SPORTS DIGEST || Mitchell leads Buckeyes to win

Mitchell leads Buckeyes to win

INDIANAPOLIS

Kelsey Mitchell scored a Big Ten tournament record 43 points and No. 9 Ohio State overcame a slow first half to beat Rutgers 73-58 on Friday night to advance to the semifinals.

The Buckeyes trailed the entire first half and by as many as nine. But they outscored the Scarlett Knights 26-11 in the third quarter, taking their first lead during a 10-0 run to put them in front 38-28.

The Buckeyes will play No. 19 Michigan State in today’s semifinals.

Tyler Scaife and Kahleah Copper combined to score 27 of Rutgers’ first 29 points. Scaife finished with 26 and Copper with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Ohio State’s Ameryst Alston left the game in the third quarter with a right arm injury.

Bud Collins, 86; was voice of tennis

Bud Collins, the tennis historian and American voice of the sport in print and on TV for decades, has died. He was 86.

His wife, Anita Ruthling Klaussen, said in a telephone interview that Collins died Friday at home in Brookline, Massachusetts, after suffering from Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1994, Collins was well-known for creative player nicknames and turns of phrase that were as colorful as his trademark bow ties and one-of-a-kind pants created from cloth he collected around the world.

Collins contributed to tennis’ popularity and paved the way for newspaper reporters moving into broadcasting, becoming a familiar face to U.S. television audiences waking up for “Breakfast at Wimbledon” on NBC. Collins spent 35 years on that network’s annual coverage from the All England Club and also worked as a tennis analyst for PBS, CBS, ESPN and Tennis Channel.

Falcons apologize for combine miscue

ATLANTA

The Atlanta Falcons apologized Friday after it was revealed that one of their coaches asked an inappropriate question to Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple during the NFL’s annual scouting combine in Indianapolis.

Apple said Friday in an interview with ComcastSportsNet he was asked, “So, do you like men?”’ He says the question came at the start of an interview with an unidentified Falcons coach.

Falcons coach Dan Quinn acknowledged in a statement released to The Associated Press that he has addressed the inappropriate question. He said he has told his entire coaching staff such questions should not be asked and he apologized to Apple.

“I am really disappointed in the question that was asked by one of our coaches,” Quinn said. “I have spoken to the coach that interviewed Eli Apple and explained to him how inappropriate and unprofessional this was. I have reiterated this to the entire coaching staff and I want to apologize to Eli for this even coming up. This is not what the Atlanta Falcons are about and it is not how we are going to conduct ourselves.”

It was not known if the assistant coach faces any disciplinary action.

Ravens’ Suggs arrested

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs was arrested Friday on a suspended driver’s license after investigators say his car hit a curb and he told them he may have been asleep.

Officers responding to a report of a crash in the Phoenix suburb of Scottsdale followed a fluid trail to a grocery store parking lot where they found Suggs’ BMW sedan with fresh damage.

Suggs was not impaired and told officers he possibly fell asleep before the crash, police Sgt. Ben Hoster said.

He was released after being arrested on suspicion of leaving the scene of an accident and driving on a suspended license, Hoster said.

“Terrell alerted us early this morning about the situation and we are looking into it,” Ravens Senior Vice President of Public & Community Relations Kevin Byrne said.

Associated Press