CLEVELAND, Ohio -- I agree that quarterback Cam Newton struggled in Super Bowl 50 and, as a result, left himself open to criticism. He was part of the problem as the Carolina Panthers lost to the Denver Broncos, 24-10, Sunday night in Santa Clara, Calif. I disagree, though, with the avalanche of criticism directed at Newton for his mopey...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- I agree that quarterback Cam Newton struggled in Super Bowl 50 and, as a result, left himself open to criticism. He was part of the problem as the Carolina Panthers lost to the Denver Broncos, 24-10, Sunday night in Santa Clara, Calif.

I disagree, though, with the avalanche of criticism directed at Newton for his mopey and brief postgame meeting with reporters. Was it a bad look? Sure. If he had it to do over, would he? Perhaps. But I would rather see genuine disgust after losing a Super Bowl than phoney smiling and chat-chatting, the latter simply to appease those who create a mold for what "good sports'' are supposed to look like.

I spoke with Cinesport about Newton and Super Bowl 50.

Bud Shaw, Michael Reghi, Chris Fedor and Dan Labbe discuss the first few weeks of Tyronn Lue as head coach. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Elevating Tyronn Lue to head coach hasn't fixed all of the Cleveland Cavaliers' problems.

The team, expected by many to make another NBA Finals run, has shown some flaws recently, with stumbles against Charlotte and Boston. 

What's the Cavs biggest issue that has shown during Lue's time as head coach? Bud Shaw, Michael Reghi, Dan Labbe and I discussed that during our weekly video series. 

Watch the video above and share your thoughts in the comments section. 

Loving, who's shown in the past he can be a gifted scorer, is shooting 25 percent in Ohio State's last six games. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State had the ball in a position that should've made the Buckeyes feel very comfortable.

Down three in the last three minutes of last Thursday's game against Wisconsin, junior forward Marc Loving had the ball on the wing. That's Ohio State's oldest player, a junior on a team full of freshmen and sophomores, who fancies himself the best shooter on the team with a chance to tie the game. Loving could've at least cut the deficit to one.

Instead Loving hesitated, then forced an awkward entry pass that was intercepted by Wisconsin's Nigel Hayes. Hayes went down and dunked on the other end to put Wisconsin up five.

Down five, Loving then chucked an unnecessary desperation 3-pointer, missed, and the game was basically over from there.

Pinning that loss only on the shoulders of Loving is unfair. Ohio State had other chances to win that game, and could've helped itself by not starting in an 11-0 hole before losing by 11.

That short sequence with Loving, though, is part of a trend he's been following lately. He looks unsure of himself with the ball. Whether it's the wrong shot, the wrong pass, looking disengaged or trying to do much, something is off with Loving. And it's noticeable.

"I think that Marc has a tendency right now to hold onto things," Buckeyes coach Thad Matta said. "We've talked with him about that in terms of playing forward. If you miss a shot -- I got on him the other night, the first shot he took against Wisconsin was a soft shot."

Loving started the game by passing up on an open 3, then leaning into a defender for a tougher shot that just grazed the front of the rim. That's the sign of a player who's not very confident in his shot, even if Loving claims he feels fine.

Maybe that's the most frustrating part of this for you, the fact that Loving is struggling but isn't playing with the sense of urgency you hope he would to get out of this funk.

That's because Loving doesn't view it as struggling.

"The ball is just not going in the rim," Loving said. "I feel like I'm taking decent shots, the ball is just not going down ... I still have the same mentality I had when the ball was going through the rim. I put up enough reps to rely on that."

Loving has never been one to be very critical of himself. He was the same way last year when he came back from a three-game suspension in the middle of Big Ten play and saw a significant drop off in his production.

He said Wisconsin didn't do anything to frustrate him last Thursday. He finished the game 2 for 7 from the floor. It was the fourth time in the last six games he's shot worse than 30 percent.

Right now Loving is in the middle of a six-game streak where he's shooting 25 percent (15 for 58) and has had three games with more turnovers than made field goals. He's still Ohio State's leading scorer in Big Ten play (11.8 ppg), but he's second to last on the team in field goal percentage in that same span (36.8 percent).

Matta has shown already that he's willing to shake up the lineup if a player isn't doing something the way Matta wants him to. So I asked Matta if he's considered removing Loving from the starting lineup, where's he's been every game this season.

"I haven't, but I 'll be honest since we've come home from Wisconsin, it's just been team vs. team," Matta said. "There's been no rhyme or reason as to why guys have been on a team (in practice). I don't know if I'll have a starting lineup until about 30 minutes before the game."

When pondering that decision, Matta has to ask himself how Loving would respond to such a move. Some players take that better than others. It took Trevor Thompson one game to get it. It took JaQuan Lyle three games.

Matta can't afford to lose Loving, because Ohio State needs him to win games.

He may very well be the best shooter on the team, though he's not showing it now. When he gets the ball in the post, which probably hasn't happened enough this year, he's tough to defend.

Loving has struggled, but he's also shown a diverse offensive game that's a tough matchup when he's clicking.

