World Sports

Coach Jim Boeheim could only smile as he was asked about Syracuse's 22-1 run to open the second half of an 87-71 victory over No. 6 North Carolina on Friday night in the championship game of the 2K Sports Classic. "That's about as good as it gets," he said, "and it was against North Carolina and it was here." The Orange (4-0) were the only unranked team in the semifinals of the tournament that benefits Coaches vs. Cancer, but they left Madison Square Garden with blowout wins over No. 13 California and the Tar Heels. (AP)

Al Harrington and Danilo Gallinari each scored 17 points as the New York Knicks kept the New Jersey Nets winless with a 98-91 victory yesterday. David Lee added 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Wilson Chandler and Larry Hughes each finished with 13 points. The Nets fell to 0-13, inching closer to the NBA record of 17 straight losses to start a season. (AP)

Running back Reggie Bush and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis are not traveling with the New Orleans Saints for today's game against Tampa Bay. A team spokesman said yesterday that both players had been downgraded on the official injury report from questionable to out with knee injuries. Both are expected to be back at practice next week. Bush missed practice this week with swelling in his left knee, on which he had surgery last December to repair cartilage. Bush is coming off one of his best games of the season - in St. Louis last Sunday, when he gained 98 yards and scored two touchdowns on six rushes and a pair of receptions. (AP)

Ireland has given up hope of a World Cup playoff replay against France because of Thierry Henry's hand ball. Although FIFA ruled on Friday there would be no replay, the Irish still made an official request to the French to back their case in a bid to get the world governing body to change its mind. "We regret that despite our best efforts for a replay, which would have restored the integrity of the game in front of a worldwide audience, our calls appear to have fallen on deaf ears at the French Football Federation," Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney said yesterday. (AP)

New Zealand recorded its eighth successive rugby victory over England with a 19-6 victory at Twickenham yesterday, after scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan scampered over for the only try of the match in the 57th minute. Cowan's try came after relentless recycling by the All Blacks as they surged on to the attack, although the home supporters thought the final pass from captain Richie McCaw had gone forward. The two sides had been level 6-6 at halftime, but New Zealand gradually took charge and finished as the worthy winner. (Reuters)

Scotland claimed its first win over Australia in nearly three decades after a defense-inspired 9-8 victory at Murrayfield. The Wallabies dominated possession throughout but the Scots, under new coach Andy Robinson, produced a world-class defensive performance to keep the visitors at bay. (Reuters)