Last Update on February 04, 2012 08:30 GMT

BLUE JACKETS-DUCKS

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Derick Brassard scored his second goal with 1:05 left in overtime, and the Columbus Blue Jackets snapped their six-game skid with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.

Jeff Carter scored the tying power-play goal in his return from a 10-game absence with a separated shoulder for the Blue Jackets, who finally won in the finale of their six-game road trip. The NHL's worst team rallied impressively from a third-period deficit in its first game since an apparent clock malfunction possibly cost them a point in a 3-2 loss up the I-5 freeway in Los Angeles two nights ago.

Teemu Selanne scored his 654th and 655th career goals for the Ducks, who have lost two straight home games in discouraging fashion after a 9-1-1 run through most of January.

CAVALIERS-MAGIC

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Dwight Howard scored 19 points, had 16 rebounds and blocked eight shots as the Orlando Magic outlasted the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-94 on Friday night.

Jason Richardson also added 19 points in his first action in two games after resting a sore knee. Hedo Turkoglu added 18 points and Ryan Anderson chipped in 17.

The Magic won their seventh straight over the Cavaliers, despite playing without injured starting point guard Jameer Nelson and suspended reserve big man Glen Davis.

Orlando continues a stretch of nine games in 13 days Saturday at Indiana.

Alonzo Gee led Cleveland with 20 points, followed by Kyrie Irving with 18.

The Cavs have now lost three of their last four. Cleveland returns home to host Dallas on Saturday and head to Miami Tuesday.

INDIANS-KOTCHMAN

CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Indians have officially added first baseman Casey Kotchman to their ever-changing roster.

Cleveland finalized its $3 million, one-year deal with Kotchman on Friday, a day after reaching the agreement.

Kotchman, who batted a career-high .306 last season for Tampa Bay, likely will be Cleveland's starting first basemen. The left-handed hitter also is an exceptional fielder, which will help Cleveland's sinker-balling pitching staff.

The Indians set their sights on Kotchman after they were unable to sign Carlos Pena and Derrek Lee. Kotchman, 28, has a career .998 fielding percentage, the highest for a first basemen with at least 700 games.

Indians general manager Chris Antonetti has spent the offseason re-shaping the team. He has added six players from outside the organization to the 40-man roster.

OHIO ST-DEFENDING MEYER

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith has jumped to the defense of new football coach Urban Meyer, who has been accused of poaching recruits who had already committed to other Big Ten programs.

Meyer's first recruiting class on Wednesday included eight players who initially had said they were attending another school, including four who originally said they were going to Penn State and one each who had declared they would go to Michigan State and Wisconsin.

Coaches from Michigan State and Wisconsin have publicly questioned the Buckeyes' recruiting practices.

Smith said those coaches should have followed proper procedure by taking their complaints to their ADs. He also said Meyer and his staff have a "compliance conscience."