YSU

YSU
Men's basketball
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State team will play at Bowling Green Feb. 21 at 3:30 p.m. as part of ESPN's Bracket Buster Saturday.
The teams haven't played since the 1991-92 season, when Bowling Green won 65-45 at Beeghly Center.
Other matchups for Horizon League teams in the Bracket Buster are Ohio at Butler, Manhattan at UW-Milwaukee, Detroit at Ball State, UNC-Wilmington at Illinois-Chicago, Loyola at Illinois State, Eastern Michigan at Cleveland State and Northern Iowa at UW-Green Bay.
Women's soccer
YOUNGSTOWN -- Anthony James has been named head coach Monday.
James spent the last four seasons at West Virginia Wesleyan College, a Division II school, where he had a 55-25-3 record. Last season, the Bobcats finished 16-3-2 overall and won the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship for the second time in three years. James was named conference coach of the year in 2001 and 2003.
From 1997 to 2000 James was coach at Wheeling (W. Va.) Park High, where he directed his team to consecutive state titles in 1998 and 1999. He was named West Virginia High School Soccer Coaches Association coach of the year in 1999.
James has been a Region I staff coach for the U.S. Olympic Development Program since 1998. He is also the founder and director of coaching for Soccer Vision Academy. He holds his NSCAA National, Advance National and Premier Diploma.
James, a native of Port of Spain, Trinidad, spent four years as the assistant women's soccer coach at Wheeling Jesuit College.
LOCAL
Ursuline gametips off early
YOUNGSTOWN -- Tonight's boys varsity basketball game between Ursuline and Erie McDowell will tip off at 6:30 p.m. in the Fighting Irish's gymnasium. The junior varsity game will begin at 5 p.m.
Poland hockeyteam ties 7-7
Jim Pasquine scored four goals and had two assists as Poland tied North Allegheny 7-7 in a high school ice hockey game Monday.
Rob Wyand added three goals, with two assists for the Bulldogs. Goalkeeper Cody Hiznay had 38 saves.
Chris Simanac and Joe Camut each had two goals for North Allegheny. Adam Luty had 38 saves.
NATION
Tigers, Rodriguezfinalize deal
DETROIT -- Ivan Rodriguez finalized his $40 million, four-year contract with the Detroit Tigers, leaving the World Series champion Florida Marlins to join a team that last year set the American League record for losses.
Rodriguez, a 10-time All-Star and MVP of the NL championship series, gets $7 million this year, $8 million in 2005 and $11 million each in 2006 and 2007, according to contract information obtained by The Associated Press.
Henson leaves Yanks
NEW YORK -- Drew Henson has agreed to leave the New York Yankees to pursue a career in the NFL.
Henson's agent, Casey Close, told the Yankees the third baseman is quitting after three mediocre seasons in the minor leagues, a baseball official said on the condition he not be identified.
Henson will forfeit the $12 million he is owed from the contract he agreed to with the Yankees in 2001, the official said.
The NFL's Houston Texans, who hold the quarterback's rights, announced that Henson would work out with the team on Feb. 12 in a showcase for the other 31 NFL franchises.
Bryant, citing illness, misses court date
EAGLE, Colo. -- Kobe Bryant missed a court appearance in his sexual assault case as attorneys argued privately over whether his accuser has waived her right to medical privacy.
Defense attorney Pamela Mackey told reporters that Bryant was sick. The judge opened the two-day hearing without the Los Angeles Laker after Bryant waived his right to appear.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys questioned at least seven witnesses behind closed doors, apparently trying to determine what Bryant's 19-year-old accuser told them about her medical history.
Vindicator staff/wire reports