The problem is he hasn't been clicking for some time. And Ohio State has lost some winnable game to good teams in part because it's lone junior is in a funk.

"I'm hoping as a junior he understands the ramifications of how well we need him to play, because he's shown over the course of the season that he can definitely do that," Matta said.

Get the latest updates and analysis on the Cleveland Cavaliers game against the Sacramento Kings.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers cruised past the Sacramento Kings, 120-100, for their second straight win.

LeBron James recorded his first triple-double of the season, scoring 21 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out 10 assists. Kyrie Irving added 32 points on 13-of-21 from the field. 

Scoring Summary:

End of 3rd Quarter - Cavs lead Kings, 91-70. LeBron James leads the way with his first triple-double of the season. He has 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Kyrie Irving has 21 points. J.R Smith's 22 points lead all scorers. Sacramento is led by Rudy Gay, who has 16 points. 

End of 2nd Quarter - Cavs lead Kings, 61-45. LeBron James is on pace for a triple-double, scoring 10 points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing eight assists in 19 minutes. J.R. Smith and Kyrie Irving each have 16 points. The Kings are led by DeMarcus Cousins and Willie Cauley-Stein -- each with nine points. 

End of 1st Quarter - Cavs lead Kings, 31-23. J.R. Smith has a team-high 10 points. Kyrie Irving has added eight points. LeBron James has chipped in with seven points on 2-of-4 from the field. The Kings are led by Marco Belinelli, who has eight points. 

After missing Saturday's win over the New Orleans Pelicans, the Cleveland Cavaliers will have Kevin Love back in the lineup tonight against the Sacramento Kings.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - After missing Saturday's win over the New Orleans Pelicans, the Cleveland Cavaliers will have Kevin Love back in the lineup tonight against the Sacramento Kings.

Love suffered a left quad contusion in last week's nail-biting loss to the Boston Celtics. He sustained the injury in the third quarter and did not return.

The power forward participated in Monday's morning shootaround and was listed as probable coming into tonight's affair with the reeling Kings. Head coach Tyronn Lue said he's not sure how many minutes Love will get, but just stated he's happy to have him back.

Love has compiled a team-leading 23 double-doubles this season and is averaging 15.9 points and 10.5 rebounds. His missed game Saturday is his only one this season.

A Columbus request for $5 million in taxpayer dollars to build a new training camp complex in Columbus for the Browns caused a stir. But the team has been talking for a year about a deal with Columbus.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns fan were flummoxed last week to hear Columbus had requested $5 million in state tax money to host the Browns training camp.

They shouldn't have been.

Any move is particularly touchy for fans who still bear the scars of the old Browns abandoning Cleveland and moving to Baltimore. And the potential for use of taxpayer dollars stirred passions more. But team owner Jimmy Haslam has talked openly about the idea for more than a year -- and been in talks with Columbus leaders for even longer.

Indeed, Berea Mayor Cyril Kleem said last week that the Browns have been open about their desire to move camp.

"They told us this could happen. They haven't done anything to us that's underhanded and it's no surprise they may relocate to Columbus in 2017," Kleem told 92.3 FM last week. "I'm not crazy about it, but it's not like the Browns are moving their headquarters. That's not the case."

So what do you want to know?

How long have the Browns had an eye on Columbus?

The Browns have been strengthening ties with Columbus since Alec Scheiner was named team president in December 2012. Haslam has had business dealings with Alex Fischer, president and CEO of the Columbus Partnership.

In August, when the Browns played an intra-squad scrimmage at Ohio Stadium, sources said Columbus officials were confident of wooing the Browns, though it might take up to six months to announce the deal. Haslam said then the negotiations had been ongoing for a year.

"Alec Scheiner has continued to work with the people in Columbus, and I think there's still some details to work out," Haslam said then. "We're excited about going down to Columbus and letting our fans in the middle part of the state come see us scrimmage."

After the scrimmage, which with 50,000 fans drew the biggest intra-scrimmage crown in a decade, Haslam said Columbus was great.

"I think it has been good for our guys to get away from Berea for a couple days. A little different scenario," he said. "And to play in front of 45, 50 thousand people is fun whether you're a veteran or a young person."

Previous coverage: Columbus officials hoping for a five- to 10-year commitment to host Cleveland Browns' training camp

Why is Columbus attractive for the Browns?

Columbus is the nation's 15th largest city. With surrounding Franklin County, the area is about the same size as Cuyahoga County. And more potential fans live just beyond in adjoining counties.

The area also is a battleground of sorts. 

The Browns are among four NFL franchises competing for fans in Columbus, which has NHL and pro soccer teams. The area is on the fringes of fan bases for the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts.

Expanding the team's fan base would also allow the Browns to tap into the Columbus corporate community.

Where would the training facility be built?

Neither Ohio State University nor the Columbus Partnership were available to comment Monday about where the athletic facility might go.

Fischer, of the Columbus Partnership, has said that an official site has not been decided.

Speculation, though, is that the facility would be built near Ohio State University's West Campus, west of Ohio Stadium.

