T25-SCHEDULE Wildcats 24-0 after winning squeaker in Baton Rouge
UNDATED (AP) — Another night, another close road victory for Kentucky, which remains the only undefeated Division I men’s team in the country.
Willie Cauley-Stein scored 15 points and top-ranked Kentucky stayed unbeaten with another tough road win, 71-69 over LSU when the Tigers missed a 3-pointer that could have won it at the buzzer.
Devin Booker added 14 and Andrew Harrison had 13 for the 24-0 Wildcats, who are 11-0 Southeastern Conference. Kentucky can tie a school record for the best start to a season by winning at home on Saturday against South Carolina.
In other AP top-25 hoops:
— Jerian Grant scored 22 points and Demetrius Jackson hit the tying and go-ahead baskets as No. 10 Notre Dame outlasted Clemson 60-58. The Irish, who are 22-4 overall, overcame a four-point deficit down the stretch to improve to 10-3 in the ACC.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Tarkanian “very critical”
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A family member says Hall of Fame basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian remains hospitalized in very critical condition in Las Vegas, with family members at his side.
A son-in-law, Dr. Zafi Diamant, said the 84-year-old Tarkanian was fighting a respiratory ailment and infection for which he was taken by ambulance to a hospital Monday.
Son Danny Tarkanian characterized his father’s condition as “minute by minute.” He said earlier that doctors were trying to stabilize his father’s condition and identify the infection.
Tarkanian led three schools to the NCAA tournament, including the 1990 Nevada Las Vegas team that won a national title.
NBA-SCHEDULE
Gasol’s 26 and 16 leads Bulls over Kings
UNDATED (AP) — — Pau Gasol (pow gah-SAWL’) continues to be a force inside for the Chicago Bulls. Gasol his strong play with 26 points and 16 rebounds, Tony Snell had a career-high 24 and Derrick Rose added 23 to lead the Bulls to a 104-86 rout of the Sacramento Kings. It was Gasol’s NBA-best 34th double-double of the season, and his 13th straight.
Snell was 9 for 11 from the field, including 4 for 6 on 3-pointers. The Kings have dropped 12 of 14.
In other NBA:
__ Zach Randolph had 19 points, Marc Gasol (gah-SAWL’) added 14 and 11 rebounds and the Memphis Grizzlies ruined the return of former coach Lionel Hollins with a 95-86 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. The Grizzlies have won 14 of 16.
__ Detroit mauled Charlotte 106-78. Greg Monroe led the Pistons with 23 points and 12 boards.
NBA-ALL-STAR GAME
Wade out, Korver in for All-Star Game
MIAMI (AP) — Dwyane (dwayn) Wade has backed out of Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game. The Miami guard has missed his team’s last six games with a hamstring injury and says he needs the time off to get better.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver revealed that Atlanta’s Kyle Korver will be Wade’s replacement on the Eastern Conference roster. Wade said he thought Milwaukee’s Brandon Knight, who was born in Miami, would have been a fitting choice.
Korver, who was All-Star weekend bound anyway for the 3-point contest, is the record-tying fourth Atlanta player on the East roster. The Hawks are the runaway leaders in the East.
Wade will still go to New York for All-Star weekend, with a number of events planned with business partners.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Rangers keep Leafs on the skids
UNDATED (AP) — On NHL ice, the New York Rangers continue to hum even with first-string goalie Henrik Lundqvist out with an eye injury. Backup Cam Talbot made 30 saves and Mats Zuccarello scored the game-winning goal with 5:56 left to give the Rangers a 5-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In other hockey:
__ Casey Cizikas snapped a third-period tie with 4:37 left, and the New York Islanders pulled out a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
__ Montreal nipped Philadelphia 2-1 in overtime. David Desharnais (day-har-NAY’) won it with a goal with 1:33 left in OT. The Habs have won three straight.
__ Jamie Benn and Trevor Daley scored two goals apiece, and Kari Lehtonen (LAY’-tih-nehn) stopped 41 shots for the Dallas Stars in a 5-3 win over the Boston Bruins.
— Roberto Luongo made 31 saves and the Florida Panthers got goals from six players in a 6-2 win over Anaheim.
