Date: 03/15/2013 05:29 AM
NW–SportsMinute/546
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) – Tony Woods had 19 points, Arsalan Kazemi scored 11 of his 14 in overtime and Oregon outlasted Washington 80-77 last night in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament. The tournament’s third seed, Oregon found itself in a fight from the start against the sixth-seeded Huskies. The Ducks stopped Washington from getting off a shot in the closing seconds of regulation and held on in OT to reach today’s semifinals against No. 10 seed Utah, which knocked off No. 2 California.
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) – The NCAA has granted Oregon State safety Steven Christian a sixth season of eligibility. Christian missed the 2009 and 20011 seasons at Hawaii because of a hip injury, before transferring to Oregon State. He played in seven games for the Beavers last season with five tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. Christian, a native of Sacramento, Calif., earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hawaii. He is currently in graduate school at Oregon State.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Damian Lillard had 26 points and 10 assists to lead the Trail Blazers to a 105-90 victory over the Knicks last night, outplaying New York guard Raymond Felton in his return to Portland. LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 points and 10 rebounds and Nicolas Batum (bah-TOOM’) added 18 points for Portland, where Felton drew the ire of fans during a disappointing stint last season. J.R. Smith had 33 points and Kenyon Martin added 12 to lead New York, which went ice cold in second half.
RENTON, Wash. (AP) – The Seattle Seahawks have finalized their contract with free agent defensive end Cliff Avril, adding another needed pass rusher along their defensive line. The contract, reportedly for two years, was finalized yesterday. Avril immediately addresses Seattle’s need to add someone who can pressure the quarterback. Avril had 9½ sacks last season, but the best of his five years with Detroit came in 2011. Avril had 11 sacks along with six forced fumbles and an interception.
PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) – Michael Morse homered twice and drove in five runs to lead the Seattle Mariners back from a six-run deficit for an 8-7 win over the Cincinnati Reds yesterday. Morse doubled and scored in the second inning, hit his first two-run shot in the fourth off Reds starter Homer Bailey and connected for his second two-run shot in the fifth off reliever Clay Hensley. Morse leads the team in home runs with five. Kendrys Morales and Justin Smoak added two hits and an RBI each for Seattle.
NOME, Alaska (AP) – The winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race has come under the burled arch in Nome, but that’s just the beginning, as every musher to finish the race gets a hero’s welcome. The town’s sirens blare when each of the more than four dozen competitors is about a mile out, and the mushers are all treated like royalty as they come down Front Street, cross the finish line and mingle with fans. Library director Laura Samuelson says anyone who has traveled a thousand miles on a team of dogs to reach Nome deserves a hearty welcome, no matter how long it takes them. Mitch Seavey won the race Tuesday night.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.