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LOCAL COLLEGES

WPI prevails

Freshman Mike Swanton reached first on a throwing error after striking out in the 11th inning, stole second and scored on classmate Paul Galligan's single as the WPI baseball team stunned 10th-ranked Wheaton, 4-3, in Norton, snapping the Lyons' eight-game winning streak. The Engineers improved to 10-11, 4-1 in the NEWMAC.

Shortstop Keri Kravetz went 2 for 3 with her third home run of the season and three RBIs, lifting the Fitchburg State softball team (8-11) past visiting Brandeis, 6-3.

Ann Clark had five goals and Shannon Feeley added four, each finishing with seven points, as the Worcester State women's lacrosse team topped Norwich, 18-3.

Matt Fram and Andrew Webber each scored twice for Clark (4-3) in its 8-7 men's lacrosse win at Nichols. Mark Buckley had six goals for the Bison (2-4).

Holy Cross senior James Sixsmith, who is now playing for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL, has added the USCHO.com National Sportsmanship Award to the Atlantic Hockey Sportsmanship Award he won in March. The Crusaders' Tyler McGregor also won both awards last season.

BASKETBALL

Horton honored

Sophomore Maurice Horton of Quinsigamond CC is one of 40 players selected nationwide to compete in the NJCAA Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game in Kilgore, Texas, April 21. Horton led the Chiefs to a 28-7 record and fifth-place finish in the NJCAA National Tournament in Delhi, N.Y.

Florida coach Billy Donovan spurned a chance to return to Kentucky and take over the tradition-rich program, saying he hopes to build the same in Gainesville.

After one season at Kansas State, Bob Huggins is going home to West Virginia, to become the men's basketball coach of the Mountaineers.

The Big East and Southeastern Conference will match up for men's basketball games each of the next four years. The Big East/SEC Invitational will start in December with four games over two nights at two sites, all televised by either ESPN or ESPN2, the leagues and ESPN Regional Television announced.

The season for Washington Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas essentially came to an end yesterday when an MRI disclosed he would need surgery on his left knee. Arenas was diagnosed with a lateral meniscus tear and had arthroscopic surgery at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington.

FOOTBALL

Pats re-sign Britt

The New England Patriots re-signed offensive tackle Wesley Britt. The 25-year-old Britt, an exclusive-rights free agent, played in 10 games, including one start, last season.

Kicker John Carney was released by the New Orleans Saints after asking to be let go after the team obtained Olindo Mare in a trade with Miami.