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Middle East latest: Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital wound 3, Netanyahu vows 'iron fist' in LebanonTrump nominates Charles Kushner to be ambassador to FranceConor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules

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The portfolio guarantee facility, launched on December 3, is designed to provide loans with up to 70% of the required collateral covered, significantly reducing financial barriers for MSMEs. This innovative scheme, the first of its kind by IFU in Africa, targets critical sectors such as agriculture, tourism, renewable energy, ICT, logistics, and enterprises owned by women and youth. ALSO READ: BPR Bank Rwanda, IFC partner to support SMEs with Rwf53bn investment Patience Mutesi, Managing Director of BPR Bank, highlighted the pivotal role of MSMEs in Rwanda’s economic development. “The reason why this partnership is really important is that, as BPR, we believe that for this country to attain economic growth, SMEs need to be at the centre to drive this growth and job creation,” she said. Access to finance remains a key challenge for many businesses, often due to insufficient collateral. Mutesi explained that the guarantee scheme addresses this by mitigating risks for lenders. “The portfolio guarantee allows us to take the risk on the businesses without risking the money never coming back. It provides collateral for SMEs, covering up to 70 per cent of the security required for loans,” she explained. As an example, Mutesi noted that an agricultural SME seeking to adopt advanced technology can access funding under the scheme with only 30% of the typical collateral required. ALSO READ: BPR Bank Rwanda engages entrepreneurs, empowers SMEs with key financial insights Beyond financing, BPR Bank also offers tailored advisory services to businesses. Mutesi outlined various financing options available, such as asset-based financing, commercial mortgages, working capital loans, and collateral management. The bank also offers business support services to help businesses improve their proposals and strengthen internal structures. Ole Thonke, Undersecretary for Development Policy in Denmark, said, “Many SMEs haven’t grown enough to have sufficient collateral, making it risky for banks to lend to them. This guarantee replaces the collateral they lack, enabling BPR to open loans for SMEs to invest in new equipment, drive innovation, and create jobs,” he added. Thonke noted Rwanda’s favorable business environment and its reputation as one of Africa’s best countries for ease of doing business, describing the partnership with BPR as a natural choice. Denmark’s approach to this initiative goes beyond traditional financial returns. According to Thonke, the focus is on the developmental, economic, and social impact of the loans. “What is great about this partnership is that Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) can step in to help SMEs mature and become eligible for BPR loans under the guarantee scheme,” he added. Bosco Iyacu, CEO of AFR said that businesses often face challenges accessing capital, despite the availability of funds in financial institutions. Addressing this gap, AFR launched the ‘Terimbere MSME Support’ facility, an initiative aimed at preparing enterprises to meet banks’ lending requirements and facilitating access to financing for growth and job creation. “Our mandate is to act as a market catalyst, ensuring financial services are accessible to as many businesses as possible, leading to job creation and improved livelihoods. “Currently, we are piloting with 10 businesses, and in the next five years, we aim to reach 5,000,” Iyacu said. He added, “Through this partnership with BPR and Denmark, we will ensure tracking its impact on employment creation, particularly for youth, and ensuring it reaches those without initial capacity.”", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alice Umutesi" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }

Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules

SARGODHA - The 11th convocation of the University of Sargodha (UoS) concluded here on Thursday. The ceremony was presided over by Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Qaisar Abbas, with the Chairman of Punjab Zakat and Ushr Council Rana Munawar Ghous as the chief guest. Asim Naveed Ranjha, Deputy Mayor of Slough, UK, Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mian Ghulam Yasin, Controller Examinations Dr Rihana Ilyas, Registrar Waqar Ahmed, deans of eight faculties, and heads of departments also attend the ceremony. On the third and last day of the convocation, degrees were conferred upon students from the Faculty of Social Sciences, Computing and Information Technology, Medical and Health Sciences, and Pharmacy. More than 27,000 degrees were awarded, with 69 percent of the recipients being female. A total of 363 distinction holders and 55 PhD graduates were honoured with medals and cash awards for their outstanding academic achievements. While addressing the ceremony, VC Prof Dr Qaisar Abbas congratulated the graduates, their families, and teachers for their achievements. He shared his vision for the university, focusing on academic excellence and innovation. “We are committed to providing students with opportunities that align with modern educational and industry needs. The establishment of an Incubation Centre, strong industry-academia linkages, and foreign partnerships are steps toward building a brighter future,” he stated. Rana Munawar Ghous praised the graduates, calling them the “hope of the nation”. He encouraged them to use their knowledge and skills to bring positive change to society and emphasised the importance of honesty, hard work, and innovation. Your journey does not end here; it is just the beginning. The future of Pakistan rests on your shoulders. Strive to make a difference, he said.

