Coaches enjoy milestone wins
STORRS, Conn., March 3 (UPI) -- Jim Calhoun and Bob Knight both reached coaching milestones Wednesday night.
Led by Charlie Villanueva's 24 points, Connecticut gave Calhoun his 700th victory, 83-64 over Georgetown.
The 16th-ranked Huskies won their fifth straight, advancing to 20-6 and to 12-3 in the Big East.
Rudy Gay added 20 points while Marcus Williams had 11.
Calhoun became the 19th coach in Division I to coach 700 victories. His 33-year career record is 700-308.
Georgetown (16-10, 8-7) dropped its fourth straight. The Hoyas were led by Jeff Green with 17.
In Waco, Texas, Knight won the 850th game of his career as Texas Tech downed Baylor, 72-66.
Ronald Ross scored 18 points to lead the Red Raiders, who are making a strong bid for an NCAA Tournament berth.
Trail Blazers fire Maurice Cheeks
PORTLAND, Ore., March 3 (UPI) -- The Portland Trail Blazers fired Coach Maurice Cheeks Wednesday.
Cheeks was replaced on an interim basis by Kevin Pritchard, director of player personnel.
The Blazers have lost seven of their last nine games. They are 22-33 and in sixth place in the NBA's Western Conference.
Cheeks, who played in the NBA for 15 seasons, was hired to coach Portland on June 27, 2001. His overall record was 162-139.
"We made this change in order to evaluate the entire roster and to put the franchise in the best position as we head towards the draft and free agency," General Manager John Nash said.
Portland likely will miss the playoffs for a second year in a row after 21 consecutive appearances.
Baltimore makes big move in free agency
OWINGSMILLS, Md., March 3 (UPI) -- The Baltimore Ravens made the first big splash in NFL free agency Wednesday by signing wide receiver Derrick Mason.
Mason is the only player in the history of the Tennessee Titans to have four straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons. He caught 96 passes for 1,168 yards and seven touchdowns last year.
Wednesday was the first day unrestricted free agents, of which there were 312 this year, could sign with another team.
Former Dallas linebacker Dexter Coakley signed a five-year deal with St. Louis one day after he was released by the Cowboys.
Jacksonville, meanwhile, signed defensive lineman Reggie Hayward to a five-year contract. He had 10 1/2 sacks with Denver last year. Dallas came to terms with former Cleveland defensive back Anthony Henry.
The trade that sent Randy Moss from Minnesota to Oakland also became official Wednesday. Moss was introduced in Oakland, where he will wear the jersey number he had in college -- No. 18.
Celtics hand Lakers fourth straight loss
BOSTON, March 3 (UPI) -- Antoine Walker, Ricky Davis and Paul Pierce keyed a late spurt Wednesday night that boosted Boston past the Los Angeles Lakers, 104-101.
All three hit a basket during a 6-1 run that gave Boston a five-point lead with 46 seconds left.
The Lakers' last hope ended when Kobe Bryant's three-point attempt at the buzzer failed to go. Bryant took six shots from the field in the fourth period and missed them all.
Davis and Pierce both scored 29 points while Walker had 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Chucky Atkins had 29 points to pace Los Angeles. It was the fourth straight loss for the Lakers, their longest skid of the season.