OSU's College of Agriculture still has large fields of open land in that area. It also has easy access to Ohio 315, a freeway that links the Interstate 270 outerbelt in the north with downtown and I-70 and I-71 in the south.

At one point last year, talk included Columbus Crew soccer stadium and open property around it's home near I-71, Mapfre Stadium. That would have involved property adjacent to the Ohio Expo Center and appears to have fallen through.

Does the move stand a chance?

Probably. But getting taxpayer money is probably a tough sell.

Fischer told The Columbus Dispatch he would have preferred that the Browns make an announcement first, but that the submission was needed for a shot at capital improvement money.

Lawmakers will debate the capital improvements bill this spring.

House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, through a spokesman, said he was  "most concerned" with what legislators think about the request.

"As we have seen over the past few days, there are obviously strong feelings on this topic, so it is important that everyone's concerns are taken into consideration and that all projects are properly vetted throughout the spring," spokesman Brad Miller said in an email.

State Rep. Michael Dovilla, a Berea Republican with some clout in the House, said he already has contacted Rosenberger.

"I am vigorously opposing the Columbus Partnership's capital appropriations request that would use taxpayer dollars to poach economic development from Greater Cleveland to elsewhere in Ohio."

It's hard to imagine the item would survive Gov. John Kasich's line item veto pen if it looks like it pits one city's interests against another.

Could the Browns move without taxpayer money?

Theoretically, yes, although if OSU is a partner in the project the public university almost certainly would have some money invested.

The Browns on Monday reaffirmed that the team has not asked for public money. The request for money in the capital budget came from the Columbus Partnership, not the team.

In a statement Thursday the team said it would "incur all the costs associated with moving and holding our operations at a remote site."

In a column last week supporting the move, The Dispatch's Michael Arace noted that Haslam is due to get between $17 million and $36.6 million for his share of relocation fees put up by the St. Louis Rams and the Oakland Raiders and/or the San Diego Chargers.

The NFL intends to charge a $550 million moving fee to any teams that move to Los Angeles.

When could the team make a move?

In the team statement, the Browns confirmed the team would remain in Berea for this year's training camp. The team said decision would be made based on what was best for football operations and winning.

Last year Haslam said that a move was unlikely before 2017 and that the team would continue to hold its practices in Berea.

Super Bowl 50 was so yesterday. Who will play in next season's game? Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Super Bowl 50 is over. The Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night. Time to look ahead? Who will play in next year's big game?

Chris Fedor, Bud Shaw and Michael Reghi made their bold predictions as part of our series of weekly videos. They also predicted who will play halftime of next year's game.

Colleen Crowley's version of her fight with Johnny Manziel was released Monday in an affidavit. Her lawyer also told a station in Dallas that the fight resulted in a punctured eardrum for Crowley.

CLEVELAND, Ohio --  Colleen Crowley's lawyer told a TV station in Dallas that her client suffered a punctured eardrum during her argument with Johnny Manziel Jan. 30.

"They expect (it) to heal but it'll take a while,'' attorney Kathy Kinser told NBC5.

In addition, the affidavit of Crowley's application for the protective order was obtained Monday by NBC5 and other outlets in Texas. It confirms disturbing details of the argument that were first reported last Thursday by News 8 in Dallas.

Manziel is currently under investigation by Dallas police and the NFL for possible domestic violence. He's also been ordered by a county judge in Texas to stay away from Crowley for two years.

In the four-page affidavit, Crowley writes that Manziel threatened to kill himself and her, and that he struck her hard enough on the left side of her head to bang her head against the windshield and she crumpled to the floorboard.

"I realized immediately that I could not hear out of that ear, and I still cannot today, two days later," she said.

Manziel denied to TMZ Sports Thursday that he threatened to kill himself and Crowley, or that he struck her. "It didn't happen,'' he said. "I'm completely stable. I'm safe and secure.''

But according to Crowley's version of events, that wasn't the case at all.

Crowley wrote in the affidavit that she and Manziel argued in a Dallas hotel over a woman "who had caused us problems in the past." She told him if she was going to spend the night "it would be on the couch.''

She said Manziel then threw her on the bed, claiming he was doing it "playfully'' but it "frightened me and I took it seriously." She said he "restrained'' her from leaving, but "I tried to fight him off. I became very scared that he was going to hurt me."

She said Manziel took her to the valet stand to get her car and drive her back to her apartment in Fort Worth and would not take no for an answer.

"When we got to the valet, I was crying and begged the valet, 'Please don't let him take me. I'm scared for my life!'" Crowley said. "The valet replied, 'I don't know what to do" and proceeded to let (Manziel) literally throw me in the front passenger seat of his car and he went around and got in the driver's seat."

Crowley said she jumped out of the car as he was backing out and hid behind some bushes, but Manziel found her and "grabbed me by my hair and threw me back into the car and got back in himself."

Crowley said that on the ride from Dallas to Fort Worth, she told Manziel, "I hate you! Just leave me alone! I hate you!"

He told her "he was going to drop me off, take my car and go kill himself. I thought maybe he was on drugs or having a psychotic break so to keep him calm I began telling him, 'I love you.'

