Today's Sports

A story in the March 20 issue incorrectly listed the name of the sponsor of the three-point shooting contest in the B.J. Gonzales basketball tournament. The sponsor is De Sena Electric, not Sena Electric.

The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is being represented in the Elite Eight of both men’s and women’s NCAA Division II basketball tournaments.

Colorado Mesa University, formerly known as Mesa State, earned the program’s first-ever appearance in the women’s Elite Eight (national quarterfinals). The Maverick women (31-1) are playing in San Antonio, Texas. They were to play Dowling on Tuesday, with a spot in Wednesday’s semifinals (5 p.m. Mountain time tipoff). The final is 6 p.m. Friday.

Arturo “El Toro” Crespin had hoped to return to the boxing ring this coming weekend, but the Meadow City fighter will have to wait a bit longer.

Crespin told the Optic he’d been originally scheduled to box Victor Villareal of Colorado as part of Friday’s card at the Wool Warehouse in Albuquerque, but Villareal withdrew from the contest. A potential replacement opponent was also vetoed because Crespin had stopped him in his last fight Oct. 27.

By Eddie Pells
AP National Writer
SALT LAKE CITY — Among the provisions New Mexico gave coach Steve Alford in his brand-new, 10-year contract was a $125,000 bonus for making the Final Four.
After their latest disappointing loss in the NCAA tournament, the Lobos will save the money, but feel the pain.
Third-seeded New Mexico was handed the biggest upset on the first full day of play in the NCAA tournament, a 68-62 loss to 14th-seeded Harvard on Thursday night.