Tuesday, January 6
COL BKB: Villanova 89, Seton Hall 85 (OT)
NEWARK, N.J., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Scottie Reynolds scored 40 points Tuesday, powering 17th-ranked Villanova to an 89-5 overtime victory over Seton Hall.
NBA: Minnesota 94, Memphis 87
MEMPHIS, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Randy Foye hit a three-pointer and then got a block on the other end in the final 41 seconds Tuesday to help Minnesota beat Memphis 94-87.
NHL: Colorado 2, Nashville 1
NASHVILLE, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Wojtek Wolski scored twice Tuesday, delivering the Colorado Avalanche a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators.
17 Pro Hall of Fame finalists named
CANTON, Ohio, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, Tuesday announced 17 finalists for its Class of 2009, including four in their first year of eligibility.
NBA: Oklahoma City 107, New York 99
OKLAHOMA CITY, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Jeff Green and Kevin Durant each scored 27 points Tuesday to lead, carrying the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 107-99 win over the New York Knicks.
NHL: Pittsburgh 3, Atlanta 1
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Petr Sykora scored two goals Tuesday to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers.
NHL: Florida 4, Toronto 2
TORONTO, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Tomas Vokoun made 24 saves Tuesday to backstop the Florida Panthers' 4-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
NHL: Detroit 3, Columbus 0
DETROIT, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Ty Conklin turned back 23 shots Tuesday for his fourth shutout of the season in the Detroit Red Wings' 3-0 victory over Columbus.
NBA: Charlotte 114, Boston 106 (OT)
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Guards Raymond Felton and D.J. Augustin combined for 45 points Tuesday, lifting Charlotte to a 114-106 overtime win over skidding Boston.
NBA: Orlando 89, Washington 80
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Hedo Turkoglu scored 22 points Tuesday, sparking the Orlando Magic to an 89-80 win over pesky Washington.
NHL: Washington 2, Philadelphia 1 (SO)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Viktor Kozlov scored the winning goal in a shootout Tuesday, handing the Washington Capitals a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
NHL: Carolina 3, New Jersey 2
RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Tuomo Ruutu scored the winning goal and Cam Ward made 25 saves Tuesday in the Carolina Hurricanes' 3-2 win over New Jersey.
NHL: Buffalo 4, Ottawa 2
BUFFALO, N.Y., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Matt Ellis, Drew Stafford, Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek scored Tuesday to hand the Buffalo Sabres a 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators.
Chargers receiver arrested on DUI charge
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of driving under the influence.
A's Near Deal With Giambi
Seven years after bolting the Bay Area for the Big Apple, Jason Giambi is ready to slip back into an Oakland A's uniform.
NBA: Philadelphia 104, Houston 96
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Andre Iguodala hit 12-of-19 from the floor Tuesday and totaled 28 points to pace the Philadelphia 76ers to a 104-96 victory over the Houston Rockets.
Former Florida star transferring to Texas
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Former Florida basketball guard Jai Lucas will transfer to the University of Texas this spring, Texas Coach Rick Barnes announced Tuesday.
Cubs trade pitcher Marquis to Colorado
DENVER, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- The Chicago Cubs traded right-handed pitcher Jason Marquis and cash Tuesday to Colorado for reliever Luis Vizcaino.
NHL: Minnesota 1, Boston 0
BOSTON, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Marek Zidlicky scored the game's only goal and Niklas Backstrom had his fifth shutout of the season Tuesday in Minnesota's 1-0 win over Boston.
COL BKB: Connecticut 61, W. Virginia 55
MORGANTOWN, W.Va., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Jeff Adrien and Hasheem Thabeet combined for 30 points and 20 rebounds Tuesday, helping fifth-ranked Connecticut beat No. 22 West Virginia 61-55.
COL BKB: Michigan State 67, Ohio State 58
EAST LANSING, Mich., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Kalin Lucas scored 20 points Tuesday, fueling 12th-ranked Michigan State's 67-58 victory over Ohio State.
Nuggets' J.R. Smith escapes indictment
FREEHOLD, N.J., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith has avoided a vehicular homicide charge in New Jersey for a car crash that killed a friend in 2007.
Basketball player had fatal birth defect
DAVIE, Fla., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- An irregular artery killed Shayla Llanos, a Broward College basketball guard who collapsed during a game, a Florida medical examiner's report said.
Bidding for Chicago Cubs nears end
CHICAGO, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- The Tribune Co. is close to choosing a new owner for the Chicago Cubs but still may decide to pull the team and its stadium off the market, sources said.
Paterno statue's glasses stolen
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Penn State University officials said the glasses were stolen from a statue of football head coach Joe Paterno outside of Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa.
U.K. teen weightlifter honored
LONDON, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- The British Olympic Association named a 14-year-old girl its Athlete of the Year in weightlifting.
Rescue ship reaches capsized yacht racer
PARIS, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- A rescue boat has pulled up alongside the capsized yacht of Vendee Globe racer Jean Le Cam but is encountering rough seas, officials said Tuesday.
Ohio State Buckeyes Fall on Touchdown Pass With 16 Seconds Left
Jan. 6--GLENDALE, Ariz. -- A third straight season ended in bitter disappointment for the Ohio State Buckeyes last night in the Fiesta Bowl, and this one had to hurt more than any other.
COL FB: Texas 24, Ohio State 21
GLENDALE, Ariz., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Colt McCoy and Quan Cosby connected on a 26-yard TD play with 16 seconds left Monday night and No. 3 Texas beat No. 10 Ohio State 24-21 in the Fiesta Bowl.
Monday, January 5
NHL: Edmonton 3, N.Y. Islanders 2
EDMONTON, Alberta, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Andrew Cogliano had the game-winning goal and the Edmonton Oilers erased a 2-0 lead with three unanswered goals Monday night to beat the New York Islanders 3-2.
NBA: Denver 135, Indiana 115
DENVER, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Chauncey Billups had 24 points and 11 assists Monday to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 135-115 victory over Indiana.
NBA: Utah 119, Golden State 114
SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Deron Williams had 25 points and 15 assists Monday to lead the Utah Jazz to a 119-114 victory over Golden State.
Cubs sign Milton Bradley for 3 years
CHICAGO, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The Chicago Cubs have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with slugging outfielder Milton Bradley, the Chicago Tribune reported Monday.
NBA: Milwaukee 107, Toronto 97
MILWAUKEE, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Michael Redd scored 35 points Monday to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 107-97 victory over Toronto.
COL BKB: Okla. 100, Md.-Eastern Shore 64
NORMAN, Okla., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Blake Griffin had 20 points and 16 rebounds to Monday to lead the sixth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners in a 100-64 whipping of Maryland Eastern Shore.
NBA: New Jersey 98, Sacramento 90
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Vince Carter had 29 points, nine rebounds and seven assists Monday to lead the New Jersey Nets past Sacramento 98-90 in the Kings' 11th straight road loss.
