COLLEGE BASKETBALL

CLEMSON KNOCKS SYRACUSE OUT OF NIT TOURNAMENT K.C. Rivers had a career-high 29 points and Clemson advanced to the NIT semifinals with a 74–70 win over Syracuse last night. It was the Tigers (24-10) ninth straight NIT victory at home. But this one did not come easily. Syracuse (24-11) cut Clemson’s 17-point lead to 69–68 on Demetris Nichols tip-in with 19.8 seconds left. However, Rivers, the team’s best free-throw shooter hit a pair of foul shots to extend the lead. Paul Harris’s open 3-pointer with about 10 seconds left bounced off the rim and into the arms of Tiger guard Vern Hamil ton.

FOOTBALL

FALCONS TO TRADE QB SCHAUB TO TEXANS The Houston Texans are close to acquiring Matt Schaub from the Atlanta Falcons. A trade for the highly regarded backup quarterback was expected to be announced today, according to a person with knowledge of the deal who requested anonymity because the deal hadn’t been completed. The person did not disclose the details of the trade. The Houston Chronicle and the NFL Network said the Falcons will get secondround picks in 2007 and 2008 and that the teams will swap firstround picks this year, with Atlanta moving from 10th to eighth.

Associated Press