Favorites advance in match play
CARLSBAD, Neb., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson all advanced past the first round Thursday at the rain-delayed WGC Match Play Championship.
Only two of the top 16 seeds lost in the opening round of the $7.2 million event.
Singh, ranked No. 1 in the world, defeated Shingo Katayama, 4&3; Woods coasted past Nick Price, 4&3; and Mickelson fought off Loren Roberts, 3&1.
Other winners included Retief Goosen, Fred Couples, John Daly, Tom Lehman, Davis Love III, Jay Haas, Stuart Appleby, David Toms and Sergio Garcia.
Recent rains and unplayable conditions forced the tournament to start a day later than scheduled, meaning two rounds will be played both Friday and Saturday.
Singh will meet Haas on Friday with the winner then taking on either Daly or Chris DiMarco.
Woods will face on Nick O'Hern with the survivor meeting either Kenny Perry or Luke Donald.
Mickelson will play Angel Cabrera and the winner of that match will play either Toms or Mark Hensby.
The only losers among the top 16 were Mike Weir (seeded fifth) and Darren Clarke (12).
Woods is the two-time defending champion of the tournament.
Lots of action at NBA trade deadline
NEW YORK, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Antoine Walker and Keith Van Horn were among the large crowd of players changing teams Thursday at the NBA trade deadline.
Walker was dealt to Boston by Atlanta in exchange for Gary Payton, Tom Gugliotta, Michael Stewart and a first-round draft pick.
Van Horn went from Milwaukee to Dallas for Alan Henderson, Calvin Booth and cash considerations.
In other activity on the busy day of trading:
-- Glen Robinson was dealt by Philadelphia to New Orleans for Rodney Rogers and Jamal Mashburn.
-- Mike James traveled from Milwaukee to Houston for Mike James and Zendon Hamilton.
-- Jiri Welsh was traded by Boston to Cleveland for a first-round choice.
-- New Orleans sent Baron Davis to Golden State for Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis.
-- San Antonio picked up Nazr Mohammed and Jamison Brewer from New York for Malik Rose and two first-round picks.
-- Maurice Taylor went to New York from Houston for Vin Baker and Moochie Norris.
Thursday's action followed Wednesday night's blockbuster trade that saw Chris Webber go from Sacramento to Philadelphia in a six-player deal.
Michigan State aims for high NCAA seed
EAST LANSING, Mich., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Alan Anderson was perfect from the field while scoring a career-best 28 points Thursday night, leading No. 9 Michigan State past Wisconsin, 77-64.
The Spartans, bidding for as high as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, won their sixth straight. Anderson hit on all 10 of his field goal attempts.
Michigan State avenged a three-point loss to the Badgers last month while advancing to 20-4 and to 11-2 in the Big Ten.
Paul Davis had 13 points while Maurice Ager and Shannon Brown both had 11.
The 20th-ranked Badgers had beaten the Spartans in their six previous meetings.
Wisconsin (17-7, 8-5) was led by 18 points from Alando Tucker.
Michigan State, after taking an eight-point lead at the break, opened the second period with an 8-2 run and Wisconsin came no closer than eight the rest of the way.
Mavericks win sixth in a row
DALLAS, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Dirk Nowitzki keyed a fourth-quarter rally and scored 34 points Thursday night as Dallas won its sixth in a row, 122-113 over Sacramento.
Sacramento, which opened the fourth-quarter with a six-point lead, began life without Chris Webber. He was traded to Philadelphia on Wednesday as the Kings dumped his large salary.
Nowitzki gave Dallas the lead for good with 4:19 remaining. Sacramento was still within two with 1:54 to play when Nowitzki made two free throws.
Michael Finley hit a three-pointer just seven seconds later to put the Mavericks ahead by seven and Sacramento came no closer than four the rest of the way.
The Kings, who have lost three in a row, were led by 26 points by Mike Bibby. Marquis Daniels added 19 for Dallas and Finley had 22.
