Rivers hits buzzer-beater for Duke win

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Freshman Austin Rivers buried a 3-pointer at the horn to give No. 10 Duke an 85-84 win over No. 5 North Carolina on Wednesday night at Chapel Hill, N.C.

Rivers scored a season-high 29 points and hit six 3-pointers, though the last will certainly live on in the lore on the fierce rivalry.

With the Blue Devils (20-4, 7-2) trailing by two, Rivers launched a 3 over 7-footer Tyler Zeller from the right wing. The ball swished through the net, sending Rivers running down the court in celebration while the rest of his teammates gave chase before mobbing him in front of a stunned UNC crowd.

Rivers’ 3 capped a wild rally for the Blue Devils, who trailed by 10 points with about 21/2 minutes left.

Syracuse wins in OT: Kris Joseph scored a career-high 29 points, hitting a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute of overtime, and No. 2 Syracuse beat 12th-ranked Georgetown 64-61 at Syracuse, N.Y., to give coach Jim Boeheim his 880th career win.

Boeheim took sole possession of third place all-time in Division I, one more than North Carolina’s Dean Smith.

Scoop Jardine sealed the win it by forcing a turnover by Jason Clark with 4.9 seconds to go, allowing Syracuse (24-1, 11-1 Big East) to remain unbeaten at home at 16-0. Georgetown (18-5, 8-4), had won five of six entering the game.

• Jayhawks rock Baylor: Jeff Withey scored a career-high 25 points and seventh-ranked Kansas had another convincing victory over sixth-ranked Baylor, winning 68-54 in Waco, Texas.

The Jayhawks, coming off a 74-71 loss at fourth-ranked Missouri on Saturday, grabbed a share of the Big 12 lead with the Tigers.

• BC upsets Florida State: Jordan Daniels scored a career-high 19 points, including four 3-pointers, to lead host Boston College to a 64-60 victory over No. 15 Florida State and snap the Atlantic Coast Conference-leading Seminoles’ win streak at seven games.

• Green powers Spartans: Draymond Green had 23 points and 12 rebounds and made some timely shots to help No. 11 Michigan State pull away from Penn State in a 77-57 win at East Lansing, Mich.

The Spartans (19-5, 8-3 Big Ten) are a game behind conference-leading and third-ranked Ohio State, setting up a big game Saturday on the road against the Buckeyes.

• Scott leads Cavaliers: Mike Scott made all nine of his shots and scored 19 points to lead No. 19 Virginia to a 68-44 win over Wake Forest at Charlottesville, Va. Guard Joe Harris of Chelan, Wash., added 11 points for the Cavaliers (19-4, 6-3 Atlantic Coast).

• UConn proposes waiver: The University of Connecticut has proposed reducing the number of games it will play next season if the NCAA grants a waiver to allow the Huskies to play in the 2013 men’s basketball tournament.

The school currently would be barred from the NCAA tournament, a penalty for years of below-standard academic results, but it requested a waiver last month.

Heat can’t handle Magic’s Howard

NBA: Dwight Howard had 25 points and 24 rebounds, Ryan Anderson scored 27 and the Orlando Magic hit 17 3-pointers in a 102-89 victory over Miami at Orlando, Fla.

Anderson had five 3s – all in the first half – and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Magic. Howard posted his 20th double-double of the season.

The Magic have won four of five since their season-high four-game losing streak.

• Parker drops 37: Tony Parker scored 37 points, Gary Neal added 18 off the bench and the San Antonio Spurs beat visiting Philadelphia 100-90 in a matchup of division leaders.

• Bulls win fourth straight: Carlos Boozer scored 18 points and the visiting Chicago Bulls won their fourth straight game while nearly holding New Orleans to a franchise low in points during a 90-67 rout.

• Blazers lose at home: Chase Budinger had 22 points off the bench and visiting Houston beat Portland 103-96. Courtney Lee finished with 16 as the Rockets’ bench accounted for 66 points. Jamal Crawford came off the bench to score 21 points for the Blazers, who rallied to tie the game at 77 on LaMarcus Aldridge’s dunk in the fourth quarter. But Portland could not pull ahead.

It was Portland’s second straight loss at the Rose Garden and only the team’s third loss at home this season.

Red Wings extend home streak to 18

NHL: Drew Miller and Henrik Zetterberg scored in the third period, and the Detroit Red Wings extended their home winning streak to 18 games with a 4-2 victory over Edmonton.

The Red Wings overcame two more goals by Edmonton’s Sam Gagner to move within two wins of the NHL record of 20 straight home victories

• Miller stops 36: With Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff nursing three broken ribs and watching from the press box, goalie Ryan Miller made 36 saves to earn his second shutout in three games in a 6-0 win over the Boston Bruins at Buffalo, N.Y.

• Winter Classic at Ann Arbor: A person familiar with the NHL’s plan said the Detroit Red Wings will play the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 Winter Classic at the University of Michigan Stadium.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the league isn’t expected to announce the matchup until today. The Wolverines and rival Michigan State attracted a Guinness World Record 104,173 people for a hockey game on Dec. 11, 2010.

Hurricanes avenge loss to Tar Heels

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Shenise Johnson scored 19 points and Riquna Williams added 17 to lead No. 6 Miami to a 61-37 win over No. 2 North Carolina at Coral Gables, Fla.

With the win, Miami (21-3, 10-1 ACC) avenged its only loss in the ACC. North Carolina beat Miami 65-63 in Chapel Hill on Jan. 2.

North Dakota back using Fighting Sioux

MISCELLANY: The University of North Dakota will resume using its contentious Fighting Sioux nickname despite threats from the NCAA, the school’s president said, marking the latest twist in a protracted fight about a name that critics consider offensive.

A state law requiring the university to use its longtime nickname and logo, which shows the profile of an American Indian warrior, was repealed in November. The university has since been trying to retire the moniker, but nickname supporters filed petitions late Tuesday demanding that the issue be put to a statewide vote.

University President Robert Kelley said the school decided to resume using the name and logo to respect the state’s referendum process.