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Saric, Covington lift 76ers over Nets 106-101

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Philadelphia’s rebuild has been marked by setbacks and stumbles, but the 76ers hit one clear marker of progress Tuesday night.

Dario Saric scored 23 points, Robert Covington had 21 points and 13 rebounds and the undermanned 76ers beat the Brooklyn Nets 106-101 to get their 28th win, matching their combined total from the previous two seasons.

“It’s just a testament to all the hard work,” Covington said. “This team is very resilient. We fight each and every night we step on the court.

“It’s a relief to see everything we’ve been working for paying off even though we’re not there where we want to be just yet,” Covington added. “But it’s all about the process and it’s all about the steps that you have to take.”

Philadelphia got its 11th road victory of the season. They had just nine the previous two years combined.

“People, maybe, think we’re not doing a good job, but Joel (Embiid) got 30 games this year, Ben Simmons got no games this year and we still have 28 wins,” Saric said. “We’ve gotten an opportunity. That means we’re doing good, especially when Joel and Ben come back. This team has a lot of talent and a big opportunity to make something after waiting two or three years.”

Rookie guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot had 17 points and nine boards for the 76ers, who dressed only nine players and still led by 10 points early in the second quarter before 18 lead changes in the second half.

Philadelphia was without center Jahlil Okafor, who missed his third straight game due to right knee soreness, and veteran guard Gerald Henderson, who did not play because of soreness in his left hip.

Brook Lopez led the Nets with 26 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Jeremy Lin and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson each chipped in 11 points.

“I don’t know if it was a combination of the juice or concentration and focus,” Lopez said. “But we were just throwing a lot of balls away and just missing opportunities.”

Philadelphia trailed 96-95 after Lin’s jumper with 5:05 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The 76ers then went on a 10-5 run paced by Saric and Covington to close out their third straight win over Brooklyn this season.

“The wiggle room this group has is tiny,” 76ers coach Brett Brown said. “The margin for error is tiny and when you look at links to pair up with our wins, it’s certainly Dario and we need Robert right next to him performing well.”

Richaun Holmes hit a pair of free throws to put Philadelphia ahead 97-96 before Lopez’s layup gave the Nets a 98-97 lead with 3:37 left. A nifty layup by Saric again gave the visitors the advantage, 99-98, but Isaiah Whitehead’s 3-pointer in front of the 76ers bench briefly put the Nets ahead, 101-100 with 2:29 left.

An alert Covington picked up the rebound after T.J. McConnell’s failed attempt and started a 6-0 run with 1:26 to go, ending with Holmes’ two free throws.

TIP-INS

Sixers: Point guard Sergio Rodriguez missed the game after an MRI earlier in the day revealed a left hamstring strain. The Spaniard is averaging 7.8 points and 5.1 assists in 68 games.

Nets: Guard Sean Kilpatrick, who missed the last six games due to a hamstring injury, played 12 minutes and scored nine points

SPLIT DECISION

Tiago Splitter, who had been nursing a right calf injury, entered late in the first quarter for his first game since Jan. 31, 2016 while with the Atlanta Hawks before undergoing hip surgery. Splitter, who was acquired from the Hawks on Feb. 22, ended up with two points and three rebounds in seven minutes.

UP NEXT

Sixers: Host Atlanta on Wednesday night.

Nets: Visit Detroit on Thursday night.

___

For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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