"(Manziel) started laughing at this and I became really scared. I started crying even more and he told me 'Shut up or I'll kill us both!' Then I started begging him not to kill me and he immediately responded, 'I would never kill you. You don't deserve that. I would only kill myself!' He was not making sense."

Related: Hue Jackson's message to Manziel: 'You're not alone'

Crowley said the fight continued at her apartment, but became more verbal. She begged him for her phone, but he refused to give it to her.

"He then smashed my phone onto the tile in my apartment entry,'' she said.

Crowley tried to FaceTime her parents on her computer for help while Manziel was pacing outside the apartment. When he asked if she tried to reach them, she said, no, but he saw on the computer that she did.

"I became extremely scared as to what he might do," Crowley said. "I was in my kitchen so out of fear for my life, I pulled a knife out of my knife block and advanced toward him. He ran out of the apartment."

Crowley then banged on a neighbor's door and another came out and offered help. Manziel left on foot, but "I continue to be extremely concerned for my health and well-being," she said.

The Tarrant County judge issued the protective order on Friday, stating that the court had reason to believe that "family violence had occurred.''

In the midst of the reports, Paul Manziel told the Dallas Morning News that he feared for his son's life. "I truly believe if they can't get him help, he won't live to see his 24th birthday," Paul Manziel said.

Related: Super Bowl MVP Von Miller gives Johnny Manziel a shoutout of love and support after the Broncos' victory

The Browns will release Manziel when the league year opens March 9. In the meantime, he's received offers of help from the Browns, from coach Hue Jackson, and from the NFL.

He's also received a show of support from Super Bowl MVP Von Miller and other celebrities.

While there was little movement for most Northeast Ohio schools in The Associated Press state basketball rankings, Benedictine and East Tech moved into the Division II top 10.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Here's how a state panel of sports writers and broadcasters rates Ohio high school boys basketball teams in the fifth weekly Associated Press poll of 2015-16. With won-lost record and total points (first-place votes in parentheses).

Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Mason 18. 12, Cin. La Salle 17. 13, Tol. St. John's 13.

Others receiving 12 or more points: 13, Johnstown-Monroe 16. 14, McConnelsville Morgan 15. 14, McArthur Vinton County 15.

Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Casstown Miami E. 20. 12, Leavittsburg Labrae 15. 13, Findlay Liberty-Benton 13.

Others receiving 12 or more points: 11, Waterford 28. 12, S. Charleston SE 14. 13, Lisbon David Anderson (1) 13. 13, Bristol 13. 15, Cle. Hts. Lutheran E. 12. 15, McDonald 12.

LeBron James notched his first triple-double this season and the 40th this season with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in Cleveland's win over Sacramento.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - LeBron James didn't even need three quarters to register his first triple-double of the season on Monday night.

James posted 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in the Cavaliers' 120-100 smashing of the Sacramento Kings. His 10^th rebound came with 1:13 left in the third and Cleveland ahead by 23 points.

James didn't play in the fourth quarter, though fellow Big 3 mates Kyrie Irving (32 points) and Kevin Love (11 points) played well into the final period, as did J.R. Smith (22 points).

The triple-double was the 40^th of James' career during the regular season. He's seventh all time, trailing Lafayette "Fat" Lever by three. Oscar Robertson is the NBA's all-time leader in regular-reason triple-doubles with 181.

James is also just seven points behind Paul Pierce (26,166 points) for 15^th place in NBA history in career scoring.

Pierce, who still plays for the Los Angeles Clippers, didn't play in the Clippers' game Monday night. James can potentially surpass him Wednesday when the Cavs host Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.

James came within two rebounds or assists of a triple-double on five occasions this season. Both of his triple-doubles last season came in April.

"Get over hump, finally, and doing it in three quarters was even more impressive," James said. "It allowed me to get some rest, especially with us having another game on Wednesday.

"So my teammates did a great job making shots, allowed me to get the assists. And teammates did a great job of setting screens and rolls and allowed me to get 10-plus points and they also did a great job blocking out, allowing me to get 10 rebounds."

James amassed 10 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds through two quarters on Monday; the only question was would he capture those remaining boards and assists before the game was too lopsided for coach Tyronn Lue to keep him on the floor.

James finished shooting 8-of-16 from the field and 4-of-5 from the line with four turnovers in 31 minutes.

It was the second straight game he made 50 percent or more of his shots from the field and at least one 3-pointer. That's only news because he was slipping into another shooting slump with three consecutive games under 50 percent from the field and a skid of 0-of-18 from beyond the arc.

James has now shot 50 percent or better in 28 games this season.

The Kings were perhaps the perfect mark; they've lost eight of nine and allowed more than 100 points in all of those games. Coach George Karl, who joked before the game as he discussed options to guard James with reporters that one option would be for the Cavs' star to hurt his ankle, is on the verge of being fired, according to team sources.

Karl coached and was fired by the Cavs in the 1980s.

Rudy Gay, who was listed as "doubtful" with a left ankle sprain and was not among the options Karl listed to guard James, started and drew the first assignment.

