10-and-0 Bearcats hang on...Calipari Era opens

CINCINNATI (AP) The fifth-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats are 10-and-0 and off to their best start in school history, but just barely avoided being upset at home last night. Cincinnati held off upset-minded West Virginia 24-21 with the help of a second-quarter replay reversal of a fumble at the goal line that was later ruled to be a Cincinnati touchdown.

AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) Jimmie Johnson, who is chasing an unprecedented fourth straight Nascar Sprint Cup championship, starts from the No. 3 hole in tomorrow's race at Phoenix. Mark Martin, who trails Johnson by 71 points in the standings with two races remaining, qualified 10th with martin Truex Jr. on the pole.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Kentucky freshman Eric Bledsoe scored 24 points while starting in place of John Wall, and the fourth-ranked Wildcats opened the John Calipari era with a 75-59 win over Morehead State last night. Wall, a highly touted recruit sat out as part of an NCAA suspension for accepting improper benefits from his AAU coach, but is expected to play Monday when the Wildcats host Miami of Ohio.

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) There was a mild upset on the first Friday night of the college Basketball season. Rider went to Starkville, Miss., and upset 18th-ranked Mississippi State 88-74 as Mike Ringgold and Novar Gadson each scored 21 points.

ATLANTA (AP) In the NHL, Ilya Kovalchuk (EEL'-yah KOH'-vul-chook) and Maxim Afinogenov (MAK'-sim ah-fin-uh-GEN'-ahf) each had two goals and two assists to help the Atlanta Thrashers blank the L.A. Kings 7-0 for their third straight victory.

Kovalchuk has seven points in two games since returning from a foot injury Thursday night in New York.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-14-09 0417CST | save this article / add to your favorites list