CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Devoe Joseph scored 16 points and Minnesota helped its NCAA men's basketball tournament chances while dealing a blow to Illinois' hopes with a 62-60 road victory on Saturday.
The Gophers (17-11, 8-8 Big Ten) led by 19 with 7:11 to play and looked to be cruising to the victory, but the Illini (18-11, 10-6) rallied to cut the deficit to one in the final 80 seconds.
D. J. Richardson's shot to tie the game at the buzzer was short.
Jordan buys Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats majority owner Bob Johnson announced he's selling control of the NBA team to Michael Jordan, the Hall of Fame player who has overseen the Bobcats' basketball operation the past few years.
ADVERTISEMENT
Jordan beat out former Houston Rockets president George Postolos, who led an investor group looking to buy the team. Johnson contacted Postolos late Friday to inform him that Jordan would be buying the team.
Bucks thump Heat
MIAMI -- The Milwaukee Bucks gave the Miami Heat another thumping Saturday, this time with Dwyane Wade watching from the bench. John Salmons scored 18 points and the Bucks took advantage of the injured Wade's absence to win their sixth game in a row, 94-71.
Jerry Stackhouse had 16 points and Carlos Delfino 15 for the Bucks. Jermaine O'Neal had 14 points for the Heat.
Southwest coach leaves
BROOKINGS, S.D. -- Eric Eidsness, the head football coach at Southwest Minnesota State, has stepped down to rejoin South Dakota State's coaching staff. Eidsness will be the Jackrabbits' quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator, under head coach John Stiegelmeier.
Eidsness has been head coach at Southwest Minnesota State since 2004. He compiled a 26-40 record during his six-year tenure.
He was South Dakota State's offensive coordinator from 1999 to 2003. He was also involved in the coaching staff during the 1996 and 1997 seasons, when he was a graduate assistant.
ADVERTISEMENT
Snedeker leads Phoenix
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Brandt Snedeker finished at 14-under 199 for a one-shot lead over Scott Piercy going into today's final round of the Phoenix Open. Rickie Fowler and Matt Every were two back at 12-under.
