NW Sports from the AP

AP-NW–1st SportsMinute,466
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from
The Associated Press

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) – Ahmad Starks scored 22 and Angus Brandt
added 21 points, both career highs, to lead Oregon State to a 93-72
win against Howard last night. Roberto Nelson added 20 points and
eight rebounds for Oregon State, off to its best start since the
1984-85 team opened 8-1. Brandon Ford and Prince Okoroh had 13
points apiece for Howard. Oregon State led by as many as 36 in the
second half; the Bison got no closer than 17.

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) – Freshman guard Kevin Pangos had 14 points
and seven assists to lead Gonzaga to a 67-61 win over Oral Roberts
last night. Elias Harris added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the
Bulldogs, and Rob Sacre had nine points and 10 rebounds. Backup
center Sam Dower scored 12 points for Gonzaga, which enjoyed a 23-4
bench-points edge. The Bulldogs shot 60 percent from the field in
the first half and led 37-29 at the break.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Michael Harthun scored 22 points to lead
Portland State to a 91-87 victory over Cal State Bakersfield last
night. Lateef McMullan added 15 points for the Vikings while
Charles Odum chipped in 14 points and Chehales Tapscott grabbed 12
rebounds. Portland State shot 67 percent from the field (33 for
49). Bakersfield closed to within one point in the final minute but
the Vikings hit six of eight free throws to seal the win.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The Portland Trail Blazers have signed
free agent forward Craig Smith. Nicknamed “The Rhino,” Smith
played the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers,
averaging 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 48 games. Terms of the
deal reached yesterday were not disclosed. Smith, a five-year
veteran, has also played for Minnesota. Earlier in the day the
Trail Blazers signed free agent guard Jamal Crawford and requested
waivers on guard Brandon Roy under the NBA’s new amnesty rule. Roy
is retiring due to knee problems.

UNDATED (AP) – Walter Payton Award finalists Bo Levi Mitchell of
Eastern Washington and Shakir Bell of Indiana State have been
selected to The Associated Press FCS All-America team. Mitchell
leads FCS in yards passing per game at 364.5, and his 33 touchdown
passes are tops in the nation. Bell is the leading rusher in FCS
with 151.8 yards per game, 20 more than the next best average. The
award will be presented on Jan. 6.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Major League Soccer’s Portland Timbers
have signed 19-year-old forward Jose Adolfo Valencia, son of former
Colombia national team star Adolfo Valencia. The younger Valencia,
nicknamed “El Trencito (The Little Train),” helped Colombia reach
the quarterfinals of this year’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup. He’s
spent four seasons at Independiente Santa Fe in Colombia. He
becomes the Timbers’ second designated player.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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