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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Stern confirms NBA take over of Hornets

Atlanta Hawks' Josh Smith  dunks in front of Orlando Magic center Marcin Gortat  during the first half of Atlanta’s win. (Associated Press)

NBA: NBA commissioner David Stern confirmed on Monday that the league is proceeding with its plan to buy the New Orleans Hornets from majority owner George Shinn and minority owner Gary Chouest.

Shinn has been trying since last spring to sell the team to Chouest, but those negotiations stalled.

Stern said the league has recruited New Orleans native Jac Sperling to be the NBA’s administrator of the team until it can be sold to a more permanent owner. Sperling is a sports attorney and the vice chairman of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild.

The sale still must be approved by the NBA’s board of governors, which will likely vote on the matter next week.

• Smith helps Hawks knock off Magic: Josh Smith had 19 points and 13 rebounds, Mike Bibby made a critical 3-pointer in the final minute and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Orlando Magic 80-74.

Vince Carter led the Magic with 18 points.

• NBA suspends Clippers’ Cook, Portland’s Miller: The NBA has suspended Clippers forward Brian Cook for two games and Trail Blazers guard Andre Miller for one after a rough conclusion to Portland’s 100-91 victory Sunday.

Cook was whistled for a flagrant foul and ejected after shoving Joel Przybilla in the chest as Przybilla went up for a layup. Miller was suspended for “making excessive and unnecessary contact with Blake Griffin of the Clippers.”

Oregon’s Kelly named coach of year

College Football: Oregon coach Chip Kelly has been named winner of the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, voted on by the Football Writers Association of America.

Kelly led the second-ranked Ducks into the national championship game for the first time in his second season at Oregon. The Ducks, who led the country in scoring, will face top-ranked Auburn in the title game in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 10.

• Malzahn named Broyles winner: Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn won the annual Broyles Award given to the nation’s top college assistant coach on Monday.

Malzahn is also the quarterbacks coach for the top-ranked Tigers.

• Bowers wins Bronko Nagurski: Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers has won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player.

Playing with a heavy heart following the deaths this year of his father, Dennis, and close friend Gaines Adams of the Chicago Bears, Bowers has had a breakout season. He leads the nation with 15 1/2 sacks and his 25 tackles for a loss rank second in the country.

• SDSU gives Hoke 2-year contract extension: San Diego State has given football coach Brady Hoke a two-year contract extension through 2015 that will include a bump in salary and improvements to practice facilities.

• Colorado confirms Embree as football coach: Jon Embree was officially introduced as the new Colorado coach after accepting a five-year deal that’s worth approximately $1 million a season, not counting incentives.

• Enforcement chief: NCAA falls on athlete’s side: The NCAA’s enforcement chief says punishing athletes for violations they didn’t even know about would be a major shift in philosophy for the organization.

Days after the NCAA cleared Auburn quarterback Cam Newton to play despite finding his father broke the organization’s rules, Julie Roe Lach told the Associated Press that college sports’ governing body traditionally has preferred to “fall on the side of the student-athlete.”

Duke still unanimous No. 1 after rematch

College Basketball: Another Duke victory over a Top 10 team and the Blue Devils’ win in a rematch of last season’s men’s national championship game had them a unanimous No. 1 for a second straight week.

Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Kansas and Kansas State, which also lost to Duke, were second through fifth.

• Baylor’s Love out 6-8 weeks: Baylor freshman guard Stargell Love could be out for up to two months with a stress fracture in his left foot.

The school announced Love’s injury during an extended break between games for the 10th-ranked Bears (6-0).

• UConn still No.1: Connecticut remained the unanimous choice as No. 1.

The Huskies have won an NCAA women’s basketball-record 86 straight games and received all 40 first-place votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Baylor, Stanford, Xavier and Duke round out the first five.

Crosby scores; Pens win 10th straight

Miscellany: Sidney Crosby scored a goal and set up another, and the Pittsburgh Penguins matched the second-longest winning streak in franchise history, winning their 10th in a row by beating the New Jersey Devils 2-1.

• Guerin retires after 18 NHL seasons: Longtime NHL forward Bill Guerin, unable to land a contract this season, is retiring after scoring 429 goals in 18 seasons with eight clubs.

• Langer wins player of the year on tour: Bernhard Langer has been voted player of the year on the Champions Tour.

Langer became the first Champions Tour golfer to win player of the year and lead the money list for three straight years.