China team signs Marbury

BASKETBALL

Marbury to play in China

Former Knick Stephon Marbury, 32, will become the highest-profile American to play in the Chinese Basketball Association after agreeing to join the league's Shanxi club. Marbury, a free agent since leaving the Celtics last season, is expected to play his first game Jan. 27 against Qingdao. Wang Xingjiang, head of the Shanxi team, called the signing of Marbury "a reward to our fans" to help the 3-10 team. He added that Marbury's salary will not be too high because Marbury hopes to open up the Chinese market and sell his personal brand of shoes.

college hoopsNo. 1 Texas falls

Jamar Samuels scored 15 of his 20 points in a dominating first half as host No. 10 Kansas State beat top-ranked Texas, 71-62, last night. Kansas State (16-2, 3-1 Big 12) smothered Texas (17-1, 3-1) with its extended man-to-man defense to overcome a 1-for-12 effort from three-point range.

BASEBALLOfferman banned

Jose Offerman was banned for life by the Dominican winter league for throwing a punch at an umpire during an argument. The former Mets and Ducks infielder, who was managing the Licey Tigers, appeared to hit first-base umpire Daniel Reyburn in the face or neck with a fist in Saturday's playoff game against the Cibao Giants.

BoxingBerto cancels bout

Andre Berto has withdrawn from his Jan. 30 fight with Shane Mosley, saying the strain of dealing with the earthquake that struck Haiti has left him unable to train properly. The unbeaten Berto, who represented Haiti in the Athens Olympics, was to defend his WBC welterweight title against Mosley on HBO.

- AP