NBA: San Antonio 91, Miami 84
MIAMI, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Tim Duncan had 19 points and nine rebounds Monday to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 91-84 victory over Miami.
NHL: N.Y. Rangers 4, Pittsburgh 0
NEW YORK, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves Monday for his first shutout of the season to spark the New York Rangers to a 4-0 win over Pittsburgh.
COL BKB: Notre Dame 73, Georgetown 67
SOUTH BEND, Ind., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Luke Harangody had 31 points and 11 rebounds Monday to lead 13th-ranked Notre Dame to a 73-67 victory over 10th-ranked Georgetown.
Angels, Scioscia agree to 5-year deal
ANAHEIM, Calif., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Angels said Monday they have agreed to a contract extension with Manager Mike Scioscia that will keep him with the club through the 2014 season.
Pohlad Made the Twins a Unique Franchise
MINNEAPOLIS -- This was a long time ago. We were sitting around the sports desk at the St. Paul Pioneer Press, trying to get some copy edited before heading across the street for a refreshment break at Luigi's Saloon.
Chavis LSU's new defensive coordinator
BATON ROUGE, La., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- John Chavis, a 31-year coaching veteran, was named Monday as defensive coordinator for the Louisiana State University Tigers.
Tar Heels tumble to No. 3
MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Undefeated Pittsburgh sat atop the ESPN/USA Today men's basketball rankings Monday, with North Carolina falling from first to third after its first loss.
Clippers acquire center Samb from Nuggets
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Clippers got center Cheikh Samb and cash considerations Monday from the Denver Nuggets for a future second-round pick.
Burrell leaves Phillies for Rays
TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Outfielder-designated hitter Pat Burrell has left one World Series team for another, signing a two-year deal Monday with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Stuckey, Jefferson earn NBA honors
NEW YORK, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Shooting guard Rodney Stuckey of Detroit and power forward-center Al Jefferson of Minnesota Monday were named the NBA's players of the week.
Cardinals sign reliever Ring
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Free-agent reliever Royce Ring has landed in St. Louis for the new year, signing a one-year contract with the Cardinals, the team announced Monday.
Woods, Garcia 1-2 starting 2009 season
VIRGINIA WATER, England, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia remain 1-2 in the world golf rankings with the PGA Tour set to kick off its 2009 season Thursday in Hawaii.
Packers fire six assistant coaches
GREEN BAY, Wis., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The Green Bay Packers announced the release Monday of defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and five other assistant coaches.
Candlestick pat-downs prompt state case
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- An attorney says the California Supreme Court will hear statements in the case of Candlestick Park attendees undergoing questionable pat-downs.
Tomlinson to miss Pittsburgh game?
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Injured San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson may be sidelined for the Chargers' playoff game in Pittsburgh, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Monday.
N.Z. rugby player believed drowned
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- New Zealand Warriors rugby player Sonny Fai was missing and presumed drowned after trying to save his brother's life, his family says.
NHL: Dallas 3, Vancouver 2 (SO)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Dallas Stars winger James Neal drove in the winning shoot-out goal Sunday for a 3-2 victory over the home-ice Vancouver Canucks.
NBA: LA Lakers 100, Portland 86
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 26 points and the Los Angeles Lakers held Portland to 36 second-half points Sunday in a 100-86 win over the Trail Blazers.
Sunday, January 4
COL BKB: Duke 69, Virginia Tech 44
DURHAM, N.C., Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Kyle Singler led Duke with 19 points Sunday and the No. 5 Blue Devils extended their winning steak to four games with a 69-44 victory over Virginia Tech.
Shark sighting closes Australian beaches
SYDNEY, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Four beaches around Sydney were closed Sunday after helicopter patrols sighted sharks in the water off Australia.
NHL: Anaheim 2, Phoenix 0
ANAHEIM, Calif., Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Anaheim's Chris Pronger and Bobby Ryan scored power-play goals, Jonas Hiller stopped 29 shots and the Ducks blanked the Phoenix Coyotes Sunday 2-0.
NHL: Minnesota 2, Colorado 0
DENVER, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Owen Nolan scored twice in the first period and the Minnesota Wild, behind goalie Niklas Backstrom, held off Colorado Sunday for a 2-0 victory.
NHL: Chicago 5, Calgary 2
CHICAGO, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- The Chicago Blackhawks pulled away with second-period goals by Andrew Ladd, Kris Versteeg and Dustin Byfuglien Sunday and beat the Calgary Flames 5-2.
COL BKB: California 81, Arizona State 71
BERKELEY, Calif., Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Jerome Randle's 26 points topped California's scoring Sunday in an 81-71 victory over No. 14 Arizona State.
NBA: New York 100, Boston 88
NEW YORK, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Wilson Chandler and Al Harrington combined for 61 points Sunday, carrying the New York Knicks past the Boston Celtics 100-88.
Magic Lose for 8th Time in Last 9 Visits to Toronto
TORONTO -- The Orlando Magic may have the Toronto Raptors' number on American soil, but that continues not to have much value north of the border.
NFL: Philadelphia 26, Minnesota 14
MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Brian Westbrook's 71-yard touchdown reception broke up a close game Sunday and helped Philadelphia notch a 26-14 NFC wild-card win over Minnesota.
Report: Police nab ex-Giants receiver
FLINT, Mich., Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Former New York Giants wide receiver Mark Ingram is in custody in Flint, Mich., after evading police for a month, the Flint Journal reported.
NHL: New Jersey 4, Ottawa 3 (OT)
NEWARK, N.J., Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Brian Rolston's power-play goal with 3:17 remaining in overtime Sunday gave the New Jersey Devils a 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators.
COL BKB: Boston College 85, N. Carolina 78
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Boston College, paced by 24 points from Tyreese Rice, upset top-ranked North Carolina 85-78 Sunday.
Michigan Shuts Down Illinois
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Illinois may well be back as a factor in
NHL: Tampa Bay 4, Atlanta 1
ATLANTA, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Tampa Bay jumped ahead early and got two goals from Martin St. Louis Sunday en route to a 4-1 win over the Atlanta Thrashers.
Study: Titanium golf clubs may harm ears
NORWICH, England, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- The new titanium clubs threaten golfers' hearing with a noise that some say is a loud as a gunshot, British doctors report.
NBA: Memphis 102, Dallas 82
MEMPHIS, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- O.J. Mayo scored 21 points Sunday for the Memphis Grizzlies, who ended a 13-game losing streak to Dallas by whipping the Mavericks 102-82.
COL BKB: Louisville 74, Kentucky 71
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Edgar Sosa buried a three-pointer with two seconds left Sunday to boost 18th-ranked Louisville to a 74-71 win over archrival Kentucky.
NBA: Detroit 88, Los Angeles Clippers 87
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Detroit got its final points on a goaltending violation in an 88-87 victory Sunday over the Los Angeles Clippers -- the Pistons' seventh consecutive win.
Col BKB: UCLA 83, Oregon 74
EUGENE, Ore., Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Darren Collison's 22 points and nine assists Sunday fueled ninth-ranked UCLA's 83-74 Pac-10 Conference victory over Oregon.
