Pete Sampras, seeded third, beat No. 11 Patrick Rafter 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 Friday in a fast-paced match, finishing off the Masters Series quarterfinal with a 129-mph ace at Indian Wells, Calif.

Andre Agassi rolled to a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Nicolas Lapentti in 59 minutes to advance to the semifinals. Agassi, seeded fourth, plays Lleyton Hewitt, a winner over Jan-Michael Gambill. Sampras faces No. 7 Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who defeated Nicolas Escude.

BOXING: WBC super-middleweight champion Dave Hilton Jr., 37, was convicted in Montreal of charges he sexually abused two sisters, beginning when each was 12, from 1995-98. Judge Rolande Matte made the ruling in the non-jury trial. Sentencing arguments are scheduled for April 19.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Virginia Union running back Andre Braxton, who rushed for nearly 1,500 yards and 26 touchdowns in his senior season, won the Alonzo S. "Jake" Gaither Award, given to the nation's top player from a historically black college or university. ... Former Michigan captain James Whitley, kicked off the team in December after his arrest on a gun charge, pleaded guilty at Ann Arbor, Mich. Prosecutors agreed that Whitley would not go to jail and would get no more than one year of probation in exchange for a guilty plea to one count of carrying a concealed weapon, the Ann Arbor News reported. The charge carries a possible five-year prison sentence.

COLLEGES: Iowa moved into first place at the NCAA championships with 112 points by advancing four wrestlers into today's championship round at Iowa City. Minnesota, which had all six wrestlers lose in the semis, was second with 1091/2. Natalie Coughlin of California set one U.S. and two NCAA records at the Division I swimming championships at East Meadow, N.Y. Coughlin twice upset Olympic gold medalist Misty Hyman of Stanford, winning the 100-yard butterfly and 100 backstroke. Auburn led the team standings with 265 points. UF was eighth (137). Ten finalists were named for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the nation's top hockey player: forwards Erik Anderson of St. Lawrence, Brian Gionta of Boston College, Jeff Hamilton of Yale, Dany Heatley of Wisconsin, Andy Hilbert of Michigan and Jeff Panzer of North Dakota; goalies Ty Conklin of New Hampshire and Ryan Miller of Michigan State; and defenseman Kent Huskins of Clarkson and Jordan Leopold of Minnesota. The winner will be announced April 6. A selection committee and a fan vote through www.voteforhobey.com determines the winner. In baseball, Tampa beat Bemidji State 14-0. In softball, Jessica van der Linden pitched a no-hitter and Florida Sate defeated Iowa State 6-0 at its invitational. Serita Brooks had an inside-the-park grand slam. The Seminoles also beat Syracuse 3-2. In women's tennis, host Florida defeated Illinois 7-0. Host Miami defeated Virginia 5-2. In men's tennis, South Florida defeated host UF 4-3. In women's golf, Florida was seventh (23-over 311) among 11 teams after the first round of the Gamecock Classic at Blythewood, S.C. Brittany Straza was tied for fifth (1-over 73).

HORSES: Tap Dance romped to a 4-length victory in the Grade II $250,000 Bonnie Miss Stakes for 3-year-old fillies as Gulfstream concluded its 63-day meeting. The victory gave rider Jerry Bailey a record-breaking 13th stakes victory this meeting. Bailey won 12 stakes at Gulfstream in 1995. Jorge Chavez won the riding title with 80 winners, 27 more than runner-up Bailey. Bill Mott won the trainer title with 28 victories. ... Point Given, a leading Kentucky Derby contender, was scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut today in the San Felipe at Santa Anita.

SOCCER: The sport's world ruling body denied a report on its Web site that Africa will host the 2010 World Cup. Africa would be first to hold the event once FIFA introduces a system of rotating the competition among its six confederations, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said. The system may not start until after 2010, he said.

WINTER SPORTS: Magnus Sterner won the men's overall World Cup title when he won the halfpipe at the snowboard finals at Ruka, Finland. Sabine Wehr-Hasler won the women's overall title by reaching the final.

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From the Times sports desk

College basketball
Gators elevate in time

Gonzaga does it again

Gators are still aching

Coach K goes against familiar face

Gators win with another facet

Traylor hits a high to lift Seminoles

Lightning/NHL
It's easy to watch Lemieux

Keefe suspended for not reporting

NHL briefs

Lightning/NHL
Wunsch agent: Bucs tackle could move on

Devil Rays/baseball
Two-game trip solidifies ties in Mexico for Rays

Closer by committee possible

Area camps roundup

For Boggs, an outlet for competitiveness

Et cetera
NBA briefs

Golf briefs

Sports briefs

Colleges
Ex-Cougar Frayer falls in semis of NCAA tourney

Motorsports
Scelzi has Top Fuel's best start

Force returns kindness by adding Densham to team

Preps
Springstead takes Invitational title

Leopards leave offense on basepaths in 3-1 loss

Citrus lives up to expectations

Pirates' early lead overcome by Rams

Early lessons benefit Phelps

Riverview cashes in on 4 East Bay errors

Spartans combine to no-hit Warriors

All-Star game provides players the spotlight

Football players help put Largo on the fast track

Warriors quietly winning

From the wire

From the state sports wire Jacksonville's Spicer placed on IR after leg surgery
FIU-Western Kentucky game postponed because of Jeanne
Brown anxious to face old team for first time
Dolphins' desperate defense readies for Roethlisberger
Former Sarasota lineman sheds tough-guy image with Michigan
Rothstein rejoins Heat as assistant
No. 16 Florida has history on its side against Kentucky
FSU and Clemson QBs both off to slow starts