Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.sports From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: sports Tue, Mar 10 1992 Date: Tue, 10 Mar 92 05:44:45 EST Message-ID: 03-10 0000 DECISIONLINE: Sports USA TODAY Update March 10, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network FOUR TEAMS MAKE NCAA FIELD: La Salle, Old Dominion, SW Missouri St. and Pepperdine won conference tournaments Monday to gain automatic berths into the NCAA men's basketball tournament. La Salle had a 77-76 win over Manhattan in the Metro Atlantic. Old Dominion beat James Madison 78-73 in the Colonial, SW Missouri beat Tulsa 71-68 in the Missouri Valley and Pepperdine beat Gonzaga 73-70 in the West Coast final. UMASS BEATS RHODE ISLAND: In men's college basketball Monday, No. 25 Massachusetts (27-4) advanced to the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament final with a 78-67 win against Rhode Island at Philadelphia. UMass hosts West Virginia Thursday. Also, Evansville beat Notre Dame 74-56 dropping the Fighting Irish's record to 14-14 and hurting their chances of getting in to the NCAA tournament. VIRGINIA WINS ACC TOURNEY: No. 1 Virginia beat Georgia Tech 70-69 on Dawn Staley's basket with 1:26 left in the title game of the Atlantic Coast Conference women's basketball tournament. In other women's conference finals: No. 7 Miami won the Big East with a 56-47 win against Connecticut; Colorado upset then-No. 14 Kansas 70-53 in the Big Eight; and No. 2 Tennessee won the SEC with a 73-66 victory over No. 25 Georgia. ORIOLES REMAIN PERFECT: The Baltimore Orioles (4-0) remained the only team without a loss in spring training, beating the White Sox 8-4 Monday. In other games: Cincinnati 4, Los Angeles 2; Boston 6, Houston 3; Montreal 5, N.Y. Yankees 1; Minnesota 11, Pittsburgh 2; Detroit 1, Kansas City 0; N.Y. Mets 5, Atlanta 3; St. Louis 7, Texas 3; Toronto 7, Philadelphia 6; Cleveland 4, Seattle 3; San Diego 4, California 0. WHITE SOX MAY RESTRUCTURE DEAL: In baseball spring training news, if no team claims hobbled Bo Jackson from waivers by 2 p.m. EST Tuesday, the Chicago White Sox can restructure a deal so they do not have to pay his $910,000 contract. Also, Pittsburgh GM Ted Simmons said Monday that there have been many trade offers for outfielder Barry Bonds. The Atlanta Braves are reportedly one of the teams making offers. KNICKS DOWN 76ERS: In the only NBA game Monday, the New York Knicks topped the Philadelphia 76ers 111-99 for their fourth straight win. The win increased New York's lead in the Atlantic Division to 3 1:2 games over the Boston Celtics, who have also won four straight games. Knicks center Patrick Ewing had 35 points on 13-for-18 shooting. BARKLEY CRITICIZES REPORTERS: Charles Barkley ripped Philadelphia reporters who questioned his judgment in trying a last-minute three-point shot in Sunday's loss to Chicago. "I'm a '90s nigger," he said. "The Daily News, The Inquirer has been on my back. They want their black athletes to be Uncle Toms. I told you white boys you've never heard of a '90s nigger. We do what we want to do. It's always a racial thing." BUSER MAKING RECORD TIME: Swiss-born musher Martin Buser appeared headed for a record finish in the Iditarod sled dog marathon, arriving at Koyuk, Alaska, 987 miles into the 1,158-mile race hours ahead of his nearest challengers Monday. If Buser finishes tonight, he would shave hours off Susan Butcher's 1990 race record of 11 days, 1 hour and 53 minutes. TARPLEY TRYING TO COME BACK: Ex-Dallas Mavericks forawrd Roy Tarpley, who received a lifetime ban by the NBA last year for a third violation of league substance abuse policies, is expected to join the Wichita Falls Texans Tuesday when the team hosts the Tri-City Chinook in the Continental Basketball Association. John Lucas, whose substance abuse treatment center has overseen Tarpley's treatment, may also join the team. CAPITALS TOP RANGERS: The Washington Capitals beat the New York Rangers 5-2 Monday to improve to 3-0 against the Rangers in New York and 5-2-0 overall for the season. Dale Hunter assisted on three goals and Don Beaupre made 27 saves for the Caps, who trail New York by three points in the Patrick Division. In other NHL games: Quebec 2, Hartford 0; Los Angeles 4, Toronto 1. NHL CLOSER TO STRIKE: National Hockey League players broke off negotiations with owners Monday after eight hours of talks, moving closer to a strike. "Based on what we heard today, we are less optimistic," said Bob Goodenow, players association executive director. Although a strike date has not been set, Goodenow and the executive committee has been authorized by 21 of 22 teams to call a strike. JURORS THOUGHT TYSON LIED: Two members of the jury that convicted Mike Tyson of rape said in an interview broadcast Monday night they believe the boxer lied to the jury during his trial. Juror No. 5, who was identified only as Steve, and Juror No. 11, Michael Wettig, also told WISH-TV in Indianapolis they are dismayed by criticism that Tyson didn't receive a fair trial. CUP SERIES CONTINUES: The America's cup defender series of races off San Diego resumes Tuesday with Dennis Conner looking for a win. America 3 and Stars & Stripes sail against each other Tuesday. In the series, America 3 has beaten the Team Dennis Conner boat five consecutive times. 24-HOUR TELEPHONE INFORMATION: USA TODAY Sports Hot Line. 95 cents a minute. 1-900-555-5555. Sports Editor: Jason P. Smith. (919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM