In brief: Woman claims Michael Irvin assaulted her

NFL: A woman claims in a lawsuit that former Dallas Cowboys star Michael Irvin sexually assaulted her at a South Florida hotel, an allegation labeled a false attempt at “civil extortion” Friday by Irvin’s attorney, Larry Friedman.

The woman filed the lawsuit Thursday in a Broward County (Fla.) Circuit Court, seeking unspecified damages for the assault that allegedly occurred July 4 or 5, 2007, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood.

The incident was reported to Seminole tribal police on July 20, 2007, but the woman later signed a waiver of prosecution, Seminole tribe spokesman Gary Bitner said.

Ron Ishoy, a spokesman for the Broward State Attorney’s office, said the matter remains under investigation but no charges have been filed. Because the woman waited more than two weeks to report the incident, there was no physical evidence or hotel surveillance video, Bitner said.

According to the lawsuit, the woman claims Irvin got her drunk and took her to his hotel room where he and another, unidentified man insisted on sexual favors. The woman claims Irvin raped her and the other man forced her to perform oral sex.

Irvin has had previous brushes with the law, including a no-contest plea to a cocaine possession charge in 1996. Later that year, Irvin and another Cowboys player were accused of sexual assault by a woman, but an investigation found the story was false and the woman recanted.

•Belichick to expand role with Pats’ defense: New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick will take a larger role in overseeing the defense next season and will not hire a coordinator to replace the recently-departed Dean Pees.

Belichick’s experience as a defensive playcaller includes stints as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants from 1985-90 and New England in 1996. He also called defensive signals for the New York Jets from 1997-99 before becoming coach of the Patriots in 2000.

Billups leads Nuggets to win over Lakers

NBA: Chauncey Billups tied his career high with 37 points and the Denver Nuggets defeated the host Los Angeles Lakers 126-113.

Billups was 12 of 20 from the floor – including 9 of 13 from 3-point range – for the Nuggets, who played without Carmelo Anthony for the seventh straight game because of a sprained left ankle.

Kobe Bryant scored 33 points for the Lakers.

•Pierce, Billups headline 3-point contest field: All-Stars Paul Pierce of Boston and Chauncey Billups of Denver will headline the field for the 3-point contest, part of the NBA’s All-Star events next weekend in Dallas.

Also chosen for the field were defending champion Daequan Cook of Miami, Golden State rookie Stephen Curry, New York’s Danilo Gallinari and Phoenix center Channing Frye.

Arizona reveals self- imposed sanctions

Men’s College basketball: Arizona has placed its men’s basketball program on probation for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons for violations by Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson related to an offseason AAU tournament in 2008.

Arizona also has disbanded a basketball booster group and undertaken a number of administrative and rules education changes. However, the NCAA may modify the self-imposed sanctions.

•Ex-Indiana player Leary arrested in fraud case: Indiana broadcaster and former Hoosiers player Todd Leary has been arrested in Fort Wayne, Ind., on felony charges in connection with what authorities say was a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme.

The charges against Leary include conspiracy to misappropriate real estate title insurance escrow funds, by improperly transferring about $1.3 million to a bank account he controlled. Court documents also say Leary once worked for Joseph A. Garretson, a title insurance broker who pleaded guilty in a separate $2.7 million scheme.

•Special prosecutor: No charges in Arkansas rape case: A special prosecutor has decided not to file charges against three Arkansas basketball players accused of rape, citing insufficient evidence.

A university freshman had accused the players – Marcus Britt, Glenn Bryant and Nick Mason – of raping her Aug. 27 at a fraternity house party, but local authorities in Little Rock, Ark., decided against charges. Special prosecutor H.G. Foster was assigned to review the case and came to a similar conclusion after reviewing polygraph and DNA test results.

Coyotes get shootout win over Blackhawks

NHL: Robert Lang and defenseman Adrian Aucoin scored in the shootout to give the Phoenix Coyotes their season-high sixth straight victory, 2-1 over host Chicago.

Phoenix backup goalie Jason LaBarbera made 28 saves through overtime, then stopped two of three Blackhawks shots in the shootout.

Stricker, Johnson tied for lead at Riviera

Golf: Dustin Johnson made a hole-in-one and Steve Stricker had seven birdies to brighten an otherwise dreary day at rainy Riviera and finish atop the leaderboard at the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles.

Stricker sits at 10-under-par 132 after completing his round, while Johnson got to 10-under through 16 holes before play was suspended by darkness.

Alex Prugh (University of Washington/Ferris High) finished above the cut line after shooting a 2-under 69, giving him a two-day total of 140 and leaving him tied for 21st place.