UMass's Evans stabbed on campus

Campus police are investigating a student fight that left a freshman University of Massachusetts football player with a stab wound to the buttocks early yesterday. It was not immediately clear whether 18-year-old Johnny Evans, of Durham, N.C., was targeted in the attack or was a victim of a random act of violence. The Republican of Springfield reported that Evans was in fair condition. A second unidentified student also was injured in one of two fights that broke out when hundreds of students were leaving the Student Union Building after a dance . . . Mitch Cozad, the former Northern Colorado punter who recently was convicted of assault in a stabbing attack on starter Rafael Mendoza a year ago, will learn his sentence today. The 22-year-old faces between 5-16 years in prison.

A 24-14 loss to ranked bowl-division team Boston College over the weekend resulted in UMass being dropped two spots in The Sports Network's playoff division poll yesterday. The Minutemen fell to No. 4, behind Montana, Northern Iowa, and North Dakota State. New Hampshire, which lost, 45-38, at Richmond, fell four spots to No. 15. Yale climbed four spots to No. 18 after its 38-17 win at Holy Cross. Bulldog Mike McLeod, who ran for 256 yards and five touchdowns, was The Sports Network's co-offensive player of the week . . . Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, who showed signs of a concussion after being taken out of a loss to Kansas State Saturday, will play against Oklahoma this weekend . . . Louisville wide receiver/kick returner JaJuan Spillman was suspended from the team indefinitely. No reason was given by coach Steve Kragthorpe . . . The Big Ten may take up to three weeks to decide whether to discipline Michigan for using an ineligible player, freshman safety Artis Chambers, who enrolled at the school in January . . . Florida offensive tackle Phil Trautwein (foot) and freshman running back Chris Rainey (shoulder), North Carolina cornerback Kendric Williams (knee), and Clemson defensive back Haydrian Lewis (knee) are out for the season.

Salve Regina suspended its men's soccer program for five games for violating athletic department policies. The school would not say what rules the team broke, but athletic director Del Malloy said in a written statement that the players have a better understanding of department policies . . . BC (No. 2), UNH (No. 6), Boston University (No. 9), Maine (No. 12), Quinnipiac (No. 14), and Vermont (No. 20) are the New England teams ranked in USCHO.com's men's hockey poll. North Dakota is ranked No. 1. Wisconsin is No. 1 in the women's poll. New England teams include UNH (No. 4), Harvard (No. 6), BC (No. 8), and Dartmouth (No. 9).

The Rockets signed Dikembe Mutombo to a one-year contract, extending the 41-year-old center's career into a 16th season. "I'm going to enjoy every second and every minute of my last year in the NBA," he said . . . Tony Massenburg, 40, signed with the Wizards. If he makes the roster at the end of the month, he would have a chance to play for a league-record 13th franchise . . . Thirty-nine-year-old guard Darrell Armstrong, the third-oldest player in the NBA last season, was waived by the Pacers . . . Suns forward Amare Stoudemire will undergo minor arthroscopic knee surgery today but is expected to be sidelined only 2-3 weeks . . . Stephen Jackson, who will miss the Warriors' first seven games under NBA suspension for pleading guilty to a felony charge of criminal recklessness, reported to training camp with a new tattoo covering much of his chest. With a church window as the background, two praying hands are inked on his sternum - and they're holding a gun. "I pray I never have to use it again," Jackson said in explanation . . . Pacers forward Shawne Williams was ordered to perform 40 hours of community service for driving without ever having received a license and a judge suspended a possible 60-day jail sentence . . . Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal said he tested his athleticism in the offseason by competing in ultimate fighting.

Kobe Bryant, who hadn't said much about the Lakers since he called the team's front office a mess and requested a trade in May, arrived at media day in El Segundo, Calif., and said, "I'm ready to play. I'm in shape, guys look good. I'm ready to go. My job is to come out here on the floor, help us win ballgames." Bryant pushed for an upgraded roster after the Lakers were eliminated by Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight year. It hasn't happened, but four months after blowing up, Bryant said all the right things.

Goalie Jaroslav Halak, who was expected to begin the season with the Canadiens after the Slovak rookie's strong performance late last season nearly led Montreal to a playoff spot, was assigned to Hamilton of the AHL. Highly regarded goaltending prospect Carey Price will back up Cristobal Huet . . . Sabres forward Ales Kotalik is expected to miss Buffalo's season opener against the New York Islanders Friday because of a knee injury . . . Boston's Tracy Welch and Dana Harrity of North Hampton, N.H., advanced to the second round of match play at the US Women's Mid-Amateur at Carefree, Ariz. Welch beat Kathy Kurata, 4 and 3. Harrity defeated Stephanie Sendell, 3 and 1 . . . Doug Crawford (Stow Acres), George Fowler (Pawtucket CC), Bruce Wedge (Bay Pointe CC), and Paul Murphy (Charles River CC) each shot a 2-over 74 to share the lead after the first round of the Massachusetts Senior Championship at The Golf Club of Cape Cod in East Falmouth . . . Kenyans Samuel Ndereba, last year's champ, and Edna Kiplagat headline the fields for Sunday's BAA Half Marathon . . . Al Oerter, the US discus great who won gold medals in four straight Olympics to become one of track and field's biggest stars in the 1950s and '60s, died at 71. Obituary, Page B5 . . . The US Supreme Court denied a petition to hear arguments in the sexual harassment case against North Carolina women's soccer coach Anson Dorrance, knocking down the final legal barrier to a jury trial.