NBA: San Antonio 108, Philadelphia 106
SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Tony Parker hit a fadeaway jumper off a rebound at the final buzzer Saturday to hand the San Antonio Spurs a 108-106 win over Philadelphia.
Cowher Says He Won't Coach in 2009
Former Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Bill Cowher, a CBS football
Cowher says he won't coach in 2009
NEW YORK, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Former Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Bill Cowher, a CBS football analyst, says he will not return to coaching in 2009.
COL BKB: Marquette 84, Cincinnati 50
MILWAUKEE, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Led by Jerel McNeal's 26 points, five rebounds and six assists Sunday, No. 25 Marquette rolled to an 84-50 Big East Conference win over unranked Cincinnati.
NHL: Montreal 6, Florida 5 (SO)
MONTREAL, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Montreal's Andrei Markov got the only goal of a shootout Sunday and the Canadians won for the fourth time in five games, downing the Florida Panthers 6-5.
COL BKB: Michigan 74, Illinois 64
Manny Harris's 16 points Sunday led five players who scored in double figures to pace No. 24 Michigan's 74-64 comeback win over Illinois.
COL BKB: Michigan 74, Illinois 64
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Manny Harris's 16 points Sunday led five players who scored in double figures to pace No. 24 Michigan's 74-64 comeback win over Illinois.
NFL: Baltimore 27, Miami 9
MIAMI, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Baltimore's vaunted defense came up with five turnovers Sunday on the way to a dominant 27-9 AFC wild-card victory against the Miami Dolphins.
NBA: Washington 80, Cleveland 77
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Antawn Jamison scored six of his 26 points in the fourth period Sunday, helping the Washington Wizards hold on and beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 80-77.
NBA: Toronto 108, Orlando 102
TORONTO, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Chris Bosh sank six free throws in the closing 3 minutes Sunday to lift the Toronto Raptors to a 108-102 victory over the Orlando Magic.
Report: Patriots franchise Matt Cassel
FOXBOROUGH, Mass., Jan. 4 (UPI) -- The New England Patriots have put a franchise tag on quarterback Matt Cassel, ESPN reported Sunday.
New York man survives harrowing climb
NEW YORK, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- A 60-year-old New York man says a global positioning system device helped save him and his companions during a mountain climb in Antarctica.
Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Brian Campbell All-Star Starters: Kane, Toews, Campbell Officially Named Starters
Jan. 4--The rather remarkable run of positive news surrounding the Blackhawks continued Saturday as Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Brian Campbell officially were voted in as starters in the 2009 NHL All-Star Game.
NHL: Los Angeles 2, Philadelphia 1 (SO)
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Jonathan Quick had 31 saves in regulations and two stops in the shootout Saturday night to lead the Los Angeles Kings to a 2-1 win over Philadelphia.
NHL: San Jose 5, N.Y. Islanders 3
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Patrick Marleau, Dan Boyle and Ryane Clowe scored for the Sharks, who ran their home points' streak to 30 games and have not lost at home in regulation this season (19-0-2).
NHL: Edmonton 4, Dallas 1
EDMONTON, Alberta, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Sheldon Souray had a goal and an assist and Dwayne Roloson stopped 38 shots Saturday night when the Edmonton Oilers beat Dallas 4-1.
Saturday, January 3
NFL: San Diego 23, Indianapolis 17 (OT)
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Darren Sproles scored on a 22-yard run in overtime Saturday night to boost the San Diego Chargers to a 23-17 win over Indianapolis in an AFC wild-card game.
NBA: Denver 105, New Orleans 100
DENVER, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Carmelo Anthony scored 22 points Saturday to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 105-100 victory over New Orleans.
Three Big Plays From Cardinals Lead to 1 Big Win
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Three skilled men made three big plays.
NBA: Minnesota 102, Chicago 92
CHICAGO, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Randy Foye scored 21 points Saturday to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 102-92 victory over Chicago.
NHL: St. Louis 5, Columbus 2
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Alex Steen had a goal and two assists and Manny Legace stopped 20 shots for the St. Louis Blues Saturday night in a 5-2 win over Columbus.
COL BKB: Wake Forest 94, BYU 87
PROVO, Utah, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Jeff Teague scored 30 points Saturday to lead sixth-ranked Wake Forest to a 94-87 win and BYU's first home loss in over three years.
NHL: Detroit 3, Minnesota 2 (SO)
ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Pavel Datsyuk scored the lone shootout goal Saturday when the Detroit Red Wings downed Minnesota 3-2.
NBA: Miami 101, New Jersey 96 (OT)
MIAMI, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Dwyane Wade had 29 points, eight rebounds and six assists Saturday to lead the Miami Heat to a 101-96 overtime win over New Jersey.
NHL: Carolina 3, Tampa Bay 2
TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Joni Pitkanen scored the game-winner Saturday night when the Carolina Hurricanes recorded a 3-2 victory against Tampa Bay.
NBA: Atlanta 103, Houston 100
ATLANTA, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Mike Bibby hit a three-pointer with 1.5 seconds to play Saturday night to give the Atlanta Hawks a 103-100 victory over Houston.
COL BKB: Connecticut 80, Rutgers 49
STORRS, Conn., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Hasheem Thabeet had 15 points and eight rebounds Saturday to lead second-ranked Connecticut to an 80-49 win over Rutgers.
NBA: Charlotte 102, Milwaukee 92
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Gerald Wallace scored 24 points Saturday to lead the Charlotte Bobcats to a 102-92 victory over Milwaukee.
NHL: Toronto 3, Ottawa 1
TORONTO, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Jason Blake had a goal and an assist Saturday to fuel the Toronto Maple Leafs' 3-1 win over Ottawa.
NBA: Indiana 122, Sacramento 117
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Danny Granger scored 35 points Saturday to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 122-117 victory over Sacramento.
NHL: Washington 2, N.Y. Rangers 1
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Alex Ovechkin's 27th goal this season helped the Washington Capitals skate to a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers Saturday night.
Millen says he would have fired himself
NEW YORK, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Former Detroit Lions' executive Matt Millen told NBC Sports Saturday he would have fired himself after a the team went 31-84 during his seven-year tenure.
COL BKB: Michigan St. 77, Northwestern 66
EVANSTON, Ill., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Raymar Morgan had 22 points and 13 rebounds Saturday to lead the 15th-ranked Michigan State Spartans to a 77-66 win over Northwestern.
NFL: Arizona 30, Atlanta 24
GLENDALE, Ariz., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Kurt Warner threw two touchdown passes Saturday and Arizona topped Atlanta 30-24 in an NFC wild card contest.
NHL: Calgary 3, Nashville 2
NASHVILLE, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Bertuzzi's 10th goal this season came about seven minutes after he set up Daymond Langkow's 11th, which created a 2-2 tie. Craig Conroy picked up an assist on Bertuzzi's game-winner for his 500th NHL point.
