RACERS BLOW DOUBLE-DIGIT LEAD IN ASU LOSS
The Murray State Racers let a second half lead slip away in a 55-47 loss at Arkansas State at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro, Ark. With 4:55 before the half, the Racers took their largest lead of the game at 24-14 when Danero Thomas made a block and Tony Easley found Kevin Thomas for an easy basket. The Red Wolves cut the lead to five at halftime and then took the lead for good on a Shawn Morgan basket with 8 minutes remaining. MSU was outscored 16-7 in the final 8:25 of the game after having their last lead at 40-39. Racers head coach Billy Kennedy says his team had its chances, but couldn't overcome the more physical Red Wolves. Danero Thomas led the Racers with 16 points, with Ivan Aska adding 13. The Racers were hot from the field in the opening half hitting 48 percent (12-25), but went cold in the second half shooting 26 percent (7-26). ASU was cold in the first half shooting 26 percent (7-26), but rebounded with 47 percent (10-21). The Racers lost the rebounding battle 37-28. The Racers are now 1-1 as they welcome Western Kentucky to the RSEC Saturday night at 7.  In other OVC basketball last night: Drake shot 63 percent from the field in the second half to beat Morehead State 86-70. Maze Stallworth led the Eagles with 26 points...Eastern Illinois rolled to an 82-53 win over Manchester College behind 17 points from Romain Martin.

OVC WOMEN
Morehead State 98, Saint Louis 86
Vanderbilt 80, Eastern Kentucky 38
Bradley 71, Eastern Illinois 69

GUO IS FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Murray State setter Jade Guo was named the 2008 Freshman of the Year. Guo was also one of three Murray State volleyball players to be named to the All-Newcomer Team, and one of two to earn All-OVC Second Team honors. Joining Guo on the All-Newcomer team are libero Kayleah Sauer and outside hitter Logan Su. The Freshman of the Year award is the second for MSU volleyball, and the first player of the year honor since 2006 when Heather Norris was named Defensive Player of the Year. Su was also the second Racer to earn All-OVC Second Team honors. This is the first time in school history that the Racers have had three players named to the All-Newcomer team in the same season. The No. 3 Racers are in Cookeville for a 5 p.m. battle with No. 6 UT Martin in the quarterfinals of the 2008 OVC Volleyball Championship.

HAMILTON: NEW VOLS COACH BY MID-DECEMBER
Tennessee Vols athletic director Mike Hamilton says he hopes to have a new football coach hired around mid-December, if not sooner. Hamilton would not discuss candidates publicly, saying only he has interviewed several and will interview more before making an offer. The most prominent names mentioned so far are North Carolina coach Butch Davis, Texas Tech's Mike Leach and Brian Kelly of Cincinnati. Hamilton says he will be able to offer a competitive salary to the coach of his choice. The Vols, currently 3-and-7, play Saturday at Vanderbilt, before closing their season next Saturday at home against Kentucky.

NATIONAL SPORTS UPDATE

Wednesday's Results
-------------------

National Basketball Association
-------------------------------
Allen Iverson scored 23 points, had four steals and doled out four assists to
lead the Detroit Pistons in a 96-89 comeback win over the Cavaliers, snapping
Cleveland's eight-game winning streak. Rasheed Wallace added 21 points and
hauled in 15 rebounds for the Pistons, who have won four of five overall.
Richard Hamilton chipped in 15 points and five helpers in the win. LeBron
James had 25 points, six assists, six boards and four steals for the
Cavaliers. Mo Williams also had 25 points, while Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 13.
Anderson Varejao ended with 11 boards.

Elsewhere in the NBA:
---------------------
Atlanta Hawks 91, Washington Wizards 87
Toronto Raptors 101, Miami Heat 95
Dallas Mavericks 96, Houston Rockets 86
Minnesota Timberwolves 102, Philadelphia 76ers 96
Sacramento Kings 105, New Orleans Hornets 96
Los Angeles Clippers 108, Oklahoma City Thunder 88
Denver Nuggets 91, San Antonio Spurs 81
Utah Jazz 105, Milwaukee Bucks 94
Portland Trail Blazers 116, Chicago Bulls 74


National Hockey League
----------------------
Chuck Kobasew and Zdeno Chara both scored twice, as the red-hot Boston Bruins
scored the last five goals and defeated the Buffalo Sabres, 7-4, at TD
Banknorth Garden. Marc Savard registered a goal and three assists, while David
Krejci had a goal and two helpers for the Bruins, who have won 10 of their
last 12 games and lead the Northeast Division with 28 points. Phil Kessel
scored a goal and assisted on another for Boston, which has won six straight
games as the host. Manny Fernandez stopped 25-of-29 shots to pick up the win.

