WPPA / T102 SPORTS / Thursday

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State students say they're glad the university held a forum for them to discuss the child sex abuse charges against former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. They say it will help in the healing process. Penn State's new president says the university will raise the visibility of ethics "to a new level."

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Michael Vick will miss his third straight game because of broken ribs when the Eagles play at Seattle tonight. Vince Young will start for the Eagles. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback is 1-1 in his first two starts.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers rookie tight end Weslye Saunders was so excited after scoring his first NFL touchdown in a 13-9 win over Kansas City last week he forgot to do the dance he prepared for the occasion. Saunders won't make the same mistake the next time he meets the end zone, though he remembered to keep the ball. He called it proof his long journey to the NFL was worth it.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers kept busy for a team with no games on the schedule. They have new owners. They fired their general manager. They even retired their mascot. All they needed was players and a season. The Sixers can return to their practice facility today for the first time since the lockout began on July 1st.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State could have a replacement for fired football coach Joe Paterno by the end of the year. School president Rod Erickson says the school hopes to have a new coach in place by the Nittany Lions' bowl game. Number 23 Penn State should learn its postseason destination by this weekend.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ashton Gibbs scored 18 points and Number 17 Pittsburgh downed crosstown rival Duquesne 80-69 last night in the annual City Game. Dante Taylor added 15 points and Lamar Patterson scored 10 for the Panthers, who dominated the glass to overcome serious turnover problems and beat the Dukes for the 11th straight time.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — C.J. Aiken had 13 points and nine blocks as Saint Joseph's defeated Drexel 62-48 last night. Aiken, who tied his career-high in blocks, helped the Hawks set a school record with 16 rejections. That breaks the old record of 12 set against Cleveland State on December 2nd, 1987.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Earl Pettis led four La Salle players in double figures with 15 points, and the Explorers defeated Northeastern 68-51 last night. After shooting 36 percent in the first half, La Salle made 63 percent from the field in the second half. The Explorers were 7 of 8 from 3-point range after halftime, a strong contrast to the 2-for-12 performance from behind the arc in the first half.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Zhaque Gray scored 25 points and Number 16 Penn State snapped a three-game losing streak in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge by defeating Number 14 North Carolina 103-84 last night. All five Lady Lions starters scored in double figures. Leading scorer Maggie Lucas had 21 points despite sitting out most of the second half with four fouls.


NFL
Thursday, Dec. 1
Philadelphia at Seattle, 8:20 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 4
Kansas City at Chicago, 1 p.m.
Atlanta at Houston, 1 p.m.
Denver at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Carolina at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
N.Y. Jets at Washington, 1 p.m.
Oakland at Miami, 1 p.m.
Tennessee at Buffalo, 1 p.m.
Indianapolis at New England, 1 p.m.
Baltimore at Cleveland, 4:05 p.m.
St. Louis at San Francisco, 4:15 p.m.
Dallas at Arizona, 4:15 p.m.
Green Bay at N.Y. Giants, 4:15 p.m.
Detroit at New Orleans, 8:20 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 5
San Diego at Jacksonville, 8:30 p.m.

NHL
Wednesday's Games
Minnesota 3, Edmonton 2, SO
Boston 6, Toronto 3
Detroit 4, Tampa Bay 2
Colorado 6, New Jersey 1
Anaheim 4, Montreal 1
Thursday's Games
Pittsburgh at Washington, 7 p.m.
N.Y. Rangers at Carolina, 7 p.m.
Ottawa at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Winnipeg, 8:30 p.m.
Columbus at Calgary, 9 p.m.
Nashville at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Florida at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.
Montreal at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Wednesday's Games
( 5) North Carolina 60 ( 9) Wisconsin 57
(15) Kansas 77 FAU 54
(17) Pittsburgh 80 Duquesne 69
(18) UNLV 94 UC Santa Barbara 88, 2OT
(19) Gonzaga 73 Notre Dame 53
(25) Texas A&M 56 Alcorn St. 44

TOP-25 WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Wednesday's Games
( 1) Baylor 91 Texas Southern 39
( 2) UConn 92 Towson 31
( 5) Stanford 93 UC Davis 44
( 6) Maryland 74 Michigan 65
(11) Rutgers 71 Temple 50
(16) Penn St. 103 (14) North Carolina 84
(15) Georgia 85 SC State 48
(17) Ohio St. 78 Florida St. 75, OT
(19) Texas Tech 85 Texas St. 40
(20) Georgetown 70 Coppin St. 54
(25) Vanderbilt 83 Austin Peay 51