GREEN MAG

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Graham Ike had 21 points and a season-high 15 rebounds as No. 12 Gonzaga held off Santa Clara 94-86 on Saturday night.

Graham shot 7 of 12 and had four assists to help the Bulldogs move a half-game ahead of the Broncos for first place in the West Coast Conference. It's Graham's seventh consecutive game with 20 points, matching a similar streak he had in 2024.

Gonzaga (25-2, 13-1) has won 25 games or more in 19 consecutive seasons under coach Mark Few. Few was recently named a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame.

Adam Miller scored 20 points, Tyon Grant-Foster added 20. and Emmanuel Innocenti had 16 points and six rebounds for the Bulldogs.

As good as Graham was, the Bulldogs had to do without their star forward for three minutes late in the second half while he was in foul trouble.

Christian Hammond scored 16 points for Santa Clara (22-6, 13-2).

The Broncos forced the Bulldogs into several hurried possessions that had the sold-out crowd at Leavey Center roaring early.

Gonzaga missed seven of its first 10 shots and trailed by eight before going on a 15-7 run midway through the first half. Ike later powered his way past two defenders in the key to score and give the Bulldogs their first lead at 31-29.

After Santa Clara regained the lead briefly, Ike ran past 7-foot-1 center Bukky Oboye for a thunderous one-hand dunk to help Gonzaga to a 44-39 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs made just 3 of 18 (17%) from behind the arc, but shot 56% (36 of 64) overall, scored 66 points in the paint and outrebounded Santa Clara 41-32.

Up next

Gonzaga: Plays Wednesday at San Francisco.

Santa Clara: Visits San Francisco next Saturday.

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Graham Ike recorded 21 points and a season-high 15 rebounds and No. 12 Gonzaga moved into first place in the West Coast Conference with a 94-86 victory over host Santa Clara on Saturday night.

Adam Miller scored 21 points and Tyon Grant-Foster had 20 points and seven rebounds off the bench as the Bulldogs (25-2, 13-1 WCC) won their third straight game and 18th in the past 19. Gonzaga also reached the 25-win mark for the 19th straight season.

Emmanuel Innocenti added 16 points and six rebounds as Gonzaga prevailed in the final regular-season contest between the teams before it departs for the rebuilt Pac-12. The squads were WCC rivals for 46 seasons.

Christian Hammond had 16 points and Elijah Mahi scored 15 for the Broncos (22-6, 13-2), who dropped to 13-1 at home this season. Allen Graves had 13 points before fouling out for Santa Clara, which lost to the Zags for the second time this season.

Gonzaga won for the 23rd time in the past 25 meetings at Santa Clara. The Broncos won in 2011 and 2024.

Gonzaga connected on 56.3% (36 of 64) of its field-goal attempts while making just 3 of 18 from 3-point range. The Bulldogs shot 63% (17 of 27) from the field in the second half.

The Broncos made 46.2% (30 of 65) of their attempts and were 9 of 24 from behind the arc. Sash Gavalyugov added 10 points for Santa Clara.

The Broncos led 60-55 with 12:32 remaining after consecutive 3-pointers by Thierry Darlan and Gavalyugov.

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Gonzaga answered with eight straight points to lead by three. Davis Fogle had two baskets in eight seconds -- the latter one coming after he stole the ball -- during the surge.

The Bulldogs took a 73-66 advantage when Miller drained a 3-pointer with 6:52 left. Ike was called for his fourth foul -- an offensive infraction -- 29 seconds later but the Broncos were unable to take advantage and Ike returned with 3:25 left with Gonzaga holding a 79-72 lead.

Miller made two free throws to give the Zags an 83-74 lead with 2:31 remaining and Grant-Foster slammed home a thunderous dunk to make it 87-77 with 53 seconds remaining as Gonzaga closed it out.

Ike registered 17 points and nine rebounds in the first half to help the Bulldogs hold a 44-39 halftime lead.

Santa Clara led 19-11 after KJ Cochran's layup with 11:11 left in the half and never trailed in the first 13 minutes.

Gonzaga moved ahead for the first time on Ike's basket for a 31-30 edge with 6:25 to play.

Gonzaga finished the half with a 9-3 run. Mario Saint-Supery's putback with under a second left gave the Zags the five-point halftime lead.

