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USA routs Tunisia in world championships

ISTANBUL, Turkey, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Eric Gordon scored 21 points Thursday in pacing the United States to a 92-57 romp past Tunisia, keeping Americans unbeaten in the FIBA World Championships.

The victory improved the Americans' record to 5-0 as they completed preliminary round play. The United States won Group B and will go against Angola, the fourth-place finisher in Group A, Sunday in a knockout game. Tunisia was 0-5 in the opening round.

The U.S. team, which had already wrapped up first place in Group B, coasted through much of the game and Coach Mike Krzyzewski used his starters on a limited basis.

The Tunisians played with more fire and were within two points late in the first half and trailed 39-33 at intermission. But the Americans pulled away in the second half with Gordon hitting four 3-point shots and a pair of U.S. spurts pushing the lead to 63-44 near the end of the third period.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook each chipped in 14 points and Stephen Curry had 13 in the win.

Tunisia was led in scoring by Marouan Kechrid, who had 15 points, and Macram Ben Romdhane, who had 11.

Canada honors NHL's Lemieux

MONTREAL, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Canadian hockey great Mario Lemieux will receive another honor Friday when he is made an officer of the Order of Canada, authorities say.

The Order of Canada, established in 1967 to mark the country's centennial, recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.

Lemieux was named a member of the Order of Canada, the first of the three levels of the award, in June 2009, The (Montreal) Gazette reported.

Officer of the Order of Canada is the second level, while companion to the Order of Canada is the highest level, the newspaper said.

Lemieux, a Montreal native, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1984 NHL entry draft and helped transform the Penguins from a lackluster franchise to two-time Stanley Cup winners in the early 1990s.

He cemented his reputation as the "savior of the franchise" when he bought the team out of bankruptcy in 1999 and became the principal owner of the team, winning another Stanley Cup as owner in 2008-2009.

Teen in front at European Masters

CRANS MONTANA, Switzerland, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Teenager Matteo Manassero fired a bogey-free, 7-under-par 64 Thursday and has the lead after one round of the European Masters golf tournament in Switzerland.

Manassero, a 17-year-old from Italy, is one stroke ahead of Mikko Ilonen and Graeme Storm. Six more golfers, including Edoardo Molinari, who won the European Tour's stop in Scotland last week, are tied for fourth at 5-under 66.

Manassero opened his round on the back nine and birdied No. 10. He also had a birdie at the 15th hole. He began his second ninth with birdies on two of their three holes and closed in a flourish with three birdies in the last four holes, including the par-5, 629-yard ninth hole.

"It was a perfect round of golf and a great start to a tournament that is very important to me," Manassero said.

Manassero, who last year became the youngest ever winner of the British Amateur, finished 13th at the British Open and 36th at the Masters in 2010. If he finishes in the first five at Crans Montana, he'll be able to bypass tour qualifying school in November.

NFL rookie in sex-video investigation

BOSTON, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- The NFL is investigating a sexually explicit online video apparently showing New England Patriots rookie Brandon Spikes, league officials say.

In the video, which apparently originated on a video chat site called Chatroulette, a man who resembles Spikes is lying on a bed with a woman who is performing oral sex, CBS News reported Wednesday.

"We are looking into it," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an e-mail.

The NFL's personal conduct policy says those associated with the league must avoid "conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the National Football League."

Spikes's agent said his client is embarrassed by the video, and said it was apparently made when Spikes was in college.

"It doesn't reflect the kind of person he is," agent Terry Watson said.

The former Florida Gators star was chosen in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft.