Here is the latest New England sports news from The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dwight Howard had 24 points and 12 rebounds in helping the Los Angeles Lakers to an emotional 113-99 victory over the Boston Celtics last night in their first game since the death of owner Jerry Buss. Buss died on Monday after an 18-month battle with cancer.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have acquired Mike Carp from the Seattle Mariners for a player to be named later or cash. Seattle designated the 26-year-old Carp for assignment earlier this month, and the Red Sox were able to work out a deal for him. Carp can play both first base and left field.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Jason Varitek is back at camp with the Boston Red Sox. Whether he's working with catchers or taking in some information about the inner workings of an organization, the former Boston captain seems at peace with his decision to walk away during spring training last year.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — New England Patriots rookie and former Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard has been convicted of assaulting a police officer in Lincoln, Nebraska, last year. The Lincoln Journal Star reports a jury found Dennard guilty yesterday of the felony charge and a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — In college men's basketball, Number 8 Syracuse beat Providence 84-59 last night. Providence had won four straight Big East games, including triumphs over then-Number 17 Cincinnati and then-Number 21 Notre Dame on Saturday. Providence guard Vincent Council had 15 points and seven assists to become the all-time Big East assist leader with 431.

KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) — Xavier beat Rhode Island 55-42 last night. The Rams dropped their sixth straight and 18th of 19 in the rivalry. Xavier Munford recorded 15 points on 5-of-17 shooting, including a 3-of-12 showing from 3-point range. Rhode Island shot just 24.1 percent and was 5-of-30 shooting from deep.

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. (AP) — For the second straight game, Eric Mosley set a career scoring high as St. Bonaventure set a season high for points, defeating Massachusetts 99-94 last night. Mosley scored 39 points one game after scoring 30 in a loss to Richmond. Chaz Williams led UMass with 26 points and 12 assists. Terrell Vinson added 20 points.

BOSTON (AP) — D.J. Irving and John Papale scored 18 points each and led an effective 3-point shooting performance by Boston University in its 79-69 victory over Albany last night. The two guards each made 4 of 7 from 3-point range. The Terriers, who have won five straight, made 10 of 25 behind the arc to 3 of 15 for the Great Danes.

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Lafayette rallied to beat Holy Cross 79-76 last night. Tony Johnson scored 20 points, hitting a 3-pointer with 4 seconds left to complete Lafayette's comeback from a 13-point deficit. Holy Cross shot 67.4 percent for the game. Justin Burrell scored 19 and Cullen Hamilton 18 for the Crusaders.

BOSTON (AP) — Quincy Ford scored 14 points and David Walker made the game-winning jumper to lift Northeastern past James Madison 66-64 last night in a Colonial Athletic Association contest. Reggie Spencer finished with 13 points and Walker added 11 to help Northeastern guarantee at least a share of its first-ever CAA regular season title.

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Mark Nwakamma scored 12 points and Nate Sikma 11 as Hartford held off New Hampshire for a 49-44 America East Conference win last night. Nwakamma hit two free throws to give the lead back to the Hawks, 38-37 with 5:55 remaining, after New Hampshire had rallied from an 11-point deficit early in the second half.

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Brian Voelkel had 16 rebounds and 10 assists, and Sandro Carissimo's 16 points led four Vermont players in double figures as the Catamounts pulled away late to beat Maine 73-61 last night. Vermont led 37-28 early in the second half, but the Black Bears ran off 11 points in the next 2:37 to lead 39-37.

TODAY'S NEW ENGLAND SPORTS SCHEDULE:

NHL:

Boston at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

EXHIBITION BASEBALL:

Northeastern University vs. Boston at Fort Myers, Fla., 1:35 p.m.

COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL:

CCSU at Bryant, 7 p.m.

Quinnipiac at Sacred Heart, 7 p.m.

Cincinnati vs. UConn at the XL Center, Hartford, Conn., 7 p.m.

COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL:

Boston U. at Albany (N.Y.), 7 p.m.

Maryland at Boston College, 7 p.m.

Georgia St. at Northeastern, 7 p.m.

Fordham at Rhode Island, 7 p.m.