--Field Level Media

American Mikaela Shiffrin takes theWinter Olympicsslopes Sunday, Feb. 15, for the women's giant slalom following an uncharacteristic 15th-place finish last week in her team combined run.

"The work we've done, I've been so prepared for so much, for all the slaloms this year," Shiffrin said Tuesday, Feb. 10, according to our Nancy Armour. "So there's something to learn from this day and I'm going to learn it."

As Armour reflected, it introduced a cloud of intrigue that could hover over Shiffrin's remaining events after she didn't medal at the 2022 Beijing games.

How many World Cup ski races has Mikaela Shiffrin won?

Shiffrin, 30, has 108 World Cup wins, more than any other skier and a record, Armour says, that isn't likely to be broken.

Shiffrin also has 15 world championship medals (eight gold). Her signature events are slalom and giant slalom, the more technical and twisty races that require skiers to zig-zag around gates or poles.

She tackles the women's giant slalom Sunday, Feb. 15, an event that begins at 4 a.m. ET.

What events does Mikaela Shiffrin have left at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Shiffrin competed at all six Alpine skiing events during the 2022 Olympics. She's only focusing on her core slalom events in 2026.

Her U.S. team finished fourth in the women's team combined. Shiffrin has three Olympic medals (two golds) dating back to 2014 in Sochi.

Her remaining schedule at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics:

Sunday, Feb. 15:Women's giant slalom run 1 | 4 a.m. ET | USA Network and Peacock (digital only)

Sunday, Feb. 15:Women's giant slalom run 2 | 7:30 a.m. ET | NBC and Peacock (digital only)

Wednesday, Feb. 18:Women's slalom run 1 | 4 a.m. ET | USA Network and Peacock (digital only)

Wednesday, Feb. 18:Women's slalom run 2 | 7:30 a.m. ET | USA Network and Peacock (digital only)

Contributing: Cydney Henderson, John Leuzzi,Austin Curtright

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:How many World Cup races has Mikaela Shiffrin won?

Grab your saddle and put on your riding boots — it's time to stampede into the Year of the Horse. Lunar New Year, widely considered the most important event of the year in China and Chinese communities around the planet, is nearly here.

Marking the first new moon of the lunar calendar, it falls on February 17 in 2026, kicking off the 15-daySpring Festival. Celebrations vary depending on the country or region, but there are a few common traditions.

Whether you're unfamiliar with the occasion or need a refresher, this guide to ushering in the Year of the Horse has you covered.

Why is it the Year of the Horse?

Incredibly complex, the Chinese zodiac calendar is best described as a 12-year cycle represented by 12 animals, in this order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

Your personal zodiac animal sign is determined by youryear of birth, meaning 2026 will welcome plenty of baby Horses. Children born in the last lunar calendar year were Snakes, while those born on or after the Lunar New Year in 2027 will be Goats, and so on.

And every year, a heavenly stem (one of five elements, which fall into the yin or yang category) is paired with an earthly branch (one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals). This year, the heavenly stem is "Bing" (big sun) and the earthly branch is "Wu" (the Horse), making it the Year of the Fire Horse.

Followers believe that for each Chinese zodiac sign, luck will depend largely on the positions of theTai Sui— a collective name for the stellar deities thought to rotate parallel to and in the opposite direction of Jupiter.

Geomancy masters may interpret the data differently, but there is usually a consensus on what the year means for each zodiac animal based on the positions of the stars.

For many followers, the Lunar New Year is an ideal time to visit a temple to make blessings depending on what the stars have to say about their particular zodiac sign for the coming months.

Why light firecrackers and wear red? Meet Nian

There are countless folktales attached to Lunar New Year, but the myth ofNianstands out as one of the most fun.

According to the legend, every Lunar New Year's Eve this ferocious underwater beast with sharp teeth and horns would crawl onto the land and attack a nearby village.

On one such occasion, as the villagers rushed into hiding, a mysterious old man showed up and insisted on sticking around despite warnings of impending doom.

To the villagers' surprise, the old man and the village survived utterly unscathed.

The man claimed to have scared Nian away by hanging red banners on his door, lighting firecrackers and donning red clothing.

This is why wearing the fiery color, along with hanging banners and lighting firecrackers or fireworks, are Lunar New Year traditions, all of which are still followed today.

The preparation

Like many major holidays, Lunar New Year can be a lot of work. Festivities often last for 15 days — sometimes even more — with different tasks and activities taking place over that period.

