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:
__ No. 5 Wisconsin built a big lead early and then held off Nebraska’s late comeback bid for a 65-55 victory. The Badgers are 22-2 overall and 10-1 in the Big Ten. Sam Dekker matched his career high with 21.
__ Wayne Selden Jr. scored 16 points and No. 8 Kansas shot well from 3-point range, beating Texas Tech 73-51. The Jayhawks were 11 of 20 from beyond the arc.
— 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.
__ No. 24 Arkansas overwhelmed Auburn 101-87. Bobby Portis had 22 points and eight rebounds for the Razorbacks, who are 19-5.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Tarkanian “very critical”
UNDATED (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
Harden pops another 40…Lawson’s huge night helps Nuggets end slide.
UNDATED (AP) — James Harden scored 20 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter and the Houston Rockets pulled away to beat the Phoenix Suns 127-118. Harden scored 45 in a loss to Portland on Sunday and has six games of 40-plus points. Josh Smith added 20 for the Rockets, who’ve won seven of nine. Harden leads the NBA by scoring at least 40 points on six occasions.
In other NBA:
— Pau Gasol (pow gah-SAWL’) continues to be a force inside for the Chicago Bulls. Gasol continued 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.
__ 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.
__ And in the final game of the night, the Denver Nuggets snapped their six-game losing streak by beating the L.A. Lakers 106-96. Ty Lawson had a huge night for the Nuggets, scoring 16 of his game-high 32 points in the fourth quarter. Lawson also dished out 16 assists.
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
Predators continue hot streak
UNDATED (AP) — On NHL ice, James Neal scored at 4:27 of overtime to give the Nashville Predators a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Seth Jones and Taylor Beck also scored for Nashville, which has three straight and five of its past six.
In other hockey:
__ The New York Rangers continue to hum even with first-string goalie Henrik Lundqvist out with a vascular 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. It was his second goal of the game. The Leafs have lost 12 of 13.
— Dustin Byfuglien (BUHF’-lihn) scored on a breakaway at 4:00 of overtime and the Winnipeg Jets ended the Minnesota Wild’s six-game winning streak, 2-1.
— Dmitrij Jaskin got the go-ahead goal for the second time in four games, and the St. Louis Blues beat the Arizona Coyotes 2-1.
__ 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 yesterday.
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.
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.
