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Last Update on March 13, 2010 17:44 EST

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Evan Turner scored 12 of his 31 points after regulation Saturday, leading No. 6 Ohio State past Illinois 88-81 in double overtime.

The Big Ten player of the year finished with a triple double -- 31 points, 10 rebounds, 10 turnovers.

The Illini had two chances to win at the buzzer but failed to get off shots both times. That gave Turner a chance to dominate the second overtime. After Jon Diebler hit a 3, Turner's back-to-back layups put the Buckeyes up 82-77 with three minutes to play, and Illinois never got another chance to tie the score.

The Buckeyes will play for the Big Ten title tomorrow against No. 6 Purdue or sixth-seeded Minnesota.

In other tournament action:

-- No. 2 Kentucky beat 15th-ranked Tennessee 74-45 to advance to their accustomed spot in the Southeastern Conference tournament championship game. DeMarcus Cousins had 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Wildcats, while Eric Bledsoe had 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from 3-point range. Kentucky will play either No. 20 Vanderbilt or Mississippi State for the SEC title tomorrow.

-- Kyle Singler scored 27 points to help fourth-ranked Duke push ahead in the second half to beat Miami 77-74 in Saturday's Atlantic Coast Conference tournament semifinals.

-- No. 17 Temple held Rhode Island to its lowest point total in five years and beat them 57-44 in an Atlantic 10 Conference tournament semifinal. Ryan Brooks scored 16 points for the top-seeded Owls.

-- Houston surged past No. 25 UTEP down the stretch to claim its first NCAA tournament berth in 18 years with an 81-73 victory in the Conference USA tournament title game. Kelvin Lewis scored 28 points to lead the Cougars.

-- Marqus Blakely scored 24 points as Vermont beat Boston University 83-70. The Catamounts' America East championship gives them an automatic NCAA tournament bid.

-- Morgan State is headed to the big dance for the second year in a row. Kevin Thompson had 18 points and 10 rebounds as the Bears beat South Carolina State 68-61 to capture the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title.

WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Texas A&M hands Nebraska first loss of season

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Danielle Adams had 22 points while No. 11 Texas A&M forced Kelsey Griffin to the bench with early foul trouble and spoiled No. 3 Nebraska's unbeaten season with an 80-70 victory in the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament.

Nebraska was bidding to become just the 12th team to make it to the NCAA tournament unbeaten. Griffin, the Big 12 player of the year and catalyst behind the only undefeated regular season in Big 12 history, had three fouls at halftime and got saddled with her fourth early in the second half.

With the 6-foot-2 senior sitting long-faced on the bench for several minutes at a stretch, the Huskers could not stop their school-record winning streak from coming to an end.

Top-ranked UConn is the only unbeaten team heading to the NCAA tournament.

NHL-SCHEDULE

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Philadelphia Flyers pulled out a dramatic victory over the Chicago Blackhawks thanks to Chris Pronger's last second heroics.

With just 2.1 seconds remaining on the clock, the big defenseman beat a diving Cristobal Huet to the glove side, giving the home team a come-from-behind 3-2 win.

All five goals came in the final period. Scott Hartnell set up Pronger's heroics, tying the game with about two minutes to go.

There's one other afternoon game, and it's out West. San Jose is playing host to the Florida Panthers. The Sharks have a 2-0 lead after one.

The rest of the league's nine-game slate is set for tonight.

NHL-NEWS

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) -- New York Islanders captain Doug Weight will have season-ending shoulder surgery that could also mark the conclusion of the center's 18-year NHL career.

The 39-year-old Weight has a torn rotator cuff and labrum in his left shoulder, injuries sustained in November. He has played through the pain, but said Saturday before the Islanders' morning skate in advance of their game against New Jersey that he will have surgery Thursday.

Weight has one goal and 16 assists in 36 games this season. New York began Saturday in 14th place in the Eastern Conference, 11 points off the playoff pace with 15 games remaining.

NFL-OFFSEASON NEWS

NEW YORK (AP) -- LaDainian Tomlinson is heading home to San Diego to consider his options after spending a day with the New York Jets and leaving without a deal.

The free-agent running back was on a flight this morning after his visit. He had dinner in New Jersey on Friday night with coach Rex Ryan, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and other team officials.

That meeting came a day after Tomlinson was in Minnesota to meet with members of the Vikings. Minnesota hopes to sign the eighth-leading rusher in NFL history. It was uncertain if Tomlinson would decide between the Jets and Vikings, or visit other teams.

Tomlinson turns 31 in June and was released by the Chargers last month.

NBA-NEWS

Bobcats sign G Hughes; Wallace's MRI negative

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Charlotte Bobcats have signed veteran guard Larry Hughes to help with depth in the backcourt as they attempt to reach the playoffs for the first time.

Meanwhile, an MRI on forward Gerald Wallace's left ankle has revealed no fractures or ligament ruptures. But Wallace likely will miss tomorrow's game at Orlando.

General manager Rod Higgins announced earlier this month that the team wouldn't sign Hughes because of a broken finger. But the injury healed sooner than expected, and Hughes could be ready to play in about a week. He walked through plays and participated in shooting drills in practice today.

Charlotte has been looking for help in the backcourt after trading Flip Murray to Chicago last month.

MLB-SPRING TRAINING

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Arizona Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch says it's becoming "very evident" Brandon Webb likely will begin the season on the disabled list.

Hinch said Webb was playing long toss today, and he's unsure when he will pitch in his first Cactus League game.

The right-hander had shoulder surgery in August and could throw in the bullpen this week. Webb last threw in the bullpen on March 4, saying he felt "stagnant."

But Hinch is encouraged that Webb has been throwing breaking balls while on flat ground.

Starting pitchers Dan Haren, Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy have made two exhibition starts each. Hinch had tabbed Haren as the opening day starter, with Webb going in the third game April 7 against San Diego.

In other news out of spring training:

-- The Minnesota Twins have signed center fielder Denard Span to a five-year, $16.5 million contract. The agreement includes a $9 million team option for 2015. Span cemented a spot on the big league roster last year, hitting .311 with eight homers, 10 triples and 68 RBIs in 145 games, while playing excellent defense in all three outfield spots.

-- The Chicago Cubs' Derrek Lee will miss a few more spring training games with a left foot injury. The first baseman fouled a ball off the top of his foot on Wednesday, but says it isn't serious. Manager Lou Piniella describes it as "just a bone bruise."

-- Cleveland Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera is nursing a strained left groin. He injured it yesterday, while diving back to third base on a pickoff attempt in a game against the Texas Rangers. He's day-to-day.

-- Chicago White Sox outfield prospect Jared Mitchell is scheduled for surgery Tuesday to repair a torn tendon on his left ankle. Mitchell sprained his ankle while making a spectacular, against-the-wall catch in a 10-7 split-squad win over the Los Angeles Angels.

PGA-WGC-CA CHAMPIONSHIP

MIAMI (AP) -- Ernie Els has a one-shot lead over fellow South African Charl Schwartzel in the third round of the CA Championship at Doral.

Padraig Harrington is two shots back.

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