Tuesday's Sports In Brief
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Kentucky has been in some close games. This was a new predicament, however.
With just over 9 minutes to go, the top-ranked Wildcats found themselves down by nine points, facing an inspired Georgia team and a hostile crowd, their perfect season very much in jeopardy.
No problem.
Kentucky clamped down defensively and turned to freshman Karl-Anthony Towns to carry the offensive load, ripping off a 14-0 run that finally put away the pesky Bulldogs 72-64 on Tuesday night.
Did losing cross the Wildcats' minds?
Not a chance.
''We think about what we need to do to win the game,'' Towns said.
And now, the Wildcats are 30-0, just one win away from a perfect regular season. They'll try to finish that off Saturday against Florida at Rupp Arena.
From there, it's on to the Southeastern Conference tournament, where Kentucky will be a huge favorite.
Then comes the NCAA Tournament and an expected No. 1 seed.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - Frank Mason III capped one of the biggest comebacks in Allen Fieldhouse history by scoring the last eight points in overtime to lead No. 9 Kansas past No. 20 West Virginia 76-69 for the Jayhawks' 11th consecutive Big 12 championship.
Mason had 19 points for the Jayhawks, whose 11 straight conference titles trail only the 13 in a row UCLA won in the John Wooden era.
Junior forward Perry Ellis, the Jayhawks' leading scorer, appeared to injure his knee late in the first half and did not return.
Daxter Miles had 23 points for West Virginia (22-8, 10-7), which was without star guard Juwan Staten, who had scored at least 20 points in each of the last three games against Kansas.
NFL
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - A person familiar with the deal says the Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to trade star running back LeSean McCoy for Buffalo Bills linebacker Kiko Alonso.
The person spoke under condition of anonymity because the teams had not announced the deal.
ESPN first reported the trade Tuesday.
McCoy had an inconsistent season last year after leading the NFL with 1,607 yards rushing in 2013.
Incoming Bills coach Rex Ryan has said he wants his offense to rely heavily on a running attack. Buffalo is expected to lose C.J. Spiller to free agency next week.
Alonso played college football in Oregon under Eagles coach Chip Kelly. The 2013 second-round draft pick was a contender for NFL defensive rookie of the year. He missed all of last season with a knee injury after while working out in Oregon in July. He is expected to fully recover in time for the 2015 season.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that Adrian Peterson is scheduled to meet with Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman and coach Mike Zimmer in Houston on Wednesday.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because neither side was publicly discussing the process.
Peterson has been disenchanted with the Vikings after he missed almost all of last season while facing child abuse charges in Texas.
Peterson was suspended by the NFL, but a federal judge ruled last week that the arbitrator in the case erred by applying a personal conduct policy that was adopted after Peterson beat his 4-year-old son.
He has again been placed on paid leave while the NFL appeals the ruling, opening the door for the Vikings to meet with him.
USA Today first reported the scheduled meeting.
NBA
CLEVELAND (AP) - LeBron James has moved into 21st place on the career scoring list with 24,506 points.
The Cavaliers' star passed Ray Allen on Tuesday against Boston with a layup in the third quarter. James entered the game with 24,481.
James was given a loud ovation by the Quicken Loan Arena fans when the announcement was made on the scoreboard. The four-time MVP scored 21 points in the first half, hitting 9 of 15 from the field.
James has also passed Robert Parish, Charles Barkley and Allen Iverson this season. Patrick Ewing is in 20th place with 24,815 points.
NEW YORK (AP) - The NBA has fined the New York Knicks for Phil Jackson's comments about Ohio State freshman D'Angelo Russell.
Jackson watched the Buckeyes' 81-57 victory over Nebraska last Thursday and afterward told Cleveland.com that Russell was a ''great-looking kid'' and a ''great prospect.''
NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed the fine Tuesday night but did not disclose the amount.
Team personnel are prohibited from publicly discussing players who aren't yet eligible for the NBA draft.
The Knicks have the NBA's worst record at 12-47 following their 124-86 loss to Sacramento on Tuesday, putting them in position to land the top pick.
BASEBALL
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Alex Rodriguez predicts he'll be ''a little nervous'' when he returns to the field Wednesday for his first game in 17 months following a season-long drug suspension.
The three-time AL MVP, who turns 40 in July, skipped the New York Yankees' spring training opener Tuesday against Philadelphia in Clearwater. He is slated to be a designated hitter for two or three at-bats against the Phillies on Wednesday at Steinbrenner Field.
He says he's ''excited for tomorrow'' and adds: ''I'm not sure how ready, but I'll give it a shot.''
Yankees manager Joe Girardi says of Rodriguez: ''He was caught. He paid his time and now he's back, and he's a Yankee and we're going to cheer for him.''
NCAA
NEW YORK (AP) - A group of 20 university presidents and college athletics administrators is crafting a proposal to better define when the NCAA should investigate cases of academic cheating by student athletes.
Ohio University President Rod McDavis, the chairman of the NCAA's Committee of Academics, says the group plans to have a proposal ready by the end of June.
NCAA head of enforcement Jon Duncan said in January academic misconduct is on the rise and his department was handling 20 open academic-misconduct investigations.
McDavis said in a recent interview with The Associated Press the committee has already agreed that any time a coach or paid member of the school's athletic staff is involved in an academic misconduct case the NCAA should be involved.