YSU

YSU

Martin named Player ofWeek

INDIANAPOLIS – Youngstown State senior forward Sirlester Martin has been named the Horizon League Men’s Basketball Player of the Week.

A native of Memphis, Martin tied his career high with 20 points and pulled down nine rebounds in the Penguins’ 82-69 victory over High Point on Dec. 22. He was 10-of-14 from the field, including 7-for-9 in the first half.

Martin is averaging 11.5 points per game this season and ranks 10th in the Horizon League with 5.4 rebounds per contest. He also is fifth in field-goal percentage (.491).

Youngstown State (5-6, 0-3 Horizon League) will play host to Robert Morris on Wednesday and then resume League action on Saturday when the Penguins host defending champion Cleveland State.

AREA

Malone hires Hehman as coach

CANTON — Eric Hehman has been named the new head coach of the Malone University football team.

Hehman takes over for four-year head coach Mike Gardner, who resigned recently to take the head coaching position at his former institution, Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan.

Hehman has served as the head football coach at NCAA Div. III Greenville (Ill.) College for the past five seasons having led the Panthers to a 7-3 record in 2009 including a berth in the NCCAA Victory Bowl (losing to Geneva College, 29-28), the first postseason appearance for Greenville since 2000.

Hehman also served as the Panthers’ Quarterbacks Coach this past season and as Special Teams Coordinator for the past two years.

OHIO

Capitals get Chimera from Jackets for 2

WASHINGTON — The Capitals shook up their roster a bit Monday, acquiring left wing Jason Chimera from the Blue Jackets in a trade that sends Chris Clark and defenseman Milan Jurcina to Columbus.

The deal cuts about $2 million in salary this season from Washington’s payroll, which could clear room for another trade.

Chimera has eight goals and nine assists this season, along with 47 penalty minutes, more than anyone on Washington’s roster. The deal moves him from the last-place Blue Jackets to a first-place Capitals club.

NATION

USC’s Bush, Carroll, may be questioned

SAN DIEGO — Reggie Bush lost Monday in his bid to go to confidential arbitration to settle a lawsuit filed by a fledgling sports marketer.

The state Court of Appeal upheld a lower court’s order denying Bush’s motion to compel arbitration with Lloyd Lake, meaning the case will proceed in court. Lake is trying to recoup nearly $300,000 in cash and gifts the star running back and his family allegedly accepted while he was playing at the University of Southern California.

“This was Reggie’s last-ditch effort to keep this out of the public eye,” said attorney Brian Watkins, who is representing Lake. “Now it will be litigated in the public court and people will be able to see his wrongdoing.”

Lake is accusing Bush and his parents of accepting the cash and gifts during Bush’s sophomore and junior seasons at USC.

The NCAA and Pac-10 are investigating whether Bush and his parents took improper benefits. Bush has not met with NCAA and Pac-10 investigators, and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

If Bush is found retroactively ineligible, he could lose his Heisman Trophy.

If the NCAA determines that USC violated rules, the football program could have to forfeit victories from those seasons — when the Trojans won a national championship and lost in the BCS title game against Texas — and face additional penalties.

Tests ordered for top boxers

LAS VEGAS — The head of the Nevada boxing commission ordered Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. to submit to urine tests Monday as a way of trying to break the impasse that has threatened to derail their proposed March 13 megafight.

Pacquiao and Mayweather must submit to the tests within 48 hours or face possible fines or suspension by the Nevada Athletic commission.

“That at least starts the ball rolling,” said Keith Kizer, the commission’s executive director.

Indeed, the two sides signaled late in the day that there could be room for a compromise.

Staff/wire reports

after Mayweather’s representatives said there was footage on HBO’s “24/7” program that showed Pacquiao having blood taken 14 days before his knockout win over Ricky Hatton.

Staff/wire reports