NEW YORK (AP) - Errol Spence Jr. easily defended his welterweight title for the first time, beating Lamont Peterson when the fight was stopped just after the bell sounded to begin the eighth round. Spence had dominated the fight and both of Peterson's eyes appeared swollen as doctors checked him after the seventh round. The undefeated Spence won the IBF 147-pound crown last May with a victory over Kell Brook.
DENVER (AP) - Nathan MacKinnon, Erik Johnson and Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist each, Jonathan Bernier made 27 saves and the streaking Colorado Avalanche beat the New York Rangers 3-1 on Saturday for their ninth straight win. The Avalanche have won eight straight at home and haven't lost since Arizona beat them on Dec. 27. Colorado has outscored opponents 37-15 in the last nine games and has not trailed during the winning streak.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - J.P Macura scored a season-high 27 points, and No. 11 Xavier handed No. 19 Seton Hall its first loss at home by rallying from a 10-point second-half deficit to beat the Pirates 73-64. Trevon Bluiett added 15 and the Musketeers held Seton Hall to seven points in the final 6:42 in winning their third straight after two straight losses.
CHICAGO (AP) - Ryan Pulock had a goal and a career-high four assists, Anthony Beauvillier scored two power-play goals and the New York Islanders beat the slumping Chicago Blackhawks 7-3. Brock Nelson had a goal and two assists and John Tavares added a goal and an assist as New York won at Chicago for the first time since a 4-2 victory on March 15, 2009.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Travis Konecny had a goal and an assist, Michal Neuvirth made 28 saves and the Philadelphia Flyers scored all of their goals in the first period in a 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Ivan Provorov and Valtteri Filppula also tallied goals for the Flyers, who won their sixth in the last seven to pull closer to a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Marcus Derrickson scored a career-high 27 points, 16 in the two overtime periods, Jagan Mosely made two free throws with 1.5 seconds left, and Georgetown escaped with a 93-89 victory and a season sweep of St. John's. In a game overshadowed by Hall of Fame rivals coaching their alma maters, Derrickson gave the Hoyas and coach Patrick Ewing bragging rights.
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. (AP) - Anthony Durham scored 10 points with 11 rebounds for his first career double-double but he was mobbed by teammates after blocking a 3-point shot at the buzzer as Rider held on and defeated Marist 60-57. Marist 3-pointers cut the lead to 58-57 with 12 seconds left. After Durham made two free throws, Marist's David Knudsen took the ball off a screen, spun away from Durham and dribbled right. Knudsen appeared to shake Durham and take an open 3, but Durham was just able to get a hand on the ball.
HACKENSACK, N.J. (AP) - Darnell Edge scored 18 points and Jahlil Jenkins scored 16 and Fairleigh Dickinson held on for a 73-72 win over Mount St. Mary's to end a four-game losing streak. The Knights (6-13, 3-5 Northeast Conference) survived when the Mountaineers (10-11, 4-4) missed a tying free throw attempt with six seconds left and a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
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