Sports in brief: No charges for Roethlisberger

Football: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who won’t face criminal charges after a 20-year-old college student accused him of sexually assaulting her inside a bathroom at a club in Milledgeville, Ga., said Monday he knows he’ll have to work to regain the trust of teammates and fans.

Ocmulgee Circuit District Attorney Fred Bright said Monday that after exhaustive interviews and inconclusive medical exams, the student’s accusations could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Bright also revealed the young accuser no longer wanted him to prosecute.

“The prosecutor’s decision not to bring charges, I know without a doubt, is the right conclusion,” said Roethlisberger, reading a statement that constituted his first public remarks since the accusations on March 5.

Associated Press

Shaq, LeBron may play finale

Basketball: Shaquille O’Neal’s thumb has healed and he has been cleared by team doctors to play in Cleveland’s regular- season finale Wednesday at Atlanta.

He might be joined by LeBron James, although Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said he hasn’t made any decisions yet.

James has sat the last three games since Cleveland clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Also, the Los Angeles Lakers announced that Kobe Bryant has decided not to play in the Lakers’ last two regular season games, primarily to rest the broken bone in his right index finger.

Associated Press

Cougars crack baseball poll

Washington State is ranked 28th in this week’s Collegiate Baseball poll after taking two of three games from top-ranked Arizona State over the weekend. The Sun Devils retained their No. 1 ranking.