AP - Merlin Olsen, a Hall of Fame defensive lineman and member of the Los Angeles Rams'"Fearsome Foursome" who followed up football with a successful television career in "Little House on the Prairie," NFL broadcasts and commercials, has died. He was 69.

AP - Lazar Hayward gave Marquette the lead for good with a 3-pointer with 1:51 to play, then added the clinching free throws with 3.2 seconds left, and the Golden Eagles went on to another close win, 80-76 over No. 10 Villanova on Thursday in the Big East tournament quarterfinals.

AP - Cavaliers star LeBron James is tired of watching basketball and ready to start playing again.

AP - Suspected gang member Willie Clark was found guilty of murder Thursday in the drive-by shooting death of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams after a New Year's Eve outing three years ago.

AP - Chris Wright scored 27 points and No. 22 Georgetown sailed past No. 3 Syracuse with an impressive second-half surge, beating the top-seeded Orange 91-84 in the Big East tournament quarterfinals Thursday.

AP - Kansas reached a major milestone, one just two other programs can claim.

Reuters - The Dallas Mavericks rallied after a stuttering start to extend their league-leading winning streak to 13 games with a 96-87 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday.

AP - Wayne Chism had 17 points and 10 rebounds and No. 15 Tennessee overcame its worst first half of the season to beat LSU 59-49 in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament on Thursday.

AFP - Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas apologised Thursday for his side's elimination from the Champions League at the last-16 stage for the sixth consecutive season and said the players are to blame.

AFP - Belgian Tom Boonen of Quick Step won the second stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico on Thursday after a 165-kilometre ride from Rosignano to Montecatini Terme.

AP - Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bill Guerin says the NHL must outlaw hits to the head.

AFP - World number one Roger Federer faces a potentially difficult path to the final of the Indian Wells hardcourt tournament, the season's first prestigious ATP Masters 1000 event.

AP - Lee Westwood is the leader of an English revolution in the world of golf as the highest-ranked player at No. 4 in the world and a two-time winner of the European Tour money list.

AP - Lindsey Vonn crashed and bruised her right knee during the World Cup giant slalom Thursday, but is expected to compete Friday in the super-G in an attempt to win her third straight overall title.