News+Notes: University of Utah star freshman running back Ty Jordan dead,
DALLAS » Ty Jordan, a star freshman running back for the University of Utah who grew up in the Dallas area, has died, school officials announced Saturday.
Authorities in Texas and Utah have not released details about the circumstances of the Jordan’s death. A day earlier, the 19-year- old was named Pac-12’s newcomer of the year.
Jordan, a speedy 5-foot-7, 200-pound player, emerged from a crowded Utah backfield to become the focal point of the team’s offense. He finished the season with 597 yards rushing, 11 catches for 126 yards and six touchdowns.
Jordan came up as a tailback playing in Mesquite, a Dallas suburb, and was a highly touted recruit. LA.-LAFAYETTE 31, UTSA 24 » Trey Ragas scored on a 1-yard plunge with 7:16 left and No. 16 Louisiana-Lafayette beat UTSA in the First Responder Bowl at SMU’s Ford Stadium. GEORGIA STATE 39, WEST KENTUCKY 21 » Redshirt freshman Cornelius “Quad” Brown threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns to lead Georgia State past Western Kentucky in the LendingTree Bowl.
Pro football
BRADY-LED BUCS TOP LIONS » Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes in the only half he needed to play and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went on to rout the Detroit Lions 47-7, sealing a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
The Bucs ( 10- 5) set a franchise record with 588 yards and snapped the NFL’s second-longest postseason drought behind Cleveland’s 18- year run that can end Sunday.
Pro basketball
JAMES WINS AP AWARD » Lakers forward LeBron James was announced as the winner of The Associated Press’ Male Athlete of the Year award for a recordtying fourth time.
The AP award was first given out in 1931. James’ fourth win matched Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods for the most by men. Three women have
won the AP award at least four times; Babe Didrikson was a six-time winner, Serena Williams has won five and Chris Evert four.
Soccer
ARSENAL LIFTS GLOOM WITH
3-1 WIN AGAINST CHELSEA » Arsenal finally lifted the gloom surrounding the club and beat Chelsea 3-1, with the Gunners winning their first Premier League match in nearly two months.
Arsenal climbed up to 14th place with 17 points after the team’s worst start to a season in decades. LEICESTER RALLIES TWICE TO DRAW WITH MANCHESTER UNITED » Jamie Vardy’s deflected strike in the 85th minute helped Leicester come from behind for a second time to draw 2-2 against Manchester United and keep hold of second place in the Premier League.
If United had held on, it would have jumped above Leicester into second, but Vardy met a cross from substitute Ayoze Perez with a shot that ricocheted into the net off the leg of United substitute Axel Tuanzebe.
MAN CITY EASES TO WIN OVER NEWCASTLE » Manchester City secured a routine 2-0 win over Newcastle thanks to goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres to climb to fifth place in the Premier League.