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Roundup: Utah State player’s status improving

Utah State's Danny Berger (12) shot against Mercer during the CollegeInsider.com college basketball tournament championship game in March.Kim Raff/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP Photo

A Utah State basketball player who collapsed at practice and had to be revived after he stopped breathing is improving and making good progress, school officials said Wednesday night, although the player remains in critical condition.

Danny Berger is awake and talking to his family in a Salt Lake City area hospital, Utah State basketball team doctor Trek Lyons said at a press conference in Logan, Utah. Tubes used to help Berger breathe have been removed.

''He recognizes his family, his doctors and the instructions he is given,'' Lyons said. ''It is a good sign and a sign of improving.''

A game scheduled for Wednesday night between Utah State and BYU in Provo, Utah was postponed because of Berger's condition, school officials said. No date has been selected to play the game.

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Doctors don't know what caused the 22-year-old Berger to collapse on the court during a practice Tuesday in Logan. Berger doesn't have any known pre-existing condition or heart problems.

Longtime Utah State assistant athletic trainer Mike Williams is being credited with saving Berger's life.

The incident happened in the middle of Tuesday's practice when Berger collapsed into the arms of teammate Kyisean Reed as he moved toward the sideline. He was no longer breathing when he hit the court, Lyons said.

Within a minute or two, Williams used a defibrillator on Berger, who was in full cardiac arrest, he said. The shocks helped Berger regain a pulse.

Florida 72, Florida State 47 — Kenny Boynton and Mike Rosario both scored 14 points and the No. 6 Gators (7-0) routed the host Seminoles (4-4).

New Mexico 75, Southern Cal 67 — Alex Kirk scored 13 points and hauled in 13 rebounds in the No. 18 Lobos (9-0) win over the visiting Trojans (3-5).

Michigan State 76, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 44 — The No. 19 Spartans routed the Golden Lions (1-7) behind a suffocating defensive effort. Michigan State (7-2) held Arkansas-Pine Bluff scoreless for the first 9:48 of the game.

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Oklahoma State 61, South Florida 49 — Marcus Smart scored 15 points and the 23d-ranked Cowboys (6-1) topped the Bulls (5-3).

Holy Cross 83, Sacred Heart 78 — Justin Burrell's 30 points helped lift the Crusaders (5-4) past the Pioneers in Fairfield, Conn. Shane Gibson led Sacred Heart (2-5) with 24 points.

Yale 64, Bryant 62 — Justin Sears (20 points, nine rebounds) had a buzzer-beating tip-in, enabling visiting Yale (2-6) to slip past Bryant. Dyami Starks led Bryant (4-2) with 22 points.

Central Conn. 87, UNH 84 — All five starters scored in double figures for the Blue Devils in their win over the host Wildcats (3-4). Kyle Vinales led Central Conn. (3-3) with 27 points.

Towson 68, Vermont 64 — Jerrelle Benimon had 29 points and 10 boards as the Tigers (4-4) beat the host Catamounts. Luke Apfeld led Vermont (4-3) with 23 points.

Women’s basketball

Baylor 73, Notre Dame 61 — The third-ranked Bears (7-1) used 24 points and 14 rebounds from Brittney Griner to overpower the No. 5 Fighting Irish (5-1) in South Bend, Ind.

BU 73, UMass 50 — Rashidat Agboola poured in 20 points and snared 10 rebounds in for the Terriers (6-3) at Case Gym. Rashida Timbilla had a double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds) for the Minutemen (2-7).

Northeastern 70, Holy Cross 48 — The Huskies (5-2) got past the visiting Crusaders behind Deanna Kerkhof's 21 points. Alex Smith was the high scorer for Holy Cross (4-4) with 16 points.

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Men’s hockey

Dartmouth 4, Vermont 2 — Dustin Walsh potted two goals to lead the 10th-ranked Big Green (7-2-2) to a win over the visiting Catamounts. Yvan Pattyn scored both goals for Vermont (3-8-3).

Women’s hockey

BC 4, UNH 1 — Four goal scorers led the No. 6 Eagles to a win over the host Wildcats. Haley Skarupa netted her 13th goal of the season for BC (11-3-2, 8-2-1 Hockey East). Alexis Crossley scored for UNH (7-11-1, 4-4-1).

Northeastern 3, Dartmouth 2 — Kendall Coyne scored with 2:52 left in overtime to give the No. 10 Huskies (10-5-2) a win over the Big Green at Matthews Arena. Reagan Fischer and Sally Komarek scored for Dartmouth (4-4-2).