Lakers win without Shaq
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- With Shaquille O'Neal on the injured list and Kobe Bryant struggling, the Los Angeles Lakers received siginificant contributions from their supporting cast Tuesday night in rallying from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter for an 88-82 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Samaki Walker made the start at center in place of O'Neal and collected 18 points and 10 rebounds while Stanislav Medevedenko added 12 points. O'Neal was placed on the injured list with toe problems.
Philadelphia was in control through the first three quarters and took a 73-60 advantage on a basket by Corie Blount with 9:34 remaining. Bryant had just four points through three quarters as he was clearly hampered by a strained muscle in his rib cage.
But his jumper triggered a 19-2 run that gave Los Angeles the lead for good at 79-75 with 4:17 to play. Lindsey Hunter had a pair of three-pointers in the burst.
A three-pointer by Matt Harpring pulled the 76ers within 85-82 with 14 seconds left, but Devean George made one free throw and Allen Iverson turned over the ball on the next possession.
Despite his struggles, Bryant just missed a triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
Iverson led all scorers with 31 points for Philadelphia, which was limited to six field goals in the fourth quarter.
O'Neal must sit out at least five games after being playec on the injured list. He has been troubled by a sore right big toe for several weeks and has had siginifcant pain in the little left toe he had operated on in August.
In the only other NBA game played Christmas, the New York Knicks rode a 34-point performance from Allan Houston to defeat the Toronto Raptors, 102-94.
Super Bowl MVP dies
GRAPEVINE, Texas, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Former Dallas Cowboys All-Pro defensive end Harvey Martin, the co-MVP of Super Bowl XII, has died of pancreatic cancer. He was 51.
A hospital spokesperson announced Tuesday that Martin died Monday night.
The illness had been kept a secret at Martin's request. There had been reports a year ago that Martin had undergone major surgery.
A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Martin was flamboyant off the field during his playing days, taking the name the "Beautiful" Harvey Martin for his radio show.
But Martin also had his share of problems. After his retirement in 1984, he struggled with substance abuse, tax and bankruptcy issues and domestic violence.
Martin helped the Cowboys develop into "America's Team." During an 11-year career, he recorded a team-record 114 sacks, including 20 in 1977 -- the year he was a unanimous All-Pro selection.
Martin shared the Super Bowl XII MVP trophy with Hall of Fame defensive tackle Randy White.
Utah wins Las Vegas Bowl
LAS VEGAS, Nev., Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Behind their two bruising senior running backs, the Utah Utes edged the USC Trojans Tuesday, 10-6, for their second win in three years at the Las Vegas Bowl.
Adam Tate and Dameon Hunter combined for 197 yards and a score for Utah (8-4), which limited USC (6-6) to one yard rushing in a dominating defensive effort.
The Trojans had won four straight games and entered Sam Boyd Stadium with a ton of confidence. But Tate and Hunter proved to be too much for Carson Palmer and a quiet USC offense.
The 6-1, 229-pound Tate carried 23 times for 103 yards and a touchdown, opening the scoring with a three-yard run in the first quarter.
Hunter, a 5-11, 236-pounder, finished with 94 yards on 17 carries. Lance Rice completed 12 of 21 passes for 136 yards.
Rice may have made the biggest play of the game, throwing a 20-yard pass to tight end Michael Richardson on third and 14 from Utah's nine-yard line with 3 1/2 minutes left.
Richardson, who also has played guard and center for Utah, had three catches for 35 yards.
With under 2 1/2 minutes to play, Tate salted away the win with a 17-yard run off a draw on third and six.
Behind their two-man show, the Utes finished with 358 yards of total offense to 151 for the Trojans. Utah also controlled the ball for more than 38 minutes.
The bowl campaign resumes Thursday when Georgia Tech takes on Stanford in the Seattle Bowl and Alabama plays Iowa State in the Independence Bowl.
Report: Gailey headed to Georgia Tech
ATLANTA, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- It was reported Tuesday that Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has agreed to become the new coach at Georgia Tech.
According to the ESPN report, a formal announcment is expected on Friday or Saturday. Georgia Tech officials did not confirm the report.
Georgia Tech (7-5), which has been without a coach since George O'Leary resigned to take the same job at Notre Dame, closes its season Thursday in the Seattle Bowl against 11th-ranked Stanford.
O'Leary took the Notre Dame job on Dec. 9, leaving the Georgia Tech program in the hands of assisant Mac McWhorter. Just five days later, however, O'Leary found himself out of his dream job when he resigned due to biographical inaccuracies.
The Miami Herald reported in its Tuesday editions that Georgia Tech administrators were impressed with Gailey during a recent interview and decided to offer him the job, even though Gailey insisted on finishing his second season with the Dolphins.
That was an issue when the University of Georgia interviewed Gailey last December and wanted him to be available for recruiting. Georgia eventually hired Florida State offensive coordinator Mark Richt.
The Dolphins have two games remaining in their regular season and are on the verge of clinching a playoff spot, which would keep Gailey in Miami through mid-January. The first NFL playoff games are Jan. 13-14.
Wizards G Hamilton could miss four weeks
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Washington Wizards guard Richard Hamilton, who has helped take the scoring load off Michael Jordan, could be sidelined for up to four weeks with a partial tear in his right groin.
Hamilton suffered the injury on Friday during the first quarter of the Wizards' 93-75 victory over the Orlando Magic. He sat out Saturday as the Wizards ran their winning streak to nine games with an 87-86 victory over the New York Knicks.
Hamilton has developed into a viable No. 2 offensive option for the Wizards and is averaging 19.8 points per contest, second on the team to Jordan's 23.1 points.
Losing Hamilton would be a huge blow for the Wizards, whose current winning streak follows a disappointing 5-12 start. At 14-12, Washington is two games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 1997-98 season.
The Wizards aim for their franchise-record 10th straight win on tonight when they meet the Charlotte Hornets.
Blue wins all-star game
MONTGOMERY, Ala., Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Penn State teammates Omar Easy and Eddie Drummond each ran for a touchdown Tuesday as the Blue posted a 28-10 victory over the Gray in the 64th annual Blue-Gray All-Star Classic.
Easy opened the scoring 5:16 into the first quarter, running two yards for a touchdown that gave the Blue the lead for good. Easy was the Blue Offensive Most Valuable Player, rushing 12 times for 49 yards.
After the Gray closed to within 14-10, Drummond provided some breathing room with a three-yard touchdown run with five seconds remaining in the third quarter. Drummond carried eight times for 26 yards.
Kansas linebacker Algie Atkinson sealed the win for the Blue, returning a fumbled punt by Mississippi State's Shawn Byrdsong 11 yards for a touchdown with 4:10 left in the contest.
