SPORTS SHORTS

NCAA: NIT will not be at MSG

The NIT is moving the entire 2021 event to Texas, taking the semifinals and championship game out of Madison Square Garden for the first time in the 83-year history of college basketball’s oldest postseason tournament.

The pandemic is also reducing the field to 16 teams from the usual 32, and all games are set for the Dallas area. First-round games will be played March 17-20, with the quarterfinals March 25. The semifinals are set for March 27, followed by the championship game the next day.

● In Stillwater, Okla., Cade Cunningham scored 13 of his 15 points in the final 10 minutes to help No. 17 Oklahoma State (17-6, 10-6 Big 12) beat No. 16 Oklahoma (14-8, 9-7) 79-75.

● Buddy Boeheim scored 26 to become a 1,000-point career scorer and Syracuse (14-8, 8-7 ACC) breathed some life into its NCAA Tournament hopes by holding on for a 72-70 win over North Carolina (14-10, 9-6) at the Carrier Dome.

NBA: Bench players lift Sixers

Shake Milton scored 26 points, Furkan Korkmaz had 19 and the reserves sparked the 76ers to 130-114 win over the Pacers in Philadelphia. Joel Embiid had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Philadelphia.

● In Chicago, Nikola Jokic dominated with 39 points and 14 rebounds, and the Nuggets beat the Bulls 118-112. All-Star Zach LaVine led Chicago with 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

● In Orlando, Fla., Luka Doncic had 33 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and the Mavericks beat the Magic 130-124. Nikola Vucevic had 29 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists for the Magic.

● In New Orleans, Zion Williamson had 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, and the Pelicans held off a late Utah charge to beat the NBA-leading Jazz 129-124. Donovan Mitchell had 21 points for the Jazz. ETC.: Washington releases Smith

● Comeback Player of the Year Alex Smith and the Washington Football Team are parting ways this month, NFL Network reported.

Smith, 36, won the award for top comeback player in 2020 after returning to the field from multiple leg surgeries.

Releasing Smith would cost Washington $8.6 million of his $23.3 million cap hit in 2021. Per the report, Smith plans to continue playing in the NFL if the opportunity exists.

● The Texans released veteran quarterback Josh McCown, likely ending his 18year NFL career. McCown, 41, spent the 2020 season with the Eagles after playing the previous two seasons for the Jets. He spent four seasons with the Cardinals after they drafted him in the third round in 2002 and has also played for the Lions, Raiders, Panthers, Bears, Buccaneers and Browns.

He’s played 102 games and thrown for 17,731 yards and 98 touchdowns in his career.

● In Sunrise, Fla., Martin Necas scored 1:59 into overtime and the Hurricanes beat the Panthers 3-2.

● In Edmonton, Alberta, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly each had a goal and an assist as the Maple Leafs defeated the Oilers 3-0.