Gardner to Stay at Arizona

Point guard Jason Gardner, the only starter who came back from Arizona’s 2001 national runner-up basketball team, said Monday he would return for his senior season.

“After doing a lot of research and talking with people that I trust, I think it’s best for me to return for my senior season,” Gardner said. “Playing in the NBA is still a dream of mine, but I really enjoy being in college and playing with my teammates.”

Gardner averaged 20.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists as a junior last season, leading the Wildcats to a 24-10 record and a tie for second place in the Pacific 10. They lost to Oklahoma in the West Regional semifinals in the NCAA tournament.

“Jason has done a good job of researching his draft prospects and we think that he’s made a wise decision,” Wildcat Coach Lute Olson said.

*

Florida guard Brett Nelson said he would return for his senior season

*

Kansas All-America forward Drew Gooden, the Big 12’s leading scorer, will announce on Friday whether he’ll skip his senior season and make himself eligible for the NBA draft.

Pro Football

The Houston Texans are planning a Wednesday news conference to announce the signing of Fresno State quarterback David Carr to a seven-year deal, according to Houston television station KRIV.

The expansion Texans announced on April 3 that they would take Carr with the No. 1 overall pick in Saturday’s NFL draft.

KRIV cited sources close to the negotiations as saying Carr would sign a seven-year contract worth $46 million with a signing bonus of $10 million to $11 million.

*

The St. Louis Rams acquired wide receiver and kick returner Terrence Wilkins from Indianapolis for a sixth-round draft pick.

Ephraim Salaam, formerly with Atlanta, has signed with Denver, and is expected to be the Broncos’ starting right tackle.

*

Baltimore Raven owner Art Modell is recovering in a Rancho Mirage hospital after suffering a mild heart attack Friday morning, the Baltimore Sun reported.

According to his son David, Modell is “doing excellently” and is scheduled to be released Wednesday from Eisenhower Medical Center.

Jurisprudence

A summer trial date was set for a $1.1-billion suit in which the Oakland Raiders claim they fraudulently were lured back to Oakland in 1995 with promises of sellout crowds that never materialized.

During a brief court appearance in a Sacramento County courtroom, attorneys for the Raiders, the City of Oakland and Alameda County decided they will choose a jury for the trial on July 2.

*

Former boxing champion Dave Hilton Jr.’s appeal to shorten his seven-year sentence for sexually assaulting two girls was rejected at Montreal.

Motor Sports

NASCAR fined Kevin Harvick $35,000 and extended his probation until the end of the year for rough driving at Martinsville Speedway during Saturday’s truck race.

NASCAR also warned Harvick that further bad behavior would lead to a suspension.

*

CART fined Team Motorola $20,000 for failing an inspection after Michael Andretti’s victory Sunday in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

The race-winning Honda-powered Reynard did not meet the two-inch minimum underbody height requirement.

Race officials said the team and Andretti would retain the win and its championship points.

Tennis

Yevgeny Kafelnikov lost to qualifier Markus Hipfl, 6-1, 6-2, in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters at Monaco.

Thomas Johansson came from behind to beat Swedish countryman Magnus Norman, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1.

*

Lisa Raymond, Tatiana Panova and Francesca Schiavone, the only seeded players to compete Monday in the first round of the Family Circle Cup at Charleston, S.C, all lost.

Miscellany

Jerry Francis, an assistant men’s basketball coach at Houston, was selected head coach at Prairie View A&M.;

*

Funeral services for Jim Lineberger, 83, former Pacific 10 football official and coach at Long Beach Wilson High school, will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Los Altos United Church of Christ, 5550 Atherton Street in Long Beach.