CELTICS-HORNETS
Bradley scores 30, Celtics defeat Hornets 116-104
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Avery Bradley had 30 points and eight rebounds, and the Boston Celtics beat the Charlotte Hornets 116-104 on Monday night for an important Eastern Conference victory.
Evan Turner added 15 points, while Jae Crowder and Marcus Smart each had 14 as the Celtics won for the 10th time in the last 16 games.
Boston moved back into eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings, a few percentage points ahead of Brooklyn in the battle for the final playoff spot.
Kemba Walker led a furious fourth-quarter comeback that fell short, finishing with 28 points and 12 assists. Gerald Henderson added 17 points for Charlotte, which has dropped four of its last five games.
PANTHERS-MOVES
Panthers sign RB/KR Todman from the Jaguars
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β The Panthers announced they’ve signed free agent running back/kick returner Jordan Todman from the Jacksonville Jaguars to a one-year contract.
Financial details were not released Monday.
Todman, 25, has spent the last three seasons with the Jaguars. He played in all 16 games in 2014, carrying 32 times for 186 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown. He also caught 25 passes for 198 yards with a 23-yard score.
He could contribute on special teams, too.
Todman was Jacksonville’s primary kickoff returner, averaging 25.6 yards on 38 returns and was tied for second on the team with seven special teams tackles.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera says Todman bring “versatility” at running back and “has some return skills. We are always looking to be good in that area.”
NCAA-FINAL FOUR LOOKAHEAD
Four No. 1 seeds in the women’s Final Four
UNDATED (AP) – The women’s Final Four will have a familiar feel to it with three of last year’s teams back in the national semifinals.
No. 1 seeds UConn, Notre Dame and Maryland all return to the Final Four while South Carolina is making its first appearance. It’s the third time in the history of the Final Four that all four of the top seeds made it this far. It also happened in 1989 and 2012.
The Huskies will be trying for their third straight national championship and 10th overall which would move Geno Auriemma into a tie with vaunted UCLA men’s coach John Wooden for the most all-time.
UConn will face Maryland and Notre Dame plays South Carolina on Sunday in Tampa, Florida. Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley will become the second person to both play and coach in the Final Four, joining Baylor’s Kim Mulkey.
CITADEL-BAUCOM
Citadel names VMI’s Baucom its new men’s basketball coach
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) β Former VMI head coach Duggar Baucom is taking over Citadel men’s basketball team.
Citadel athletic director Jim Senter announced Baucom’s hiring on Monday.
Baucom spent the past 10 seasons with the Keydets, leaving with a 151-159 mark at the military college. He is VMI’s all-time leader in wins and posted two 20-win seasons during his time at the school. The Keydets went 11-19 this past season.
VMI led the NCAA in scoring six times in Baucom’s tenure, including five straight seasons from 2006 to 2010. Baucom coached the country’s leading individual scorer, Reggie Williams, in the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
Baucom takes over for Chuck Driesell, whose contract was not renewed after five losing seasons.
NCAA TOURNAMENT-RATINGS
NCAA Tournament ratings score with Duke-Gonzaga game
NEW YORK (AP) β The Duke-Gonzaga game on CBS drew the best overnight rating in 10 years for a Sunday NCAA Tournament regional final.
The network announced Monday the 9.9 overnight rating.
The Elite Eight doubleheader, including the Louisville-Michigan State game, averaged an 8.6 overnight rating/18 share, a 10 percent increase from last year.
Through the Elite Eight, the NCAA Tournament is averaging 7.2/15 across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV. That’s an 11 percent boost through the same period last year.
NORTH CAROLINA-MCRATH
Ex-Titans LB Gerald McRath resigns at UNC after DWI arrest
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) β A former Tennessee Titans linebacker recently hired as a graduate assistant at North Carolina has resigned after his arrest on a charge of driving while impaired.
Gerald McRath said in a statement Monday that he apologized for his actions “and for bringing negative publicity and attention” to the school and its football program. He says he is stepping down to “move forward with my career.”
Durham County police records indicate McRath was arrested early Monday morning and charged with driving while impaired. He was released on $1,500 bond and was given an April 20 court date.
McRath played for coach Larry Fedora at Southern Mississippi and spent 2009-12 with the Titans. UNC hired him earlier this year after he spent 2014 as a defensive quality control coach at Southern Miss.
