Sports in brief

BOXING

Klitschko keeps title

Vitali Klitschko retained his WBC heavyweight title with a first-round knockout of Odlanier Solis Saturday in Cologne, Germany.

Klitschko's right to Solis' left temple staggered the Cuban, who wobbled then fell on his back and clutched his right knee. Solis beat the count but was unsteady on his feet as referee Jose Guadalupe Garcia stopped the fight.

tennis

Djokovic passes Federer

Novak Djokovic outlasted Roger Federer, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, to reach the BNP Paribas Open final in Indian Wells, Calif.

Djokovic, who is 17-0 this season, and Federer will switch spots when the latest rankings are released Monday, with the Serbian moving up to No. 2 and Federer slipping to third.

Djokovic will play top-ranked Rafael Nadal in Sunday's final. Nadal beat Juan Martin del Potro, 6-4, 6-4.

SKIING

Cancellation denies Vonn

Lindsey Vonn lost her World Cup overall title without being able to compete.

Trailing by only three points, the three-time defending champion was denied the chance to overtake friend and rival Maria Riesch when the giant slalom was called off because of poor snow conditions in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.

"Win or lose, I just wanted the chance. I feel devastated," Vonn said in a statement.

NASCAR

Busch triumphs in Bristol

Kyle Busch gained his 46th victory in the second-tier Nationwide series, three back of Mark Martin's record, with a dominating performance at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn. Kasey Kahne finished second and Dale Earnhardt Jr. was third.

NIT

Northwestern tops BC

John Shurna had 20 points and nine rebounds and Michael Thompson had 22 points as Northwestern (20-13) beat host Boston College, 85-67, to reach the NIT quarterfinals for the first time . . . Donavan Monroe scored 16 points and the College of Charleston (26-10) beat host Cleveland State, 64-56.

NFL

Ex-Oiler Hill dies

Former wide receiver Drew Hill, a two-time Pro Bowler who was a key part of the Houston Oilers' famed "Run and Shoot" offense of the 1980s, died at an Atlanta hospital late Friday after suffering two massive strokes, according to his agent. He was 54.

soccer

Milestone for Dempsey

Clint Dempsey became the first American to score 10 goals during a Premier League season, but could not prevent Fulham from losing, 2-1, at Everton in England. -- AP