Texas hiring Smart as basketball coachRICHMOND, Va. — Shaka Smart is leaving Virginia Commonwealth to coach the Texas Longhorns.VCU sports information director Scott Day confirmed to reporters gathered at the campus Thursday night that Smart was making the move. Smart met with VCU players earlier in the evening.Texas athletic director Steve Patterson flew to Richmond on Thursday to close the deal.

LeBron now 20th on NBA scoring listCLEVELAND — Cavaliers star LeBron James has moved into 20th place on the NBA’s career scoring list, passing Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing.James scored on a hook shot in the lane with 7:22 left in the first quarter Thursday night against Miami, giving him 24,816 points. The 30-year-old has passed several prominent players this season, including Robert Parrish, Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson and former teammate Ray Allen.Next on the list is Jerry West with 25,192 points.

Piercy ties record with 9-under 63HOUSTON — Scott Piercy tied a tournament record with a nearly flawless 9-under-par 63 Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Houston Open.Alex Cejka, playing in one of the afternoon groups, made four birdies on his back nine — the course’s front nine — to finish with a 64, one stroke behind Piercy.

A’s losing Crisp for nearly 2 monthsSAN FRANCISCO — Oakland Athletics left fielder Coco Crisp will have surgery on his right elbow and could miss up to two months.Crisp said before Thursday night’s exhibition game against San Francisco at AT&T Park that he will have the surgery on Friday to remove a bone chip and spurs.