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

Tar Heels top Spartans in Carrier Classic

North Carolina forward John Henson (31) tries to block a shot by Michigan State center Adreian Payne (5) during the first half of the inaugural Carrier Classic in Coronado,Calif. (Associated Press)

Basketball: With President Barack Obama watching from midcourt, No. 1 North Carolina beat Michigan State 67-55 on Friday night in the Carrier Classic on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson docked in Coronado, Calif.

Harrison Barnes scored 17 points and John Henson had 12 points and a career-high nine blocked shots as the Tar Heels put their size advantage to good use. Michigan State’s Draymond Green had 18 rebounds.

Fitting with the Veterans Day theme, the Tar Heels and Spartans had U.S.A. rather than their names on the back of their jerseys, which had a camouflage design. At dusk, the game was paused for the lowering of the American flag.

The players gave their jerseys to servicemen after the game.

Papelbon, Phillies agree at $50 million

Baseball: A person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press that the Philadelphia Phillies and Jonathan Papelbon agreed to a $50 million, four-year contract that’s the largest ever for a reliever. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced and is subject to Papelbon passing a physical.

Papelbon, who turns 31 on Nov. 23, had 219 saves over seven seasons with the Boston Red Sox, including 31 this year.

Free-agent Pujols receives offer from Miami: Albert Pujols picked an unlikely locale to begin his free-agent tour when he was courted in Miami by the Marlins, only hours before they officially changed their name to Miami Marlins during a ceremony at their new ballpark. Details of the offer have not been disclosed.

Major leaguer Wilson Ramos rescued: Venezuelan police rescued Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos, two days after he was kidnapped, officials in Caracas announced.

Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami said on state television that Ramos was “safe and sound” and that he was rescued by police. He said the circumstances weren’t immediately clear.

Tiger loses ground; Day gains lead

Golf: Tiger Woods bogeyed his first three holes today and it didn’t get much better in the Australian Open. He wound up with a 3-over-par 75, going from a one-shot lead to six shots behind John Senden.

It was the third straight time that Woods had at least a share of the lead and failed to break par.

Woods made a 7-foot birdie putt on No. 4, then didn’t make another birdie until a two-putt from 50 feet up the slope on the par-5 14th.

Inkster, Nordqvist share lead in Mexico: Hall of Famer Juli Inkster shot a 3-under 69 for a share of the second-round lead with Anna Nordqvist in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The 51-year-old Inkster is trying to become the oldest winner in LPGA Tour history.

U.S. soccer loses to France 1-0

Miscellany: The United States dropped to 1-4-1 under coach Jurgen Klinsmann, losing to France 1-0 in an exhibition game at Saint-Denis, France, as Loic Remy outmuscled defender Clarence Goodson to score in the 72nd minute.

Phelps wins twice in Minneapolis: Michael Phelps won the 200-meter freestyle and 100 butterfly at the Minneapolis Grand Prix at the University of Minnesota.

Phelps’ rival Ryan Lochte finished third in the consolation final of the 200 freestyle and was eighth in the championship heat of the 100 butterfly.

Sports people

New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw is going to miss his second straight game (at San Francisco) with a broken bone in his right foot. … Houston Texans star receiver Andre Johnson will miss his sixth straight game (at Tampa Bay) as he continues to recover from a right hamstring injury. … Sandy Alomar Jr. interviewed for the Chicago Cubs managerial opening. … Roger Federer earned his 800th career victory, beating Juan Monaco of Argentina 6-3, 7-5 to reach the semifinals of the Paris Masters, where he will play Tomas Berdych. Novak Djokovic pulled out ahead of his quarterfinal against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, saying a nagging shoulder injury got worse. Tsonga will play John Isner.