Briefs
Martin leaves Purdue to lead Missouri State
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Missouri State has hired Purdue associate coach Cuonzo Martin as its men’s basketball coach.
Martin, 36, replaces Barry Hinson, who was fired on March 9 after failing to take Missouri State to the NCAA tournament in nine seasons.
Martin was introduced in a Wednesday news conference at Missouri State’s Hammons Student Center.
Martin was a standout player at Purdue from 1991 through 1995. He was hired as a Purdue assistant in 2000 and promoted last year to associate coach.
“Our goals are to be productive on the court, in the classroom, and in the community. On the court, we want to play hard every minute of every game, and to win basketball games,” Martin said in a statement.
BASKETBALL
Mad Ants finish road trip in Iowa
A four-game road trip for the Mad Ants ends tonight at 8:30 when Fort Wayne (15-28) plays at Iowa (18-25). The game, which will be broadcast on 1250 AM, pits the bottom two teams in the Central Division. Fort Wayne has lost seven of its last nine.The Ants play Iowa at home Sunday.
Illinois high court declines Jordan case
The Illinois Supreme Court said it would not hear an appeal in the long-running legal dispute between retired Bulls star Michael Jordan and an Indianapolis woman. Jordan and Karla Knafel went to court in 2002 after she claimed he agreed in 1991 to pay her $5 million when he retired from professional basketball to keep an affair secret. DNA tests later showed her child wasn’t Jordan’s.
Webber to retire rather than rehab
Chris Webber announced his retirement from the NBA, bowing to a knee injury that cut short his comeback attempt with Golden State. Webber played only nine games with the Warriors.
Cal coach Braun fired after 12 years
California fired coach Ben Braun after another disappointing season in which the Golden Bears missed the NCAA tournament. Braun made five NCAA tourneys in 12 years at Cal.
Huntington players get academic honor
Two Huntington University players have been named NAIA All-America Scholar-Athletes. Katie Crandall averaged 1.2 points in six games. Lauren Davenport was the team’s third-leading scorer with a 12.4 average.
Local athletes earn scholar awards
Eleven local athletes are among the 56 named Academic All-State by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Boys named are Anthony Buell of Angola; Kevin Dawson of Northrop; Dayton Merrell of Blackhawk Christian; Steve Tillman of Tippecanoe Valley; Pryce Underwood of Harding; and Jeff Wysong of West Noble. Girls named are Lindsay Enterline of Heritage; Alissa Goeglein of Concordia; Katie Hackney of Huntington North; Hannah Lengel of Southwood; and Erin Quinn of Homestead.
McDonald’s results
Tyreke Evans, uncommitted, scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the East to a 107-102 victory over the West in the McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball boys game in Milwaukee. Willie Warren, headed to Oklahoma, scored 23 points for the West. … Brooklyn Pope scored 13 points and future Rutgers teammate Nikki Speed added nine points, four assists and two steals as the West beat the East 80-64 in the McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball girls game.
FOOTBALL
NFL news
The Indianapolis Colts have signed president Bill Polian to a contract extension through 2011. … The league is considering starting its Thursday night season opener an hour-and-a-half earlier to avoid clashing with the Republican National Convention on Sept. 4. … San Diego center Nick Hardwick, a former Purdue standout, had surgery March 14 on his sprained right foot and is expected to take four to six months to recover. … Cornerback Marcus Trufant and Seattle agreed to a $50.2 million, six-year contract.
Cougars change 2008 schedule
The University of Saint Francis has made a change in its 2008 schedule. The Cougars will open at home Sept. 6 against Trinity International in a non-conference game. The Oct. 18 date against Lake Erie College is now an open date because of a Lake Erie scheduling conflict.
SOCCER
News
Carlos Bocanegra and Oguchi Onyewu headed in first-half goals, Eddie Lewis scored in the second half, and the United States beat Poland 3-0 in an exhibition in Krakow, Poland. … David Beckham got a yellow card in his 100th international game for England in a loss at France.