In Brief

COLLEGE ATHLETICS

Ault, UNR agree to two-year
extension through '15 season

UNR football coach Chris Ault agreed to a two-year extension that will bring his salary to $535,000 by 2015. That's about half the average salary in the Mountain West Conference, where he'll begin his 28th season coaching the Wolf Pack next season.

Athletic director Cary Groth announced the deal Thursday, subject to approval of the state regents. She said they are fortunate to have him as they transition out of the Western Athletic Conference.

Ault forfeited a salary increase and took a voluntary pay cut last year.

Ault boasts a career record of 223-106-1 in 27 seasons at UNR and is the only active coach in the College Football Hall of Fame.

"I believe the history of our program has been enduring and sustaining ..." Ault said. "With our move into the Mountain West, these are truly exciting times loaded with challenges that will surely test our resolve. Change is inevitable, growth paramount and I'm looking forward to it."

Also: Some fans no longer will be able to watch every NCAA men's basketball tournament game online for free.

The model for streaming March Madness will change this year, Turner, CBS and the NCAA announced. Games aired on CBS still will be free through the network's website. Most, but not all, viewers who get TBS, TNT and truTV on their cable or satellite systems will be able to watch games aired on those channels online at no cost.

Fans can also pay $3.99 to see every game on multiple platforms -- online, mobile and tablet.

About 77 million households will be able to watch the Turner channels for free online through a process called authentication. That's out of the 100 million that get TBS and TNT, which are available in around 87 percent of American homes with televisions.

Dannielle Diamant, the granddaughter of former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, had 19 points and eight rebounds to lead Northwestern to a 63-51 upset of No. 16 Nebraska in a women's game in Lincoln, Neb.

UNLV football will debut at home on a Thursday for the first time in 30 years with the Rebels' season-opening game this fall against Minnesota being been moved to Aug. 30.

Kickoff time and TV information is yet to be determined.

The only other time UNLV opened its season at home on a Thursday was on Sept. 2, 1982, against Brigham Young in a game that was televised by what was then known as WTBS.

The UNLV men's golf team slipped two spots to fifth place after the second round of the 18-team John Burns Intercollegiate at Turtle Bay Resorts' Arnold Palmer Course in Kahuku, Hawaii.

The Rebels shot 3-over-par 291 for a two-day total of 7-under 569 to trail leader California (20-under 556) by 13 strokes. Southern Methodist (16 under) was second, followed by New Mexico (10 under), Duke (8 under) and UNLV.

The Rebels' Kevin Penner was tied for ninth at 4-under 140 after a 1-over 73. He trailed co-leaders Sam Fidone of SMU and Julian Suri of Duke, who were at 9-under 135.

The UNLV men's swimming and diving team was in third place after the second day of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships in Monterey Park, Calif.

Wyoming led with 243 points, followed by Brigham Young (213) and UNLV (208) in the nine-team field.

The Rebels posted one victory, in the 400-yard medley relay. Coleman Allen, David Szele, Cody Roberts and Steven Nelms set a meet record time of 3 minutes, 14.29 seconds.

Amanda Oliveto pitched her third career no-hitter in one-plus seasons, and the lone run scored on a four-base error as the UNLV softball team beat Memphis 1-0 in a Desert Classic game at Eller Media Stadium.

Oliveto (2-1) walked one and struck out five to help UNLV improve to 3-2.

UNLV scored in the fourth inning when Taylor Aleman circled the bases after her fly ball to deep right field was dropped and rolled into foul territory.

PRO FOOTBALL

Bills, receiver Johnson back
to working on new contract

The Buffalo Bills haven't given up on re-signing Stevie Johnson before the receiver is eligible to become a free agent next month.

A person familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press the two sides exchanged offers over the past week and plan to meet again at the NFL combine in Indianapolis next week.

The exchange of offers is the first indication that contract talks have resumed since the two sides broke off discussions in November.

In completing the final year of his contract, Johnson became Buffalo's first receiver to have consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. He led the Bills for a second straight year with 76 catches for 1,004 yards and seven touchdowns.

Also: The Minnesota Vikings need wide receivers. Just not Randy Moss.

Given the trouble he caused during his second stint with the team, a memorable month in the 2010 season, the disinterest in bringing back one of the most popular players among Vikings fans in franchise history comes as no surprise.

But general manager Rick Spielman confirmed the Vikings "will be moving on" without Moss. The 35-year-old Moss didn't play last season, but he announced this week he plans to return to the NFL, assuming a team will have him.

The Denver Broncos signed free-agent wide receiver Jason Hill.

The sixth-year pro has played for Jacksonville and San Francisco. He has 76 career catches for 1,028 yards and eight touchdowns in 50 career games.

Baltimore County Police said former Ravens wide receiver Jermaine Lewis was arrested after police saw him driving with his 4-year-old son unrestrained in the front seat of his car.

Lewis was also cited for driving while suspended and driving while revoked.

MISCELLANEOUS

Baseball salaries in arbitration
show lowest increase since '07

With pitcher Gio Gonzalez getting the steepest increase, the overall rise of salaries for players in arbitration slowed to its lowest level since 2007.

The 142 players who filed for arbitration last month averaged a 112 percent increase, according to a study of agreements by The Associated Press. That was down from an average jump of 123 percent last year and was the lowest increase since a 106 percent rise in 2007.

Gonzalez, acquired by Washington from the Oakland Athletics, received a 20-fold increase from $420,000 to an average of $8.4 million in a $42 million, five-year contract with the Nationals.

Also: Outfielder Garrett Jones lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the final salary arbitration of the year.

Jones was awarded the team's offer of a $2.25 million salary rather than his request of $2.5 million. He hit .243 with 30 doubles, 16 homers and 58 RBIs last year, when he made $455,500.

Right-hander Ramon Ortiz agreed to a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.

The 38-year-old went 1-2 with a 4.86 ERA in 22 appearances with two starts last year for the Chicago Cubs in his 11th major league season. He will join his eighth team.

Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao will need at least one month to recover from his broken wrist.

Varejao sustained a nondisplaced fracture to his right wrist Feb. 10 against Milwaukee. Cavs coach Byron Scott said Varejao will need four to six weeks to recover, and at this point, surgery is not necessary. The 6-foot-11-inch Varejao was playing at an All-Star level for the Cavs, averaging 10.8 points and 11.5 rebounds, including 4.4 on the offensive end.

Ai Miyazato shot a 5-under-par 67 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the LPGA Thailand in Pattaya.

Third-ranked Na Yeon Choi, Se Ri Pak, Amy Yang, Anna Nordqvist and Karrie Webb were one shot behind.

American Paula Creamer had a hole-in-one on the 146-yard 12th hole, hitting a 7-iron that one-hopped into the cup. She's five shots behind the leader.

Alejandro Canizares of Spain and Peter Whiteford of Scotland each shot a 6-under 66 to share the lead after the first round of the Avantha Masters in New Delhi.

American John Daly, who shot a 7-over 79, said he may have torn ligaments in his right elbow. He said on Twitter his "elbow snapped" when he played a shot on the ninth hole.