No TV Blackout for Sunday's Vikings Game
Jan. 3--The Minnesota Vikings sold out their 115th consecutive game in dramatic fashion, requiring two extensions from the NFL to avoid the first locally blacked out game since the 1997 regular-season finale.
NHL: Florida 6, Pittsburgh 1
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Nathan Horton scored his ninth and 10th goals this season Saturday to lead the Florida Panthers' surprisingly easy 6-1 rout of Pittsburgh.
NHL: Buffalo 4, Boston 2
BOSTON, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Matt Ellis had two goals and an assist Saturday to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-2 win over Boston, ending the Bruins' 10-game winning streak.
COL BKB: Clemson 79, East Carolina 66
CLEMSON, S.C., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- K.C. Rivers had 18 points and six rebounds Saturday to lead the 16th-ranked Clemson Tigers to a 79-66 win over the East Carolina Pirates.
COL BKB: Xavier 84, Virginia 70
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- B.J. Raymond had 24 points and six rebounds Saturday to lead the 22nd-ranked Xavier Musketeers to an 84-70 win over Virginia.
Report: Stoops not a candidate in Denver
GLENDALE, Ariz., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops told ESPN Saturday he is not a candidate for the Denver Broncos' head coaching vacancy.
COL BKB: Kansas 92, Tennessee 85
LAWRENCE, Kan., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Sherron Collins had 26 points and nine assists Saturday to lead the Kansas Jayhawks to a 92-85 victory over 18th-ranked Tennessee.
COL BKB: St. John's 71, Notre Dame 65
NEW YORK, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- D.J. Kennedy had 20 points and 10 rebounds Saturday when St. John's upset 10th-ranked Notre Dame, 71-65.
COL FB: Connecticut 38, Buffalo 20
TORONTO, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Donald Brown ran for 261 yards and Tyler Lorenzen accounted for three TDs Saturday in Connecticut's 38-20 International Bowl win over Buffalo.
COL BKB: Oklahoma 93, Coppin State 62
NORMAN, Okla., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Tony Crocker's career-high 20 points Saturday keyed fourth-ranked Oklahoma's 93-62 rout of outmanned Coppin State.
COL BKB: Pittsburgh 70, Georgetown 54
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- DeJuan Blair scored a team-high 20 points with 17 rebounds Saturday, carrying third-ranked Pittsburgh to a record-setting 70-54 win over No. 8 Georgetown.
COL BKB: Minnesota 68, Ohio State 59
MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- No. 21 Minnesota held No. 23 Ohio State to 34.6 percent shooting Saturday on the way to a 68-59 Big Ten Conference victory.
Wild forward Gaborik to have hip surgery
ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Minnesota Wild forward Marian Gaborik will have surgery on his left hip Monday and will be sidelined at least 10 weeks.
Panthers back earns monthly player honor
NEW YORK, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams was named the NFC offensive player of the month for December this week.
Rivers among top AFC players in December
NEW YORK, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- San Diego quarterback Phillip Rivers was the AFC offensive player of the month in December after leading the Chargers to a 4-0 record and a playoff berth.
Padres in sale talks with ex-agent Moorad
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- The San Diego Padres say they are in exclusive negotiations on the sale of the club to former agent and Arizona Diamondbacks partner Jeff Moorad.
Report: Dungy to consider retiring
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Indianapolis Colts Coach Tony Dungy will consider retirement after the season concludes, ESPN reported Saturday.
Offensive Line Depth Hurt Tide's Chances
Jan. 3--NEW ORLEANS -- The number 31 appeared twice in the final stats and both were equally stunning for Alabama.
Sugar Bowl: Utes Stun 'Bama With Dominating Win
Jan. 3--The Utah Utes have all of college football shaking its head in amazement.
Tide's Offensive Line Misses Smith
Jan. 3--NEW ORLEANS -- It took Alabama all of three plays to notice All-American left tackle Andre Smith's absence in the Sugar Bowl.
COL BKB: UCLA 69, Oregon St. 46
CORVALLIS, Ore., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Michael Roll and Darren Collision both scored 16 points Friday, sending No. 9 UCLA to an easy 69-46 win over Oregon State to open the Pac-10 campaign.
NHL: Philadelphia 5, Anaheim 4 (SO)
ANAHEIM, Calif., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Mike Richards scored the only goal of the shootout Friday night and had three assists to give the Philadelphia Flyers a 5-4 victory over Anaheim.
NBA: LA Lakers 113, Utah 100
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Kobe Bryant reached 40 points for the first time this season Friday night, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 113-100 decision over Utah.
NBA: New Orleans 92, Portland 77
PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- James Posey's three-pointer touched off a nine-point fourth-quarter run Friday that allowed the New Orleans Hornets to pull away for a 92-77 win over Portland.
COL BKB: Arizona State 90, Stanford 60
PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Jeff Pendergraph delivered 31 points Friday and No. 14 Arizona State began its Pac-10 Conference season with a 90-60 blasting of previously-unbeaten Stanford.
NHL: Columbus 6, Colorado 1
DENVER, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Rich Nash had a goal and three assists Friday and the Columbus Blue Jackets overwhelmed Colorado 6-1, but Steve Mason gave up his first goal in four games.
Friday, January 2
COL BKB: Texas 78, Appalachian St. 43
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Dexter Pittman had 21 points and 11 rebounds Friday night to lead No. 7 Texas to an easy 78-43 win over Appalachian State.
NBA: Minnesota 115, Golden State 108
MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Al Jefferson scored 32 points Friday and keyed a 19-5, third-quarter run that boosted the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 115-108 victory over Golden State.
NHL: Phoenix 5, N.Y. Islanders 4
GLENDALE, Ariz., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Zbynek Michalek had a goal and an assist Friday and the Phoenix Coyotes held off a late surge to defeat the New York Islanders 5-4.
NBA: Phoenix 106, LA Clippers 98
PHOENIX, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Amare Stoudemire and Shaquille O'Neal helped Phoenix build a big lead in the fourth quarter Friday and the Suns held on to down the Los Angeles Clippers 106-98.
COL FB: Utah 31, Alabama 17
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Quarterback Brian Johnson ignited No. 7 Utah to an amazing start Friday and the unbeaten Utes shocked No. 4 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl 31-17.
NBA: Detroit 98, Sacramento 92
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Rodney Stuckey came within two points of his career best by scoring 38 Friday and carrying the Detroit Pistons to a 98-92 victory over Sacramento.
3 young men charged with videotaping rape
TUSTIN, Calif., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Two football players at a Southern California college and a friend were charged with rape after a tipster turned in a video of the alleged assault, police said.
NBA: San Antonio 91, Memphis 80
MEMPHIS, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Tim Duncan had 20 points and Tony Parker 19 Friday night in leading the San Antonio Spurs to their sixth win in seven games 91-80 over Memphis.
NBA: Milwaukee 103, Charlotte 75
MILWAUKEE, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- A 31-point effort from Michael Redd Friday sent the Milwaukee Bucks sailing to a 103-75 triumph over Charlotte.
