Sports News

DALLAS, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Loui Eriksson scored the first and last goals of the game Wednesday and Dallas rallied for a 4-2 victory over New Jersey.

ROSEMONT, Ill., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Luke Harangody recorded 26 points and 16 rebounds Wednesday, helping No. 10 Notre Dame open its Big East campaign with a 92-82 win over DePaul.

ATLANTA, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Charles Scott ran for three touchdowns Wednesday and LSU scored 28 points in the second quarter to rout Georgia Tech 38-3 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Carlon Brown gave Utah a three-point lead with 19 seconds left Wednesday and the Utes survived a series of misses to surprise No. 16 Gonzaga 66-65.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Chris Wilcox touched off a key 8-2 run down the stretch Wednesday that carried Oklahoma City to a 107-100 win over Golden State.

RALEIGH, N.C., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Sergei Samsonov had a hand in all of Carolina's goals Wednesday, propelling the Hurricanes to a 3-1 victory over Atlanta.

GLENDALE, Ariz., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Peter Mueller scored twice in the second period to put Phoenix in front Wednesday and the Coyotes held off Colorado 3-1.

TORONTO, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Nene scored 21 points and Carmelo Anthony had 20 Wednesday, boosting Denver to a 114-107 victory over Toronto.

TEMPE, Ariz., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Todd Reesing threw one of his four touchdown passes on the first play of the game Wednesday and Kansas downed Minnesota 42-21 in the Insight Bowl.

Vanderbilt wins first bowl game since 1955 ... Michigan State hands Gophers their first loss ... Report: Petty, Evernham to merge next week ... Paterno to coach Rose Bowl from press box ... Sports news from United Press International.

HOUSTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Rafer Alston made three of Houston's seven free throws over the final 37 seconds Wednesday, allowing the Rockets to fight off Milwaukee 85-81.

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Oscar Bellfield made a layup with 17 seconds remaining Wednesday, delivering Nevada-Las Vegas a 56-55 upset win over No. 18 Louisville.

ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Brent Burns scored 1:38 into overtime Wednesday and Niklas Backstrom made 32 saves, bringing Minnesota a 3-2 victory over San Jose.

CINCINNATI, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Brad Redford scored all of his points from long range Wednesday and No. 22 Xavier bounced back from two straight losses to defeat Robert Morris 78-57.

PASADENA, Calif., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Joe Paterno will coach from the press box Thursday when eighth-ranked Penn State faces No. 5 Southern California at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.