Ohio Sports Roundup 2/3/16

Associated Press sports information

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-1 last night to end a three-game skid. Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists for the Oilers in his return from a nearly three-month absence. Matt Calvert scored for the Blue Jackets, and Columbus had a two-game winning streak come to an end.

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns are close to releasing troubled quarterback Johnny Manziel’s, whose problems off the field have undermined their organization. New football head Sashi Brown says Manziel’s status with the team will be addressed when permitted by the NFL. Manziel was involved in a possible assault on his ex-girlfriend in Texas last weekend.

CHICAGO (AP) — The second leg of the United States’ Olympic men’s soccer qualifying playoff against Colombia will be played March 29th at Frisco, Texas. The home-and-home, total-goals playoff opens March 25th at Barranquilla, Colombia, the U.S. Soccer Federation said Tuesday. The March 29th match will be part of a television doubleheader on ESPN2, with the Olympic playoff following the Americans’ World Cup qualifier against Guatemala at Columbus, Ohio.

ATHENS (AP) — In college men’s basketball, Akron pulled away late from the free throw line to beat Ohio, 80-68 last night. Josh Williams scored 20 points. The Zips grabbed the lead five minutes in and never relinquished it, but had trouble pulling away.

TOLEDO (AP) — Toledo dominated Western Michigan in an 89-62 win last night. Jonathan Williams scored 24 points with three 3-pointers. Nathan Boothe scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Jordan Lauf had 12, Nate Navigato added 12 — all on 3-pointers — and Zach Garber had a career-high 11 boards. Stuckey Mosley made a career-high nine assists for the Rockets.

BOWLING GREEN (AP) — Ball State rallied from 13 down in the second half to beat Bowling Green 72-64 last night. Franko House and Francis Kiapway scored 16 points apiece for Ball State. Zack Denny made four 3-pointers and finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead Bowling Green.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) — Eastern Michigan beat Miami (Ohio) 94-69 last night to snap a five-game skid. Raven Lee made nine 3-pointers and scored 46 points — both career highs — for Eastern Michigan. Chris Bryant scored a career-high 18 for Miami (Ohio).

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) — Central Michigan shot better than 60 percent from the field and rode a big second half to an 88-61 victory over Kent State last night. Josh Kozinski scored 17 points and led six players into double-figure scoring for Central Michigan. Jimmy Hall’s 24 points and nine rebounds paced Kent State.