It all begins about a week ahead of the new year.

To kick things off, festive cakes and puddings are made on the 24th day of the last lunar month (February 11 in 2026). Why? The word for cakes and puddings isgaoin Mandarin andgouin Cantonese, which sound the same as the word for "tall."

That means eating these treats is believed to lead to improvements and growth in the coming year. (If you haven't prepared your own "gou" yet, here'san easy recipe for radish cake, a beloved Lunar New Year dish.)

And don't forget about our friend Nian. No Lunar New Year preparation would be complete without the hanging of red banners bearing auspicious phrases and idioms (calledfai chunin Cantonese andchunlianin Mandarin) at home — beginning with one's front door.

These will perform double duty — keep Nian away and invite good fortune.

Some of the prep work isn't quite as enjoyable. Many believe that a big cleanup should take place at home on the 28th day of the last lunar month, which falls on February 15 this year.

The aim is to rid your home of any bad luck that's accumulated over the past year. Some believers won't even sweep or take out the trash for the first five days of the new year, fearing they will wash away all that fresh good luck.

On a related note, many say you shouldn't wash or cut your hair on the first day of the new year either.

Why? Because the Chinese character for the word hair is the first character in the word for prosper. So washing or cutting it off is seen as washing your fortune away.

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(Read moreLunar New Year do's and don'ts here.)

Lunar New Year's Eve: The big feast

A big family reunion dinner is usually held on Lunar New Year's Eve, which falls on February 16 this year.

The menu is carefully chosen to include dishes associated with luck, including fish (the Chinese word for it also sounds like "surplus"), puddings (symbolizes advancement) and foods that look like gold ingots (such as dumplings).

In China, the foods served at these classic dinners vary depending on the region. For instance, in some northern areas people tend to serve dumplings and noodles, whereas the south can't live without steamed rice.

Lunar New Year feasts may look very different outside of China. In Malaysia and Singapore, gatherings aren't complete without a loud and chaotic"prosperity toss," oryusheng,when diners stir and toss thinly sliced vegetables and raw fish with chopsticks before a meal.

Lunar New Year's Day: Family visits and red packets

The first few days of the Lunar New Year, especially the first two days, are often a test of one's stamina, appetite and social skills, as many people have to travel and visit immediate family, other relatives and friends.

Bags are stocked with presents and fruits to give out at people's homes. Visitors will be showered with gifts after catching up over Lunar New Year treats.

In many families, married people are expected to give out red packets filled with money to those who haven't yet tied the knot — both children and unmarried juniors.

It's believed these envelopes — known ashongbao/lai see— can protect children by warding off evil spirits, calledsui.

Other countries have their own traditions. In South Korea, for instance, the Lunar New Year festival is calledSeollal. The first three days are filled with tributes to ancestors, festive games and foods such as rice cakes (tteokguk) and pancakes (jeon).

Day 3: Visit a temple

Day three of the Lunar New Year, which falls on February 19, is namedchi kou/cek hau, or red mouth.

It's believed that arguments are more likely to happen on this day, so some people will avoid social interactions and visit temples to make offerings to offset any potential bad luck.

As noted earlier, for many peopleLunar New Yearis a time to consult the stars to find out what lies ahead in the coming months.

Every year, certain Chinese zodiac signs clash with the stars negatively, so temple visits are considered a good way to resolve those conflicts and bring peace in the coming months.

Day 7: The people's birthday

The seventh day of the Lunar New Year (February 23) is when followers believe the Chinese mother goddess,Nuwa, created humanity. Thus, it's calledrenri/jan jat(the people's birthday).

Different communities in Asia will serve various "birthday" foods on that day.

For example, Cantonese people eat dishes made of seven types of vegetables. In Malaysia and Singapore, the aforementioned "prosperity toss" might make an appearance on tables.

Day 15: The Lantern Festival

The highlight of the whole Spring Festival, theLantern Festivalhappens on the 15th and final day (March 3 in 2026).

CalledYuan Xiao Jiein Mandarin Chinese, it's considered the perfect ending to the weeks-long Lunar New Year preparations and celebrations.

The Lantern Festival celebrates the first full moon of the year — hence the name:Yuanmeans beginning;Xiaomeans night.

It marks the departure of winter and the beginning of the spring season.

On this day, people light lanterns to symbolize driving out darkness and bringing hope to the coming year.

