AP Sports NewsBrief at 12:54 a.m. EST

No. 10 Duke stuns No. 5 North Carolina 85-84

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Austin Rivers and his Duke teammates kept hanging around, doing just enough to keep North Carolina from blowing the game open until the Tar Heels finally gave them an opening. The freshman took advantage, burying a shot that will live on in the lore of this fierce rivalry.

No. 2 Syracuse 64-61 in OT over No. 12 Georgetown

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Who says Syracuse doesn't have a go-to guy? Kris Joseph scored a career-high 29 points, including the decisive 3-pointer in overtime, and Syracuse beat No. 12 Georgetown 64-61 on Wednesday night to give coach Jim Boeheim his 880th career win.

Memphis is final piece for coast-to-coast Big East

The Big East has acquired all the pieces needed to build a new coast-to-coast conference. Putting them all together, though, is going to take a while. The conference wanted to rebuild itself into a 12-team football league that can hold a championship game, and Memphis officially became that 12th member on Wednesday when it accepted an invite it has long coveted.

Column: A real chance for change in the BCS

LSU fans had all but disappeared into the New Orleans night by the final minutes of last month's dreary BCS title game, leaving en masse when they figured out a team that couldn't get past the 50-yard-line wasn't going to magically find a way to cross the goal line. They weren't alone, with people across the nation abandoning their TVs in hope of finding something even remotely more interesting. The cartel that runs the BCS got what it deserved in a rematch no one outside of Alabama wanted. A lopsided game with horrible television ratings seemed an appropriate way to cap an awful bowl season that generated less buzz than rapper M.I.A.'s extended middle finger at the Super Bowl.

APNewsBreak: UConn wants to impose own penalties

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The University of Connecticut has proposed reducing the number of games it will play next season if the NCAA grants a waiver to allow the Huskies to play in the 2013 men's basketball tournament. The school currently would be barred from the NCAA tournament, a penalty for years of below-standard academic results, but it requested a waiver last month.

A beautiful week awaits at Pebble Beach

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — In what Robert Louis Stevenson called "the most felicitous meeting of land and sea," the sea was winning Wednesday at Pebble Beach. Jimmy Walker stood in the bunker next to the sea wall along the 18th fairway, soaking up the scenery. Every 15 seconds, waves crashed into the rocks and sent a spectacular splash of white surf some 15 feet high.

AP source: Wings vs Leafs in 2013 Winter Classic

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — A person familiar with the NHL's plan said the Detroit Red Wings will play the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 Winter Classic. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity on Wednesday because the league isn't expected to announce the matchup until Thursday.

Lin, Chandler lead Knicks over Wizards 107-93

WASHINGTON (AP) — What a week it has been for Jeremy Lin. With three breakout games, the Harvard graduate has become the NBA's newest playmaking sensation. He's a fan favorite — home and away — and has earned more than 60,000 Twitter followers in just five days.

Red Wings run home streak to 18 wins, beat Oilers

DETROIT (AP) — Drew Miller and Henrik Zetterberg scored in the third period, and the Detroit Red Wings extended their home winning streak to 18 games with a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night. The Red Wings overcame two more goals by Edmonton's Sam Gagner to move within two wins of the NHL record of 20 straight home victories, set by the Boston Bruins durinptorg the 1929-30 season and matched by Philadelphia in 1976. The Bruins also won 19 in a row in Boston during the 1970-71 season.

Nowitzki scores 25 in Mavs' 105-95 win vs. Nuggets

DENVER (AP) — Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points and the Dallas Mavericks snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the undermanned Denver Nuggets 105-95 on Wednesday night. Vince Carter added 17 points, and Shawn Marion and Rodrigue Beaubois added 13 points each for the Mavericks, who defeated Denver for the first time in five tries.