St. Louis, Mich. St. post NCAA wins
SAN JOSE, Calif., March 21 (UPI) -- Dwayne Evans had 16 first-half points Thursday in boosting fourth-seeded St. Louis to a 64-44 NCAA Tournament romp over New Mexico State.
The Billikens (28-6) have won 16 of their last 17 games and never trailed in eliminating the New Mexico State Aggies (24-11).
In Salt Lake City, Malcolm Armstead scored 22 points to pace No. 9-seeded Wichita State to a 73-55 victory over No. 8 Pittsburgh.
Wichita State used a 11-0 run late in the first half and early in the second to take a nine-point lead and pulled away in the late stages for the win.
In Lexington, Ky., Rotnei Clarke scored 17 points to help the No. 6-seeded Butler Bulldogs to a 68-56 win over Bucknell.
With Bucknell suffering though 26 percent (7-of-27) first half shooting, the Bulldogs built a 21-14 lead at the half. Bucknell rallied in the second half and pulled ahead only to have Butler again turn up the defensive pressure, holding Bucknell to just one field goal in a 7-minute span.
In Auburn Hills, Mich., Derrick Nix scored 23 points and had 15 rebounds Thursday in helping third-seeded Michigan State whip Valparaiso 65-54.
The Spartans (26-8) started slowly but broke open an 8-8 game with a huge run that was worth a 17-point lead by halftime.
Chattanooga fires basketball coach
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., March 21 (UPI) -- John Shulman has been fired as the men's basketball coach at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, the school said Thursday.
Shulman coached the Mocs for nine seasons, building a 145-146 record and earning NCAA Tournament berths in 2005 and '09. His win total is second-most in school history. Chattanooga was 13-19 this last season after going 11-21 in 2011-12.
"I believe it is important to recognize and appreciate the contributions that Coach Shulman made to our athletics program and our student-athletes," said Chattanooga Interim Chancellor Grady Bogue. "In recent years, however, the performance record has not reached a standard that John, the university or fans found satisfying."
Pinella apologizes for choice of words
TAMPA, Fla., March 21 (UPI) -- New York Yankees broadcaster Lou Pinella apologized for misspeaking in saying a baseball team was "raped" in a trade with another team.
Pinella, a former Yankees manager, discussed an off-season trade between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Florida Marlins with Ken Singleton on Wednesday's YES Network broadcast of a Yankees exhibition game, noting, "I don't want to use the word 'raped,' but they (Toronto) basically took a lot of talent from the Miami Marlins."
He later apologized for his choice of words, the New York Daily News reported Thursday.
A Yankee official said the team stood behind Pinella while recognizing he had made a mistake, the newspaper added.
Sather to undergo prostate surgery
NEW YORK, March 21 (UPI) -- The New York Rangers had no comment Thursday on a published report that President and General Manager Glen Sather will undergo prostate surgery.
The newspaper Newsday said Sather, 69, was expected to have the surgery Thursday in New York -- two weeks before the National Hockey League trade deadline -- and then spend several days in the hospital before resuming normal activities.
Jeff Gorton, 43, the team's assistant general manager, will temporarily take over Sather's duties. He represented the Rangers at general manager meetings in Toronto this week, the New York Post reported Thursday.
Sather has led the Rangers since 2000, and is a 1997 inductee in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
