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

In brief: Vanderbilt shocks No. 8 Texas A&M

Vanderbilt’s Camron Justice, left, Nolan Cressler, center, and Samir Sehic, right, celebrate in the second half against Texas A&M. (Mark Humphrey / Associated Press)

College Basketball: Jeff Roberson scored a career-high 20 points to help Vanderbilt upset No. 8 Texas A&M 77-60 in Nashville, Tennessee, for the Commodores’ first win over a ranked team in four years.

Vanderbilt (13-9, 5-4 SEC) had lost its previous 13 games against ranked opponents, including six this season. The Commodores last win over a ranked opponent was in 2012 when it upset No. 1 Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference tournament final.

Texas A&M (18-4, 7-2) lost for the second time in three games, including a 74-71 defeat at Arkansas on Jan. 27.

Mitchell injured: Two-time defending Southeastern Conference player of the year Tiffany Mitchell was helped off the court after crashing to the floor in the second quarter of No. 2 South Carolina’s game against No. 18 Kentucky in Columbia, South Carolina. The team said she had a lower back bruise.

Pistons blow 27-point lead, recover for win

NBA: Anthony Tolliver and Reggie Jackson made a trio of big 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter, and the Detroit Pistons avoided a colossal collapse, beating the New York Knicks 111-105 in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

The Knicks rallied from a 27-point second-quarter deficit, finally taking a 97-95 lead on a layup by Robin Lopez. Tolliver’s 3-pointer put the Pistons back ahead, and Jackson added another to make it 101-97. After a dunk by Lopez cut the margin back to two, Jackson added another 3-pointer.

Brewer, Ariza lead Rockets: Corey Brewer scored 24 points and Trevor Ariza 22 to lead the visiting Houston Rockets to a 111-105 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

The Rockets won despite a 4-for-19 shooting night by James Harden, who finished with 17 points, more than 10 under his average. Dwight Howard had 16 rebounds in the 200th meeting between the teams.

All-Star big men to compete in Skills Challenge crown: Stephen Curry will defend his title in the 3-point contest, Zach LaVine will try for another dunk championship and some All-Star big men will compete for the Skills Challenge crown.

Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins, New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, Golden State’s Draymond Green and Minnesota rookie Karl-Anthony Towns will take part in that event, which combines dribbling, passing and 3-point shooting.

Manning’s legal team looks into allegations

NFL: Private investigators working for Peyton Manning visited the source of a report that he and other star athletes had obtained performance- enhancing drugs before the documentary aired late last year.

Manning’s lawyers launched the private probe shortly after Al Jazeera started contacting athletes who would be named in documentary in December.

They sent a lawyer to examine Manning’s and his wife Ashley’s medical records at the Guyer Institute of Molecular Medicine in Indianapolis. Medication was shipped to Ashley, but due to her right to privacy, it was not confirmed if the medication was human growth hormone.

Manziel investigated for probable assault: Johnny Manziel’s ex-girlfriend told police the Cleveland Browns QB hit her during an argument last weekend in Texas and said he appeared to be on drugs. Fort Worth police said Manziel is being investigated for a possible assault on Crowley.

Goodell implements “Rooney Rule”: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will implement a “Rooney Rule” requiring that women be interviewed for executive positions with teams around the league and in his own office.

NFL plans game in Mexico: The NFL is planning to play a regular-season game in Mexico City this year, with the Raiders hosting the Texans. A person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press that the NFL will return to Mexico for the first time in 11 years. A date for the game has not yet been determined.

Fowler, Lowry, Matsuyama tied

Golf: Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry and Hideki Matsuyama shared the lead at 6-under 65 in the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona. Fowler played the first six holes in 5 under. Lowry birdied seven of his first 13 holes, then bogeyed the next two. Matsuyama was in one of the last groups to finish.

Ko leads: Lydia Ko was 4-under par for her round and had a 15-foot birdie putt on her final hole at the par-4 ninth hole to lead the Coates Golf Championship in Ocala, Florida.

Stewart sidelined for NASCAR season start

Miscellany: Tony Stewart will miss the start of his final NASCAR season after fracturing his back in an accident on an all-terrain vehicle, Stewart-Haas Racing said. Stewart sustained a “burst fracture of the L1 vertebra” when he crashed on an ATV Sunday and he had surgery Wednesday, the team said.

USSF seals lawsuit: The U.S. Soccer Federation’s original lawsuit against the union for its champion women’s national team has been sealed after the governing body realized it had disclosed the home addresses and email accounts of many players.