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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Scott guides No. 24 Virginia past Seattle

Mike Scott of No. 24 Virginia powered through the Seattle Redhawks’ defense Wednesday night for a career-high 33 points. (Associated Press)

Men’s basketball: Mike Scott scored a career-high 33 points and No. 24 Virginia held off a second-half rally by host Seattle University for an 83-77 victory Wednesday night.

Playing its first game as a ranked team in more than four seasons, the Cavaliers (10-1) watched Seattle (2-8) shoot its way to an eight-point first-half lead, then built their own 14-point advantage with less than 9 minutes remaining before being forced to hold off the Redhawks’ furious rally in the closing moments.

It was the return to the state of Washington for Virginia coach Tony Bennett, who previously coached at Washington State before taking the Cavaliers’ job.

No. 5 Tar Heels triumph: Harrison Barnes scored a season-high 26 points to help No. 5 North Carolina (11-2) to an 82-63 win over Texas (9-3) at Chapel Hill, N.C.

John Henson added 14 points for the Tar Heels, who won their fifth straight and avenged last season’s last-second loss to the Longhorns.

No. 17 Hoyas stomp No. 7 Hurricanes

Women’s basketball: Sugar Rodgers scored 24 points and No. 17 Georgetown (10-2) held seventh-ranked Miami (9-2) to 21 percent shooting in a 71-46 rout at Washington.

The Hoyas limited the nation’s highest-scoring team to its smallest output of the season.

Warriors respond to harassment suit

NBA: The president of the Golden State Warriors is promising to “vigorously defend” the team’s reputation after a sexual harassment suit was filed against the franchise and guard Monta Ellis.

Team president and chief operating officer Rick Welts read a prepared statement that said when team officials were made aware of what he described as a “consensual relationship” between Ellis and Erika Smith, who is suing the team, the team told both to “stop.”

Welts denied that the Warriors’ organization had taken any action against Smith, who said she was unfairly dismissed as the team’s community relations director in August.

Rockets land Dalembert: A person with knowledge of the deal says free-agent center Samuel Dalembert agreed to terms with the Houston Rockets. The 6-foot-11 Dalembert averaged 8.1 points and 8.2 rebounds for Sacramento last season.

No criminal charges in Fiesta scandal

College football: More than two dozen Arizona politicians who received free game tickets or trips from the Fiesta Bowl will not face criminal charges, a prosecutor said.

The investigation into whether the elected officials illegally accepted or failed to report the gifts did not find enough evidence to pursue criminal cases, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said.

NFL hires trainers to look for concussions

NFL: The NFL is changing how it handles concussion examinations after Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy went back into a Dec. 8 game without being tested for one.

A certified athletic trainer, paid by the league, will be at each game to monitor play and provide medical staffs with “any relevant information that may assist them in determining the most appropriate evaluation and treatment,” the NFL said in a statement.

Porter’s season ends: The Arizona Cardinals placed outside linebacker Joey Porter on injured reserve, ending the season for the four-time Pro Bowler.

Porter has missed eight games with a knee injury. The 34-year-old former Pittsburgh Steelers star is two sacks shy of 100 for his career.

Bears name McCown starting QB: Quarterback Josh McCown will start an NFL game for the first time in four years when he lines up behind center for the Chicago Bears Sunday night at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers.

McCown signed with the Bears on Nov. 23 after Jay Cutler suffered a broken right thumb. He replaces quarterback Caleb Hanie, who has a 41.8 passer rating.

Kostelic records 20th World Cup victory

Skiing: Defending overall champion Ivica Kostelic used two error-free runs in heavy snowfall to win a night slalom at Flachau, Austria, for his 20th career World Cup victory.