Razorbacks begin hoops play in Vegas
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas will open the 2012 Las Vegas Invitational against Arizona State.
The first-round pairings in the early-season tournament were revealed Thursday. The Razorbacks will play the Sun Devils on Nov. 23 and will play either Creighton or Wisconsin on Nov. 24.
Arkansas, which is currently preparing for next month’s summer tour in Italy, will play Arizona State for the first time since 1991. The Razorbacks beat the Sun Devils 97-90 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Arkansas also will be playing in Las Vegas for just the second time in school history during the preseason tournament. The Razorbacks lost to UNLV 101-93 in Dec. 1989.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Track and Field receives accolades
FAYETTEVILLE —The University of Arkansas women’s track and field team has been tabbed the Scholar Team of the Year for the 2012 indoor season, as announced Thursday by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Additionally, the Razorbacks had 12 student-athletes earn USTFCCCA All-Academic honors for their individual successes in the classroom.
Arkansas was named Indoor Scholar Team of the Year as a result of being the highest-placing team with at least a 3.00 cumulative grade-point average at the most recent NCAA indoor and outdoor meets. The Razorbacks hold a team GPA of 3.183 and finished fifth at the 2012 NCAA Indoor Championships in March. Previously recognized in 2002, this is Arkansas’ second Scholar Team of the Year selection from the USTFCCCA.
Miami to raise banner against Boston
MIAMI — LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat will raise their NBA championship banner at home on Oct. 30 against the Boston Celtics. This means Ray Allen’s first game with Miami will be against his former team and a rematch of last year’s seven-game Eastern Conference finals.
Washington visits Cleveland an hour earlier to technically become the first NBA game of the season.
Passenger suing Suh after early-morning crash
A passenger in a one-car accident involving Ndamukong Suh last December is suing the Detroit Lions star defensive tackle for more than $1 million in Oregon court.
In a complaint filed on Thursday, Saadia Van Winkle alleges Suh engaged in negligence, reckless driving and intentional infliction of emotional distress after he crashed his 1970 Chevrolet Coupe into a curb, light pole, drinking fountain and tree in the early-morning hours of Dec. 3 while he was serving a two-game suspension from the Lions.
Japan pulls off upset of Spain in group play
GLASGOW, Scotland — The opening ceremonies of the Olympics has yet to be held and already there is a shocking result in men’s soccer.
Japan pulled off the upset of the young tournament, stunning gold-medal favorite and 10-man Spain, 1-0, in a Group D encounter at Hampden Park on Thursday.
Striker Yuki Otsu scored the only goal of the match, heading in a corner kick in the 34th minute, and the Japanese and goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda made sure the lead held up. Spain had three players from its Euro 2012 championship side on the team, including Juan Mata, Jordi Alba and Javi Martínez.