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

In brief: Shaka Smart leaving VCU to coach at Texas

After six straight seasons of 26-plus wins, Virginia Commonwealth head coach Shaka Smart has decided to leave for Texas. (Associated Press)
From Staff And Wire Reports

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Texas has landed Shaka Smart, accomplishing what other schools have failed for the past four years.

Smart, the 37-year-old who took Virginia Commonwealth to five NCAA tournaments and the 2011 Final Four, has agreed to be the Longhorns’ new men’s basketball coach.

Smart informed his players at a team meeting Thursday evening.

Smart replaces Rick Barnes, who was fired Sunday after 17 seasons.

The Texas search quickly focused on Smart after coaches like Virginia’s Tony Bennett, Villanova’s Jay Wright and the Boston Celtics’ Brad Stevens passed on overtures by Texas representatives. Smart, who had turned down high-profile programs like UCLA, Maryland, Illinois, Marquette and North Carolina State, finally decided to leave Richmond.

Stanford wins NIT title: Chasson Randle hit two free throws with 3.4 seconds left in overtime, and Stanford edged Miami 66-64 for its second NIT title.

The senior, who became the Cardinal’s all-time leading scorer in Tuesday’s semifinals, finished with 25 points to end his career with 2,375.

Coaching fires and hires: Bowling Green has fired coach Chris Jans after “an investigation into his recent public conduct,” the university said in a statement. In the statement issued by the athletic department, the university said “Jans’ public conduct failed to meet his obligations as a head coach.” The university didn’t specify what the conduct was. … Florida coach Billy Donovan has signed a one-year contract extension that raises his annual salary to about $4 million and keeps him under contract through the 2019-20 season. … Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson will be making roughly $900,000 a year under the terms of a new 10-year contract extension. … Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall has agreed to terms on a new contact, choosing to remain with the Missouri Valley powerhouse after receiving overtures from Alabama. … Danny Hurley has signed a six-year contract at Rhode Island after leading the Rams to a 23-10 record and an NIT berth in his third season as coach.

Lydia Ko ties record for rounds under par

GOLF: Lydia Ko shot a 1-under 71 at the ANA Inspiration in Rancho Mirage, California, matching Annika Sorenstam’s LPGA Tour record with her 29th consecutive round under par.

The 17-year-old was tied for 10th at Mission Hills, four strokes behind first-round leader Morgan Pressel in the first major championship of the season.

The top-ranked Ko started the streak in the first round of her victory last year in the season-ending event.

Sorenstam set the LPGA Tour mark in 2004.

Piercy leads Houston Open: Scott Piercy tied a tournament record with a nearly flawless 9-under-par 63 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Houston Open.

Alex Cejka, playing in one of the afternoon groups, made four birdies on his back nine at the Golf Club of Houston to finish with a 64, one stroke behind Piercy.

Spokane native Alex Prugh, shot a 5-under 67 and was tied for eighth.

Panthers’ Luongo earns 400th win

NHL: Roberto Luongo earned his 400th career win, and Jaromir Jagr had a goal and an assist to tie Ron Francis for fourth place on the NHL’s career points list to lift the Florida Panthers over the Carolina Hurricanes 6-1 in Sunrise, Florida.

Luongo made 31 saves to become the 11th NHL goalie to record 400 wins as the Panthers recorded their largest margin of victory this season. With his two points against the Hurricanes, Jagr has 1,798.

Ovechkin sets Capitals’ scoring record: Troy Brouwer scored the winner in the fourth round of the shootout, leading the Washington Capitals past the Montreal Canadiens 5-4.

Alex Ovechkin and Joel Ward each scored a pair of goals for the Capitals in regulation time.

With his first goal – the 473rd of his career and fourth in his last three games – Ovechkin became the Capitals’ career leading scorer, passing Peter Bondra.

Heat lose Wade to injury, game to Cavs

NBA: Miami star Dwyane Wade went down with a bruise left knee injury in the first half, and the Heat’s playoff chances took another major blow with a 114-88 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland.

The Cavs, a league-best 30-7 since Jan. 15, got 23 points apiece from LeBron James and Kyrie Irving and won their 17th straight at home.

Harden scores 24, Rockets move into No. 2 seed: James Harden scored 24 points, former Dallas guard Jason Terry hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer and the Houston Rockets beat the host Mavericks 108-101.

The Rockets moved a half-game ahead of Memphis in the race for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference behind Golden State.

Williams advances to Miami Open finals

TENNIS: Top-seeded Serena Williams will play in the Miami Open women’s final after holding off third-seeded Simona Halep of Romania 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in a semifinal. Looking for her eighth title at Key Biscayne, Williams will meet Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain in Saturday’s final.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia has reached the semifinals in the men’s competition, overcoming an early break to oust David Ferrer of Spain 7-5, 7-5. Djokovic and John Isner of the U.S. will meet today.