KWBG Sports for March 9th

 CHICAGO (AP) - Dwight Howard had 29 points and 18 rebounds to lead the Orlando Magic to a 99-94 win over the Bulls,, snapping Chicago's eight-game winning streak. Carlos  Boozer led the Bulls with 26 points and Derrick Rose added 17 points and nine assists, but shot just 6 for 22 from the field.

     LOS ANGELES (AP) - After four years spent patiently rebuilding Oregon State's program from its foundations, coach Craig Robinson is two wins away from forcing President Barack Obama to predict his brother-in-law's fortunes in his NCAA tournament bracket.  Robinson's Beavers survived a spine-chilling finish to outlast top-seeded Washington 86-84 and will play fourth seed Arizona in Friday's Pac-12 tournament semifinals.

     NEW YORK (AP) - Kyle Kuric scored 20 points, Peyton Siva added 18 and Louisville forced No. 9 Marquette into a season-high 26 turnovers, advancing to the Big East tournament semifinals with an 84-71 victory last night.  The unranked Cardinals held Big East Player of the Year Jae Crowder to 10 points and advanced to play Notre Dame, which outlasted South Florida 57-53 in overtime, in tonight's Big East semifinals.

     NEW YORK (AP) - In afternoon action at the Big East, second-ranked Syracuse and unranked Cincinnati won a couple of thrillers. Dion Waiters had 18 in second-ranked Syracuse's 58-55 win over Connecticut while Cincinnati's Yancy Gates scored 23 points to lead his club from 11 down in the second half to beat the 13th-ranked Georgetown Hoyas 72-70 in double overtime.

     ST. LOUIS (AP) - Patrik Berglund scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and Jaroslav Halak (YAR'-oh-slav HAH'-lak) made 24 saves for his career-high seventh straight win to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. The Blues have won seven of eight and have taken over the NHL lead with 93 points, the first time they have led the NHL in points this late in the season since 2000.

KWBG Sports for March 8th

 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Speculation already has begun concerning quarterback Peyton Manning after the four-time MVP was released by the Indianapolis Colts yesterday. Manning says he wants to play this season following a series of neck surgeries that forced him to miss all of 2011. Arizona, Miami, Seattle, Tennessee, Washington and the New York Jets all have been rumored as possible destinations.

     WASHINGTON (AP) - The NFL Players Association will conduct its own investigation of the New Orleans Saints' bounty system and has asked the league to help set up interviews with the team's coaches and front-office staff. The union issued a statement today vowing to "vigorously protect the rights of all players."  Former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has admitted to running a bounty pool of up to $50,000 over the past three seasons, rewarding players for knocking targeted opponents out of games.

     UNDATED (AP) - The NCAA men's basketball tournament will include Montana, Lehigh and LIU-Brooklyn after they won their conference tourneys yesterday. Montana downed Weber (WEE'-bur) State 85-66 to win the Big Sky tournament, Lehigh knocked off Bucknell 82-77 in the Patriot League title game and LIU took the Northeast Conference crown by beating Robert Morris 90-73.

     PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) - Yu Darvish struck out three in two scoreless innings and made a run-saving play in his spring training debut during the Texas Rangers' 6-2 win over a split squad of San Diego Padres. Pitching exclusively out of the stretch, Darvish threw 36 pitches, 26 for strikes and allowed two hits, both doubles.  The Rangers spent more than $107 million this winter to land the 6-foot-5 right-hander who was a dominant pitcher for seven years in Japan.

     NEW YORK (AP) - Temple is about to become a full-fledged member of the Big East Conference, putting its football program in the league this year and all other sports in 2013. The Owls' football team was pushed out of the conference in 2004 and was a member of the Mid-American Conference last season. The rest of the school's athletic programs were in the Atlantic 10, which will receive an exit fee of $1 million while the Mid-American Conference will get $6 million for Temple's departure.

