COLLEGE BASKETBALL

MONMOUTH ROUTS HAMPTON FOR FINAL NCAA SLOT A Monmouth team with a history of being on the short end of NCAA blowouts opened the tournament on the other side of one. Chris Kenny set an opening-round record with six 3-pointers last night, and 7-foot-2 center John Bunch entertained the crowd with his bulk and his blocks during a 71-49 victory over Hampton in the play-in game.

Monmouth (19-14) moves on to Philadelphia to play no. 1 seed Villanova in the Wildcats’ backyard on Friday, looking to pull off that elusive 16-over-1 upset. Even if they don’t get it, the Northeast Conference champions have already had a breakthrough tournament. The Hawks hadn’t come close to winning any of their three previous NCAA appearances. Monmouth lost by 24 points to Marquette in 1996, by 43 points to no. 1 seed Duke in 2001, and by 33 points to Mississippi State in 2004. The conference hadn’t even won an NCAA tournament game since 1983.

FOOTBALL

TITANS SIGN MAWAE, GIVENS The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms yesterday with center Kevin Mawae, released last month by the Jets after he finished the 2005 season on injured reserve with a torn left triceps in an October 16 game at Buffalo. Mawae spent eight seasons of his 12-year career with the Jets and was named to the Pro Bowl six straight years from 1999-2004.

The 35-year-old Mawae will replace Justin Hartwig, who signed with Carolina.

Also yesterday, the Titans signed receiver David Givens, one of Tom Brady’s primary targets on two of New England’s Super Bowl winners, away from the Patriots. Givens caught 59 passes for 738 yards and two touchdowns last year for New England.

RAMS SIGN BROWN, KITNA GOES TO DETROIT The St. Louis Rams signed free agent cornerback Fakhir Brown to a five-year contract yesterday. Brown played in 12 games for the New Orleans Saints in 2005, starting four. He had 31 tackles and six passes defended, along with four special teams tackles.

Also yesterday, quarterback Jon Kitna reached a tentative agreement with the Detroit Lions, his agent said. Kitna, 33, is a nine-year veteran who spent the past five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, earning comeback player of the year honors as a starter in 2003 before becoming the backup to Carson Palmer.

BASEBALL

RED SOX SIGN FRANCONA THROUGH 2008 Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona agreed yesterday to a two-year contract extension that runs through the 2008 season. The Red Sox gave Francona a bonus for 2006; his salary in 2007 and 2008 will be $1.65 million and $1.85 million, respectively, sources reported.

In his first season with Boston in 2004, Francona managed the Red Sox to their first World Series title in 86 years. They won AL wild card again last season but were swept by the Chicago White Sox in the first round of the playoffs. Francona, also managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 1997-2000.

TENNIS

HINGIS UPSETS DAVENPORT AT INDIAN WELLS Martina Hingis won the latest round in a rivalry with Lindsay Davenport that stretches back more than a decade, taking a 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 victory yesterday in the Pacific Life Open.

On the men’s side, no. 1 Roger Federer came back after a slow start to beat no. 32 Olivier Rochus 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 in their third-round match. Federer is the two-time defending champion. Also advancing were Tomas Berdych, a 7-5, 6-3 winner over 2002 and 2003 tournament champion and 2005 finalist Lleyton Hewitt; and Marcos Baghdatis, who defeated Gaston Gaudio 6-3, 6-2.

The 25-year-old Hingis, playing a full schedule this year for the first time since an injury-plagued 2002 campaign, won for the 11th time in 25 career matches against Davenport, 29.The two former no. 1s, who first played each other in 1995, had not met since 2001 until their fourth-round match at Indian Wells.

– Associated Press