LeBron James notched his first triple-double of the season and Kyrie Irving had 32 points and 12 assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Kings, 120-100, Monday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James amassed 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 31 minutes -- his first triple-double of the season -- and Kyrie Irving had 32 points and 12 assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers cruised past the Sacramento Kings, 120-100, Monday night at The Q. J.R. Smith shot 6-of-13 from 3-point range and scored 22 for the Cavs.

Here is a capsule look at the game, which was televised by Fox Sports Ohio:

As expected: The Cavs (37-14 overall, 21-4 at home) have easily disposed of two Western Conference lesser lights since a two-game skid. They defeated New Orleans, 99-84, Saturday at The Q.

Reeling: The Kings (21-31 overall, 8-18 on road) have lost four in a row and eight of nine.

Streak busted. Sacramento had lost the previous two games by scores of 128-119 (at Brooklyn last Friday, at Boston on Sunday).

No contest: The Cavs led, 31-23, after one quarter; 61-45 at halftime; and 91-70 after three. The only quarter in which they did not score 30+ was the play-out-the-string fourth (29).

The Cavs feasted on an opponent that entered ranked last in the NBA in points allowed (108.9). Sacramento likes to push the pace and can score, but a lack of interest in defense often makes the points (entered at 107.1) moot.

For the majority of minutes, the Cavs moved the ball with ease and did whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted. They shot 45-of-94 (47.9 percent) from the field, including 16-of-35 from 3-point range, and notched 27 assists.

According to Fox Sports Ohio play-by-play voice Fred McLeod, the Cavs finished with 103 possessions. 

Points spread: Eleven of 12 Cavs who played, scored. Only Jared Cunningham was blanked (0-of-1 in three minutes). Reserve center Sasha Kaun did not attempt a field goal but was 1-of-2 from the line in three minutes.

Mismatch: Cleveland's starting backcourt of Irving and Smith outscored Sacramento's Rajon Rondo and Marco Belinelli, 54-15. Irving and Smith were a combined +45; Rondo and Belinelli, -35.

King on fire: LeBron secured the triple-double as of 1:15 remaining in the third quarter, when he rebounded a James Anderson 3-point attempt.

LeBron owns 40 career triple-doubles in the regular season and 14 in the postseason.

LeBron ran the floor as well as in any game this season. If he had wanted to drive repeatedly, he could have, because Sacramento featured no one who could stay in from of him. He opted for more jumpers than layups/dunks and was 4-of-5 from the line.       

LeBron did not play in the fourth quarter for the eighth time this season.

Notable: LeBron has 20+ points and 6+ assists in 10 of the past 11 games.

KI locked in: Irving shot 13-of-21 from the field, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range, and 1-of-1 from the line in 35 minutes. He had three rebounds, one block and two turnovers.

Foremost among his highlights: a four-point play. With 7:39 remaining in the fourth, Irving shot a 3-pointer from the left corner and was fouled by Rondo. The ball hit the rim, bounced high and dropped through the net. Irving was obligated to make the free throw.

Irving scored outside (five triples), inside (five baskets near the rim, one short jumper in the paint) and mid-range (two jumpers).

Notable: In his past seven games, Irving is a combined 71-of-130 (54.6 percent) from the field and 28-of-31 (90.3 percent) from the line and averaging 25.7 points.

J.R. from distance: Smith's six 3-pointers give him 1,601 in his career.

Notable: Smith has made 4+ 3-pointers in five straight games and 2+ in 11 straight.

TT's three-pack: Cavs center Tristan Thompson scored two and grabbed 10 rebounds in 22 minutes -- his third consecutive game of three or fewer points and 10 or more rebounds.

The Buckeyes are now 11-1 in conference play.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- There's no more question about the best team in the Big Ten.

Four players scored in double figures, led by 33 points from Kelsey Mitchell, as No. 7 Ohio State controlled a top-of-the conference showdown against No. 5 Maryland on Monday win, easing away for a 94-86 victory.

Maryland couldn't contain the two-player game of the Buckeyes' leading scorers, Mitchell and Ameryst Alston, who also involved teammates in an offensive show filled with ball movement and open looks. 

The Buckeyes shot 52.2 percent from 3-point range, as Alston scored 22, Alexa Hart scored 17, Shayla Cooper had 11 and Asia Doss eight.

Mitchell, the All-American sophomore who was averaging 24.7 points coming in, scored at least 30 for the fourth time this season. She was coming off a 16-point effort against Wisconsin that served as just the third time this season she didn't reach 20 points.

When it was over

Alston set up Hart for a layup and Doss for a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions with just over four minutes left in the third quarter as the Buckeyes extended an 8-point lead to 13. 

Ohio State settled in with a comfortable double-digit edge for the rest of the game, and Alston finished with eight assists. 

What it means

Ohio State (19-4) grabbed sole possession of first place in the Big Ten, moving to 11-1 in the conference while the Terrapins (21-3) dropped to 10-2. The Buckeyes also own the head-to-head tiebreaker with two wins over Maryland, the first an 80-71 win in College Park on Jan. 2.