COL BKB: Syracuse 59, South Florida 54
TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Andy Rautins scored 14 points Friday and No. 11 Syracuse fought off a comeback bid to defeat South Florida 59-54.
NBA: Denver 122, Oklahoma City 120
OKLAHOMA CITY, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Carmelo Anthony hit a three-pointer with a tenth of a second showing on the clock Friday, giving the Denver Nuggets a dramatic 122-120 win over Oklahoma City.
NBA: Dallas 96, Philadelphia 86
DALLAS, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Dirk Nowitzki scored 16 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter Friday to rally Dallas past Philadelphia 96-86 for the Mavericks' sixth win in seven games.
Mississippi's Snead Proves Again He's a Pressure Player
DALLAS -- After a few early bumps in the road, Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt learned something very important about quarterback Jevan Snead.
NBA: New Jersey 93, Atlanta 91 (OT)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Vince Carter hit a 30-foot shot as the buzzer sounded in overtime Friday, bringing the New Jersey Nets a wild 93-91 win over Atlanta.
NHL: Atlanta 4, Vancouver 3 (SO)
ATLANTA, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Atlanta's Erik Christensen scored the game-winner Friday in the Thrashers' 4-3 shootout win over Vancouver.
NBA: Cleveland 117, Chicago 92
CLEVELAND, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- LeBron James had a triple-double and Anderson Varejao scored a career-best 26 points Friday night, lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 117-92 win over Chicago.
NBA: Indiana 105, New York 103
NEW YORK, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Jarrett Jack scored 29 points and hit a jump shot with .09 of a second left Friday night to give the Indiana Pacers a 105-103 victory over New York.
NHL: Carolina 2, St. Louis 1
RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Cam Ward stopped 30 shots Friday, 16 in the third period, to help the Carolina Hurricanes record a 2-1 victory against St. Louis.
NBA: Boston 108, Washington 83
BOSTON, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Paul Pierce had 26 points and led six Boston players in double figures Friday night when the Celtics coasted to a 108-83 victory over Washington.
NHL: New Jersey 4, Montreal 1
NEWARK, N.J., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Jamie Langerbrunner's goal and assist Friday led the New Jersey Devils' 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens.
NBA: Orlando 86, Miami 76
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Dwight Howard had 15 points and 15 rebounds Friday night to lead the Orlando Magic past Miami 86-76.
NBA: Toronto 94, Houston 73
TORONTO, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Chris Bosh scored 19 points Friday and the Toronto Raptors took advantage of a cold shooting effort by Houston to run away from the Rockets 94-73.
COL BKB: South Carolina 85, Baylor 84
WACO, Texas, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Zam Fredrick made a layup with 5 seconds remaining Friday to give South Carolina an 85-84 victory over No. 20 Baylor.
COL FB: Kentucky 19, East Carolina 16
MEMPHIS, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Kent Ventrell Jenkins returned a late fumble 56 yards for the winning touchdown Friday when Kentucky beat East Carolina 25-19 at the Liberty Bowl.
Browns continue coaching, GM search
CLEVELAND, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- The Cleveland Browns spoke with New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels on Friday about their head coaching vacancy.
COL FB: Mississippi 47, Texas Tech 34
DALLAS, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Jevan Snead threw three touchdown passes Friday to lead No. 24 Ole Miss to a surprising 47-34 Cotton Bowl win over eighth-ranked Texas Tech.
AL batting champ undergoes surgery
MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer has undergone "minor" surgery to eliminate a kidney obstruction, General Manager Bill Smith said Friday.
Ravens hurting before playoff game
OWINGS MILLS, Md., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- The Baltimore Ravens put 12 players on their injured list Friday and all are questionable for Sunday's AFC wild card playoff contest at Miami.
NFL enters wild card weekend Saturday
NEW YORK, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- The NFL's "Second Season" starts this weekend with two wild cards games in both the AFC and NFC on Saturday and Sunday.
Orioles ink pitcher Mark Hendrickson
BALTIMORE, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- The Baltimore Orioles have signed veteran free agent left-hander Mark Hendrickson to a one-year contract.
Alex Tanguay out with shoulder separation
MONTREAL, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- A separated left shoulder will cause Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Tanguay to miss at least six weeks of NHL action.
Derrick Turnbow gets Texas comeback try
ARLINGTON, Texas, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Pitcher Derrick Turnbow, who played in the 2006 All-Star Game, has been invited to the Texas Rangers camp after battling shoulder problems.
Dolphins, Ravens pleasant NFL surprises
MIAMI, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- The upcoming NFL playoff game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Miami Dolphins features two teams not expected to have enjoyed success, experts said.
Broncos schedule head coach interviews
DENVER, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- The Denver Broncos are acting quickly in the search for a new head coach for the NFL franchise, setting up three candidate interviews, the team's owner says.
Lightning's Heward released from hospital
TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Tampa Bay defenseman Jamie Heward, who suffered a concussion in a game against the Washington Capitals, was released Friday from a Washington hospital.
OUTBACK SIZZLE: Never Let South Carolina Get in the Game
Jan. 2--TAMPA, Fla. -- There was nothing left to prove here.
Defenses Shut Down Ringer and Moreno
Jan. 2--ORLANDO, Fla. -- It was billed as a clash between two of the top running backs in the nation, but neither Michigan State's Javon Ringer nor Georgia's Knowshon Moreno found much room to run in the Bulldogs' 24-12 win in the Capital One Bowl on Thursday.
Players Keep Up Buckeyes' Veil of Mystery: OSU Experimenting With Formations to Utilize Pryor, Boeckman at Same Time
Jan. 2--PHOENIX -- If this were a dusty stage coach stop in the old Wild West, put Ohio State coach Jim Tressel in the corner seat of the poker game going on inside the local saloon. Tressel is giving his opponent plenty to think about, but not tipping his hand a bit.
Wings' Five-Goal Scoring Tear the Difference
Jan. 2--CHICAGO -- Brett Lebda had to wait for a video review to find out his goal was good, but by then the Red Wings already had established who was going to win this game.
A Bowl Game to Make Joe Paterno Feel Old
Jan. 2--PASADENA, Calif. -- Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll playfully called Penn State's Joe Paterno the "Benjamin Button" of the college football universe the other day.
Virginia Tech Shuts Down Cincinnati, Snaps BCS Bowl Slide: Virginia Tech's Goal-Line Stand and Four Interceptions Spoil Cincinnati's Dream Season.
Jan. 2--It isn't likely to garner the same headlines given to USC's Rose Bowl romp or Georgia's comeback earlier in the day. Given the start time, plenty of folks may only be waking up to the result.
Thursday, January 1
COL FB: Virginia Tech 20, Cincinnati 7
MIAMI, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- A fourth-quarter interception by Orion Martin highlighted a huge defensive effort Thursday that brought Virginia Tech a 20-7 Orange Bowl win over Cincinnati.
NHL: Vancouver 2, Nashville 1
NASHVILLE, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Jason LaBarbera made 21 saves in his Vancouver debut Thursday, leading the Canucks to a 2-1 win over Nashville.
