Two of the Husker mens basketball team’s non-conference games for the upcoming season were unveiled Wednesday evening, as Nebraska will travel to El Paso, Texas, for the 2012 WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational. The four-team tournament features host UTEP, Central Michigan and Arkansas Pine Bluff, and will take place on December 22 and 23. Nebraska will take on Central Michigan in one semifinal on the 22^nd, with a third place game and championship game the next night. It’s the second time the Huskers have played in this tournament. Nebraska finished third in their only previous visit in 1985. New Husker head coach Tim Miles is no stranger to the event. He took his Colorado State team to El Paso last season and won it. Nebraska’s games at the Sun Belt Invitational are the second and third non-conference games to be announced for the 2012-2013 season.

The Big Ten Conference announced on Wednesday that 65 Nebraska student-athletes were selected as recipients of the Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award. The list includes 587 Big Ten student-athletes from all schools and all sports who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.7 or higher for the previous academic year. Coach Gary Pepin’s track and field squad led all Nebraska selections with 16 student-athletes on the list. The Nebraska football team added six student-athletes, while the women’s soccer and cross country teams each had five student-athletes awarded.

Nebraska’s Distinguished Scholars:

Tom Lemke, Baseball Jr. Business Administration Phoenix, Ariz.
Dexter Spitsnogle, Baseball Sr. Mechanical Engineering Odell, Neb.
Sam Stucky, Baseball Sr. Agricultural Economics McPherson, Kan.
Kaitlyn Burke, Women’s Basketball Sr. Advertising/Business Administration North Vancouver, B.C.
Harleen Sidhu, Women’s Basketball Sr. Nutrition Science Surrey, B.C.
Valerie Calberry, Bowling Sr. Dietetics/Nutrition, Exercise & Health Science Brampton, Ont.
Kristi Mickelson, Bowling Sr. Criminology & Criminal Justice/Psychology Bellevue, Neb.
Jesse Adams, Men’s Cross Country Sr. Finance Ogallala, Neb.
Brad Doering, Men’s Cross Country Sr. Social Science Education Yuba City, Calif.
Ashley Miller, Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field Sr. Dietetics Tipton, Iowa
Sarah Plambeck, Women’s Cross Country Jr. Nutrition, Exercise & Health Science Lincoln, Neb.
Katie White, Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field Sr. Nutrition Science Broken Bow, Neb.
Jim Ebke, Football Sr. Mathematics Education Lincoln, Neb.
Tyler Evans, Football Jr. Biological Sciences Waverly, Neb.
Sean Fisher, Football Sr. Business Administration/Pre‐Medicine Omaha, Neb.
Jake Long, Football Sr. Biological Sciences Elkhorn, Neb.
Kevin Thomsen, Football Sr. Nutrition, Exercise & Health Science Elkhorn, Neb.
CJ Zimmerer, Football Sr. Criminology & Criminal Justice Omaha, Neb.
Jordan Reinertson, Men’s Golf Sr. Business, Marketing & IT Education/Finance Gibbon, Neb.
Joshua Reinertson, Men’s Golf So. Business Administration Gibbon, Neb.
Madeleine Sheils, Women’s Golf Sr. Philosophy Boise, Idaho
Eric Schryver, Men’s Gymnastics Jr. Nutrition Science Richardson, Texas
Emily Wong, Women’s Gymnastics Jr. Nutrition Science Grand Forks, N.D.
Sunny Russell, Women’s Rifle & Pistol Jr. Child, Youth & Family Studies Stratford, Texas
Bri Badje, Women’s Soccer Sr. International Business Lincoln, Neb.
Maritza Hayes, Women’s Soccer Jr. Psychology O’Fallon, Mo.
Ashley Hick, Women’s Soccer Jr. Psychology Omaha, Neb.
Amy Swearer, Women’s Soccer Jr. Criminology & Criminal Justice Lincoln, Neb.
Molly Thomas, Women’s Soccer Sr. Child, Youth & Family Studies Omaha, Neb.
Madison Drake, Softball Sr. Marketing Lincoln, Neb.
Ashley Hagemann, Softball Sr. Elementary Education/Coaching Elkhorn, Neb.
Nikki Haget, Softball Sr. Forensic Science Elkhorn, Neb.
Megan Southworth, Softball Sr. Speech‐Language Pathologist Papillion, Neb.
Katie Davis, Women’s Swimming & Diving Sr. Elementary Education & Mild/Moderate  K‐6 Lincoln, Neb.
Shannon Guy, Women’s Swimming & Diving Jr. Psychology Omaha, Neb.
Bailey Pons, Women’s Swimming & Diving Jr. English/Geology Cedar Falls, Iowa
Kristin Strecker, Women’s Swimming & Diving Jr. Biochemistry Topeka, Kan.
Christopher Aumueller, Men’s Tennis Sr. Marketing Bayreuth, Germany
Mary Weatherholt, Women’s Tennis Sr. Business Administration Prairie Village, Kan.
Janine Weinreich, Women’s Tennis Jr. International Business/Marketing Tespe, Germany
Stefanie Weinstein, Women’s Tennis Sr. Business Administration Much, Germany

The Denver Nuggets made a pair of signings official yesterday, finalizing a three-year contract with returning veteran point guard Andre Miller and signing their first round draft choice, Evan Fournier. The Nuggets bought out Fournier’s overseas contract, meaning the 20 year-old Frenchman will play in America next season, either as a Nugget or in the D-League. The signings bring the roster to 14 total players, with one roster slot available.

MIAMI (AP) – Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis have signed their contracts with the NBA champion Miami Heat, and will be introduced in news conferences later Wednesday.