AP News Summary at 6:44 p.m. ESTJack Eichel says Team USA seeks to prove it has closed the gap on Canada at 4 Nations Face-Off

Server. Server racks in server room cloud data center. Datacenter hardware cluster. Backup, hosting, ... [+] mainframe, mining, farm and computer rack with storage information. 3d illustration The race to build powerful AI data centers is accelerating, with tech giants vying to be key players in AI’s future. Microsoft and OpenAI, for instance, are reportedly planning a $100 billion investment in data center projects to expand their AI capabilities. This competition highlights supercomputing infrastructure as the backbone of AI development. Elon Musk’s xAI is scaling new heights with its Colossus supercomputing center in Memphis, Tennessee. Already outfitted with 100,000 Nvidia Hopper GPUs, the facility is doubling its capacity to 200,000 GPUs. Leveraging Nvidia’s Spectrum-X Ethernet networking, it’s aiming to become a cornerstone of AI research and applications. Named after Colossus, the world’s first programmable electronic computer built in 1945, Elon Musk evokes the historic significance and transformative potential of supercomputing. This fierce competition marks supercomputing data centers as critical infrastructure of the economy, akin to railways, highways, or the electricity grid in earlier eras of social development. Alan Turing’s foundational ideas in his 1950 article Computing Machinery and Intelligence illuminate this transformation, offering a lens to understand the societal impact of the rapidly growing demand for supercomputing. Britain / UK: Alan Turing (1912-1954), computer scientist and cryptologist instrumental in breaking ... [+] Germany's 'enigma' machine code during World War II, c. 1928. Alan Mathison Turing was a British pioneering computer scientist, mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher, mathematical biologist, and marathon and ultra distance runner. He was highly influential in the development of computer science. (Photo by: Pictures from History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Data Centers: From Universal Machines to Universal Infrastructure Turing’s concept of the “universal machine” envisioned computation as adaptable, capable of performing any task with the right programming and resources. Supercomputing datacenters now embody this idea, designed as a general-purpose platform for diverse AI applications—training language models, developing humanoid robots, and enhancing self-driving cars. The 130 Best Black Friday Deals You Can Still Shop Now Refresh Your Wardrobe And Home With Quince’s Black Friday Deals The infrastructure supporting this universal capability is just as critical as the computation itself. Data centers facilitate the flow of information much like transportation networks moved goods and people in industrial economies. However, this infrastructure should not remain the sole domain of private corporations. Public investment in supercomputing is necessary to ensure that access to computational power doesn’t become overly commoditized, exacerbating inequities in research, education, and innovation. Historically, governments and public institutions played an important role in building infrastructure such as railways, highways, waterways, and electricity grids, which supported economic growth and more equitable access to resources. Today, AI-driven productivity relies on vast data centers, which process and store the immense datasets powering modern machine learning models. However, the infrastructure of the AI era is largely controlled by private corporations. This concentration risks creating uneven access to the computational power that drives innovation. Governments must step in to establish publicly funded or subsidized supercomputing facilities. Such efforts could democratize AI access, enabling small businesses, academic researchers, and public institutions to participate in AI development. Speed and Storage of Learning Machines Turing’s vision of “learning machines” has come to life in neural networks and AI models that refine their performance with reinforced learning and more training data. Turing emphasized the importance of speed and storage in determining the capabilities of a digital computer. In today’s supercomputing, these two factors remain paramount. The expanded data centers will enable exascale data processing, addressing the growing