BRIEFLY.

Leg, ankle injuries sideline Vols' Riggs

Tennessee running back Gerald Riggs Jr. will miss the rest of the season after injuring his right lower leg and ankle.

Riggs, the team's top rusher, was hurt in last week's 6-3 loss at Alabama. A statement from the team late Monday said ``Riggs definitely will miss the remainder of the 2005 football season.'' Doctors were still evaluating Riggs, and officials had no other details about the injuries.

--Freshman Willie Tuitama was named Arizona's starting quarterback by coach Mike Stoops. Tuitama played the final 3 1/2 quarters against Oregon and nearly led the Wildcats to an upset with an 18-of-34 performance for 182 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

BASKETBALL: UCLA freshman wing Luc Richard Mbah A Moute is going through full practices after missing the first week with a shoulder injury. He is expected to start, likely in the place of injured Josh Shipp. Meanwhile, walk-on guard Janou Rubin is practicing with the team while he awaits a ruling on his appeal to the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility.

-Brian Dohn

--The Minnesota Lynx, which finished 14-20, won the fifth annual WNBA Draft lottery Monday, beating out the last-place Charlotte Sting (6-28) and San Antonio Silver Stars (7-27) among the five non-playoff teams.

TENNIS: The U.S. Tennis Association has invested in the Pacific Life Open, helping keep the high-profile pro event in Indian Wells instead of moving to China in 2007.

The USTA's board of directors said Monday that it will join other investors in a planned buyout of management firm IMG's 50 percent interest in the event that combines the men's and women's pro tours. IMG had wanted to sell to a Chinese group.

Also, the USTA will take a major role in marketing, sponsorship and television for the two-week tournament, held in March.

--French Open champion Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Swiss Indoors in Basel, Switzerland, because of knee problems, a day after he won the Madrid Masters in a five-set final.

SOCCER: U.S. preparations for next year's World Cup will begin Nov. 12 with a ``friendly'' against Scotland at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

MOTOR SPORTS: Formula One is changing its qualifying format for next season and will allow tire changes during races in 2006.

Under the new format, qualifying in 2006 will be held in three phases. The five slowest cars will drop out after the first 15 minutes, and five more will depart after the next 15. The remaining cars will compete in a 20-minute session for the top spots on the grid. Single-lap qualifying was used this season.

--Homestead-Miami Speedway suffered ``significant damage'' to light poles, the grandstands, catch fencing and the garage suites during Hurricane Wilma. But the necessary repairs are expected to be completed in time for the speedway's biggest event, NASCAR's Ford Championship Weekend that runs Nov. 18-20, speedway president Curtis Gray said.

CYCLING: Three cyclists received six-month suspended sentences for doping during the 2001 Giro d'Italia.

Each rider - Dario Frigo, Alberto Elli and Giuseppe Di Grande - was fined more than $14,000 by the judge.

Also convicted was physical therapist Primo Pregnolato, who drew an eight-month sentence and a fine of more than $7,000, said defense lawyer Federico Cecconi.

- Daily News Staff and Wire Services