Austin selects ex-Zag Brown

Men’s basketball: Former Gonzaga player Ira Brown (pictured above) was selected as the 11th pick in the fourth round by the Austin Toros in the NBA Developmental League draft Thursday in Atlanta.

Brown, who played two seasons with GU, will be returning to his home state.

Brown also played baseball as a pitcher for the Spokane Indians.

Austin, celebrating its fifth season in the league, is affiliated with the San Antonio Spurs.

BYU earns hair-raising win

Women’s soccer: A New Mexico player has become an Internet celebrity for the wrong reasons.

Junior defender Elizabeth Lambert was suspended Friday for her infractions the day before during a 1-0 loss to BYU in a Mountain West Conference semifinal at Provo, Utah. Lambert is seen in video from the game throwing elbows, colliding with several players and then yanking the ponytail of a BYU player who went crashing to the ground.

“My actions were uncalled for,” Lambert said in a statement released by New Mexico. “I let my emotions get the best of me in a heated situation.”

Lambert’s actions brought unprecedented attention to the Mountain West women’s soccer tournament.

Video highlights have been airing nationally since Thursday night and not because it was a thrilling game decided on Carlee Payne’s header in the 31st minute. The focus of the highlights is more on Lambert’s physical play, especially her takedown of BYU’s Kassidy Shumway by grabbing her ponytail and pulling her backward.

Associated Press

Mets decide to pass on Putz

Baseball: The New York Mets have declined an option on reliever J.J. Putz, making him eligible for free agency.

Putz was due to make $9.1 million in 2010. Instead, the Mets decided to pay him a $1 million buyout.

Putz was 1-4 with two saves and a 5.22 ERA in his first season with New York. The Mets got him a trade with Seattle to be the setup man for Francisco Rodriguez.

Associated Press