With six games left in the regular season, Ohio State controls the conference race, and the Big Ten champ could have a shot at a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

What's next

The Buckeyes play their next two on the road, at Iowa on Thursday and Penn State on Sunday. Just two home games remain, against Nebraska and Illinois next week. But Ohio State and Maryland certainly could meet again, in the final of the Big Ten Tournament on March 6 in Indianapolis if everything goes as expected.

See Ohio high school girls basketball statewide scores for Monday, Feb. 8, 2016.

Aurora 46, Chardon 41

Bellefontaine 52, St. Paris Graham 30

Cardington-Lincoln 70, Fredericktown 58

Cols. Watterson 42, Hilliard Bradley 23

Cuyahoga Hts. 43, Oberlin 23

Day. Thurgood Marshall 72, Day. Meadowdale 47

Delaware Buckeye Valley 38, Cols. Bexley 26

Eastlake N. 57, Cle. Glenville 27

Garfield Hts. Trinity 58, Cle. Hts. Lutheran E. 32

Gorham Fayette 69, Hicksville 51

Ironton 82, Ironton Rock Hill 48

Medina 52, Berea-Midpark 47

N. Can. Hoover 63, E. Cle. Shaw 53

Nelsonville-York 62, Glouster Trimble 39

Parma Normandy 72, Parma Hts. Valley Forge 41

Rose Hill Christian, Ky. 43, Franklin Furnace Green 42

Shaker Hts. Laurel 57, Shaker Hts. 44

Sugar Grove Berne Union 53, Northside Christian 23

Waterford 58, Parkersburg South, W.Va. 51

Weir, W.Va. 68, Toronto 55

Worthington Christian 51, Johnstown-Monroe 35

Circleville Logan Elm 50, Hillsboro 45

Gallipolis Gallia 43, Athens 40

Bainbridge Paint Valley 63, Beaver Eastern 59

Crown City S. Gallia 45, Stewart Federal Hocking 38

Jackson vs. Proctorville Fairland, ccd.

The Cavaliers won their second straight game with a balanced offense played at a high tempo Monday evening at Quicken Loans Arena.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Rajon Rondo over-dribbled and had nowhere to go, finding himself in the air with no one to pass to.

He launched the ball back towards half court and it floated right into the hands of LeBron James as if James was playing wide receiver. From there, it was nothing but open court on his way to a flush to put the Cleveland Cavaliers up 18 on the Sacramento Kings with 1:25 remaining in the first half.

That play by Rondo symbolized the direction of the reeling, dysfunctional Kings franchise: going nowhere.

The Cavaliers won their second straight game by way of a 120-100 rout Monday evening at Quicken Loans Arena. Sacramento (21-31) lost its eighth game in its last nine contests.

LeBron James registered his first triple-double of the season: 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He did not play in the fourth quarter. The four-time MVP has come close to that elusive trifecta several times this season. The right opponent just happened to be in town to help with that accomplishment.

League sources informed cleveland.com the chances of Kings head coach George Karl keeping his job post the All-Star break are slim to none.

The Kings never really gave the Cavaliers much of a fight. Rondo missed two point-blank layups, DeMarcus Cousins was frustrated all night with the referees -- he was in early foul trouble -- and as a team, they were putrid defensively.

Cleveland (37-14) toyed with the Kings as if they were playing against the practice squad. They got an endless succession of open threes and the reigning Eastern Conference champs used those opportunities to put on a shooting exhibition, going 16-of-35.

J.R. Smith continues to sizzle from the outside as he scored 22 points and splashed in six of 12 from long distance. Since Jan. 1, he has drained the second-most threes in the NBA (73) behind Golden State's Stephen Curry (93).

Kyrie Irving matched his season-high of 32 points and dished out a career-tying high 11 assists.

After missing Saturday's win over the New Orleans Pelicans, the Cavaliers welcomed Kevin Love back in the lineup. Love suffered a left quad contusion in Friday's nail-biting loss to the Boston Celtics. He put up 11 points on 2-for-10 shooting to go with six rebounds.

Iman Shumpert grabbed eight boards in his first eight minutes and finished by tying a career-high of 11 off the bench. Tristan Thompson secured 10 boards and a block in 21 minutes and Richard Jefferson added 10 points from the second unit.

Cleveland didn't play at its best and coasted at times, but performed well enough to keep a lead of at least 13 for much of the game. The roughest it got for the Cavaliers was when Cousins threw an inadvertent elbow that connected on the chin of Love in the third quarter. Love shook it off and nailed a spot-up 3-pointer two possessions later.

The Cavaliers led by as many as 24. Every Cavalier, with the exception of James Jones, received some action.

Rondo had seven points, eight rebounds and a game-high 16 assists. Cousins supplied 14 points and eight boards, 13 points below his season average.

Matthew Dellavedova missed his fourth straight game with a hamstring injury. The plan is for the backup point guard is to return following the All-Star break, but that could change depending on how he feels on Wednesday.

