Taurasi, U.S. top Hammon, Russia

Seeing Becky Hammon on the Russian side was exactly what the Americans needed.

Diana Taurasi scored 21 points and the United States pulled away in the second half, beating the Russians 93-58 Monday night in the FIBA Diamond Ball tournament in Haining, China.

In a much-hyped matchup against her native country, Hammon scored 10 points, but her adopted team was no match for the Americans. This was the first meeting between the U.S. and Russia since the Russians beat the Americans in the 2006 world championship semifinals.

“She made her choice, and that was up to her,” U.S. co-captain Katie Smith said. “We’re here to represent our country. We have a nice rivalry with Russia with or without her. It’s always been a battle whether she’s here or not. We’ll always bring our best.”

•The Detroit Pistons have signed free-agent center Kwame Brown, the overall No. 1 pick in the 2001 draft.

Team president for basketball operations Joe Dumars told The Associated Press last week that Brown will be paid $4 million next season. Brown has an option for a second season for another $4 million.

•Point guard Carlos Arroyo, who spent the last two seasons with the Orlando Magic, has become the latest NBA player to bolt overseas, signing with an Israeli team.

The 29-year-old Arroyo signed a one-year deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv.

“I’m very happy we’ve completed this signing,” Maccabi coach Effi Birnboim said on the club’s Web site. “Arroyo is a player of the highest standard and has been our top priority for a while.”

Football

Former Gator arrested

Police in Tampa, Fla., say former University of Florida star John Reaves had cocaine on him when they arrested him for pointing a gun at two men during a dispute.

Tampa police reports say the 58-year-old Reaves was arrested Wednesday in connection with the gun episode four days earlier. A police report released Monday says a deputy who searched Reaves at the jail found a plastic bag in his pocket containing cocaine.

Reaves is charged with aggravated assault with a firearm, possession of cocaine and introducing contraband into a detention facility. He is free on a $9,000 bond.

•Longtime Notre Dame assistant football coach Joe Yonto, who worked under Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine and Lou Holtz, died in South Bend, Ind. He was 83.

A university spokesman confirmed Yonto’s death but had no details on the cause.

Miscellany

Prado among inducted

Jockey Edgar Prado and trainer Carl Nafzger, who between them have three Kentucky Derby wins, led a group of six new inductees into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame.

Inducted with Prado and Nafzger were retired jockey Ismael Valenzuela and three horses: Manila, Inside Information and Ancient Title.

•Greg Weld, who won 21 U.S. Auto Club sprint car races and was the series national champion in 1967, died in Kansas City, Mo. He was 64.

The cause of death was not immediately known.