Allen agreed to join the Heat on Friday. Lewis agreed to terms with Miami on Tuesday. Neither deal could be completed until the NBA’s offseason moratorium expired Wednesday.

Allen will make just over $3 million this season. He comes to Miami after five seasons with the Boston Celtics, who offered the NBA’s all-time 3-point leader nearly twice as much money as the Heat were permitted to spend.

Lewis will earn about $1.35 million from the Heat, plus another $13.7 million after getting a buyout from the New Orleans Hornets earlier this offseason.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – The Oakland Athletics have released left-hander Brian Fuentes.

The move announced Wednesday comes a little more than a week after the team designated Fuentes for assignment. The reliever finished 2-2 with five saves, three blown saves and a 6.84 ERA in 26 outings this season, including recording his 200th save May 2 at Boston to become the sixth left-hander in major league history to reach the mark.

The 36-year-old has 204 career saves with a 3.58 ERA in 644 career appearances over 12 seasons with five clubs. He went 0-2 with a save, two blown saves, a 19.50 ERA and .452 opponents’ average over his final seven outings.

Oakland returns to play Friday at Minnesota.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Suspended NASCAR driver AJ Allmendinger says he tested positive for a stimulant he did not identify.

A statement Wednesday from Allmendinger’s business manager says the driver is collecting his medicines and supplements to determine if an over-the-counter product caused the positive test.

Allmendinger was randomly tested by NASCAR on June 29, and informed Saturday he had failed the drug test. His suspension was announced hours before Saturday night’s race at Daytona.

He has requested his “B” urine sample be tested, and it’s not clear when that will occur.

Penske Racing has already said Sam Hornish Jr. will drive the No. 22 Dodge this weekend at New Hampshire.

Allmendinger said in a Tuesday statement he would never knowingly take something on the banned substance list.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – The NCAA says that it will decide on whether to take action at the “appropriate time” in connection with its inquiry into Penn State and the child sexual abuse scandal that led to the ouster of Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno.

Findings from Penn State’s internal investigation into the case of ex-defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky are due Thursday. The NCAA says it has already been collecting information from the probe led by former FBI director Louis Freeh.

The NCAA says Penn State will have to formally respond to questions from NCAA President Mark Emmert, even after Freeh unveils his findings.

The governing body says it won’t interfere with other ongoing inquiries into the matter, and will determine if additional action is necessary. They offered no specific timeline.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)- The National League jumped on American League Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander for five runs and coasted to an 8-0 victory in last night’s All-Star game. That’s the third straight win for the National League, and it means the NLpennant-winner will open the World Series at home and potentially have four home games. The National League victory had a distinct San Francisco flavor to it. Matt Cain got the win with two scoreless innings, Pablo Sandoval’s bases-loaded triple keyed the five-run first inning and Melky Cabrera added a two-run homer during the NL’s three-run fourth inning.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – A potentially explosive internal report into whether football coach Joe Paterno and other top Penn State officials took steps to conceal that former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was a child molester will be released Thursday – online for all to see. Ahead of the report, the Paterno family released a statement that the legendary coach didn’t participate in any cover-up.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – NASCAR on Tuesday penalized two championship contenders – including suspensions for Nationwide Series driver Austin Dillon’s team – for problems found during qualifying at Daytona. Three-time champion Tony Stewart was docked six points, and crew chief Steve Addington was fined $25,000 because of a cooling hose found inside Stewart’s car after his qualifying lap before the Sprint Cup race that he won.

The North Platte First Nationals defeated the Buckley Bombers 3-2 in their final home game of the season last night. The First Nationals closed out Bill Wood Field for the summer in style, finishing with a 12-3 record on their own turf this season.. The win moves the First Nationals to 21-20 on the season. The team closes out their regular season with a tournament in Elkhorn, beginning on Thursday night with a game against Elkhorn South.

Carlos Gonzalez went 0-for-2 in his All-Star Game debut, but the National League didn’t need a contribution from the Colorado Rockies’ lone All-Star. The senior circuit scored five runs in the first inning and three more in the fourth on their way to a 8-0 victory in the 83^rd Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City. Gonzalez led off the game as the starting designated hitter for the National League. In his first at-bat, he struck out swinging against Detroit Tiger ace Justin Verlander. After his team batted around in the first frame, Gonzalez led off the second inning and grounded out to first against Texas’ Joe Nathan. After a day off today, the baseball season resumes tomorrow. Gonzalez and the Rockies begin their second half on Friday, when they open a three-game series at home against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Husker senior tight end Kyler Reed was named to the John Mackey Award watch list yesterday. Thirty-three of the country’s top tight ends are named to the preseason watch list for the award that has gone to the nation’s best at the position since 2001. Reed led the Huskers in yards per reception in the 2011 season. He caught 15 passes for 257 yards and scored a touchdown. In his career at Nebraska, Reed has snatched 43 passes for 706 yards and nine touchdowns.

Husker junior pitcher Travis Huber made his departure from the program official yesterday as he agreed to sign with the Minnesota Twins. The Twins selected Huber in the twenty-third round of June’s Major League Baseball Entry Draft. Huber pitched one season for the Huskers after playing his first two years of college ball at the College of Southern Idaho. In 20 games, Huber posted a 3.32 ERA and notched seven saves as the Huskers’ closer.

The Husker wrestling program has added a big-time recruit for their 2013 class. Micah Barnes of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota has signed to coach Mark Manning’s program. Barnes went 47-0 as a senior,winning the Class AA state championship at 170 pounds and helping Simley High School to its fifth straight team state championship. He was named Wrestler of the Year by the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Of Barnes’ 138 career victories, 74 came by pinfall. Barnes is the fourteenth recruit to the Husker wrestling class of 2013.