Newsmakers

Extended SMU coach June Jones signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the school through the 2014 season. After going 1-11 in his first season, SMU improved to 8-5 last year and went to the Hawaii Bowl to end a 25-year bowl drought. The Mustangs’ seven-win improvement was the largest for any team in Division I college football last season.

• Regan Smith signed a contract extension with Furniture Row Racing through the 2012 season to drive the team’s No. 78 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Smith is running a full Cup schedule for the first time this season.

Signed Forward Patrick Ewing Jr. is back with the team where his father became famous. The team says the former Georgetown star signed with the New York Knicks as a free agent. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Ewing was the 43rd pick of the 2008 draft by Sacramento. He spent the 2008-09 season in the NBA Development League but missed last season because of injuries.

Submitted NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly says the New Jersey Devils submitted a new contract to the league for Russian star Ilya Kovalchuk. The league has five days to approve or reject the deal, which media reports say amounts to $100 million over 15 years. A month ago, the NHL rejected a 17-year, $102 million contract for Kovalchuk, saying it violated the league salary cap.

Suspended Indiana Pacers guard Brandon Rush was suspended for five games by the NBA for violating the league’s drug agreement, while Tyreke Evans of the Sacramento Kings and Kenny Hasbrouck of the Miami Heat drew suspensions for driving offenses.

• Georgia tailback Washaun Ealey has been suspended for at least one game by coach Mark Richt following the sophomore’s arrest in Athens, Ga. Ealey is charged with hit and run and driving on a suspended license.

• Missouri running back Derrick Washington was accused of sexual assault by a former tutor in June and could still face criminal charges related to the incident that may be behind his indefinite suspension. Missouri coach Gary Pinkel announced Washington’s suspension on Thursday.

• Middle Tennessee suspended quarterback Dwight Dasher indefinitely for accepting a $1,500 loan in violation of the NCAA’s amateurism rules. University officials will be asking the NCAA to reinstate him with a punishment lasting no more than three games.

• Louisiana Tech suspended four players indefinitely for violating an unspecified team rule. Wide receivers Tim Molton, R.P. Stuart and Cruz Williams and linebacker Kiamni Washington were all suspended.