In ancient Chinese society, it was the only day when young girls were allowed to go out to admire the lanterns and meet boys. As a result, it's also been dubbed Chinese Valentine's Day.

Nowadays, cities worldwide still put on massive lantern displays and fairs on the festival's final day.

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CAIRO (AP) — Observant Muslims the world over will soon be united in a ritual of daily fasting from dawn to sunset as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan starts. For Muslims, it's a time for increased worship, religious reflection and charity. Socially, it often brings families and friends together in festive gatherings around meals to break their fast.

Ramadan Explainer

Ramadan is followed by the Islamic holiday ofEid al-Fitr.

First day of Ramadan expected around Feb. 18-19

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar; the month cycles through the seasons.

The start of the month traditionally depends on the sighting of the crescent moon. This year, the first day of Ramadan is expected to be on or around Feb. 18 or 19. The actual start date may vary among countries and Muslim communities due to declarations by multiple Islamic authorities around the globe on whether the crescent had been sighted or different methodologies used to determine the beginning of the month.

This year, the start of Ramadan is expected around the same time as Ash Wednesday, a solemn day of fasting and reflection that signals the start of Lent, the most penitential season of the church calendar for Catholics and many other Christians.

Fasting is one of the pillars of Islam

Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, along with the profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving and pilgrimage.

Muslims see various meanings and lessons in observing the fast.

It's regarded as an act of worship to attain piety and one of submission to God. The devout see benefits, including practicing self-restraint, cultivating gratitude and empathizing with people who are poor and hungry.

The daily fast in Ramadan includes abstaining from all food and drink — not even a sip of water is allowed — from dawn to sunset, before breaking the fast in a meal known as "iftar" in Arabic.

Muslims typically stream into mosques for congregational prayers and dedicate more time to religious contemplation and the reading of the Quran, the Muslim holy book.

Charity is a hallmark of Ramadan. Among other ways of giving, many seek to provide iftar for those in need, distributing Ramadan boxes filled with pantry staples, handing out warm meals alongside such things as dates and juice or helping hold free communal meals.

Muslims eat a predawn meal, called "suhoor," to hydrate andnurture their bodiesahead of the daily fast.

Exemptions from fasting

There are certain exemptions, such as for those who are unable to because of illness or travel. Those unable to fast due to being temporarily ill or traveling need to make up for the missed days of fasting later.

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Cultural and social traditions associated with Ramadan

Muslims are ethnically and racially diverse and not all Ramadan traditions are rooted in religion. Some customs may transcend borders, while others can differ across cultures.

Many social rituals center on gathering and socializing after the daily fast. Some Muslims decorate their homes, put out Ramadan-themed tableware and centerpieces or throng to markets and Ramadan bazaars.

In Egypt, Ramadan is typically a festive time. Colorful lanterns, in different shapes and sizes, dangle from children's hands and adorn homes. Ramadan songs may be played to welcome the month.

Ramadan's soundscape in Egypt has traditionally included the predawn banging on drums by a "mesaharati" who roams neighborhoods, calling out to the faithful, sometimes by name, to wake them up for the suhoor meal.

New TV shows and communal meals

A lineup of new television series is another social fixture of the month in some countries, and advertisers compete for viewers' attention.

In various regions, some Muslims worry that the month is getting commercialized, and say an emphasis on decorations, TV shows, outings or lavish iftar banquets can detract from Ramadan's religious essence. Others say that a balance can be struck and that, in moderation, such rituals are part of the month's festive spirit.

In Indonesia, Ramadan rituals vary across regions, reflecting the diversity of cultures. In deeply conservative Aceh province, animals are slaughtered during Meugang festivities, the meat cooked and shared with family, friends, poor people and orphans.

Hundreds of residents in Tangerang, a city outside the capital, Jakarta, flock to the Cisadane River to wash their hair with rice straw shampoo and welcome the fasting month with a symbolic spiritual cleansing.

Across the island of Sumatra, after evening prayers, many boys and girls parade through the streets, carrying torches and playing Islamic songs.

In the United States, where Muslims make up a racially and ethnically diverse minority, gathering at mosques and Islamic centers when possible for iftar meals and prayers provides many Muslim families with a sense of community. Some Muslims also organize or attend interfaith iftar meals.

Associated Press writer Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP'scollaborationwith The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.