Baseball

Craig Kimbrel unanimously won the National League Rookie of the Year on Monday, with Tampa Bay pitcher Jeremy Hellickson a clear choice as the top rookie in the AL.

Kimbrel wound up tied for Milwaukee's John Axford for the NL lead in saves. He became the 10th unanimous NL rookie winner, and first since Albert Pujols in 2001. Kimbrel was the seventh Braves player to win the award that began in 1947, and first since Rafael Furcal in 2000.

Hellickson went 13-10 with a 2.95 ERA in helping the Rays take the AL wild-card spot. He drew 17 of 28 first-place votes and finished well ahead of Los Angeles Angels first baseman Mark Trumbo.

Football

WSU quarterback Connor Halliday was named the Pac-12 player of the week. Halliday, a grad of Ferris High of Spokane and a redshirt freshman, came off the bench to throw for 494 yards and four touchdowns in the Cougars' 37-27 win over Arizona State. Halliday entered the game on WSU's third possession and finished the night 27-of-36 with no interceptions.

Connor's dad, Duane, quarterbacked Coeur d'Alene High to the state title in 1982.

Hockey

Joe Nieuwendyk, Ed Belfour, Doug Gilmour and Mark Howe took their place in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

Nieuwendyk's NHL career included three Stanley Cups with three different teams.

Belfour, a goaltender, managed to compile the third-most victories in NHL history despite never being drafted.

Gilmour played almost 1,500 career NHL games with a heart-and-soul style that belied his modest size.

Howe grew up in the shadow of his legendary father Gordie and began his pro career as a winger in the World Hockey Association before later becoming one of the best defenseman in the NHL.

Basketball

• TOP 25

No. 4 Connecticut 78, Wagner 66: At Storrs, Conn., Shabazz Napier scored 21 points and the Huskies (2-0) held off Wagner (1-1).

No. 5 Syracuse 92, Manhattan 56: At Syracuse, N.Y., Dion Waiters had 17 points and The Orange (2-0) beat the Jaspers (1-1) in the NIT Season Tip-Off.

No. 17 Michigan 64, Towson 47: At Ann Arbor, Mich., Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 15 points, and the Wolverines (2-0) beat Towson (0-2).

No. 16 Alabama 74, Oakland 57: At Tuscaloosa, Ala., JaMychal Green scored 18 points to lead the Crimson Tide (2-0) over Oakland (0-1).

No. 21 Marquette 99, Norfolk State 68: At Milwaukee, Jae Crowder had 25 points and 10 rebounds and Marquette (2-0) beat Norfolk State (0-1).

No. 24 Missouri 81, Mercer 63: At Columbia, Mo., Phil Pressey had a career-best 22 points with four assists and five steals, helping Missouri beat Mercer (1-1).

No. 25 Florida St. 73, Central Florida 50: At Tallahassee, Fla., Bernard James had 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead Florida State (2-0) over Central Florida (1-1).

• North Carolina remains the runaway No. 1 choice in The Associated Press' first regular-season college basketball poll.

The Tar Heels beat Michigan State in the Carrier Classic and received 62 first-place votes Monday from the national media panel.

Kentucky, Ohio State, Connecticut, Syracuse and Duke held places two through six. Florida, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Memphis all moved up one spot to round out the top 10. Ohio State (1) and Connecticut (2) received the other first-place votes. Gonzaga is ranked No. 22.

- The Associated Press