On deck

Wednesday will be Kobe Bryant's last appearance at The Q. It will be the first meeting of the season between the Los Angeles Lakers and Cavaliers. ESPN will have the 8 p.m. game.

Cleveland sports fans wonder about LeBron James' coachability, Cam Newton's definition of "sore loser" and a possible Browns move to Columbus for training camp.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- You Said It is based on the premise that the only thing Cleveland sports fans need more than a championship is a sense of humor...

YOU SAID IT

Hey, Bud: Will LeBron be playing or coaching in the All-Star Game? -- Tim, Twinsburg

Let's put one myth to rest about LeBron's influence. LeBron has no more to do with how the Cavs operate than the chief janitor at the Q. If the chief janitor at the Q were named Dan Gilbert.

Bud: Cam Newton makes no apologies for being a "sore loser." What's his definition of that? - Bill in Pa.

Apparently it's when you're too sore to dive on the ground to recover your own fumble.

Bud: Have you ever worried about the connectedness of You Said It contributors? - Bob, Shaker

Only the few out on parole.

Yo Bud: With your "huge" sports writing IQ you're probably accustomed to being the smartest guy in the room. How will you deal with being the second smartest guy in the room when dealing with the Browns' Harvard triumvirate? - Neil, Sagamore Hills

Since a triumvirate consists of three, I'd be no better than fourth smartest in that particular room. Fifth if my Boston Terrier is with me.

Bud: In the spirit of "When God gives you lemons, you make lemonade," we can take pride in the fact that our Cleveland Browns have never lost a Super Bowl game - Frank Gollinger, Rocky River

Carl Spackler has total consciousness on his death bed. You have that.

Bud: How many FlyingJ/Pilot truck stops along I-71 stand to gain from the drastic increase of traffic during the 2017 training camp? Will season ticket holders be eligible for the rebates? -- Unsophisticated Trucker

When Chicago Bulls swingman and Eastern Conference All-Star Jimmy Butler injured his knee, the Cleveland Cavaliers were hoping that would pave the way for Kevin Love to claim a spot on this year's All-Star squad.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- When Chicago Bulls swingman and Eastern Conference All-Star Jimmy Butler injured his knee, the Cleveland Cavaliers were hoping that would pave the way for Kevin Love to claim a spot on this year's All-Star squad.

But Love, who the Cavs feel should have been boosted by the team's first-place record, has been snubbed for a second time.

With Butler sidelined for three to four weeks with a strained knee, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver chose Butler's Chicago teammate, Pau Gasol, as the replacement in Sunday's All-Star Game, which will be held in Toronto.

It's the sixth All-Star selection for Gasol, who is averaging 17.0 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.0 blocks for the Bulls. Gasol is also fifth in the NBA in double-doubles.

Meanwhile, Love is averaging 15.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.6 blocks for the Cavs, who are 37-14. He has 23 double-doubles (tied for 13th).

Love not being selected as Butler's replacement means LeBron James will be making the trip to Toronto without a teammate for the first time since 2010 -- James' last season in Cleveland before joining the Miami Heat for four years. The Cavs will have plenty of other representation at the midseason showcase, as head coach Tyronn Lue and his staff will be coaching the East's All-Stars.

Tyronn Lue played with Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, which gives him a leg up to coach LeBron James.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio - LeBron James has the "best basketball IQ of the guys I've been around," Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said on Tuesday.

That includes Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, who'll be here Wednesday for his final game at The Q when the Lakers play the Cavs at 8 p.m.

"Their will to win and the way they got on guys ... they would fight a guy if they had to, they would cuss a guy out," Lue said, comparing James to Jordan and Bryant. "LeBron, just his IQ because he can play 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. And he knows every position on the floor. At all times you can call it, it's not like, 'I'm thinking about it,' he knows it right away. That's really important."

The Cavs and local media are in full reflection mode ahead of Bryant's arrival. The five-time NBA champion, surefire hall-of-famer is in his 20^th and final season, and just like with all Eastern Conference cities Cleveland is full of nostalgia in anticipation of Bryant's last game here.

For Lue, he played with Bryant on the Lakers from 1998-01, winning two NBA championships. Lue also played with Jordan in Washington at the end of Jordan's career.

So for the Cavs coach, there is a point to be made beyond the memories he can stir and the comparisons he can draw between James - the current face of the NBA - and two former mantle holders in Jordan and Bryant.

Lue can coach James the way he saw Bryant and Jordan coached when he was their teammate. It means holding James accountable.

"(Phil Jackson) always held Kobe and Shaq more accountable than anyone else on the team," Lue said. "That was the biggest thing with Phil, like, in a game he'd let you figure it out and let you play, but in practice he's coaching, in film sessions he used to kill Shaq and Kobe all the time, like all the time, and it worked."

There is little doubt that, for now, any way, Lue and James are on the same page. It was James who first mentioned his "basketball IQ" in the immediate aftermath of David Blatt's firing, and James often praises Lue when given the chance.

It happened again Monday night, after Lue harped on James during the Cavs' 120-100 win over Sacramento during a game in which James posted a triple-double. Early in the third quarter, James argued a no call near the Cavs' basket, while the Kings raced the other way and James' man - Rudy Gay - drained a 3-pointer.

