Sports briefs

Ex-NFL star Darren Sharper to face rape charges next month
LOS ANGELES — A preliminary hearing for former NFL All-Pro safety Darren Sharper on charges that he drugged and raped two women he met at a West Hollywood nightclub has been tentatively set for Feb. 17.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge set the new hearing date Tuesday after meeting privately with prosecutors and defense lawyers.
Sharper says he agrees with the delay.
Judge Michael Pastor says the hearing was postponed because of scheduling and evidence issues that he didn’t explain.
Sharper has pleaded not guilty to giving women drugs and raping them while they were unconscious. He’s been in custody since February.
Sharper faces similar charges in Arizona and Louisiana, and federal authorities have ordered the Los Angeles sheriff to turn him over to U.S. marshals in New Orleans by Feb. 23.

LSU defensive back Mills set for trial on battery charge
BATON ROUGE — LSU defensive back Jalen Mills will face trial April 8 for a charge of simple battery.
Court reports show a trial date was set during a status hearing last week.
The April court date comes in the midst of LSU’s spring practice, which stretches from March 7-April 18. The Tigers will not practice from April 3-13 because of the school’s spring break.
Police say Mills allegedly struck a woman in a May incident at his apartment complex.
Simple battery is punishable by up to six months in prison or a $1,000 fine.
Mills had a summer-long suspension lifted on the first day of fall camp, Aug. 4, when East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore charged him with the misdemeanor.

Tulsa wins 10th straight; clips Tulane 62-55
NEW ORLEANS — Shaquille Harrison scored 16 points and had seven rebounds to lead Tulsa to a 62-55 victory against Tulane Tuesday night.
D’Andre Wright added 12 points for the Golden Hurricanes (15-5, 8-0 American Conference), who have now won 10 straight games.
Tulsa took a 27-20 lead at the break.
They extended their lead to as many as 16 in the second period before Tulane (13-8, 4-5) made a late comeback bid that ultimately fell short.
Payton Henson led Tulane with 12 points and five rebounds off the bench. Louis Dabney added 11 points.
The win improves Tulsa to 13-0 this season when holding opponents to fewer than 65 points.
Its 8-0 start in conference play is the school’s best start since 1984-85, when it also opened league play 8-0.
From The Associated Press