization he will not be at the team’s offseason workouts.
Lawrence has been trying to “negotiate a contract reflecting his value to the Giants” the last two years but talks have remained stagnant, ESPN reported on Monday. Discussions about a new deal reportedly haven’t moved forward even with John Harbaugh coming in as head coach.
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New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence plays against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 26, 2025. (Eric Hartline/Imagn Images)
The burly 340-pound defensive lineman is a three-time Pro Bowler and has been with the Giants through some rough seasons. Despite that, he’s been one of their better defensive players since the team selected him in the first round of the 2019 draft out of Clemson.
Lawrence has 30.5 sacks, 15 pass break-ups and 341 tackles in 109 career games with New York.

New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II gestures during the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Oct. 9, 2025. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)
Last season, Lawrence played in all 17 games for the first time in his career. He had an interception to go along with 31 tackles and a half-sack.
The 28-year-old player signed a four-year contract extension with the Giants in 2023, reportedly worth $87.5 million. He has two years left on his current deal. He would be paid $18.5 million in 2026 and $15.5 million if a new deal isn’t negotiated.

New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II returns an interception during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sept. 28, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
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It’s unclear what team would be interested in trading for Lawrence. But with the NFL Draft around the corner, New York would likely expect at least two picks from any team trading for Lawrence.
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