Stafford Regroups to Lift Georgia Bulldogs in Capital One Bowl
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford struggled throughout the first half of Thursday's Capital One Bowl. He missed a couple of wide-open receivers. He threw off of his back foot. He looked skittish when Michigan State defensive linemen pressured him.
No Miracle Finish for Clemson in the Gator Bowl
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The honeymoon unofficially concluded with Dabo Swinney running both hands through his hair, then turning and shaking the hands of several Clemson seniors as they traipsed off the field.
NHL: Washington 7, Tampa Bay 4
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Alex Ovechkin had two assists and scored the last goal Thursday night in a Washington onslaught that gave the Capitals a 7-4 win over Tampa Bay.
NHL: Boston 4, Pittsburgh 2
BOSTON, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- P.J. Axelsson put Boston in front for good in the first period Thursday and the Bruins went on to win their 10th straight game -- 4-2 over Pittsburgh.
NHL: Buffalo 4, Toronto 1
TORONTO, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Jason Pominville and Derek Roy both scored twice Thursday and the Buffalo Sabres roughed up Curtis Joseph while downing Toronto 4-1.
Report: Bob Stoops to get big bonus
NORMAN, Okla., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- University of Oklahoma football Coach Bob Stoops will receive a one-time $3 million payment after the BCS title game, the Norman Transcript reported Thursday.
Iowa Routs South Carolina for Sloppy Outback Bowl Victory
TAMPA, Fla. -- Steve Spurrier's return for a Florida bowl game was bad, but freshman quarterback Stephen Garcia's homecoming was an utter disaster.
Red Wings Spoil Blackhawks' Fun Outdoors in Entertaining Game
CHICAGO -- With a hockey rink stretching across the infield of historic Wrigley Field and a festive crowd enjoying its New Year's Day outside rather than in the comforts of home watching college football, the 2009 Winter Classic had the makings of something special.
COL FB: USC 38, Penn State 24
PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Mark Sanchez threw for 413 yards and accounted for all the USC touchdowns Thursday, leading the Trojans to a 38-24 win over Penn State in the Rose Bowl.
COL BKB: Marquette 79, Villanova 72
Wesley Mathews made six of the 13 free throws Marquette hit in the final 2:38 Thursday, allowing the Golden Eagles to fight off Villanova 79-72.
COL BKB: Marquette 79, Villanova 72
MILWAUKEE, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Wesley Mathews made six of the 13 free throws Marquette hit in the final 2:38 Thursday, allowing the No. 25 Golden Eagles to fight off No. 13 Villanova 79-72.
Dwight Howard leads All-Star voting
NEW YORK, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard remains the front-runner in balloting for this year's NBA All-Star Game, the league announced Thursday.
COL FB: Georgia 24, Michigan State 12
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Matt Stafford's three touchdown passes Thursday led 15th-ranked Georgia to a 24-12 victory over the No. 18 Michigan State at the Capital One Bowl in Orlando.
COL FB: Nebraska 26, Clemson 21
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Joe Ganz highlighted a big third quarter with two touchdown passes Thursday that helped rally Nebraska to a 26-21 win over Clemson in the Gator Bowl.
Iowa star to enter the NFL draft
TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Iowa running back Shonn Greene, the MVP Thursday in its 31-10 win over South Carolina at the Outback Bowl in Tampa, has decided to enter the 2009 NFL draft.
NHL: Detroit 6, Chicago 4
CHICAGO, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Detroit scored the final five goals Thursday on the way to a 6-4 win over the Blackhawks at the NHL's Winter Classic, played at Chicago's Wrigley Field.
Report: Barry Bonds has hip surgery
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Slugger Barry Bonds has undergone hip surgery with thoughts of resuming his baseball career despite his legal troubles, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Long-term contract for Tulsa coach
TULSA, Okla., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Todd Graham has agreed to a new 10-year contract to be the head coach of the University of Tulsa football program through the 2018 season.
Cal football coach signs new deal
BERKELEY, Calif., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- University of California football coach Jeff Tedford has signed a two-year contract extension through the 2015 season.
COL FB: Iowa 31, South Carolina 10
TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Shonn Greene rushed for three touchdowns Thursday, fueling Iowa's 31-10 win over South Carolina at the Outback Bowl in Tampa.
Hulk Hogan's son seeking relocation
CLEARWATER, Fla., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Nick Bollea, son of former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, says he wants to serve his probation sentence in California, not Florida.
COL FB: Kansas 42, Minnesota 21
TEMPE, Ariz., Dec. 31, 2008 (UPI) -- Todd Reesing threw one of his four touchdown passes on the first play of the game Wednesday and Kansas downed Minnesota 42-21 in the Insight Bowl.
LSU Overwhelms Georgia Tech in Chick-Fil-A Bowl Runaway
Jan. 1--ATLANTA -- There was no confetti for Georgia Tech on Wednesday night at the Georgia Dome. There was no late-night drunken merriment. There were just paper planes.
NHL: Calgary 6, Edmonton 4
CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Jarome Iginla broke out of a scoring slump with two goals Wednesday, his second putting Calgary ahead in the third period in the Flames' 6-4 win over Edmonton.
Wednesday, December 31
COL BKB: North Carolina 84, Nevada 61
RENO, Nev., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Tyler Hansbrough scored 22 points Wednesday and No. 1 North Carolina broke the game open late in the first half on its way to an 84-61 win over Nevada.
NBA: Philadelphia 100, LA Clippers 92
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Andre Iguodala scored 12 of his 28 points in the fourth period Wednesday, helping Philadelphia hold off the Los Angeles Clippers 100-92.
NHL: Columbus 2, Anaheim 0
ANAHEIM, Calif., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Rookie Steve Mason made 27 saves in a 2-0 win over Anaheim Wednesday to become the first Columbus goaltender ever to record three straight shutouts.
NHL: Dallas 4, New Jersey 2
DALLAS, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Loui Eriksson scored the first and last goals of the game Wednesday and Dallas rallied for a 4-2 victory over New Jersey.
Col FB: LSU 38, LSU 3
ATLANTA, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Charles Scott ran for three touchdowns Wednesday and LSU scored 28 points in the second quarter to rout Georgia Tech 38-3 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
COL BKB: Notre Dame 92, DePaul 82
ROSEMONT, Ill., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Luke Harangody recorded 26 points and 16 rebounds Wednesday, helping No. 10 Notre Dame open its Big East campaign with a 92-82 win over DePaul.
NBA: Oklahoma City 107, Golden State 100
OKLAHOMA CITY, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Chris Wilcox touched off a key 8-2 run down the stretch Wednesday that carried Oklahoma City to a 107-100 win over Golden State.
COL BKB: Utah 66, Gonzaga 65
SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Carlon Brown gave Utah a three-point lead with 19 seconds left Wednesday and the Utes survived a series of misses to surprise No. 16 Gonzaga 66-65.
