IN BRIEF

COLLEGES

NCAA’s 3-point line to move back for men

The NCAA on Friday approved moving the men’s 3-point line back 1 foot in 2008 — from 19 feet, 9 inches to 20-9.

The decision by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel marks the first major alteration to the 3-point shot since its adoption in 1986-87.

Also: Brandon Rush, who as a sophomore led Kansas in scoring last year at 13.8 points per game, has withdrawn from the NBA Draft.

Georgia Tech guard Javaris Crittenton, who averaged 14.4 points last season, will remain in the NBA Draft, deciding to turn pro after one season.

One day after shocking the third-ranked doubles team, UNLV’s Elena Gantcheva and Kristina Nedeltcheva were eliminated in the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament in Athens, Ga.

The 20th-ranked team was beaten by the No. 21 pairing of Lindsay Burnette and Anne Yelsey of Stanford, 6-3, 6-1.

HOCKEY

Tocchet pleads guilty in gambling ring case

Former NHL player Rick Tocchet pleaded guilty in Mount Holly, N.J., to running a sports gambling ring but might not serve jail time.

Tocchet, who played 22 seasons, is on leave as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Coyotes. He pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to promote gambling and promoting gambling. Such offenses usually do not carry a jail sentence for first-time offenders.

Also: Brian Leetch, one of the NHL’s top defensemen who helped the New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup in 1994, retired after an 18-year career.

Leetch sat out last season after spending 2005-06 with the Boston Bruins, when the 10-time All-Star had five goals and 27 assists in 61 games.

MISCELLANEOUS

Romero leads Senior PGA Championship

Eduardo Romero took the sting out of The Ocean Course for a second straight day, grabbing a two-stroke lead at the Senior PGA Championship on Kiawah Island, S.C.

Romero, the first-round leader after a 4-under 68 in strong winds, shot a 70 in calmer conditions to move to 6 under, two strokes ahead of Joe Ozaki (71) at 4 under.

Also: Battling a stiff neck, Tim Clark carded a 6-under 64 in the second round of the Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas.

Clark was at 11-under 129, holding a one-stroke lead over Arron Oberholser (66), although 27 players were still on the course when play was called because of darkness.

Beth Bader fired a 6-under 66 to take a one-shot lead over Young Kim (67) after two rounds of the LPGA Corning Classic in Corning, N.Y. Bader is at 13-under 131.

Justin Rose birdied the last three holes for a 2-under 70 and a share of the second-round lead at the BMW PGA Championship with 2005 winner Angel Cabrera (66) in Virginia Water, England. Both are at 8-under 136.

Kelly Jo Dowd, the cancer-stricken mother whose dream of seeing her teen daughter Dakoda play in an LPGA event was realized last spring, died Thursday night in Palm Harbor, Fla. She was 42.

Jockey Andrew Lakeman was in critical condition after a spill at Belmont Park in New York. Lakeman was injured during the fourth race when his horse, Our Montana Dream, clipped heels with Irish Senorita and he fell.

Mike Skinner won his fifth straight NASCAR Craftsman Truck pole, taking the top spot for today’s Ohio 250 at Mansfield Motorsports Park at an average speed of 109.877 mph.

Alex Lloyd, driving for Henderson’s Sam Schmidt, won the Indy Pro Series Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. North Las Vegas resident Matt Jaskol finished seventh for Michael Crawford Motorsports.