KWBG Sports for March 7th

 UNDATED (AP) -Twelve of the 68 teams in next week's NCAA tournament are now in, including four who made the field last night. Western Kentucky won the Sun Belt title, Detroit is going out of the Horizon League, South Dakota State is the Summit League champion and Harvard is going from the Ivy League with the Crimson's first tournament berth since 1946.

     MIAMI (AP) - The Miami Heat ended their two-game slide by routing New Jersey 108-78 but star guard Dwyane (dwayn) Wade turned his right ankle, the same one that sidelined him for six games earlier this season. Nets guard Deron (DEHR'-ihn) Williams, who was coming off an NBA season-high 57-point performance Sunday night, came back to earth and was held to 16.

     BOSTON (AP) - Kevin Garnett grabbed 13 rebounds to pass Shaquille O'Neal and move into 12th on the NBA's career list, and Paul Pierce scored seven of his 30 points in overtime to lead the Boston Celtics to a 97-92 victory over the Houston Rockets.  Boston has won five straight since the All-Star break, including two in a row in overtime.

     AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) - Rodney Stuckey scored 34 points, and the Detroit Pistons overcame a tying shot by Kobe Bryant at the end of regulation to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 88-85 in overtime.  Andrew Bynum had a big night with 30 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers.

     INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - There figures to be an emotional news conference today in Indianapolis where the Colts are expected to cut ties with QB Peyton Manning, who missed the entire 2011 season with a neck injury. Manning, who turns 36 later this month, is owed a $28 million roster bonus if he remains with the Colts on Thursday.

KWBG Sports for March 6th

 UNDATED (AP) - Saint Mary's has won the West Coast Conference tournament to earn an automatic berth in the NCAA tourney, defeating 24th-ranked Gonzaga 78-74 in overtime. Virginia Commonwealth, Loyola of Maryland and Davidson also won their conference tourneys to reach the NCAAs. VCU nipped Drexel 59-56 in the Colonial Athletic Association title game, Loyola captured the MAAC (mak) crown with a 48-44 triumph over Fairfield and Davidson needed double overtime to beat Western Carolina and take the Southern Conference.

     UNDATED (AP) -Kentucky, Syracuse and Kansas are the top three teams in the AP men's basketball poll. The Wildcats picked up 63 first-place votes and the Orange claimed two after both teams improved to 30-1. North Carolina is fourth, followed by Missouri, Duke, Ohio State, Michigan State, Marquette and Michigan.

     UNDATED (AP) - St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams met with NFL investigators yesterday about the big-money bounty program he ran while holding the same position with the New Orleans Saints. An NFL investigation found Williams and between 22 and 27 defensive players on the Saints maintained a bounty system for inflicting injuries on targeted players. The investigation concluded that Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and head coach Sean Payton did nothing to prevent it, even after owner Tom Benson was alerted of the pool by the NFL last year and asked Loomis to put a stop to it.

     HOUSTON (AP) - Arian Foster has a new contract, two years after leading the NFL in rushing yards. Foster's five-year package is worth up to $43.5 million, with $20.75 million guaranteed. The undrafted Foster ran for 1,224 yards and 10 touchdowns last season after rushing for 1,616 yards in 2010.

     ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - The Buffalo Bills have signed receiver Stevie Johnson to a five-year, $36.25 million contract extension, a week before he was to become a free agent. Johnson had 76 receptions last season while becoming the first player in team history to record consecutive 1,000-yard receiving campaigns. He has 170 catches for 2,189 yards and 19 touchdowns in 48 NFL games.

KWBG Sports for March 5th

 AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Denny Hamlin had just enough fuel to reach the finish line, Kevin Harvick didn't.  Hamlin rolled to the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway Sunday after getting a strong challenge from Harvick. That challenge ended when Harvick ran out of fuel on the final lap.

     UNDATED (AP) - Ohio State, Michigan State and Michigan wound up with a share of the Big Ten regular season title on Sunday.  The tenth-ranked Buckeyes earned their share with a 72-70 road win over Michigan State, while Michigan closed out the season with a 71-65 win at Penn State.

