Oregon State’s Brandin Cooks is bound for NFL

Oregon State junior wide receiver Brandin Cooks is making himself available for the NFL draft.

The Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation’s top receiver, Cooks set Pac-12 Conference records with 128 catches for 1,730 yards for the Beavers this season. His receiving yards were tops in the country.

His 16 touchdown catches this season are a school record.

The first-team All-American finishes his Oregon State career with 226 catches for 3,272 yards and 26 total touchdowns (a school-record 24 via catch). He has 3,863 all-purpose yards.

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Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans is making himself available for the NFL draft.

Evans, a redshirt sophomore, was a consensus All-American and a Biletnikoff Award finalist this season.

He had 69 receptions for a school-record 1,394 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also set a school record with 279 yards receiving against Alabama this year.

He broke his own record when he had 287 yards receiving against Auburn later in the season.

TENNIS

Nadal reaches Qatar semifinals

Top-seeded Rafael Nadal was the only seed remaining in the Qatar Open after he beat seventh-seeded Ernests Gulbis, 7-5, 6-4 in the quarterfinals at Doha.

Nadal is set to play German qualifier Peter Gojowczyk. The 162nd-ranked Gojowczyk defeated fellow German qualifier Dustin Brown, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5), to reach his first tour semifinal.

The other semi will pit Florian Mayer of Germany against Gael Monfils of France.

Mayer defeated Victor Hanescu of Romania, 6-4, 6-7 (8), 6-4, and Monfils took out Daniel Brands of Germany, 6-2, 6-1.

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Indian wild card Yuki Bhambri advanced to his first ATP quarterfinals in the Chennai Open in India after third-seeded Fabio Fognini of Italy retired during their match.

Bhambri was dominating 16th-ranked Fognini when he conceded the match because of a left quadriceps strain when Bhambri was leading, 6-1, 5-5.

ETC.

Russia beats U.S. in junior hockey

Russia beat the United States, 5-3, in the world junior hockey quarterfinals, rallying to take the lead on Nakita Zadorov’s two power-play goals at Malmo, Sweden.

Zadorov scored on 5-on-3 advantages in a 1:01 span in the second period to give Russia a 4-3 lead. The 6-foot-4 defenseman plays for the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League.

Russia will face Sweden, a 6-0 winner over Slovakia, in the semifinals Saturday. In the other quarterfinals, Canada beat Switzerland, 4-1, and Finland topped the Czech Republic, 5-3.

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Masters champion Adam Scott narrowly beat out Tiger Woods as the male player of the year in voting by the Golf Writers Assn. of America.

The GWAA takes into account more than just a player’s performance on the PGA Tour. Scott won four times around the world, none bigger than his playoff victory at Augusta National to become the first Australian to win a green jacket. He also won a FedEx Cup playoff event and twice in Australia, and he joined Jason Day to win the portion of the World Cup for Australia at Royal Melbourne.

Out of 218 ballots, Scott won by five votes.

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The Denver Nuggets suspended veteran guard Andre Miller two games for “conduct detrimental to the team.”

Nuggets General Manager Tim Connelly announced the suspension Thursday.

Miller was upset after not playing in a 114-102 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. It was the first “Did not play — coach’s decision” of Miller’s 15-year career.

Miller’s suspension begins Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies. He also will not travel for a game Sunday against the Lakers.

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The Chicago White Sox and veteran left-handed reliever Scott Downs agreed to terms on a one-year, $4-million contract.

The 37-year-old Downs was 4-4 with a 2.49 earned-run average, 37 strikeouts and 26 holds in 68 appearances last season between the Angels and Atlanta. In 12 major league seasons, he is 38-36 with a 3.48 ERA.

tween the Angels and Atlanta. In 12 major league seasons, he is 38-36 with a 3.48 ERA.