Elsewhere in the NHL:
---------------------
Vancouver Canucks 6, New York Rangers 3
Washington Capitals 6, Anaheim Ducks 4


Top-25 College Football
-----------------------
Nate Davis threw four touchdown passes and MiQuale Lewis rushed for 177 yards
as the 14th-ranked Ball State Cardinals stayed perfect on the season with a
31-24 decision over Central Michigan in an exciting Mid-American Conference
bout. Davis notched just 175 passing yards on 12-of-22 efficiency in cold,
windy conditions that saw the occasional snowfall, but it was enough for Ball
State (11-0, 7-0 MAC) to improve the best start in program history while
clinching a share of the MAC West Division title and recording a school record
for wins in a season. Both of Louis Johnson's catches went for touchdowns,
while Briggs Orsbon and Daniel Ifft brought down the other scores for the
Cardinals, who play Western Michigan in their regular-season finale next
Tuesday to try and lock up a spot in the conference title game. Dan LeFevour
did all he could in an effort to clinch the Chippewas' (8-3, 6-1) third
straight MAC West Division title, passing for 345 yards and two touchdowns on
30-of-44 attempts while rushing for a team-high 75 yards on 24 carries. But
his interception in the closing seconds proved costly in snapping CMU's six-
game winning streak.


Top-25 College Basketball
-------------------------
Raymar Morgan scored 22 points and hauled in six rebounds to lead fifth-ranked
Raymar Morgan scored 22 points and hauled in six rebounds to lead fifth-ranked
Michigan State past IPFW, 70-59. Kalin Lucas added 17 points and doled out
three assists for the Spartans (2-0), who began their season on Sunday with a
100-62 romp over Idaho. Chris Allen chipped in seven points and three boards
in the win.

Elsewhere in the top 25:
------------------------
(20) Wake Forest 120, UNC-Wilmington 88
(23) Villanova 77, Niagara 62


=== As of 7:45 a.m. (et) ===


=== MLB ===

New York Yankees right-hander Mike Mussina is reportedly retiring after 18
seasons in the major leagues. According to a published report, Mussina has
decided to call it a career and will officially announce his retirement later
this week. Mussina, coming off the first 20-win campaign of his illustrious
career, was awarded his seventh Gold Glove this past season. His 2,813 career
strikeouts rank sixth among active pitchers and 19th on the all-time list. The
first-round pick of the Orioles in 1990 would finish his career with a 270-153
record and a 3.68 ERA. Mussina has pitched his whole career in the American
League East -- the last eight seasons with the Yanks and the first 10 of his
career with the Baltimore Orioles.

===

The Seattle Mariners, as expected, have named Don Wakamatsu their new manager.
The 45-year-old Wakamatsu spent last season as bench coach with the Oakland
Athletics after a five-year stint as a coach with the Texas Rangers. A former
catcher, Wakamatsu's playing career spanned 12 seasons with seven
organizations. His only stint in the majors came in 1991, when he played in 18
games with the Chicago White Sox, batting .226 with no homers or runs batted
in. The Mariners interviewed seven candidates, none of whom had major league
managerial experience, to take over a team that finished with the worst record
in the American League at 61-101 last year after entering the campaign with
high expectations. John McLaren was fired on June 19 and Jim Riggleman guided
the club the rest of the way.

===

The Boston Red Sox have traded outfielder Coco Crisp to the Kansas City Royals
for right-handed reliever Ramon Ramirez. The 29-year-old Crisp hit .283 last
season with seven home runs, 41 RBI and 55 runs scored. His value, though, is
more in the field than at the plate, but he became expendable with the
emergence of Jacoby Ellsbury. In three seasons with the Red Sox, Crisp hit
.271 with 21 homers and 137 RBI. Crisp, who will earn $5.75 million this
coming season and has an $8 million club option with a $500,000 buyout for
2010, enjoyed his best season in 2005 with Cleveland when he set career highs,
hitting .300 with 16 home runs and 178 hits. Ramirez, meanwhile, appeared in
71 games for the Royals last season and was 3-2 with a save and a 2.64 earned
run average.


=== NFL ===

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said cornerback Adam Jones has been
reinstated from his suspension by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, but the
player must miss two more games before coming back Dec. 7 at Pittsburgh.
Adam Jones was suspended indefinitely without pay by the league for an
alcohol-related altercation with a personal security guard at a Dallas hotel.
He was suspended at least four games for violating his reinstatement
arrangement, which expected the 25-year-old to refrain from any behavior that
put him, his team or the league in a negative light. Before the season,
Goodell reinstated Jones, formerly known by his nickname "Pacman," after being
suspended for the entire 2007 season for off-the-field conduct when he was a
member of the Tennessee Titans.

===

Despite the fact the Cardinals are sitting atop the NFC West and inching
closer to their first division crown since 1975, running back Edgerrin James
is unhappy over losing his starting job and reportedly wants out of Arizona.
According to an Arizona newspaper, James, through his agent, Drew Rosenhaus,
asked the organization for his release two weeks ago, and the Cardinals have
refused. James, the fourth overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft, was benched on
November 2 at St. Louis in favor of rookie Tim Hightower and has carried the
ball just three times for five yards during Arizona's three-game winning
streak. The Miami-Florida product inked a four-year, $30 million deal in 2006
and has rushed for 385 yards and three touchdowns in nine games this season.
Arizona is 7-3 this season and holds a four-game lead over the San Francisco
49ers in the West.