__ Milan Michalek (MEE’-lahn muh-KAHL’-ihk) scored at 12:15 of the third period and Robin Lehner made 35 saves and the Ottawa Senators beat the Buffalo Sabres 2-1.
MLB-YANKEES-RODRIGUEZ APOLOGY
A-Rod’s sorry
NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Rodriguez has met with Yankees officials and apologized to the team following his season-long suspension for violating baseball’s drug agreement and labor contract.
Rodriguez is preparing to report to spring training.
The team says in a statement that the 39-year-old met at Yankee Stadium with owner Hal Steinbrenner, team president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman and assistant general manager Jean Afterman.
A joint statement issued by the team said “Alex initiated the meeting and apologized to the organization for his actions over the past several years.”
MLB-NEWS
Bucs loses in arbitration… Good news for Motown fans
UNDATED (AP) — Pitcher Vance Worley has beaten the Pittsburgh Pirates in arbitration and will earn a $2.45 million salary this year rather than the team’s offer of $2 million. The 27-year-old right-hander was 8-4 with a 2.85 ERA last year in 17 starts and one relief appearance. He made $527,500.
Owners have won three of five decisions, including the Pirates’ victory over second baseman Neil Walker, who will earn $8 million instead of his $9 million request.
In other baseball:
— Victor Martinez has undergone surgery on his left knee and is expected to be ready for the start of the season. The Tigers say their designated hitter should resume full activity in 4-6 weeks. Martinez injured the knee during offseason workouts.
NFL-SEAHAWKS-SHERMAN
No surgery for Sherman
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman says he will not have surgery on his injured left elbow and will let the ligament damage heal on its own. Sherman suffered the injury in the NFC championship game, but competed in the Super Bowl without a brace on the elbow.
It was initially feared that Sherman would need Tommy John surgery to repair the damage.
Sherman had three tackles in the Super Bowl.
NFL-BRADY-MVP TRUCK-BUTLER
Butler gets MVP truck
NORWOOD, Mass. (AP) — New England cornerback Malcolm Butler has his hands on Tom Brady’s new truck.
Brady earned the prize for winning the Super Bowl MVP for the third time. But he said he would give it to Butler, the undrafted rookie whose goal line interception in the final minute sealed the Patriots win over Seattle.
Butler took delivery of the shiny red truck at a Boston-area dealership on Tuesday afternoon.
NFL/NBA
Owner of Saints and Pelicans faces exam
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson says he wants to undergo a court-ordered mental competency evaluation as soon as possible.
A New Orleans judge has ruled that Benson must undergo a physical and mental exam by three physicians as family members fight for control of the two sports franchises.
Benson’s daughter, Renee, and her children want the 87-year-old Benson declared incapable of handling his affairs. They filed suit in January after they were removed from Benson’s succession plan for his teams.
NFL-DORSETT
Hall of Famer questions career
DALLAS (AP) — Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett (dohr-SET’) says he started playing football “not knowing that the end was going to be like this.” Dorsett is battling with a condition caused by head trauma that can lead to dementia and depression. The former Heisman Trophy winner at Pittsburgh and Super Bowl champion with the Dallas Cowboys was diagnosed in 2013 as having signs of a degenerative brain condition.
Dorsett told Dallas-area radio station KTCK-AM 1310 last week that he loves football and it was “good to me,” despite the diagnosis.
GOLF-McGINLEY
Clubs, Ryder Cup items stolen at Pebble Beach
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley had his golf clubs and some Ryder Cup mementos stolen in a smash-and-grab not long after arriving for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that McGinley went from the airport to Ocean Beach to get some fresh air and have lunch. When he returned to his SUV outside the restaurant, he was startled to see the back window shattered.
GOLF
Women gain entrance to St. Andrews
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — Swedish golf great Annika Sorenstam and Britain’s Princess Anne are among the first seven women admitted to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St. Andrews, Scotland. The club voted in September to end 260 years of male-only exclusivity by voting in favor of inviting women to join.
Sorenstam is a 10-time major champion. Princess Anne competed in equestrian for Britain at the 1976 Olympics and is an IOC member.
