Mitchell leads NMSD to victory

Karina Mitchell made an auspicious debut Thursday night for New Mexico School for the Deaf.

Mitchell, a junior transfer from Las Cruces Oñate, scored 20 points as the Lady Roadrunners defeated New Life Baptist Academy 39-21 in nondistrict girls basketball.

NMSD outscored New Life 16-3 in the third quarter. The Lady Roadrunners led 16-9 at halftime.

"They played without fear and executed the press very well," Letty Perez, NMSD head coach, wrote in an e-mail, referring to the second half.

Mitchell, who did not play the fourth quarter, also grabbed five rebounds and finished with five steals. Senior Katie Velasquez scored nine points and had four rebounds. Rosina Garcia, an eighth-grader, contributed seven steals and three assists in her varsity debut.

UCLA advances to 2K semifinals

LOS ANGELES — Darren Collison made two free throws with 21 seconds remaining and No. 4 UCLA survived a defensive struggle to beat Miami (Ohio) 64-59 on Thursday night in the 2K Sports Classic.

The Bruins (2-0) advanced to next week's semifinals against Michigan at New York's Madison Square Garden. No. 8 Duke meets Southern Illinois in the other game.

Seniors Collison and Josh Shipp both scored 16 points to help UCLA earn its 30th consecutive home win over a nonconference opponent.

Maradona denies rumors

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Diego Maradona will remain the Argentina head coach after denying speculation that he planned to resign because of a dispute over his assistants with his boss.

"I'm still the coach. There's been no changes, no resignations, nothing," Maradona said. "Things are the same as they always were," Maradona added.

Officially appointed coach only last week, Maradona reportedly said he would quit before or after his first match in charge next Wednesday, a friendly at Scotland, because of a dispute with Argentine Football Association president Julio Grondona.

Popovych joins Astana team

Yaroslav Popovych rejoined Lance Armstrong on the Astana team hoping to create a winning combination at the Giro d' Italia.

Popovych was a support rider who helped Armstrong win his record seventh straight Tour de France in 2005. He will work again with Johan Bruyneel, the Astana team director who guided Armstrong during his Tour victories.

Armstrong, making a comeback after three years in retirement, hasn't decided whether he will try for an eighth Tour de France title in 2009. He has committed to racing in the Giro.

Holyfield to face Valuev for title

Evander Holyfield is getting another chance at a heavyweight title.

The 46-year-old former champion will challenge 7-foot giant Nikolai Valuev for the WBA crown Dec. 20 at Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland, arena management said.

Holyfield (42-9-2, 27 KOs) hasn't fought since losing a one-sided decision to then-WBO champion Sultan Ibragimov more than a year ago. Holyfield is winless in his last four title fights since beating John Ruiz for the WBA belt in 2000.