IN BRIEF
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Ex-Ohio State coach cleared for return
Jim O'Brien, fired by Ohio State and essentially banned from coaching by the NCAA for paying a recruit, can return to the college sidelines after an appeal changed his punishment.
An NCAA ruling on March 10, 2006, all but prevented any colleges from hiring O'Brien until May 2009.
But in a decision released Thursday, an appeals committee changed the start date of the sanctions against the coach, making him free to return to coaching effective March 10.
O'Brien was fired June 8, 2004. Then-Ohio State athletic director Andy Geiger said he was firing O'Brien for giving a 7-foot-3-inch Serbian recruit, Aleksandar Radojevic, a $6,000 loan in 1999 for family expenses to help the family during a family illness.
O'Brien stressed he gave the player the money out of humanitarian concerns -- Serbia was then involved in a war -- and said the money did not influence Radojevic to later sign to play for the Buckeyes.
Also: Kansas State assistant coach Dalonte Hill was arrested in Manhattan, Kan., on suspicion of driving under the influence, hours after the team upset No. 2 Kansas, 84-75.
A deputy stopped Hill's vehicle for a traffic violation and took him into custody after finding probable cause for DUI, Pottawatomie County Sheriff Greg Riat said. Hill was released after posting $500 bond.
No charges were filed, and Pottawatomie County Attorney Sherri Schuck said she had not reviewed the case.
Kansas State athletic director Tim Weiser said head coach Frank Martin decided Hill would not coach Saturday at Missouri.
Connecticut guard Doug Wiggins has been allowed to return to practice, but he and starting guard Jerome Dyson remain suspended from the team.
The 20-year-old sophomores were suspended Jan. 25, the day after campus police say they found them in a car in a parking lot with a bottle of vodka and a bottle of cognac.
UConn spokesman Kyle Muncy said Wiggins' return to practice does not necessarily mean he will play against 18th-ranked Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Clemson point guard Demontez Stitt will miss at least two weeks after having arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage in a knee.
Stitt, a freshman, has started all 20 games this season. He was injured during practice Wednesday, coach Oliver Purnell said.
Utah sophomore guard Luka Drca has been suspended by the Mountain West Conference for one game for elbowing a Texas Christian player during a game Saturday.
Drca will sit out the Utes' game Saturday against Colorado State.
HOCKEY
Thrashers' Kovalchuk out at least two games
Atlanta Thrashers star Ilya Kovalchuk will miss at least two games but apparently avoided serious injury to his right knee when he was hurt in Wednesday's game against Pittsburgh.
Thrashers general manager and interim coach Don Waddell said Kovalchuk would have a "precautionary" MRI exam on the knee Thursday.
Waddell said Kovalchuk would miss today's home game against Buffalo and Saturday's game at Washington.
Also: Alex Ovechkin scored his fourth goal of the night with 1:26 left in overtime to give the Washington Capitals a 5-4 home win over Montreal.
Ovechkin finished with four goals and one assist. He leads the NHL with 43 goals and took over the points lead with 70.
Former Canadiens star Guy Lafleur turned himself over to Montreal police one day after a warrant was drawn up for his arrest for giving contradictory evidence as a witness at his son's bail hearing.
Lafleur was released on a promise to appear at the Montreal courthouse Feb. 7.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Lamar students to aid return of program
Lamar students have approved a fee that would help fund the return of a football program dormant since 1989.
Football would return in 2010 if the Texas State University System Board of Regents approves the plan at a meeting Feb. 22.
The Cardinals would return to the Southland Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision, formerly known as Division I-AA.
Lamar was 171-225-9 in 39 seasons as a four-year school.
Also: Former Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick has rejected an offer to work as a fundraiser for the school.
Lubick was fired in December after 15 seasons with the Rams. He will be paid the $256,000 annual salary he is due for two years.
Defensive lineman Jesse Backerman (6 feet 4 inches, 230 pounds) of Marana High School in Tucson, Ariz., orally committed to UNLV.
One recruit will visit this weekend -- lineman Bennielee Shelby (6-3, 260) of Greenville (Texas) High.
MISCELLANEOUS
Warren, Sutherland share lead in Arizona
Charles Warren and Kevin Sutherland shared a one-stroke lead in front of a record opening-round crowd of 83,657 at the FBR Open in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Phil Mickelson overcame two early bogeys on par-5 holes and was in a group of 12 three shots back at 3-under 68 on the 7,216-yard desert layout.
Twenty-four players were still on the course when play was suspended because of darkness.
Also: UNLV senior tennis star Elena Gantcheva was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Week for a school-record sixth time.
Former Rebels men's player Henner Nehles won the award five times from 2003 to 2005.
Gantcheva did not lose a set playing in the No. 1 position in wins over Pacific, New Mexico State and Weber State.
She also teamed with Kristina Nedeltcheva for three doubles victories.
Pete Sampras will face former world No. 1 player Marat Safin in an exhibition during the SAP Open in San Jose, Calif., on Feb. 18.
Braeden Schlehuber hit an RBI triple in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the College of Southern Nevada baseball team (3-1) a 3-2 win over Arizona's Yavapai College (1-1) in the Coyote Classic at Morse Stadium.
In softball, CSN opened its season with two losses at the Great Western Shootout in Yuma, Ariz., falling 8-5 to Pima Community College and 14-2 to Eastern Arizona College.
