Jason Rich hit a short jumper with 4.3 seconds left to lift Florida State to a 66-64 win over Georgia Tech on Sunday night in an Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams. The Yellow Jackets had a chance to tie but Zack Peacock’s off-balance jumper at the buzzer never had a chance, falling short.
Bruce Price scored 17 points to lead Tennessee State to a 60-58 upset road win against Illinois on Sunday. Jerrell Houston added 12 points for Tennessee State (4-7), which last played on Dec. 22 in an 83-74 loss to No. 15 Vanderbilt. The Tigers led 29-24 at halftime behind 40 percent shooting from the field and five 3-pointers.
Iowa freshman forward Jarryd Cole tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Saturday and will miss the rest of the season. Cole, who had recently moved into the starting lineup, was averaging 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds. He injured his knee midway through the second half of Iowa’s 57-50 win over Southeastern Louisiana, landing awkwardly after a dunk.
Auburn forward Korvotney Barber, the national field-goal percentage leader at 72.0 percent, is expected to be sidelined at least four weeks after breaking his non-shooting left hand. Barber, averaging 13.8 points and 6.9 rebounds, was injured Saturday in the Tigers’ 79-59 victory over Towson. The injury leaves the team with just six available scholarship players.
Dustin Brown’s first goal was an important one for the Kings. His second goal Sunday night was one to remember. The 23-year-old left wing helped rally the Kings in regulation, then scored in overtime to give Los Angeles a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The game-winner past Nikolai Khabibulin was Brown’s 18th goal, setting a new season-high.
The New York Rangers are learning to win games from behind. Brendan Shanahan scored 66 seconds into overtime to give the Rangers a 4-3 comeback victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night, extending New York’s winning streak to three games. “You certainly have to be ready to do that,” Rangers coach Tom Renney said about coming from behind.
Daniel Sedin and Matt Cooke each scored, and the Vancouver Canucks beat the struggling Anaheim Ducks 2-1 on Sunday night. The defending Stanley Cup champion Ducks lost two of three on their post-Christmas swing through western Canada, beating Edmonton on Thursday before falling to Calgary on Saturday.
The Flyers’ Derian Hatcher scored a rare goal at a most opportune time. The defensman’s second goal this season, along with 38 stops by goalie Antero Niittymaki, helped Philadelphia beat the Florida Panthers 1-0 on Sunday. “It’s always nice to score. What more can I say?” said Hatcher, who has just 80 goals in 1,022 career games.
Craphonzo Thorpe scored his first NFL touchdown to help the Indianapolis Colts enter the fourth quarter tied at 10 with the Tennessee Titans on Sunday night. Tennessee running back LenDale White fumbled early in the third quarter and Indianapolis linebacker Rocky Boiman recovered at the Tennessee 30-yard line.
Marv Levy is preparing to step down as Buffalo Bills general manager, according to numerous reports Sunday. Citing “multiple” unnamed sources, Buffalo’s WIVB-TV reported the Bills and the 82-year-old Levy reached “a mutual decision” that he would retire after concluding his second year on the job. The station reported an announcement could come as early as this week.