===

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed their leading rusher, Earnest Graham, on
injured reserve Wednesday. Graham, who had already been nursing a knee injury,
suffered a right ankle injury in Sunday's 19-13 win over the Minnesota
Vikings. The five-year veteran was hurt on his first carry of the game and had
to be helped to the sideline. Graham and Warrick Dunn had split the running
back duties this season, so Dunn will probably see more carries as a result of
the injury. Graham leads the team with 563 yards and four touchdowns, while
Dunn has chipped in 476 yards and one score. Former first-round draft pick
Carnell "Cadillac" Williams is also an option for the Bucs. Williams was
activated off the physically unable to perform list early last week, but sat
out last Sunday's game and has not played since September 30, 2007 when he
suffered a torn patellar tendon in a contest against Carolina.

===

New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs did not practice Wednesday because
of a knee injury suffered in Sunday's 30-10 win over Baltimore. Giants head
coach Tom Coughlin said Jacobs' condition is day-to-day, but he expected the
running back would return to practice on Thursday. Jacobs said it is not as
serious an injury as the knee sprain that kept him out of three contests last
season, and that he will know more about his condition after Thursday's
practice, should he participate. Jacobs has rushed for 879 yards and 11
touchdowns this season for the Giants, who hold the NFC's best record at 9-1.
Additionally for New York, cornerback Aaron Ross -- who was selected as the
NFC's top defensive player for Week 11 -- missed Wednesday's practice with a
hamstring injury, as did linebacker Chase Blackburn, who has a neck ailment.

===

Week 12 of the NFL season gets off to an early start Thursday night when the
Pittsburgh Steelers host the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers come into the
contest with a one-game advantage on its only meaningful competition, the 6-4
Baltimore Ravens, in the AFC North. The Steelers moved a game up on Baltimore
on Sunday, outlasting the Chargers, 11-10, in a thriller won on a 32-yard Jeff
Reed field goal with 11 seconds to play. The victory, coupled with the Ravens'
30-10 loss at the Giants, helped strengthen the Steelers' chances of both
winning the division and securing an all-important first-round playoff bye.
Cincinnat is just 1-8-1 and coming off a 13-13 tie with Philadelphia on
Sunday.


=== COLLEGE BASKETBALL ===

The NCAA Division I men's basketball committee has announced five selections
as hosts for the Final Four starting in 2012 and running through 2016. The
Superdome in New Orleans will host in 2012, followed by the Georgia Dome in
Atlanta, the new Cowboys stadium in Arlington, Texas, Lucas Oil Stadium in
Indianapolis and Reliant Stadium in Houston.

===

North Carolina freshman forward Tyler Zeller suffered a fractured left wrist
in Tuesday's 77-58 win over Kentucky and, after undergoing surgery on
Wednesday, doctors believe it is a season-ending injury. Zeller went up for a
dunk late in the game and was fouled, then came down on his left wrist. He
broke both the radius and ulna. Dr. Don Bynum performed the successful surgery
on Wednesday afternoon. Zeller is expected to make a full recovery, but the
recovery time for an injury of this degree is 12-to-16 weeks. Zeller started
the Tar Heels' first two games of the season in lieu of the injured Tyler
Hansbrough, the reigning National Player of the Year. Zeller poured in a team-
high 18 points in a season-opening win over Penn, and added two points and a
pair of steals in the Kentucky triumph.


=== COLLEGE FOOTBALL ===

Nate Davis threw four touchdown passes and MiQuale Lewis rushed for 177 yards
as the 14th-ranked Ball State Cardinals stayed perfect on the season with a
31-24 decision over Central Michigan in an exciting Mid-American Conference
bout. Davis notched just 175 passing yards on 12-of-22 efficiency in cold,
windy conditions that saw the occasional snowfall, but it was enough for Ball
State (11-0, 7-0 MAC) to improve the best start in program history while
clinching a share of the MAC West Division title and recording a school record
for wins in a season. Both of Louis Johnson's catches went for touchdowns,
while Briggs Orsbon and Daniel Ifft brought down the other scores for the
Cardinals, who play Western Michigan in their regular-season finale next
Tuesday. Dan LeFevour did all he could in an effort to clinch the Chippewas'
(8-3, 6-1) third straight MAC West Division title, passing for 345 yards and
two touchdowns on 30-of-44 attempts while rushing for a team-high 75 yards on
24 carries. But his interception in the closing seconds proved costly in
snapping CMU's six-game winning streak. Kito Poblah caught five balls for 110
yards and a touchdown, while kicker Andrew Aguila missed 2-of-3 field goal
attempts in the loss.

===

In a crucial ACC Coastal Division battle, the 23rd-ranked Miami- Florida
Hurricanes square off against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd
Stadium Thursday night. After starting the season just 2-3, the Hurricanes
have got things rolling and have won five straight games, marking their
longest such streak since posting eight victories in a row in 2005. The
Hurricanes are certainly doing some positive things these days, but they are
closely followed in the Coastal Division standings by four teams and most
likely will need to win their last two contests to advance to the ACC
championship game. One of the those teams chasing Miami is Georgia Tech, which
owns a 4-3 ledger within the conference. The Yellow Jackets, though, are
coming off a disappointing showing, dropping a 28-7 decision at nationally-
ranked North Carolina November 8.