Sports briefs

Michigan State's Miller ties record

Michigan State's goaltender Ryan Miller tied the all-time NCAA record for career shutouts as he earned his 16th in the Spartans' 3-0 win over Lake Superior State, yesterday.

The record, shared with former Clarkson goalie Wally Easton, has been around for 70 years.

The sophomore's consecutive scoreless minutes were extended to 207:12 with this his third straight shutout.

Michigan State gave Miller all he needed on its first shot on goal when Rusty Dolyny banked a powerplay shot in off the post at 6:09 in the first period.

Soon after, Andrew Bogle added some insurance on a rebound shot at 9:21.

The final goal of the game came at 6:15 in the third with a John Nail slap shot.

The win tied another record on the night - Michigan State matched its record unbeaten streak of 23 games.

- Staff reports

Blue chip Williams commits to Huskies

Reggie Williams, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound receiver from Tacoma, Washington went on Fox Sports Northwest Monday to announce his verbal commitment to Washington.

Currently, Rivals.com has him ranked as the No. 3 receiver in the country. Williams chose his hometown Huskies over Michigan, Notre Dame, and UCLA.

Williams carries a 3.4 grade-point average at Lakes High School and is fully qualified academically to play for Washington.

- Staff reports

Carruth sentenced to at least 19 years

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - After listening to pleas for justice by the victim's parents, a judge gave former NFL player Rae Carruth nearly the maximum sentence for his role in the drive-by shooting death of his pregnant girlfriend, Cherica Adams.

Superior Court Judge Charles Lamm on Monday sentenced Carruth to at least 18 years and 11 months and a maximum of 24 years and four months.

Adams was eight months pregnant when she was shot four times in November 1999. Her son - delivered prematurely by emergency Caesarean section after the shooting - is developmentally disabled and has cerebral palsy. She died a month later.

Carruth stared at the judge and showed no emotion as Lamm announced the sentence. David Rudolf immediately filed for appeal.

Will governer's call come for Alabama?

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (U-WIRE) - Last Thursday, CBS SportsLine.com printed a story that discussed the possibility the NCAA would level the "death penalty" on the Crimson Tide football program as punishment for rules violations.

Such punishment would force Alabama to cancel an entire football season. But Gene Marsh, Alabama's Faculty Athletic Representative, said it is too early to discuss any form of punishment.

The story, by SportsLine.com's Dennis Dodd, quoted David Swank, a former chairman of the NCAA Committee on Infractions. Swank was chairman in 1987 when the committee suspended Southern Methodist University's football program for the season, destroying a once-strong football power.

Swank told Dodd the death penalty "will occur again" and added that Alabama's current status makes the Tide a prime target.

Duck is a rat: Oregon AD tattles on Cougars

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - An Oregon assistant sports information director said yesterday he felt justified in turning in six Washington State players who broke curfew by going to a Eugene bar early Saturday morning.

"It was absolutely the right thing to do," said Greg Walker, who's in charge of media relations for the Oregon men's basketball team.

He held the same position at Washington State for the past two seasons and is a 1992 graduate of the university.

Walker said that when he saw the players at the Rock N' Rodeo bar, across the street from the team's hotel, he felt he had to phone Cougars coach Paul Graham.