UPI NewsTrack Sports

Syracuse pulls off early-season upset

NEW YORK, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Wesley Johnson tallied 27 points Friday and No. 24 Syracuse ran off 16 straight points in the second half to shock fourth-ranked North Carolina 87-71.

The traditional powerhouses met in the championship game of the 2K Sports Classic, played in Madison Square Garden. Ohio State won the third-place game earlier in the evening over California.

North Carolina, which suffered its initial loss of the season in five games, surrendered the first eight points of the contest and then came back to take a 39-37 halftime lead.

Syracuse, however, went on its big run early in the second half to build a 59-40 cushion and the Tar Heels could not recover. Syracuse improved to 4-0. North Carolina became the highest-ranked team in the country this year to lose a game.

Johnson made 11-of-18 shots from the field, but could connect on just 1-of-5 from the foul line. Arinze Onuaku added 15 points and the Orange shot 55 percent for the game.

North Carolina was led by Ed Davis with 16. The Tar Heels converted on just 4-of-18 attempts from 3-point range.

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Johnson extends contract, wins pole

HOMESTEAD, Fla., Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Jimmie Johnson signed a contract extension through 2015 Wednesday and then went out and won the pole for the final Sprint Cup race of the year.

Johnson is within reach of winning a record fourth consecutive points championship in NASCAR's top series. He needs only to avoid a wreck or major engine problems to do so.

He won the pole for Sunday's Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway by clocking 173.919 miles per hour for one lap around the 1.5-mile oval. It was his fourth pole of the season and the 23rd of his Sprint Cup career.

Johnson holds a comfortable 108-point lead over Hendrick Motorsports teammate Mark Martin heading into the season-ending race. If Johnson finishes 25th or better, he will clinch the title no matter what Martin does.

Earlier in the day, Johnson and team owner Rick Hendrick announced Johnson's contract extension.

"Jimmie is charting new territory in our sport, and that's due to a combination of natural talent and unsurpassed work ethic," Hendrick said. "There's no question that he's one of the great champions in all of sports, and he's not done yet."

Also Friday, Lowe's, the primary sponsor of Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet, signed a contract extension through 2013.

Martin qualified fourth for Sunday's race. At age 50, Martin is attempting to become the oldest driver to win a Cup title. He has finished second in points four times (1990, '94, '98 and 2002).

"It was a great race car, but it wasn't a great lap," Martin said.

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Rain disrupts LPGA Tour Championship

HOUSTON, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Lorena Ochoa, without hitting a single shot, maintained her lead Friday at the LPGA Tour Championship -- the circuit's last event of the season.

Heavy rains delayed the start of play in the second round until early afternoon and darkness forced a suspension of play.

Only half the field was able to begin the second round and no one completed 18 holes. Ochoa, who shot a 6-under 66 for a one-shot advantage after the opening round, was among those unable to get started Friday.

Reilley Rankin, who was a shot behind Ochoa after the first round, and Taylor Leon, who was two shots back, also did not start play.

More rain was forecast overnight into Saturday morning, but tournament officials insisted a full 72-hole event would be held.

"There's a ton of things riding on this tournament," said Doug Brecht, the LPGA Tour's vice president of rules. "Because of that and the importance of it, we are committed to playing 72 holes."

Sophie Gustafson was in the process of putting together the best round of the day when the action was suspended. She was 4-under for her round through 11 holes and was 2-under for the tournament -- four shots behind Ochoa.

Ochoa, the world's top-ranked female golfer, began the event eight points behind Jiyai Shin in the race for the LPGA's Player-of-the-Year award. Ochoa is trying to win the honor for the fourth time.

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Still no replay for France-Ireland match

NYON, Switzerland, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- International soccer officials on Friday again refused to allow a replay of a World Cup qualifying match between France and Ireland decided on a disputed goal.

French star Thierry Henry admits he directed the ball with his hand, a deflection that set up a goal by Williams Gallas and tied the score in a match Wednesday with Ireland.

After the game, Henry said it was not his place during play to point out the referee's missed call but Friday he said it would be fair to replay the match.

Soccer's ruling body FIFA, however, issued a statement Friday reiterating that the rules of the game state "decisions are taken by the referee and these decisions are final."

France came away with a 1-1 tie against Ireland Wednesday with Gallas's goal in extra time. That was all the French, which defeated Ireland 1-0 in the first game of their two-leg qualifying series, needed to make the field for the 2010 World Cup.

Irish captain Robbie Keane said he appreciated Henry's comments and supported a call for a match replay.