Spokane police request charges against USC basketball players for fight

Police in Spokane, Wash., completed their investigation of a fight that occurred last month and have requested that two USC basketball players be charged with two counts each of second-degree assault, a police spokeswoman said.

Neither police nor USC has named the players involved in the March 10 incident.

USC suspended center James Blasczyk and forward Dewayne Dedmon indefinitely the day after the incident for violating team rules.

The Spokane County prosecutor’s office will make the final decision about whether to file charges, police spokeswoman Monique Cotton said in an email.

—Gary Klein

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UCLA extended Athletic Director Dan Guerrero’s contract through 2019.

Guerrero will receive $734,774 in base pay, with a 5% raise each year of the contract. He can also earn up to $105,000 in bonuses tied to academic and athletic achievements. Guerrero will also receive a $734,000 retention bonus if he remains at the university through April 1, 2018.

The buyout in the package can be no less than one year’s base pay.

Guerrero is also owed a retention bonus of $750,000 from the contract he signed in 2008 and was to run through 2017.

—Chris Foster

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The call from faculty members and politicians to oust top Rutgers University administrators grew louder Thursday, a day after men’s basketball coach Mike Rice was fired for mistreating players, including shoving them and berating them with gay slurs.

More than 50 faculty members signed a letter calling for the dismissal of Athletic Director Tim Pernetti and an explanation from President Robert Barchi for why he didn’t fire Rice last year when he learned of a video showing Rice’s behavior during practices.

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Pierre Jackson had his fourth straight double-double with 17 points and 10 assists to lead Baylor to the first National Invitation Tournament title in school history with a 74-54 win over Iowa at New York.

ETC.

Two share one-stroke lead in Texas Open

Matt Bettencourt and Peter Tomasulo each shot five-under-par 67s to earn the surprising lead after the first round of the Texas Open at San Antonio, holding off a field that includes world No. 2 Rory McIlroy.

They took advantage of warmer and calmer afternoon conditions and held a one-stroke lead over a group of four players — including three-time major winner Padraig Harrington — at four under.

McIlroy, who entered the tournament as a final opportunity to prep for next week’s Masters, opened with an even-par 72 and is tied for 45th.

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Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson is retiring after 21 seasons. The 42-year-old Hanson thought about returning, but problems with his heel prompted him to call it a career.

Hanson became the first player to play 300 games with one franchise, finishing with 327.

He also set an NFL record last year when he played his 21st season with the same team.