demand for computational power as industries push the boundaries with more advanced large language models and multimodal AI agents. The doubling of GPU capacity is not just about raw power; it's a response to the exponential growth in data requirements for training sophisticated AI models. Colossus’s architecture, with its vast storage and advanced networking capabilities, exemplifies Turing's foresight. It's designed to maximize throughput, allowing AI systems to learn and iterate faster. Supercomputing requires vast amounts of energy. Colossus uses advanced supermicro liquid-cooled racks, each containing 64 Nvidia H100 GPUs, grouped into clusters for high-performance AI training tasks. These cutting-edge systems are designed with integrated liquid cooling, ensuring optimal efficiency and easy servicing through quick-disconnect features and accessible tray designs. Public Investment for Sustainable AI Managing the energy demands and costs of supercomputing is a societal challenge that requires public involvement. Without coordinated efforts, private ownership of supercomputing infrastructure could prioritize profit over equity and sustainability. Publicly funded AI infrastructure could be built with broader societal goals in mind, such as sustainability, open access, and the ethical use of AI. Turing’s work reminds us that computation isn’t just about machines—it’s about systems and the societal frameworks that support them. Supercomputing is too important to be left solely to private entities. The commoditization of these resources risks creating barriers to entry for small innovators, public institutions, and educational initiatives. Governments can and should take a proactive role in funding and regulating AI infrastructure to prevent monopolization and ensure equitable access. The governance of data centers could mirror internet regulation, where agencies like the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission set standards for fairness and accessibility. Similar oversight could ensure equitable access to computational resources, ethical AI use, and prevent monopolistic practices, fostering broader societal benefits. Turing’s legacy offers a roadmap for navigating the AI era. His insights into universal machines and efficient computation are combined with the challenges of building equitable, sustainable supercomputing infrastructure today. As data centers become the railways and electricity grids of the 21st century, their governance must reflect broader social values. The expansion of supercomputing data centers demonstrates the potential of AI to drive innovation, but it also highlights the need for public oversight. Balancing ambition with equity, sustainability, and accessibility will ensure that the infrastructure of the AI age benefits all—continuing the journey that Turing began toward a more intelligent, inclusive future.No. 22 Xavier faces South Carolina St., eyes rebound from lone loss

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington was minding his own business during practice recently, doing his due diligence while running his route when the ball suddenly came his way. Washington wasn't sure what option he was on the play. he certainly wasn't first. Probably not even second. Maybe not even third. Washington was on the back side all by his lonesome while a sea of wide receivers and running backs zig-zagged across quarterback Russell Wilson's field of vision. Only, Wilson didn't like what he saw. Not enough to throw it anyway. So he pivoted to his left and found Washington wide open for a big gain. Asked if he was surprised to find the ball in his hands, Washington nodded. “A little bit,” he said. “I don't know. I don't know what was going on with the other people.” Wilson did. He almost always seems to these days for the first-place Steelers (9-3), who find themselves atop the AFC North behind the play of their resurgent 36-year-old quarterback, who has taken a decidedly democratic approach to resurrecting his career. The nine-time Pro Bowler threw the ball to 10 different players while piling up 414 yards last week against the Bengals . Sure, mercurial star George Pickens got the ball. But so did Washington. And third tight end MyCole Pruitt. And wide receiver Ben Skowronek, who turned his second catch of the season into a 23-yard gain on a drive that ended with one of Wilson's three touchdown passes. “You never know when