LOS ANGELES - The NCAA refused to reinstate Southern California All-American Mike Williams Thursday, leaving the star wide receiver unable to rejoin the top-ranked Trojans after being shut out of the NFL draft by the courts.

The ruling came down shortly before the Trojans boarded an airplane for Baltimore. They open defense of their national championship Saturday night against Virginia Tech at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

USC vice president and legal counsel Todd Dickey said while the ruling could be appealed, the matter was closed.

CROMWELL, Conn. - Corey Pavin made seven birdies and matched his career low with an 8-under-par 62 for a three-stroke lead Thursday at the inaugural Buick Championship.Bob Burns and Matt Weibring were second at 5-under 65. Bunched four strokes behind the leader with 66s were Fred Funk, David Peoples, Jerry Kelly, Jason Dufner and Craig Bowden.Pavin started fast, sinking a 120-yard wedge shot on the 341-yard second hole for an eagle. His seven-birdie round included a 45-foot chip-in at No. 18 that brought a roar from the gallery.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Todd Bertuzzi of the Vancouver Canucks pleaded not guilty Thursday to an assault charge stemming from a hit on Steve Moore during a game that left the Colorado Avalanche forward with a broken neck.Bertuzzi appeared in court for 10 minutes and did not speak as he left with his wife in a limousine.