DAYTON, Ohio (AP) - Western Kentucky and BYU had to mount impressive comebacks to advance to the second round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. The Hilltoppers earned the right to face top seed Kentucky by storming back from 16-point deficit in the final five minutes to beat Mississippi Valley State 59-58. The Cougars trailed by 25 points before downing Iona 78-72 to set up a BYU-Marquette matchup.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - Top seed Syracuse will be without one of its top players for the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Seven-foot center Fab Melo has been declared ineligible for the tournament, although university officials wouldn't elaborate on the infraction. Melo averaged 7.8 points and 5.8 rebounds while recording 88 blocks this season.
UNDATED (AP) - Two college basketball coaches were shown the door yesterday. SMU has fired Matt Doherty after going 80-109 in six seasons with the Mustangs, including a 13-19 mark this year. And Darrin Horn has been dismissed following four seasons and a 60-63 mark at South Carolina. The Gamecocks went 2-14 against SEC opponents this year.
MILWAUKEE (AP) - The Milwaukee Bucks have acquired guard Monta (MAHN'-tay) Ellis, forward Ekpe Udoh (EHK'-pay OO'-doh) and Kwame (KWAH'-mee) Brown from Golden State for center Andrew Bogut (BOH'-guht) and forward Stephen Jackson, according to a person with direct knowledge of the swap. The trade gives the Bucks another shooter in Ellis after they pulled even with New York in the battle for the NBA's final Eastern Conference berth. Ellis is averaging 19 points and six assists this season, his seventh in the NBA.
UNDATED (AP) - The Indianapolis Colts lost one wide receiver and kept another on the first day of the NFL's free-agent signing period. Reggie Wayne agreed to a contract with the Colts after Pierre Garcon left the team for a reported five-year contract with Washington. The Redskins also worked out a deal with receiver Josh Morgan, wideout Marques Colston re-signed with New Orleans and the Chicago Bears acquired wide receiver Brandon Marshall from Miami for two undisclosed draft picks.