NHL: Carolina 3, Atlanta 1
RALEIGH, N.C., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Sergei Samsonov had a hand in all of Carolina's goals Wednesday, propelling the Hurricanes to a 3-1 victory over Atlanta.
NHL: Phoenix 3, Colorado 1
GLENDALE, Ariz., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Peter Mueller scored twice in the second period to put Phoenix in front Wednesday and the Coyotes held off Colorado 3-1.
NBA: Denver 114, Toronto 107
TORONTO, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Nene scored 21 points and Carmelo Anthony had 20 Wednesday, boosting Denver to a 114-107 victory over Toronto.
Getting Their Man: Fuentes and Angels Agree on Two-Year Contract
General Manager Tony Reagins said Wednesday afternoon that the Angels were interested in Brian Fuentes even while Francisco Rodriguez was closing games for them at a record pace last summer.
There's Only One Rational Choice for MVP: Chad Pennington
The Dolphins' underdog mantra all season has been "Why
NBA: Houston 85, Milwaukee 81
HOUSTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Rafer Alston made three of Houston's seven free throws over the final 37 seconds Wednesday, allowing the Rockets to fight off Milwaukee 85-81.
COL BKB: UNLV 56, Louisville 55
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Oscar Bellfield made a layup with 17 seconds remaining Wednesday, delivering Nevada-Las Vegas a 56-55 upset win over No. 18 Louisville.
NHL: Minnesota 3, San Jose 2 (OT)
ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Brent Burns scored 1:38 into overtime Wednesday and Niklas Backstrom made 32 saves, bringing Minnesota a 3-2 victory over San Jose.
Paterno to coach Rose Bowl from press box
PASADENA, Calif., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Joe Paterno will coach from the press box Thursday when eighth-ranked Penn State faces No. 5 Southern California at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
COL BKB: Xavier 78, Robert Morris 57
CINCINNATI, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Brad Redford scored all of his points from long range Wednesday and No. 22 Xavier bounced back from two straight losses to defeat Robert Morris 78-57.
COL BKB: Michigan St. 70, Minnesota 58
A career-high, 24-point effort from Kalin Lucas Wednesday helped carry No. 15 Michigan State to a 70-58 win over 21st-ranked Minnesota.
COL BKB: Baylor 113, Jackson St. 78
WACO, Texas, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Kevin Rogers led the way with 21 points Wednesday and the No. 20 Bears used a fast-paced offense to run away from Jackson State 113-78.
COL FB: Vanderbilt 16, Boston Col. 14
NASHVILLE, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Bryant Hahnfeldt kicked a 45-yard field goal with 3:26 to play Wednesday, giving Vanderbilt a 16-14 triumph over Boston College in the Music City Bowl.
COL BKB: Ohio State 68, Iowa 65
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Jon Diebler scored 19 of his 27 points in the second half Wednesday and Ohio State held Iowa scoreless for the final 3:28 to down the Hawkeyes 68-65.
COL BKB: Michigan St. 70, Minnesota 58
MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A career-high, 24-point effort from Kalin Lucas Wednesday helped carry No. 15 Michigan State to a 70-58 win over 21st-ranked Minnesota.
COL BKB: Duke 92, Loyola (Md.) 51
DURHAM, N.C., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Kyle Singler and Gerald Henderson helped Duke to a quick start Wednesday and the No. 5 Blue Devils went on to thrash Loyola (Md.) 92-51.
COL FB: Oregon St. 3, Pittsburgh 0
EL PASO, Texas, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A 44-yard field goal by Justin Kahut in the second quarter was the only score of the game Wednesday and gave Oregon State a 3-0 Sun Bowl win over Pittsburgh.
Indians acquire Mark DeRosa from Cubs
CLEVELAND, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The Cleveland Indians have acquired veteran infielder Mark DeRosa from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for three minor league pitchers.
COL FB: Houston 34, Air Force 28
FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Case Keenum threw for a touchdown and ran for two more Wednesday in carrying Houston to a 34-28 victory over Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Report: Petty, Evernham to merge next week
GREENSBORO, N.C., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The deal finalizing the merger between Petty Enterprises with Gillett Evernham Motorsports will be announced next week, Fox Sports reported Wednesday.
Missing Canadian snowboarder found alive
NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A 21-year-old snowboarder survived three nights on a Canadian mountain before being found Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.
Giants' Spagnuolo Would Be Perfect Fit As Jets' Coach
Another day, another year, another kick in the teeth for
NHL: N.Y. Islanders 4, Florida 2
UNIONDALE, N.Y., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Mike Comrie scored twice in a three-goal second period Wednesday, keying the New York Islanders' 4-2 victory against the Florida Panthers.
NBA: Detroit 83, New Jersey 75
DETROIT, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Allen Iverson's 19 points, four rebounds and four assists Wednesday led Detroit to an 83-75 win over the New Jersey Nets.
NBA: Orlando 113, Chicago 94
CHICAGO, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Rashard Lewis scored 11 of his 21 points in the first period Wednesday, fueling Orlando's 113-94 rout of Chicago.
Angels replace Rodriguez with Fuentes
ANAHEIM, Calif., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Angels filled their closer's role Wednesday by signing free-agent left-hander Brian Fuentes to a two-year contract.
COL BKC: Pittsburgh 78, Rutgers 72
PISCATAWAY, N.J., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Sam Young's team-high 18 points Wednesday helped rally third-ranked Pittsburgh to a 78-72 win over Rutgers in the Big East opener for both schools.
COL BKB: Wisconsin 73, Michigan 61
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Marcus Landry and Trevon Hughes both scored 16 points Wednesday to lead Wisconsin's 73-61 win over No. 24 Michigan in the Big Ten opener for both schools.
Michael Turner leads NFC players
NEW YORK, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner is the NFC offensive player of the week for the NFL's last regular season contests in 2008.
Pennington earns AFC player honor
NEW YORK, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Miami quarterback Chad Pennington was the season's final AFC offensive player of the week Wednesday.
Jets confirm Cowher not coaching candidate
NEW YORK, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The New York Jets say former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher is not interested in becoming the Jets' coach next season.
Bobby Tolan's son shot by police
BELLAIRE, Texas, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The son of former Cincinnati Reds baseball star Bobby Tolan was hospitalized Wednesday after a police shooting, officials said.
Police cleared of attack on Packer's dad
HOUSTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Three Houston police officers have been cleared of assaulting the father of Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver during a traffic stop.
Charles Barkley cited for drunken driving
PHOENIX, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Police in suburban Phoenix said they cited former basketball star Charles Barkley with drunken driving early Wednesday.
The Gazette, Colorado Springs, Colo., David Ramsey Column: Two-Time Super Bowl Winner is Let Go
Dec. 31--Pat Bowlen has been blessed with two of the finest coaches in NFL history.
Resorts work to counter avalanches
SEATTLE, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Three of the nine U.S. avalanche deaths during the past 17 days have been on patrolled slopes, prompting forecasters to call condition of the snow pack dicey.
