US sports event held without fans because of coronavirus

In what was believed to be the first sports event held in the United States without fans because of the coronavirus, Yeshiva University beat Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 102-78, in an NCAA Division 3 men’s basketball tournament game Friday at an empty gym at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The scene included players on each team’s bench cheering and chanting “De-fense!” to make up for the lack of fans. Only players, referees, employees, and media members were present in the 1,100-seat Goldfarb Gymnasium, so the official attendance was 0 . “It was definitely different, but our guys on the bench really made up for it,” Yeshiva coach Elliott Steinmetz said. “The energy on the bench was absolutely awesome, and I think it really carried the guys on the court in a big way.” . . . In a must-win game for Brown, senior Zach Hunsaker scored 15 of his game-high 20 points in the first half to lead the Bears to a 64-55 win over Harvard (20-8, 9-4), its first at Lavietes Pavilion since 2008. With the win, Brown (14-12, 7-6) remains in the hunt for the fourth and final Ivy League playoff berth. Yale (23-6, 11-2) captured the Ivy title by virtue of its 72-61 road win over Dartmouth (12-16, 5-8).

Paribas Open taking measures for virus

Tennis players at the BNP Paribas Open that starts next week will have to manage their own towels on court and ball kids will wear gloves while working matches at the combined men’s and women’s tournament in the Southern California desert. The measures were announced by tournament organizers, who are offering fans uneasy about the coronavirus a refund for this year’s event or a credit for next year. The event runs March 11-22.

Baseball

Yankees’ Judge has broken rib

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge has a broken rib and it’s not clear whether he will need surgery, leaving doubt when he’ll be back in the lineup. Manager Aaron Boone said he thought the star right fielder hurt himself making a diving catch late last season. Judge will rest two weeks while recovering from the stress fracture to his first right rib. He hasn’t played in any spring training games while dealing with soreness in his right pectoral muscle and shoulder. Judge underwent about a dozen tests, including and MRI plus CT and bone scans, to determine the source of his pain . . . In spring training, Yoan Moncada had three hits, driving in a run, and scoring for the White Sox in their 6-3 victory over the Cubs. Moncada signed a $70 million, five-year deal earlier in the day. The game drew a Cactus League-record crowd of 16,095 to the Cubs’ home at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz. . . . Tim Tebow was reassigned to minor league camp by the Mets after going 2 for 13 in spring training with his first extra-base hit in four years. The 32-year-old outfielder and former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback homered against Detroit’s Alex Wilson on Feb. 25. He also had three walks . . . Jake Arrieta threw four hitless innings in the Phillies’ 9-0 rout of the Tigers . . . The Pirates hit eight home runs in a 19-13 victory over the Blue Jays . . . Mike Trout homered for the first time this spring — a three-run shot — for Los Angeles’s split squad in a 4-4 tie with the Royals.

NFL

Chargers RB Ekeler gets $24.5m deal

Austin Ekeler’s breakout season with the Los Angeles Chargers has resulted in a contract extension. The running back agreed to a four-year deal worth $24.5 million, including $15 million guaranteed. Ekeler was slated to become a restricted free agent . . . Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, the team’s first-round pick last season, was ticketed and given a court date after trying to board a plane at New York’s LaGuardia Airport while carrying a gun, authorities said. Williams, 22, the Jets’ first-round draft pick last season, was arrested Thursday night on a charge of criminal possession of a weapon.

Basketball

Lakers add G Waiters for postseason push

The Lakers signed guard Dion Waiters for their postseason push. The Western Conference-leading Lakers made the move before they hosted the NBA-leading Bucks. Waiters is an eight-year NBA veteran who had been a free agent since Memphis waived him last month, three days after acquiring him from Miami in the three-team trade that landed Andre Iguodala with the Heat . . . The NBA fined Dallas owner Mark Cuban $500,000 for “public criticism and detrimental conduct” regarding officiating. Separately, the league sent a memo to teams reminding them of rules that govern conduct of owners, coaches and other team personnel during games . . . The NBA Players Association has begun looking for a successor to executive director Michele Roberts, the first woman to lead a union for any of the major US pro sports leagues. She is midway through her second and what will be her final four-year term and is set to hold office until 2022.

Miscellany

Henri Richard, Canadiens great, dead at 84

Henri Richard, the speedy and durable center who won a record 11 Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens, died Friday. He was 84. The Canadiens announced the death of the Hall of Famer on Twitter, calling him “one of the organization’s greatest legends and ambassadors.” Richard had Alzheimer’s disease … Ohio State reached an unspecified settlement with nearly half of the roughly 350 men who say they were sexually abused decades ago by late team doctor Richard Strauss … American long jumper and sprinter Jarrion Lawson was notified by the Court of Arbitration for Sport that he was exonerated of a doping offense.