Vols rally to upset No. 18 Commodores
Men’s basketball: Scotty Hopson scored 19 points, and Tennessee rallied from 11 points down in the second half to upset No. 18 Vanderbilt 60-51 on Tuesday night at Nashville, Tenn., to sweep the season series from its instate rival.
Tennessee (17-11, 7-6 Southeastern Conference) has won two of its last three, and this time the Vols won by hitting their free throws when it mattered most. Hopson hit all six of his attempts as Tennessee, which hit three of its first nine from the line, hit 11 of 12 over the final 2:52.
The Commodores (20-7, 8-5) had a five-game winning streak snapped. John Jenkins, the SEC’s leading scorer, had 11 points for Vanderbilt, two in the second half.
Griffin’s Clippers fall in return to Oklahoma
NBA: Blake Griffin’s return home featured a rousing start and a forgettable finish.
Jeff Green scored 22 points, Kevin Durant added 21 and the Thunder spoiled Griffin’s return to his hometown by beating the Los Angeles Clippers 111-88 in Oklahoma City.
Griffin made a run at his first career triple-double but came up two assists shy. He had 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.
• Noah to return for Bulls: Sidelined for more than two months by a torn ligament in his right thumb, Joakim Noah will return to the Chicago Bulls’ lineup when they visit Toronto today.
This will be Noah’s first game since a win at Toronto on Dec. 15. He had surgery shortly afterward, but the Bulls went 22-8 in his absence.
• Raptors land Johnson: The rebuilding Toronto Raptors got even younger by acquiring second-year forward James Johnson from the Chicago Bulls for a first-round pick in this year’s draft.
The Raptors worked out the versatile former Wake Forest star before the 2009 draft before the sophomore was selected by the Bulls with the 16th pick.
Wilson, Volquez set for opening day
MLB: C.J. Wilson and Edinson Volquez got the good news early: They’ll be starting on opening day.
Wilson was picked to open the season for the defending A.L. champion Texas Rangers, and Volquez will start the first game of the season for the Cincinnati Reds.
Wilson was 15-8 with a 3.35 ERA in a team-high 33 starts during the regular season last year. He will face the Boston Red Sox on April 1. Volquez, 4-3 with a 4.31 ERA in 12 starts after returning from right elbow surgery, goes a day earlier against the Milwaukee Brewers.
In Fort Myers, Fla., Justin Morneau took the field with his Minnesota Twins teammates for the first time since sustaining a concussion last July 7. The 2006 A.L. MVP was hurt in Toronto while sliding into second base to break up a double play. He received a nice ovation from the fans when he stepped to the plate for batting practice.
In Tampa, Fla., Derek Jeter laughed off Hank Steinbrenner’s assertion that some New York Yankees were “too busy building mansions” after winning the 2009 World Series.
The Yankees captain was building a large, multimillion dollar home in Tampa last year when New York lost to Texas in the ALCS.
Steinbrenner said Monday the Yankees lacked hunger last season.
“I understand most of it,” Jeter said. “The house, I didn’t understand. That’s a first. That’s funny, I think. I’m not moving, so we won’t be talking about this again.”
Seahawks re-sign two former Huskies
NFL: The Seattle Seahawks have re-signed defensive back and special teams captain Roy Lewis and wide receiver Isaiah Stanback for the 2011 season.
Both Lewis and Stanback played their college ball at nearby Washington.
Lewis was a special teams standout for the Seahawks, but also saw significant time in the secondary.
Stanback missed the entire 2010 season after rupturing his Achilles’ tendon in training camp.
The Seahawks were high on Stanback’s prospects before his injury.
• Bailey signs deal with Broncos: The Denver Broncos signed Champ Bailey to a four-year deal, keeping the perennial Pro Bowl cornerback off the free-agent market.
John Elway, the Broncos’ chief of football operations, announced the move in a series of tweets.
• Saints part with Shockey: For flamboyant tight end Jeremy Shockey, the party is over – at least in New Orleans.
Shockey was released by the Saints, who appear ready to move on with second-year pro and 2010 third-round draft choice Jimmy Graham.