Heat Gets to Party at Home: The Miami Heat Spoiled LeBron James' 24th Birthday As Dwyane Wade Played the Role of Facilitator to Near-Perfection.
Dec. 31--When it comes to gift-giving, Dwyane Wade lacks originality.
COL FB: Rice 38, Western Michigan 14
HOUSTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Chase Clement threw for 307 yards and three scores Tuesday as Rice pounded Western Michigan 38-14 in the Texas Bowl for its first bowl win in 54 years.
NBA: Portland 91, Boston 86
PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Steve Blake scored 21 points and the Portland Trail Blazers hit their foul shots in the final minute Tuesday to seal a 91-86 win over the Boston Celtics.
COL FB: Oregon 42, Oklahoma State 31
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Jeremiah Masoli's four touchdowns Tuesday carried the Oregon Ducks to a 42-31 comeback victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Holiday Bowl.
NHL: Ottawa 3, Edmonton 2
EDMONTON, Alberta, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Brian Lee scored his first NHL goal on the power play in the third period Tuesday, lifting the Ottawa Senators to a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
Sacramento 92, LA Clippers 90
SACRAMENTO, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The Sacramento Kings used 20 points from Kevin Martin Tuesday to build up a big early lead over the LA Clippers and then fought them off for a 92-90 win.
NHL: Philadelphia 3, Vancouver 2
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Jonathon Kalinski's first NHL goal in the second period proved the game-winner Tuesday in Philadelphia's 3-2 victory over Vancouver.
Tuesday, December 30
NHL: New Jersey 4, St. Louis 3
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Zach Parise scored twice and Jay Pandolfo made the winning goal late in the third period Tuesday, powering New Jersey over St. Louis 4-3.
Mavericks Get Second Wind for Record Win
DALLAS -- The Mavericks took the expressway from aweful to
NBA: Dallas 107, Minnesota 100
DALLAS, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Jason Terry scored 29 points Tuesday and Dallas came back from 29 points down in the third quarter to beat Minnesota 107-100.
COL BKB: Wake Forest 83, Radford 61
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Jeff Teague had 19 points Tuesday in sixth-ranked Wake Forest's 83-61 victory over Radford.
NBA: Milwaukee 100, San Antonio 98
SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Michael Redd had 25 points and 10 rebounds, including the final play of the game, Tuesday securing Milwaukee's 100-98 win over San Antonio.
NHL: Toronto 4, Atlanta 3 (OT)
TORONTO, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Pavel Kubina's power-play goal 33 seconds into overtime Tuesday produced a 4-3 Toronto victory over Atlanta.
NBA: Phoenix 101, Memphis 89
MEMPHIS, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Leandro Barbosa scored 11 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter Tuesday and Phoenix closed with a 25-5 run in a 101-89 win over Memphis Grizzlies.
NBA: New Orleans 97, Washington 85
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Chris Paul's triple-double Tuesday carried the New Orleans Hornets past the Washington Wizards 97-85.
NBA: Miami 104, Cleveland 95
MIAMI, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Miami, led by Dwyane Wade's 21 points and 12 assists, spoiled LeBron James' 24th birthday Tuesday with a 104-95 win over Cleveland.
COL BKB: Arkansas 96, Oklahoma 88
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Arkansas nearly blew a big early lead but Michael Washington's 24 points Tuesday helped the Razorbacks hold on for a 96-88 upset of No. 4 Oklahoma.
NHL: Montreal 2, Tampa Bay 1 (SO)
TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- After both clubs scored in the first round of the extra period, Montreal goalie Carey Price blocked a shot by Vaclav Prospal, who scored in regulation for the Lightning. Lapierre then fired a shot into the top right corner before Price, who had 21 saves, stopped Tampa Bay captain Vincent Lecavalier ...
NHL: Boston 5, Pittsburgh 2
PITTSBURGH, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Boston used a goal and two assists each from Marc Savard and Dennis Wideman to knock off Pittsburgh 5-2 Tuesday for its first nine-game win streak in 25 years.
NHL: Detroit 4, Chicago 0
DETROIT, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Ty Conklin made 36 saves in his third shutout of the season Tuesday to give the Detroit Red Wings a 4-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
NBA: New York 93, Charlotte 89
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Wilson Chandler had 19 points and Chris Duhon 15 Tuesday, helping the New York Knicks staunch a six-game losing streak with a 93-89 win over Charlotte.
COL BKB: Illinois 71, Purdue 67 (OT)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The Illinois Fighting Illini used a balanced attack led by Mike Tisdale's 18 points Tuesday to upset the 11th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers 71-67 in overtime.
Jets Mull Coaching Options
Tuesday started with the report that Bill Cowher wasn't interested in coaching the Jets because of concerns about their front office structure.
NBA: Atlanta 110, Indiana 104
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Joe Johnson scored 12 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter Tuesday to help the Atlanta Hawks post a 110-104 win over the Indiana Pacers.
NHL: Washington 4, Buffalo 2
BUFFALO, N.Y., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Jose Theodore made 31 saves Tuesday to pace the Washington Capitals' 4-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
COL BKB: Syracuse 100, Seton Hall 76
SYRACUSE, N.Y., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Andy Rautins hit 7-of-10 three-pointers and scored 26 points Tuesday, sparking 11th-ranked Syracuse to a 100-76 win over Seton Hall.
COL BKB: Clemson 98, South Carolina 87
COLUMBIA, S.C., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Terrence Oglesby's 25 points Tuesday carried the 16th-ranked Clemson Tigers to a 98-87 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Black hockey star Willie O'Ree honored
OTTAWA, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Willie O'Ree, the first black player in the National Hockey League, was honored Tuesday with admission to the Order of Canada.
Snowboarder missing in Canada
NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A 21-year-old snowboarder was still missing on Canada's Mount Seymour Tuesday, four days after authorities believe he set out for the slopes.
COL FB: Maryland 42, Nevada 35
BOISE, Idaho, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Da'Rel Scott ran for 174 yards and two TDs in the second half Tuesday lifting Maryland to a 42-35 win over Nevada in the Humanitarian Bowl.
Utah's Carlos Boozer to have knee surgery
SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer said Tuesday he will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee next week and be out of action indefinitely.
Cops cleared in alleged Driver beating
HOUSTON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Three Houston police officers have been cleared of wrongdoing in the alleged beating of Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver's father.
49ers Fire Offensive Coordinator Martz
Mike Martz was officially dismissed Tuesday, sending the 49ers on a search for their seventh offensive coordinator in seven seasons.
Denver Broncos fire Coach Shanahan
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Denver Coach Mike Shanahan was fired Tuesday, two days after the Broncos missed the playoffs for the third straight season.
49ers fire offense coordinator Mike Martz
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The San Francisco 49ers have fired offensive coordinator Mike Martz, Coach Mike Singletary announced Tuesday.
UM Quarterback Robert Marve Released From Scholarship
Dec. 30--CORAL GABLES -- University of Miami quarterback Robert Marve was granted a release from his scholarship Tuesday, but his father said UM coach Randy |