IN BRIEF

BASKETBALL

Galena's Babbitt named All-American by Parade

Postseason honors continue to pile up for Galena star Luke Babbitt.

The future UNR player was named an All-American by Parade magazine Friday.

Parade's selection of the nation's top 40 high school basketball players will be published in its April 6 issue.

Babbitt earlier was named a McDonald's All-American. He scored four points in the McDonald's game in Milwaukee this week and was second in the 3-point contest.

Babbitt averaged nearly 30 points and more than 12 rebounds a game during his senior season at Galena.

Also: Texas Christian is set to hire Kent State's Jim Christian as its new coach.

A person with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed that TCU had reached an agreement with Christian. That person spoke on condition of anonymity.

Christian is expected to be introduced during a news conference at TCU today.

Christian was 138-58 at Kent State the past six seasons.

Charlotte coach Bobby Lutz received a five-year contract extension that will keep him at the school through the 2012-13 season.

HOCKEY

Canadiens regain lead in Eastern Conference

Christopher Higgins scored 3:38 into overtime, capping Montreal's rally from a two-goal deficit and giving the Canadiens a 4-3 road win over Buffalo.

Montreal regained the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens lead Pittsburgh by one point.

Also: Tuomo Ruutu and Jeff Hamilton each scored two of Carolina's five power-play goals as the Hurricanes routed Atlanta 7-1 in Raleigh, N.C., to move closer to clinching the Southeast Division title.

The Hurricanes extended their division lead over idle Washington to four points with four games left.

Brian Boucher made 23 saves as the San Jose Sharks wrapped up the Pacific Division title with a 3-1 road victory over the defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks.

Tampa Bay Lightning coach John Tortorella will coach Team USA in the world championships in May in Quebec and Nova Scotia.

The Wranglers beat the Fresno Falcons 3-2 in an ECHL game in Fresno, Calif.

Bruce Mulherin, Kelly Czuy and Aki Seitsonen scored, and goalie Daniel Manzato made 29 saves for Las Vegas (45-12-12).

MISCELLANEOUS

Colorado Springs aims to keep USOC in city

Colorado Springs, Colo., has proposed a $53 million deal aimed at keeping the U.S. Olympic Committee headquarters in the city.

The proposal, first reported by The Gazette newspaper in Colorado Springs, would give the USOC a new headquarters building, renovations to an existing building and 158 new housing units for athletes at the Olympic Training Center.

The City Council scheduled a special meeting for Monday to formalize the agreement.

Also: Soccer star Romario announced his retirement, ending two decades at the pinnacle of Brazil's national sport.

Romario, 42, led Brazil to its fourth World Cup title in 1994, when he was named FIFA's player of the year.

Curlin is ready to defend his Horse of the Year title today against the rest of the world in the Dubai World Cup in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Curlin will take on 12 challengers in the $6 million race. He enters the world's richest race having won his last three races.

Sherdrick Bonner threw five touchdown passes to help the Chicago Rush beat the Arizona Rattlers 59-35 in an Arena Football League game in Rosemont, Ill.