How Zimbabwe returned from abyss to World Cup resurgence — and more

After a long time in the wilderness, Zimbabwe are again contending on the biggest stage at the 2026 T20 World Cup - this is the story of their resurgence.

New Hampshire Wildcats (8-18, 4-9 America East) at Binghamton Bearcats (6-23, 2-12 America East)

Binghamton, New York; Thursday, 6:07 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Binghamton hosts New Hampshire after Wes Peterson scored 21 points in Binghamton's 92-79 loss to the UMass-Lowell River Hawks.

The Bearcats have gone 5-8 at home. Binghamton allows 75.6 points to opponents and has been outscored by 7.8 points per game.

The Wildcats are 4-9 in conference games. New Hampshire is fourth in the America East with 23.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Belal El Shakery averaging 5.9.

Binghamton is shooting 45.4% from the field this season, 0.2 percentage points higher than the 45.2% New Hampshire allows to opponents. New Hampshire averages 8.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.1 more makes per game than Binghamton gives up.

The teams square off for the second time in conference play this season. New Hampshire won the last matchup 88-82 on Jan. 22. Tyler Bike scored 19 points to help lead the Wildcats to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Zyier Beverly is averaging 12 points for the Bearcats. Jackson Benigni is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Jack Graham is averaging 10.9 points for the Wildcats. El Shakery is averaging 11.3 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bearcats: 2-8, averaging 69.1 points, 27.0 rebounds, 12.2 assists, 4.8 steals and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 76.6 points per game.

Wildcats: 4-6, averaging 68.7 points, 31.5 rebounds, 11.7 assists, 6.0 steals and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 40.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.5 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Hammarby captain Nahir Besara has claimed that other clubs in the Allsvenskan are envious of the team's current situation. The midfielder told SVT Sport that he believes many rival teams would like to be in Hammarby's position right now.

''I think many had wished that they looked like we do right now,'' Besara said about his team's current standing in the Swedish top division.

VMI Keydets (6-23, 1-15 SoCon) at Samford Bulldogs (16-13, 9-7 SoCon)

Birmingham, Alabama; Thursday, 8 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Samford plays VMI after Dylan Faulkner scored 27 points in Samford's 89-86 loss to the Mercer Bears.

The Bulldogs are 9-3 on their home court. Samford is ninth in the SoCon with 7.4 offensive rebounds per game led by Faulkner averaging 2.5.

The Keydets are 1-15 in SoCon play. VMI is 5-11 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents and averages 9.6 turnovers per game.

Samford is shooting 44.9% from the field this season, 1.1 percentage points lower than the 46.0% VMI allows to opponents. VMI averages 10.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.2 more made shots on average than the 7.6 per game Samford allows.

The teams meet for the second time in conference play this season. Samford won 78-58 in the last matchup on Jan. 1. Faulkner led Samford with 25 points, and TJ Johnson led VMI with 17 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jadin Booth is scoring 20.9 points per game with 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists for the Bulldogs. Faulkner is averaging 18.4 points and 10.6 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Johnson averages 3.5 made 3-pointers per game for the Keydets, scoring 18.5 points while shooting 35.6% from beyond the arc. Tan Yildizoglu is averaging 12.2 points, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bulldogs: 7-3, averaging 80.4 points, 32.7 rebounds, 14.2 assists, 4.8 steals and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.3 points per game.

Keydets: 0-10, averaging 69.1 points, 25.8 rebounds, 12.3 assists, 6.1 steals and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 40.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 86.1 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Elon Phoenix (14-14, 6-9 CAA) at Towson Tigers (14-14, 6-9 CAA)

Towson, Maryland; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Towson hosts Elon in a matchup of CAA teams.

The Tigers are 9-3 on their home court. Towson ranks second in the CAA in rebounding averaging 34.9 rebounds. Caleb Embeya leads the Tigers with 5.9 boards.

The Phoenix are 6-9 in CAA play. Elon ranks sixth in the CAA with 32.8 rebounds per game led by Chandler Cuthrell averaging 6.7.

Towson scores 69.1 points per game, 9.9 fewer points than the 79.0 Elon allows. Elon has shot at a 46.2% rate from the field this season, 3.9 percentage points greater than the 42.3% shooting opponents of Towson have averaged.

The teams square off for the second time this season in CAA play. Towson won the last matchup 72-59 on Jan. 23. Dylan Williamson scored 24 points points to help lead the Tigers to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Tyler Tejada is scoring 16.9 points per game with 5.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Tigers. Williamson is averaging 14.2 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 35.0% over the past 10 games.

Randall Pettus II is shooting 36.7% from beyond the arc with 2.2 made 3-pointers per game for the Phoenix, while averaging 11.7 points and 1.5 steals. Cuthrell is averaging 18.3 points and seven rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Tigers: 5-5, averaging 67.1 points, 34.3 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 5.8 steals and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 40.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 64.9 points per game.

Phoenix: 3-7, averaging 73.8 points, 30.6 rebounds, 13.2 assists, 6.6 steals and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 42.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 79.9 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.