it’s coming your way,” Skowronek said. Not with Wilson at the controls. Fourteen different players have at least one catch this season for the Steelers. That includes Mike Williams, whose lone grab a month since being acquired from the New York Jets is a 32-yard rainbow for the winning score in the final minutes against Washington. It also includes Skowronek, who spent the early portion of the season on injured reserve and worried he'd sort of lost his place in line while he rehabbed. Skowronek and his teammates have quickly learned that with Wilson, there is no “line." During his six starts since returning from a calf injury, Wilson has thrown it wherever, whenever. “It’s like in baseball,” said Wilson, a former minor league second baseman. “You’ll never hit a home run if you don’t swing. And I really believe that you’ve got to swing, you’ve got to trust guys. You’ve got to be able to trust yourself.” Something that hasn't been an issue for Wilson for years, even if he arrived in Pittsburgh at a crossroads following an abrupt fall from grace in Denver. The Steelers couldn't sign Wilson to a one-year deal for the veteran minimum fast enough, and Wilson wasted little time building a rapport with players who were relative strangers. What began with throwing sessions in San Diego has morphed into team dinners and Friday nights where Wilson and first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will hole themselves up in the team facility poring over tapes and bouncing ideas off each other until their wives call wondering where they are. On game days, that work manifests itself in various ways. It's tight end Pat Freiermuth drifting toward an open area while Wilson scrambles, as he did two plays after Skowronek's grab for a 25-yard touchdown. It's Wilson calling an audible at the line of scrimmage late against Cincinnati to hit Van Jefferson for a 43-yard gain that led to a clinching field goal. It's not just good for the stat sheet, it's good for the vibes. “Morale is a big part,” Smith said. Guys who want to be invested. Spreading it around is beneficial in a myriad of ways. It means players don't feel they are “decoys on every play,” as Smith put it. It also means once you put it on film, it means opponents have to find a way to defend it. And the more things an opponent has to defend, the better for an offense, particularly one led by a quarterback who will make his 195th start on Sunday when Cleveland (3-9) visits. “Russ has seen every coverage,” Skowronek said. “He’s ran all these concepts before. So he knows progressions like probably the back of his hand.” Besides, Wilson knows he can't just preach about the importance of being unselfish without practicing it a little bit too. That means giving opportunities to those who have worked for it, no matter where they might fall on the depth chart. “I think that the best part about it is that we’re all super close,” Wilson said. “And I think that bond is really everything too, and just the understanding of each guy and the relationships that we have together, it’s fun. We’re having a great time.” It sure looks like it. The Steelers are averaging a healthy 28.7 points since Wilson recovered from a calf injury that forced him to watch the first six games from the sideline. For the first time in a long time, Pittsburgh no longer has to rely exclusively on its defense to get by. While Mike Tomlin will never get comfortable with the idea of getting into a shootout — blame his defensive coaching roots before taking over in Pittsburgh in 2007 — it's nice to know his team can match opponents score for score if necessary. Another one could be looming against the Browns, who piled up more than 500 yards in a loss to Denver on Monday night. If one materializes, Wilson is ready to do whatever is necessary and find whoever is necessary, regardless of pedigree, salary or resume. “We got to love that part of it,” Wilson said. “We can’t fear it. We’ve got to want it. We’ve got to expect it. We’ve got to embrace it. We’ve got to challenge that. We’ve got to be in those moments and be locked into that moment. I think we do an extremely good job of that.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Titans S Julius Wood suspended 6 games for PEDsFuerte sismo estremece al norte de California; cancelan advertencia de tsunami

More funds to support steel workers and businessesReport into American diets: Time to go plant based?

