Sports Briefs March 20, 2012
Basketball
Bobby Cremins said this time he is stepping down for good.
Nearly two months after taking a medical leave of absence from the College of Charleston men's basketball team, an emotional Cremins announced he was retiring from the game.
But he struggled to get the words out.
The 64-year-old Cremins announced on Jan. 27 that he would miss the rest of the Cougars' season and later said he was physically exhausted. Cremins went on an indefinite medical leave of absence but said his condition was not life-threatening.
Football
The Seattle Seahawks released lineman Jarriel King. After being claimed off waivers from the New York Giants, King played in one game for Seattle at left tackle against St. Louis.
Baseball
Seattle starter Jason Vargas was pounded for seven runs and eight hits while getting just two outs, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Mariners 12-7 in Peoria, Ariz.
Ichiro Suzuki, Jesus Montero and Kyle Seager homered for the Mariners, who tied the score 7-7 in the third against Travis Wood.
Preparing for next week's major league opener in Tokyo against Oakland, the Mariners used a starting lineup of regulars.
Suzuki hit a two-run homer in the first, Chone Figgins had an RBI triple in a two-run second. Montero hit a two-run homer in the third and Seager followed with a solo shot that chased Wood.
n Less than two years after making the NL All-Star team, left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo has been released by the Mariners.
Signed to a $500,000 contract last month, Kuo had a 17.55 ERA in six spring training appearances over 6 2/3 innings. He allowed 13 earned runs and gave up five home runs.
Kuo was an All-Star in 2010 with the Los Angeles Dodgers but struggled last season with a back problem early in the season and missed a month with anxiety disorder.
Cavaliers 105, Nets 100: At Newark, N.J., Tristan Thompson scored a career-high 27 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and gave Cleveland the lead with a tip-in with 1:11 to play, leading the Cavaliers over New Jersey.
76ers 105, Bobcats 80: At Charlotte, N.C., Jrue Holiday had 20 points and six assists as Philadelphia defeated Charlotte.
Celtics 79, Hawks 76: Ray Allen hit 4 of 6 from behind the arc and finished with 19 points to help Boston at Atlanta.
Bulls 85, Magic 59: Carlos Boozer had 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead Chicago at Orlando.
Timberwolves 97, Warriors 93: At Oakland, Calif., Kevin Love banked in a 16-foot jumper with 4 minutes left, then added an insurance tip-in to help Minnesota past Golden State.
Mavericks 112, Nuggets 95: Dirk Nowitzki had 33 points and 11 rebounds to lead Dallas at Denver.
Capitals 5, Red Wings 3: Alexander Ovechkin scored twice and visiting Washington beat Detroit.
Rangers 4, Devils 2: Brandon Dubinsky scored shortly after a fight-filled opening faceoff, and host New York beat New Jersey.
Sabres 7, Lightning 3: At Tampa, Fla., Marcus Foligno and Jason Pominville each scored twice and Buffalo beat Tampa Bay.
Bruins 8, Maple Leafs 0: Benoit Pouliot scored two goals, Brian Rolston had a goal and three assists and host Boston beat Toronto.
Wild 2, Canucks 0: At St. Paul, Minn., Erik Christensen's power-play goal late in the second lifted Minnesota over Vancouver.
Ducks 5, Sharks 3: Bobby Ryan had a goal and two assist to help Anaheim to a win at San Jose.
- The Associated Press