■ FOOTBALL
Cincinnati beat Louisville
The University of Cincinnati remained in the hunt for college football’s Big East title with a 28-20 win over reeling Louisville on Friday. Quarterback Tony Pike threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns for the No. 22-ranked Bearcats moved half a game ahead of idle West Virginia and No. 21 Pittsburgh in the conference title race. Cincinnati beat West Virginia last week and host Pittsburgh next weekend. Dominick Goodman caught nine passes for 134 yards and a touchdown and John Goebel ran for 77 yards and a score for the Bearcats. Pike, who took over the quarterback job when Dustin Grutza suffered a broken leg, completed 19-of-33 passes in soggy conditions before getting knocked out in the fourth quarter.
■ ICE HOCKEY
Islanders’ Pock suspended
New York Islanders defenseman Thomas Pock was suspended for five games without pay on Friday for elbowing Ottawa Senators forward Ryan Shannon the previous night. Pock was given a major penalty and a game misconduct for elbowing Shannon on Thursday. Shannon, who was making his Senators debut, had to be helped off the ice to the dressing room. “I understand why there is a need for the league to enforce a strict policy to hits to the head,” Pock said in a statement released by the Islanders. “I have reached out to Ryan to apologize and I hope he makes a quick recovery.”
■ CYCLING
Tour canceled over funds
The Tour of Georgia has been canceled next season for economic reasons, organizers said on Friday. “The planning process for the Tour of Georgia requires a tremendous amount of time and effort and we wanted to give all of our partners enough time to plan and allocate their resources to take full advantage of the event,” a statement read. “Therefore, we will skip 2009,” organizers said, adding they were planning to stage the race again in 2010. The Tour of Georgia, created in 2003, failed to secure regular sponsors after American Lance Arsmtrong retired at the end of the 2005 season. The Texan, who announced his return to professional cycling in September, did not include the Tour of Georgia in his plans for next year. “I am obviously disappointed to learn that the Tour of Georgia has been canceled for next year. However, I am very pleased that the race will return in 2010,” said USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson.
■ BASKETBALL
Barbosa flies home to family
Brazil’s Leandro Barbosa has left the Phoenix Suns to fly home following the death of his mother, American media reported on Friday. Barbosa left for Brazil on Thursday following the death of 66-year-old Dona Ivete Barbosa, who had been fighting pneumonia in a Brazilian hospital for more than a month. The 1.92m Barbosa, considered one of the fastest players in the National Basketball Association, missed two weeks of training camp under new coach Terry Porter out of concern for his mother’s health.
■ ATHLETICS
Another NY marathoner dies
New York City Marathon officials say a 41-year-old man who collapsed during the race has died. Race organizer New York Road Runners says the man died on Thursday in a New York City hospital. The group did not identify him. It was the third death connected to the Nov. 2 marathon. A 58-year-old Brazilian man died of a heart attack shortly after crossing the finish line. Another man died several hours later.
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