WEDNESDAY SPORTS: Tigers win in round one of NIT

Playing in its first postseason game since 2011, Clemson put on an offensive display in front of an intimate crowd at Littlejohn Coliseum on Tuesday, winning 78-66 to advance to the second round of the NIT. The Tigers face the winner of Wednesday’s contest between Boston University and Illinois. Clemson hosts the winner of that contest on a date and time to be named later.

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Albany and NC state won the opening games of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament Tuesday, with Albany defeating Mount St. Mary’s 71-64 and NC State downing Xavier 74-59. The other two games in the first round will be played Wednesday, between Cal Poly and Texas Southern and between Iowa and Tennessee.

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Four University of Georgia football players have been released on bond after being arrested on charges of illegal check cashing. Safety Tray Matthews, defensive linemen Jonathon Taylor and James DeLoach and wide receiver Uriah LeMay are charged in the scheme.

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Georgia Southern scored in six of the first seven innings to defeat No. 13 Clemson 14-5 at J.I. Clements Stadium Tuesday night. It was the first meeting between Georgia Southern (17-4) and Clemson (12-7) in Statesboro since 1995.

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UNC Asheville third baseman Robert McIntosh homered and drove in four runs to rally the Bulldogs past Furman, 7-6, in non-conference baseball action on Tuesday afternoon at Latham Stadium. The loss dropped the Paladins to 8-12 on the season.

In addition, Furman head baseball coach Ron Smith has announced the addition of a Wednesday home game against North Carolina Central beginning at 4:00 p.m. at Latham Stadium. The contest was added after rained forced the cancellation of the final game of a three-game weekend series versus Hofstra.

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Phil Jackson was introduced Tuesday as the new team president of the New York Knicks, returning to the team where he won championships in 1970 and 1973 as player, which were the last titles the Knicks earned. Jackson went on to win 11 championships as head coach with the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls, but this will be his first time as an executive. Jackson signed a five-year contract for a reported at least $12 million annually, and the Knicks say he will be in charge of all basketball decisions.