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Last Update on November 20, 2009 15:01 EST

Nelson scores 18 to lead Niagara past Howard 82-77

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Anthony Nelson scored 18 points and Rob Garrison and Bilal Benn added 17 points apiece in Niagara's 82-to-77 victory over Howard at the Glenn Wilkes Classic today.

Calvin Thompson had 28 points and Mike Phillips added 16 for Howard .

Howard trailed by 16 in the first half, but got within 60-58 with eight minutes left after Thompson hit a short jumper and then setup a basket by Kandi Mukole.

Niagara responded by outscoring Howard 14-to-three, including a fast-break basket by Garrison, to take a 74-to-61 lead. Thompson's 3-point play cut Howard's deficit to 81-to-75 with 23 seconds to go.

Garrison and Benn both had 11 points in the first half to help Niagara take a 50-to-37 lead at the break.

T25-DUKE-MIAMI

MIAMI (AP) -- Duke's Thaddeus Lewis and Miami's Jacory Harris grew up together on the same fields in South Florida, a couple of quarterbacks learning their way.

They'll be on the same field again Saturday, maybe for the final time as competitors.

Harris and Number 21 Miami close out league play and the home schedule against Lewis and Duke , which is still in contention for its first bowl bid since 1995.

Both quarterbacks will acknowledge, this game means a bit more than most others.

NASCAR-HENDRICK-JOHNSON

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) -- Three-time defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson has signed a contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports through 2015.

Home improvement chain Lowe's also signed an extension as primary sponsor of Johnson's Number 48 Chevrolet through the 2013 season.

Johnson's extension is a five-year deal and comes on the verge of his record fourth consecutive Cup championship. He goes into Sunday's season finale with a 108-point lead over teammate Mark Martin and needs only to finish 25th or better to win the title.

It's the third extension of Johnson's career with Hendrick. He was previously signed through the 2010 season.

BILLS-STROUD OUT

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Buffalo Bills starting defensive tackle Marcus Stroud has been ruled out at Jacksonville this weekend because of a knee injury.

With Kyle Williams listed as questionable by interim head coach Perry Fewell on Friday because of a sprained knee, the Bills' porous run defense could be missing both starting tackles in preparing to face one of the NFL's most potent rushing teams.

Except to refer to Stroud as day to day, Fewell wouldn't divulge the nature of the injury after the player missed practice for a third straight day. Williams has missed two games, and practiced sparingly this week.

The Bills have only two other defensive tackles on their roster, reserves Spencer Johnson and John McCargo.

NASCAR-HOMESTEAD

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) -- NASCAR chairman Brian France doesn't think Jimmie Johnson's four-year reign signals a flaw in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship format.

France thinks the three-time defending champion should be commended for his achievements, and the Chase has created an opportunity to make history. Johnson is poised this weekend to become the first driver to win four consecutive championships.

Although NASCAR considers new ideas and tweaks to the format, France says there will be no changes made simply to slow Johnson.

Johnson needs to finish 25th or better in Sunday's finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway to win the championship.

NASCAR-KAHNE'S FUTURE

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) -- Kasey Kahne will strongly consider leaving Richard Petty Motorsports after next season because of the instability surrounding the organization.

Kahne has been unhappy with many parts of RPM this season, including a planned merger with Yates Racing that has yet to happen. Kahne says the company needs to become focused and resolve its lingering issues in the offseason.

Kahne said on Friday he will start looking at other teams in January. He says the ups and downs this season have made it hard for him to think about staying with the organization in the long term.

Kahne qualified for the Chase this season and is in 10th place heading into Sunday's finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

NASCAR-GORDON

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) -- Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick expects Jeff Gordon to drive at least "three or four" more seasons and the four-time Cup champion says he has no immediate plans to retire.

Gordon said on Friday that his achy back has improved and he's still having fun racing. Gordon is third in the points standings and has one victory this season heading into Sunday's finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Gordon doesn't want to put a number on how many years he has left. He says at the end of last year's disappointing season, he was considering only another year or two.

Hendrick says as long as Gordon competes in Cup racing, he'll be with Hendrick Motorsports.

Physical training and stretching have eased the back problems that made him uncomfortable for most of last season.