AP-NW–1st SportsMinute,241
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from
The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Nicolas Batum had 24 points and the
new-look Portland Trail Blazers held off the Memphis Grizzlies
97-93 last night. Jamal Crawford had 17 points, including four
clutch free throws in the final seconds for the Blazers, who
snapped a two-game skid to even to 2-2 under interim head coach
Kaleb Canales.
PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) – The Seattle Mariners set their 30-man
travel roster for the team’s trip to Japan to open the regular
season. The Mariners leave for Japan later yesterday. They will
play exhibition games against Japanese teams the Hanshin Tigers on
Saturday and the Yomiuri Giants on Monday in Tokyo before a
two-game regular-season series against the Oakland Athletics on
March 28-29.
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) – Washington State will host Pittsburgh on
Monday night in the first game of the best-of-three College
Basketball Invitational championship series. Pittsburgh (20-16)
will host the second game and, if necessary, the third game. The
Cougars (18-16) advanced to the series by beating Oregon State
72-55 on Wednesday.
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. (AP) – Rory Blanche scored 16 points last
night, leading Western Washington to a 71-66 victory over Stonehill
and a spot in its first NCAA Division II title game. The Vikings
(30-5) set a school record with their 30th win. Known for pulling
off big comebacks in the tournament, they got ahead by 20 points
against the fourth-toughest defense in Division II, then held on in
the final minute.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-03-23-12 0531EDT