Lue called timeout and addressed the point to James. It was just the latest of a few examples of Lue singling out James over the past few weeks.

"He got on me and he didn't let it linger," James said. "We all respect it and we like it. I like it."

Accountability has been a theme since Lue took over on Jan. 22. Blatt was accused of failing to criticize James, as well as Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, when they failed on the court. The more the Big 3 (James, in particular) were allowed to slide, sources said, the more resentment was sown among the rest of the Cavs, which cut into James' leadership.

Also, James showed during games, especially during the early part of last season, that he wasn't interested in what Blatt had to say.

"It's just everyone has responsibility," Irving said. "I think that's the biggest thing is accountability and not afraid to go after the best player on our team, our leader. All of us have to make sure we're doing our jobs. That's what it really comes down to."

Not every coach had the same success in dealing with Bryant. Mike D'Antoni and former Cavs coach Mike Brown are two coaches who clashed with him and lost.

Lue said "nowadays, the way the coaching business is, players they have a lot of weight. And if you try to correct, or always staying on the best players, they can kind of get you removed at some point.

"But I just felt like, with LeBron, he wants to be coached, he wants guys to be hard on him so he can get to the next level, so I don't have a problem at all with doing that."

To summarize Lue's comparison of James to Bryant and Jordan, the Cavs' coach views James' approach as more cerebral compared to the outwardly maniacal former superstars.

"They're more demonstrative about it," Lue said. "They'll get on guys. They'll cuss guys out. They'll even fight guys if they have to, so that's just the difference, but they still all have the same will to win and be able to take control of a game like that."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns are an easy target for criticism and cynicism. They haven't done much since returning in 1999 to earn trust or benefit of the doubt. This sad reality does not mean, however, that everything of which they are accused is the whole truth and nothing but the truth. NFL Network's Michael Silver has reported...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns are an easy target for criticism and cynicism. They haven't done much since returning in 1999 to earn trust or benefit of the doubt.

This sad reality does not mean, however, that everything of which they are accused is the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

NFL Network's Michael Silver has reported that the Browns lied about quarterback Johnny Manziel's late-season concussion. They did so, Silver all but said, in order to cover up Manziel having shown up drunk on the Wednesday before the season finale Jan. 3.

Silver twice used the word "lied'' -- just in case you missed it the first time.

Silver is an accomplished journalist, and he has sources....but I'm not on board in this case. It does not require guzzling orange-and-brown Kool-Aid to assess the situation and wonder how/why even the Browns -- especially the Browns -- would go to such an extreme.

I spoke about the matter with Cinesport.

NFL Network's Michael Silver stands by his story that Johnny Manziel showed up for work drunk. However, he regrets saying the Browns lied about his concussion.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- NFL Network's Mike Silver took to Twitter Tuesday to stand by his report that Johnny Manziel showed up drunk for work, but said he regretted saying the Browns lied about Manziel having a concussion.

Silver said on NFL Network Friday "I was with a Browns player yesterday. Johnny Manziel, going into what would have been a start late in the season, showed up drunk at practice on a Wednesday. The Browns lied and said he was in the concussion protocol. Let me say this again: The Browns lied. To try to protect, and, what I would argue, enable, this irresponsible and very troubled young man."

The Browns responded Tuesday, saying Manziel was diagnosed with a concussion by an independent neurologist on Dec. 30, and that he wasn't cleared until Jan. 12.

Manziel was spotted in Las Vegas wearing a blond wig and fake mustache the Saturday before the season-ending loss to the Steelers. He also missed his concussion treatment the morning of the game and was fined.

Here are Silver's eight tweets on the topic, in the order they appeared:

I will address my @nflnetwork report from Friday about Johnny Manziel showing up drunk for practice late last season in a series of Tweets.

-- Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) February 9, 2016

1) I've been told by multiple sources that Manziel showed up late to the tea facility for a meeting & noticeably drunk on Wednesday, Dec. 30

-- Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) February 9, 2016

2) He was later placed in the concussion protocol & sent home.

-- Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) February 9, 2016

3) I am not a doctor & thus cannot presume to question the diagnosis of an independent neurologist or any medical professional...

-- Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) February 9, 2016

4) I do not have direct knowledge of what Manziel may have told the doctor or doctors who evaluated him, or what might have been suggested.

-- Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) February 9, 2016

5) If the Browns say they did not lie about Manziel's diagnosis, I will take them at their word, and I regret using that term ("lied").

-- Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) February 9, 2016

6) I stand by my original report that Manziel showed up drunk at practice & that witnesses believed this was the cause of his "behavior."

-- Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) February 9, 2016

7) This will be my last comment on the subject, pending further reporting.

-- Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) February 9, 2016

Reghi says that National Signing Day and recruiting need some retooling. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- National Signing Day was last week. Recruits across the nation signed on the dotted line for programs of all shapes and sizes.

Michael Reghi talked about National Signing Day for his Riled Up segment this week. Take a look at his video above and tell us what you think.