China's getting a big electric car battery swapping boost in 2025. Would that work across the globe?African Knockout Championship Unleashes Face-off in LagosDetroit (AP) — China will soon see a massive expansion of electric vehicle battery swapping, as global battery maker CATL said Wednesday it is investing heavily in stations there next year. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Detroit (AP) — China will soon see a massive expansion of electric vehicle battery swapping, as global battery maker CATL said Wednesday it is investing heavily in stations there next year. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Detroit (AP) — China will soon see a massive expansion of electric vehicle battery swapping, as global battery maker CATL said Wednesday it is investing heavily in stations there next year. Battery swapping is not new — but it’s had a challenging journey. Adoption of electric vehicles has varied in regions across the globe over the past several years, and that doesn’t always bode well for building new infrastructure. While the technology could do well in China, it’s uncertain whether it could work in other countries. What is battery swapping? Battery swapping allows EV drivers to pull into a station on a low battery and receive a swapped, fully-charged battery within minutes. An EV has to be equipped with the right technology to receive a swap — and not many models around the world currently have it. Automakers have to buy into the idea, and EV adoption among consumers also has to grow, so that investing in new infrastructure seems worthwhile. Consumers also have to be comfortable not owning their battery. Why could it work in China? China is much further along in adopting EVs than other countries. Not only is it the world’s largest auto market, but in July, the country hit a milestone with 50% of new sales electric — and it accounts for most of this year’s global EV sales. China supports EV growth through government subsidies and mandates. So it makes more sense for companies to invest in unique EV infrastructure there because that’s more likely to be needed. What other attempts at battery swapping have occurred? The most notable example might be Israeli startup Better Place, which tried its hand at swapping in 2007. But the company shut down a few years later after investing a lot of money and coming up against roadblocks with logistics. EV adoption was especially low at the time. Could it work in the United States? Europe? Startup Ample, for example, has a modular battery swapping station that it says can complete a swap in 5 minutes. That’s important as charging time remains a point of concern for prospective EV buyers. Even the fastest fast chargers could take at least 15 minutes for a decent charge. But in the U.S., pure EVs only accounted for 8% of new vehicle sales as of November. Meanwhile Nio, a rival Chinese EV brand, has about 60 swap stations in northern Europe, and the EV adoption is higher there than the U.S., but the same challenges remain. Different automakers put different batteries in their various EV models, so a station would need all of those available if the industry didn’t agree to a standardized battery, and not all of those models are out yet in volume. This is something that really needs scale. Swapping could help with EV cost — currently a barrier to adoption for many — because a driver wouldn’t necessarily own the most expensive part of an EV: the battery. Greg Less, director of the University of Michigan Battery Lab, said with proper framing and education, people might like the idea of battery swapping. To him, it’s not unlike buying a propane-fueled grill and purchasing a refilled tank every so often. But it would require a rethinking of car ownership. “Where I could see it working is if we went entirely away from vehicle ownership and we went to a use-on-demand model,” Less added. “I don’t think we’re there yet.” What vehicle uses might be b est for swapping? Battery swapping might make most sense for ride-sharing or other fleet vehicles. Drivers of buses, taxis, Uber or Lyft vehicles want to spend as much time on the road as possible, transporting customers and making money. If battery swapping can shorten the time needed to charge EVs, that makes driving one less disruptive to their business. ___ Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate solutions reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at ast.john@ap.org. ___ Read more of AP’s climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment ___ The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Advertisement Advertisement

Kendrick Lamar's new album does not feature Taylor Swift after claims he was working with his Bad Blood partner again Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By AMY LAMARE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 20:58, 22 November 2024 | Updated: 21:16, 22 November 2024 e-mail View comments Kendrick Lamar surprised and delighted fans when he dropped his latest album GNX today out of nowhere. The 12-track album features a slew of contributors including SZA , Jack Antonoff, Kamasi Washington among others. He dropped the album with no promos or fanfare, just dropping a single image on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter ) to let fans know. On the new album Kendrick, 37, addresses the Lil Wayne Super Bowl snub and debuts a new chapter of the ongoing diss track back-and-forth battle with Drake , called Heart Pt. 6. One collaboration that has been highly rumored is one with Taylor Swift , whom he worked with on Bad Blood. Kendrick's work with Antonoff -who produced Swift's Midnights and The Tortured Poets Department - gave fans the hope that another