     SEATTLE (AP) - Seattle got the kind of season they wanted from running back Marshawn Lynch and rewarded him with a new four year contract.  Lynch turned in the best season of  his career with 1204 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns.  A person with knowledge of the deal told the Associated Press it was worth $31 million dollars with $18 million guaranteed.

     BOSTON (AP) - Rajon Rondo overshadowed recent Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin in Boston's 115-111 overtime win.  Rondo turned in his second triple-double in three games with 18 points, 20 assists and a career high 17 rebounds.

     PHOENIX (AP) - The Milwaukee Brewers will likely open the regular season without right fielder Corey Hart who has a torn ligament in his right knee.  Hart will require surgery that will keep him out of action for three to four weeks.

KWBG Sports for March 2nd

 ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - There was a big comeback in the NBA last night as the Oklahoma City Thunder erased a 14-point deficit to hold on to beat the Orlando Magic 105-102. Kevin Durant scored 38 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter, and Russell Westbrook added 29.

     BOSTON (AP) - David Krejci (KRAY'-chee) completed his second career hat trick at 2:59 of overtime to give the Boston Bruins a 4-3 victory over New Jersey that finished their first season sweep of the Devils since 1985-86.  Tyler Seguin (SAY'-gihn) also scored for the defending Stanley Cup champions, who opened a three-point lead over second-place Ottawa in the Northeast Division and sent New Jersey to its fourth straight loss.

     PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) --Davis Love III shot a 6-under 64 and takes a two-shot lead into today's second round of the Honda Classic as the PGA Tour's Florida swing continues. Rory McIlroy is among eight golfers tied for second with Tiger Woods seven shots off the lead after his 1-over 71 yesterday.

     FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -Jason Varitek (VA'-rih-tek), who was the Boston Red Sox captain when they won two World Series titles, has retired at 39. He caught a record four no-hitters and played in three All-Star games and played 15 years with the Red Sox.

     NEW YORK (AP) - Negotiators for baseball players and owners still are working toward an agreement to increase the postseason field to 10 teams this season. The plan is to add a second wild-card team in each league, the two wild cards would meet in a one-game playoff with the winner advancing to the divisional playoffs.

KWBG Sports for March 1st

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Hines Ward will leave the Pittsburgh Steelers after accumulating 1,000 receptions for 12,083 yards and 85 receiving touchdowns in 14 seasons with the team. Steelers president Art Rooney II said on the team's website that Ward would be released sometime in the next two weeks. Ward helped the Steelers win two Super Bowls and three AFC championships while earning four Pro Bowl selections.

     LOS ANGELES (AP) - Sports Illustrated is reporting on its website that players and staff members from the past four UCLA basketball teams indicate that coach Ben Howland has lost control of the Bruins' program.  The report says SI spoke with more than a dozen players and staff members from those teams over the last two months and they outline a program where teammates have come to blows. It also says several players routinely used alcohol and drugs and one player intentionally injured teammates but received no punishment.

     CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard missed workouts again yesterday after a procedure Monday to remove an infection around his surgically repaired Achilles tendon. Howard had the original surgery in October and took part in workouts when camp opened. But he stopped after batting practice Saturday and left the team Monday to see the doctor who performed the original operation.

     GENOA, Italy (AP) - The U.S. men's soccer team has picked up a rare victory over a pesky soccer rival by beating Italy 1-0 in a friendly at Genoa. Clint Dempsey's goal in the 55th minute gave the Americans their first win ever over the Italians. The U.S. had been outscored 32-4 while going 0-7-3 in their previous 10 games versus Italy.

     CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - NASCAR has suspended crew chief Chad Knaus (kuh-NOWS') for six races and fined him $100,000 because Jimmie Johnson's car failed an inspection before the season-opening Daytona 500.  Johnson was docked 25 points and after his 42nd-place finish in the season opener and heads to Phoenix for this weekend's race with negative 23 points. Hendrick Motorsports says it plans to appeal the penalty, along with a six-race suspension handed to car chief Ron Malec