Brunson earns Big East honor

Villanova point guard Jalen Brunson has been named Big East player of the year.

Brunson, a junior point guard, led the Wildcats to a 27-4 record (14-4 in the Big East). He is averaging 19 points and 4.8 assists per game.

Brunson is the third Wildcats guard in the last four seasons to earn Big East player of the year honors. Josh Hart won last year and Ryan Arcidiacono shared the award in 2014-’15. Brunson also was named USA TODAY player of the year.

Xavier’s Chris Mack was named coach of the year in the league. Mack directed Xavier to its first Big East regular-season title with a 15-3 league record and a 27-4 overall mark.

Brunson’s teammate Omari Spellman won freshman of the year honors, averaging 10.9 points and 7.8 rebounds a game.

HOCKEY

Justin Kirkland

scored a pair of goals, including one in the shootout, to give the host Milwaukee Admirals a 3-2 victory over the Manitoba Moose on Wednesday morning.

Freddy Gaudreau scored the deciding goal for the Admirals (30-24-4-1).

It also was the second consecutive game to finish in a shootout victory and moved the Admirals record to 8-1 in games decided after overtime. Those eight wins tie an AHL record.

Anders Lindback stopped 24 shots and both Manitoba shootout attempts to pick up his leagueleading 25th win of the season.

COLLEGE BASKTBALL

Michael Porter Jr.

Missouri’s will return from back surgery to play in the Southeastern Conference tournament on Thursday, marking his first time in a game since the season opener.

Coach Cuonzo Martin announced the change in Porter’s status a day before the fifth-seeded Tigers (20-11) open league tournament play.

The 6-foot-10 Porter, the top prep prospect in the country last season, has been out since playing only two minutes in the Tigers’ first game. He underwent surgery and was not expected to play for Missouri.

Bucknell 83, Colgate 58: Stephen Brown scored 22 points and reserve Nate Sestina added 16 as the Bison (25-9) won a second straight Patriot League tournament championship and an NCAA bid.

AUTO RACING

Kevin Harvick

has been stripped of the playoff points he earned for winning at Las Vegas because of violations discovered on his Ford.

NASCAR ruled that Harvick’s No. 4 Stewart Haas Racing team violated the rule requiring rear window support braces holding the rear window glass rigid, as well as a rule requiring the right side rocker panel extension to be aluminum.

Harvick loses the seven playoff points he earned for winning Sunday’s race and both stages.