IN BRIEF

COLLEGES

Nebraska coach Pelini signs five-year contract

New Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini signed a five-year contract that pays $1.1 million a year, and he can earn significant bonuses for his players' achievements on the field and in the classroom.

Terms of the contract were announced Wednesday, more than seven weeks after athletic director Tom Osborne hired Pelini.

Osborne, who hired Pelini Dec. 2, said finalizing the contract was delayed because Pelini coordinated Louisiana State's defense in the BCS title game against Ohio State and had to organize recruiting for Nebraska.

The contract runs through Dec. 31, 2012. The university has the option, after the 2009 season, to give Pelini a two-year extension.

Also: UNLV's Jonas Andersson and Marina Sandback were named the Mountain West Conference men's and women's swimmers of the week.

Andersson swept all four breaststroke events and helped the Rebels' 200-yard medley team to a first- and second-place finish in the team's conference wins over Wyoming and Air Force last weekend.

Sandback won all four of her individual events and swam on four first-place relay teams in wins over Wyoming, New Mexico and Air Force.

Southern California freshman basketball standout O.J. Mayo might have violated an NCAA rule by accepting free tickets to Monday's NBA game between Denver and the Los Angeles Lakers from Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony.

Mayo told reporters Tuesday he had received the tickets, which were located behind courtside seats near midcourt at Staples Center and had a face value of $230 each.

Former Ball State basketball coach Ronny Thompson will get $200,000 as part of his settlement with the university.

Thompson resigned in July amid allegations of racial harassment.

HOCKEY

Wranglers' Ferraro keys ECHL All-Star Game win

Las Vegas Wranglers wing Peter Ferraro had two goals and three assists, and Victoria center Ash Goldie had three goals and three assists to lead the National Conference to a 10-7 win over the American Conference in the ECHL All-Star Game in Stockton, Calif.

Wranglers goalie Daniel Manzato was credited with the win despite allowing a team-high four goals on 15 shots in the third period.

Also: Atlanta forward Ilya Kovalchuk was suspended for one game without pay by the NHL for a hit from behind on Rangers defenseman Michal Rozsival, keeping the Thrashers star out of the rematch tonight in New York.

Kovalchuk was ejected late in the first period Tuesday after he drove Rozsival into the boards from behind after elbowing him earlier in the Rangers' 4-0 victory.

MISCELLANEOUS

McLaughlin, Brubaker first in figure skating

Reigning junior world champions Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker edged former champions Rena Inoue and John Baldwin Jr. to win the short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Paul, Minn.

McLaughlin and Brubaker's score of 66.54 points put them 1.3 points ahead of Inoue and Baldwin going into the free skate Saturday.

Four-time champs Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto took first in the compulsory dance round with 41.86 points, 1.27 points ahead of Meryl Davis and Charlie White.

Also: Michael McDowell was tabbed to drive a Sprint Cup car for Michael Waltrip Racing after Dale Jarrett's retirement.

McDowell, 23, will get his Cup car when Jarrett steps out of his ride after the fifth race this season.