WPPA / T102 SPORTS / Thursday

DALLAS (AP) — Claude Giroux had a goal and three assists in his return from a four-game absence due to a concussion and the surging Philadelphia Flyers beat the Dallas Stars 4-1 last night. Simmonds and Jaromir Jagr added power-play goals, and defenseman Andrej Meszaros connected at even strength for Philadelphia.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is hoping to play on Saturday when the Steelers host the St. Louis Rams. Roethlisberger says his injured left ankle is no worse after throwing 45 times in a 20-3 loss to San Francisco on Monday night.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison says the NFL should discipline the Cleveland Browns for how they handled Harrison's helmet-to-helmet hit on Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy. Harrison practiced yesterday for the first time since being suspended for his collision with McCoy. Harrison says he understands the hit was illegal but wonders why the Browns let McCoy return to the game so quickly.

ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) — Penn State overcame a cold night of shooting with some clutch 3-pointers yesterday as the Nittany Lions held off Cornell 74-67. Tim Frazier had 17 points for Penn State, Cammeron Woodyard and Trey Lewis added 13 each and Jermaine Marshall had 12.

FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — Sean Johnson's 14 points paced four double-figure scorers as Duquesne raced out to an early 15-point lead and stayed ahead of George Mason in the second half for a 75-64 win last night. T.J. McConnell and Eric Evans each scored 12 points for the Dukes.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — C.J. Aiken scored 20 points as Saint Joseph's defeated Coppin State 81-72 last night, tying coach Phil Martelli for the most victories in school history. Langston Galloway added 18 points, Carl Jones had 16 and Daryus Quarles 10 for the Hawks, who won their fourth consecutive game.

LEWISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Maggie Lucas scored 22 points to help Number 16 Penn State beat Bucknell 78-54 last night in the Nittany Lions' final non-league contest before Big Ten play starts next week. It was Lucas' fourth straight game topping 20 points for Penn State, which is now off until December 30th when it opens conference play against Nebraska.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — About two dozen fans gathered outside Joe Paterno's home last night to wish the former Penn State coach a happy 85th birthday and sing a Christmas carol. Paterno's son, quarterback coach Jay Paterno, thanked the crowd on behalf of his father. He said because of chemotherapy Paterno was a little weak so he couldn't come outside.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is lending his support to the first Winter Youth Olympics. The IOC says the Canadian star was chosen as the fifth and final "ambassador" for the games, which will take place in Austria, from January 13th-22nd.


NFL
Thursday, Dec. 22
Houston at Indianapolis, 8:20 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 24
Oakland at Kansas City, 1 p.m.
Jacksonville at Tennessee, 1 p.m.
St. Louis at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
Denver at Buffalo, 1 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Carolina, 1 p.m.
Minnesota at Washington, 1 p.m.
Cleveland at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Miami at New England, 1 p.m.
N.Y. Giants at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.
Arizona at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
San Diego at Detroit, 4:05 p.m.
San Francisco at Seattle, 4:15 p.m.
Philadelphia at Dallas, 4:15 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 25
Chicago at Green Bay, 8:20 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 26
Atlanta at New Orleans, 8:30 p.m.

NHL
Wednesday's Games
Phoenix 4, Carolina 3
Chicago 5, Montreal 1
Philadelphia 4, Dallas 1
Colorado 3, St. Louis 2
Vancouver 4, Detroit 2
San Jose 7, Tampa Bay 2
Thursday's Games
Buffalo at Toronto, 7 p.m.
N.Y. Islanders at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.
Florida at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.
Columbus at Nashville, 8 p.m.
Montreal at Winnipeg, 8:30 p.m.
Detroit at Calgary, 9:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Edmonton, 9:30 p.m.
Anaheim at Los Angeles, 10 p.m.
NBA PRESEASON
Wednesday's Games
Orlando 104, Miami 100
Boston 81, Toronto 73
New York 88, New Jersey 82
New Orleans 95, Memphis 80
Minnesota 85, Milwaukee 84
San Antonio 97, Houston 95
Utah 92, Portland 89
L.A. Clippers 108, L.A. Lakers 103
Thursday's Games
Charlotte at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Denver at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Wednesday's Games
( 5) North Carolina 82 Texas 63
(22) Murray St. 78 UT-Martin 54
(24) Virginia 83 Seattle 77
Thursday's Games
No. 1 Syracuse vs. Tulane, 7 p.m.
No. 2 Ohio State vs. Miami (Ohio), 8:30 p.m.
No. 3 Kentucky vs. Loyola (Md.), 1 p.m.
No. 6 Baylor vs. Saint Mary's (Cal) at Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, 10:30 p.m.
No. 8 UConn vs. Fairfield, 7 p.m.
No. 9 Missouri vs. No. 25 Illinois at Scottrade Center, St. Louis, 9 p.m.
No. 10 Marquette vs. Milwaukee, 9 p.m.
No. 11 Florida vs. Florida State, 7 p.m.
No. 12 Kansas at Southern Cal, 11 p.m.
No. 14 Xavier vs. Long Beach State at the Stan Sheriff Center, Honolulu, 11 p.m.
No. 16 Georgetown vs. Memphis, 7 p.m.
No. 17 Indiana vs. UMBC, 6 p.m.
No. 18 Mississippi State vs. Northwestern State, 8 p.m.
No. 19 Michigan State vs. Lehigh, 9 p.m.
No. 20 Michigan vs. Bradley, 6:30 p.m.
No. 23 Creighton vs. Northwestern, 8:05 p.m.

TOP-25 WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Wednesday's Games
( 1) Baylor 90 McNeese St. 50
( 2) UConn 72 Coll. of Charleston 24
(17) Georgetown 71 ( 7) Miami 46
( 8) Kentucky 90 Samford 61
(15) Texas Tech 75 W. Kentucky 38
(16) Penn St. 78 Bucknell 54
(24) Nebraska 80 S. Dakota St. 71