song could be in the works. But she is not on the album. Kendrick Lamar surprised and delighted fans when he dropped his latest album GNX today out of nowhere One collaboration that has been highly rumored is one with Taylor Swift , whom he worked with on Bad Blood. But she is not on the album; seen November 14 DJ Snake also threw fuel on that fire earlier this week, saying Swift and Lamar have teamed up for a new song. But alas, that is not the case, Swift is not on the album, however, it hasn't dampened fans' excitement and enthusiasm with many calling Lamar 'The GOAT.' What fans are especially delighted with is the surprise drop of the whole new album seemingly out of nowhere – no teasers, no advance promotion, no taking over of his social profiles. Read More BREAKING NEWS Kendrick Lamar announces he's headlining the Super Bowl LIX halftime show It was a very Ninja move for the Not Like Us singer. On the track Wacced Out Murals, Kendrick addresses his Super Bowl Halftime appearance and how many fans feel the job should have gone to Lil Wayne since the game is being played in his hometown of New Orleans. 'I used to bump Tha Carter 3, I held my Rollie chain proud / Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down,' he raps. 'Got the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulate me, all these n*****s agitated, I’m just glad it’s on they faces.' WIth SZA's inclusion on the songs Luther and Gloria, she has also now rumored to be as a performer for Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime show, according to a fan account on X. One fan took to X to list the Humble rapper's accomplishments, summing it up with calling him the 'Man of the Year,' while another fan countered that, calling Lamar the 'man of the decade.' The 12-track album features a slew of contributors including SZA , Jack Antonoff, Kamasi Washington among others He dropped the album with no promos or fanfare, just dropping a single image on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter ) to let fans know On the new album Kendrick, 37, addresses the Lil Wayne Super Bowl snub and debuts a new chapter of the ongoing diss track battle with Drake , called Heart Pt. 6. Seen on June 22, 2024 What fans are especially delighted with is the surprise drop of the whole new album seemingly out of nowhere. Seen here at the 2023 Met Gala One fan took to X to list the Humble rapper's accomplishments, summing it up with calling him the 'Man of the Year' Another fan countered that, calling Lamar the 'man of the decade' One user wrote, 'Kendrick completely ignoring Drake’s diss track and dropping the Heart Pt. 6 anyways is frying me,' and added a video of a man laughing Many fans brought up Drake in their comments, adding that Kendrick had won the rap battle and Drake was cowering in shame. One user wrote, 'Kendrick completely ignoring Drake’s diss track and dropping the Heart Pt. 6 anyways is frying me,' and added a video of a man laughing. Dodger Blue is another song on GNX, which pays homage to the 2024 World Series Champions and features a lyric all Angelenos can relate to. 'Don’t say you hate L.A. when you don’t travel past the 10.' Lil Wayne SZA Drake Taylor Swift Share or comment on this article: Kendrick Lamar's new album does not feature Taylor Swift after claims he was working with his Bad Blood partner again e-mail Add commentConor McGregor breaks silence after losing civil trial accusing him of ‘brutal’ rapeAfter a thrilling double-overtime win over Fresno State, California Baptist makes the nearly 2,500-mile trip to Orlando to face Central Florida on Sunday. The Lancers (5-3) capped their time at the Acrisure Holiday Invitational in Palm Springs, Calif., with an 86-81 victory over the Bulldogs on Wednesday. That followed a last-second, 79-77 loss to SMU the day before. Dominique Daniels Jr. played 45 minutes against Fresno State and led California Baptist with 29 points. He paces the Lancers with 20.3 points per game, while Kendal Coleman averages 15.1 points and is shooting 59.7 percent form the floor. However, coach Rick Croy's team has struggled from 3-point range, shooting just 30.7 percent entering its first true road game this season. UCF (5-2) is coming off of an 84-76 win over Milwaukee last Wednesday despite being outrebounded 41-31. The Knights were helped by the heroics of senior guard Darius Johnson, who had 28 points as he shot a career-best 8-for-10 from beyond the arc. "Darius was terrific," UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. "He's so comfortable in his leadership role now, he's leading our team and running the show, and our new players are becoming more comfortable playing with him. He's been a rock for us this season, and you love to see it out of a senior point guard." "I had an extraordinary night shooting the ball from three," Johnson said. "I rarely think that would happen again, but it's great. I know my teammates are going to have nights like that as well." Johnson is among the nation's leaders in minutes per game (36.6) and is shooting a team-high 50 percent from 3-point range (23 of 46). He, along with his fellow guard Jordan Ivy-Curry, are each averaging 16.9 points to lead UCF. The Knights opened the season with an impressive win over Texas A&M, now No. 20 in the AP poll, but lost both games at last weekend's Greenbrier Tip-Off, including a triple-overtime defeat against LSU on Sunday. UCF has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2018-19. This will be the first meeting between the Knights and the Lancers, who will each have time off afterwards. UCF won't play until Dec. 8 against Tarleton State, while California Baptist is idle until its Dec. 11 game at San Diego State. --Field Level Media